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Description

Occupational therapy practitioners may benefit from incorporating 3D printing into practice to create individualized, low-cost, and accessible assistive technology to facilitate patients’ participation in their meaningful occupations; however, limited training and knowledge may present barriers to its use. This capstone project addressed the identified need for increased education and exposure to 3D printing and its potential applications within occupational therapy practice. The purpose of the project was to develop and implement an educational workshop designed to increase occupational therapy practitioners’ knowledge, confidence, and understanding of the 3D printing process and its application to assistive technology. The project included a needs assessment to identify practitioners’ current knowledge, experience, perceived barriers, and interest in 3D printing. Based on the identified needs, a TOTA-approved educational workshop was developed and implemented in both in-person (UTEP Makerspace) and online format. The comprehensive workshop introduced participants to 3D printing fundamentals, 3D modeling, the design-to-print workflow, printer operation, safety considerations, and resources for developing assistive technology. Pre- and post-workshop surveys were used to evaluate changes in participants’ knowledge and confidence. Results demonstrated improvements across the evaluated areas, suggesting that targeted educational opportunities may increase practitioners’ familiarity with and readiness to incorporate 3D printing into occupational therapy practice. This project highlights the potential of accessible, practice-focused education to support the integration of 3D printing as a tool for developing individualized and accessible assistive technology.

Publication Date

2026

Keywords

Occupational Therapy, 3D Printing, Assistive Technology, Professional Education

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Comments

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stevens 

Capstone Site: UTEP Gaia Makerspace 

Introduction to 3D Printing in Occupational Therapy: Empowering OTs through workshops to design and 3D-print assistive technology

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