User-Centered Co-Creation

By involving end-users and marginalized communities in the design, production, and delivery of medical devices and services, organizations increase accessibility, relevance, and sustainability of solutions, because lived experience and local knowledge lead to more appropriate, trusted, and scalable outcomes. This strategy emphasizes active participation of people with disabilities, families, and local community members—not just as recipients but as co-creators and implementers of solutions. It distinguishes itself from top-down or expert-driven models by grounding innovation in real-world needs, cultural context, and empowerment, thereby enhancing adoption, equity, and long-term impact across prosthetics, assistive technology, and hearing health services.

orgs running it

activities of those orgs

clusters touched

who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 3

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

3D-printed prosthetic hands for children MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Creates and provides custom 3D-printed prosthetic hands for children at no cost, using open-source designs and advanced 3D printing technology.
Clinical Research on Musculoskeletal Conditions MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
research
Conducts clinical research including testing new shoulder replacements seeking FDA approval and evaluating new forms of pain management.
Clinical musculoskeletal research MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
research
Conducts clinical research on musculoskeletal conditions, including testing new shoulder replacement devices for FDA approval and evaluating novel pain management techniques.
Conduct clinical research on musculoskeletal and orthopedic treatments MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
research
Conducts clinical research studies including testing new shoulder replacements for FDA approval and evaluating novel pain management techniques, as part of broader programs in musculoskeletal research.
Conducting clinical musculoskeletal research studies MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
research
Conducts clinical research on musculoskeletal conditions, including testing new shoulder replacement devices for FDA approval and evaluating novel pain management techniques, as part of structured research programs focused on orthopedic innovation.
Custom Prosthetic Hand Creation MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Uses 3D printing technology to create custom prosthetic hands for children at no cost, leveraging open-source designs and advanced printer technology.
Musculoskeletal Research Studies MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
research
Built programs to conduct musculoskeletal research studies.
Provide custom 3D-printed prosthetic hands for children MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Creates and delivers custom prosthetic hands for children at no cost using 3D printing technology and open-source designs.
Provision of custom 3D-printed prosthetic hands for children MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Creates and provides custom prosthetic hands for children at no cost using 3D printing technology and open-source designs, primarily serving pediatric patients in need of upper-limb prosthetics.
Subsidize transportation for military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Operates the Veterans Transportation Assistance Program (V-TAP), which provides subsidized transportation services to military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix.
Transportation subsidy for military veterans MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Provides subsidized transportation services to military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix through the Veterans Transportation Assistance Program (V-TAP).
Transportation subsidy for military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Provides subsidized transportation services to military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix through the Veterans Transportation Assistance Program (V-TAP), improving access to healthcare and essential services.
Veterans Transportation Assistance Program MUSCULOSKELETAL-ORTHOPEDIC RESEARCH
direct service
Subsidizes transportation for military veterans in metropolitan Phoenix through the Veterans Transportation Assistance Program (V-TAP).
Construction and deployment of all-terrain wheelchairs ARSOBO ARIZONA SONORA BORDER
direct service
Operates a construction shop in Nogales, Mexico to build and distribute RoughRider wheelchairs designed for use in developing countries, providing mobility solutions to individuals with mobility challenges in Sonora, Mexico.
Construction and deployment of all-terrain wheelchairs ARSOBO ARIZONA SONORA BORDER
direct service
Operates a construction shop in Nogales, Mexico to build RoughRider wheelchairs designed for use in developing countries and provides wheelchairs to individuals with mobility challenges in Sonora, Mexico to promote mobility and independence.
Cross-Border Hearing Healthcare Program ARSOBO ARIZONA SONORA BORDER
direct service
Operates a cross-border hearing health care program in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, serving individuals from infancy to old age through volunteer collaboration between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. This includes supervising audiology graduate students and Spanish interpreting students from the University of Arizona.
Cross-Border Organizational Establishment ARSOBO ARIZONA SONORA BORDER
capacity building
Established a U.S.-based NGO with a sister organization in Mexico to support cross-border operations.
Cross-border hearing health care program ARSOBO ARIZONA SONORA BORDER
direct service
Operates a hearing health care program in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, serving patients from infants to geriatric individuals through volunteer collaboration between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, including supervision of audiology and Spanish interpreting graduate students from the University of Arizona.