Valley Stream 24 Students Design Prosthetic Arm For Northwell Health

Sixth-grade students in the Valley Stream 24 School District’s Challenge Program, led by Ms. Risa Miller, are engaging in a powerful act of innovation and service by designing and building a prosthetic arm to donate to Northwell Health’s occupational and physical therapy providers. As part of this project, students recently participated in a virtual meeting with physical therapist Taylor Jensen and occupational therapist Rob Carafo to gather insight into the design of prosthetic devices and how they support individuals with physical disabilities.

“This meaningful work was sparked by our Vision 2030 pilot project planning,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Unal Karakas. “Our sixth-grade students partnered with younger peers to co-design early prototypes, embodying the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines our district. We are incredibly proud of our teachers and administrators for cultivating these forward-thinking, cross-grade initiatives. We are also proud of our students, whose curiosity, compassion, and dedication to making a difference shine through. By engaging with Northwell providers, our students are not only learning how prosthetics improve the lives of individuals with disabilities, but also how to apply emerging technologies to design functional prototypes that may one day serve others.”

During the session, students engaged with the providers about their careers, the differences between occupational and physical therapy, and important considerations in prosthetic design. Students enthusiastically shared their own ideas, including color-coded sensors to simplify the use of the prosthetic, and motors that enable movement for everyday tasks such as gripping or holding objects.

Building on this knowledge, students will now develop a purpose-driven plan for their prosthetic arm, sketching blueprints to guide their design. Using robotic LEGO materials, they will construct their prototypes and create custom coding sequences to bring their device to life. The final phase will include testing, refining, and presenting their completed prosthetic device to Northwell Health professionals.

For more information about Valley Stream 24, please visit the District’s website at https://valleystreamschooldistrict24.org and ‘like’ our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VS24SchoolDistrict #MakeTheConnection #VS24 #InnovatingOurFuture