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MILE Project

2003-04

There are few programs in elementary schools that teach school aged children about people with different abilities. Most people will have a disability in their lifetime yet most children and adults have little understanding of what it means to have a disability.

The team created concepts for MILE, a Mobile Interactive Learning Environment to teach children about different abilities. The MILE includes interactive, curriculum-linked, interdisciplinary activities and a supplemental disabilities awareness guide for educators.

The MILE houses a variety of disabilities-relevant hands-on activities that encourage elementary school children to explore how all people are different from one another and how certain kinds of differences, called disabilities are perceived and treated in society. Also, the design includes how social and technological changes have improved the lives of people with disabilities and encourages young people to consider how they can contribute to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

The team designed and built prototypes of activities which teach children about communicating with Braille: the Braille Wall board for group learning, smaller Braille boards for personalized learning, and a customizable t-shirt activity which allows students to write and read messages on their clothing with Braille.

In October 2004 supporters The Field Foundation and Humana’s Chicago Benefits gave grants to Archeworks for the pilot and production of the MILE project so that it can be developed and implemented into school programs in the Chicago area.

Contact Email:
info@archeworks.org