His designs include a relatively simple gadget to attach a sippy cup to a wheelchair, allowing a child to drink independently and on their own schedule. A more complex device is enabling 2-year-old Kahlani, who has no arms, to press a button on her highchair with her foot and maneuver a spoon or fork to feed herself from a bowl on the chair’s tray. In addition to being able to feed herself, Pigford noted, the process is also helping the toddler become more dexterous with her feet, a skill that could help her manipulate other assistive tools throughout her life.

One thing Pigford’s devices have in common is that, whenever possible, they are made from off-the-shelf items that are fairly inexpensive. In this way, many of the devices he creates can be made by other people when he provides parts lists and instructions. However, the way he uses things is testament to his unique design abilities.

“I typically seek out alternative uses for things in the world,” he said. “Photographic clamps and tripods can be used to hold electronic devices, or a flexible desk lamp can be used to lift a sippy cup. I’ve always been like that — looking for things that can be adapted to other uses.”

For Ewa Okla, who was treated at DuPont Children’s Hospital as a child and now works full-time for a health insurance company and tutors in the evenings, learning about Pigford’s work has been a boost to her lifestyle, which was already quite independent. Born with AMC, she is unable to lift her arms and uses a sling that resembles an oversized rubber band to hold her hand in position so that she can type.

“I don’t require a lot of equipment, and I can type about 35 words a minute with one hand using the sling, so I do fine at work,” Okla said. “But I can’t feed myself, and when I started a new job, I especially didn’t want to be dependent on my co-workers at lunchtime.”

Donohoe referred her to Pigford, who designed a device they call The Pivot. With it, Okla can use her hand that is already held up by her sling to lift food with a mechanical fork and eat on her own. Pigford has built many prototypes, and she has worked with him to fine-tune the device. The Pivot is quick, convenient and portable and gives her the ability to eat a variety of foods — picking up a sandwich or a slice of pizza doesn’t work too well with a spoon, for example — that more expensive commercial devices don’t always offer, she said.

“Working with him has been a great experience, and I think he appreciates that I can give him the kind of feedback that really young children can’t,” Okla said. “He’s been open to all the ideas I’ve come up with, and I hope we can keep working on other projects.”

Pigford is part of UD’s MakerNetwork for students, faculty and staff and is co-director of the Interaction Design Lab. Students majoring in everything from engineering to health sciences and entrepreneurship are welcome to contribute to projects, he said.

“This kind of work is directly helping an individual, and it makes a real difference, especially because autonomy is such a big issue for people with disabilities,” Pigford said. “I feel like everything I do in this area is time well spent.”