Air Academy High Students Design Adaptive Aids for Younger Peers

Engineering students create custom solutions to help elementary students with special needs

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Students from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs have used their engineering skills to design custom adaptive aids for younger students with special needs. The high school students worked with their teacher to create a supportive chair bracket for a first-grader at Douglass Valley Elementary, as well as a custom wheelchair attachment for a student at Woodmen-Roberts Elementary, to help facilitate play and interaction with their peers.

Why it matters

This project highlights how high school students can apply their technical skills to make a real difference in the lives of younger students with adaptive needs. It also reflects a broader commitment by Academy District 20 to prepare students for meaningful contributions beyond the classroom, both in college and future careers.

The details

Air Academy High School students Amanda Gorrell, Elianna Haffner and Xavier Cofield, working with their engineering teacher Jason Buhler, designed two separate adaptive aids for elementary students in the district. For a first-grader named Miriam at Douglass Valley Elementary, they created custom brackets to help her use a supportive chair setup more comfortably with her peers. They also designed a custom wheelchair attachment for a student named Liam at Woodmen-Roberts Elementary to better support his play and interaction with classmates, a project that is still in development.

  • The project was undertaken during the 2025-2026 school year.

The players

Air Academy High School

A public high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado that is part of Academy District 20.

Jason Buhler

An engineering teacher at Air Academy High School who supervised the student design projects.

Miriam

A first-grade student at Douglass Valley Elementary School who received a custom chair bracket designed by the Air Academy students.

Liam

A student at Woodmen-Roberts Elementary School who received a custom wheelchair attachment designed by the Air Academy students.

Academy District 20

The public school district in Colorado Springs, Colorado that includes Air Academy High School and the two elementary schools where the adaptive aids were implemented.

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What they’re saying

“These designs and experiences reflect a broader commitment to prepare the students for meaningful contributions, as well as college and career.”

— Academy District 20 (koaa.com)

The takeaway

This project demonstrates how high school students can leverage their technical skills to make a tangible, positive impact on the lives of younger students with special needs. It's an inspiring example of how schools can foster meaningful community engagement and prepare students for future success.