Bagging Device for One Handed Users

Accommodations for disabilities in the workplace have improved significantly in recent years. Despite these improvements, an analysis [1] found that only “15.6% of workers with disabilities report needing accommodations, and 12.2% report receiving them.” Cottonwood Industries was founded in 1972 and is located in Lawrence, KS. A variety of jobs such as labeling, textiles, medical, and packaging are completed by employees. A large portion of the 140 person workforce at Cottonwood Industries is limited by physical and/or mental disabilities. Of these disabilities, 10 workers have full use of only one hand and struggle daily with simple tasks such as packaging. Manager, Steve Steinbach, identified a strong need for a device which would assist these workers by reducing frustration and speeding up the packaging process for them.