Learning happens best when experienced in real life—alongside real people, real challenges, and real impact. This semester, Zach experienced exactly that through his experiential learning placement at Devices 4 the Disabled (D4D).
Zach joined D4D through the University of Illinois Chicago’s Rehabilitation Sciences Experiential Learning course taught by Orit Schwartz, MAEd, MS, OTR/L and Jennifer Wescott, OTD, OTR/L. The semester-long course connects high-achieving undergraduate students with community-based health and social service organizations, where learning happens through service, reflection, and meaningful contribution. Students are selected through a competitive application process based on academic performance, prerequisite coursework, and a demonstrated interest in community-focused care.
From the start, Zach became an active member of our team—supporting day-to-day work, special projects, and clinical services that directly impact the people we serve. He gained hands-on experience in nonprofit operations and spent time in our Seating and Mobility Clinic, observing and assisting as individuals were evaluated, fitted, and educated on essential mobility equipment. He even served as the "patient" to demonstrate the proper use of a patient lift and learned safe patient transport. In our warehouse, Zach helped refurbish, repair, sort, and organize equipment, learned safe equipment use, and developed technical skills that support rehabilitation technology and clinical care.
Through this immersive experience, Zach gained a deeper understanding of how nonprofit organizations operate and the many barriers individuals face in accessing healthcare and mobility support.
One of Zach's key projects focused on strengthening connections between D4D and local social service agencies and nonprofits that provide home accessibility modifications—helping expand pathways to independence beyond equipment alone. His work highlighted the importance of collaboration across systems to meet the full needs of individuals and families.
"It has been such an amazing opportunity to work alongside the entire team while gaining invaluable experience," Zach shared. "I've learned so much about collaboration, access to care, and meeting the needs of each individual."
D4D is proud to serve as a site for UIC's experiential learning course —offering students interested in rehabilitation sciences, healthcare, and related fields an immersive, real-world experience to augment the classroom learning. The partnership provides exposure to the complexity of rehabilitation work, where access, advocacy, and creativity matter just as much as clinical skill.
For Zach, the experience reinforced why he is pursuing a career in physical therapy. For D4D, his time with us demonstrated the power of academic partnerships that prepare future healthcare professionals while strengthening community impact today.
We are grateful to UIC, Orit Schwartz, and Jennifer Wescott, and to Zach for his commitment, energy, and willingness to learn alongside us. His semester at D4D is a reminder that when students step into the community, learning becomes transformational—for everyone!