Life to the Max Podcast
Welcome to 'Life to the Max Podcast,' where resilience meets inspiration!
Join us on a transformative journey through the life stories of remarkable individuals, including Quadriplegic Army Veteran Maximilian Gross. In this empowering podcast, we dive into tales of triumph, courage, and the human spirit's unwavering ability to overcome obstacles.
Our show is a celebration of diverse narratives, from awe-inspiring achievements to the darkest of traumas. 'Life to the Max' is a testament to the power of living authentically, no matter the circumstances. We believe that everyone has a unique story worth sharing, and we invite individuals from all walks of life to join us.
Discover the profound meaning of living 'Life to the Max'—a concept that resonates differently with each storyteller. It's a journey of perspective, resilience, and finding joy amidst life's challenges. Tune in to be inspired, motivated, and reminded that there's strength in every story.
Ready to redefine what it means to live life to the fullest? Share your story with us and become a part of this uplifting community. Because, at 'Life to the Max,' every story matters.
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Life to the Max Podcast
Affordable Assistive Tools Built By Students at UNT
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DailyLivingLabs.com
What if assistive tech didn’t require a second paycheck or a months-long insurance battle? We sit down at the Abilities Expo in Dallas with Cameron and Catherine from the University of North Texas, who are partnering with Daily Living Labs to build six practical, low-cost prototypes that make daily life easier—without the luxury price tag. From an adapted utensil with a customizable, 3D-printed grip to a universal writing aid and a shower setup that dispenses soap automatically, they show how simple materials and smart design can restore independence for people with limited hand mobility.
We dig into the reality many disabled users face: essential tools priced like fashion accessories. The team shares why they set a hard target of under fifty dollars per device and how open, at-home fabrication flips the script on affordability. Along the way, we spotlight DIY creator Sabrina of “Sabrina Makes It Work,” whose ingenuity proves that user-led design can outpace the market. We also talk through the project’s structure—research, AI, and product development—and what’s next as they plan to collaborate with occupational therapists to refine ergonomics, safety, and fit for everyday use.
We get candid about the hardest part too: finding the confidence to reach out, listen, and iterate when feedback stings. If you care about accessibility, open-source design, and tools that work in real kitchens and bathrooms, this one will leave you energized and ready to build.
Subscribe, share with a friend who loves DIY problem-solving, and leave a review to help more people discover affordable, user-centered accessibility solutions. Then visit DailyLivingLabs.com and tell the team what tool you want to see next.
Prototypes For Hand Dexterity
SPEAKER_00So we have um currently six physical prototypes. The first two are for people with limited hand dexterity. We have an adapted utensil, which has uh adaptable grip and is able to be 3D printed. We also have a um adaptability grip that is able to hold on to things like markers or sharpies um and be able to help people who need uh assistance writing.
SPEAKER_03What's up guys? It's Squad Father and Life to Max, and we're back at it again at the Abilities Expo. This time in Dallas.
SPEAKER_01Please enjoy this Life to the Max because a couple of points are trying to get by, just a couple of T's are trying to survive. Live to the Max.
SPEAKER_03Cameron?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Cameron.
SPEAKER_03Cameron and Catherine and you guys work for a company called Daily Living Labs.
SPEAKER_02Daily Living Labs.
Six Low-Cost Assistive Designs
SPEAKER_03Daily Living Labs. Can you explain a little bit about it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so we uh are currently students at the University of North Texas, and we are partnered with Daily Living Labs to help um begin their um fundamental research. Uh we are specifically user experience designers. Uh so we had three main teams: research, which Cameron was on, uh AI, which created a product solutions finder, and uh product development, and we're showcasing some of those products today.
SPEAKER_03What are the products?
Affordability vs Pricey Products
SPEAKER_00So we have um currently six physical prototypes. Uh the first two are for people with limited hand dexterity. We have an adapted utensil, which has an adaptabil uh adaptable grip and is able to be 3D printed. Uh we also have a um adaptability grip that is able to hold on to things like markers or sharpies and be able to help people who need uh assistance writing. We also have a uh shower prototype that's able to automatically dispense soap, so for people who aren't able to dispense soap from like a bottle, as well as a uh scrubber to help people who have no upper bottom up body mobility.
SPEAKER_03You guys are really thought of everything. If you work with OTs. OTs? Uh occupational therapists.
SPEAKER_02We haven't yet. People have been coming around and being like, have you guys worked with occupational therapists yet? And like, duh, why haven't we? Not yet, but as this pro we're undergraduate students, so as this project is handed off next semester to a graduate team, that's something that they're gonna look into.
SPEAKER_03Oh yes, we're gonna keep on with the mission of daily living uh learn labs. Is that correct? Daily living labs. So I'm like confused a little bit. Is it like like an item that you buy, like prosthetics?
SPEAKER_00Uh they're currently not for sale. Uh we were uh dedicating to make products that were specifically be able to be made at home. Um, ideally for something that's fairly affordable, so under$50 was our main.
DIY Inspiration From Sabrina
SPEAKER_03That's amazing because I I was I was at a uh center a few uh weeks ago and I saw a water bottle. It's called a giraffe water bottle, shout out giraffe water bottle, if you're listening to this. Uh their their water bottle is like a nice looking like straw or whatever, like for disabilities,$250 for a giraffe water bottle. Shout out giraffe water bottle, by the way, if you guys are listening. Yeah, and I was like, yeah, no, I'm good. I'm not gonna say$250 for a plastic water bottle. I didn't like this like goose snack uh straw. So shout out to you guys for uh trying to make it less affordable or uh make it uh more affordable for the people because that's like a big thing in a disabled community. They just price couch the hell out of everybody.
Biggest Challenge: Speaking Up
SPEAKER_02Are you familiar with um Zabrita? Zabrita makes it work. She's got a YouTube channel where we interviewed her too. Um she's got a YouTube channel where she has incomplete quadruple folk, quadruple, something like that, um, where she makes her own DIY tools like for her on her YouTube channel. And it's like so amazing. Like she has um adaptive feeding tools for herself. She has uh when we interviewed her, she has like this sling that she made uh to help her like move her hands around her chest. Um, all things that she made by herself in like her garage. Uh so yeah, affordability in DIY tools.
SPEAKER_03She's quite full of she was doing all this.
SPEAKER_02She is in um uh community living home, so she would like instruct people that uh work with her. Yeah, so she had like her own team at her home.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, she would ideate these solutions and then she would have people help build her stuff.
SPEAKER_03That's wild. Yeah, like I can't imagine. I remember I was doing college work a few like a few years ago, and I was like telling people, no do this, this, this. I can't imagine saying no, measure this, this, this is awesome. Shout out to Sabrina? Yeah, shout out to Sabrina.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Sabrina makes it work on YouTube.
SPEAKER_03So Sabrina's uh probably inspired you guys. Yeah, that's awesome. Uh hopefully we can get Sabrina on the podcast. So, um, what's one of the biggest obstacles you guys have uh faced?
SPEAKER_02I know. Oh, sorry.
SPEAKER_03Just like life in general.
SPEAKER_02Life in general?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I would say both for this project and in life, getting yourself out there and not being afraid of like talking to people is so difficult because you want to you want to say the right things and you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. So that's something that I think I've struggled with, and I think all of us have struggled with with this project.
SPEAKER_03But this is we have 90,000 subscribers on YouTube, so uh hopefully you're okay with that. I hope so. Yeah, it was a pleasure having you guys on. Uh and I hope you guys uh keep going with your mission and uh you know keep striving and doing great things. Is there anything uh you would like to see the people out there?
SPEAKER_02Check out daily living labs.com. Uh we don't have our AI tool on there quite yet, but as this project moves forward, we would love to get y'all's feedback um and continue supporting this project.
SPEAKER_03Thank you so much for being on the podcast. If you guys enjoyed this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath for me. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much. Thank you. Never really trippin', try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool, are you lames? Keep it bogus. Ahead on a scribble, looking out for the locust.