Essay: Small Chairs, Big Possibilities
In Bob Cisternino’s office, a child’s wheelchair begins in pieces.
The parts take shape on one of his 3D printers, each destined for a chair that will eventually leave his office and go home with a family. Before a build begins, children can request their favorite colors or characters to make the chair their own.
Bob, our Director of Facilities, has made a difference for four families by creating specialized chairs through MakeGood, an organization that acts as a conduit between those who like to build and children who need mobility devices. The best part? Families don’t need to pay a thing.
It started with TikTok.
That’s where Bob learned about MakeGood and what the organization does. After watching the videos, he was immediately drawn in: “I thought, ‘I could make toys all day, but this is a chance to do something that could change someone’s life for the better.’” To get started, he completed a small project to become a certified maker.
The printing process requires a 3D printer with a 256 x 256-millimeter build volume. From that small space, an extraordinary process begins: one that could potentially enlarge a child’s world in a massive way.
MakeGood calls the device a Toddler Mobility Trainer, designed to help children ages 1 to 8 gain movement and independence. It has a weight limit of 50 pounds.
While these specs describe who can use the chair, color and character choices offer another way to consider who it’s for: a particular child whose favorites and preferences deserve a place in the design. That’s what makes it special.
A favorite character, though seemingly a small detail, is one way to make a useful object one’s own.
When a build is complete, the creator personally delivers the chair to the family at a location everyone agrees on.
Bob recalls his first delivery: “The child’s reaction to seeing the chair was incredible. She just lit up and looked so happy to get in it.”
“I’ve been in contact with the parents a few times since and they keep saying how much it has helped the child,” he says. “They get a feeling of independence out of it as well.”
His work has also found support among our parishioners here at St. Ignatius. After Bob made a presentation to our conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, members approved funding for the materials needed to make two chairs, at approximately $175 to $200 per chair.
This gave our parish a concrete way to take part, helping to cover the components Bob would use to build something special for a child in need. It was a team effort: Bob’s time and skill, MakeGood’s design, and St. Vincent de Paul’s financial support all helped open up a child’s world one wheel at a time.
After his successful builds, Bob has now applied to become a MakeGood ambassador, a role that would allow him to represent the organization at trade shows and raise awareness of its mission. He hopes another maker will discover what he originally saw on his phone.
To date, four special chairs have made their way from Bob’s 3D workshop to four families who welcomed them. And perhaps, somewhere in New York City, a child awaits their own adventure on wheels and a creator to make it happen.
For more information about MakeGood and the Mobility Trainer program, visit https://3d-mobility.org/.
— Elizabeth O’Sullivan, Director of Communications