Teacher Creates Prosthetic Hand for Student

Quick Smiles:

• STEAM teacher Scott Johnson designed and 3D-printed a lightweight prosthetic hand for student Jackson Farmer using affordable materials.
• Johnson developed the idea in secret for a year, ensuring it would be comfortable and give Jackson the ability to grasp and write.
• The prosthetic can be easily repaired and recreated by Jackson himself using resources from their school’s STEAM lab.

Scott Johnson, a STEAM teacher at Red Cross Elementary in Kentucky, noticed his student Jackson Farmer was wearing a non-functional rubber hand, inspiring him to make a real difference. Johnson used his expertise and the school’s 3D printers to create a functional, comfortable prosthetic hand, working quietly behind the scenes for a year.

With support from the E-Nable network, Johnson integrated practical design solutions to ensure the hand was lightweight and easy for Jackson to use during play. He waited until his design was ready before revealing the project to Jackson and his family.

“I never wanted him to feel like he had something heavy on his wrist; I want him to be able to play, so it’s pretty lightweight,” Johnson shared.

The final prosthetic was built from bioplastic, screws, fishing line, and rubber bands, costing just $20-$30. After 25 hours of printing and 4 hours of assembly, Jackson received the hand in his fourth-grade year, using wrist movement to open and close the fingers.

“It felt great. It felt like it was just right,” said Jackson. “(My favorite thing is) trying to write (with the hand) … I’m not that good, but I try.”

This caring teacher’s innovation not only gave Jackson independence, but ensured he could maintain and recreate his hand for years to come. Share this uplifting story to inspire more acts of kindness in our schools!

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