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IDEATE Engineering Competition

Engineering
Community Service
Leadership

SourceAmerica

MultipleAnnual competition

The IDEATE Engineering Competition is an annual design challenge organized by SourceAmerica that tasks high school and college student teams with creating assistive devices to help people with disabilities succeed in the workplace. Teams work directly with subject matter experts, individuals with disabilities who provide real-world feedback and test the devices throughout the design process. The competition culminates in a virtual finals event where teams showcase their innovations to a national audience. It is a unique opportunity for aspiring engineers to develop technical skills while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Visit sourceamerica.org

Skills You'll Build

Problem Solving

Breaking down a challenge and working through it methodically to a solution.

CAD Design

Modeling parts and products in 3D software before they're built for real.

Robotics & Hardware

Designing and building physical machines that sense, move, or respond to the world.

Team Leadership

Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.

Project Management

Planning tasks, timelines, and resources to get a project done on schedule.

Advocacy

Speaking up and taking action on behalf of a cause or group of people.

Related Careers

Mechanical Engineer

Students design and build assistive devices solving real workplace challenges for people with disabilities.

Biomedical Engineer

Students create adaptive tools and equipment to improve job performance and comfort for people with disabilities.

Industrial Engineer

Students optimize workplace tools and processes to increase productivity and worker comfort in job settings.

Nonprofit Program Manager

Competition fosters disability inclusion advocacy and community partnerships aligned with nonprofit mission work.

Quick Facts

Grade Levels
9th - 12th
Format
Hybrid
Competitiveness
Selective
Best For
Engineering-minded disability advocates

Similar Activities

Community Experiences

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