As a little boy, due to my physical limitations, I was content to sit inside, building structures with my Legos, while other kids were playing sports outside. Ever since then I developed a love for building and design, so I decided to attend the High school for Constructed Trades, Engineering and Architecture (CTEA) in Queens, NY. The school had an Architecture program that led me to acquire a certification in Architectural Drafting. Learning the basics of architecture and drafting allowed me to confirm my deep passion for this field.

Currently I am pursuing a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree at New York Institute of Technology, but I also wanted to experience the industry first-hand. By taking the initiative in my freshman year, presently I am working for two different registered architects in the Long Island area. Each one focuses on different aspects in the field: one residential and one commercial. 

In my second year at NYIT, Soohee Lee was my Architectural Design professor. One time we were asked to design a multi-generational house, and with her guidance, I took the approach of designing the house for a physically challenged client. Then Professor Lee informed me about her initial vision for founding the San Institute of Design and Technology. A school that provides vocational technical training for physically disabled students to pursue their passion and career in design and technology.

I was very excited to be one of the very first contributors to join the SIDT team, since this relates to me in so many ways. 

The San Institute of Design and Technology is important because it bridges the gap for people who are disadvantaged to become successful in a Design and Technology career. People with disabilities bring a unique insight to the design community as our day to day lives depend on American Disability Act (ADA) standards. We can use our perspective to elevate design to make ADA more inclusive, not only for the physically challenged, but also for the general population. 

Additionally, not all physically-challenged people are the same. One of the important services offered at SIDT is the assessment of each student based on their goals and limitations to help personalize students’ education. For example, for someone who has hand-dexterity issues, we can provide a special vertical mouse or a customized keyboard and train them to change their weakness into strengths.

Arib Chowdhury, 2021