BRTC’s Machine Tool Technology Students Designing Wheelchair for Disabled Kitten

Students: Jaree Johnson, Devon Denham, and Ben Stevens

POCAHONTAS, AR Nov. 5 – Black River Technical College’s Machine Tool Technology students are designing and constructing a wheelchair for a paralyzed kitten.

Ozzie’s Legacy, a local animal rescue shelter, has a kitten named Babs whose back legs do not function properly and is currently using a wheelchair made out of LEGO bricks to get around. BRTC student Jaree Johnson saw a Facebook post about the disabled kitten and asked Instructor Rick Barker if the class could design and make a new wheelchair for Babs.

Babs recently visited Instructor Barker’s Introduction to Machining class, and the students took measurements of Babs so they can start working on a new wheelchair that will help her function independently and will grow with her.

For more information about BRTC’s, Machine Tool Technology Program, visit https://blackrivertech.org/academics/technical-programs/machine-shop.