VOLUNTEERS FOR MEDICAL
ENGINEERING (VME)
Improving the Independence
of Individuals with Disabilities
in Maryland through
Creative Engineering
Who we are?:
VME is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization located in the
Workforce & Technology Center on Argonne Drive
in Baltimore, Maryland
VME’s Mission:
To improve the independence and quality
of life for individuals with disabilities through
innovative efforts of volunteers with expertise in
medicine, engineering and technology,
resulting in unique solutions to everyday
challenges faced by people with disabilities
What we do?:
•Design and build unique assistive devices
•Loan computers
•Provide information and referral
•Perform web searches for commercial
solutions
VME Clients
•Individuals of all ages, birth to elderly,
with any type of disability
•Disabled students from local area schools
•Organizations and agencies serving
individuals with disabilities
VME Volunteers
•Engineers, physicians, nurses, physical and
occupational therapists from local industries
•Retired engineers and medical professionals
•College & high school students
•Ordinary citizens with the desire to help
others
The VME Process
Client request received
Client Service Team (CST) evaluation
Project Review and Acceptance Committee (PRAC) evaluation
Device designed and made by volunteers
Device delivered to client
VME HISTORY
VME was founded by John Staehlin,
an engineer at Westinghouse in 1982.
John founded VME in an effort to
help disabled co-workers through
innovative engineering.
Fees:
•Individual project: $25 each
•Group project: $50 each
•Annual volunteer fee: $10
•Material allowance: $200 per project
PARTNERS/ASSOCIATES
CORPORATE
Northrop Grumman
Lockheed Martin
The Edgewood Chemical Biological Command (US ARMY)
ACADEMIC
Johns Hopkins School of Engineering
University of Maryland at Baltimore County
Community College of Baltimore County
Maryland Public School Systems
Eastern Technical High School
Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP
TWO PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
DELAWARE AgrAbility PROGRAM
•TRACTOR MOUNTING SYSTEM DESIGNED AND
BUILT BY JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
SENIORS FOR DISABLED PARK VOLUNTEERS
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP
•HIVE MAINTENANCE SYSTEM BEING DESIGNED AND
BUILT FOR DISABLED BEE KEEPER IN SOUTHERN
MARYLAND IN CONJUCTION WITH RESOURCES FOR
INDEPENDENCE OF WESTERN MARYLAND
HELPING EXAMPLE: A carpenter lost both hands in an industrial accident.
VME volunteers designed a way for his power tools to connect to his prosthetic arms and Johns
Hopkins Students designed a box to hold the tools so that he could attach and detach
the tools by himself.
Helping Example: Crib side modified from drop down to swing open
like a gate and the legs of the crib were extended so the mother’s
wheelchair can fit under the crib to facilitate transferring the baby.
Helping Example: Motorized backpack to allow student with
CP to access her school supplies without a caregiver.
Volunteers for Medical
Engineering, Inc.
CONTACT US:
Bob Coen
PHONE: 410.893.7292
EMAIL: bob@vmesolutions.org
www.vmesolutions.org
VME MAIN OFFICE
410.243.7495