Author: accessibleplaces
![Alfred Rochon sitting at his desk with his 3d printer.](https://i0.wp.com/accessibleplaces.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alfred2_cropped.jpg?fit=574%2C432&ssl=1)
Alfred Gives Back With 3D Printing – Makers Making Change
Written by Austin Cozicar
“Actually, it was very similar to what I was doing when I was working before I had my stroke,” Alfred says about 3D printing. “I’d been working with Coordinate Measuring Machines for probably 30 years, it was very similar to a printer, instead of printing we were measuring. We would measure the part, so it’s basically the same set-up, and same idea, and the software is very similar, so it was a good transition for me to do this, because it’s so familiar to me.”
Deciding he needed his own 3D printer, Alfred purchased a Prusa printer. Unable to build the printer himself because of his stroke, he called upon the Vancouver Hack Space for help. Steve, a long-time VHS member and 3D printing expert, answered the call and built the printer, fulfilling a goal of his to build a genuine Prusa printer.
Since then, Alfred has kept busy. He’s printed well over 1,000 parts since getting his own printer — many for various Makers Making Change events including a ton of parts for switches and toys for #HackingForTheHolidays, many writing aids, and pretty much anything in between.
Volunteering this way works well for Alfred. He’ll print the batch of parts that the Makers Making Change team requests and they’ll pick them up when the parts are ready, saving Alfred from having to make the trip.
“It’s been a good compromise for me, because to do volunteer work, if it was just a one-off part and you’re just doing something for one person, then you have to put it all together and build it, and do the electrical and do the soldering, and then mail it off or send it, and that’s a much more difficult process for me, because I have difficulty going out,” he says. “And I’d be doing one every day, I’d be running back and forth to the post office everyday, and I just don’t have the energy to do that.”
“Alfred’s 3D printer must be one of the most used ones in Vancouver! He’s helped us build many devices for our partners and school build events. While students and volunteers have been great in building many of our assistive switches, they need the 3D printed parts to build the devices,” says Neil Squire Director of Innovation Chad Leaman. “When we pick up prints from Alfred, we know we’re getting great, reliable parts, and it helps us meet the growing demand for the program.”
For Alfred, the fact that his volunteering — much like his day job — helps other people with disabilities is the key to the whole operation.
“That’s very important, that’s what I was trying to do is be helpful and help other people that have disabilities, because obviously I’m one of them,” he shares.
“I feel sort of an obligation to help others.”
This post originally appeared on the Makers Making Change‘s website on 5/24/2023, and is written by Austin Cozicar.
![](https://i0.wp.com/accessibleplaces.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Picture7.jpg?fit=850%2C566&ssl=1)
Accessible Places – Making Spaces More Accessible
As we age, accessibility becomes more important to maintain our independence and quality of life. Accessible Places, a business owned by Alfred Rochon, ensures that homes, businesses, and public spaces are accessible to all seniors and people with disabilities.
We provide a variety of services to ensure that spaces are accessible to everyone. We offer residential services, including Age in Place certification to ensure that homes are safe to live in independently by seniors with and without permanent disabilities. They also provide pre-construction services, where Alfred can consult with architects and construction teams about ways to ensure that the designs of new construction projects are accessible, easy to navigate, and designed for wheelchair and other mobility accommodations.
Moreover, Accessible Places provides commercial services, including consultation and review of all kinds of businesses and work environments to ensure availability and accessibility to all kinds of workers. This includes recommendations on accommodations and tools to retrofit inaccessible places to become more accessible. They also provide Evac+Chairs, a life-saving tool that helps evacuate people with disabilities and seniors during an emergency.
With over 30 years of experience in construction and design, Alfred Rochon can help you analyze your space for accessibility and help you meet your goals. Accessible Places also offers discounts on orders of emergency evacuation chairs and sleds, ensuring that all businesses have the tools they need to save lives.
To learn more about Accessible Places and our commitment to accessibility, visit our website at https://accessibleplaces.ca/ or check out our online store at https://accessibleplaces.ca/shop/. You can also contact Alfred at 1.604.315.8151 or alfred@accessibleplaces.ca. Our hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm.