Training healthcare professionals and 3D creators for the empowerment of people with disabilities: perspectives from the DEEP Project

The DEEP (Disability and professional Empowerment Engaging 3D Printing) training program aimed to explore the integration of 3D printing technologies into disability care, with a focus on fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and enhancing prosocial skills among health care professionals and 3D makers. This study gathered the experiences of a total of 40 health care professionals and 3D makers who participated in the pilot program in Italy and Spain. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the training facilitated active collaboration and deeper engagement with individuals with disabilities, promoting autonomy and participation in the co-design of the assistive devices they need. However, some participants also highlighted challenges such as financial constraints and limited accessibility to 3D printing technologies. Nuances in the experiences of Italian and Spanish participants were also identified. Overall, the findings suggest that the DEEP training had a positive impact on empowering individuals with disabilities in their care process by supporting social inclusion, autonomy, and the co-creation of solutions that truly meet users’ needs. These results highlight the potential of combining 3D printing technologies with prosocial and collaborative approaches to improve disability care practices.