Teacher Creates 3D Prosthetic Hand for Student.

Scott Johnson teaches at Red Cross Elementary School in Kentucky. He had observed Kindergartner Jackson wearing a skin-tone hand made out of a rubber-like material. While it mimicked the appearance of a real hand, it lacked the functionality to grip and hold items, and Jackson struggled to keep up with classroom skills like writing.

Scott decided to apply his own engineering skills to create a more functional prosthetic using the school’s 3D printers. He reached out to several other engineers for design advice and support, and he also started communicating online with 3D printer hobbyists with experience working on similar projects. With the support of these professionals and enthusiasts, Scott worked for a year to create a low-cost and functional 3D-printed hand. 

Jackson’s new prosthetic allowed him to do all the other things his peers were doing in class and beyond. Scott's generous project earned him the title 2025 Teacher of the Year in Kentucky. 

“For the longest time, I didn’t tell anyone other than my wife what I was working on,” Scott said. “What if I found out I was trying to do something far beyond my skill set? I didn’t want to falsely get anyone’s hopes up.”

Once he created a prototype, Scott felt ready to show Jackson and his mother. They both liked what they saw and encouraged him to continue his project of attempting to complete a full hand. Scott carefully designed the prosthetic with Jackson’s individual needs in mind. He used Jackson’s feedback along the way to ensure the final product would be to his liking.

In total, the hand required 25 hours of 3D printing time and an additional four hours for assembly. Jackson simply needs to bend his wrist to activate the moving parts, which includes fishing lines, bands and screws attached to fingers and the prosthetic wrist. Scott designed a fulcrum lever to control the hand's movement. 

Jackson was excited to finally get to try out his new prosthetic. 

“It felt great. It felt like it was just right,” recalled Jackson. 

He said the best part was being able to do more things with it. When Jackson flexes his wrist down, the fingers close. When he relaxes, the hand opens. Rubber fingertips and foam on the inside make the interior softer for skin contact. The cost of materials cost totaled about $20 to $30.

“I never wanted him to feel like he had something heavy on his wrist. I want him to be able to play, so it’s pretty lightweight,” explained Scott.

Scott gave the 3D printer design files to Jackson's family so they have the freedom to reprint larger versions of the prosthetic as he grows.

Scott’s lab introduces elementary-aged students to the process of operating 3D printers. Scott said he enjoys teaching STEAM subjects because it helps his students develop confidence. They learn how technology and art can work together.

The Foundation for a Better Life and PassItOn Believe that Scott Johnson is a hero. His action is a great example of using innovation for good. He utilized his own skill set to create something that would improve the quality of his student’s life. Please help us celebrate Scott by sharing his inspiring story.  

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