Local Inventor Teaches Robotics to Special Needs Students

Paramus resident Steven Paley has been donating his time to teach a robotics class for developmentally disabled students at the Sinai School in Teaneck.

Paley’s students learn a variety of skills, including programming, mechanical design and sensor use to build robots to perform a variety of tasks. But the real thing they learn, Paley said, is to believe in themselves.

“Robotics is really a ploy. What I give them is confidence,” Paley said.

At the beginning of the class, the students are initially reluctant to solve the problems themselves because they are often told they cannot do things for themselves. With some guidance, however, Paley’s students find that they can achieve what they put their minds to. He said the subject matter is a large part of what helps him push the children to succeed. During the class, the students work on a variety of projects that culminate in a robotic sumo wrestling competition.

“Kids overcome their disabilities because the goal is so compelling to them,” Paley said.

Of course, teaching special needs students is not easy. The students he teaches have a variety of disabilities, and so each student requires special attention, especially when tackling a difficult subject like robotics.

Paley’s strategy is to teach his students to solve problems, which is something he knows a lot about. Paley has worked as an inventor for most of his life. Even his childhood led toward invention, when Paley would accompany his father on trips to trade shows, where they would look at the new products and get inspiration. Paley holds nine U.S. patents and several international patents.

The trick to inventing, Paley said, is combining seemingly unrelated things to solve problems.

“The power of the unconscious mind is key in inventing,” Paley said.

However, after working at places like Bell Labs and selling the company he and his brothers ran in 2001, Paley started the ARISE program (Applied Robotics Instruction for Special Education) and wrote a book, The Art of Invention, which explores the creative process for aspiring or established inventors and engineers.

Combining seemingly unrelated things has also inspired Paley to expand his teaching to include gifted students.

After he had a gifted student in one of his recent special needs classes, Paley said he was impressed at how much more the students were able to accomplish. As a result, Paley is planning to teach another robotics class for gifted high school students.