She has won dozens of awards for improving the lives of people living with disabilities.
Lianna Genovese, CEO and founder of ImaginAble Solutions, isn’t the kind of person who backs down from a challenge.
So when the 25-year-old Hamilton resident found out she had a chance to meet retired NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, she wanted to make the most of the opportunity.
Genovese is the creator of Guided Hands, an assisted device that helps people with limited hand mobility to write, draw and use technology like iPads. The 3D-printed device is manufactured at Hamilton’s McMaster Innovation Park by a team of six employees. Since it was released two years ago, more than 730 devices have been shipped to 23 countries, benefiting children and adults.
On Nov. 9, Genovese was honoured with the Muhammad Ali Six Core Principle Award for Respect at the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards in a ceremony at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky.
Along with O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, Genovese met Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali, and several other disability advocates.
Genovese and her ImaginAble team members are big O’Neal fans.
About two days prior to her Kentucky flight, the team decided to create a Shaq-sized prototype.
“It started off as a joke, but then I said to my team, ‘I think we should do it,’” Genovese recalled.
With encouragement from Lonnie Ali, Genovese finished her award acceptance speech and walked directly to O’Neal, who was seated in the audience.
“I mentioned in my speech: ‘Mr. O’Neal, I have a surprise for you,’” Genovese recalled.
O’Neal tried the device, and it fit his hand perfectly.
After the demonstration, Genovese said O’Neal turned to her and asked, “You invented this?’”
“Yes,” Genovese told him.
O’Neal then asked, “Where are you from?”
Genovese replied, “Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.”
O’Neal signed the device and shook hands with Genovese, who walked away with goosebumps.
Looking back, she’s glad she approached the NBA star, who was also honoured for his charitable contributions.
“That is the boldest and craziest thing I’ve ever done,” she recalled. “I really hope that was memorable to him as well.”
Along with O’Neal, Genovese felt inspired meeting advocates like musician Nile Rodgers — honoured for his anti-racism work — and Dawne Gee, who was recognized for her non-profit, A Recipe to End Hunger.
“It was wonderful to accept the award and use it as a platform to create awareness for disability, innovation and accessibility for the community,” Genovese said.
Genovese noted Muhammad Ali was more than just one of the world’s top boxers.
“When I found out that Mr. Ali was an artist and later in life had Parkinson’s, I was moved, because my passion is about making self-expression possible for people with disabilities. I really felt connected to him through this award.”
With support from Lonnie Ali, Genovese has launched a Guided Hands sponsorship program, which allows donors to sponsor assistive devices for recipients in need.
Genovese said Guided Hands isn’t just improving the lives of people with disabilities. It’s also helping caregivers and families, many of whom have witnessed their child or loved one write a Mother’s Day or birthday card for the first time.
Guided Hands uses a mechanical sliding system that helps individuals use the gross motor skills in their shoulder rather than the fine motor skills in their hand. The device uses a 3D-printed hand piece that’s designed for the user’s level of hand mobility. Genovese developed the technology as an 18-year-old biomedical and mechanical engineering student at McMaster University.
“We’re changing the family dynamic and we’re impacting the lives of families and parents,” said Genovese. “Now they’re finally able to hang a drawing or a piece of artwork on the fridge that a child with a disability created with Guided Hands.”
Genovese said next year, ImaginAble plans to release an updated version of Guided Hands specially designed for people with Parkinson’s disease, tremors and spastic movements.