Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Accessible Medical Instrumentation

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehab. Research Co-Principal Investigator: Molly Follette Story, M.S. Duration: November 1, 2002 – October 31, 2008 Total funding: $4.5 million

The RERC on Accessible Medical Instrumentation is guided by the vision that all persons should have access to healthcare instrumentation and services and to employment in the healthcare professions regardless of disability.

The goals of the RERC are to

1. Increase knowledge of, access to, and utilization of healthcare instrumentation and services by individuals with disabilities;
2. Increase awareness of and access to employment in the healthcare professions by individuals with disabilities; and
3. Serve as a national center of excellence for this priority area.

The RERC is being conducted collaboratively by partners in the Midwest and on the East and West Coasts. This national team conducts research, development and training projects and targets dissemination of project results to those constituencies most affected by their work: individuals with disabilities, healthcare service providers, and healthcare instrumentation manufacturers.

Link:

• RERC on Accessible Medical Instrumentation

Partners:


• Marquette University: College of Engineering
• Western University of Health Sciences: Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions
• University of California: Ergonomics Lab

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Universal Design and the Built Environment at NCSU

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Co-Principal Investigator: Molly Follette Story, M.S. Duration: September 1, 1999 – August 31, 2004 Total funding: $2.4 million

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment at NCSU was to

1. Improve the accessibility and usability of the built environment, and
2. Advance the field of universal design.

Four goals for the RERC were defined:

1. Increase knowledge of the complex and dynamic relationship between the individual and the environment, including knowledge of what design features, details and arrangements optimize the accessibility and usability of the built environment for the widest diversity of users.
2. Increase adoption and improve the practice of universal design by the building and product manufacturing industries.
3. Increase inclusion of the universal design approach in post-secondary design curricula and to increase the number of designers and researchers trained in universal design practices.
4. Increase awareness of and stimulate demand for universal design among builders, manufacturers, designers, human service professionals, and individuals with disabilities and their families.

Links:

• The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
• RERC on Accessible and Universal Design and the Built Environment at NCSU

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Accessible and Universal Design in Housing

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Principal Investigators: Michael L. Jones, Ph.D. and Ronald Mace, F.A.I.A.
Duration: July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1999
Total funding: $2.5 million

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible and Universal Design in Housing was to improve the quality and availability of accessible and universal housing in the United States.

Links:

• The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
• RERC on Accessible and Universal Design in Housing

Outputs:

• Consumer Product Guides: Universal Design Buyer’s Guides Series

Studies to Further the Development of Universal Design (Research and Development Project)

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Principle Investigators: Michael L. Jones, Ph.D. and Ronald Mace, F.A.I.A.
Duration: July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1997
Total funding: $600,000

The purpose of this project was to advance the field of universal design. Its most significant outputs were the development of the Principles of Universal Design and a book, the Universal Design File: Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities (North Carolina State University, 1998).

Link:

• The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University

Outputs:

• The Principles of Universal Design
• The Universal Design File: Designing for People of All Ages and Abilities

Universal Design Education Materials Online (Field-Initiated Project)

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Principal Investigator: Molly Follette Story, M.S.
Duration: October 1, 2000 – September 30, 2003
Total funding: $450,000

The purpose of this project was to develop an interactive Web site of outstanding universal design instructional materials, project ideas, visuals, teaching strategies and resources for use by design faculty, students, practicing designers and user/experts. The project was conducted collaboratively by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the University at Buffalo, and the Global Universal Design Educator’s Network.

Link:

• Universal Design Education Online

Partners:

• The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
• IDEA Center, University at Buffalo
• Global Universal Design Educator’s Network

Promoting the Practice of Universal Design (Field-Initiated Project)

Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Principal Investigator: Molly Follette Story, M.S.
Duration: June 1, 1998 – May 30, 2001
Total funding: $375,000

This project's purpose was to develop and implement an ongoing, self-supporting design evaluation and marketing program that responded to consumer and industry needs. The objectives of this project were to

1. Improve consumers' ability to recognize universal design;
2. Improve designers' ability to meet the needs of a diverse consumer base; and
3. Recognize and support industry efforts to successfully market universal design.

These objectives were achieved by

1. Developing a set of performance measures that reflect the Principles of Universal Design;
2. Determining reliability of these performance measures and implementing and testing the evaluation program;
3. Developing a plan for marketing and promoting the universal design evaluation program; and
4. Disseminating the results to appropriate audiences.

The project succeeded in developing designer and consumer versions of a set of Universal Design Performance Measures for Products but staff decided that a product design evaluation program was neither feasible nor desirable.

Links:

• The Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University
• Promoting the Practice of Universal Design

Outputs:

• Evaluating the Universal Design Performance of Products (Universal Design Performance Measures for Products, designer version)
• Universal Design: Product Evaluation Countdown (Universal Design Performance Measures for Products, consumer version)

A Review of Technical Requirements for Ramps

Sponsor: U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (now U.S. Access Board)
Principal Investigator: Jon A. Sanford, M.Arch.
Investigator: Molly Follette Story, M.S. – coordinator of human subjects testing
Duration: 1994-1996

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of the range of ramp slopes allowed under the ADA accessibility guidelines. One hundred seventy-one subjects of all ages and using different types of mobility aids traversed a 30-foot ramp varying in slope from 1:8 to 1:20. Data were recorded for pulse rate, energy expenditure, rate of travel, distance traveled, and the location of rest stops.

Link:

• Final Report: A Review of Technical Requirements for Ramps

Printable Version
page last updated September, 2008

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