In this conversation, Dr. Rory Cooper (LinkedIn, Google Scholar) shares his journey into rehabilitation engineering, discussing the evolution of wheelchair design, to which he contributed a tremendous amount, the importance of designing with people with disabilities, and the challenges of accessibility in assistive technology. At the University of Pittsburgh, he heads the Human Engineering Research Laboratory. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based solutions and the impact of societal changes on the perception of disabilities. The discussion also touches on his experiences in the Paralympics as both an athlete and a sports scientist. The conversation also touches on the significance of community and personal achievements in sports, culminating in a discussion about future trends in assistive technology and the importance of communication in advancing the field. He also shared where he stores all his medals :)

This episode was powered by:

• Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

In this conversation, Sasha and Anni Kern, Staff of Community & Outreach at ETH Zurich, discuss the CYBATHLON, an event that promotes the development of assistive technology through friendly competition. Anni shares insights on the event's evolution, the importance of user-centered design, and the various disciplines involved in the competition. They also explore the impact of CYBATHLON on accessibility and inclusion, as well as future innovations in assistive technology, particularly in the realm of brain-computer interfaces.

The CYBATHLON competition will take place on Oct 25-27 in Zurich, Switzerland. It can also be streamed live here.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

Drew Redepenning (University of Pittsburgh profile) is a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident physician, biomedical engineer, and certified assistive technology specialist, with a passion for adaptive gaming. In this episode, we discuss the evolution and importance of adaptive gaming, the challenges of funding and accessibility, and the creation of Gaming Readapted, a resource for adaptive gaming equipment. Drew shares insights on evaluating adaptive controllers, the growing field of adaptive e-sports, and the role of assistive technology specialists. You can find other useful resources on adaptive gaming here.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

HuskyADAPT is a student organization at the University of Washington that supports accessible design and inclusive play technology. It started as a toy adaptation club and grew into a larger organization that focuses on universal design and includes design teams that work on projects that address specific needs of individuals with disabilities with the goal to create usable and workable solutions. The organization also hosts toy adaptation events with partners like Microsoft and Google. The adapted toys are donated to individuals and organizations in the community. The main aim of HuskyADAPT to make play accessible for all children and promote inclusive design.

Useful resources:

• Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Electronic Learning Activity Table
• "Let's Adapt for Everyone!" book
• SWITCHED Adapted Toys Youtube Channel
• "Affordable Adaptations" book
• Switch adapted toys shop on Etsy
• AdaptedDesign3D on Etsy
• HuskyADAPT adaptable toy list
• RePlay for Kids - toy adapting organizations near you

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This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

In this episode, Dr. Megan O'Brien (LinkedIn, Google Scholar, personal webpage) discusses her journey to becoming an Associate Director at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, her work in wearable technology for improving and tracking movement in people with disabilities, and the role of neuroeconomics in movement research. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities of using wearable technology in rehab engineering, focusing on data accuracy, privacy concerns, and the role of AI.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

Dr. Mohanraj Thirumalai (LinkedIn) is an assistant professor at the University of Birmingham, Alabama, and a director of the NIDILRR-funded Rehab Engineering Research Center on Recreational Technologies (RERC RecTech). In this episode, he discusses the work being done in the field of recreational assistive technology at the RecTech center. Founded in 2002, it focuses on developing and adapting technologies to increase access to exercise, sports, and recreation for people with disabilities. Examples of projects include the development of a low-cost, portable frame running device and an active video gaming controller that can be used with any game. The center also works on developing industry standards for inclusive fitness centers and other recreational equipment.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

The transcript for this episode can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Gears of Progress, Drs. Hanna O'Day (Google Scholar, Twitter, LinkedIn) and Melissa Boswell (Google Scholar, Twitter, LinkedIn), former PhD students of Scott Delp at Stanford University, discuss their journey into biomechanics, the creation of the podcast 'Biomechanics on Our Minds' (BOOM), and the impact of the International Society of Biomechanics on their work. They also share insights into their favorite episodes, the evolution of the podcast, and the role of the biomechanics community in supporting their endeavors. The conversation covers the journey of the 'BOOM' podcast, including its inception, growth, challenges, and future aspirations. It also delves into the experiences and career paths of the hosts after the podcast.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

The transcript for this episode can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Beth Halsne (website, Google Scholar, LinkedIn) is a certified prosthetist/orthotist and a principal investigator at the Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) at the VA Puget Sound in Seattle, WA and an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington. Her major research project includes work on patient-centered prosthetic feet prescription, utilizing Humotech's emulator. In this episode, we discussed the winding road she took from the P&O school and to getting a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences.

This episode is powered by:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CREATE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences) at the University of Washington
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESNA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(the Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America)
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NIDILRR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARRT Training grant 90ARCP0005-01-00

The transcript for this episode can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.