Accessible Design Initiatives

Staff at The Enabling Technologies Lab are conscious of the need to provide equal access to products and services. Our original products, which include the Indexing Turntable, Counter Controller, Mouse Switch Emulator, Poka-Yoke Controller, and Task Sequencing System, aim in various ways to "error-proof" the activities of the user. This "error-proofing" reduces the physical and cognitive demands of the assigned task, making the task more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Recent projects, which include our work with Agile Systems and Senior Student Design Initiatives, further our goal of creating accessible, "error-proof" tools and services that increase the independence of individuals with disabilities and provide a means of continuous improvement.

One of our current initiatives is a Proof-of-Concept study funded by the National Science Foundation that concentrates on the development of curriculum material and educational modules that present the principles of accessible design. This initiative will present new opportunities to both implement accessible design strategies and educate students and professionals in engineering and other disciplines as to the many-fold justifications for and means of implementing the principles of accessible design.

More information about our Proof-of-Concept initiative is available, including HTML and PDF versions of our project narrative.