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Project Participants
Roles and Structure of the T2RERCThe project staff of the T2RERC are from four organizations: the Center for Assistive Technology, University at Buffalo (administrative and technical staff), the Independent Living Center of Western New York (consumer staff), and AZtech Inc (marketing staff). The project staff has the full range of technical, marketing and consumer expertise required by the Tech Transfer RERC. Project activity is concentrated at the Center for Assistive Technology, although staff draws upon resources from their home organizations. Project staff work in cross-functional teams to ensure that all perspectives are represented in each activity. RERC on Technology Transfer Joseph Lane (joelane@buffalo.edu) State University of New York at Buffalo [ Top of Page ] Center for Assistive TechnologyThe Center for Assistive Technology (CAT), University at Buffalo, conducts research, education, service and policy projects addressing assistive technology for people with disabilities. The CAT staff provides support to the T2RERC, either directly as employees or indirectly as consultants. Core CAT staff provide administrative support. Researchers participate in project design, data analysis and publications. Educators provide their knowledge of the state of the science and practice, and integrate research and service findings into their coursework. Service providers contribute their expertise on service delivery, assistive device applications, and policy issues. Consumers advise the CAT on all projects, and participate as staff, students and consumers. The CAT's research, education, and community service is to increase knowledge about assistive devices for persons with disabilities. The Center works in four related areas:
CAT Website: http://cat.buffalo.edu/ [ Top of Page ] RERC on Communication EnhancementThe Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement (AAC-RERC) is a federally funded effort to improve technologies that further the development of communication, language, speech, discourse and literacy skills of children and adults with congenital or acquired severe communication disorders. The Center is one of 17 Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. The primary emphasis of the research and development efforts of the AAC-RERC focuses on increasing the understanding of the cognitive-linguistic issues between an individual with a severe communication disorder and AAC technology, as well as between AAC technology and communication partners (listeners). The second emphasis focuses on the use patterns of individuals with severe communication disorders of AAC technology in employment, by the elderly, in school, and in literacy activities. During the past decades, considerable AAC technology has been developed. Because the research base for many of these developments was quite limited, the commercial community was forced to create design specifications with largely anecdotal and personal information. However, as the AAC field has matured, the opportunity is now present for a RERC to be developed that brings modern day research skills to these questions. To achieve this goal, seven organizations form the AAC-RERC under the leadership of Frank DeRuyter, PhD, and Kevin Caves at Duke University. These partners include Duke University, Penn State University, Temple University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, State University of New York-Buffalo, and Augmentative Communication Inc. The AAC-RERC was designed as a virtual center, rather than the "single location" center of the past. The NIDRR RFP presented absolute priorities involving improving AAC technology for children, the elderly, persons who were employed, and literacy. Such a broad mandate required a new approach that took advantage of existing expertise in the AAC field, and by collaborating with a variety of existing resources, the AAC-RERC is able to leverage resources that far exceed that which is provided by the RERC grant award itself. For up to date information on the projects of the Rehabilitation Engineering Center in Communication Enhancement or for contact information visit our WWW Site (http://www.aac-rerc.com). RERC on Communication Enhancement Dr. Frank DeRuyter (email: FDR-RERC@mc.duke.edu) Duke University Medical Center [ Top of Page ] AZTechAZtech is one of four organizations in partnership with the T2RERC. AZtech provides market research for companies in the field of assistive technology for persons with disabilities and the elderly. It also makes significant contribution to development of new technologies through its technology transfer program. AZtech has extensive resources, knowledge and experience in the assistive technology industry. Staff from AZtech provides the T2RERC with marketing and try analysis for the negotiation and execution of sales agreements, license and other contracts needed to accomplish a successful transfer. AZtech Brian Kon (email: kon@acsu.buffalo.edu) 2495 Main St. Suite 418 [ Top of Page ] Independent Living Center of Western New York (ILC)The ILC of Western New York is the consumer voice for T2RERC. It has the ability to bring consumers, (consumer) family members and friends, clinicians and product experts to participate in research performed for all of the center's programs. Their national network of agencies has been a major resource in the work of the T2RERC, and in particular bringing together consumer representatives for the work of the demand pull project. Independent Living Center of Western New York Douglas Usiak (email: djusiak@acsu.buffalo.edu) 3108 Main St. [ Top of Page ] |
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