Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies

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Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for
the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies
Cathy Bodine PhD, CCC-SLP, University of Colorado
at Denver and Health Sciences Center and Michael
Lightner PhD, University of Colorado Boulder
PROBLEM Individuals with cognitive disabilities
have long been marginalized by societys
unwillingness to include them within their
local communities, educational systems and
workplaces in short, into the very fabric of
society. While technology undoubtedly can play a
vital role in decreasing this marginalization,
there have been very few attempts to date to
produce a coherent and sustained approach to
identifying and ameliorating barriers for persons
with significant cognitive disabilities through
the use of technology.

• RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS METHODOLOGIES
• Five research projects are investigating the
  efficacy and impact of a variety of assistive
  technology interventions.
• Data have been collected from 604 individuals
  ages 8 and older.
• Participants have one or more of the following
  cognitive disabilities
• Developmental disabilities
• Alzheimers disease
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Fragile X Syndrome
• other genetic disorders
• Data were also collected from elders with no
  cognitive disabilities, and the caregivers of the
  participants with disabilities.
• Methods of data collection include survey,
  interviews, assessments and observations.

• OUTCOMES TO DATE
• Needs, Knowledge, Barriers and Uses of Assistive
  Technology by Persons with Cognitive Disabilities
• Multi-site focus groups conducted on device use,
  preferences, and abandonment by individuals with
  developmental disability, traumatic brain injury,
  and Alzheimers disease.
• National online survey on assistive technology
  device use, preferences, and abandonment is in
  final stages of development. Survey respondents
  will include people with cognitive disabilities
  and their caregivers.
• Technology for Remote Family Support for People
  with Cognitive Disabilities
• Data collected on impact of Digital Mailbox on
  communication patterns quality of life of
  elders living independently
• Protocol developed for initiation of longitudinal
  trial on the impact of Digital Mailbox technology
  on quality of life of individuals with
  age-related cognitive decline.
• AT Enhancement of Written Expression for
  Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• 32 students enrolled in project investigating the
  efficacy of CoWriter and Write OutLoud software
  programs.
• Manuscript finalized and submitted to JIRD with
  data for first 20 students.
• Technology to Promote Decision-Making Skills and
  Self-Determination for Students with Cognitive
  Disabilities
• 277 students enrolled in five states
• Finalizing resources needed by teachers on a
  monthly basis
• Remote Supports for Independent Living
• Evaluated context of use, system requirements,
  tools training needed for resident caregiver
  continuous observations from remote locations and
  as requested by resident or system
• Development of HealthQuest
• field-tested prototype of general health decision
  making survey
• developed interface to enhance system
  accessibility

• GOAL
• The goal of the Rehabilitation Engineering
  Research Center of Excellence for the Advancement
  of Cognitive Technologies (RERC-ACT) is to
  research, develop, evaluate, implement and
  disseminate innovative technologies and
  approaches that will have a positive impact on
  the way in which individuals with significant
  cognitive disabilities function within their
  communities and workplace
• Specific priorities for the RERC-ACT to address
  cognitive disabilities include
• assessment of state-of-the-art technology and its
  application to address cognitive functioning
• assessment of consumer needs and competencies to
  use various device features
• development of technologies to improve job skills
  and to improve employment opportunities
• development of technologies to maximize
  independence and the abilities to perform
  activities of daily living (ADLs) and independent
  activities of daily living (IADLs) and,
• development of strategies to ensure that new
  technologies for the general population are
  accessible to people with cognitive limitations

• DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PARTICIPANTS PURPOSES
• Five development projects are developing
  innovative technologies and standards
• Targeted populations include individuals with
  cognitive disabilities and their caregivers, and
  manufacturers of assistive technologies
• Products include
• computer software for general health
  decision-making
• standards for a repository of directions for
  completing everyday tasks
• batteryless micropower sensors for context aware
  technologies
• perceptive animated agents for workforce
  training

PARTNERS
OUTPUTS TO DATE 25 graduate students and fellows
to date 60 presentations worldwide to 7,067
attendees 11 graduate courses for 54 graduate
students 22 Peer reviewed publications 46
non-peer reviewed publications 4500 web-site
hits during the past 8 months www.rerc-act.org
1 product with a manufacturer 1 product in
the pipeline 3 products/concepts evaluated 2
working prototypes 1 patent/license
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding is provided by the
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research under the US Department
of Education, Grant H133E040019 and the Coleman
Institute for Cognitive Disabilities.