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Entry into the AT
field:1978
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How I got into the
field
I sustained a spinal cord
injury in a 1975 climbing accident while in the Air Force Academy. I continued
my education at Stanford University, where I began applying engineering and
design principles to overcome daily living hurdles faced by people with
disabilities. I received a BS in ME and Product Design in 1979 and a MSME in
Smart Product Design in 1982, from Stanford. In 1981, I started Beneficial
Designs, when I realized people could benefit from the sit-ski I had created
for myself.
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Important event(s) that influenced
my early decision to get into the assistive technology field
My rock climbing accident obviously redirected my
life. Had I continued in my career, I would have most likely perished in one of
the B-1 test flights. Most of the early flights flew into the ground at high
speeds trying to follow the terrain. I had an avid desire for participating in
outdoor activities having been an ice hockey player, freestyle skier, and
mountaineer. I saw there were not lots of activities for outdoor recreation in
a wheelchair.
My first
design project was the ARROYA sit-ski. My advisor, Larry Leifer, entered my
project into the ICRE (pre RESNA) student design competition in 1979. Attending
this conference opened my eyes to fact that there was a home for me to do much
of the work I was interested in doing. Key people I remember meeting at this
early conference were Colin McLaurin, Doug Hobson, Jim Reswick and Dudley
Childress.
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Why I chose the AT
field
My motivation is the mission
statement of our company. We work towards universal access through research,
design, and education. We believe all individuals should have access to the
physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of life. We seek to enhance the
quality of life for people of all abilities, and work to achieve this aim by
developing and marketing technology for daily living, vocational, and leisure
activities.
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My inspiration and
mentor
Doug Hobson continues to
encourage and support me with ways in which we can change the face of
rehabilitation through standards development.
Dudley
Childress sets an example of how to go in a steady but consistent way, knowing
there are always new technologies to be developed and new things to be
done.
Colin
McLaurin brought me in to teach and mentor rehab engineering students at UVA.
We were friends as well as coworkers. We spent one day cementing rocks to the
foundation of his house on the Appalachain Trail. He did not think twice about
how I would actively participate in this difficult task.
Tomas
Stripling has been a friend and supporter assisting Beneficial Designs with
financial support for the standards work we do. There have been years when
there were no monies available from PVA, but he understands the implications of
this work and the impact on the industry.
Denise set
up the rigid systems and quality control needed to do all of the standards work
Denise is my wife and companion when I am not working. Ria is a joy in my life
that gives me reason to work less and remember that my impact on other people
is more important than the things I "accomplish."
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Why the field is important to me
and the central focus of my work
As
the Director of R&D of Beneficial Designs, Inc., I work towards universal
access through research, design, and education. My accomplishments include
developing the Arroya Sit Ski and the first chairlift-compatible mono-ski with
a shock absorber, working to establish wheelchair testing standards, developing
seating systems for wheelchairs, and creating the Universal Trail Assessment
Process, a system to assess trails that will improve access to outdoor trails
for people of all abilities.
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My memorable successes and
greatest contributions to the field
Our company started with developing recreation
technologies for persons with disabilities and have developed skis, bikes, wave
skis, off-road wheelchairs, seating for aircraft, ultra lights, ATVs, kayaks,
canoes, amusement rides, control modifications for cars with manual
transmissions, aircraft, etc. Making wheelchairs more comfortable by designing
the Pax Back, the Hip Grip, Guppy Pads and flexible, ergonomic hand
rims.
Our company
also created design guidelines for Federal Highways for sidewalks and shared
use paths. The Access Board has built off of this work to develop draft
guidelines for ADAAG as well. We our proud of our accomplishments. The
successes give us the confidence and drive to continue forward with our
work.
Another
part of my life that most folks do not know about is my life on the snow. I
have medaled 5 times in 3 world championships. I am a level III PSIA certified
adaptive ski instructor and am a Senior Examiner that certifies PSIA Adaptive
Ski Instructors. I am the only fully certified Level III PSIA Alpine Ski
Instructor in the world that has a disability. I am a race coach and teach
adaptive ski instructors from all over the world. I am proud of the example set
and hope to be an encouragement to others.
Some of our
most comprehensive work is the development of the Universal Trail Assessment
Process to systematically measure outdoor recreation trails for
Access.
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My most memorable
failures
It was not uncommon for
adaptive equipment to not work. I had at least one mono ski that collapsed into
a pile of aluminum tubing and aircraft cable. I had hand controls break and
cease to function. I had professors comment that my work seemed "off mark." My
first sit-ski was reviewed by the chairman of the product design program (not
Larry Leifer) who commented, "who in a wheelchair is going to want to go
skiing?" I learned from each failure what did not work and I learned from each
negative comment that people needed to be educated. These difficult challenges
motivated me to work harder to meet my goals.
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Significant changes and advances
in the field since I first entered it
There have been significant advances in the
application of microprocessor technology and manufacturing technology. While
there is the potential to provide great assistive technology that was
unavailable before, the funding to get this technology to the people who need
it is becoming more and more difficult to obtain. This has resulted in a
decrease of the availability of assistive technologies that will enable people
with disabilities to participate in daily living, work and leisure activities.
There has also been a decrease in support for technologies that will prevent
further medical complications. This, despite the fact that provision of
appropriate technologies will often prevent further costly medical
complications. Despite these challenges, many professionals continue creating
the technologies that people need. Computers and email have made it easier to
do standards work but have increased the workload as well.
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On the future of rehabilitation
engineering and assistive technology
I see that universal design is becoming more and
more a part of mainstream technologies requiring less adaptive technologies. I
see a tremendous need for the recognition of persons with rehabilitation
technology skills to be adequately reimbursed to meet the clinical needs of
persons with disabilities. This is needed to reduce the progression of
disability, maintain quality of life and to maintain function in all actives of
life.
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My role within RESNA and what it
gave back to me
I am Chair of the
Technical Guidelines Committee. I initiated work to apply wheelchair standards
and, with other RESNA members, wrote a wheelchair selection guide, with support
from PVA. I co-authored books on the training and use of manual and powered
w/c, and am on the Standards Subcommittee on W/C and Related
Seating.
RESNA has
given me my identity as a rehab engineer and provided a mechanism to lead
standards development. I have established the connections to grow as a
professional, as a grant fundee, grant reviewer, article writer and reviewer.
RESNA also gave me one night every year to cut loose on dance night.
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On the future of RESNA
RESNA should focus on the needs of clinical rehab
technologists to try and advocate for their reimbursement. RESNA is of course a
great place to share rehabilitation engineering research and development
activities. RESNA should also expand its role as a standards organization to
the rehab community. This could develop into a major cost center for
RESNA.
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My suggestions for those just
entering the field
Grab a hold of
what interests you and put everything you can into it. You will learn and grow,
you will be provided opportunities to participate and collaborate.
