17. Rory Cooper: on rehabilitation engineering, evolution of wheelchair design, and Paralympic sports

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)