Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Universally Accessible Information Technology

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Purpose of Program: The purpose of the RERC program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. RERCs also demonstrate and evaluate such technologies, facilitate service delivery system changes, stimulate the production and distribution of new technologies and equipment in the private sector, and provide training opportunities. RERC on Universally Accessible Information Technology: NIDILRR seeks to fund an RERC to conduct research and development activities: a) to help ensure that accessibility standards are met or exceeded for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) used by individuals with disabilities, b) to help ensure that individualized ICT configurations are available to and adaptable for individuals with disabilities across all contexts, c) for new protocols and standards to assess and optimize ICT usability for individuals with disabilities, d) for tools to support independent or assisted identification and selection of Assistive Technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities; and conduct research activities e) to identify barriers to and facilitators for access to AT, related to software licensing, cost, and availability, and f) to identify barriers to and facilitators of sustainable adoption of innovations providing universal access to ICT for individuals with disabilities.

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