About Us
We are a Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Our journey began in 2013 at Georgia Tech with Co-Directors Jon Sanford, Wendy Rogers, and Tracy Mitzner. In the years since, TechSAge has evolved into a multi-site collaboration that now includes the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Georgia State University, and Person in Design. Now in our third 5-year grant, the RERC is based at Illinois led by Project Director Laura Rice. The TechSAge leadership team includes continued collaboration from Sanford, Rogers, and Mitzner, alongside Elena Remillard.
Aging with Disability
People with disabilities are living longer lives and there are a growing number of older adults with long-term disabilities. These individuals are likely to experience unique challenges with everyday activities and have high support needs due to the combination of managing a long-term disability and age-related declines (e.g., sensory, cognitive, mobility). Technology holds potential to help people aging with disabilities overcome barriers with activity performance and participation. At TechSAge, we are focused on developing innovative, user-centered technology solutions that can enhance the health, autonomy, and quality of life for this understudied population.
Interdisciplinary Problem Solving
We are a community of researchers that believe in the power of working together across disciplines to solve complex challenges facing individuals aging with disability. TechSAge researchers represent diverse areas of expertise including but not limited to: engineering (rehab, industrial, and electrical), assistive technology, architecture, psychology, kinesiology, computer science, gerontology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, community health, and industrial design.