R1. User Needs Assessment

R1. User Needs Assessment for People Aging with Long-Term Disabilities

Co-Principal Investigators

Team Members: Maurita Harris, Ph.D. (consultant), Kara Mumma, B.S/B.A, Megan Nickrent, M.S., Gianna Kohl, Ph.D.

Students: Maya Dye, B.S., Camryn Kottas, Nicolle Guillen, Kyra Miller, Fatima Pantoja-Lara, Haseeb Rehman, & Tooba Umar, MBBS

Partners: Association for Late Deafened Adults; ClarkLindsey; CJE SeniorLife, CRIS Healthy Aging, CVI Atlanta; Illinois Center for Transition & Work; Illinois Dept on Aging; NARIC; National Federation of the Blind, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency; Chicago Lighthouse; National MS Society; Three Rivers’ Native American Independent Living Project

People aging with long-term disabilities are likely to experience challenges performing everyday activities. Technology holds great potential to help people aging with disability overcome barriers where they live, work, and play and ultimately enhance their quality of life. A comprehensive understanding of their user needs is crucial to drive effective technology innovation. Building upon previous research, we are continuing efforts to understand activity challenges in-depth among older adults with long-term vision, hearing, and mobility disabilities. We are expanding participatory research studies, including interviews and surveys, to identify critical technology needs among a larger and more diverse sample of people. Specifically, we are engaging people from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups about their everyday challenges and assessing the needs of those aging with long-term disabilities still in the workforce. This project will provide the groundwork to drive new research and guide the design of new technologies for this understudied population.

Current Activities

  • Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) study: We are conducting interviews with Subject Matter Experts who have direct experience engaging people from underrepresented populations in aging or disability research or advocacy groups. These findings will directly inform the next phase of ACCESS, where will aim to expand the racial/ethnic diversity of our participants.
  • Disability and Work Needs (DAWN): We are conducting a literature review regarding older workers and volunteers with disabilities to identify what is known and research gaps. We are also preparing an SME interview with people who have personal or professional experience with older adults with disabilities in the workforce.  In addition, we are conducting an archival analysis of ACCESS data for people who reported volunteering or working challenges.
  • Archival Analysis Program: We have updated our procedures for enabling a broad range of researchers to explore the ACCESS date for different research questions.  Here is a sampling of current projects:
    • Discovering the Patterns of Daily Living Activities Among Older Adults with Disabilities: A Computational Grounded Theory Approach
    • Wisdom in Aging with Mobility Disability
    • Communication Challenges and Strategies for Late-Deafened Older Adults
    • Innovative Strategies for Managing Everyday Activity Challenges Among Adults Aging with Vision Loss
    • Exploring Bathing Challenges among People Aging with Mobility Disabilities

Select Publications

  • Remillard, E.T., Koon, L.M., Mitzner, T.L., & Rogers, W.A. (2024) Everyday challenges for individuals aging with vision impairment: Technology implications. The Gerontologist, 64, 6,1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnad169
  • Koon, L.M., Remillard, E. T., Mitzner, T. L., & Rogers, W. A. (2020).  Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) for adults aging with a long-term mobility disability. Disability & Health Journal, 13https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100936
  • Remillard, E. T., Griffiths, P. C., Mitzner, T. L., Sanford, J. A., Jones, B. D., & Rogers, W. A. (2020). The TechSAge Minimum Battery: A Multidimensional and Holistic Assessment of Individuals Aging with Long-Term Disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2019.100884 

Project Alumni

  • Camryn Lynn, B.S.
  • Bethanie Sharp, B.A.
  • Laura Barg-Walkow, Ph.D.
  • Megan Bayles, M.S.
  • Divya Bhookya
  • Faith Burnham
  • Alyse Bondarowicz, B.S.
  • Patricia (Suzanne) Eastwood, B.S.
  • Rebecca Goneh
  • Saahithya Gowrishankar, B.A.
  • Christina Harrington, Ph.D.
  • Jordan Hartley, MPH
  • Erin Heniff, Au.D.
  • Rob Kistenberg, M.S.
  • Christopher Kovac, B.S.
  • Lisa Le, B.A.
  • Jennifer Lee, B.S.
  • Jade Marks
  • Ethan Mudd, B.S.
  • Tina Nie, Ph.D.
  • Brian Pastor, M.S.
  • Kimberly Preusse, M.S.
  • Ahmad Rathor, B.S.
  • Arijana Sovsic
  • Shraddha Shende, Ph.D
  • Jenny Singleton, Ph.D.
  • Emily Spoolstra
  • Rachel Stuck, Ph.D.
  • Shreya Vellala
  • Amy Wing-Lam Chong, M.S.
  • Renee Alnoubani
  • Widya Ramadhani, Ph.D.