While my background is in Biomedical Engineering, my role as the Research Manager for an academic research lab that develops artificially intelligent assistive technologies for people with disabilities means that I work closely with clinicians, computer scientists, caregivers (both formal and informal), as well as with the clients themselves to develop solutions that work in real-world contexts. This exposure has given me a hands-on experience with the challenges and obstacles that face a multidiscipline team, including understanding problems from different viewpoints and finding solutions that ensure the different stakeholders¿ needs are met. As such, I am a strong advocate of collaboration across disciplines and fields, knowledge transfer, and creative, flexible thinking to identify and reach common goals. I am passionate about connecting people, as this enables innovative and holistic solutions to development and delivery obstacles. I see RESNA as a wonderful opportunity for people to meet, network, and collaborate. In the five years I have been a member of RESNA, I have endeavored to get to know and serve the organisation and its members through my involvement as a SIG Chair, and more recently, the Chair of the RESNA Website Committee. Through these experiences, I have come to know many of the RESNA membership and have developed an appreciation for RESNA¿s goals and potential opportunities.

Stephen Bauer earned a B.Sc. in Chemistry, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the SUNY Buffalo, Department of Rehabilitation Science. He is former Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer (T2RERC) and Information Technology Services for the School of Public Health and Health Professions (IT-SPHHP). As a member of the T2RERC Steve led projects pertaining to the ATD industries for mobility, hearing, communication, and visual impairments; and studied the impact of federal legislation on the development and commercialization of assistive and trans-generational products. As part of these projects, Steve was involved in the organization, participant recruitment and management of four national conferences. Steve is currently working on an ATD classification system based on the International Classification System of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). He is part of a long-term and substantial collaboration with the Western New York Independent Living Project (WNYILP) and has many friends in this community. Steve is also a board member for the Minority Organ Donor Education Program (MODEP). His current interests include public policy and legislation; the design, development, classification and provision of ATD; and the provision of assistive technology services (ATD). When you can't find Steve... he's most likely gardening, biking, hiking or traveling.

At Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare my title is Supervisor of Outreach Services and Rehabilitation Engineer. Before coming to Gillette Children’s, I worked as a rehabilitation engineer at the University of Iowa for 2 ½ years. My 23 years of experience includes work with augmentative/alternative communication, computer access, electronic aids to daily living, powered mobility, and vocational adaptations. I am also involved in coordination, development, and staffing of outreach efforts. I provide and coordinate assistive technology training to individuals and groups. I write grants to sustain the program.My engineering degrees are from the University of Iowa. I am past chair of the Rehabilitation Engineers and Technologists PSG and continue my involvement with review of the RET credential. As noted above, I am also involved with special education initiatives. I was one of the first groups to be credentialed by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) and Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET).

Currently, I am an educator and researcher in an academic institution and I am an ATP-certified clinician providing assistive technology services in a clinical setting.  Previously, I owned a small business engaged in research and development and I have been a student pursuing a degree in rehabilitation engineering.

My goal as a board member is to increase the importance of RESNA as a venue for research in rehabilitation technology without sacrificing the participation of clinicians and policy makers.  I feel that it is the collaboration of all three communities within RESNA that makes RESNA so unique and valuable and, as someone that leads an active research program while also providing clinical services, I think I am well positioned to pursue this goal. 

I believe my business background, my thirty eight years in the direct service delivery process, will bring a unique perspective to the RESNA board. The largest, untapped, segment of our profession is the supplier based ATP working directly with consumers. As a member of that group, I can help identify the challenges and issues in bringing that group into the RESNA membership.
I am an “out of the box” thinker, able to react to situations to resolve problems, and a strong advocate for the consumer. I have also held leadership positions with other organizations in our industry and have participated in many workgroups and committees to further strengthen our position and to shape the future of our industry.

I hold a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) and a MS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). I have been a Research Biomedical Engineer at the Rehab R&D Center since November 1979, working on projects including an innovative wheelchair interface for individuals with quadriplegia, an electro-mechanical fingerspelling hand – a communication device for people who are deaf/blind, a system that explores virtual reality techniques to train individuals with gait deficits to improve their walking, a project that employs computer-based simulation to assess and improve the driving ability of individuals after brain injury, and a memory system that addresses the needs of individuals with mild cognitive impairments.

My experience with various factions of RESNA and professional career at the University of Pittsburgh lends well to serving on the Board of Directors. I bring over 20 years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Professional which includes direct client services, program management, and program development. As an educator and advisor I have mentored people in their career development that included involvement in RESNA activities and certainly would use my role as a BOD member to continue to support people who want to get more involved. As a clinical researcher I understand well the need to bridge the bench to bedside gap and would continue to support RESNA as a mechanism for knowledge translation by supporting activities like the position papers and practice guidelines. I have also been involved in many advocacy activities on the local and national level therefore understand policy development and the legislative process. Finally, as a person with a disability and consumer of Assistive Technology I can share personal perspectives on issues brought to the board.

I am an enthusiastic supporter of RESNA and have worked in the field for over 15 years. My qualifications include my ability to work in a team towards a shared goal and my spirit of inclusiveness of all those involved in assistive technology¿researchers, practitioners, educators, analysts and consumers. I am results oriented in my work and would have the same style if I would serve on the board.

Edward Steinfeld, Arch. is a registered architect and researcher with special interests in universal design, accessibility and design for the lifespan.  At SUNY/Buffalo, he is a Professor of Architecture and Director of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center). He is currently a Co-PI of the RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment and Co-PI of the RERC on Accessible Public Transportation. The IDEA Center operates a design service. The Center has completed over 400 designs of home modifications and new homes for people with disabilities and their families. He has published extensively and is co-editor of Measuring Enabling Environments and co-author of the recent book, Inclusive Housing: a Pattern Book. In 2003 he received a Distinguished Professor Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and in 2010 he received the second annual President’s Award for Excellence from the University at Buffalo. He is a frequent consultant to federal and state agencies, building owners and attorneys and is the co-holder of three patents for a universal bathroom system. Current R&D activities include research on accessibility barriers in public transit systems, research on the anthropometry of wheeled mobility users, developing voluntary consensus standards for universal design and providing assistance to businesses to develop innovative universally design products.

I served as chair of the RESNA Quality Assurance Committee during the early professional development phases of the RESNA credentialing program. I also chaired the RESNA SIG-05 when it was called Quantitative Functional Assessment, and chaired the RESNA PSG-03 on Occupational Therapy. In the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), I served on the AOTA Technology Special Interest Section standing committee. I have also participated on numerous national task forces in both RESNA, AOTA and represented these organizations in venues such as the White House/VA Conference on Emerging Technologies in Support of the New Freedom Initiative: Promoting Opportunities for People with Disabilities. These opportunities have allowed me to accumulate an understanding of how professional organizations work under the demands of many fiscal and political environments. I have also been an active service provider, researcher and teacher of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology for more than 25 years. I have created and taught interdisciplinary assistive technology and accessible design curricula with the development and distribution of accompanying instructional resources. In the research and development arena I have directed dozens of national level projects pertaining to the outcomes measurement of assistive technology and accessibility. To deliver these projects I have contributed my social science, health science, and engineering academic backgrounds and diverse experience in rehabilitation/occupational therapy, engineering/design, and active program/project leadership in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology research brings a historical and future needs perspective to discussions.