Accessible Science Labs for Students With Disabilities

Author: Purdue University
Published: 25 Oct 2010 - Updated: 9 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Announcement

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This announcement details a federally funded initiative addressing the significant underrepresentation of people with disabilities in scientific fields - where only 2 percent of employed scientists and engineers under 35 have disabilities despite this group comprising 10.4 percent of the workforce. The grant establishes accessible wet laboratories with adaptive equipment, adjustable workstations, and remote-control capabilities for instruments like microscopes, allowing students with mobility or visual impairments to conduct independent biomedical research. The information proves particularly valuable for students, educational institutions, and research facilities seeking practical solutions to eliminate physical barriers in laboratory environments, providing a replicable model that addresses the dropout rate occurring when disabled students transition from undergraduate to graduate-level science programs requiring hands-on lab work.*

At a Glance

• 1 - In 2007, only 1.1 percent of U.S. science or engineering doctorates were held by people with a disability. This gap highlights the need for accessible training pipelines.
• 2 - Six students with mobility or visual impairments were invited to test the lab in summer 2012. They evaluated the ergonomics, technologies, and adaptive workstations firsthand.
• 3 - Principal investigator Bradley S. Duerstock is a neuroscientist and wheelchair user who builds his own adaptive-assistive technologies. His experience shaped the project's practical design.
• 4 - A remote network control feature lets users operate instruments like microscopes through a Web browser. A keyboard can replace manual knobs, and a large screen can replace eyepieces for those with visual impairments.

Topic Definition

Accessible Science Laboratory

An accessible science laboratory is a research environment designed so that scientists and students with disabilities can perform hands-on experimental work as independently as possible. It removes the physical barriers found in traditional wet labs by incorporating features such as adjustable-height workstations, wheelchair-navigable floor space, adaptive-assistive tools, and remote-control interfaces that operate instruments like microscopes through a computer rather than manual knobs or eyepieces. Rather than treating accommodation as an afterthought or a matter of legal compliance, this approach builds inclusion into the layout, equipment, and workflow from the start, giving researchers with mobility or visual impairments the same practical laboratory experience their peers rely on to advance into graduate study and biomedical careers.

Overview

The grant, which is administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will support the creation of an Institute for Accessible Science at Purdue. The institute will create an accessible wet laboratory, which is the standard laboratory for scientists to conduct experiments on chemical and biological matter, and a Web-based interactive community for individuals with disabilities currently working in, or are interested in, biomedical research careers.

"The science community sees a drop in students studying science when they move from undergraduate to graduate work because graduate students need to be able to work independently in laboratories," said Bradley S. Duerstock, an assistant research professor at the Center for Paralysis Research and principal investigator on the project. "Many laboratories do not have the physical space to navigate a wheelchair or adjustable lab equipment that provides people with disabilities the necessary hands-on experience required in a lab. These obstacles are keeping many bright minds from studying and pursuing careers in areas such as biomedical research."

Duerstock, who is a neuroscientist, is a wheelchair user, and he often uses and creates adaptive-assistive technologies so he can work in the lab.

"This idea originated from a school-wide forum where Brad shared information about the assistive technology that he uses," said Susan M. Mendrysa ( pronounced Men-driss-a ), assistant professor of basic medical sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine and project team member. "I'm interested in engaging more students in laboratory work, especially in biomedical research, so pursuing a project where the students are already interested in science is a great opportunity. We just need to eliminate their obstacles."

Only 2 percent of employed scientists and engineers age 35 or younger have a disability, but that demographic represents 10.4 percent of the overall U.S. work force. In 2007 only 1.1 percent of U.S. science or engineering doctorates had a disability.

"Thanks to technology today, most laboratory equipment can be adapted for students with disabilities, but we need information to determine the exact needs and available resources," Duerstock said.

To better understand the needs, as well as obstacles, the institute will coordinate a Web-based interactive forum, powered by HUBzero software that was developed at Purdue, to gather student feedback and list examples of research laboratory accommodations.

"People like me are working in laboratories and finding creative ways to use equipment or retrofit laboratory space," Duerstock said. "Institutions are going beyond their legal obligations to provide federally mandated access to reduce physical barriers. This forum will be a place we can share ideas and create databases about what is working."

The information collected will help in the design of a graduate-level biomedical research laboratory that will serve as a model for training people with disabilities to perform laboratory techniques with as little assistance as possible. The Accessible Biomedical Immersion Laboratory will utilize flexible laboratory space in the Discovery Learning Research Center, which is housed in the Hall for Discovery Learning and Research at Purdue's Discovery Park.

Six students will be invited to participate in a research program during the summer of 2012. The students, who will have mobility or visual impairments, will test the space's ergonomics and technologies. They also will have the opportunity to partner with Purdue researchers to work on projects in the biomedical field.

One of the features these students may be testing is a remote network control feature for scientific instruments in the laboratory. For example, a user could control a microscope in the lab or remotely through a Web browser connected to the Internet. A PC user interface can accommodate many different types of physical impairments, such as using a large computer screen as an alternative to looking through eyepieces for individuals with visual impairments and a keyboard to replace needing to manually turn microscope knobs to aid those with upper limb mobility impairments.

Duerstock and Mendrysa also will be collaborating with interior design faculty in the College of Liberal Arts regarding design aspects. The research team also will be working with faculty from the College of Engineering, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Communication, School of Health and Human Sciences, and the Envision Center for Data Perceptualization.

"Purdue is at an advantage with our access to technology and individuals' expertise on campus," Duerstock said. "This positions Purdue to become a leading institution in this area. We can be a model institution for students and scientists with disabilities."

Efforts also will be focused on encouraging high school, undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities to pursue biomedical science, as well as reaching scientists who have acquired disabilities during their lifetime.

The Purdue grant is one of six recently awarded, and it is part of the NIH Director's ARRA Pathfinder Award to Promote Diversity in the Scientific Workforce. The National Institutes of Health includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is a wet laboratory in scientific research

A wet laboratory is the standard type of lab where scientists conduct experiments directly on chemical and biological materials using liquids and reagents. It requires hands-on handling of samples, which is why physical accessibility matters so much for researchers with disabilities.

What is the Institute for Accessible Science

It is a Purdue University initiative created to build an accessible wet laboratory and an online community for people with disabilities in biomedical research. Its goal is to gather accommodation data and design a graduate-level lab that serves as a national model.

Who funded the accessible science laboratory grant

The grant was administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It formed part of the NIH Director's ARRA Pathfinder Award to Promote Diversity in the Scientific Workforce.

What is HUBzero software used for in this project

HUBzero is software developed at Purdue that powers the project's Web-based interactive forum. It lets students share feedback, list laboratory accommodations, and build databases about which adaptive solutions work best.

What disabilities does the accessible lab design address

The design focuses on mobility impairments, including wheelchair use and upper limb limitations, as well as visual impairments. Features like keyboard controls and large screens replace tasks that traditionally require manual dexterity or looking through eyepieces.

Why do disabled students leave science at the graduate level

Graduate science work requires students to operate independently in laboratories that often lack adjustable equipment or wheelchair-accessible space. These physical obstacles cause many capable students to drop out during the transition from undergraduate to graduate study.

What is the Accessible Biomedical Immersion Laboratory

It is a graduate-level lab planned to train people with disabilities in laboratory techniques with minimal assistance. It uses flexible space in the Discovery Learning Research Center at Purdue's Discovery Park.

How can other institutions use this accessibility model

The project documents successful accommodations through shared databases and flexible lab layouts that other schools can reference. This gives institutions a practical blueprint for designing inclusive research environments rather than starting from scratch.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While this initiative launched over a decade ago, the fundamental challenges it addresses remain relevant today as laboratories continue grappling with accessibility barriers that exclude talented researchers from scientific careers. The project's emphasis on documenting successful accommodations through shared databases and creating flexible laboratory spaces offers a blueprint that institutions can still reference when designing inclusive research environments. What makes this approach particularly significant is its recognition that accessibility isn't just about legal compliance - it's about capturing the contributions of brilliant minds who happen to navigate the world differently, ensuring that scientific progress benefits from the widest possible range of perspectives and problem-solving approaches.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Purdue University and published on 25 Oct 2010, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.