UTA Wins NSF Grant for Assistive Technology Research
Author: University of Texas at Arlington
Published: 16 Apr 2018 - Updated: 7 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Announcement
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This announcement details a National Science Foundation grant awarded to the University of Texas at Arlington that addresses a critical gap in assistive technology development. The three-year, $318,778 Research Experiences for Undergraduates program targets minority, female, and disabled students to design practical assistive devices that genuinely meet user needs. The information proves particularly valuable because it recognizes a well-documented problem: many existing assistive technologies are prohibitively expensive and fail to address real-world challenges faced by disabled individuals. By combining engineering expertise with disability studies perspectives and direct feedback from the disability community, this research initiative offers a blueprint for creating more affordable, functional solutions - from reducing sports wheelchair costs that exclude students from adapted athletics to developing sign language interpretation systems and accessible digital humanities resources.*
At a Glance
- 1 - The grant totals 318,778 dollars over three years. It funds a campus-wide undergraduate research program at UTA.
- 2 - Sports wheelchairs cost between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars each. That expense keeps most school districts from offering adapted athletics.
- 3 - Eight students join each year for a 10-week summer research session. Two participants come from UTA, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups.
- 4 - Projects include converting American Sign Language to speech and human-machine interaction studies. Students also make digital humanities accessible through the Texas Disability History Collection.
Topic Definition
- Assistive Technology Research
Assistive technology research is the study and development of tools, devices, and systems that help people with disabilities perform everyday tasks more easily and independently. What sets effective research apart is its grounding in real-world use rather than assumptions made in a lab, which is why the strongest programs pair engineering know-how with disability studies and direct input from disabled users. The goal is to close the gap between what designers imagine will help and what actually works, while keeping solutions affordable enough that schools, families, and individuals can genuinely benefit from them. When done well, this field draws on universal design principles, meaning products are built to serve a wide range of bodies and abilities rather than a narrow ideal.
Overview
Assistive technologies, including ones based on artificial intelligence, can significantly shape how people with disabilities can navigate daily tasks. However, what may seem like a good idea to an engineer may not be the reality that occurs when a person with a disability tries to use the technology.
University of Texas at Arlington computer scientists and faculty associated with the disability studies minor in the College of Liberal Arts recently were awarded a three-year, $318,778 Research Experiences for Undergraduates grant from the National Science Foundation to create a campus-wide assistive technology program that will teach undergraduate students, especially minority and female students and those with disabilities, how to design assistive technology to help reduce barriers faced by people with disabilities.
Ishfaq Ahmad, a professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department, is the principal investigator. Co-principal investigators are Sarah Rose, associate professor of history and director of the disability studies minor, Julienne Greer, an assistant professor in theatre arts, Manfred Huber, professor of computer science and engineering, and Vassilis Athitsos, associate professor of computer science and engineering.
"We're excited about this grant because it will give students research experience while they gain a deeper understanding of the barriers encountered by people with disabilities and the value of universal design, or designing for a wide range of bodies and abilities. With our ties to community resources, participants will receive important feedback about things that will improve lives," Rose said.
Many times, assistive technology for people with disabilities is expensive and not actually helpful. Students in this program will gain an understanding of universal design and the need for more practical items that could be helpful in a learning environment, as well as in everyday life.
For example, the sports wheelchairs used by wheelchair basketball teams like UTA's national champion Movin' Mavs and Lady Movin' Mavs cost between $3,000 and $5,000. That cost prevents most school districts from offering a wheelchair sport to their students with disabilities, but if assistive technologies could provide a less-expensive alternative, those students would be more likely to be able to play adapted sports. Another example is an exoskeleton intended to help a person with a spinal cord injury walk, but at a cost far beyond that feasible for most people.
The grant will bring eight students per year to UTA's campus for a 10-week summer session in which they will learn research skills and basic disability studies concepts and work on assistive technologies. Two of those students will come from UTA, and the program will emphasize traditionally underrepresented populations, such as women, people of color and those with disabilities.
The students will pick research projects in areas such as converting American Sign Language to speech, human-machine interactions, and making digital humanities accessible via the Texas Disability History Collection at the UTA Libraries. They will learn how to perform research and gain context about people with disabilities, partly from people with disabilities.
UTA is one of the nation's leading institutions in helping students with disabilities gain access to educational opportunities. The University was home to one of the country's first organizations for students with disabilities and was the first university in the United States to offer full scholarships for athletes in adapted sports.
Rose directs UTA's disability studies minor, the first such program in the south and one of only about 30 in the nation. Rose currently is advising institutions such as Yale University and UT Austin as they consider establishing similar programs. Currently, 70 students from more than 20 departments and majors are completing the minor.
Elisabeth Cawthon, dean of UTA's College of Liberal Arts, said:
"This grant will enable us to further strengthen our work with and research in assistive technologies and disability studies. The knowledge gained through this collaborative effort will benefit not only the faculty but the students and people with disabilities as well. UTA will cement its status as a national leader with greater interaction and communication about peoples' needs and how technology can respond to those needs."
Research in the colleges of engineering and liberal arts related to assistive technologies and artificial intelligence include:
Fillia Makedon, professor of computer science and engineering, and Athitsos are developing iWork. This smart, robot-based system assesses workers' physical, cognitive a,nd collaborative skills. At the same time, they perform simulated manufacturing tasks with an emphasis on finding the best ways to train and prepare workers, both with and without disabilities, for the future industry, where a worker has to safely and efficiently collaborate with advanced robots.
The pair also is working with Yale University to use artificial intelligence to help experts assess learning difficulties such as ADHD in children very early in their lives.
Previously, Athitsos earned a National Science Foundation Early Career Grant to develop further a computer recognition system that will become a visual dictionary for American Sign Language.
Greer has used her experience and research to help scientists and engineers better understand the human experience so that they can build more responsive robots. She is also exploring how robots can be integrated into the home to provide physical and emotional support.
Huber designed a reservation/reminder software system as part of a project that eventually will transport veterans on military bases to doctors' appointments using driverless cars. He, with Gergely Zaruba, computer science and engineering professor, Carolyn Cason, former dean of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Kathryn Daniel, an associate professor of nursing, and David Levine, computer science and engineering senior lecturer, created a "Smart Care" apartment infused with intelligent care technology designed to reduce risks encountered by older adults and those with disabilities who want to live independently in their own homes.
"The interdisciplinary nature of the grant is an example of how different academic units support health and the human condition, a theme of UTA's Strategic Plan 2020: bold Solutions | Global Impact, said Duane Dimos, the University's vice president for research."
"UTA continues to be a leader in assistive technologies, and this grant will enable our engineering faculty to work closely with faculty from across campus to offer a global curriculum in its scope and helpful to aspiring engineers and those with disabilities alike," Dimos said. "In addition, the strong relationships with campus and community groups that Sarah Rose has cultivated will give program participants real-time feedback about their efforts, which will lead to a better final product."
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
Who is eligible to apply for the UTA assistive technology research program
The program prioritizes undergraduate students from underrepresented groups, including women, people of color, and students with disabilities. Two of the eight annual participants come from UTA, while the remaining slots are open to students from other institutions.
What is universal design in the context of assistive technology
Universal design means creating products that work for a wide range of bodies and abilities rather than a single standard user. It aims to reduce the need for specialized adaptations by building accessibility into a product from the start.
What is the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program
It is a funding initiative that gives undergraduate students hands-on research experience alongside faculty mentors. The program supports the next generation of researchers by placing students in active projects during focused sessions.
Why do many assistive technologies fail to help the people they target
They often fail because engineers design them in isolation without direct feedback from disabled users. This gap between assumptions and real-world use can make devices impractical, unaffordable, or difficult to operate.
How does artificial intelligence contribute to assistive technology
Artificial intelligence can power tools such as sign language recognition, human-machine interaction, and early assessment of learning differences. It helps systems adapt to individual needs and respond more naturally to users.
What is the Texas Disability History Collection
It is an archive housed at the UTA Libraries that documents the history of disability. Student researchers work to make its digital humanities resources more accessible to a broad audience.
What career paths can assistive technology research lead to
Graduates can pursue roles in accessibility engineering, rehabilitation technology, human-centered design, and academic research. The interdisciplinary training also prepares students for work spanning both computer science and disability studies.
How can disabled community members get involved in technology development
Community members can participate by providing feedback, testing prototypes, and sharing their lived experience with research teams. Many programs actively seek this input to ensure their solutions address genuine daily challenges.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The partnership between UTA's engineering and disability studies programs represents a meaningful shift in how assistive technology gets developed. Too often, well-intentioned innovations fail because engineers design in isolation from the people who will actually use their products. This grant's requirement for student researchers to work directly with disabled community members and understand universal design principles addresses that fundamental flaw. As artificial intelligence and robotics increasingly shape assistive technology, the model demonstrated here - combining technical skills with lived experience and practical affordability considerations - may determine whether future innovations gather dust in laboratories or genuinely reduce barriers in people's daily lives. The program's emphasis on recruiting researchers from underrepresented groups, including disabled students themselves, further ensures that diverse perspectives inform the next generation of accessibility solutions.*
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 University of Texas at Arlington and published on 16 Apr 2018, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.