Inclusive ICT Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (TRACE RERC)
This initiative is dedicated to pioneering a multifaceted program with a central focus on expanding access to information and communication technology. The team will research and develop innovative approaches that can enhance the accessibility of a wide array of emerging and existing technologies. Their mission: to create solutions that meet the needs of people living with diverse disabilities, ultimately fostering greater inclusion across all spheres of life. The team will build upon a solid foundation laid by the previous RERCs awarded to the Trace R&D Center dating back to 1982, ensuring a seamless continuity of progress and innovation with the TRACE RERC.
In addition to research, RERCs emphasize development projects that result in technology transfer or system change (e.g., through industry standards or government regulation). The research team is leading the TRACE RERC development projects in partnership with Raising the Floor-US, a non-profit organization focused on accessibility technology. They aim to convert research into commercial-quality, open-source software which can be delivered directly to kiosk and content creators, and which can also be adopted and modified by others.
To help address this need, a $4.6 million, 5-year Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) grant (90REGE0024) has been awarded to the TRACE RERC by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), a program of the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Duration:
9/2/2023 - 8/31/2028
Partnering Organization(s):
Raising the Floor-US
Project Website:
https://trace.umd.edu/
Total Award Amount:
$4,625,000