Research
Elyse Connors, Ph.D.
Medication management
Our research examines packaging and access to printed label information for persons with visual impairment, with the goal of safer medication management and development of best practices.
Vision rehabilitation therapy roles and functions
We are currently examining the roles and job tasks of current vision rehabilitation therapists, as well as changes in these roles over time.
Robert Wall Emerson, Ph.D.
Issues in orientation & mobility
Our primary areas of research have been how people who are blind use sound to understand their environment, configuring accessible pedestrian signals, biomechanics of long cane use, braille literacy, accessibility of complex intersections for people who are blind, the impact of quiet vehicles on people who are blind and describing mathematical images for people who are blind. Recent projects include an analysis of hand and finger movements in braille readers and a determination of how tactual guidance surfaces can be used to assist pedestrians who are blind in finding street crossing places.
Dae Kim, Ph.D.
Long cane design
We recently ran a long cane design and biomechanics study funded by National Institutes of Health in 2014 (renewed in 2018). An interdisciplinary team that included mechanical engineers and exercise scientists, as well as orientation and mobility specialists, also investigated how to improve long design and cane-use biomechanics so that blind cane users can detect hazards on their walking path more reliably with the long cane. Funded by USDOT (Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities).
Orientation and mobility training
We are conducting a study that investigates blind individuals’ travel behaviors before and after receiving an orientation and mobility training using latest technologies such as GPS, GIS, and accelerometers.
Dawn Anderson, Ph.D.
Access to curriculum, instruction and valid and reliable assessment tools
We recently described how learning media assessments are administered and discussed ways to identify tools that are valid and reliable for matching learning media to particular students and tasks. We also are studying the assessment tools in orientation and mobility to determine the validity of each. Dr. Anderson is also leading a national study implementing a process and content to train Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments how to assess, plan for, and teach student with Cortical Visual Impairment more effectively.
