Assistive Technology Research

Hands using soldering tools to work on a small open electronic device, with various wires and components visible. The device is held in place by a flexible, adjustable stand on a workbench.

From research to real-life game-changers

By pairing Shepherd’s renowned clinical rehabilitation expertise with leading engineers, academic researchers, and industry partners, the Center for Assistive Technologies (CAT) is shaping customized solutions for individuals and scaling innovations into next-generation assistive technologies for broader populations.

From adaptive cornhole bags to on-demand trunk supports, and from low-tech letter boards to a mouth mouse, our work spans simple solutions and emerging technologies alike. Each project is guided by outcome-driven research — collaborating with manufacturers to evaluate product performance, study usability, and refine designs — ensuring assistive technology prescriptions truly enhance independence and quality of life.

A hub for translational research

The Center for Assistive Technologies serves as a translational research hub, bringing together three specialized domains — driving, seating, and technology access — under one roof. This structure fosters collaboration between clinicians and researchers, enabling rigorous investigation into complex use cases and accelerating the path from concept to deployment.

Unlike many rehabilitation programs, our work spans a wide diagnostic spectrum and age range, bringing together clinical expertise, scientific rigor, engineering innovation, and patient experience to design solutions that truly work in everyday life.

A man in a wheelchair is being fitted with a protective cover by a woman. They are both smiling and looking at a large mirror, reflecting their image. Another person is assisting with a hose. The room contains equipment for mobility assistance.
A close-up of a person’s hand holding a yellow plastic tube with a black label, possibly a stick of deodorant or lotion, with focus on the fingers and short nails.
A person using a wheelchair with prosthetic arms and legs is interacting with another person in a room adorned with framed certificates and plaques. They are holding a small device, appearing focused on a task or instruction.
Assistive technology research in action: researchers and clinicians collaborate on wheelchair pressure mapping assessments to reduce pressure and improve comfort (left); development of a 3D-printed grasping aid designed to help individuals hold everyday items like deodorant (top right); and measurement of grip strength using a dynamometer during a clinical assessment for driving rehabilitation (bottom right).

Why Shepherd leads in Assistive Technology research

Our assistive technology research is driven by a unique blend of clinical expertise, engineering innovation, and human-centered design. We don’t just study accessibility, we actively shape it. Our advantages include:

  • Therapist-engineered research: Our Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) include certified therapists with expertise in rehabilitation and accessibility.
  • Real-world lab + tech showroom: Our 30,000 sq ft Innovation Institute functions as both a testing ground and demonstration space, where users interact with emerging technologies before they reach the market.
  • Accessibility rooted in care: Every project starts with understanding the person, who they are, what they want to do, where they want to go, and how technology can support them.

Areas of breakthrough research

We translate ideas into impact through a structured, collaborative process that spans concept development, testing, and deployment.

From low-tech tools like pen grips and zipper pulls to high-tech solutions like speech recognition software and smart wheelchairs, our work spans the full spectrum of assistive technology. We design for usability, affordability, and adaptability.

Our Access Technology Lab provides a hands-on environment for testing devices like motion sensor glasses, sip‑and‑puff controllers, and smart environmental tools. While these activities are part of our clinical process, they inform broader innovation efforts.

With services spanning wheelchair seating, driving rehabilitation, and occupational device access, our research supports the whole person — mind, body, and community. Our team coordinates evaluations to meet individual functional needs and industry standards and requirements.

There are people with disabilities who face an ‘Everest’ every day. It’s knowing that these people didn’t have a shot until they got to us, and we can make the smallest to the biggest changes.

Chris Mauer, PT, MPT, ATP Center for Assistive Technologies Program Manager

Program areas

  • Innovating AT for independence (iATi): We evaluate and refine emerging products and explore commercialization opportunities for technologies that enhance independence but may lack visibility or evidence.
  • AT outcomes: We collect and analyze real-world data to guide better equipment prescriptions, while understanding who benefits from specific devices, under what conditions, and why.
  • Product performance and evaluation: We partner with manufacturers, inventors, and innovators to assess assistive technology products in real-world rehabilitation settings. Our evaluations focus on safety, usability, durability, and functional impact.

Through this collaborative process, we help bridge the gap between product development and meaningful use — advancing technologies that truly enhance independence and quality of life.

A woman stands smiling behind a wooden counter with shelves full of electronic gadgets, devices, and components on the wall behind her in a modern, tech-focused workspace.

Meet the assistive technology research team

What do physical therapy and assistive technology have in common? For Chris Maurer, it’s the power to restore not just movement, but meaning. Since joining Shepherd Center in 1995, Chris has led the Center for Assistive Technologies with a vision that blends science, creativity, and compassion. Whether it’s a custom device or a breakthrough moment in rehab, she’s driven by the belief that freedom is found in the details.

Shape the future of assistive technology

Have a product idea or feedback that could make a difference? We want to hear from you! Whether you’re a person with a disability, a care partner, or a clinician, your lived experience is invaluable. Your insights can help drive innovation and create technologies that truly meet real-world needs. Tell us what challenges you face, or what solutions you envision. When opportunities arise to collaborate, test, or co-create, we’ll be in touch.

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