Welcome to the RERC on Workplace Accommodations

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Workplace Accommodations identifies, develops and promotes new assistive and universally designed technologies that maximize independence and participation of people with disabilities in the workplace. A primary focus of the Workplace RERC is the use of universal design concepts -- the design of products and environments to be usable by all workers, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Accommodation in Action

Man with spinal cord injury using a rotating work station to do T.V/VCR repair.

Work RERC News

• Digital Technologies and the employment of Americans with disabilities: findings from a focus group study
  A presentation by three Georgia Tech scholars; Dr. Paul M.A. Baker (Institute for 21st Century Universities), Dr. Nathan Moon (Work RERC), and Dr. James White (Center for Advanced Communication Policy).
  
• CSUN 2012: The Workplace Accommodation Wizard
  A presentation on a new expert system that employers can use for suggestions when determining accommodations. This system will be made available to the public in the next few months.
  
• RESNA 2011: Update from the RERC on Workplace Accommodations
  A presentation covering information about our research on job accommodation use, development of assessment tools, research on workplace participation, and development of context-aware technologies
  
• Survey of Accommodation Use
  Data analysis is ongoing for our survey of workplace or job accommodation use, and we have begun to present some of the findings:
  • Visual impairments - presentation at the Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference (aka CSUN)
  • Cognitive impairments - part of our presentation at the annual NARRTC Conference
  • Physical impairments - part of our presentation at the RESNA/FICCDAT 2011 Conference
  
  
• Workplace Provision of AT/RT
  Excerpt with preliminary findings from the FICCDAT/ RESNA 2011 Presentation: Effective RT/AT Service Delivery: State of Practice, Quality Indicators and ROI in the Workplace
  
• Database of Accommodation Case Studies Relaunched
  The Work RERC's popular "Accommodation Examples" resource is now being hosted on the ATWiki in a new "AT Applications" section. This change will make it easier for people to add interesting accommodation ideas and stories. The database currently contains about 80 case studies that can be searched by functional limitation, type of job family, or type of technology involved.
  Search the case studies.
  
• NYS Clean Heat Program
  The NYS Clean Heat Program provides rebates and incentives to homeowners for switching from fossil fuel heating to energy-efficient heat pump systems. It helps reduce energy bills, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve indoor comfort while supporting New York State’s clean energy goals.
  

ACCA Manual J Load Calculations

• The Importance of a Certified ACCA Manual J Load Calculation
  ACCA Manual J load calculations determine a home's precise heating and cooling needs. By accounting for insulation, windows, air leakage, and climate, they ensure HVAC systems are properly sized. This prevents oversizing or undersizing, improving comfort, efficiency, and energy savings while meeting code and utility rebate requirements.