Universal Design as a Rehabilitation Strategy: Design for the Ages

About Jon A. Sanford

Jon Sanford is an adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture and Co-Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Workplace Accommodations within the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also a Research Architect at the Rehabilitation Research and Development Center at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Director of Research for Extended Home Living Services in Wheeling Illinois one of the nationâ s largest providers of home modifications. Mr. Sanford is one of the few architecturally trained researchers engaged in environmental issues related to accessibility and design for aging and has been well-recognized for his expertise in home modifications environmental safety and universal design for over 20 years. His research has focused on accessibility and universal design including best practices in assisted toileting and bathing; access to toilet and bathing facilities; and design of toilet facilities to facilitate independence among older adults. He has developed several assessment protocols for home modifications including remote assessments using televideo technology and CASPAR the Comprehensive Assessment and Solutions Process for Aging Residents. He is currently funded by the National Institute on Aging to develop eCASPAR a companion database of home modification solutions. In addition he is currently directing a multi-site randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of using interactive teleconferencing to provide remote therapeutic services including home modification recommendations to older adults at home. He has contributed over 100 articles and chapters to the professional literature; over 150 professional presentations; and over 50 principal or co-investigator and director positions. In addition a select listing of his memberships and contributions to professional associations/ are provided below: Expert/Advisory Panels. Home Safety Workgroup National Council on Aging (2006-); UIC Activity and Environment Advisory Panel (2006); AIA Task Force on ADA (2005); National Falls Prevention Summit to develop Falls Prevention Action Plan National Council on Aging (2004). Emergency Evacuation of People with Physical Disabilities from Buildings Interagency Committee on Disability Research (2004). VA Design Guide for Extended Care Facilities Ernest Bland Associates (2004). Envisioning the Future American Occupational Therapy Association (2004). Professional Associations. Gerontological Society of America: Member 1989-Present Physical Environments and Aging Informal Interest Group 1994-Present; Chair 2005 - present; American Society on Aging 1993-Present; Network on Environments Services and Technologies 1994-present; ASA local arrangements committee 1994; program planning committee 2003; Environmental Design Research Association 1975-present Gerontology Network 1987-present; Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (1994-Present) Universal Access Special Interest Group (1995- present). Editorial Boards. Journal of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics 2006; Maximizing Human Potential newsletter for Network on Environments Services and Technologies for Maximizing Independence of the American Society on Aging 2000; Co-editor Design Research News Environmental Design Research Association1995-2001.