Why do we need improved mobility technology?

Excerpt

The National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) decided to make inclusion of scientists with disabilities a priority when selecting the investigators for a trip investigating research conducted in Europe on mobility technology for people with disabilities. The trip was rigorous with groups visiting multiple labs and multiple countries often in a single day. A typical day began with a 7 or 8 am checkout, a cab ride to the first location, followed by cabs to two or three more locations, all the while toting luggage. After the daily tours were complete, yet another cab ride to the airport or train station, travel to a new city, cab to the hotel, check in, hunt down dinner, and with any luck, in bed by 11 pm. This was the pattern for five days, a taxing schedule for any individual, disabled or not. The rigorous travel and obstacles encountered further emphasized the need for this study. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the obstacles our group faced during our travels as concrete example of how mobility limitations can impede participation. …