Award Data

Individuals with significant cognitive impairments have among the highest incidence of illiteracy. This, combined with the complex and text based interfaces of mainstream computer programs and operating systems, makes typical keyboard input largely inaccessible to this population. Voice recognition technology offers promise to overcoming this barrier, but currently provides the same barriers of ex ...

People with Intellectual Disabilities depend a great deal on work for their quality of life. Working in community-based jobs can make a substantial difference in income, relationships and self-esteem. An important factor in successful employment outcomes is matching individuals with jobs that are of interest to the job seeker. However, existing job interest tools are ineffective for this populatio ...

One of the most significant barriers existing today for individuals with intellectual disabilities is the inability for much of this population to independently read and access written information. The plethora of materials available electronically, including books, biographies, audio books as well as talking book services for individuals with visual and learning disabilities. Regrettably, while t ...

People with Intellectual Disabilities depend a great deal on work for their quality of life. Working in community-based jobs can make a substantial difference in income, relationships and self-esteem. An important factor in successful employment outcomes is matching individuals with jobs that are of interest to the job seeker. However, existing job interest tools are ineffective for this populatio ...

The most recent data available from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) indicates that 4-6% of adults in the United States have insufficient reading skills to even attempt participation in the NAAL’s literacy assessment in 1992 (Literacy in the Labor Force, p. 310- 320). While there are approximately 8 million individuals with intellectual disabilities (e.g., mental retardation) in ...

The platform consists of simple, user-friendly tools to create speech and language lessons which incorporate a lip readable accurate talking head, dubbed "Baldi®." Baldi's skin can be made transparent to show how speech is created by the tongue, jaw (palate, gums and teeth) and lips. Views from any angle can be supplemented with airflow and vibration indicators and highlighting.

In 2003, The Nation’s Report Card for educational progress showed that thirty-seven percent of fourth graders could not read at the most basic level. Further, poor readers are notoriously “disengaged” - they do not have the desire to read. These students need explicit instruction to improve their reading comprehension skills; however, few programs are available to older students and the avai ...

In 2001 the US EPA lowered the maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. This change is expected to impact 10 percent of the nation's drinking water systems; the vast majority of those impacted are small, rural water suppliers. New approaches, particularly simple, adsorption-based technologies are needed to provide cost effective treatment options for small wat ...

In this three Phase program, ADA Technologies proposes to develop and demonstrate a novel, active trace explosives sampling system/method that will be easily adapted for use with existing commercially available explosive detection sensors. This will lead to a generic-interface sampling device that will directly couple with currently deployed trace explosives detection sensors. The active samplin ...

In a ship's bilge, water mixes with oils, cleaners, and other contaminants to form a complex wastewater that can be harmful to the marine environment. Naval vessels carry oil/water separators (OWS) to prevent discharging oily wastes overboard. These OWS systems can remove oil from water; however, serious problems arise when other contaminants, e.g. detergents, are present. These ingredients cause ...