The following is an excerpt from the article “When Is National Disability Independence Day?” by Alicita Rodriguez, featured in the CU Denver News in July 2021.

Associate Professor Cathy Bodine, executive director of the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering at CU Denver, got into the field of adaptive technology after working with people with cognitive impairments, including nonspeaking people. “There were so many assumptions and biases around their capabilities,” she said. “When I used technology to provide a voice for people with cognitive impairments who could not talk, I was able to demonstrate that they could engage and participate in the world.”

Becky Breaux, a doctoral student in the Health and Behavioral Science department and a senior research instructor at the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering, shared a similar story. Breaux began her career as an occupational therapist. “When I provided assistive technology, I felt like it made a huge difference to my patients,” she said. “I realized the power that technology can have for an individual in helping them be more independent, safe, comfortable—whatever it is that’s important to them.”

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