Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities. Functional areas addressed through rehabilitation engineering may include mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.
While some rehabilitation engineers have master's degrees in rehabilitation engineering, usually a sub specialty of Biomedical engineering, most rehabilitation engineers have undergraduate or graduate degrees in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. A Portuguese university provides an undergraduate degree in Accessibility and Rehabilitation Engineering. Qualification to become a Rehab' Engineer in the UK is possible via a University BSc Honors Degree course.
The rehabilitation process for people with disabilities often entails the design of assisted devices such as walking aids intended to promote inclusion of their users into the mainstream of society, commerce, and recreation.
The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assisted Technology Society of North America, whose mission is to "improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology", is one of the main professional society for rehabilitation engineers.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers conduct research in the rehabilitation engineering, each focusing on one general area or aspect of disability. For example, the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute conducts research for the blind and visually impaired. Many of the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Research & Development Centers conduct rehabilitation engineering research.
Within the National Health Service Rehabilitation Engineers (REs) are commonly involved with assessment and provision of wheelchairs and seating to promote good posture and independent mobility. This includes electrically powered wheelchairs, active user (lightweight) manual wheelchairs, and in more advanced clinics this may include assessments for specialist wheelchair control systems and/or bespoke seating solutions. Professional registration of NHS Rehab' Engineers is with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
The U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors. The standards for determining employment discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act are the same as those used in title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This is not a new form of engineering. All the age old engineering branches are somehow related to rehabilitation engineering. It's just that in the past few years the work on it has really escalated. With more people knowing and working on it, it is good news not just from the social aspect but also from the aspects of a needy person.
While some rehabilitation engineers have master's degrees in rehabilitation engineering, usually a sub specialty of Biomedical engineering, most rehabilitation engineers have undergraduate or graduate degrees in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. A Portuguese university provides an undergraduate degree in Accessibility and Rehabilitation Engineering. Qualification to become a Rehab' Engineer in the UK is possible via a University BSc Honors Degree course.
The rehabilitation process for people with disabilities often entails the design of assisted devices such as walking aids intended to promote inclusion of their users into the mainstream of society, commerce, and recreation.
The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assisted Technology Society of North America, whose mission is to "improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology", is one of the main professional society for rehabilitation engineers.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers conduct research in the rehabilitation engineering, each focusing on one general area or aspect of disability. For example, the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute conducts research for the blind and visually impaired. Many of the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Research & Development Centers conduct rehabilitation engineering research.
Within the National Health Service Rehabilitation Engineers (REs) are commonly involved with assessment and provision of wheelchairs and seating to promote good posture and independent mobility. This includes electrically powered wheelchairs, active user (lightweight) manual wheelchairs, and in more advanced clinics this may include assessments for specialist wheelchair control systems and/or bespoke seating solutions. Professional registration of NHS Rehab' Engineers is with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
The U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors. The standards for determining employment discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act are the same as those used in title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This is not a new form of engineering. All the age old engineering branches are somehow related to rehabilitation engineering. It's just that in the past few years the work on it has really escalated. With more people knowing and working on it, it is good news not just from the social aspect but also from the aspects of a needy person.
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