The IDEA Center started a major long range program to establish a database on the anthropometry of wheeled mobility in 1999. This program was initiated as part of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design at Buffalo funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The U.S. Access Board also began supporting the effort in 2001 and is now providing the major source of funds.

Anthropometry is the study of the dimensions and abilities of the human body. Wheeled mobility devices are used by people with mobility impairments to support their mobility in buildings and in the community, e.g. manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and scooters. Static anthropometry is the measurement of body sizes at rest and functional anthropometry is the measurement of abilities related to completing tasks. In the case of wheeled mobility, static anthropometry includes measurement of people and their devices. Functional anthropometry includes measurement of reaching abilities, maneuvering and other aspects of space and equipment use from a wheeled mobility device.

The database used for accessibility standards in the United States was developed in the late 1970’s. Since that time, both the technology of wheeled mobility and the demographics of device users have changed dramatically. The primary goal of this research is to develop a database that reflects the sizes, abilities and space needs of contemporary users and devices. A secondary goal is to identify, develop and disseminate reliable and valid research methods that can be used by many research groups effectively to increase knowledge and inform design and code development over the long term. A third goal is to disseminate our findings and provide technical assistance to standards committees, government officials and designers to help improve accessibility to the built environment by wheeled mobility users.

Project Directors: Edward Steinfeld | Dave Feathers | Victor Paquet

Our work includes the following activities;

1. Review and tracking of the state of the art in this field

2. Development and testing of research protocols

3. Data collection to develop a database for research, design and standards development

4. Development of an interface to access the data being collected

5. Organization of international workshops on the subject

6. Dissemination of research findings through reports, publications and public speaking

Databases:

The following types of anthropometric studies are underway:

1. 3-dimensional measurements of wheeled mobility users sitting in their own devices in normal resting posture, including key measurements of the devices

2. Measurements of functional reach ability

3. Measurements of minimum maneuvering space clearances

4. Targeted studies of wheelchair use in full scale models of rooms and spaces

Our research methods include both low-tech approaches like interviews, observations of people using wheeled mobility devices and manual measurements of the space clearances needed for specific maneuvers as well as 3 dimensional data collection using sophisticated digital methods.

All our data, including videos and animations are being organized in a database management system with a custom designed user interface to make access to the information user friendly for designers and code developers. The second generation of the interface is now nearing completion.

Dissemination

Two international workshops were organized by the IDEA Center to bring stakeholders together in order to discuss the state of the art in the anthropometry of wheeled mobility and identify needed research directions.

Workshop #1: The Anthropometrics of Disability

This workshop was held in Buffalo, NY in June of 2001 and was attended by 40 international experts. Participants included researchers, standards developers, experts in accessible design and wheelchair designers. The report describes advances in the state of the art in anthropometry, the challenges of measuring people with disabilities and recommendations made by the experts at the workshop.

Click here to download a PDF version of the report

Click here to download an HTML version of the report

Click below to download the report as a Microsoft Word file.

Workshop #2: Space Requirements for Wheeled Mobility

Click here to download a PDF version of the Workshop report.

Click here to download an html version of the report

3. Trends and issues in lift and deployed ramp technologies

4. Trends and issues in disability data and demographics

Several other participants presented shorter papers.

Click here to go to the site where papers can be downloaded.

Report: Standards and Anthropometry for Wheeled Mobility

This report was prepared at the request of the U.S. Board to provide guidance in the further development and revision of the ADA-ABA Guidelines and in providing technical assistance to designers and code developers. The analysis highlights the importance of integrating research with standards development, organizing international research collaborations and developing international standards.

Click here to download a PDF version of the report.

Click here to download an html version of the report

Click here to download the report a Microsoft Word file.

Faculty and staff of the Center have published many peer reviewed journal papers and conference papers on our research.

Click here to access a bibliography and available downloads.

Click here to request materials