Research Resources

Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access

The Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CETEA) is a unit of Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture. The center has two main objectives:

Development, evaluation, and utilization of assistive technology (technologies or devices designed to allow or improve performance of activities of daily living or work)
Design and development of accessible environments (environments, private and public, accessible to all people, including those with disabilities)

The purpose of CATEA is to support individuals with disabilites of any age within the State of Georgia and beyond through expert services, research, design and technological development, information dissemination, and educational programs. The application of these resources is intended to promote maximum access to opportunity and environments by enhancing individuals’ capabilities through the appropriate use of technology.

The following are CATEA projects:

Advanced Assistive Technology Lab: The Advanced Assistive Technology Lab (AATL) combines the technical expertise of the Georgia Institute of Technology with the medical expertise of Emory Healthcare to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to people with acquired or developmental disabilities.
assistivetech.net: assistivetech.net is a national public Internet site on up-to-date assistive technology and disability-related resources, designed to meet the needs of the general public. It combines a wealth of information with easy-to-use search utilities.
Barrier Free Education: Math and science activities pose unique accommodation challenges for students with disabilities. The Barrier Free Education resource on accessible science experiments was developed for high school chemistry and physics students with physical or visual disabilities under the National Science Foundation’s Program for Persons with Disabilities.
Digital Human Modeling Initiative: The Digital Human Modeling Initiative (DHMI) seeks to advance state-of-the-art body measurement by building a database on older adults and people with disabilities. This data is necessary if efforts in digital human modeling, required in the design process for a wide range of products, are to be fully representative and inclusive of all people.
Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center: The Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC) is a collaborative project of the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access and an international body of strategic partners. ITTATC’s goal is to provide information, training, and technical assistance to support the implementation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act.
Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center: The Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (SEDBTAC) facilitates voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and promotes accessible information technology among educational entities.
Tech Connections: Tech Connections is a collaborative project of CATEA, the United Cerebral Palsy Associations, and the Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (SE DBTAC). Its goal is to increase the utilization of existing and emerging technology by state vocational rehabilitation programs.
TechKnowledge: TechKnowledge is a nationally renowned library of assistive technology and disability-related resources. The largest library of its kind, TechKnowledge includes an array of catalogs, brochures, books, journals, periodicals, and extensive online databases.