Technological Innovations

in Transportation for

People with Disabilities

The Exploratory Advanced Research Program

2011 Workshop EXECUTIVE Summary
Background

Technological advancements could help to empower 

people with disabilities by addressing their mobility 

needs, however, the benefits of such advancement 

have not yet reached this segment of the traveling 

public. There is an opportunity to explore the suite of 

new technologies, such as wireless, dedicated shortrange communication (DSRC), global positioning 

systems (GPS), object detection, and robotics to 

find methods, tools, or devices that offer persons 

with different impairments accessible transportation 

to meet their personal mobility and public transportation needs. 

The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 

Office of Operations Research and Development 

(R&D), with the Exploratory Advanced Research 

(EAR) Program, intends to examine current and future 

advancements in Intelligent Transportation Systems 

(ITS) and other technologies that could provide 

broad safety and mobility benefits for pedestrians, 

and targeted assistive technology to improve accessible transportation for people with vision impairment and other disabilities. It also aims to identify 

opportunities and share knowledge and experience 

on how various technologies, such as mobile computing, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and 

robotics could be integrated to assist people with 

disabilities to be more mobile and independent.

The Workshop 

FHWA’s EAR Program focuses on long-term, high-risk research with a high payoff potential. The program addresses 

underlying gaps faced by applied highway research programs, 

anticipates emerging issues with national implications, and 

reflects broad transportation industry goals and objectives. 

On February 23, 2011, at the Turner-Fairbank Highway 

Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean, VA, FHWA’s Office of 

Operations R&D, with the EAR Program, convened a 1-day 

workshop on technological innovations for people with disabilities. The focus was to find new ways to improve mobility 

for people with disabilities by using anticipated and current 

technologies and building on existing infrastructure.

The workshop began with Michael Trentacoste, Associate 

Administrator for FHWA’s Office of Research, Development, 

and Technology (RD&T) and Director of TFHRC, welcoming 

attendees and providing a brief overview of FHWA’s involvement in transportation accessibility, and the importance of 

improving highway facilities for all users. Joe Peters, Director, Office of Operations R&D at FHWA, then outlined the 

importance of raising awareness of people with disabilities 

and addressing individual user requirements. Next, David 

Kuehn, EAR Program Manager at FHWA, offered insight into 

the application of long-term research to enable the public to 

travel safely with greater mobility and greater access. Richard 

Devylder, Senior Advisor on Accessible Transportation at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, then presented his 

thoughts on technology solutions to mainstream accessible 

transportation and ensure functional needs are being met. 

Finally, Mohammed Yousuf, Office of Operations R&D at 

FHWA, provided insight into the importance of technological innovations in transportation for people with disabilities 

and addressed the suite of new and emerging technologies 

now available.

A panel of six speakers then presented on technological advancements, and existing and developing tools, methods, and 

concepts related to pedestrians with vision-impairments and 

other disabilities. Following these presentations, the speakers, 

disability experts, and representatives from academia, the 

transportation industry, and other professional areas, discussed applications to wayfinding and guidance, identified 

knowledge gaps and opportunities, and highlighted barriers to 

implementation.

Presentation Summaries

Speakers presented on a range of topics, from economics, 

environmental awareness, and accessibility to robotics, wayfinding, and mobile technology. Here is an overview of the six 

presentations:
1. Triggering a Virtuous Circle of SelfSustaining Accessibility and Transportation

David Lewis, Senior Vice President at Henningson, Durham 

& Richardson, Inc., highlighted the ongoing struggle to understand the relationship between public policy regarding 

technology and the penetration and commercial realization 

of design and technology solutions that improve the lives and 

wellbeing of people with disabilities. He explained the need 

for public policy “nudging” to trigger a self-sustaining market for accessibility, and the importance of making a business 

case by quantifying all benefits of a new technology.

2. Environmental Awareness for People 

With Visual Impairments—Gaps, Challenges, 

and Opportunities

Gil Lutz, Chief Pioneering Officer at Sendero Group, provided an overview of the Sendero system that provides 

talking GPS navigation. Using a comprehensive and customizable point of interest database, the system can offer 

specific directions both on- and off-street and allows a user 

to retrace any route using step-by-step guidance.

3. Getting There if You Are Blind: 

Synergistic Convergence of Technologies 

to Improve Wayfinding

Bill Crandall, a scientist at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Institute, 

focused on overcoming barriers faced by people with visual 

impairments as they travel around on a day-to-day basis. 

Tools discussed included tactile print maps, GPS, geographic information systems, and remote infrared audible 

signs (RIAS). The RIAS system labels the environment and 

has many applications, from bus stops and elevators to pedestrian crossings. RIAS can also be merged with mobile 

technology to access an information database stored on a 

remote server.

4. Using Robotics and Artificial Intelligence 

to Improve Mobility and Navigation of 

People With Special Needs

David Bruemmer, Vice President of Research at 5D Robotics, 

offered insight into the role of service robots. The market is 

expected to progress rapidly in the coming years, so it is important to find the right task allocation for robots to meet 

specific requirements. Robotics may include both autonomous and assistive functions and systems. In addition, understanding capabilities and maintaining simplicity are key 

factors to consider.

5. Opportunities and Innovations in ITS and 

Mobile Technology for Accessible Transportation

Larry Head, Department Head of Systems and Industrial 

Engineering at the University of Arizona, demonstrated the 

benefits of a connected environment, explaining the benefits 

offered to all road users, from emergency vehicles approaching an intersection, to pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk. The 

ultimate vision of this research is for a completely connected 

vehicle and infrastructure environment, utilizing systems 

that communicate with roadside equipment using a selection 

of tools, from DSRC to phone networks and Bluetooth.

6. Making Technology Universally 

Accessible for All Users, Including Those 

With Sensory and Cognitive Impairments

Katharine Hunter-Zaworski, Director at the National Center 

for Accessible Transportation at Oregon State University, 

presented on making technology universally accessible to all 

users. The urban-rural accessibility divide was highlighted, 

as well as many of the new technologies aimed at improving 

access for all, including handheld devices, video phones, and 

accessible information systems. Some of the steps required 

to enable widespread deployment were also covered, particularly the importance of making a business case to ensure 

that technologies can reach the intended end user.

State of Technology

Many of the new technologies discussed at the workshop 

offer benefits for those with disabilities. ITS, wireless technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, navigation, guidance, universal design, and accessible transportation; all offer access to daily activities such as independent travel to 

work, school, shopping, or recreation.

ITS, wireless technologies, and mobile computing can enable a person to cross a roundabout equipped with knowledge of the surrounding environment and traffic conditions, 

while broadcasting and receiving information with the infrastructure and vehicles. Robotics, artificial intelligence, and 

object detection technology can detect hazards and obstructions on sidewalks or offer assistive navigation solutions.

Navigation, wayfinding, orientation, and guidance technology can be used to enhance mobility. It can allow a person with a visual impairment to navigate a crowded station 

or find his or her way around unfamiliar buildings. Universal design and accessible technologies aim to keep accessibility simple, often looking to integrate new technology with 

a device that is already carried by the person.

Although there are a lot of useful and often life-changing 

technologies in existence, there are also many technologies 

that do not work well for all people. As new technology is 

developed and introduced, it is critical to users that it be 

reliable.
Workshop Findings

Following the morning presentations, small breakout groups 

identified gaps, challenges, and opportunities specific to a 

range of topics.

Some of the issues related to ITS, wireless technologies, 

and mobile computing were considered as a series of basic 

travel needs to be met, from the ability to receive information on a mobile device, to sharing real-time transit information over a network. The proliferation of smart phones 

points to many future applications for such devices, although 

affordability and overall cost to access this technology need 

to be kept in mind. To fully leverage technology requires 

open access to travel information data.

Discussion of robotics, artificial intelligence, and object 

detection covered some of the many problems facing a visually-impaired traveler on a daily basis; from identifying departure information, purchasing a fare, boarding the correct 

vehicle, and disembarking at the correct stop, to avoiding 

obstacles and traffic along the street, and finding crosswalks 

and signals. In addition, assistive technology can find ways 

to improve overall spatial awareness.

The navigation, wayfinding, orientation, and guidance 

group highlighted the need to consider a multimodal journey 

when attempting to implement wayfinding technology for the 

visually impaired. Improved access from technology could 

improve the confidence of travelers with disabilities. Access 

to wayfinding information is inconsistent and for a traveler to 

want to start carrying around a wayfinding device, the technology needs to be implemented on a large scale. The overall 

finding was to improve access for all and offer technology to 

improve the confidence of travelers with disabilities.

When examining issues pertaining to universal design 

and accessible transportation, the objective is to eliminate 

unexpected obstacles to make getting around, whether on a 

sidewalk or a transit system, as seamless and barrier-free as 

possible. A level playing field is needed, with cross-disability 

support provided in multiple formats. 

Improving Accessibility: 

Moving Beyond Research

General discussion at the end of the workshop was designed 

to identify potential topics worthy of research investment.

The importance of sharing information between interested parties was considered key to moving forward. Certain 

organizations, such as the National Council on Disabilities, 

already gather detailed information about barriers faced in 

transportation to continue outreach and coordination so research can respond to national needs.

There have been many cases of a new technology that 

would be of great benefit to many people and Government 

policies can support a path for new assistive technologies and 

markets to thrive. 

Finally, many new technologies could offer a different way 

to carry out a task, but to make a case for investors, the true 

benefits need to be accurately measured. Quantitative and 

qualitative assessments of the potential impact of a new technology on the end user should be identified, and given that 

travelers with disabilities have wide variation of wants and 

needs, the target population should be involved at all stages. 

Learn More

For more information on the Technological Innovations in 

Transportation for People with Disabilities workshop, contact Mohammed Yousuf at FHWA, 202-493-3199 (email: 

mohammed.yousuf@dot.gov). To learn more about the EAR 

Program, visit the Exploratory Advanced Research Web site 

at www.fhwa.dot/gov/advancedresearch, or contact David 

Kuehn at FHWA, 202-493-3414.

Office of Operations Research and Development

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

6300 Georgetown Pike

McLean, VA 22101-2296

Publication No.

FHWA-HRT-11-042

HRTM-30/09-11(1M)E

Photo Credits:

Cover image and inside, ©iStockphoto.com