Reflections on rehabilitation engineering history: are there lessons to be learned?

This author’s perspective is possibly unique among the other contributors to this volume because he witnessed the early evolution of rehabilitation engineering in Canada and the United States, first working as a young clinical rehabilitation engineer and later as an academic researcher in both countries. This contribution focuses largely on the Canadian contribution, with emphasis on the political backdrop that created the impetus and funding for program development and the productive partnerships that lead to significant early outcomes. Of course, as with the evolution of any field, key people with vision stepped forward to provide the leadership. These individuals should not be forgotten. Their commitment and contribution to the formation of the field was paramount— and possibly not without equal to this day. Recognition of the early pioneers is not intended to be all-inclusive; it is limited by the personal experiences of the author and largely from the Canadian perspective. In order to provide the reader with a time frame and career activities that largely influenced the following perspectives, a brief review of this author’s education and work experiences follows. • Education: Mechanical Engineering, 1965, University of Manitoba, PhD, University of Strathclyde, 1989. • 1963–68: Research Engineer, Prosthetic and Orthotic Research and Development Unit (PORDU), Manitoba Rehabilitation Center, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Development of lower-limb modular prosthesis and mobility devices for thalidomide children.) • 1969: Research Associate, Biomedical Research Unit, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick. (Upper-limb myoelectric prosthetics.) • 1970–74: Director, Rehabilitation Engineering Program, Shriners Hospital, Winnipeg Unit, Canada. (Development of seating and mobility devices for children and development and provision of prosthetics and orthotics and RE client services.) • 1974–90: Director, Rehabilitation Engineering Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis. (Development of seating, mobility, prosthetic and orthotic technologies for children, provision of prosthetics and orthotics and RE services.) • 1990–92: Founding President, ARCOR, Winnipeg, Canada. (Nonprofit, government-funded organization for the purpose of developing and marketing technology for the elderly.) • 1992–96: Director, Center for Assistive Technology, University of Pittsburgh. (Development and management of assistive technology service center.) • 1992–01: Associate Professor, Codirector, RERC on Wheeled Mobility, University of Pittsburgh. (Academic research, teaching and administration of RERC on wheeled mobility.) Reflection on the past can also provide knowledge and insights that can guide us in the present. Of particular interest to this author are the political and social environments,