Portrait of Roger Smith

Roger O. Smith, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, RESNA Fellow

  • Professor Emeritus, Programs in Occupational Therapy, Science & Technology
  • Program Director, Occupational Therapy
  • Director, Rehabilitation Research & Design for Disability (R2D2) Center

Speaker Topics

  • Accessible Design
  • Assistive Technology
  • Universal Design
  • Bifocals and Falling
  • Outcome Measurement and Disability

Interests & Expertise

Roger O. Smith's research focuses on measurement related to disability and the application of assistive technology and universal design. In measurement, Smith examines assessments to determine their reliability and validity in use. He has created a software-based evaluation system that uses a branching question structure called TTSS (Trichotomous Tailored Sub-branching Scoring.) One component of Smith's current research specifically investigates the utility of the TTSS methodology as embedded in OTFACT software.

Smith also investigates the effectiveness of assistive technology and universal design interventions on the lives of people with disabilities. Currently, Smith directs several federally-funded projects.

Smith has served as primary author and director for more than 30 grant and contract awards of over $8 million of extramural-sponsored research and training programs. These projects have supported many dozens of students in assistive technology training and in research support positions.

Smith is the director of the R2D2 Center which provides an interdisciplinary home for basic research, applied research and development, as well as innovative instruction related to technology and disability.

The R2D2 Center affiliates multiple college/school units in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, key linkages exist with the College of Health Sciences Departments of Occupational Science & Technology and Health Informatics & Administration and the Department of Exceptional Education in the School of Education, the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and components of the campus Office of Information Technology.

A list of current projects at the R2D2 Center can be viewed at the Center’s website at uwm.edu/r2d2/projects/.

Research Partners

  • Marquette University, Biomedical Engineering, and Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Departments
  • Texas Women’s University
  • Temple University
  • Florida International University
  • Indiana University
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiology Departments
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Independence First, Milwaukee