CAT Staff & Affiliates

CAT Staff:
Joseph P. Lane, Director Sue Arnold Jennifer Flagg James A. Leahy Michelle Lockett Vathsala Iyengar Stone	Christine Oddo, Director Client Services Sumana Silverheels Barbara Oeschger Amarja Desai	James L. Peron Laurie Yarnes
CAT Affiliates:
Stephen Bauer James A. Lenker John Stone	Machiko Tomita Douglas Usiak Kathy Wisniewski

CAT MANAGEMENT
We've Moved: The CAT Program Office and the KT4TT Project Office is newly located off campus at 100 Sylvan Parkway, Suite 400, Amherst, NY 14228.

JOSEPH P. LANE, MBPA
Director of Center for Assistive Technology
KT4TT Principal Investigator
T2RERC Principal Investigator
joelane@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 211
Mr. Lane is Director of CAT and PI for the national center on KT4TT. As PI for the RERC on Technology Transfer, he has authored dozens of papers and invited presentations on assistive technology and technology transfer. He was founded editor of the journal “Technology & Disability” and co-authored two textbooks: "Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities (2nd Edition)", published by the American Occupational Therapy Association, and "Managing Information Systems", published by Jossey-Bass. Mr. Lane holds a Master's Degree in Business and Public Administration (MBPA) from the University of California, Irvine.

SUSAN ARNOLD
Business Manager for all CAT Programs
smarnold@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 200
Ms. Arnold is in charge of all administrative activity and posting of web-based materials for the KT4TT program. She joined CAT as Business Manager in 2001. Ms. Arnold coordinates with the Director and Associate Director, personnel, and account management for the CAT program and serves as Treasurer for UB/CAT Inc. For fifteen years she managed project activity for an Industry-University Cooperative Research Program.

CAT RESEARCH PROGRAM IN KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (KT4TT)

JAMES A. LEAHY, BS
KT4TT Co-Principal Investigator
T2RERC Co-Principal Investigator
jimleahy@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 201
Mr. Leahy leads the KT4TT Development Project 1 which operates a participatory-observation technology transfer program, in partnership with PI’s from other national centers, and product manufacturers from A/T and mainstream industries. He served as Product Commercialization manager for fifteen years under the RERC on Technology Transfer. Mr. Leahy held project management positions for Union Carbide and Bell Aerospace Textron for twenty years prior.

VATHSALA IYENGAR STONE, MS, Ph.D.
KT4TT Co-Principal Investigator
T2RERC Co-Principal Investigator
vstone@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 210
Dr. Stone is leading the KT4TT’s Research Project 3 Intervention Program, which will test the contribution of Knowledge Translation methods to knowledge awareness and use among target users and organizations. She serves as director of research design and internal program evaluation. Under the T2RERC she provided consultation on methodology issues to project personnel, and manages consumer research data from national surveys. Dr. Stone holds a Ph.D. degree in Educational Evaluation & Research Design from Florida State University, an MS in Science Education from North Carolina State University, 1971, a BEd in Physical Science & Math Education and a BS in Physical Science & Math, both from the University of Mysore, India.

JENNIFER FLAGG, BS
Principal Analyst for KT4TT
jlflagg@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 209
Ms. Flagg is Project Manager for the KT4TT Research Project 1. This involves creating an integrated model for Technology Transfer and Knowledge Translation, and conducting a scoping review of all relevant literature related to the model. Ms. Flagg holds a BS in Business Management and Marketing from the University at Buffalo. Her interests include focus group facilitation and secondary market research with an emphasis on uncovering the idiosyncrasies of niche markets within the disability industry.

MICHELLE LOCKETT, MBA
Market Analyst
mlockett@buffalo.edu
716-204-8606 xt. 203
Ms. Lockett is providing support to multiple projects within the KT4TT program, including instrument development and market research. She holds a BA in Psychology from Ithaca College, NY and MBA from Canisius College, NY. Ms. Lockett previously held Market Research Analyst positions in media and food industries.
[ Top of Page ]

CAT CLIENT SERVICES (UB/CAT Inc.)
We've Moved: CAT Client Service is newly located off campus at 3108 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214.

CHRISTINE R. ODDO, MS
Director, CAT Client Service
coddo@buffalo.edu
716-836-0230
Ms. Oddo directs Client Service operations and is chief liaison to the NYS Office of Vocational and Education Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). She consults with UB’s Office for Students with Disabilities to ensure all campus workstations are accessible to students with a variety of functional impairments. She functions as a Principal Investigator on sponsored projects, and is liaison to the national Alliance for Technology Access. Ms. Oddo received a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy with a concentration in Physical Disabilities and ACT.

SUMANA SILVERHEELS, MA, ATP
Program Director, Client Services
ssheels@buffalo.edu
716-836-1350
Ms. Silverheels directs the CAT assessment and training services for the New York State Department of Social Services Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI). She is Project Director for the WNY Regional TRAID program operated by New York State, and provides A/T Continuing Education to professional throughout New York State. She serves as Secretary for UB CAT Inc. Ms. Silverheels has a Bachelors degree in Physics, Electronics, and a Master of Arts degree in Social Science.

BARBARA OESCHGER
Lead Trainer, CAT Client Service
oeschger@buffalo.edu
716-836-1168
Ms. Oeschger works with persons enrolled in CAT Client Services through State contracts, School districts or private payment, who have previously participated in CAT Assessment Services. She primarily works with clients of the NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Ms. Oeschger trains client to proficiency in the use of computer work stations customized for user access, as well as the interface between the workstation and the client’s final application environment. Ms. Oeschger is a former CAT client and participated in an assistive technology evaluation and subsequent training.

AMARJA DESAI, MS OT, OTR
Senior Trainer, CAT Client Service
desai@buffalo.ed
716-836-1529
Ms. Desai works with persons enrolled in CAT Client Services through State contracts, School districts or private payment, who have previously participated in CAT Assessment Services. She primarily works with clients of the NYS Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities. Ms. Desai trains client to proficiency in the use of computer work stations customized for user access, as well as the interface between the workstation and the client’s final application environment.

CAT DESIGN AND FABRICATION SHOP

JAMES L. PERON
Director, Design and Fabrication Shop
jimperon@buffalo.edu
716-829-6711
Mr. Peron oversees the Design & Fabrication Shop, where he designs, prototypes, builds, and modifies assistive devices and home modifications, for CAT projects, campus needs and community projects. He has over thirty years of fabrication experience in all materials including metal, wood, plastics and electro-mechanical systems.

CAT MEDIA & GRAPHICS SUPPORT

LAURIE YARNES, BS
Graphic Designer
lyarnes@buffalo.edu
716-829-3132
Ms. Yarnes provides media, graphic and desktop publishing support to all CAT projects. Ms. Yarnes has a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Graphic Design from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and brought fifteen years of graphic design experience to CAT.
[ Top of Page ]

CAT AFFILIATES

STEPHEN BAUER, Ph.D.
T²RERC Principal Investigator
smbauer@buffalo.edu
716-829-6760
Dr. Bauer received degrees in Psychology [BA 78], Chemistry [BS '79] and Electrical and Computer Engineering [MS '89, Ph.D. '92] from the State University of New York at Buffalo. During this time, he received an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow in Rehabilitation Medicine ['92-'93] and a University Engineering Lectureship ['87-'90]. Dr. Bauer is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and co-Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology Transfer (T²RERC). The mission of the T²RERC is "to facilitate introduction of products into the marketplace, addressing important needs of persons with disabilities, through a systematic technology transfer process." Under the T²RERC, Dr. Bauer directs the Demand Pull Project whose focus has included wheelchairs and scooters ['98], hearing aids and assistive listening systems ['99], augmentative communication devices ['00] and vision technology ['02]. Dr. Bauer's professional interests include technology transfer, market research, product planning and design, and assistive technology. His personal interests include gardening, biking, hiking and history.

JAMES A. LENKER, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Clinical Assistant Professor
lenker@buffalo.edu
716-829-6726
Mr. Lenker is the Program Director for the Graduate Certificate Program in Assistive Technology. He is also an active member of the service delivery team at UB's Center for Assistive Technology. His educational background includes MS and BS degrees in mechanical engineering, as well as a BS degree in occupational therapy. Mr. Lenker's professional interests include computer access and accommodation for people with disabilities, as well as worksite assessment for accommodation and prevention of worker injury. He is active in the RESNA and AOTA professional societies for assistive technology providers and occupational therapists, respectively.

JOHN STONE, Ph.D., MPA
Clinical Associate Professor
jstone@buffalo.edu
716-829-6739
Dr. Stone holds a BA from St. Bonaventure University, a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Education from Florida State University. Prior to joining the UB faculty, he worked for 17 years in Brazil, including faculty appointments at the National Institute for Space Research, the Federal University of Espirito Santo and the Federal University of Maranhao. He has also held an appointment as Adjunct Faculty with the University of British Columbia. He teaches graduate courses on Aging and Disability, Functional Limitations and Disability, and Academic Writing and Presenting. His current areas of interest include assistive technology, aging, and international rehabilitation research. Dr. Stone is Director of the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE) and has recently published a book through SAGE Publications -- Culture and Disability: Providing Culturally Competent Services

MACHIKO TOMITA, Ph.D.
KT4TT Co-Principal Investigator
Clinical Associate Professor
machikot@buffalo.edu
716-829-6748
Dr. Tomita holds Masters degrees from Sophia University in Tokyo and the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in social research from the University of Minnesota. She teaches research methods at the graduate level. Her current interest is in measurement validity and cultural diversity in health and illness. As statistician at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging (RERC-Aging), she is responsible for data management and analysis for all research conducted in the Center.

DOUGLAS J. USIAK, BS
Executive Director, WNY Independent Living, Inc.
KT4TT Co-Principal Investigator
T²RERC Co-Principal Investigator
716-204-8606 xt. 105
Mr. Usiak holds a BS in Industrial Arts Education. He directed the consumer team work of the T2RERC. He is Executive Director of the WNYILP Family of Agencies. Mr. Usiak has received extensive training from NCIL on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 advanced training. Mr. Usiak was also directing the T2RERC's dissemination efforts until 2001, when he became Project Director for the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living Management, also funded by USDE/NIDRR.

KATHY WISNIEWSKI
kwisniew@buffalo.edu
716-829-6743
Ms. Wisniewski is the Administrative Assistant for the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE). She assists John Stone, Director with the daily activities of the CIRRIE project. Prior to this, she held the position of Administrative Assistant at the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research Information Services, North Campus. She was employed for nine years as the Administrative Assistant for the Occupational and Physical Therapy Department at Summit Educational Resources in Tonawanda, formerly know as the Language Development Program.

[ Top of Page ]