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Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
Contact Information:
Email: coughlan@ski.org
Office Phone: (415) 345-2146
2318 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
The Center’s research goal is to develop and apply new scientific knowledge and practical, cost-effective devices to better understand and address the real-world problems of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind consumers. The RERC has many ongoing R&D projects and collaborative relationships, both internal and external to Smith-Kettlewell. Primary funding for the RERC comes from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, with other important sources of support, including the National Eye Institute, and The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.
Please check out the latest news about the RERC on Twitter.
Publications
Projects
- Other
- Active
- Completed
- Inactive
Audiom Map of Smith-Kettlewell
MapIO: a Gestural and Conversational Interface for Tactile Maps
Using VR to Help Train Visually Impaired Users to Aim a Camera
Mobility and Fall Risk in Central Visual Field Loss
CamIO Hands
The 3 Ps of 3D: Perception, Pedagogy, and Practice for 3D Printing
Audiom
Tracking a target in depth with central field loss
Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI): An in-depth study of visual functioning in everyday life
Talking Signs
A11Y COVID-19
t-Scratch: Tangible Programming Environment
The Smith-Kettlewell Haptics Symposium
Regressions in Braille Reading
Audio/Tactile BART Station Maps
Sign Finder
Tactile Graphics Helper (TGH)
Workshop Series on Computer Vision and Sensor-Enabled Assistive Technology for Visual Impairment
Assessment of Speechreading with Dual Sensory Loss: Visual and Hearing Impairments
The Kinematics of Braille Reading
Braille, Assistive Technology, and Reading Comprehension
The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File
Describeathon 2019 Announced!
Blind Arduino Project
Functional Assessment – Visual Fields
Functional Assessment – Reading
Functional Assessment – Contrast Sensitivity
Functional Assessment – Book Chapters
Labs
- Eye-Head Movement LaboratoryPrincipal Investigator:Our laboratory is interested in how changes in visual and/or vestibular function affect eye/head coordination, balance, and mobility, particularly in aging. We are currently pursuing two main lines of research:...
- Coughlan LabPrincipal Investigator:The goal of our laboratory is to develop and test assistive technology for blind and visually impaired persons that is enabled by computer vision and other sensor technologies.
- Verghese LabPrincipal Investigator:Our laboratory studies the mechanisms of healthy vision and action, as well as the basis of attention and visual adaptation in clinical populations.
People
Current People
- John BrabynExecutive DirectorIt has been my honor to serve as The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute’s Executive Director since 2011. Previously, I have […]
- Charity Pitcher-CooperResearch AssociatePronouns: she/her I joined The Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) team in 2017 as an assistant to scientist Dr. […]
Fundings
Collaborators
External Collaborators
- Anagha KulkarniAssociate ProfessorDeveloping applications for research and implemtation in clinical practiceCVerebral Visual Impairment; Ocular Growth in Infants and Childhood Cataracts
- Sergio MascettiAffiliate ScientistDepartment of Computer Science, University of MilanSergio Mascetti is Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science of the Università degli Studi di Milano where he also received his BSc, […]
News
- Oakland High School’s Students Visit Smith-KettlewellOn Friday, February 6th, students from Oakland High School's Innovative Design and Engineering Academy visited Smith-Kettlewell. Students learned about different kinds of accessibility research directly from some of our scientists, giving...
- Empowering Data Vision: A Self-Paced Introduction to the Convergence of AI and Data ScienceJuly 25, 2025 — San Francisco, CA
- Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute to Illuminate Adaptive Strategies in Vision Impairment at IMRF SymposiumThe Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute played a key role at this year's International Multisensory Research Forum (IMRF) in Reno, Nevada, beginning June 17, 2024. An all-SKERI symposium "Shifting Sensory Reliance:...
Events
Event Category
Event Type
Blindness and Low Vision Support Group, Year Recap (Hybrid)
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation program (BORP) (Hybrid)
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Get Involved
If you are interested in vision science or want to learn more about low vision and blindness, there are many opportunities to get involved at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.































