Born: November 9, 1959 in Los Angeles, California

Rory Cooper is a distinguished professor of rehabilitation engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and a senior career scientist for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His team has developed over 100 inventions and received 25 patents related to technologies including wheelchairs, robots, and wearable instruments that have significantly improved the lives of people with disabilities and military veterans.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Related Links

• Journeys of Innovation series: Engineering a better life
• Educational materials:
  • Trading Card Lesson Plan
  • Recording: Exploring Invention and Intellectual Property with Rory Cooper's Adaptive Technology Lesson Plan
  • Trading Card Activity Challenge
  • Learning about the challenges of a disability
  • Who is Rory Cooper helping now?
  • Invent an assistive device