History

The Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA), formerly the Center for Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), was established at the Georgia Institute of Technology on December 1, 1980. The effort to create CATEA began during the 1978/1979 school year as a result of sponsored projects conducted by Industrial Design students in the College of Architecture. Initial projects included the creation of toys and playground equipment for children with disabilities, adaptations to wheelchairs, computer adaptations for the blind, designs for bathrooms with adapted controls, and work/play stations for children.

With the assistance of philanthropists and entrepreneurs such as Atlanta businessman I. L. "Sonny" Kunian, CATEA thrived and expanded its mission. In its first two decades it grew to include expertise in the disciplines of engineering, industrial design, architecture, computer science, rehabilitation counseling, occupational therapy, adult literacy education, orthotics and recreational therapy. By the 1990's, CATEA was an established interdisciplinary research and design center devoted to applications of technology to alleviate problems of human need, providing service, research and education under the auspices of a world class academic institution.

With the new millenium, CATEA has taken another leap forward, using the best tools of the digital age to reach an ever-expanding number of consumers. Multiple Web resources, teleconferencing and new media production allow Center staff to provide technical assistance and information dissemination across the globe. Please see our growing number of Projects and Resources for a look at where CATEA is today.