RESNA recognizes David Gray, PhD, with posthumous Fellow Award

RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America, presented its highest award of Honorary Fellow posthumously to David B. Gray, PhD, a professor of occupational therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Gray worked tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities in the areas of research, policy, employment and accessibility. He died suddenly earlier this year. His daughter, Polly Payne, and colleague Kerri Morgan, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, accepted the award on behalf of the family.

After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 1976 that resulted in quadriplegia, Dr. Gray focused his considerable talents on improving the lives of people with disabilities. His work resulted in improving the accessibility of a number of venues in his hometown of St. Louis, including the St. Louis Zoo; and in changes in policy that improved the ability of people with disabilities to find employment, care for their children, and engage in exercise and fitness activities. Prior to joining Washington University in 1995, he worked for several agencies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was appointed director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research by President Ronald Reagan and was an important advocate for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

RESNA’s Annual Awards Luncheon was held on June 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado at the organization’s annual conference. The awards program promotes leadership, innovation, and commitment in the fields of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. 

Visit the RESNA website for additional information and the comprehensive list of 2015 honorees.