DR. HUGH HERR
Hugh Herr is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. He is the director of the biomechatronics laboratory at the MIT Media Lab where he is pioneering new research directions for a new class of biohybrid, "smart" prostheses. These devices are accelerating the merging of body and machine, improving the lives of amputees and other physically challenged individuals, and amplifying the endurance and strength of everyone. Herr has employed cross-bridge models of skeletal muscle to the design and optimization of a new class of human-powered mechanisms that amplify endurance for cyclic anaerobic activities. He has also built elastic shoes that increase aerobic endurance in walking and running. In the field of human rehabilitation, Herr's group has developed gait adaptive knee prostheses for transfemoral amputees and variable impedance ankle-foot orthoses for patients suffering from drop foot, a gait pathology caused by stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Herr received his BA in physics from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, an MS in mechanical engineering from MIT, and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard University. Prior to coming to the Media Lab, Herr was assistant professor at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School.

DR. JOHN SIMERAL
John Simeral is a professor in the department of Neuroscience at Brown University. He received a BS in electrical engineering from Stanford University. an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD in Neuroscience from Wake Forest University. He is one of the chief investigators of Cyberkinetics' BrainGate Neural Interface System and authored more than thirty papers on the topics of neuroscience and neuromotor prosthetics. He is investigating the practical issues involved in enabling direct neural control of devices such as Windows-based assistive technology software, wheelchairs, and state-of-the-arm robotic arms and hands.

Jerry Kerr, President of DRAFT (Segways for Vets)
Since an accident which left him paralyzed from the neck down, business executive Jerry Kerr has been a strong advocate of universally designed technology solutions as the only sustainable approach for continued improvement in quality of life issues affecting people with disabilities and senior citizens.

In 1998 a diving accident shattered his C4 vertebrae, leading to a prognosis that he would not be able to move independently from the neck down. Through a rigorous physical therapy regimen and determination to seek out every potential advancement in technology, Jerry has regained the ability to stand, and walk a few paces with the aid of a cane.

Jerry Kerr is one of the leading authorities on the use of Segways by people with disabilities. He is a featured lecturer, speaker and presenter at international symposiums and national conferences focusing on issues which affect people with disabilities and addressing the benefits that technology and universal design can provide to them.

Tom and Nellie Coakley
Nellie and Tom Coakley, from Canton, New York, are both Vietnam Veterans who met at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. At the time of their meeting, Nellie was an Army nurse serving as head nurse on the enlisted men's orthopedic and amputee ward. Tom arrived at the ward having lost his leg in an ambush in Vietnam. Married two and one half years after meeting, they literally did not talk about Vietnam for about ten years, when Nellie developed a strong interest in learning much more about the Vietnam War. From that point forward their lives have become increasingly involved in serving the needs of veterans and the amputee population at large.

Nellie volunteered to serve in Vietnam and as time passed she found herself pursuing her masters degree in counseling. For nearly 25years she has been counseling veterans and their families in war trauma from the Korean War to today's soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Nellie was the first woman to serve on the New York State Veterans Affairs committee and she served as the New York State Coordinator for the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Tom serves as the Vice president for Administrative Operations at St. Lawrence University and serves in volunteer roles as a Director on the Board for The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, and as a volunteer for the Amputee Coalition of America, advocating for prosthetic parity in private health insurance coverage. In addition, Tom serves on various local volunteer boards including the Canton Potsdam Hospital.

Both Nellie and Tom have received a number of awards for their professional and volunteer work. Nellie was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the New York State Senate , and Woman of the Year by Renewal House in Canton. She has received the "Illustrious Alumna Award from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing, the Award for Outstanding Community Service and Leadership from Toastmasters International of Central New York, the President's Award for Outstanding Community Service and Professional Advancement from the St. Lawrence County League of Women Voters, and the Unsung Heroine's Award from the National Organization of Women, Central New York Chapter.

Tom has been named the Canton Rotary Club Citizen of the Year, The New York State Small Business Advocate of the Year, and the American Hockey Coaches Association Lou Lamoriello Award for life achievements after college hockey.

Both Nellie and Tom speak at a number of colleges and schools on their experience; Nellie presents her work in war trauma to a great variety of groups. The couple has appeared on various television programs including "China Beach". Recently they were featured in Tom Brokaw's newest book, "Boom!" and the accompanying television documentary, "1968 with Tom Brokaw".

They have four children, Kristen Coakley Crotty of Bethany Beach Delaware, Erin, living in Orlando, Florida, Sean living in Camillus, New York, Brian living in Canton. Brian and his wife Mary have two children, Peter and Claire.