The object
Cooper developed manual and powered wheelchair technologies informed by his own use of a wheelchair. His tangible designs improved mobility, health and independence while contributing to wheelchairs as engineered transport devices rather than passive aids, with effects reaching millions of users.
01
What Rory did
Developed manual and powered wheelchair innovations for mobility and health.
02
Why it matters
NIHF credits Cooper’s wheelchair innovations with advancing the mobility and freedom of millions of people.
03
Living-status check
The University of Pittsburgh published a person-specific profile on 24 February 2025 identifying Cooper as HERL director and describing his current wheelchair-innovation work and recent honors.