How Envision and Wichita State University Are Growing the Future of Accessibility Innovation

When Wichita State University student Isabelle Christensen applied for a Research Assistant role at the Envision Research Institute (ERI), she asked a question that stayed with her: How is research here different from work in a university lab? 

She learned that ERI measures impact through people, not just data, and that idea drew her to a growing partnership between ERI and WSU’s Applied Learning Program. 

The partnership began when ERI researcher Dr. Jeremy Barton started teaching at WSU and shared examples of ERI’s research. Student interest followed, and what started as one volunteer role soon became a formal Applied Learning placement. Today, it has grown into a small cohort of students supporting ongoing accessibility work at ERI. The current cohort includes biomedical engineering student Isabelle, biomedical engineering senior Maxine Bertulfo, and computer science senior Andrew Gibson. 

For Andrew, meeting individuals who are blind or visually impaired has changed how he thinks about design. 

“I see accessibility more as an improvement on design than a constraint,” said Andrew. “When you design with everyone in mind, the result is usually better for all users.” 

Maxine is learning how lived experience shapes accessibility. 

“I want to understand how people experience the world and what shapes their confidence and decision-making,” she said. “Accessibility isn’t just about technology — it’s shaped by human experience.” 

At ERI, students support projects that help people with vision loss. They gather information, observe low-vision care, and learn directly from researchers and study participants. These moments give them a clear view of how research can reduce barriers and support independence. For Envision, this partnership is an investment in the future. It helps prepare the next generation of engineers, clinicians, technologists, and designers — people who understand that accessible design is better design for everyone. 

“We are helping students grow into thoughtful, impact-driven professionals, who understand that accessibility  is essential,” Dr. Barton said. “That is how the field moves forward.”