Bill Janes, an assistant professor in the Mizzou Department of Occupational Therapy, was recently inducted into the Roster of Fellows of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The honor recognizes occupational therapists who have made significant, sustained contributions to the profession.

Janes was one of 62 people inducted this April during the AOTA Inspire Conference in Philadelphia. A nationally recognized advocate for the role of occupational therapy in designing assistive technology, Janes has held leadership roles in AOTA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, and the Assistive Technology Industry Association.

At Mizzou, Janes directs the Assistive Technology Adaptation and Training (AT-AT) Lab, where he leads cross-disciplinary teams developing low-cost adaptive devices, early childhood mobility solutions and cutting-edge technologies for individuals with conditions such as ALS. His efforts have resulted in hundreds of customized 3D-printed devices distributed nationwide.

Janes mentors students across disciplines and has secured more than $1 million in competitive funding to advance assistive technology research across the lifespan.