Laura A Rice

Laura A Rice is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois. She also serves as Associate Head for Graduate Studies and Associate Director of the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability (CHAD) within the College of Applied Health Sciences. Additionally, she holds affiliations with Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES), the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute.

Her research focuses on mobility device users, particularly wheelchair and scooter users, examining fall prevention, functional independence, and quality of life. Key areas include developing clinical assessment tools (e.g., the Fall Concerns Scale for Wheelchair/Scooter Users), investigating behavioral interventions via mHealth applications, and analyzing risk factors for falls among individuals with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

Recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with studies on attentional demands during wheelchair operation, fire preparedness strategies, and the design of inclusive assistive technologies. Her research has been widely covered in media, including studies on fear of falling and fall-related injuries among wheelchair/scooter users.

Rice’s contributions extend to academic leadership, including graduate program oversight and disability resource advocacy. She collaborates globally and has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles, systematically reviewing topics like mHealth strategies and seated postural control assessments.

Lab and team affiliations include the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability (CHAD), where she leads projects addressing aging and disability intersections, and the Beckman Institute, focusing on advanced science and technology applications in health.