John Morris

John Morris

Senior Research Scientist
Director of the User Experience and Usability Research Lab

Contact

Email
john.morris@shepherd.org
Links
www.linkedin.com/in/johntmorris
User Experience and Usability Research Lab
Accessibility User Research Collective

John Morris

Senior Research Scientist
Director of the User Experience and Usability Research Lab

Keywords: Disability, rehabilitation, assistive technology, accessibility, user experience 

John Morris is a Senior Research Scientist and Director of the User Experience and Usability Research Lab (UX Lab) at Shepherd Center, a specialty hospital in Atlanta dedicated to providing medical and rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury, brain injury (including stroke), multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases and conditions. He leads federally funded and privately funded research and development projects focused on assistive and rehabilitation technologies, ensuring that innovations are accessible, usable, and designed with the end user in mind. John also directs knowledge translation initiatives that bring research findings on assistive and rehabilitation technology into practice, expanding access and independence for people with disabilities.

The UX Lab at Shepherd Center operates the Accessibility User Research Collective, research program established in 2017 which provides commercially funded user experience research services to private companies, ranging from startups to multinational corporations, to engage populations with disabilities in product development and evaluation.

John earned his PhD in Government at the University of Texas at Austin focusing on multicultural studies and the experiences of diverse populations. Previously, John served as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Connecticut and as a program manager for Oracle. John serves on the editorial board and as a reviewer for several journals on rehabilitation and assistive technology, and is an active member and contributor to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.  

Publications

  • Cowart, S.D., Dixon, K., Morris, J. (2026) Engaging Learners with Disabilities in Design of Online Request Processes for Testing Accommodations. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, v20.
  • Van Denend, T., Moein, S., Niec, P., Peterson, E. W., Morris, J., Backus, D., Sosnoff, J., Brunskill, A., Hawari, L., Rice, L. A. (2025). mHealth learning strategies to support behaviour change in individuals using wheelchairs and/or scooters: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 20(3), 510-520.
  • Morris, J., Jones, M., DeRuyter, F., Rabinowitz, A., & Reinkensmeyer, D. J. (2025). Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Mobile Rehabilitation: State of the Science Conference Report—Future Directions for mRehab for People with Disabilities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), 532. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040532
  • Zanca, JM, Gibson-Gill, CM, Williams, J, McMillion, T, Morris, J, & Dijkers, MP. (2025). Learning to direct one’s care: barriers and facilitators reported by people with tetraplegia. Spinal Cord, 63(1), 16-23.
  • Gartell R. Morris J, Wallace T. (2023) Feasibility of Using a Mobile App Supported Executive Function Intervention in Military Service Members and Veterans with mTBI and Co-Occurring Psychological Conditions. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health.
  • Wallace T, Morris J, Anderson R, Glickstein R, Gore, R. (2022) Implementation of a Mobile Technology Supported Diaphragmatic Breathing Intervention in Military mTBI with PTSD, Journal of Head Trauma Research.
  • Thompson NA, Ehrhardt N, Lippincott BR, Anderson RK, Morris JT. (2021) Survey of User Needs: eGaming and People with Disabilities. Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, 9:157-169.
  • Juengst, S. B., Terhorst, L., Nabasny, A., Wallace, T., Weaver, J. A., Osborne, C. L., Burns, S.P., Wright, B., Wen P., Morris, J. (2021). Use of mHealth technology for patient-reported outcomes in community-dwelling adults with acquired brain injuries: a scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 2173.
  • Morris J., Thompson N., Wallace T., Jones M., DeRuyter F. (2020) Survey of Rehabilitation Clinicians in the United States: Barriers and Critical Use-Cases for mRehab Adoption. In: Miesenberger K., Manduchi R., Covarrubias Rodriguez M., Peňáz P. (eds) Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12377. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58805-2_30
  • Wallace T.D., Morris J.T. (2020) SwapMyMood: User-Centered Design and Development of a Mobile App to Support Executive Function. In: Miesenberger K., Manduchi R., Covarrubias Rodriguez M., Peňáz P. (eds) Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12377. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58805-2_31
  • DeRuyter F., Jones M., Morris J. (2020) Mobile Health and Mobile Rehabilitation for People with Disabilities: Current State, Challenges and Opportunities. In: Miesenberger K., Manduchi R., Covarrubias Rodriguez M., Peňáz P. (eds) Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 12377. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58805-2_26  
  • Morris J, Thompson N. (2020). User Personas: Smart Speakers, Home Automation and People with Disabilities. Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, 8:235-254.
  • Jones M, Collier G, Reinkensmeyer DJ, DeRuyter F, Dzivak J, Zondervan D, Morris J. (2020) Big Data Analytics and Sensor-Enhanced Activity Management to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency of Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17(3), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030748  
  • Jones M, DeRuyter F, Morris J. (2019). The Digital Health Revolution and People with Disabilities: Perspective from the United States. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17(2), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020381