Gerald Craddock

Dr Craddock is the inaugural Chief Officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, a statutory body established by the Irish Government in 2007. It is part of the National Disability Authority which is the lead state agency on disability in Ireland. The Centre and its highly experienced team is focused on enabling the design of environments that can be accessed, understood and used regardless of age, size and ability. Key domain areas covered by the Centre are the built environment, products and services, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

The centre’s focus is on infusing universal design into educational curricula at all levels, developing standards in professional and industrial services and creating awareness of the benefits of universal design within Ireland. With strong links to Europe and with the European Union, the Centre’s work extends to leading the revision of European and International Standards in the development of new universal design standards.

Dr Craddock was an expert evaluator for the European Commission’s research and innovation funding programme, the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). He is also past president of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE), an organisation that recognises the interdependence of universal design and assistive technology. Prior to his role with the Centre, Dr Craddock managed a national assistive technology service delivery department, working with a trans-disciplinary team of professionals. He has also headed up projects at both national and European level, with specific emphasis on technology in education and the development of services in the field of assistive technology.

Dr Craddock is a graduate of Dublin City University with an Electronic Engineering degree, a Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Vocational Rehabilitation Management from University College Dublin (UCD), and a PhD from the Centre of Disability Studies in UCD. He has published widely in peer reviewed journals as well as continuing as a visiting lecturer at the University College Dublin and the Dublin Institute of Technology.