Mission Statement
The mission of Ficocelli Design is to ethically, respectfully, and with integrity, serve a diverse and unique population of individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, injury-related disabilities, and those experiencing the effects of aging. We provide design solutions that are functional, practical, accessible, and innovative. This requires fully understanding the needs of our clients and the limiting factors they are experiencing -- but even more importantly, understanding their abilities, goals, desires, and dreams.
Mark Ficocelli's Bio
Mark Ficocelli is a Rehabilitation Technologist and entrepreneur who has owned and operated a successful word-of-mouth-referral consulting business for over 22 years, using business acumen, initiative, unique skill sets, creativity, and attention to detail, in an effort to transform innovations into improvements to the quality of the lives of his clients. He has served individuals with moderate-to-severe physical and cognitive disabilities, employees, injured workers, and those experiencing the effects of aging, accommodating them in the home or the work place.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design with a background in product design and human factors. As an industrial designer, he brings a strong problem solving emphasis to the table, giving him the ability to provide functional and creative solutions in the areas of home access, worksite access, ergonomics, computer access, rural and farming accommodations, personalized training, and custom design or modifications of adaptive equipment.
Mr. Ficocelli has been a consultant to numerous state and federal agencies, including the US Department of Labor - Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and the Ohio Department of Aging, as well as private individuals, corporations, lifecare planners, home health agencies, and attorneys. He is federally trained on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) titles II and III, as well as the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). He was also part of a three year federally-funded grant program to disseminate information on the ADA to businesses and assist employers with understanding the application of this law, as well as the practical realities of employee accommodations and workplace accessibility.
He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Capital University’s Law School - Life Care Planner Program. Previously, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at Wright State University for their Rehabilitation Engineering Masters Degree Program. He has also served as a guest lecturer at colleges and universities, including Ohio University, Kent State University, and the University of Cincinnati. He has presented at state and national conferences, including the National Rehabilitation Association, Ohio Rehabilitation Association, RESNA, the Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety Congress, and the National Association of Home Builders 50+ Housing Council on the subject of ergonomics, home accessibility, the ADA, worksite accommodations and ergonomics, and computer access. He has also been published on the subject of home modifications and accessibility.
Mr. Ficocelli has served as a board member on the Ohio Rehabilitation Association (ORA), which is the state chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association, a national organization of rehabilitation professionals whose mission is “to promote ethical and state of the art practice in rehabilitation with the goal of the personal and economic independence of persons with disabilities”. He also served as a co-chair for the ORA Governmental Affairs Committee and was very legislatively active through that committee, meeting with state and federal legislators about various laws that provide opportunities and guidance for the assistance of individuals with disabilities in the school, home, and workplace.
Mr. Ficocelli is a founding member and officer multiple times for the Ohio Rehabilitation Technology Association, which is a statewide organization, the first of its kind in the country, with a 20+ year history in pioneering the field of rehabilitation technology, advocacy for individuals with disabilities, as well as legislative advocacy in the arena of public policy pertaining to the services to individuals with disabilities. He is the recipient of the Ohio Rehabilitation Technology Association’s Meritorious Service Award, (a peer reviewed award), for being a pioneer in the field of Rehabilitation Technology and integral to the development of service delivery models, administrative rules, bidding procedures, and best practices guidelines for rehabilitation technologists, for two separate state agencies. This has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payers money by improving service quality and eliminating redundant spending. The development of these ground-breaking practices has lead to consistency, efficacy, and quality of evaluations, recommendations, reporting, project specifications and drawings, and the implementation of rehabilitation technology services for individuals with disabilities within the state of Ohio. This has contributed notably to Ohio being ranked in the top ten states in the country for rehabilitation technology service delivery. He is a published author and resides in Columbus, Ohio.
Our Philosophy
Ficocelli Design has worked with individuals with a variety of disabilities and disabling conditions, from a moderate physical disability to a catastrophic injury, disease-related or congenital disabilities, a significant cognitive impairment, or simply the affects of aging.
Since individuals with disabilities are just that – individuals, a boilerplate approach is not appropriate. It is imperative to have both creativity and experience to create a depth of professionalism to draw from in solving the many unique issues that arise in the lives of these individuals. We pride ourselves on having this depth, and being staunchly entrenched in the true concept of service in our consulting business.
We are not vendors of any products or assistive technology, nor are we associated with any contractors. In this way, we maintain our objectivity and integrity, and avoid any possible conflict of interest. Our interest is in providing our clients with the best design and consultation services.
Relationships are a paramount and central aspect of the consulting services that are provided by Ficocelli Design. We still operate under the philosophical notion of the handshake deal, where everything that we do is done as if our signature is publicly on it, and under the umbrella that above all, integrity and trustworthiness are the most critical facets of our services. The lives of those we serve are often difficult enough and it is our intent and purpose to improve and enhance the quality of life for our clients and make their daily routines easier and more functional.
Contact Ficocelli Design