What Koester Performance Research does

Koester Performance Research (KPR) is a privately-held, founder-led research and software company focused on enhancing computer accessibility for people with physical disabilities who cannot efficiently use standard keyboards, mice, or touchscreens. The company develops a portfolio of evidence-based assistive technology software tools, including Compass (the commercial flagship for access assessment with eight standardized skill tests for pointing, text entry, and switch control), Keyboard Wizard, Pointing Wizard, Scanning Wizard, AT-node (a searchable research database on text entry rates), Aim Online, and the recently launched Access Navigator.

KPR's technology centers on web-based assessment and optimization tools that combine standardized skill tests with research-validated configuration methods. Scanning Wizard implements an empirically-validated optimization method that increased text entry rates by an average of 71% in field testing (5 users) and 120% in Phase I NIH SBIR research (9 subjects, p=.003). AT-node aggregates text entry rate evidence from 39+ studies covering 248+ subjects since 1986. Compass supports English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

The business model relies primarily on three revenue streams: one-time perpetual licenses for Compass software (sold direct via kpronline.com and through reseller Westminster Technologies); government research grants from NIH SBIR (Phase I 2010, Phase II 2015) and NIDILRR (five-year RERC on AAC award starting 2020); and a freemium approach where most tools are free to drive practitioner adoption. The company serves AT practitioners, clinicians, individuals with physical disabilities, and the AAC research community, with global reach via web delivery. Founded by Heidi Koester, PhD, who serves as President, KPR maintains operations spanning Ann Arbor, Michigan and Omaha, Nebraska with a team of 1-10 employees.

Name

Koester Performance Research

Legal name

Koester Performance Research

Website

https://kpronline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Koester Performance Research is a founder-led research and software company that develops evidence-based assistive technology tools to help people with physical disabilities access computers and tablets. It sells Compass assessment software and offers free tools for AT practitioners, clinicians, and end users globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Technology Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Computer Access & Alternative Input (Switch, Eye Gaze, Head/Mouse, Keyboards) (EDAKAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive & Accessibility Input Devices (Switches, Adaptive Controllers, Braille Keyboards) (HDACAFAL), Assistive Technology (AT) Evaluations & Needs Assessments (EDAKAIAA), AT Device Setup, Integration & Technical Support (MDM, IT, Interoperability) (EDAKAIAK), Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

Keywords

• Assistive technology software
• Computer accessibility assessment
• Switch access optimization
• Alternative access methods
• Text entry rate research

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Compass Software Sales: KPR sells Compass assessment software (with free trial) as the primary commercial product, available for direct download and through reseller Westminster Technologies.
2. Free Tools (Freemium): Free tools including Keyboard Wizard, Pointing Wizard, Scanning Wizard, AT-node, Aim Online beta, and Access Navigator build community, drive adoption, and support evidence-based practice without direct revenue generation.
3. Government Research Grants: KPR conducts funded research through NIH SBIR awards and NIDILRR grants (via RERC on AAC), supporting personnel and product development. NIH grants funded Scanning Wizard development (2010 Phase I, 2015 Phase II).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Koester Performance Research develops and sells assistive technology software to enhance computer access for people with physical disabilities. Their commercial flagship is Compass, an access assessment tool with eight skill tests for pointing, text entry, and switch control, used by hundreds of practitioners worldwide. They also offer a suite of free web-based tools (Keyboard Wizard, Pointing Wizard, Scanning Wizard, AT-node, Aim Online, Access Navigator) that optimize alternative access setups and surface research evidence on text entry rates.

Product overview

Koester Performance Research offers a portfolio of assistive technology software products focused on computer accessibility for people with physical disabilities. The commercial flagship is Compass software, an access assessment tool with eight skill tests for evaluating pointing, text entry, and switch control. Complementing the commercial product are several free tools: Keyboard Wizard and Pointing Wizard for optimizing keyboard and mouse setups, Scanning Wizard for switch access optimization, AT-node for searching research evidence on text entry rates, and Aim Online for measuring pointing performance. A newer addition is Access Navigator, a free web-based app released in 2025 that supports structured assessment decision-making for alternative access methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compass: Software for access assessment offering eight skill tests for assessing pointing, text entry, and switch control. Used by hundreds of practitioners worldwide.
• Keyboard Wizard
• Pointing Wizard
• Scanning Wizard
• AT-node
• Aim Online
• Access Navigator

Products and services

• Compass Software Commercial software for assistive technology access assessment that includes eight skill tests for assessing pointing, text entry, and switch control. Used by hundreds of practitioners worldwide. Supports English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Sold via one-time perpetual license with a free trial, available direct from KPR and through reseller Westminster Technologies.
• Keyboard Wizard Free web-based tool that helps optimize keyboard accessibility setup for faster and easier typing for people with physical disabilities.
• Pointing Wizard Free web-based tool for optimizing mouse accessibility setup for faster and easier mousing for people with physical disabilities.
• Scanning Wizard Free web-based tool for enhancing switch access. Helps optimize switch and scanning setups to increase text entry rates. Supports one- or two-switch scanning with auditory scanning features (VoiceOver and Guided) and row-column scanning optimization.
• AT-node Free website that organizes and provides searchable access to research evidence on text entry rates (typing speeds) for people with physical disabilities, built from 39+ studies covering 248+ subjects since 1986.
• Aim Online Free web-based tool for measuring performance with pointing devices for assessment on the go. Currently in beta testing.
• Access Navigator Free browser-based app to help AT teams and individuals with physical disabilities identify efficient, accurate, and desired access methods for laptops, tablets, smartphones, and speech-generating devices. Includes 4 main sections: Gather information, Evaluate abilities, Test-drive solutions, Make informed decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120% average improvement in text entry rate for switch scanning users after using Scanning Wizard optimization method (Phase I NIH SBIR research, 9 subjects, p=.003)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• RERC on AAC (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020KPR is a partner in the RERC on AAC, a NIDILRR-funded collaborative center led by Penn State University (Dr. Janice Light, PI). KPR's projects focus on ensuring effective and efficient physical access to AAC for people with severe motor impairments. This partnership has produced Access Navigator and other tools. KPR collaborates with Erik Jakobs, Susan Fager, Jessica Gormley, and Tabatha Sorenson on RERC projects.
• Atomic ObjectcoreTechnology or IntegrationAtomic Object served as the software design and development partner for Scanning Wizard, building the web application based on KPR's research. Working with designers and developers from Atomic Object, the team crafted the freely available web app at ScanningWizard.com.
• Sajay ArthanatmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPR collaborated with Sajay Arthanat (University of New Hampshire) to organize and publish systematic reviews of text entry rate research for people with physical disabilities. Together they produced multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations on text entry rates, including a systematic review covering literature since 1986.
• Easterseals CrossroadsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEasterseals Crossroads featured KPR's Access Navigator app on their Assistive Technology Update podcast. Team member Erik Jakobs appeared as a guest to discuss the app with host Josh Anderson.
• Westminster TechnologiesmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWestminster Technologies, a complete provider of assistive technology solutions, serves as a reseller for KPR's Compass software, making it available through their distribution channel.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Jabbla: Jabbla is a European-based manufacturer of AAC devices and assistive communication software for individuals with complex communication needs. It is a regional peer to KPR because both serve the AAC/AT practitioner ecosystem, but Jabbla primarily operates in Europe while KPR's practitioner base is distributed globally with US-centric academic/government partnerships.
• Lingraphica: Lingraphica provides AAC speech-generating devices and therapy resources primarily for adults with aphasia and other communication disorders in the US clinical market. It is a regional peer because it operates in the same AAC/AT clinical ecosystem as KPR, with overlapping practitioner customers, though it focuses on a narrower adult communication-disorder segment.

Direct peers

• AssistiveWare: AssistiveWare is an assistive technology company specializing in AAC apps for iOS (Proloquo, Proloquo4Text, Keeble) used by individuals with physical and communication disabilities. It is a direct peer to KPR because both target the alternative-access and AAC decision journey, with AssistiveWare focused on the output/AAC app layer and KPR on the assessment/decision-support layer upstream.
• AbleNet: AbleNet is an assistive technology company that manufactures and distributes switches, Big Mack communication devices, and computer access tools used by people with physical disabilities. It is a direct peer to KPR because AbleNet's switch and scanning hardware is precisely what KPR's Scanning Wizard helps practitioners optimize - they target the same end users and clinical decision points.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: Smartbox is an AAC and computer access software/hardware provider serving individuals with physical disabilities through products like Grid and Look to Learn. It is a direct peer because it competes with KPR's Compass and Access Navigator in the AT assessment and access-method-decision workflow for clinicians and end users.

Emerging players

• Control Bionics: Control Bionics develops neuro-assisted and EMG-based AAC/computer access technology for individuals with severe motor impairments, including the Neuronode and Wearable devices. It is an emerging peer to KPR because both serve the same end-user population and overlap in clinical workflows where AT practitioners assess whether EMG/neuro interfaces are appropriate access methods.
• Crick Software: Crick Software develops accessibility and literacy software (Clicker, DocsPlus, Wordbar) used in special education settings for students with physical and learning disabilities. It is an emerging peer to KPR because both produce alternative-input and accessibility tools evaluated by the same AT practitioner community, though Crick focuses on writing/literacy while KPR focuses on physical access assessment.
• Don Johnston Incorporated: Don Johnston develops assistive technology for reading, writing, and learning - including accessibility tools for students with physical and learning disabilities. It is an emerging peer to KPR because both target alternative-access and AT assessment workflows for clinicians and special education professionals, with partial overlap on text-entry and access-method support.

Broad incumbents

• PRC-Saltillo: PRC-Saltillo is a leading manufacturer of AAC speech-generating devices and supporting apps for individuals with complex communication needs. It is comparable to KPR because both serve the same end-user population (people with severe physical and communication disabilities) and overlap in the AAC/AT research ecosystem, with PRC-Saltillo operating at device scale and KPR at assessment-software scale.
• Tobii Dynavox: Tobii Dynavox is the dominant global provider of eye-tracking, AAC, and computer access solutions for individuals with physical disabilities. It is comparable to KPR because both target computer access for users with severe motor impairments, though Tobii operates as a broad device-and-software incumbent while KPR is a specialized assessment software niche player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koester-performance-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koester Performance Research