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National Institute on Disability, Independent 

Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) 

2015 REPORT TO CONGRESS 

Produced by New Editions Consulting, Inc. for the National Institute on Disability, 

Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research under Contract # GS 00F 0038N, 

Management and Information Systems Support 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

Acronyms ................................................................................................................2 

Executive Summary.................................................................................................3 

Introduction............................................................................................................6 

Grant Mechanisms...................................................................................................7 

Grant Competition and Peer Review Process ..................................................................7 

Monitoring and Oversight ............................................................................................8 

Funding Overview ......................................................................................................9 

Grantee Activities and Progress ............................................................................12 

NIDILRR Programs and Selected Accomplishments .......................................................13 

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) ...............................................13 

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) ................................................16 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) .............................................18 

ADA National Network............................................................................................19 

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)..............................................................21 

Knowledge Translation ...........................................................................................22 

Field-Initiated Projects (FIPs)..................................................................................23 

Model Systems......................................................................................................24 

Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects (ARRTs) ......................................26 

Research Fellowship Program (Mary E. Switzer Fellowship Program) ............................28 

Section 21............................................................................................................29 

Ongoing NIDILRR Activities and Initiatives ..........................................................31 

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Acronyms 

CESD-10 Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 

WIOA Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 

 

ACL Administration for Community Living 

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act 

ADA-PARC ADA Participatory Action Research Consortium 

APR Annual Performance Reporting Data System 

ARRT Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Project 

BMS Burn Injury Model Systems 

DRRP Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project 

ED Department of Education 

FCC Federal Communication Commission 

FIP Field-Initiated Project 

FY Fiscal Year 

HHS Department of Health and Human Services 

ICDR Interagency Committee on Disability Research 

IDD Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

LLC Limited Liability Company 

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

NIDILRR National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research 

OT Occupational Therapy 

PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire-9 

PROMIS-D-8 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression Short Form 

RERC Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers 

ROI Return on Investment 

RRTC Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers 

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research 

SDCDM Self-Determined Career Development Model 

SCI Spinal Cord Injury 

SCI-FI / AT Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index Computer / Assistive Technology 

SCIMS Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems 

SW Shear Wave (SW) 

TBI Traumatic Brain Injury 

TBIMS Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems 

UTEP University of Texas – El Paso 

VA-DARS Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services 

W-MAT Wheelchair Maintenance Assessment Tool 

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Executive Summary 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research’s (NIDILRR) mission 

is to generate new knowledge and to promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals 

with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community, and to expand society’s capacity 

to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities. 

NIDILRR programs address a wide range of disabilities and impairments, across all age groups, and 

promote health and function, community living and participation, and employment. To accomplish 

these goals, NIDILRR invests in research, knowledge translation, and capacity-building activities through 

its discretionary grant-funding mechanisms. 

Funding and Grants Management 

The allocation of NIDILRR grant funds for FY 2014 and FY 2015 totaled $98,013,248 and $95,769,377, 

respectively. In addition, NIDILRR awarded $5,956,752 in contracts and other support activities for FY 

2014 and $8,200,623 in FY 2015. These funds supported 223 grant awards in 2014 and 218 in 2015. 

NIDILRR’s peer review process for grant competitions is highly rigorous, with approximately one-quarter 

of applicants awarded funding during FY 2015. NIDILRR’s peer review process includes members of the 

disability community and other stakeholders on its review panels. 

Productivity and Accomplishments 

NIDILRR sponsors the development of new knowledge and innovative new technological devices, 

prototypes, measurement tools, intervention materials, and other informational products to enhance 

community living. Grantees employ an assortment of methodologies to conduct research and develop 

new products and technologies, including randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, qualitative 

studies, and intervention studies. These approaches and investments generated more than 1,200 

products, including peer-reviewed publications, intervention protocols, software, and databases. 

Selected examples of NIDILRR grantee accomplishments in FY 2015 include: 

• A diabetes education tool kit for persons with mental health disorders. 

• A virtual vocational rehabilitation resource for individuals with disabilities in rural communities. 

• A revolutionary walker that helps individuals come to a standing position. 

• New standards for the performance of handsets and hearing devices. 

• A device that converts digital data into audiovisual form. 

• Integrated technology for teachers to aid in providing tailored accommodations for testing. 

• A Web-based program on interpersonal violence for men with disabilities. 

• New solutions for delivering Medicaid support services to children with autism. 

• A comprehensive tool to assess functional changes in persons with spinal cord injury. 

• A robotic arm that reduces the weight-bearing load for caregivers with transfers to and from 

wheelchairs. 

• A study on the factors affecting community participation in persons with chronic pain. 

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• An examination of state policies influencing the implementation of home and community-based 

service waivers for people with autism and their families. 

• Studies concerning the Return on Investment (ROI) of vocational rehabilitation services. 

Research Capacity Building 

Research capacity-building efforts under the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects (ARRT) 

and Switzer Fellowship Program continue to train a diverse cadre of disability and rehabilitation 

researchers, to serve as leaders in the disability research community. In FY 2015, 87 ARRT Fellows and 

15 Switzer Fellows worked on independent and partnered projects with mentors at prominent research 

institutions. In recent years, NIDILRR has developed and implemented a program to build disability and 

rehabilitation research capacity among minority-serving institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities and has targeted grant opportunities for applicants 

from minority-serving institutions. 

Training and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA) 

NIDILRR sponsors the ADA National Network, which delivers training, technical assistance, and 

dissemination of materials for stakeholders with rights and responsibilities under the ADA. The Network 

provides expert training, technical assistance, and materials to the public and employers in the private 

and public sectors through its 10 regional centers. In FY 2015, the Network responded to almost 60,000 

inquiries by phone, email, or in person. The ADA Participatory Action Research Consortium (ADA-PARC) 

complements the Network’s activities through research on factors influencing the community living of 

citizens with disabilities and health disparities, and assessments of promising practices at state, regional, 

and community levels. 

Knowledge Translation 

NIDILRR is committed to ensuring that the products of the research and development that it sponsors 

are translated and used to promote the independent living, health and function, employment, and 

community living outcomes of individuals with disabilities. Through its Knowledge Translation Centers, 

NIDILRR ensures that new knowledge and products gained through research and development are 

effectively communicated to stakeholders and used to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. 

Future Directions 

Looking forward, NIDILRR is focused on finalizing its transition from the Department of Education (ED) 

into the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Community Living (ACL), 

enhancing its current partnerships within the disability and rehabilitation research communities, and 

sponsoring research of the highest quality in support of those communities. 

In alignment with these priorities, NIDILRR will soon begin development of its FY 2018–2022 Long-Range 

Plan to define its organizational and programmatic vision. Planned activities for the development of the 

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document include the convening of internal work teams and the Disability, Independent Living, and 

Rehabilitation Research Advisory Committee to assess the current and emerging state of the science, 

and otherwise inform the development of strategic goals and objectives for the organization. NIDILRR 

will systematically seek participation from staff, ACL colleagues, federal partners, and stakeholders in 

the long-range planning process. In parallel to the work on the long-range plan, NIDILRR will conduct a 

review of its administrative management, and programmatic policies, procedures, and practices with 

the goal of optimizing organizational efficiency and effectiveness. 

Strategic partnerships with other agencies in HHS and across the federal government have been 

instrumental in advancing NIDILRR’s mission. NIDILRR’s Director serves as the Chair of the Interagency 

Committee on Disability Research (ICDR). The ICDR mission is to promote a cohesive, strategic federal 

program of disability, rehabilitation, and independent living research and to facilitate coordination and 

collaboration among federal departments and agencies. NIDILRR plans to build upon the ongoing work 

of the ICDR through its leadership and contribution to the development of a government-wide disability 

and rehabilitation research strategic plan. The new ICDR strategic plan will define a way forward for 

promoting and expanding collaboration among federal partners, researchers and developers, and the 

disability community at large. 

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National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research 

(NIDILRR) 

2015 Report to Congress 

Introduction 

Throughout its history, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation 

Research (NIDILRR) has sought to improve independent living and community participation by funding 

research and development in the areas of community living and participation, health and function, and 

employment. This Annual Report to Congress will describe NIDILRR’s execution of these principles 

during the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years. It begins with a brief summary of NIDILRR’s history, continues 

with a description of its funding process and fiscal allocations, and follows with descriptions of outcomes 

impacting the community, highlighting a number of accomplishments by researchers and organizations 

funded by NIDILRR. This report concludes by describing future initiatives and directions within the 

organization. 

Congress established NIDILRR in response to a deficit of knowledge on the needs of and services for 

individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. NIDILRR was established as the National Institute on 

Handicapped Research (NIHR) by the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental 

Disabilities Amendments of 1978 (P.L. 95—602), amending the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and initially 

housed within the Department of Education (ED). Its original goal was to carry out research on all 

aspects of disability and the socio-economic implications of the problems encountered by individuals 

with disabilities. The 1986 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 99-506) changed the agency’s 

name to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). On July 22, 2014, the 

agency was renamed the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation 

Research (NIDILRR) and transferred from ED to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within 

the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the signing of P.L. 113-128, the Workforce 

Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). NIDILRR personnel officially became HHS/ACL employees on 

February 8, 2015. 

Today, NIDILRR’s mission is to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the 

abilities of individuals with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community, and to 

expand society’s capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with 

disabilities. To accomplish this mission NIDILRR: 

• Supports research, development, demonstration, training, technical assistance, and related 

activities to build new knowledge. 

• Promotes the transfer, use and adoption of technology for individuals with disabilities to 

improve independent living options. 

• Provides for research training to increase the number of qualified researchers, including 

researchers with disabilities and from minority backgrounds. 

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• Fosters widespread dissemination of practical scientific and technological information to 

advance policy, practice, and services to improve outcomes for people with disabilities. 

NIDILRR programs address community living and participation, health and function, and 

employment. NIDILRR’s investments in research, knowledge translation, and capacity-building 

activities are carried out through the following discretionary grant-funding mechanisms: 

• Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) conduct advanced research and training 

on health, rehabilitation, employment, and community living topics. 

• Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) conduct engineering research and 

development on technical solutions to rehabilitation problems or environmental barriers. 

• Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) conduct research, development, 

technical assistance, training, and utilization activities on health, rehabilitation, employment, 

and community living topics. 

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network projects conduct research and provide 

information, training and technical assistance to ADA stakeholders. 

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects support small businesses to explore 

feasibility, develop, or evaluate the commercialization potential of new technology products. 

• Knowledge Translation projects promote the use of research-based knowledge in practice. 

• Field-Initiated Projects (FIP) conduct three-year studies on topics proposed by applicants to 

address disability and rehabilitation issues in promising and innovative ways. 

• Model Systems programs in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury conduct 

research on rehabilitation recovery and long-term outcomes of these conditions. Research in 

these programs includes collaborative, multisite research, and longitudinal data. 

• Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects (ARRT) support institutions of higher 

education to provide advanced interdisciplinary research training to postdoctoral Fellows. 

• Research Fellowship Program (RFP), or Mary E. Switzer Fellowships, are awarded to qualified 

individuals to conduct one-year independent research projects. 

• Section 21 focuses on research capacity building for minority-serving institutions, such as 

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other institutions with significant racial and 

ethnic minority student populations. Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that 1% of 

NIDILRR appropriations be set-aside to address traditionally underserved populations. 

Grant Mechanisms 

Grant Competition and Peer Review Process 

NIDILRR supports quality disability research in the domains of community living and participation, health 

and function, and employment. Funding is provided to the disability, independent living, and 

rehabilitation research communities through its funding mechanisms, with priorities within these 

mechanisms determined by the agency. Since the publication of NIDILRR’s Long Range Plan for 2013-

2017, there has been increased emphasis on field-initiated priorities that allow researchers to propose 

innovative research and development projects to promote improved outcomes among people with 

disabilities in the broad outcome domains of community living and participation, employment, and 

health and function. The agency ensures a rigorous research portfolio by administering a systematic 

peer review process and internal and external program evaluation. NIDILRR also chairs the Interagency 

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Committee on Disability Research (ICDR), whose mission is to promote coordination among federal 

agencies responsible for disability. 

NIDILRR’s systematic peer review process assures that only the highest-quality research is funded, as 

required by federal regulation. During the peer review process, subject matter experts with the 

appropriate credentials and content knowledge are tasked with evaluating the scientific, technical, and 

management aspects of proposals submitted in response to NIDILRR funding opportunity 

announcements. This process generates an average score across reviewer panels, reducing bias and 

facilitating the ranking of projects by scientific merit. Only the highest-ranking proposals are 

recommended for funding by NIDILRR. 

To enable greater innovation and flexibility, NIDILRR has expanded its use of field-initiated research in 

recent years. This approach allows the field to propose and implement a wide variety of projects in 

broad research and development areas defined by NIDILRR. NIDILRR’s Field-Initiated Projects are its 

most competitive. NIDILRR’s 2015 competitions for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects 

(DRRP) in the health and function and community living and participation domains each received more 

than thirty applications. Based on allocated funding, NIDILRR made two awards under each of these 

opportunities. 

NIDILRR also introduces “seed money” into the private sector through its participation in the Small 

Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. SBIR grantees are small businesses that compete for 

grants to support the research and development of marketable products that align with a sponsoring 

organization’s programmatic goals. NIDILRR SBIR grantees produce products that promote the 

community living and participation, health and function, and employment function outcomes of 

individuals with disabilities. Phase I SBIR grants support the initial feasibility-testing and prototypedevelopment phase. Based on allocated funding, NIDILRR funded 21% of the SBIR Phase I applications 

that it received. Phase II projects, which are selected from a pool of successfully funded Phase I grants, 

were also highly competitive at a funding rate of 36%. 

Monitoring and Oversight 

NIDILRR provides rigorous oversight of its funded initiatives through its Annual Performance Reporting 

(APR) Data System, formative review mechanisms, and close monitoring of grant activities by NIDILRR 

staff. NIDILRR’s APR is a Web-based grants performance system used by grantees to provide data about 

goals and objectives, staffing, budget, research issues such as sample size and method, progress, 

outputs and accomplishments. This data is used to determine whether continuation funding should be 

provided to a grantee. For a new grantee, the first reporting period begins on the start date of the 

award and extends until May 31 of the following year. Subsequent reporting periods begin June 1 and 

end May 31. Grantees submit their progress reports annually on July 1. 

Formative evaluations of funded awards are also conducted to provide oversight and technical 

assistance to grantees. Such reviews are conducted when NIDILRR program officers believe that a 

grantee could benefit from targeted technical assistance. A panel of subject matter experts is chosen to 

provide the technical assistance and make recommendations for improvement. Only one NIDILRR8 
 

 

 

 

 

 

funded project received a formative evaluation in FY 2015. It complied with all programmatic 

recommendations resulting from it. 

NIDILRR staff provides informed, directive, and collaborative oversight to NIDILRR’s grantees. In 

addition, program officers maintain ongoing, routine interaction with grantees to help inform their 

scientific programs and ensure grantees are meeting goals and objectives. Program Officers use the HHS 

Grants Policy Administration Manual to provide consistent oversight across projects. Risk assessments 

are conducted with poor-performing grantees, with additional oversight and technical support provided 

as needed. This process aids the program officer in monitoring a grantee’s performance with more 

scrutiny, preventing their continued funding when they fail to meet requirements. 

Funding Overview 

The allocation of NIDILRR grant funds for FYs 2014 and 2015 for the 11 funding mechanisms discussed in 

this section is shown in Table 1 (see page 9). For each funding mechanism, the table includes the 

number of new and continuation awards, along with the corresponding grant amount and the combined 

totals for FYs 2014 and 2015. NIDILRR’s overall grant allocations across all 11 funding mechanisms 

totaled $98,013,248 for FY 2014 and $95,769,377 for FY 2015. NIDILRR awarded $5,950,752 in contracts 

and other support activities for FY 2014 and $8,200,623 in FY 2015. 

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Table 1. NIDILRR-Funded Centers and Projects: Funding and Awards, Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 

Number Grant Amount Number of Grant Amount 

of Awards Awards 

FY 2014 in thousands FY 2015 in thousands of 

NIDILRR-Funded Centers and Projects of dollars dollars 

Rehabilitation Research and Continuations 17 $11,793 17 $14,621 

Training Centers New Awards 7 $6,097 4 $3,500 

Total 24 $17,890 21 $18,120 

Rehabilitation Engineering Continuations 12 $12,197 14 $11,245 

Research Centers New Awards 4 $3,798 3 $2,774 

Total 16 $15,995 17 $14,019 

Disability and Rehabilitation Continuations 15 $7,643 22 $11,579 

Research Projects New Awards 7 3,405 4 $1,997 

Total 22 $11,048 26 $13,576 

Americans with Disabilities Continuations 12 $12,532 0 $0 

Act National Network New Awards 0 $0 12 $12,532 

Total 12 $12,532 12 $12,532 

Small Business Innovation Continuations 2 537 

Research Projects New 15 $2,188 20 $3,553 

Total 17 2,725 

Knowledge Translation Continuations 5 $3,325 3 $2,211 

New Awards 0 $0 4 $950 

Total 5 $3,325 7 $3,161 

Field-Initiated Projects Continuations 41 $7,085 36 $6,976 

New Awards 20 $4,591 13 $2,594 

Total 61 $11,676 49 $9,570 

Model Systems 

Spinal Cord Injury Continuations 16 $8,018 14 $6,492 

New Awards 0 $0 0 $0 

Total 16 $8,018 14 $6,492 

Traumatic Brain Injury Continuations 18 $8,224 18 $8,223 

New Awards 0 $0 0 $0 

Total 18 $8,224 18 $8,223 

Burn Injury Continuations 5 $1,850 5 $1,850 

New Awards 0 $0 0 $0 

Total 5 $1,850 5 $1,850 

Advanced Rehabilitation Continuations 15 $2,500 14 $2,100 

Research Training Projects New Awards 3 $450 4 $527 

Total 18 $2,950 18 $2,627 

Mary E. Switzer Fellowships New Awards 5 $365 6 $420 

Section 21 4 $1,415 5 $1,625 

TOTAL 223 $98,013 218 $95,769 

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR. 2015 

Annual Performance Reports. 

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Exhibit 1 (see below) illustrates the distribution of funded 

research and development grant projects in FY 2015 across 

NIDILRR’s three domains: health and function, community 

living and participation, and employment. “Cross-cutting” is a 

category used in the Annual Performance Report to describe 

projects that reflect two or more domains. Half (50%) of 

development projects and about one-third (32%) of research 

projects were described as cross-cutting. “Research projects” 

are defined by NIDILRR as "an intensive systematic study, 

NIDILRR GRANTEES ARE 

HEAVILY ENGAGED IN 

RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY 

LIVING AND 

PARTICIPATION. 

based on a clear hypothesis or research question that is directed toward producing new scientific 

knowledge about the subject or problem being studied.” “Development Projects” are defined as "the 

use of knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or 

methods beneficial to the target population, including design and development of prototypes and 

processes." 

Exhibit 1. Research and Development Grant Projects by Domain, FY 2015 

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR. 2015 

Annual Performance Reports. 

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Grantee Activities and Progress 

NIDILRR collects output data through the APR. Grantees are required to report each output from their 

funded activities in one of four categories: Publications; Tools, Measures, and Intervention Protocols; 

Technology Products and Devices; and Informational Products. 

A brief description of each category of output type follows: 

• Publications are documents directly funded by a grantee’s current NIDILRR award. Publications 

include journal articles, periodicals, web journals, proceedings from meetings and symposia, 

books or book chapters, monographs, abstracts, technical or research reports, and reviews. 

Within this output category are peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications. Peer-review 

is an evaluation process of the accuracy of a manuscript and the validity of the research 

methodology and procedures by a panel of reviewers from the same scientific or academic 

discipline. This process is conducted prior to publication and the review panel can recommend 

revisions to the work, or reject it’s submission for publication. Non-peer reviewed publications 

do not receive this level of critique. Documents that are currently in review, accepted for 

publication, in press, or self-published are not reported in the APR. 

• Tools, measures and intervention protocols include instruments or processes created to 

acquire quantitative or qualitative information, knowledge or data on a specific disability or 

rehabilitation issue. Examples include checklists; survey questionnaires or interview schedules; 

interventions; statistical or methodological techniques; databases; and diagnosis or assessment 

instruments, including physiologic measures and outcome measures. 

• Technology products and devices are developed, modified, tested, or evaluated by the grantee. 

This refers to any technology product or device under the award that the grantee disseminated 

or delivered to external audiences during the current reporting period. These include the 

development of industry standards/guidelines; software or netware; invention, patents, licenses 

and patent disclosures; working prototypes; product(s) evaluated or field-tested; product(s) 

transferred to industry for potential commercialization; and product(s) in the marketplace. 

• Information products refer to items such as training manuals/curricula, fact sheets, newsletters, 

audiovisual materials, marketing tools, educational aids, Websites, presentations, and other 

forms of disseminated information. 

Exhibit 2 (see page 12), compares the number of output products produced by grantees within each 

category type in FYs 2014 and 2015. Additional detail has been provided for the category of publications, 

with peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications being reported separately. 

There was little change in the number of products within category types between FYs 2014 and 2015. 

The most common types of outputs were publications, with the number of non-peer reviewed 

publications exceeding the number that were peer-reviewed. 

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Exhibit 2. Total Outputs Produced by all Grantees Across all Program Mechanisms, by Product Type, 

2014–2015 

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR. 2015 

Annual Performance Reports. 

NIDILRR Programs and Selected Accomplishments 

Data obtained through the 2015 APR shows that NIDILRR 

supported 218 grantees during FY 2015, totaling 

$95,769,377 across all program mechanisms. An additional 

40 grantees were active without funding, in no-cost 

extension status. These grantees reported 1,499 research, 

development, or training projects in process. These projects 

reflect the breadth of disability and rehabilitation research 

within the agency’s outcome domains of community living 

and participation, health and function, and employment. 

NIDILRR SUPPORTED 218 

GRANTEES DURING FY 2015, 

TOTALING $95,769,377 

ACROSS ALL PROGRAM 

MECHANISMS. 

The knowledge and products that are generated by NIDILRR-sponsored research and development 

grants have a wide variety of important impacts in the field. The summaries that follow, organized by 

funding mechanism, provide examples of the outcomes and impacts that resulted from NIDILRR’s 

investments. Additional information concerning these projects is available through the National 

Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) website (http://www.naric.com/). 

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) 

RRTCs conduct coordinated, integrated and advanced programs of research, training, and information 

dissemination in topical areas that are specified by NIDILRR. RRTCs conduct research to improve 

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rehabilitation methodology and service delivery systems; improve health and functioning; and promote 

employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency for individuals 

with disabilities. They provide training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-service training to assist 

rehabilitation personnel to more effectively provide rehabilitation services to individuals with 

disabilities. They also serve as centers of national excellence in rehabilitation research for providers and 

for individuals with disabilities and their representatives. Awards are normally made for a five-year 

period. 

The following are examples of RRTC accomplishments reported to NIDILRR in FY 2015: 

• Diabetes Education Tool Kit Helps People with Mental Health Disorders Manage Both 

Conditions. 

University of Illinois, Chicago: RRTC on Psychiatric Disability and Co-occurring Medical 

Conditions (Grant # 90RT5012). The RRTC on Psychiatric Disability and Co-occurring Medical 

Conditions developed an online tool kit designed to help people with psychiatric disabilities who 

are at increased risk for diabetes and prediabetes understand and manage their diabetes or prediabetic condition. The tool kit includes an extensive library of materials and podcasts covering 

the basics of diabetes, building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing hypertension 

and the risks of diabetes. Also included is a chart of American Diabetes Association standards of 

care with related educational material. Materials from the tool kit have been downloaded more 

than 48,000 times. The Canadian Mental Health Association included the tool kit in their 

Diabetes and Mental Health Peer Support Project. The tool kit can be found at 

www.cmhsrp.uic.edu/health/diabetes-library-home.asp. 

• Tip Sheets Aid Youth and Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions in Employment 

Challenges. 

University of Massachusetts Medical School: RRTC on Learning and Working during the 

Transition to Adulthood (Grant #s 90RT5031). The RRTC on Learning and Working during the 

Transition to Adulthood produced a series of employment-related tip sheets that were 

developed and reviewed with input from young adults with serious mental health conditions. 

The descriptive tip sheet titles illustrate the range of topics addressed: 

o How to Keep a Job: The Young Adults Guide 

o Applying for a Job: The Young Adults Guide 

o Do I Tell My Boss? Disclosing My Mental Health Condition at Work 

o Vocational Rehabilitation: A Young Adults Guide 

o Tools for School: Accommodations for College Students with Mental Health Challenges 

o Telling Your Money What to Do: The Young Adult’s Guide 

These sheets serve as important resources for young adults with serious mental health 

conditions, providing solid advice for coping with employment challenges, which can improve 

their chances of success in the workforce. The tip sheets can be found at 

http://umassmed.edu/TransitionsRTC/publication/. 

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• Researchers Examine the Effects of the Environment on Community Participation Among 

People with Disabilities. 

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: RRTC on Improving Measurement and Medical 

Rehabilitation Outcomes (Grant # 90RT5008). Researchers from the RRTC on Improving 

Measurement and Medical Rehabilitation Outcomes focused on reexamining assumptions 

surrounding the role of environmental factors on the health and participation of people with 

disabilities. The research team reviewed theories from the fields of social, community, and 

developmental psychology, including a consideration of disability studies, gerontology, public 

health, and rehabilitation in an effort to examine the role of environmental factors and their 

measurement. They also discussed the application of these theories along with different 

technologies that could play a key role in helping to quantify, document, and communicate the 

dynamic interrelationships between environmental factors, participation, and health outcomes 

for people with disabilities. This is a critical step for understanding the environmentparticipation relationship and providing rehabilitation stakeholders with information needed to 

modify environments to facilitate the social inclusion of individuals with disabilities. The authors’ 

findings were published in the following paper: Magasi, S., Wong, A., Gray, D. B., Hammel, J., 

Baum, C., Wang, C. C., & Heinemann, A. W. (2015). Theoretical foundations for the 

measurement of environmental factors and their impact on participation among people with 

disabilities. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(4), 569–577. 

• Prominent Researcher on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Describes Strategies for 

Overcoming Service Barriers in Presidential Speech to the American Association for 

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 

Research and Training Center on Community Living (Grant # 90RT5019). Dr. Amy Hewitt, from 

the University of Minnesota’s Research and Training Center on Community Living, served as 

president of the prestigious American Association for Intellectual and Developmental 

Disabilities. In her Presidential Address to the organization, she described the complexities and 

barriers of our existing intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) system. She described 

the way that this system hinders community living outcomes and proposed a new direction and 

strategies to overcome these barriers. Dr. Hewitt also argued that the issues of community 

inclusion, participation, and citizenship remain particularly significant within the IDD system and 

that all three of these areas need to be adequately addressed to support people with IDD and 

help promote improved outcomes. Her discussion highlighted many specific complexities and 

challenges that people with IDD face, including the complex maze of available services, 

differences in language and jargon, geographic differences, and the importance of education 

and learning. Her speech is published as: Hewitt, A. (2014). Presidential Address, 2014— 

Embracing complexity: Community inclusion, participation, and citizenship. Intellectual and 

Developmental Disabilities, 52(6), 475–495. 

• Researchers on Disability in Rural Communities Tackle Employment, Wellness and Hospital 

Practices. 

University of Montana: RRTC on Disability in Rural Communities (Grant # 90RT5025). The RRTC 

on Disability in Rural Communities at the University of Montana developed new procedures for 

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Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

using electronic communications and social media to provide vocational rehabilitation services 

and supports. They also advanced their mission to promote participation in the community and 

the workforce through improved vocational rehabilitation resources, dissemination of evidencebased wellness programs, and other research by creating a Web-based health education 

program tailored for vocational rehabilitation consumers: Health Plans to Employment. They 

also completed a study on the factors affecting community participation in persons with chronic 

pain. With federal partners at ACL, the RRTC identified geographic regions that exhibited service 

overlap of independent living centers and aging and disability resource centers, as well as those 

that experienced a deficit of services. The RRTC has applied participatory action research to 

develop an agenda to enhance hospital discharge and transition procedures. This compilation of 

projects emphasizes how the RRTC is altering rural health practices and providing resources to 

foster community participation and independent living. 

RERCs focus on issues dealing with rehabilitation technology and engineering. The purpose of the RERC 

program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by 

conducting advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies designed to 

solve particular rehabilitation problems or remove environmental barriers. RERCs also demonstrate and 

evaluate such technologies, facilitate service delivery systems changes, stimulate the production and 

distribution of equipment in the private sector, and provide training opportunities to enable individuals, 

including individuals with disabilities, to become researchers and practitioners of rehabilitation 

technology. Awards are normally made for a five-year period. 

Examples of RERC accomplishments reported to NIDILRR in FY 2015 follow: 

• “Tiramisu” App Assists Individuals with Disabilities and Others to Effectively Access Public 

Transportation. 

Carnegie Mellon University: RERC on Accessible Public Transportation (Grant # 90RE5011). 

Researchers at the RERC on Accessible Public Transportation continue to refine a Smartphone 

application system called Tiramisu (“pick me up” in Italian) that enables urban bus transit riders 

to provide real-time information about the bus on which they are riding. This includes delays, 

seating availability, and accessibility problems. Riders use their free Tiramisu Smartphone app to 

send this information to the Tiramisu system, which in turn makes this information available to 

potential riders via the Internet. This allows riders to engage in a collaborative relationship with 

transit providers to identify and resolve accessibility barriers they encounter and to increase 

transit agency awareness of issues with service quality. An early iteration of Tiramisu placed 

second in the Intelligent Transportation Society of America Best New Innovative Products, 

Services or Applications category in 2011. A brief description of the app is available at 

www.hcii.cmu.edu/news/stories/tiramisu-app-wins-fcc-chairmans-award. 

16 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Inventors and Small Business Partner to Develop Walker that Helps Individuals Come to 

Standing Position. 

Georgia Institute of Technology: RERC for Wheeled Mobility in Everyday Life (Grant # 

90RE5000). The RERC for Wheeled Mobility in Everyday Life, via a design competition involving 

inventors and small businesses, designed and developed the Stand-Up Walker as part of the 

inventor-driven design project of the RERC. The device helps individuals with mobility issues rise 

from a seated position. Inventors presented their ideas to RERC staff consisting of engineers, 

scientists, and clinicians, and were provided with feedback addressing technical, clinical, and 

policy issues related to the design. The winning inventor, Mr. Howard Liles, fabricated the 

prototype Walker while the RERC organized meetings with physical therapists to get feedback 

on the device. This led to the identification of design revisions that were later incorporated into 

several prototype iterations. Urise Products was the start-up that licensed the Walker, 

completed the production design and launched the product. Additional information can be 

found at www.standupwalker.com/ourstory/ and www.uriseproducts.com/. 

• New Book Offers Multidisciplinary Perspective on Transitional Care in Osteogenesis 

Imperfecta. 

Marquette University: RERC on Technologies for Children with Orthopedic Disabilities (Grant 

90RE5006). Fellows from the RERC on Technologies for Children with Orthopedic Disabilities, 

ARRT in Pediatric Mobility for Physicians and Engineers, ARRT in Pediatric to Adult Transition, 

and Marquette University contributed to the development of a book entitled Transitional Care 

in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Advances in Biology, Technology and Clinical Practice. The work is 

particularly powerful because it brings together perspectives and research from multiple 

professional groups and disciplines, including surgeons, clinicians, scientists, and engineers. 

Additionally, the work integrates technology, orthopedic, and genetic chapters with an eye 

toward a transitional care continuum. As the authors note, osteogenesis imperfecta is a difficult 

genetic condition that changes over time, resulting in the need for transitional care that 

addresses the many challenges that people with the condition face. By combining such a range 

of perspectives and backgrounds, the book offers a unique insight into the condition and ways 

of improving care and solving problems in the pediatric-to-adult environment. The book is 

available online at www.tech4pod.org/. 

• Telecommunications Industry of America Technology and Standards Secretariat Publishes 

New Standard for Magnetic Performance between Handsets and Hearing Devices. 

Board of Regents at the University of Wisconsin: RERC on Telecommunications Access (Grant # 

90RE5003). The Secretariat for the Telecommunications Industry of America Technology and 

Standards published the standard TIA-1803-B, specifying the testing standards for the magnetic 

performance between handsets and headsets. This revision widened the scope of previous 

iterations to include testing standards for wideband audio. The RERC on Telecommunications 

Access at the University of Wisconsin played a key role in establishing this standard. In fact, the 

decision to include support for wideband magnetic performance and use real speech in test 

signals was based on a study conducted by the RERC. Wideband audio significantly increases the 

quality of speech understood by people with hearing loss, reduces mental effort and improves 

the effectiveness of handsets and hearing devices. Recent hearing devices now support the 

17 
 

 

 

 

 

 

frequencies used in wideband audio and this standard helps to formalize the testing procedures 

used for these devices. Telecommunications Industry of America standard documents can be 

purchased by visiting http://global.ihs.com/?rid=TIA. 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) 

The DRRP funding program supports projects that carry out one or more of the following activities: 

research, development, demonstration, training, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance. The 

purpose of the DRRP program is to plan and conduct research, demonstration projects, training, and 

related activities to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full 

inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities into society, employment, independent living, 

family support, and to promote economic and social self-sufficiency and improve the effectiveness of 

services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. 

NIDILRR funds several types of DRRPs, including: (1) 

Knowledge Translation projects; (2) Model Systems in 

traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burn injury; (3) ADA 

National Network projects; (4) Section 21 Program; and 

(5) individual research projects. SCI Model System is not 

included with the other model systems as a DRRP 

because it has its own statutory authority. The first four 

types of DRRPs are managed as separate programs and, 

therefore, only individual research DRRPs are described 

here under the general DRRP heading. DRRPs differ from 

RRTCs and RERCs in that they generally do not provide 

training and technical assistance. Awards range from 

three to five years. 

NIDILRR funds several 

types of DRRPs, including: 

(1) Knowledge Translation 

projects; (2) Model 

Systems in traumatic brain 

injury (TBI) and burn 

injury; (3) ADA National 

Network projects; (4) 

Section 21 Program; and 

(5) individual research 

projects 

The following is one example of a DRRP accomplishment 

reported to NIDILRR in FY 2015: 

• Valuable New Model Estimates Return on 

Investment for State Vocational Rehabilitation 

Agencies. 

University of Richmond (Grant # 90DP0070). The University of Richmond developed a Return 

on Investment (ROI) model by examining the employment outcomes of individuals with 

disabilities who applied for services from the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation 

Services (VA-DARS). Labor market impacts were estimated at the individual level, allowing 

identification of impacts by disability type, services, and the agency. This work generated 

research findings that were shared with VA-DARS to inform policies and practice for consumers 

with disabilities. Findings were also disseminated through peer-reviewed journals to help inform 

the field regarding the potential of ROI for strategic planning, program evaluation, and improved 

service delivery. In 2015, the University of Richmond successfully competed for additional 

NIDILRR funding for expanding and refining ROI models for additional agencies in Delaware, 

18 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maryland, Texas, and Oklahoma. This work continues to provide important information for 

rehabilitation professionals, policymakers, and consumers interested in improving the 

employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities. To read more about the model(s), view 

the following publications: 

o Dean, D., Pepper, J. V., Schmidt, R. M., & Stern, S. (2015). The effects of vocational 

rehabilitation for people with cognitive impairments. International Economic Review, 

56(2), 399–426. 

o Dean, D., Pepper, J. V., Schmidt, R. M., & Stern, S. (2014). State vocational rehabilitation 

programs and federal disability insurance: An analysis of Virginia’s vocational 

rehabilitation program, IZA Journal of Labor Policy, 3(7), 1–19. 

ADA National Network 

The ADA National Network consists of 10 regional centers that provide information, training, and 

technical assistance to individuals, businesses, and agencies with rights and responsibilities under the 

ADA. The network also includes research and knowledge translation components, which are carried out 

by two network grantees, the ADA National Network Collaborative Research Project, and the ADA 

National Network Knowledge Translation Center, respectively. 

Research funded under the first grantee is known as the ADA Participatory Action Research Consortium 

(ADA-PARC). This research examines individual and environmental factors influencing the community 

living of citizens with disabilities. Research activities include mining existing datasets to inform the 

benchmarking of key participation disparities and promising practices at state, regional and community 

levels. Additional efforts include collecting data on individuals transitioning from nursing homes and 

institutions to the community to assess their experiences and concerns. Findings from this research 

inform strategies for creating livable communities for individuals with disabilities through inclusive and 

accessible private and public spaces. 

The ADA Knowledge Translation Center enhances the impact of the Network’s activities, increases 

awareness and use of research findings, conducts knowledge translation research, and improves 

understanding of ADA stakeholders’ needs for and receipt of Network services. The Center is conducting 

a five-year project to review and translate research findings and identify knowledge gaps. The last year 

of the project includes a State of the Science conference on ADA implementation research. While the 

ADA-PARC and the ADA Knowledge Translation Center uniquely contribute to the Network’s generation 

of knowledge of national significance related to ADA, each regional center focuses on the distinct needs 

of its individual regions. The regional focus is critical to 

ensuring that Network services meet the needs of diverse 

populations and stakeholders throughout the country. 

ADA National Network grantees responded to 59,302 

technical assistance requests in FY 2015. The Network 

delivers over half of its technical assistance by phone (52%), 

with another 30 percent delivered through email 

communications. In-person assistance is less prevalent (17%) 

than phone or email support. The ADA National Network 

THE ADA NATIONAL 

NETWORK RESPONDED TO 

ALMOST 60,000 

INQUIRIES FROM THE 

PUBLIC FOR TECHNICAL 

ASSISTANCE AND 

19 RESOURCES.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

most commonly delivers training activities to grantees through formal courses (19%), Webcasts (18%), 

presentations (18%), and workshops (18%). 

In addition to training and technical assistance, the ADA National Network and its regional centers 

produce numerous, highly popular products to aid in disseminating information to the public, 

employers, and individual with disabilities about their rights and responsibilities. During FY 2015, the 

network reported 1,004,746 downloads of its electronic materials, such as journal articles, audio tapes, 

DVDs/CDs, newsletters, fact sheets, conference proceedings, and more. 

Other types of products the Network developed were disseminated 278,000 times. They also 

disseminated materials developed by others, such as publications, bulletins, and audio tapes, which 

were accessed electronically 75,377 times and over 25,000 times through other means. Bulletins, 

newsletters, and fact sheets were the most commonly disseminated types of products across all 

categories. Products in the “Other” category were the second most commonly disseminated products. 

Examples of products in the “Other” category included, but were not limited to, federal guidance 

documents, legal briefs, custom technical assistance items, and federal and public announcements. 

The following are examples of ADA Network accomplishments reported to NIDILRR for FY 2015: 

• Southeast ADA Center Develops ADA Anniversary Tool Kit in Celebration of the 25th 

Anniversary of the ADA. 

Syracuse University (Grant # 90DP0019). The Southeast ADA Center at Syracuse University 

developed an ADA Anniversary Tool Kit, a Website dedicated to publications, resources, training, 

events, and news on the ADA for use in planning events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 

ADA. The ADA Legacy Project adopted the ADA Anniversary Tool Kit to promote “ADA25.” The 

ADA Legacy Project is committed to honoring the contributions of people with disabilities by 

preserving the history of the disability rights movement, celebrating its milestones, and 

educating the public and future generations of advocates. As a result of adoption of the ADA 

Anniversary Tool Kit by the ADA Legacy Project, awareness of the ADA and the ADA National 

Network knowledge resources increased. The ADA Anniversary Tool Kit Website also promotes 

the ADA25 Pledge, which encourages individuals to recommit to the principles of the ADA. The 

ADA National Network Website experienced a 378 percent increase in page views and a 

228 percent increase in users since 2014. To date, the Website has collected over 9,000 

signatures from individuals, organizations, government entities, and faith communities who 

pledge to celebrate and recommit to the ADA. The ADA Anniversary Tool Kit is located at 

www.adaanniversary.org. 

• The Northwest ADA Center’s ADA Accessibility Checklist Helps Washington State Department 

of Corrections Improve Physical and Programmatic Access. 

University of Washington (Grant # H133A110015). The Northwest ADA Center at the University 

of Washington updated their ADA Accessibility Checklist to reflect the 2010 ADA Standards for 

Accessible Design, published in March 2015. Washington State Department of Corrections used 

this checklist in assessing all 13 of its correctional facilities for ADA accessibility. This tool was 

also instrumental in assisting Washington State Department of Corrections in formulating a 

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Transition Plan to improve physical and programmatic access. The checklist can be accessed at 

http://nwadacenter.org/sites/adanw/files/files/2010%20ADA%20Standards%20Checklist_Marc 

h%202015%20Edition(1).docx. 

• ADA National Network Trains Employers to Support Employees with Disabilities. 

The ADA National Network (Grant # 90DP0015-02-00). The ADA National Network provides 

information, training, and technical assistance on the ADA to businesses, agencies, and the 

public. Members also conduct research. In 2014, the Network served more than 235,000 

employers, state and local governments, and people with disabilities. The Network promoted 

workplace implementation of the ADA through direct interaction with employers and individual 

job hunters, as well as through the creation and delivery of training. For example, several 

centers launched the Just-in-Time Tool Kit for Managers, an online training for supporting 

employees with a disability. For more information, visit www.disabilitytoolkit.org/. 

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

The intent of NIDILRR’s SBIR program is to help support the development of new ideas and projects that 

are useful to persons with disabilities by inviting the participation of small business firms with strong 

research capabilities in science, engineering, or educational technology. Small businesses must meet 

certain eligibility criteria to participate: the company must be American-owned and independently 

operated, it must be for-profit, employ no more than 500 employees, and the principal researcher must 

be employed by the business. During Phase I, NIDILRR funds firms to conduct feasibility studies to 

evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an idea. During Phase II, NIDILRR-funded firms expand on 

the results of Phase I to pursue further development. 

The following are examples of SBIR accomplishments reported to NIDILRR during FY 2015: 

• Inventors Enhance Communication Options by Converting Digital Data into Audiovisual Form. 

Charmtech Labs, LLC (Grant #s 90BI0005 & 90BI0004). Charmtech Labs, LLC developed the Capti 

Narrator, a universally accessible technology that helps people listen to digital content in an 

audiovisual form. The content can be imported to the Capti Playlist in a variety of formats and 

from multiple sources (e.g., Web, One Drive, and Dropbox) and can be narrated by high-quality 

synthetic voices speaking in different languages and accents. Capti Narrator can be used as an 

application in most Web browsers, installed on PCs (and soon Macs), and installed as an app on 

mobile devices. It has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. Capti Narrator was 

developed as assistive technology for people with vision impairments and proved to be useful 

for people with illiteracy, as well as disabilities such as dyslexia. The technology is being adopted 

by public schools and universities, and this collaboration has helped to further develop 

additional functionalities needed in educational settings. Charmtech Labs is now exploring how 

English language learners could acquire the language faster with Capti. The Capti Narrator 

received an FCC Chairman’s Award for Advancing Accessibility and the Delegates’ Award in the 

W4A Accessibility Challenge. Its Principal Investigator, Dr. Yevgen Borodin, was recognized as a 

MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35 for his work on Capti Narrator and other 

accessibility research. Capti Narrator can be accessed via www.captivoice.com. 

21 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Accommodation-Integrated Technology that Minimizes the Impact of Disability on Students’ 

Assessment Performance. 

3-C Institute for Social Development, Inc. (Grant # 90BI0007). 3-C Institute for Social 

Development, Inc. developed Assess2Progress, a Web-based program to assist teachers in 

creating disability-accessible assessments of any type in any subject area for students in 

kindergarten through fifth grade. The program uses universal design principles to deploy 

assessments with embedded text-to-speech functions, audio controls, and visual 

accommodations. The next phase of this project will develop a fully functioning software system 

with tailored teacher and student user interfaces through pre-pilot usability testing and fieldtesting with kindergarten through fifth-grade students and teachers. The Assess2Progress 

program eliminates barriers toward fair and adequate testing by giving teachers the tools they 

need to make appropriate accommodations and offer accessible testing options for students 

with disabilities. 

Knowledge Translation 

In the disability context, knowledge translation is a process of ensuring that new knowledge and 

products gained through the course of research and development can ultimately be used to improve the 

lives of individuals with disabilities and further their participation in society. Knowledge translation is 

built upon and sustained by ongoing interactions, partnerships, and collaborations among various 

stakeholders in the production and use of such knowledge and products, including researchers, 

practitioners, policymakers, individuals with disabilities, and others. NIDILRR has invested in knowledge 

translation by directly funding research and development projects in its Knowledge Translation portfolio 

and by integrating the underlying knowledge translation principles of interactions, partnerships, and 

collaborations among stakeholders into the content of all priorities. The projected long-term outcomes 

are knowledge and products that can be used to solve real issues faced by individuals with disabilities. 

The following is an example of a Knowledge Translation accomplishment reported to NIDILRR in FY 

2015: 

• Systemic Review of Nonmedical Interventions Examines the Employment of Cancer Survivors. 

Southeast Educational Development Laboratory, a subsidiary of the American Institutes for 

Research (Grant # 90DP0022). The Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research 

conducted a meta-analysis of experimental and quasi-experimental studies focusing on 

behavioral, psychological, educational, or vocational interventions with cancer survivors aged 18 

or older, and the impact on employment of these interventions. A meta-analysis is a systematic 

statistical examination across a series of studies used to combine findings and identify a single 

conclusion that has increased statistical power than the individual studies themselves possess. 

The meta-analysis did not provide strong, statistically supported evidence of the impact of the 

reviewed interventions. In response to these findings, the researchers called for additional 

studies, with greater methodological rigor, to be conducted. A summary of this meta-analysis 

can be found at http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/project/225/. 

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Field-Initiated Projects (FIPs) 

The Field-Initiated Projects (FIPs) are a program of investigator-initiated research intended to 

supplement NIDILRRs agency-directed research portfolio. These projects cross all of NIDILRR’s domains, 

and generate new knowledge through research or development on a smaller scale relative to DRRPs and 

Center grants. Typical FIP awards are three years in duration. 

The following are examples of FIP accomplishments reported to NIDILRR in FY 2015: 

• Problem-Solving Strategies Help Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

(IDD) Set Actionable Career Goals. 

University of Missouri (Grant # 90IF0028). This project evaluated the efficacy of the SelfDetermined Career Development Model (SDCDM) in improving employment outcomes for 

adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The SDCDM is a self-directed process 

using a three-phase, problem-solving strategy. A facilitator supports a person with a disability to 

identify and set career goals, develop an action plan, self-monitor and self-evaluate progress 

toward the goal, and revise the plan as needed. The project provides training, technical 

assistance, and coaching on the model. There were 81 employment support providers trained to 

facilitate career discovery using the SDCDM. In response to a Department of Justice Settlement 

which ruled that the State of Rhode Island was in violation of the ADA Olmstead requirements 

by unnecessarily segregating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the state is 

implementing the SDCDM to train all middle and high school teachers to promote selfdetermination. The training manual and facilitator’s resource guide are published, and freely 

available online at http://ngsd.org/professionals/self-determined-career-development-model 

• Research Highlights Impediments to Implementation of Medicaid Home and CommunityBased Services for Children with Autism. 

Towson University (Grant # H133G12003). Investigators at Towson University studied state 

policy factors that contribute to, or impede, the implementation of home and community-based 

service autism waivers, as well as the service needs of children with autism, and their families. 

They found that waiver status was associated with improvement in family quality of life and 

increased perceived child improvement in independent living skills. More intensive individual 

support services and frequent therapeutic integration predicted improved academic 

performance and independent living skills. Two peer-reviewed publications were developed 

from this study: 

o Eskow, K. G., Chasson, G. S., & Summers, J. A. (2015). A cross-sectional cohort study of a 

large, statewide Medicaid home and community-based services autism waiver program. 

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 626–635. 

o Merryman, M. B., Miller, N. A., Shockley, E., Eskow, K. G., & Chasson, G. S. (2015). State 

adoption of Medicaid 1915(c) waivers for children and youth with Autism Spectrum 

Disorder. Disability and Health Journal, 8(3), 443–451. 

• Online Braille Math Tutorial Opens Learning Opportunities in the Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Math (STEM) Fields for Individuals with Visual Impairment. 

Research and Development Institute at Northern Illinois University (Grant # H133G110122). 

23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluency in reading and writing mathematical symbols is essential for the study of advanced 

mathematics. A special version of braille, the Nemeth Code, exists in which all of the symbols 

comprising mathematics are depicted in braille. Unfortunately, many individuals who are 

responsible for teaching blind students are not sufficiently competent to provide advanced 

training in the reading and writing of braille math. To solve this vexing problem, the staffs of the 

Research and Development Institute at Northern Illinois University collaborated with the 

American Printing House for the Blind in the development of an online braille math tutorial. The 

tutorial improves the ability of persons who are blind or visually impaired to read and write the 

symbols comprising the Nemeth Code, widening their opportunities to fully participate in STEM 

fields. The tutorial can be found at https://tech.aph.org/nemeth/. 

Model Systems 

NIDILRR’s Model Systems programs in spinal cord injury 

(SCIMS), traumatic brain injury (TBIMS), and burn injury 

(BMS) provide coordinated systems of rehabilitation care 

and conduct research on recovery and long-term 

outcomes. In addition, these centers serve as platforms 

for collaborative, multisite research, including research on 

interventions using randomized controlled approaches. 

These programs also track Model Systems patients over 

time in large databases. The National SCI Database has 

been in existence since 1973 and captures data from an 

estimated 13% of SCI cases in the U.S. Since its inception, 

28 federally funded SCIMS have contributed data to the 

National SCI Database. As of October 2015, the SCIMS 

AS OF OCTOBER 2015, THE 

SCIMS HAS OVER 44,280 

INDIVIDUALS IN ITS NATIONAL 

DATABASE. TBIMS AND BMS 

HAVE 14,406 AND 5,762 

PERSONS, RESPECTIVELY, 

ENROLLED IN THEIR NATIONAL 

DATABASES. center has over 44,280 individuals in its National 

Database. TBIMS and BMS centers have 14,406 and 5,762 persons, respectively, enrolled in their 

National Databases. The TBIMS National Database includes a large-scale ongoing follow-up of individuals 

post-injury. The BMS National Database is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter research study that 

examines functional and psychosocial outcomes following burns for over 3,000 adults and almost 2,000 

children. Studies using these databases have provided an abundance of groundbreaking information 

over the decades on the social and environmental factors influencing the community living and 

participation of individuals affected by these injuries, best clinical practices for screening and treatment, 

physiological aspects of the conditions, and long-term outcomes. 

The following are examples of Model Systems accomplishments reported to NIDILRR in FY 2015: 

• Study Points to Rehabilitation Interventions That Are Associated with Positive Outcomes for 

People with Traumatic Brain Injury. 

Ohio State University (Grant # H133A080023). Ohio State University coordinated a journal 

supplement that reported the results of the first practice-based evidence study of TBI 

rehabilitation. The study enrolled 2,205 individuals with TBI who were receiving initial inpatient 

rehabilitation across 10 rehabilitation centers. The study has resulted in the richest dataset on 

TBI rehabilitation ever assembled. The journal supplement included 12 articles, beginning with 

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an introductory article. The studies collectively identified the characteristics associated with 

patient outcomes, how clinical events mediated outcomes, and treatments used in response to 

various clinical problems. They further determined the best treatment options, as measured by 

superior outcomes, accounting for TBI severity and other factors. The analyses reported in the 

journal supplement are the beginning of an extensive analysis and reporting process. The 

findings will provide guidance in developing guidelines for clinical decision-making and other 

evidence-based practices. The reference for the journal supplement is: Horn, S. (Ed.). (2015). 

What works in inpatient traumatic brain injury rehabilitation? Results from the TBI-PBE study 

[Supplement]. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(8), S173–S340. 

• Instrument Proves Valuable for Assessing Function and Functional Change in Individuals with 

SCI. 

Boston University (Grant # 90SI5013). Assessing the impact of Assistive Technology (AT) on a 

person's function is a significant problem that must be addressed when developing a 

rehabilitation outcome measure. Researchers at Boston University’s SCIMS reported the success 

of the SCI-FI / AT (Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index Computer / Assistive Technology) 

instrument. The SCI-FI /AT was developed specifically for use with individuals with SCI across all 

levels and extent of injury, with a sensitivity to changes in function, while also being practical for 

use in busy clinical settings. The SCI-FI focuses on providing a general measure of function for 

people with SCI while supporting the use of assistive technology. In doing so, the instrument 

provides a valuable approach for accurately measuring function and meaningful change in the 

way that individuals use assistive technology. This instrument allows clinicians to more 

accurately discuss the functional capabilities of the patient with them and their families. The 

utility of the instrument was demonstrated in a recent study: Jette, A. M., Slavin, M. D., Ni, P., 

Kisala, P. A., Tulsky, D. S., Heinemann, A. W., Charlifue, S., Tate, D. G., Fyffe, D., Morse, L., 

Marino, R., Smith, I., & Williams, S. (2015). Development and initial evaluation of the SCI-FI/AT. 

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 38(3), 409–418. 

• New Tool Measures Quality of Life in Persons with SCI. 

Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, Northern New Jersey 

Spinal Cord Injury System. (Grant # H133N110020). Researchers at the Kessler Foundation and 

its Institute for Rehabilitation Research contributed to the development of the SCI Quality of Life 

instrument. This tool is a measurement system developed to address the shortage of relevant 

and psychometrically sound patient-reported outcome measures available for clinical care and 

research into SCI. The system provides an innovative, psychometrically rigorous and highly 

useful method that will revolutionize the assessment of self-reported outcomes for persons with 

SCI. The system builds on the capacity of the rehabilitation research field by providing a valid 

and reliable means of assessing aspects of health-related quality of life—a key outcome 

measure for epidemiological and intervention studies of persons with SCI. The findings relating 

to this measurement system were published in: Tulsky, D. S., Kisala, P. A., Victorson, D., Tate, D. 

G., Heinemann, A. W., Charlifue, S., Kirshblum, S. C., Fyffe, D., Gershon, R., Spungen, A. M., 

Bombardier, C. H., Dyson-Hudson., T. A., Amtmann, D., Kalpakjian, C. Z., Choi, S. W., Jette, A. M., 

Forchheimer, M., & Cella, D. (2015). Overview of Spinal Cord Injury – Quality of Life (SCI QOL) 

measurement system. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 38(3), 257–269. 

25 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Convenient Checklist Keeps Wheelchairs at Top Performance. 

University of Pittsburgh (Grant # 90DP0025). Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh 

developed the Wheelchair Maintenance Assessment Tool (W-MAT), a wheelchair inspection 

checklist to assess the condition of a wheelchair and its parts. The checklist identifies problems 

related to component failure in power and manual wheelchairs and serves as a useful risk 

assessment for the prevention of wheelchair-related injuries. Research has shown that between 

44 and 57 percent of people with SCI have required at least one wheelchair repair in a six-month 

period and between 22 and 30 percent of those who needed repairs also reported being 

stranded; missing appointments, school, or work; or being injured due to this needed repair. 

Additionally, lack of maintenance has been linked to a tenfold increase in likelihood of being 

injured. The W-MAT is designed for a broad audience, increasing its versatility. By improving 

knowledge of wheelchair maintenance, wheelchair users can more quickly address issues and 

decrease the number of repairs and accidents. The W-MAT was presented at the 2015 

International Seating Symposium Workshop “Basic Wheelchair Maintenance Training for 

Manual and Power Wheelchair Users.” The article discussing the tool is currently in press: Toro, 

M. L., & Pearlman, J. (In Press). Development of a manual wheelchair and power wheelchair 

maintenance program. Proceedings of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology 

Society of North American Conference. June 10–14, 2015, Denver, CO. 

Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects (ARRTs) 

ARRTs seek to increase capacity for high-quality rehabilitation research by supporting grants to 

institutions to provide advanced research training to individuals with doctorates or similar advanced 

degrees who have clinical or other relevant experience. Grants are made to institutions to recruit 

qualified persons, including individuals with disabilities, and to prepare them to conduct independent 

research related to disability and rehabilitation, with particular attention to research areas that support 

the implementation and objectives of the Rehabilitation Act and that improve the effectiveness of 

services authorized under the Act. This research training may integrate disciplines, teach research 

methodology, and promote the capacity for disability studies and rehabilitation science. Training 

projects must operate in interdisciplinary environments and provide training in rigorous scientific 

methods. 

There were 87 Fellows enrolled in the ARRT program under 

23 active awards. Twenty-six of these Fellows were 

completing their programs during FY 2015. Fellows contribute 

to and lead multidisciplinary research projects with mentors 

and peers and are encouraged to publish their research. 

In FY 2015, Fellows authored approximately 31 publications 

and contributed to another 13. The program supports a 

diverse cadre of young research professionals. An estimated 

47 percent of Fellows in the ARRT funding program identify 

themselves as Latino, African American, American Indian, 

Asian, or Native Hawaiian. 

AN ESTIMATED 47 PERCENT 

OF FELLOWS IN THE ARRT 

FUNDING PROGRAM IDENTIFY 

THEMSELVES AS LATINO, 

AFRICAN AMERICAN, 

AMERICAN INDIAN, ASIAN, 

OR NATIVE HAWAIIAN. 

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Following are examples of key research accomplishments, reported to NIDILRR during FY 2015, resulting 

from investments in the AART program. Each of the accomplishments reflects the work of not only the 

AART Fellows, but also the mentors and senior research scientists that influence and guide their work. 

• Guidance Issued for the Reliable Assessment of Depression in People with Multiple Sclerosis. 

University of Washington (Grant # 90AR5013). Investigators from the University of Washington 

published an article evaluating the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire9 (PHQ-9), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 (CESD-10), and the eightitem Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression Short Form 

(PROMIS-D-8) in individuals living with multiple sclerosis. All three instruments demonstrated 

strong scores on reliability and validity assessments. Findings suggest that these can be used 

interchangeably and with confidence by practitioners. Further, the study provides evidence to 

support the tools’ compatibility with PROMIS measures in the U.S. and abroad. This research 

shows the tools’ similar ability to detect depression, supporting PROMIS validity in crossnational comparisons for measuring depression in clinical settings. These findings have been 

used by researchers and medical practitioners inquiring about the psychometric reliability and 

validity of the PROMIS measures in the United States and Spain. The full citation is: Amtmann, 

D., Kim, J., Chung, H., Bamer, A. M., Askew, R. L., Wu, S., Cook, K. F., & Johnson, K. L. (2014). 

Comparing CESD-10, PHQ-9, and PROMIS depression instruments in individuals with multiple 

sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59(2), 220–229. 

• A Comparative Analysis of Adult Siblings’ Perceptions Toward Caregiving. 

University of Illinois (Grant # 90AR5007). Siblings of individuals with IDD are likely to become 

caregivers for their brothers and sisters. Their expectations of and experiences with caregiving, 

however, may be different. Fellows from the University of Illinois used focus groups to compare 

the perspectives of siblings who were current caregivers to siblings who anticipated becoming 

caregivers. Responses were compared and contrasted across four areas: caregiving 

responsibilities, rewards, challenges, and opinions toward being paid as a caregiver. Both groups 

were knowledgeable about and invested in their brothers and sisters and reported that they 

enjoyed bonding with them. For current caregivers, challenges were related to understanding 

and navigating the service system. In contrast, anticipated caregivers were concerned about 

planning for the future. Mixed viewpoints were expressed about receiving pay for providing care 

although a greater number of current caregivers were receptive to it. This study provided 

valuable information for developing responsive interventions and support for the growing 

number of individuals caring for siblings. The full citation is: Burke, M. M., Fish, T., & Lawton, K. 

(2015). A comparative analysis of adult siblings’ perceptions toward caregiving. Intellectual and 

Developmental Disabilities, 53(2), 143–157. 

• Special Ultrasound Captures Changes in Stroke-Affected Muscles to Aid in Rehabilitation and 

Treatment. 

Northwestern University (Grant # 90AR5010). Researchers at Northwestern University used 

shear wave (SW) ultrasound elastography to examine muscle stiffness and composition in 

stroke-impaired muscle. The researchers found variation in SW speed and intensity 

measurements across the biceps muscle of the paralyzed limb compared to the non-paralyzed 

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limb of stroke survivors when the muscle is at rest. The outcomes suggest that paralyzed 

muscles may have an altered composition resulting in stiffness, which may be measured with 

SW elastography. Many aspects of rehabilitation therapy attempt to increase range of motion 

related to muscle stiffness. Clinicians and rehabilitation professionals can make more informed 

treatment decisions when they understand the change in their patients’ muscles, and the 

potential causes. Findings from this research highlight the potential for SW elastography to be 

used as a tool for both investigating the mechanisms behind changes in stroke-impaired 

muscles, and for evaluating muscle mechanical properties as part of clinical examination or 

therapy. The full citation for this research is: Lee, S. S. M., Spear, S., & Rymer, W. Z. (2015). 

Quantifying changes in material properties of stroke-impaired muscle. Clinical Biomechanics, 

30(3), 269–275. 

• Robotic Arm Minimizes the Weight Load for Caregivers of Individuals with Disabilities. 

University of Pittsburgh (Grant # 90AR5021). Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh 

examined the stability of a newly developed “Strong Arm,” a robotic arm that is attached and 

integrated with an electrical-powered wheelchair to assist with transfers, such as from the chair 

to a bed. Experiments that applied different loads and used various system configurations were 

used to analyze system stability. When real transfers were conducted with 50 and 75 kg loads 

and an 83.25 kg dummy, the current Strong Arm could transfer all weights safely without tipping 

over. The modeling accurately predicted the stability of the system, providing a foundation for 

developing better control algorithms to further improve the safety of the arm. The Strong Arm 

strengthens the ability of caretakers, family caregivers, or other assistants to more easily lift and 

transfer individuals with disabilities without risking injury. The device was patented and recently 

licensed to a robotic company for commercialization. A detailed review of this research is 

published in: Wang, H., Tsai, C.-Y., Jeannis, H., Chung, C.-S., Kelleher, A., Grindle, G. G., & 

Cooper, R. A. (2014). Stability analysis of electrical powered wheelchair-mounted roboticassisted transfer device. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 51(5), 761–774. 

Research Fellowship Program (Mary E. Switzer Fellowship Program) 

The Mary E. Switzer Fellowship Program seeks to increase capacity in rehabilitation research by giving 

qualified individual researchers, including individuals with disabilities, the opportunity to develop new 

ideas and gain research experience. Awards go directly to individuals, not their institutions, allowing 

Fellows to pursue independent research activities and training interests with more freedom at their 

hosting institution. Distinguished Fellows are seasoned in their careers, must hold a doctorate or 

comparable academic status, and have had seven or more years of experience relevant to rehabilitation 

research. Merit Fellowships are given to persons with rehabilitation research experience who do not 

meet the qualifications for Distinguished Fellowships, usually because they are in earlier stages of their 

careers. Fellows work for one year on an independent research project of their design. Individuals with 

disabilities are encouraged to apply for each of these Fellowships. 

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A total of 15 Fellows submitted an annual or final 

performance report in FY 2015. Three of the Fellows selfidentified as a racial and/or ethnic minority. Similar to 

ARRT Fellows, Switzer Fellows were actively engaged in 

independent and partnership research, resulting in seven 

peer-reviewed articles, four measurement tools or 

technology products, and three information products. 

Switzer Fellows have gone on to hold prominent positions, 

primarily on the tenure track in academic research 

institutions, but also in hospital centers or in the private 

sector for biotechnology companies. 

SWITZER FELLOWS HAVE GONE 

ON TO HOLD PROMINENT 

POSITIONS, PRIMARILY ON THE 

TENURE TRACK IN ACADEMIC 

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, BUT 

ALSO IN HOSPITAL CENTERS 

AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR 

FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY 

COMPANIES. 

Examples of past Switzer Fellows’ work include Dr. 

Shivayogi Hiremath’s publication, “How Much Physical 

Activity Do You Do?”, which reports findings on a physical 

activity accelerometer that can be attached to a 

wheelchair to track activity. The device lets users log their activity using their Smartphones, promoting 

healthy activity levels, a common challenge for wheelchair users. 

Researchers from the RRTC on Developing Strategies to Foster Community Integration and Participation 

for Individuals with TBI credit former Switzer Fellow Dr. Kacey Little Maestas for completing 

foundational research that led to the development of an English and Spanish-language manual to help 

parents with TBI address common challenges. 

An example of a Switzer accomplishment reported to NIDILRR during FY 2015 follows: 

• Improving Patient Participation in Inpatient Rehabilitation of Individuals with SCI. 

Washington University, School of Medicine (Grant # 90SF0003). Switzer Research Fellow Dr. 

Alex Wong, a postdoctoral Fellow at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, now at Washington 

University, presented the background, rationale, and expected results of his Fellowship project 

at the 2015 OT Summit of Scholars, an investigation into the impact of patient engagement on 

outcomes of individuals with SCI at one-year post-injury. His presentation described subgroups 

of engagement over the course of inpatient rehabilitation, factors associated with changes in 

engagement, and anticipated relationships with participation in the community. Dr. Wong’s 

presentation was intended to benefit rehabilitation educators and researchers by identifying 

targets of interventions for boosting patient engagement that lead to improved participation 

outcomes of persons with SCI. 

Section 21 

NIDILRR's Capacity Building research agenda, as identified in its Long-Range Plan, includes a section 

focused on developing the talent of future leaders in rehabilitation research and development, including 

individuals with disabilities and those from minority backgrounds. This part of the plan also supports 

NIDILRR's mandate under Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act to set aside one percent of its annual 

appropriations to address traditionally underserved populations. The Section 21 program focuses on 

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research capacity building for minority entities such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 

institutions serving primarily Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native students, and nonminority entities with an interest in improving understanding about the needs and outcomes of 

individuals with disabilities from minority populations. Program activities include assisting minority 

entities with networking that supports enhanced collaboration between minority entities and nonminority entities, and the exchange of expertise and advanced training across program areas. 

Over the past fiscal year, NIDILRR has enhanced its efforts under the Section 21 program by 

implementing specific strategies aimed at increasing minority participation and representation 

throughout the NIDILRR portfolio and increasing knowledge of NIDILRR funding programs among 

minority-serving institutions. As part of this initiative, NIDILRR conducted three competitions during FY 

2015 to improve the quality and use of research related to individuals with disabilities from traditionally 

underserved racial and ethnic populations, and to enhance the opportunity for minority entities to 

conduct such research across various NIDILRR funding mechanisms. Three grants were funded under the 

FIP, ARRT, and RRTC grant mechanisms. One of these grants is an RRTC on Research and Capacity 

Building for Minority Entities at Langston University. This grant examines the experiences and outcomes 

of individuals with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations and also 

researches the feasibility and potential effectiveness of methods and models to enhance disability and 

rehabilitation research capacity and infrastructure of minority entities. 

The following accomplishments are from the RRTC on Research and Capacity Building for Minority 

Entities: 

• National Investigation of Factors that Contribute to Minority Disability and Rehabilitation 

Research Leaders’ Career Development and Success. 

Langston University (Grant # 90RT5024). Langston University conducted a study to document 

factors that contribute to the career development and overall success of research leaders from 

traditionally underrepresented populations. This study involved the analysis of qualitative data 

from in-depth telephone interviews with 15 minority disability, health, and rehabilitation 

research leaders from around the country. Among several individual sociocultural-level key 

findings, many interviewees identified cultural, language, and family life issues, and the lack of 

collaboration opportunities among colleagues as critical research career development 

challenges. The institutional-level research environment obstacles to career development 

identified by informants included bureaucracies, alienation, heavy teaching loads, insufficient 

research support funds, racial and ethnic discrimination, limited research mentorship 

opportunities, unhealthy competition, and the lack of a critical mass of researchers of color. 

Interviewee responses raised two issues growing out of federal research agency policy and 

systems: (1) the current inadequate supply of minority research leaders, and (2) the lack of 

equal opportunity in access to funding and resources. A manuscript developed from the 

synthesis of the literature was accepted for publication in the Journal of Rehabilitation. 

Additionally, the RRTC is conducting a qualitative case study into the effects of the Institutional 

Research Capacity-Building and Infrastructure Model on research participation. Study findings 

will have implications for the development of strategies to improve core research skills, 

administration practices, and many other areas. 

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• Advanced Research Training Provided to Researchers Focusing on TBI and Sports-Related 

Concussion. 

University of Texas – El Paso (UTEP) (Grant # 90AR5016). UTEP is providing a multidisciplinary 

training for postdoctoral research Fellows to develop advanced scientific methodological skills in 

a community-based research setting. Training Fellows have engaged in projects focusing on 

motor speech disorders, the bilingual impact on baseline testing, developing an inexpensive 

procedure for assessing balance, investigating simple word recall procedure for identification of 

concussion, and more. One research Fellow designed and initiated a research project in a 

partnering district investigating the academic and social performance impact of sports-related 

concussion among high school student-athletes. Of the six postdoctoral Fellows expected to be 

recruited for UTEP’s training program, two have accepted faculty positions after a year of 

supported training. 

Ongoing NIDILRR Activities and Initiatives 

As can be gleaned from the collection of accomplishments presented across NIDILRR’s funded programs 

in this report, grantees are engaging in far-reaching, compelling, and impactful research that is affecting 

individuals with disabilities, their families, the care teams that serve them, and the broader community. 

Robotic arms to assist with transfers, accessibility checklists, depression measurement tools for people 

with multiple sclerosis, interventions on interpersonal violence, economic models that measure savings 

from vocational rehabilitation investments, and other novel inventions produced by NIDILRR grantees 

are creative solutions to real challenges faced on a day-to-day basis by individuals with sensory, mental, 

physical, and developmental/intellectual disabilities. NIDILRR’s sponsorship of training and technical 

assistance through the ADA National Network further exemplifies the agency’s involvement in activities 

aimed at empowering and educating individuals with disabilities, employers, and the public about their 

rights and responsibilities under the ADA. Lastly, NIDILRR’s research capacity-building activities are 

creating a skilled, diverse cadre of scientists and future leaders who are committed to advancing 

disability research that matters. 

NIDILRR has begun strategic planning efforts to develop its 2018–2022 Long-Range Plan. Significant 

changes in this upcoming planning process are expected due to the implementation of WIOA and the 

resulting transfer of NIDILRR from ED to HHS/ACL, as mandated by the law. The long-range plan will 

provide an organizational and programmatic vision for the agency as it continues its mission to generate 

new knowledge and to promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities to 

perform activities of their choice in the community, and to expand society’s capacity to provide full 

opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities. Planned activities for the 

development of the long-range plan include the participation of internal work teams and external 

advisory groups to assess the current and emerging state of the science in order to inform the 

development of strategic goals and objectives for the organization. NIDILRR is committed to ensuring 

that the long-range plan development process is systematic, transparent, and inclusive. 

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NIDILRR has an extensive history of collaborating across federal departments to identify best practices, 

conduct co-sponsored research, and address shared goals. Well-established partnerships exist both 

within HHS and with agencies in different federal departments. The Interagency Committee on Disability 

Research (ICDR), a NIDILRR-led Federal partnership, is charged to promote a cohesive, strategic federal 

program of disability, rehabilitation, and independent living research; broker partnerships; and facilitate 

coordination and collaboration among federal departments and agencies conducting such research. 

NIDILRR also possesses Interagency Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding with the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of 

Transportation, the Access Board, and the Federal Communications Commission. NIDILRR intends to 

develop new and existing collaborations with other agencies within HHS, and across the federal 

government, in order to capitalize on synergies within research goals and activities. 

In addition to clarifying its research priorities, NIDILRR will be examining its administrative processes as a 

component of the Long-Range Plan in order to identify approaches to refine its workflow to better meet 

performance expectations, and to optimize organizational efficiency and internal controls. An extension 

of this focus will be optimizing its knowledge, data, and administrative management practices and 

policies to enable efficiency in the short term, and to aid in the successful transfer of programmatic and 

institutional knowledge during staff and leadership succession. 

NIDILRR will continue to be a leading sponsor of disability, independent living, and rehabilitation 

research through its annual grant-funding competitions. As a component of this effort, it will continue to 

actively include its stakeholders in all aspects of its work, including setting clear standards for grantees. 

Funding priorities will be established by NIDILRR, with consultative input from an advisory committee 

that includes NIDILRR leadership, researchers, and representatives from disability groups. Efforts to 

expand the participation of individuals with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and/or underserved 

populations in NIDILRR’s research activities are planned. At present, the agency requires grantees to 

document and report efforts at including persons with disabilities in any capacity, such as by seeking 

their participation in an advisory committee, soliciting their guidance in the research or development 

design, recruiting them to help with the dissemination of materials and outputs, employing individuals 

with disabilities, and recruiting them as research subjects. 

NIDILRR is continuing to refine its approach to evaluating research and development projects from their 

early design and concept, to prototype or intervention, all the way to dissemination of knowledge or a 

product into the community. This is accomplished by formulating frameworks to evaluate research and 

development projects across distinct stages. NIDILRR promotes the use of four Stages of Research: (1) 

Discovery and Exploration, (2) Intervention Development, (3) Intervention Efficacy, and (4) Scale-up 

Evaluation. The Stages of Research are used to structure and improve solicitations, expert recruitment 

for peer-review panels, peer-review protocols, annual reports, grant monitoring, performance metrics, 

strategic planning, and dissemination of findings. They comprise a typical logical order for research 

activities that allow one stage of research to build upon the findings from prior stages of research. Like 

the Stages of Research, NIDILRR recently proposed three Stages of Development: (1) Proof of Concept, 

(2) Proof of Product, and (3) Proof of Adoption. Similar to the Stages of Research, development projects 

may cross one or more grants and can encompass one or more stages. These frameworks will contribute 

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to enhanced quality across NIDILRR’s funded projects, and signify that NIDILRR’s sponsored work, as a 

whole, is building toward products and evidence-based interventions that improve the lives of people 

with disabilities. 

Active outreach to the broad disability community, which includes recruitment of emerging researchers, 

establishing partnerships with disability leaders, and disseminating research findings and generated 

knowledge, will continue to be a focused undertaking by NIDILRR. An outreach campaign is a planned 

component of the agency’s FY 2018–2022 Long-Range Plan. As a result of NIDILRR’s transfer to ACL, ACL 

is now required to comply with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This requires 

federal agencies with research and development budgets greater than $100 million per year to 

maximize, to the extent allowable by law, free public access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and 

findings produced as a result of federally funded research. In FY 2016, NIDILRR will implement its plan to 

promote public access to its grant-funded publications, and will finalize its process to facilitate access to 

scientific data. This should facilitate access to NIDILRR-funded research, expanding its reach, and 

providing additional value to the disability community. 

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