1. Building a Research Agenda William Peterson, M.S. Director, Section 508 PMO Department of Homeland Security

2. NIDRR Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) includes: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

3. NIDRR Mission To generate, disseminate, and promote the use of knowledge that will improve the ability of disabled individuals to perform activities in the community, and increase the capacity of society to provide full opportunities and supports for participation.

4. Scope of NIDRR Mandate Cross-Disability  Physical & mobility impairments  Sensory impairments  Cognitive impairments and psychiatric disability Cross-Lifespan  Children and youth  Working-age adults, and  Individuals “aging with” life long and early onset disabilities, and those “aging into” disability in mid- to later life

5. Values That Drive Disability and Rehabilitation Research at NIDRR Scientific Excellence Consumer Relevance

6. NIDRR’s Appropriations History

7. NIDRR’s Core Research Areas Employment Outcomes Health and Function Technology for Access and Function Independent Living/Community Integration NEW EMPHASIS ON Disability Demographics and Measurement Rehabilitation Outcomes Measurement

8. NIDRR Funding Mechanisms Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Model Systems Field-Initiated Projects (Research and Development) Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Fellowships Dissemination and Utilization Grants Small Business Innovative Research ADA Technical Assistance Centers

9. Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)  Average $750,000 per year  Five-year awards (35 current centers)  Advanced programs of research  Focus on new knowledge  Affiliation with institutions of higher education  Research training, dissemination, and technical assistance required  Announcements as needed

10. Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Average $900,000 per year Five-year awards (21 current centers) Advanced research of an engineering or technical nature Affiliation with institutions of higher education Emphasis is on technology transfer Announcements as needed

11. Model Systems Centers SCI Model Systems—currently 16 centers—Funding cycle ends in FY05. TBI Model Systems—currently 16 centers—Funding cycle ends in FY07. Burn Model Systems currently 4 centers—Funding cycle ends in FY 07.

12. Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Projects $150,000 per year Advanced rehabilitation research training at post-doctoral level Award made to institutions of higher learning only Must be interdisciplinary Competed annually if funds allow

13. Switzer Fellowship Program To build rehabilitation capacity by supporting individuals to engage in scientific research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities Currently, 10 Fellowships/year Two levels of funding Distinguished - $55,000/year Merit - $45,000/year

14. Switzer Fellowship Program Areas of researchTotal number Med. Rehab44 Rehab. Ser. Delivery31 Voc. Rehab.29 Rehab. Eng. & AT26 Rehab.Psych20 Disability Policy19 Rehab. Measurement19 Special Education16 Other15 Total219

15. Section 21 Program All NIDRR grantees are required to address the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds, per Section 350.40 (34 CFR, parts 300 to 399). Section 21 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires that NIDRR reserve 1% of its annual appropriation to support minority outreach…. Enhance diversity within the research community

16. Section 21 Program Enhance the ability of researchers to produce high quality research and generate new knowledge about the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds Increase the number of individuals with research expertise and undertanding of the needs of racial and ethnic minorities Promote the establishment of critical partnerships between minority entities and majority institutions

17. Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs)  $300,000-$500,000  May be up to five years of funding  Projects that emphasize research, demonstration, dissemination, technical assistance, and innovation

18. Field-Initiated Projects $150,000 per year Three-year awards May be research or development Decided by standing panels Annual announcement, applications typically due in fall

19. Challenges Unlimited opportunities – limited funding Finding the “right tool for the right job.” Shorter lengths of stays Appropriate controls Loss to follow up Poor measures, particularly those related to long- term outcomes and interactions with the environment Small sample size Inadequate characterization of the inputs

20. Capacity Building Components Individuals with skills to carry out quality research. Research infrastructure. Consumers who can interpret and use research and who can play an active role in the research process.

21. Target Audiences Researchers Practitioners Consumers and family Policy makers and the public

22. Goals of Research Training Excellence in research quality, e.g., methods, models, and measures Research under new conditions Participation by persons with disabilities

23. Goals of Practitioner Training Application of research to practice Expansion of evidence-based practice Interdisciplinary approaches

24. Goals of Consumer Training Understanding value and nature of research Participation, as appropriate, in research activities Ability to interpret and use research results

25. Allied Health 24 projects with OT principal investigators or key staff 28 projects with PT principal investigators or key staff 19 projects with SLP principal investigators or key staff

26. Government-Wide Shift in Accountability Shift from primary focus on: Dollars (how much is spent and on what) Activities and processes (what ’ s being done and how well are you doing it) Productivity (how much you are doing) To an expanded focus on : Performance (meeting stated objectives and standards of quality), and Results (what you are achieving and who is benefiting)

27. Shift in Accountability Is Not an “Either-Or” Situation Rather it amounts to an added dimension of accountability for results. Grantees still must meet accepted standards of practice for: Conducting scientific research, engineering design and product development; and Involving consumers and persons from diverse and underserved populations.

28. Keys to Success in Seeking NIDRR Funding Demonstrate the importance of the problem Provide information on previous research Develop methodological approach fully Describe how the problem relates to the lives of individuals with disabilities

29. Keys to Success in Seeking NIDRR Funding Demonstrate how the proposed research will improve the lives of individuals with disabilities Read the announcement thoroughly. Write to the evaluation criteria. Review the proposal thoroughly before you send it in. Know the funding agency you are writing to

30. NIDRR is not NIH At NIDRR, there is more emphasis on consumer relevance and consumer participation—panels generally have consumer representatives. At NIDRR, only the field-initiated program competition is reviewed by standing panels; thus, most review panels are formed for specific competitions.

31. NIDRR is not NIH At NIDRR, a majority of announcements are generated for specific topics. There is only one field-initiated competition. At NIDRR, focus is on applied research; NIDRR does not fund basic research. However, NIDRR does fund clinical research in medical rehabilitation. At NIDRR, there is considerable focus on dissemination of research results.

32. Recommendations Visit NIDRR websites for information on program activities. Serve as peer reviewer - send CVs to NIDRR staff. Visit NIDRR project staff – they have an open door policy.

33. Recommendations Plan ahead—center grants are very complicated and cannot be done at the last minute. Participate when NIDRR seeks constituent input. Seek opportunities to participate in peer review.

34. Key Web Sites  NIDRR home page: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index. html  National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research home page: www.ncddr.org  National Rehabilitation Information Center home page: www.naric.com

35. Thank You!