Research In Focus is a weekly publication featuring reader-friendly summaries of the latest research from NIDILRR-funded projects. Each installment presents you with an overview of a recently-published NIDILRR-funded study, highlighting important findings, and discussing implications or directions for future research. This could be a starting point to learn more about the intervention, technology, or program. We hand-select the articles from our diverse library collections, aiming to broadly cover interesting research in many areas of disability, various types of intervention, and a wide range of age spectrum from early childhood to aging with and into disability. To be alerted to new articles, sign up for our weekly email newsletter News and Notes from the NIDILRR Community and Beyond! These articles are also available in Spanish. Are you a NIDILRR grantee? Learn how to recommend your recent study for an upcoming issue.
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Recent research has shown that psychiatric disorders have become a leading cause of disability among young adults (i.e., ages 18-30) and the most common reason for this population to collect Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. In particular, serious mental illness appears to be at its highest rate during this stage of... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is injury to the brain due to external or penetrating force. People with TBI may experience chronic pain and headaches, for which they may be prescribed opioid medication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the adverse effects of opioid overuse have become a public health... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
For people with disabilities, access to services supporting their ability to live independently at home and in the community positively affects their quality of life. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) play a key role in providing people with disabilities access to these supportive services. CIL services can include... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with mobility disabilities may need to use a wheelchair, part time or full time, to get around. For these wheelchair users, this equipment is of paramount importance for maintaining independence and maximizing quality of life. This is especially true for those that use wheelchairs as their primary means of functional... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Community participation is central to one’s quality of life. People with mobility disabilities may experience barriers or challenges to community participation. These can include physical factors such as the severity of disability and environmental factors such as home accessibility. These barriers can lead to participation... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a challenging condition that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a leading cause of death and disability. TBI results from an impact of external force to the brain, usually caused by a direct blow to the head, jolt of the head, or a penetrating object. A TBI can... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Complementary and integrative healthcare (CIH) is used to describe approaches to managing one's health that may be considered outside of conventional or Western medicine. Some examples of CIH are massage, vitamin supplements, and cannabis, among others.In recent years, the use of CIH has gradually increased among the general... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
For full-time wheelchair users, the ability to safely transfer to and from their wheelchair is important to achieving independence. For example, they may need to transfer in and out of bed, on and off shower and toilet seats, and into and out of motor vehicles. On average, full-time wheelchair users transfer to and from their... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Neurocognition involves information processing, ability to focus, accessing/using memory, and learning, and it plays an integral role in the health and well-being of individuals with serious mental illness such as mood disorders and schizophrenia. Research has shown that deficits in neurocognition are closely associated with... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage anywhere along the spinal cord from trauma. An SCI can occur in the upper part of the spine (a cervical injury) or in the lower part of the spine (a non-cervical injury), with cervical injuries usually having more severe impacts on mobility. People who experience traumatic SCI can face a lifetime of... Read this article
The contents of NARIC web site were developed under a contract from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (contract #140D0421C0021). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this web site do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
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