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).
People with disabilities may face a variety of challenges to accessing healthcare. Medical offices may not have accessible equipment or examination rooms, and some people with disabilities may need assistance such as sign language interpreter services, support with transferring from a wheelchair to the examining table, or... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People who are legally blind may have difficulty navigating large indoor spaces, such as airports or large office buildings. While fully sighted people may use printed maps, overhead signs, or visual landmarks to find desired destinations, people who are legally blind may be unable to access this information.... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Until a few decades ago, many adults with disabilities lived in institutions, such as nursing homes or large group homes, instead of living in their communities. Recently, a growing number of adults with disabilities have been able to transition from institutions to private or shared homes in the community, due to legal... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
An estimated 15% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older have a mobility disability, defined as serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs, according to the 2016 American Community Survey. While some people may develop mobility disabilities as a part of aging, a growing number of people are aging with mobility disabilities acquired... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
About 11 million adults in the United States have a psychiatric disability, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Psychiatric disabilities include conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia. Many adults with psychiatric disabilities are parents. With appropriate supports... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with serious mental illness may have conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Past research has found that people with these disorders have higher rates of a variety of chronic health conditions than the general population. They may have difficulty managing physical health conditions or... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with disabilities have lower employment rates than people without disabilities. Although some people with disabilities receive job supports from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or other agencies, many people with disabilities may negotiate job tasks and accommodations on their own. Job crafting is an informal process of... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Mobile health (mHealth) apps are health-related apps that people can use on a smart phone or tablet to manage their own health. Examples may include exercise or fitness apps, nutrition trackers, apps for meditation and stress relief, or apps to connect patients with their doctors between visits. mHealth apps have been gaining... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
About half a million Americans are treated for burn injuries each year. A burn injury may result from a fire or contact with electricity, chemicals, or hot liquids. People with burn injuries may experience long-term disabilities that may affect their community integration; specifically, their participation in work, social, and... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with disabilities have long faced challenges in accessing the built environment, including public buildings, sidewalks, and public transportation. Barriers such as stairs without ramps, uneven sidewalks, high curbs without curb ramps, a lack of crosswalks, or inaccessible traffic signals may make it difficult for people... 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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