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people with disabilities want the best that science and engineering can offer they also want research that takes a collaborative approach incorporating issues of self-help consumer control and respect for life experiences into the broader study of health care rehabilitation and independent living the national institute on disability and rehabilitation research nidrr is a national leader in sponsoring research to help bring about this synthesis of scholarship talent and practical life experience people can become disabled at any point in their lives disability may be present from birth or result from an accident in youth a work-related injury the aging process or a multitude of other causes if we ourselves do not experience a disability perhaps we will be caring for a disabled child spouse parent or friend the chances that we will be affected by a disability have increased due to advances in medical technology that have expanded our life expectancies at this point disability ranks among
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idrr the interagency committee on disability research icdr which the director of nidrr chairs in addition nidrr cosponsors research programs with other federal government agencies and with foreign governments and international agencies nidrr-sponsored activities nidrrs research is extramural conducted through a network of individual research projects and centers of excellence located throughout the country most nidrr grantees are universities or providers of rehabilitation or related services nidrrs largest funding programs are the rehabilitation research and training centers rrtcs and the rehabilitation engineering research centers rercs nidrr also makes awards for information dissemination and utilization centers and projects field-initiated projects research and development projects advanced research training projects switzer fellowships and model systems of research activities some disabling conditions that are currently the subject of individual centers include deafness low visi
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sible transportation communications and housing partnering with industry product developers private sector entrepreneurs and even hobbyists the rercs embody the potential to make sweeping changes affecting public policy and the nature of the built and virtual environments medical rehabilitation research advances in research supported by nidrr research supported by nidrr has had a tremendous impact on the lives of persons with disabilities and at the same time has made an essential contribution to scientific knowledge in the united states and around the globe in addition to being responsive to the changing needs of disabled individuals research has kept pace with medical advancements new technology community support initiatives and new statutory definitions of civil rights nidrr-supported research also has helped encourage and educate policymakers to envision and design a society that is universally accessible and functional for all people in every stage of life as a result it is now po
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idrr of engineering research is to make this equipment more serviceable and comfortable for the user advances in this area have allowed people with disabilities to enhance their lives not only at home and work but also in recreational activities wheelchair racers using the newest sports wheelchairs now can finish races longer than 800 meters at speeds faster than those of olympic runners hundreds of athletes with disabilities compete in the paralympic games every two years many through the use of state-ofthe-art prosthetic arms and legs progress in researching these technologies has been enhanced as nidrr has increased its rerc research portfolio underrepresented populations and provide legal advocacy to disabled individuals in regard to assistive technology issues in regard to independent living nidrr funds research on personal assistance services independent living and disability policy and such critical issues as community integration nidrrs agenda also includes research on employme
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field-initiated projects advance rehabilitation knowledge to improve the lives of people with disabilities complement research already planned or funded by nidrr or address the research in a new and promising way the researcher proposes the topics of these projects some topics recently funded are aging and life adjustment after spinal cord injury assessing the impact of managed care on rehabilitation research and a clinical evaluation of pressure-relieving seat cushions for elderly stroke patients the advanced rehabilitation research training program trains physicians therapists rehabilitation engineers and other professionals in research methods and statistical analysis small business innovative research contracts help support the production of new products from development to market readiness nidrr also administers two types of oneyear switzer fellowships distinguished fellowships are for individuals of doctorate or comparable academic status with seven or more years experience relev
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idrr capacity of personnel through education and training to provide better and more responsive service for additional information contact the national institute on disability and rehabilitation research u.s department of education 400 maryland avenue s.w washington dc 20202-2572 telephone 202-205-8134 voice 202-205-5516 tty the full text of this public domain publication is available at the departments website at http www.ed.gov and in alternate formats upon request consult these sites on the world wide web for further information http www.ed.gov/offices/osers/nidrr http www.ncddr.org http www.naric.com finally nidrr will continue to expand its activities in the international arena through its international authority nidrr currently works with collaborative research centers in india and other countries these activities abroad help improve the skills of rehabilitation personnel in the united states through international data and help strengthen disability leadership around the globe.
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the national institute on disability and rehabilitation research u.s department of education/osers 400 maryland avenue s.w washington dc 20202-2572 telephone 202-205-8134 voice 202-205-5516 tty
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