NIDILRR 2024-2029 Long-Range Plan Stakeholder Engagement

This year, the Administration for Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) will develop the Long-Range Plan (the Plan) for the period from 2024-2029. The Plan will present a five-year agenda that will advance the vital work being done in applied disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research and development.

Mandated by Congress to develop a Long-Range Plan every five years, NIDILRR aims to continue to be responsive to the needs of key stakeholders – especially people living with disabilities. To do so, NIDILRR wants to hear from its stakeholders to help shape this next Plan and future direction.

Stakeholders can provide input for the Plan and ask questions in the following two ways (for details for each, please scroll down):

1. Participate in a virtual listening session
2. Provide comments in writing via email

NIDILRR’S Mission

NIDILRR’s mission is to generate new knowledge and to promote its effective use to (1) improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community, and to (2) expand society’s capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities.

Examples of NIDILRR project successes include:

• Ensuring that accessibility features are incorporated into new and developing technologies, including internet browsers, computer operating systems, and mobile phones.
• Developing the principles of universal design to ensure the built environment is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
• Developing and growing model systems of rehabilitation to improve the functional abilities and long-term social participation outcomes of those with disabilities.
• Supporting the maturation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network that provides training and technical assistance to businesses, individuals, units of government and others.

More information about NIDILRR and its programs is available at acl.gov/NIDILRR.

Providing Input for the 2024-2029 Long-Range Plan

1. Listening Sessions
   
   NIDILRR will hold a series of six virtual meetings by stakeholder group via Zoom. These sessions will provide more details on NIDILRR’s Long-Range Plan framework and allow consumers, grantees, providers, and other advocates with an interest in the work of NIDILRR to provide input and ask questions. Participants will be given approximately 3 minutes each to share their input.

How to prepare for the listening sessions

Please submit questions about the Long-Range Plan in advance to NIDILRRfuture@neweditions.net. We ask that you come prepared to answer the questions below that correspond to your stakeholder group: 

• NIDILRR Grantees

  • What is missing from NIDILRR’s portfolio that would impact or advance the field of disability and rehabilitation research?

  • How can NIDILRR help you further promote the use of the findings and products that you are generating through NIDILRR grants?

  • What are some key disability concepts or methodological approaches that we could potentially use to help maintain the validity and innovation of NIDILRR-funded disability R&D?

  • As a NIDILRR grantee, what do you see as the unique contribution of NIDILRR-funded R&D relative to disability-related work funded by other Federal entities? In what areas of research and development can we do more to address gaps that are not covered by other federal funders?

• Disability Groups and Advocacy Organizations

  • What new research-based information, products or data would be most useful to the people you serve?

  • What new research-based information, products or data would be useful to you in your disability advocacy work?

• Federal Partners

  • What are some new disability concepts, methodological approaches, emerging topics, or knowledge gaps in the field right now that NIDILRR should be aware of as we plan for the next five years?

  • Where do you see the greatest opportunities for cross-government collaboration on disability research initiatives in the next five years?

• Individuals with Disabilities and Those Supporting Them

  • In thinking about your health, employment/career path and engagement in the community, what new research-based information or products would be most useful to you and those who support you?

  • Are there specific topics that NIDILRR is not addressing that you believe should be a focus over the next five years?

• Direct Service Providers

  • What research-based information, products or data do you need to help you better serve and support people with disabilities in the community?

• Non-NIDILRR Researchers

  • What are some key disability concepts or methodological approaches that we could potentially use to grow and evolve the field of disability research?

2. Written Input
   
   Stakeholders not participating in the listening sessions can provide input and questions in writing via email. Please submit all feedback to NIDILRRFuture@neweditions.net. Please submit your comments by November 21st.

For questions about the listening sessions or logistics, please email our support contractor Robin Toliver, rtoliver@neweditions.net