Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program: Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - The University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI), in partnership with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), proposes a five-year Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program on Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The program will provide advanced, postdoctoral, multidisciplinary rehabilitation research, with an emphasis on evidence-based practices to improve employment outcomes for people with IDD. Goals of the program are: 1) to diversify membership in the field of IDD employment research by recruiting and training six postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and disability backgrounds; and 2) to build capacity in the field by equipping fellows with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary for long-term research careers. Objectives are to provide comprehensive training that includes: 1) advanced instruction on topical and methodological issues; 2) academic and career mentorship; 3) opportunities to conduct independent and collaborative research; 4) engagement with community organizations serving people with IDD; and 5) opportunities for grant writing, scholarly publications, and professional presentations. Outcomes include: 1) six completed fellowships, each contributing to the knowledge base on employment for people with IDD; 2) increased diversity within the research field; and 3) fellows gained knowledge, skills, and expertise for long term research in disability employment research. Products include: 1) one collaborative research grant application per cohort; 2) two peer reviewed manuscripts per fellow, with primary and secondary authorship, respectively; 3) at least one national presentation per fellow; and 4) one peer reviewed manuscript summarizing lessons learned from ARRT. An External Advisory Board will guide program implementation, ensuring the ARRT program meets its goals.
