Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program on Disability and Policy - Northwestern University’s Center for Education in Health Sciences in the Feinberg School of Medicine, in close collaboration with Columbia University, Northwestern Medicine, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and the Pritzker Law School’s Center for Racial and Disability Research, will lead a 5-year training program, the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program on Disability and Policy (“ARRT-DP”). The primary goals of the ARRT-DP are to: (1) Provide high quality, formal didactic and experiential training, knowledge, and skills in disability policy research, and (2) Develop a cadre of researchers from diverse scholarly and clinical backgrounds who are capable of advancing policies to improve outcomes for people with disability, with specific expertise in technology for access and function. We will use targeted strategies to recruit people with disabilities and individuals from underrepresented groups with a PhD, MD, or other terminal degree. Specifically, the ARRT-DP’s objectives are to (1) recruit and select six individuals for advanced training in disability policy research, (2) provide high-quality formal didactic training, (3) provide research experience with qualified researchers who represent individuals with disabilities, (4) provide academic and career mentorship, and (5) provide opportunities for research dissemination and professional networking. Anticipated outcomes are: (1) hiring of six highly qualified, diverse trainees, (2) completion of fellowship program requirements, and (3) successful career placement of ARRT-DP trainees in academic, policy, and policy research organizations. The expected products are (1) marketing and recruitment materials, (2) 6 first-authored publications by trainees related to their independent research projects, (3) at least 6 publications co-authored by trainees, and (4) at least 6 conference presentations.
