Research

This project will identify and evaluate current practice and methods in the conduct of minority disability research, offer research findings, and improve the capacity of minority institutions and persons with disabilities to effectively conduct and disseminate research to advance the state of the art and capacity in this research area. This investigation will benefit two target populations:

  1. underrepresented individuals with disabilities (target=African Americans and other racial/ethnic groups) where the goal is, through participatory action research, to add meaningful and relevant research findings to the current body of minority disability research, and

  2. minority university faculty and students in disability related disciplines with the goal of enhancing their capacity to conduct minority disability research through active participation and being mentored to ultimately offer:

    1. a better understanding of best practices in the conduct and dissemination of this type of research, and

    2. increased capacity, interest and motivation to conduct such research in the future.

The following three primary studies will be conducted:

  1. A national survey that examines the experiences of Americans with disabilities from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups to illuminate the current capacity of the public rehabilitation and disability system, and what research methods, dissemination practices and strategies are needed to advance the field in culturally competent research,

  2. A longitudinal study of post-injury unemployment for minority persons with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and

  3. Prevalence and trends in employment discrimination due to disability for different ethnic groups.