The NIDILRR-funded project Using the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to Assess Experiences of People with Disabilities has launched the 2026 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD). The survey is open to any US adult, 18 or older, with any disability or health condition, including those who may have completed previous versions of the NSHD. The survey asks questions about disability, health status, housing, health care, health insurance, transportation, community participation, and other aspects of daily life. Data gathered will be used to develop resources, as well as policy and practice recommendations, to address issues that affect the health, employment, and lives of Americans with disabilities. kuhealthsurvey.org

The NIDILRR-funded Pacific ADA Regional Center will host a webinar, Beyond Compliance: Accessibility as Good Business, October 29th, 5 - 6:30 pm ET. Presenters will discuss why accessibility is good for business and how businesses can get started on building better guest experiences for customers with disabilities, beyond what is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Registration is free and required. adapacific.org/event/beyond-…

The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center will host a webinar, Carter Kits: Supporting Positive Interactions for Neurodivergent Patients During Emergency Encounters, 11/17, 2 p ET. accessibilityonline.org/ADA-… The ADA requires equal access to healthcare services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism. Presenters will share the history and mission of Carter Kits sensory bags, which support first responders, medical teams, and other community partners who may interact with individuals on the autism spectrum. Presenters will discuss how the program supports improved readiness in emergency medical services to care for children, including ideas for how participants can collaborate with partners in their state or region to support full access to healthcare services. Registration is free and required. Continuing education credits are available upon request.

NIDILRR/ACL is sponsoring virtual match-making sessions for stakeholders to connect with each other to share information, discuss common research interests, and find partners for research collaborations, and is seeking presenters for these sessions. Presenters and participants will be matched based on similar research interests and will be invited to meet virtually. Based on discussions, stakeholders may capture information about each other and connect individually after sessions are complete. Interested stakeholders are invited to complete a brief survey to be a presenter by October 16th. Sessions will be scheduled in October and November 2026. For questions, contact Kate Thomas at [email protected].

The NIDILRR-funded Pacific ADA Regional Center will host a webinar, Personal Emergency Preparedness, October 15th, 3 - 4 pm ET. adapacific.org/event/lunch-a… Presenters will share simple steps for making a personal emergency plan, including helpful tools and resources related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Presenters will discuss creating a support network for assistance, preparing evacuation kits, and how to locate accessible emergency shelters and transportation options to travel to the shelter. Registration is free and required.

NIDILRR is hosting virtual stakeholder match-making sessions. Presenters can apply by 10/16

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness will host a webinar, The Value of Peer Support Specialists on Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Teams, February 26th, 1 - 2 pm ET. bostonu.zoom.us/webinar/regi… Presenters will discuss the role of peer support specialists in helping people with serious mental illness find and keep employment through IPS and vocational rehabilitation. This webinar will be interactive, and participants are encouraged to bring questions to the discussion. Registration is free and required.

The NIDILRR-funded @KTDRR has published two new KT Tip Sheets ktdrr.org/products/tipsheets… highlighting results from a survey of people with disabilities about their information needs. What Places and Formats to People with Disabilities Trust for Information? offers insights into where and how people with disabilities prefer to access trusted information, including top channels and formats. What Research Topics are Important to People with Disabilities? covers what issues matter the most to people with disabilities and practical ways to involve them in shaping research priorities.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced Phase 1 of the ACL Caregiver AI Prize Competition acl.gov/caregiver-ai-competi…, a national challenge designed to support caregivers and the caregiving workforce through responsible uses of artificial intelligence (AI). The prize challenge calls on technology innovators to partner with caregivers, home care providers, and organizations in aging and disability networks to develop tools that strengthen care at home and in the community. Phase 1 participants will compete for up to $2.5 million in prize funding, with awards expected to go to as many as 20 winners. Key dates and other details are available online.

The NIDILRR-funded ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center will host the 2026 ADA State of the Science Research Conference, February 26th and March 12th, 1 - 3:30 pm ET. adata.org/sos-2026 The virtual conference will feature short presentations from researchers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network and other organizations. The sessions themes are employment, community living and participation, health and society, and community needs and access. The conference is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest ADA research for personal or professional reasons. Registration is free and required for each day.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) will host the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference, March 18th, 10:30 am - 4:30 pm ET, in Washington, DC and online. researchondisability.org/con… Presenters will debut the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Collection and its new data tools. Presenters will discuss collaborative research related to disability statistics and first-hand perspectives of the real-world stories behind the data. Registration is free and required.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness released an issue brief, The Long Commute - Closing the Gap in Rural Employment for People with Serious Mental Health Conditions. cpr.bu.edu/resources/the-lon… The brief explores the barriers facing rural job seekers with disabilities and highlights innovative solutions in technology and self-employment. The brief shares strategies for providers to incentivize and integrate employment specialists into rural networks to reduce burnout and improve care quality for job seekers with disabilities.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) will host a special episode of the National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Lunch and Learn, 2/6, 12p ET. loom.ly/90gZE8E Presenters will discuss trends in employment participation for people with disabilities, including the latest BLS Jobs Report. Guest speakers will offer an in-depth discussion of disability employment beyond traditional workforce models. Free registration required.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment Among People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision will host the next Quarterly Open Office Hour: Individualized Technical Assistance for Service Providers, 2/12, 2p ET. loom.ly/7WG8dX0 Informal, drop-in opportunities to receive individualized technical assistance from the center's expert staff. Participants may ask for guidance on workplace accommodations, employment statistics, training opportunities, or community resources, among other topics. No registration is required.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) 2024 released the latest episode of the Zooming into Focus podcast, Research Study Four Principal Investigator Jaclyn Camden. loom.ly/-D3271Y Presenters discussed the project to create a technical assistance and training model for college professionals to improve employment opportunities for college students with IDD.

With much of the country in the grips of winter weather, we shared recent resources posted by members of the NIDILRR grantee community to prepare and recover from these weather emergencies. loom.ly/7YXwXf8

The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR), of which NIDILRR is a member, will host a Virtual Stakeholder Meeting, 1/28, 12p ET. loom.ly/-KWOIZc The interactive meeting will include presentations, panel discussions, and breakout groups for participants to engage around the theme Supporting Community Participation and Independent Living for People with Disabilities. Participation is open to a wide range of stakeholders, including practitioners, researchers, disability organizations, and people with disabilities and their families. Registration is free and required.

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) published the National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) January Jobs Report. loom.ly/pvsxJF8 The report of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report showed that employment outcomes for working-aged people with disabilities reached all-time highs in November and December 2025. The report was discussed in the most recent nTIDE Lunch and Learn, which also featured an update of the NIDILRR-funded project Securing Employment and Economic Keys to Stability (SEEKS).

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, principal investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System Center (NNJSCIS), was interviewed for a recent episode of New Jersey Now on WWOR-TV/My9 NJ. Dr. Dyson-Hudson discussed recent progress in SCI research and therapy, as well as his own experience living with SCI. loom.ly/wXzPZAM