NIDRR Disability Research Gateways

In the Summer of 1996, the NCDDR solicited from all grantees nominations of results of their NIDRR grant work that were considered to be in need of further dissemination. In response to this request the NCDDR received a total of 266 nominations.

The results nominated by grantees represented a wide variety of product types:

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The majority of results nominated had not been formally reviewed/evaluated by users. The primary request for assistance described by the nominators was for development of a press release, with no particular outlet for the press release specified. This may have been due to the use of a press release as an example in the solicitaiton materials.

It became clear to NCDDR staff that the production of such press releases would not have the desired effect described by many grantees. For example, some grantees had specific populations of people that they felt would benefit from the information, others specified associations or organizations that were perceived to have interest/use for the result. In most cases, however, grantees had not identified definable populations who would receive benefit from the result. These and other factors caused the NCDDR staff to consider ways in which NIDRR-funded "splintered information" could be aggregated into more of a whole. And, the NCDDR staff was concerned with ways in which disability research information developed through NIDRR funding could be more visible to wider groups of audiences that may be able to use the information.

These considerations prompted the NCDDR to develop the concept of NIDRR Disability Research Topics Gateways. These gateways will serve as a centralized point from which a person can search and locate grantees and/or grantee results that are related to their informational need. The system is organized around three "levels" of information. Conceptually these levels are demonstrated in the graphic Disability Information Gateways. The informational gateway system is designed around three vertically and horizontally linked components. Briefly described these are:

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Level 1

This section provides a summary or synthesis of NIDRR research in a particular area. It is intended to be free of jargon and user-friendly.

Level 2

This section will provide information developed by one or more NIDRR grantees. This section provides more information related to the previous General Information.

Level 3

This section can provide a variety of information that relates to the NIDRR Research Results. For example, the section could include related research (not NIDRR-funded) or databases of NIDRR grantee's raw data, tables or other graphic representations of grantee's results; audio-visual "snippets" to reinforce/expand understanding; 3-D imaging of particular items; and/or feedback from consumers or reactions by other researchers to NIDRR grant results. Links to related information developed by OSEP or RSA grantees and others can be added at this level.

The development of these disability research topical gateways reflects a way of capturing information. The gateways, although developed on the WWW, will also be made available in other formats in a variety of configurations depending upon the informational need. Once a critical mass of this information has been entered, the informational base could be used in a variety of ways including:

• development of press releases for background and related information often needed by journalists;
• incorporation into informational and awareness material being developed by grantees;
• used online to assist in answering consumer questions more rapidly and with other information or referral activities;
• development of presentations, poster sessions, or articles dealing with current NIDRR research results;
• used by consumers and researchers to learn more about NIDRR funded activities and results; and
• used by NIDRR researchers as a free-of-charge way to access new audiences in new ways.

It is hoped that NIDRR grantees will view the developing information gateways as a new avenue for dissemination of your NIDRR grant results. Information on your WWW site can be linked via these gateways to create a new way of organizing disability research information. For those grantees without WWW sites, this information gateway alternative provides a new outlet that you can use in your outreach effort. Most importantly, through the participation of all NIDRR grantees, these information gateways can produce a unique and innovative approach to information dissemination.

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NIDRR Project Number: H133A990008
Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 January 2008 at 04:13 PM,
Contents © 1996-2005

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