NCDDR Completes Pilot Phase

NIDRR's notice of final funding priorities issued in the Federal Register of November 18, 1994 called for applications to establish a Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research. The announcement indicated:

Researchers usually report research findings through professional meetings and publications. In order to expand dissemination of research findings to other audiences, including rehabilitation professionals, individuals with disabilities, and other interested parties, researchers may need technical assistance and training. Research is needed to understand the reasons why persons are not utilizing information from NIDRR-sponsored research. (p. 59834)

The establishment of the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory has provided a unique opportunity for staff to learn and demonstrate new strategies/approaches as a part of NIDRR's pilot project. While the conference and publication practices of NIDRR researchers have not been radically changed, they have been influenced to include additional dissemination strategies to expand the availability, outreach, and utilization of disability research outcomes and expertise.

The NCDDR has worked to facilitate measurable increases in the production of a variety of new formats and strategies to make new audiences aware of NIDRR grantees' significant information and service resources. NCDDR staff have worked to develop a collegial relationship with grantees to help support the growing demand for broader and more effective dissemination and utilization outcomes. NIDRR grantees have assumed new dissemination-related responsibilities such as developing and maintaining rapidly increasing numbers of World Wide Web sites.

The NCDDR is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a new grant from NIDRR that will continue its work into 2004. Past services and resources will be maintained in the new NCDDR scope-of-work and new activities will be added. Some of these new additions include:

• monitor and report on the state-of-the art in disability research dissemination and utilization;
• expansion of World Wide Web informational resources highlighting and describing research outcomes produced by NIDRR grantees;
• develop information and provide assistance in conducting effective outreach to diverse and emerging audiences;
• provide information and assistance related to producing high quality alternate formats of research outcome information;
• facilitate identification and use of effective dissemination strategies conducted by NIDRR's grantees;
• provide onsite and offsite technical assistance to NIDRR's grantees in planning, evaluating, and improving dissemination and utilization outcomes; and
• expand electronic and in-person networking opportunities for NIDRR sponsored researchers and grantees.

The NCDDR staff will continue to:

• produce and distribute issues of The Research Exchange;
• develop and distribute original documents highlighting the accomplishments and state-of-the-art research outcomes produced by NIDRR research grantees;
• expand the availability of Spanish language versions of disability research information;
• maintain the toll-free access to NCDDR staff and materials;
• maintain and refine the NCDDR website, <http://www.ncddr.org/>; and
• provide assistance and guidance regarding innovative dissemination and utilization strategies that may meet NIDRR grantees' needs.

The NCDDR staff looks forward to continuing the significant advancements that have been made in the dissemination and utilization of NIDRR sponsored research. As the potential for more effective dissemination practices expand in the next millennium, the NCDDR will work to facilitate awareness and utilization opportunities for all NIDRR grantees.

John D. Westbrook, Ph.D.
Director, NCDDR

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NIDRR Project Number: H133A990008
Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 January 2008 at 04:12 PM,
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