NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH
NIDRR Consensus Panels
Under this contract, Conwal plans and implements the Consensus Validation
Program (CVP) meetings for the Department of Education's National Institute
on Disability and Research and Rehabilitation (NIDRR). These meetings,
attended by disability management experts, provide an information network
on new developments in rehabilitation services and familiarized experts
with innovative techniques that will benefit families and caregivers to
individuals with disabilities.
Each conference session includes a discussion on the safety and feasibility of new procedures and technology related to rehabilitation services. The panel also studies solutions to problems on current research and literature available on rehabilitation practices. One of the many issues faced by persons with disabilities and their families involves consumer information on the affordability of specialized rehabilitative devices. Detailed evaluations on current issues were prepared for distribution during the National Forum on Medical Roles in Disability Management at the Workplace.
At the conclusion of the CVP panel meetings, Conwal is responsible for a camera ready Consensus Panel Report. The report is the means for dissemination of state-of-the-art approaches to disability concerns while simplifying current scientific approaches in this area. The target population includes individuals, families and caregivers to persons with disabilities.
Through this project, Conwal has coordinated an information sharing network on the accomplishments and future trends in rehabilitation management. This information will contribute to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by offering solutions to routine problems.
NIDRR Technical Support
This contract requires support for a wide array of activities to help
the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
maintain program integrity and accountability through assessments of basic
policy, program and management issues. Conwal's current specific tasks
in this contract include:
- Compendium of Federally Funded Research in Rehabilitation Technology - This document contains abstracts of research projects and technology transfer activities of federal agencies in assistive technology, rehabilitation technology, educational technology, and rehabilitation engineering. It was prepared for the Interagency Committee on Disability Research, Subcommittee on Technology.
- Analysis of Peer Review Process - Review of NIDRR's peer review process, comparative analysis to five other systems, and recommendations for models that will meet NIDRR's unique needs.
- Analysis of Quality Control in Peer Reviewer Selection - Analysis of the current peer review register composition, recruitment, screening procedures, and computer system, providing recommendations to meet NIDRR's expanding responsibilities.
- Updating the Peer Review Register - Redesigning the current peer review database program and related forms, updating information on peer reviewers currently in the system, and recruiting new reviewers to fill identified gaps in available expertise.
- Research Agenda Meetings - Planning expert meetings on relevant research topics to assist NIDRR in developing an appropriate research agenda. Conwal identifies experts, prepares pre-conference review papers, coordinates logistical arrangements, moderates meetings, and prepares final reports.
- Analysis of Disability Demographics - Identifying the most recent statistical data available on individuals with disabilities in relation to prevalence, employment, health, independent living, community participation and empowerment. The data will be analyzed and a report prepared for incorporation into NIDRR's long-range plan.
- Catalog of Information Sources on Disability and Rehabilitation Research - This catalog was designed to bring together, in a single document, the many sources of information on disability research funding from agencies on the Interagency Committee on Disability Research, chaired by NIDRR.
- Site Reviews for State Technology Grants - Conwal serves as official organizer for site reviews of selected states applying for extension grants under the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988. Conwal handles preliminary planning, such as locating review team members and preparing materials, and coordinates travel arrangements, document preparation, and final report preparation.
