Disability as Difference/Reducing Researcher Roadb

2026

The NIH designated people with disabilities (PWDs) as a health disparities population in 2023, citing evidence of poorer health outcomes, greater disease burden, and reduced access to quality care. While app.27% of US adults report a disability ,only » 5% of NIH-funded relates to disability. This misalignment yields inadequate evidence to inform clinical management, perpetuating suboptimal care. The causal chain of exclusion begins long before enrollment and implicates multiple stakeholders. Researchers are the ones who initiate the research lifecycle via ideation of a hypothesis or question. Yet, little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, biases and perceptions (KABP) regarding disability health. To address this gap, our Disability as Difference: Reducing Researcher Roadblocks (D2/R3) study: 1) measured researcher (KABP) regarding the health outcomes and inclusion of adults with NDD in research (Aim 1); 2) engaged adults with NDDs and researchers in dialogue sessions to co-create an eLearning module to promote inclusion (Aim 2); and 3) conducted an RCT of the module (Aim 3).

Health Equity

Performing Research or Evaluation

Health-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals

Racial or Ethnic Minorities

National

Federal

N/A