The Disability Health Research Program (DHRP) seeks to collaborate with a wide range of individuals and organizations with experience and expertise in disability. Meaningful public participation and community engagement are essential to ensuring that disability health research activities are scientifically rigorous, relevant, and responsive to the needs, priorities, and experiences of disabled people and their communities.
NIH Disability Health Research Coordinating Committee (DHRCC)
DHRP collaborates with NIH subject matters experts in disability health research and related areas via the NIH Disability Health Research Coordinating Committee (DHRCC). The DHRCC provides an NIH-wide forum for discussing the health needs and goals of people with disabilities, facilitating and coordinating activities related to disability health research across NIH’s Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), and developing research initiatives and activities for NIH and ICO leadership consideration.
NIH Council of Councils Disability Health Research Working Group (DHRWG)
DHRP also engages with external experts in disability health research, policy, and advocacy on the NIH Councils of Councils Disability Health Research Working Group (DHRWG). The DHRWG was established to provide expert input on NIH disability health research activities coordinated by DPCPSI. The DHRWG provides recommendations for priorities for the most needed and promising areas of disability health research, opportunities for NIH-wide disability health research collaborations, strategies for increasing the number of investigators conducting disability health research, and approaches for optimizing outreach to disability communities.
Community Engagement Plan
DHRP, in partnership with the DHRCC, will be developing a community engagement plan that outlines the strategies NIH will use to obtain authentic, intentional, and ongoing engagement regarding disability health research priorities and activities. The plan will include structured mechanisms for public outreach and participation that are accessible to people with various types of disabilities. The plan will be posted to this webpage once it is available.
Contact Us
We welcome collaboration with interested individuals and organizations who are passionate about advancing innovative and responsible research that promotes the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
For questions, collaboration opportunities, or more information about DHRP activities, please contact us at [email protected].