Discussion Boards

Projects

About Our Sponsors:

• ILRU - Independent Living Research Utilization Program at TIRR
• RIIL - Research Information on Independent Living
• RRTC on Health and Wellness
• RRTC on Managed Care and Disability
• DBTAC – Southwest ADA Center

About ILRU

The ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) program is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living. Its goal is to expand the body of knowledge in independent living and to improve utilization of results of research programs and demonstration projects in this field. It is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research), a nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for persons with disabilities.

Since ILRU was established in 1977, it has developed a variety of strategies for collecting, synthesizing, and disseminating information related to the field of independent living. ILRU staff--a majority of whom are people with disabilities--serve independent living centers, statewide independent living councils, state and federal rehabilitation agencies, consumer organizations, educational institutions, medical facilities, and other organizations involved in the field, both nationally and internationally.

About the RRTC on Health and Wellness

The RRTC on Health and Wellness is a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to conduct research and training to support the health and wellness of persons with long term disabilities. Intended to specifically address the conditions of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, amputation and spinal cord injury, we believe the web site will be of interest and value to all persons with disabilities, and, in fact, all persons without disabilities as well.

About RIIL

RIIL-Research Information for Independent Living-at www.getriil.org is an ever-growing database on the Web, full of information relevant to people with disabilities desiring more full participation in their communities. The easy-to-understand information comes from journals, leading disability organizations, books, conferences and other media. Funded by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research, www.getriil.org is produced by The Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas and the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU ) Program of TIRR.

RIIL exists to improve access and use of research information by people with disabilities and other non-researcher stakeholders involved in the independent living, disability rights, and rehabilitation fields. Approaches used by RIIL include:

• A comprehensive, searchable, and interactive Internet database
• A "One-Stop" WWW site
• Condensed, but critical, research review information
• Alternate dissemination methods
• Chatrooms
• Listservs and moderated newsgroups
• Technical assistance on using the database, newsgroups, chatrooms, and WWW site
• A review guide and technical assistance for researchers
• A research primer and technical assistance for consumers

About the RRTC on Managed Care and Disability

The purpose of the Center is to provide national leadership on the major health service and health policy issues facing consumers with disabilities in managed health care arrangements.

The Center conducts research; prepares special policy analyses, hosts forums for discussion; presents expert testimony to Congress and governmental agencies; publishes in the health policy, consumer, and trade literature; trains graduate students with disabilities in health services research; and disseminates findings to the diverse consumer, provider, payer, academic, and policy making audiences.

The Center seeks to serve as a catalyst in the nation's capital and at the state level for the development of new ideas that will make managed care and the larger health care system more responsive to the needs of people with disabilities.

About the DBTAC – Southwest ADA Center

The DBTAC - Southwest ADA Center, a Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is the resource for trainings, technical assistance and materials on the ADA in Federal Region 6. The DLRP is authorized by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to provide training, information, materials, and technical assistance to individuals and entities that are protected or have obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Project staff with expertise in all areas of the ADA are available at:1-800-949-4232. Technical assistance services and many materials are available in Spanish as well as English.