National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

02/27/2026

The NIDILRR-funded ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center released a new Success Story, Building Becomes an Accessible Vinyl Shop. https://loom.ly/Y4WJ7ho The story shares how Kaia, a vinyl shop owner who purchased a building for her new store, learned about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network from a fellow small business owner. The story describes how her regional center helped her understand ADA requirements and what was readily achievable to make the building accessible, and the changes she made to welcome people with disabilities to her store.

Kaia purchased a building for her new business. She was on a mission to attract all music lovers in the community to her used vinyl shop. The building needed some updates before it would be ready to open. The small bathroom had a broken sink, and the shop entrance needed a new door. Kaia wanted to c...

02/26/2026

Joseph Giacino, PhD, from the NIDILRR-funded Spaulding-Harvard TBI Model System Center and the project on Employing KT Strategies to Promote Provider Adoption of the AAN-ACRM-NIDILRR Practice Guidelines on Management of Persons with Disorders of Consciousness Across the Care Continuum, was interviewed for an article, Consciousness, for The Harvard Gazette. https://loom.ly/veXnXHw Dr. Giacino discussed the meaning of consciousness and the critical importance of accurate diagnosis of disorders of consciousness in people with TBI.

What we know and don’t know about the life of your mind.

02/25/2026

The NIDILRR-funded Northeast ADA Regional Center will host a webinar, Is That a Service Animal? What Rights Apply Where, March 3rd, 1 - 2 pm ET. https://loom.ly/SWmuTOU Presenters will define what service and assistance animals are and where these animals can or cannot go. Presenters will discuss the rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities and their communities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Registration is free and required.

02/24/2026

The NIDILRR-funded Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (KTER) will host a webinar, Trends in Work-Based Learning Among Respondents with Disabilities - Data from the National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS), 2/26, 2pm ET. https://loom.ly/DlAn35o Presenters will explore national data on work-based learning and credential attainment among people with disabilities. Presenters will highlight findings from the survey on what respondents reported about their experiences with work-based learning, nondegree credentials, education, and employment. Registration is free and required.

02/24/2026

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness will host a webinar, The Value of Peer Support Specialists on Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Teams, 2/26, 1pm ET. https://loom.ly/ka7Yh64 Presenters will discuss the role of peer support specialists in helping people with serious mental illness find and keep employment through IPS and vocational rehabilitation. This webinar will be interactive, and participants are encouraged to bring questions to the discussion. Registration is free and required.

02/23/2026

The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) published the National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) February Jobs Report. The report of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report showed that employment rates for people with disabilities remain near all-time highs set at the end of 2025, despite a decline in January. nTIDE findings are discussed in the StatsRRTC Lunch and Learn webinars airing the first Friday of each month. https://loom.ly/P8UJshU

The February 2026 nTIDE report shows that employment for people with disabilities declined slightly in January but remains close to the record highs reached at the end of 2025.

02/23/2026

The NIDILRR-funded Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) has published two new KT Tip Sheets https://loom.ly/KXof1wE highlighting results from a survey of people with disabilities about their information needs. What Places and Formats to People with Disabilities Trust for Information? (PDF) offers insights into where and how people with disabilities prefer to access trusted information, including top channels and formats. What Research Topics are Important to People with Disabilities? (PDF) covers what issues matter the most to people with disabilities and practical ways to involve them in shaping research priorities.

02/19/2026

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced Phase 1 of the ACL Caregiver AI Prize Competition https://loom.ly/CzMQ0N4 a national challenge designed to support caregivers and the caregiving workforce through responsible uses of artificial intelligence (AI). The prize challenge calls on technology innovators to partner with caregivers, home care providers, and organizations in aging and disability networks to develop tools that strengthen care at home and in the community. Phase 1 participants will compete for up to $2.5 million in prize funding, with awards expected to go to as many as 20 winners. Key dates and other details are available online.

02/18/2026

The NIDILRR-funded ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center will host the 2026 ADA State of the Science Research Conference, 2/26 and 3/12, 1 - 3:30 pm ET. https://loom.ly/fEevXVU The virtual conference will feature short presentations from researchers from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network and other organizations. The conference is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest ADA research for personal or professional reasons. Registration is free and required for each day.

02/13/2026

The NIDILRR-funded StatsRRTC will host the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference, March 18th, 10:30 am - 4:30 pm ET, in Washington, DC and online. https://loom.ly/VHRY430 Presenters will debut the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Collection and its new data tools. Presenters will discuss collaborative research related to disability statistics and first-hand perspectives of the real-world stories behind the data. Registration is free and required.

Information about the Annual Disability Statistic Conference and other events from the Center for Research on Disability.

02/12/2026

Kristen Dams-O'Connor, PhD, PI at the NIDILRR-funded TBI Model System, will lead a webinar TODAY!, Redefining Recovery: Addressing TBI as a Chronic Condition, 2 - 3 pm ET. https://loom.ly/rGM2q6E National Academies' Forum on TBI and the Brain Injury Association of America host. Discussion on chronic outcomes following TBI and evidence-based approaches to improving care for people living with long-term symptoms that health care professionals, policymakers, advocates, caregivers, and individuals with TBI can take to improve outcomes and quality of life for the millions of people affected by brain injury. Registration is free and required.

02/12/2026

The NIDILRR-funded RRTC on Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Serious Mental Illness released an issue brief, The Long Commute - Closing the Gap in Rural Employment for People with Serious Mental Health Conditions. https://loom.ly/rWQoHu8 The brief explores the barriers facing rural job seekers with disabilities and highlights innovative solutions in technology and self-employment.