The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is a United States

governmental agency A government or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an administratio ...

that provides leadership and support for a comprehensive program of research related to the

rehabilitation Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to: Health * Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished * Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...

of individuals with

disabilities Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

. It was previously The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a subordinate of the

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is a program of the United States Department of Education. OSERS' official mission is "to provide leadership to achieve full integration and participation in society of people ...

(OSERS) — part of

United States Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...

. In 2015, as a result of the

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a United States public law that replaced the previous Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) as the primary federal workforce development legislation to bring about increased coordination amon ...

, the organization became part of the

Administration for Community Living The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is headed by the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, who reports directly to the Secretary of Health and Human ...

(ACL), within the

Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is " ...

, and changed to its current name. NIDILRR's mission is to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use to improve the abilities of people with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community, and also to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities.

Directors of NIDRR/NIDILRR

Directors of the Institute are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. *

Margaret Giannini Margaret Joan Giannini (May 27, 1921 – November 22, 2021) was an American physician and a specialist in assistive technology and rehabilitation. She was the first director of the National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR ...

(1980–1981) * Douglas A. Fenderson (1983–1985) * David B. Gray (1986–1987) * William H. Graves (1990–1991) * Katherine D. Seelman (−1999) * Steven J. Tingus (2001–) * K. Charlie Lakin (2011–) * John Tschida (−2017) * Jim Whitehead (2019) *

Anjali Forber-Pratt Anjali Forber-Pratt (born June 22, 1984) is an American wheelchair racer who competes in sprint events at the Paralympic level. She is currently the Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Researc ...

(appointed June 2021)

References

External links

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Rehabilitation medicine organizations based in the United States Research institutes in the United States Research organizations in the United States United States Department of Health and Human Services agencies Disability in the United States {{US-gov-stub