After 12 years of dedication to disability research and fostering new scholars, Policy Research, Inc., will conclude its program management of the Analyzing Relationships between Disability, Rehabilitation, and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant Program. This project, funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA), was first awarded to Policy Research, Inc., in 2011 as the Disability Determination Program.

ARDRAW is a 1-year $10,000 stipend program awarded to graduate-level students to conduct supervised independent research designed to foster new analysis of work, rehabilitation, and disability issues, which may develop innovative and fresh perspectives on disability. ARDRAW focuses on research relevant to SSA’s work incentives and employment supports—specifically rehabilitation, work, and the disability program.

Throughout its tenure as Program Manager, Policy Research, Inc. worked with 90 graduate students from 80 universities on 139 projects.

ARDRAW grantees published work on many topics related to disability and recovery, including the following:

  • How text-based communications affect the experiences of people who are blind or visually impaired in the context of telework
  • COVID-19 and mobility impacts on employment of adult Social Security beneficiaries with autism spectrum disorder
  • Stigmatizing built environments and mobility-disabled people’s labor integration
  • The impact of COVID-19 on vocational rehabilitation services of Social Security beneficiaries
  • How young adults with disabilities develop axes of independence
  • Financial planning among parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Funding, cost, and outcome data for inclusive post-secondary education programs
  • The impact of academic and career services on employment and SSI/SSDI receipt
  • And much more!

We hope the impact of our cohorts and their research will continue to shape inclusive perspectives on disability research. We thank all our researchers, their mentors, and our partners for their valuable contributions and support.

See what’s next for the ARDRAW Small Grant Program on SSA’s website.