Forum Proceedings

• National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

• Southeast Region of the Federal Laboratory Consortium

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research(NIDRR), U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

It is the mission of NIDRR to generate, disseminate and promote new knowledge to improve the options available to disabled persons. The ultimate goal is to allow these individuals to perform their regular activities in the community and to bolster society's ability to provide full opportunities and appropriate supports for its disabled citizens. Toward this end, NIDRR conducts comprehensive and coordinated programs of research and related activities to maximize the full inclusion, social integration, employment and independent living of individuals of all ages with disabilities. NIDRR's focus includes research in areas such as employment; health and function; technology for access and function; independent living and community integration; and other associated disability research areas.

Balanced between the scientific and consumer communities, NIDRR plays a unique role in federally funded research activities. As part of the scientific community, NIDRR makes an important contribution to the overall knowledge in rehabilitation medicine, engineering, psychosocial rehabilitation, integration, vocational outcomes and the virtual and built environments. In addition, NIDRR's work helps to integrate disability research into our nation's policies regarding science and technology, health care, and economics.

The NIDRR is the federal government's single largest funding source for assistive technology research and development programs. These programs include fifteen Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers, each focused on a particular assistive technology industry or research topic. For further information, please visit http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/.

NIDRR Website: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/

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Southeast Region of the Federal Laboratory Consortium

The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) represents the resources of all of the Federal laboratories. The Southeast FLC is one of six regions that comprise the National FLC organization. The overall mission of the FLC is to add value to the federal agencies laboratories, and their partners to accomplish the rapid integration of R&D resources within the mainstream of the U.S. economy. In partnership for the T²RERC, the FLC is seeking ways to integrate their lab's technologies with the needs identified by consumers, manufacturers and researchers in the assistive technology industry.

FLC Southeast Region Website: http://www.stac.ufl.edu/flc/

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