Projects
The IOD runs an ever-changing list of grants and projects which address a broad range of disability topics across the life span both within New Hampshire and across the United States.
THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2013
The state of New Hampshire has worked with the Institute on Disability since 2002 to implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) focused on behavior in high schools. This initiative, called Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX), includes implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)…
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The ARRT on Employment is a postdoctoral training program sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The program develops researchers who are highly qualified to use survey and administrative data to investigate research questions related to the employment of people with disabilities through informal and classroom training, as…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN MARCH 2017
AT Connects is a developing information site charged to become a National Public Assistive Technology Internet Site. AT Connects aims to provide access to resources and information about assistive technology and its uses and to act as a gateway to the AT Act funded projects and programs in all states and territories. The site is envisioned…
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The Bridges Training Series is a college and career training series. It is currently offered online, with four trainings designed to prepare young adults ages 18-24 with intellectual disabilities for higher education, independent living, and careers. The four trainings are: Academic and Assistive Technology, Setting & Realizing Goals Using Person-Centered Planning, Healthy & Social…
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Career Self-Management through Job Crafting for People with Physical and Mild Cognitive Disabilities
THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2021.
Dr. Vidya Sundar, Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy, and Dr. Debra Brucker, Research Assistant Professor at the Institute on Disability, will partner with Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Marsh Brook Rehab and the UNH Office of Environmental Health and Safety to develop and test a new approach to assisting persons with disabilities…
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Resilience, Empowerment, and Natural Supports for Education and Work (RENEW)
Creating Hope, Building Futures, Changing Lives
RENEW is a structured school-to-career transition planning and individualized wraparound process for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Developed in 1996 by staff at the Institute on Disability (IOD), RENEW is being provided by schools, community…
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The Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) is a collaboration between The Institute on Disability (IOD) and The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at The University of New Hampshire (UNH). These two institutes have been actively engaged in projects related to aging and long term care for many years. Jointly, the IOD and IHPP provide ongoing support to the Bureau of…
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THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE UNH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
In 1987 a small group of academics at UNH, in partnership with families and community organizations, got together to address the question of how and where to place students newly released from the last of New Hampshire’s institutional schools. A radical idea was suggested – to include these students in their age-appropriate general…
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The Charting the LifeCourse framework was developed by families to help individuals with disabilities and families at any age or stage of life develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. The framework and tools will help you organize your ideas,…
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IOD staff are engaged in evaluation efforts for Community Collaborations to Strengthen and Preserve Families (CCSPF) which establishes an integrated continuum of family support, with community-based services such as mental health and substance misuse treatment, economic supports, home visiting, and educational programs, to prevent child abuse and neglect and ultimately reduce the number of…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2017
The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) Knowledge Translation research project uses a grassroots community engagement technique to assess both the efficacy of the CEI method to address recreation access for people with disabilities and effective knowledge transfer methods for using the Community Engagement Evaluation.
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In an effort to improve COVID-19 vaccine access for older adults and people with disabilities in New Hampshire, the NH Developmental Disabilities (DD) partner organizations explored barriers to vaccine access and concerns about COVID-19 booster shots. Read our summary of findings below.
Read the full report
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Building Treatment and Recovery Services for NH's Youth and Young Adults
Creating Connections NH is a system of care for youth and young adults (ages 12-25) with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Co-occurring mental health disorders and SUD (COD). Creating Connections NH is implemented by the NH Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health within the NH Department of Health and Human Services in…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
With a population that is aging faster than the national average, New Hampshire is facing an increasing demand for healthcare and support services and a heavier reliance on home and community based services for long term care. It is projected that the need for community based direct care workers will increase in the near future and that…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2018
While most people in the U.S. have adequate access to food, some persons experience food insecurity, lacking the money and resources to acquire the food necessary for active, healthy living. Little is known about how food security might influence economic and health outcomes for persons with disabilities. Led by Dr. Debra Brucker, The Disability and Food…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2015
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Obesity Research Project on Prevalence Adaptations and Knowledge Translations in Younger Adults with Disabilities from Diverse Race/Ethnic Backgrounds
The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project II uses a systematic approach to develop, identify, and adapt strategies and practices supporting…
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UNH Institute on Disability, Disabilities Rights Center-NH, and the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities collaborate to distribute a bi-annual publication to educate community members and policymakers about the latest research, advocacy, policy, and practice.
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The mission of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) is to narrow and actively bridge the divide between the producers and end users of disability statistics, thereby supporting better data collection, more accurate information, better decision-making, more effective programs, and better lives for people with…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2019
Federal funding for this project has concluded. The opportunity to study Early Childhood Special Education and Assistive Technology is still available.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
The Employment and Asset Development Resource Network (EARN) is designed to provide high quality information and resources to individuals with disabilities, professionals, and family members that result in improvements in gainful community employment opportunities and financial well-being of persons with disabilities.
Initiatives under this project…
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The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) is (a) investigating the impact of federal and state policies and programs on employment, paying particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examining new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitating the translation of research findings to guide…
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Staying Safe at Work Training
The Staying Safe at Work training is a curriculum for teaching workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities about health and safety on the job.
View upcoming trainings
For assistance implementing the Staying Safe at Work Curriculum:
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2014
The Family-Centered Transition Project is a collaboration between the Institute on Disability and the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies at the University of Maine, to demonstrate an innovative approach to the transition of individuals with autism spectrum disorders from high school to adult life.
The transition…
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the inability to access the food necessary to live a healthy, active life. Understanding the scope of food insecurity experienced within New Hampshire is important for informing the provision of nutrition assistance services throughout the state. Identifying subpopulations that are at greater risk for food insecurity can help nutrition…
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Understanding the Factors Associated with the Health Disparities Experienced by People with Intellectual Disabilities
There is a growing body of evidence that—when compared to people without intellectual disabilities—people with intellectual disabilities more frequently experience poor health and unmet healthcare needs. However, there is limited scientific understanding about the causes of these…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2015.
A growing body of research has documented that persons with disabilities are more likely to experience health disparities compared to the general population. The Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project: Health and Health Care Disparities Among Individuals with Disabilities project will extend this research by determining what factors relate to or…
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US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - assisted adults with disabilities reside within all types of housing assistance yet do not always receive targeted assistance nor supports. By identifying gaps in quality of life, employment patterns and health disparities, this research grant will highlight areas that policymakers need to address.
HUD is currently evaluating the…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE 2018
There are approximately 25,000 individuals in New Hampshire who experience conditions causing paralysis, with approximately 9,250 of these individuals living in rural counties. Individuals who live in rural communities are underserved and in need of assistive technology solutions to maximize independence at home, at work, at school and in the community.…
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THIS PROJECT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN JULY 2021
Dan Habib's award-winning documentary film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities.
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THIS BODY OF WORK WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN JULY 2021
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2017
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities (IC-RRTC) is generating new knowledge about the role of individual characteristics on employment outcomes. Despite the ADA and advances in medicine and technology, people with disabilities, as a…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2015
What is I.F.?
Innovation Facilitators (I.F.) is a network of experienced trainers and facilitators who have organized to support the evolution of person-centered planning by offering tools, processes, and structured experiences designed to exercise imagination and promote strategic thinking. Rather than concentrating on promotion of…
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This project was transferred to the Westchester Institute for Human Development in July 2021.
The perception of intelligence is a powerful force in the systematic segregation, maltreatment, and unfulfilled potential of hundreds of millions of individuals with disabilities in the U.S. and worldwide. The documentary film project Intelligent Lives (working title) explores how the segregation of…
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Lecture Description
The Janet Krumm Disability & Media Lecture Series is an annual public lecture series which recognizes the power of information and the contributions of individuals who have used the media, written and visual, to create an understanding of the experience of disability, as well as the community's collective responsibility to embrace diversity.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JANUARY 2018
The employment gap between people with and without disabilities is well-documented. Research findings point to two main factors that contribute to the persistence of these employment disparities:
Social Security policy that “traps” large numbers of people with disabilities into income-support programs that do not foster and support full-…
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Nearly 30 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in education and employment. Individuals with disabilities now comprise about 12% of college students, which matters because educational attainment is associated with gainful employment. Although the employment gap between people with and without disabilities…
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The 2017 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives (KFNEDS:SP) identifies ways that employers strive to hire and retain employees with disabilities by utilizing different approaches to successfully avoid or overcome barriers. This research generates actionable information to support the adoption of promising practices across the country.
Following the…
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The NH Living Well (LW) Quality Frameworks grant focuses on utilizing strong and long-lasting partnerships with self-advocates, direct support professionals, state agencies, providers, families, and advocacy organizations to improve the supports and services for people with disabilities within the state.
Recent Highlights
Dream Big: Tools for Supporting Individual Choice & a Robust…
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Through Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Evaluation project, staff will be evaluating New Hampshire’s fidelity to the implementation of the Healthy Families America home-visiting model as well as the effect of the model on family outcomes. Staff members will be developing an evaluation plan using the implementation science framework, and will then deliver a final report…
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This project was completed in July 2017
During his 14-year tenure at Concord High School, Principal Gene Connolly was known for his non-stop energy, his love of rock & roll, and the personal connections he made with many of the school’s 1,600 students. However, in 2014, Connolly became known for something very different: the rapid loss of his ability to walk and speak due to the debilitating…
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Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a data-driven behavioral support and improvement framework that consists of three levels, each specifically designed to prevent disruption and address the behavioral support needs of students at risk of school failure:
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
The National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) is applying the lessons learned from the past decade of research on alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA‐AAS) to develop a multi‐state comprehensive assessment system for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The project draws on a strong…
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The National Center for START Services is an initiative that works to strengthen efficiencies and service outcomes for people with IDD and mental health needs in the community. The National Center was established at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability/UCED in 2009 to provide technical assistance, clinical expertise, training, and consultation services that…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2011
For Students with Autism and Related Disabilities
The NIEI is focused on improving educational services and outcomes for students with autism and related disabilities through efforts in the areas of leadership development, personnel preparation, professional development, model demonstration, clinical evaluation services, and research…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN MAY 2016
Validating Screening Protocols and Enhancing Public Health Infrastructure
There are several challenges associated with the implementation of Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) Newborn Screening (NBS). These challenges include: inability of public health agencies to collect real-time screening data, as CCHD NBS is conducted in hospitals…
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The New England Regional Genetics Network (NERGN) advances the health and well-being of individuals
with genetic conditions by connecting them with genetic services, educating professionals to improve systems of genetic care, and supporting families in New England. NERGN's vision is that "all individuals with genetic conditions in New England have the opportunity to achieve their…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE 2015
The New Hampshire Health Professions Opportunity Project (HPOP) offers an opportunity for motivated, eligible, low-income adults to train for and find jobs in health care occupations in New Hampshire — specifically health jobs that are projected to be in high demand and pay well. HPOP uses an employer-driven model to identify gaps in skilled…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2018
Over the past several years, there has been an increasing recognition of the limitations of NH's system of services for mental health care. The Ten Year plan highlighted many of these challenges and identified a range of resources that would be helpful towards improving the capacity and effectiveness of the mental health system. As the state has…
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Providing Hope for NH Youth with Emotional or Behavioral Challenges and Their Families
Wraparound is a youth- and family-driven process that supports children or youth (birth - age 21) with significant emotional or behavioral challenges and their families. Wraparound brings together a community-based team to support the family by developing and monitoring a plan of care that builds…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
Next Steps NH is a federally-funded project designed to improve the capacity of schools and communities to improve the outcomes of youth with disabilities and youth at risk of failing high school. The project delivers evidence-supported transition practice training and technical supports to schools districts throughout the state.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE 2014
In New Hampshire and nationally, current data on students who require communication supports suggests that 50% do not have any communication device in place. For the other 50%, what is provided may not meet their needs. Students who have limited or no speech are not able to fully participate in their school or home life without these supports. This applies…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE 2016
In April of 2013, the University of New Hampshire Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL), a collaboration between the Institute on Disability (IOD) and Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) was awarded a contract by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to provide project management services for New Hampshire’s Balancing…
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A skilled and supported workforce is critical to the delivery of high-quality services to our children, youth, and families. Intentional and targeted workforce development activities ensure that we prepare providers across all levels of the workforce, including peer supporters, paraprofessionals, credentialed staff, bachelors-level, masters-level, doctoral-level, licensed…
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The New Hampshire Disability and Health Program (DHP) improves the health and quality of life of people with disabilities in NH by implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce unmet health needs, increase access to preventive health care, and facilitate the adoption of healthy behaviors.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
The transition from secondary education to meaningful participation in adult life for individuals with significant disabilities continues to be a serious national problem. Part of the problem stems from the way in which traditional transition planning focuses on fitting youth into "what is available" in the adult service system rather…
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Work-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, and control of occupational hazards is the most effective means of prevention.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
Within a person-centered system, individuals and providers work in full partnership to guarantee that each person’s values, experiences and knowledge drive the creation of an individualized plan as well as the delivery of services and supports. Person Centered Planning (PCP) is recognized as an important vehicle for empowering individuals to have a…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
Project Information
This secondary analysis of American Community Survey (ACS) data investigates the association of community living and participation with sociodemographic factors, features of the built housing environment, local public policies, and the nature of an individual’s disability.
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The Raising Awareness
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This project was completed in September 2016
Individuals with disabilities and older adults have the right to live as independently as possible within their home and community. Most people want to stay in their home and community as their support needs increase. But for some individuals with disabilities and older adults the freedom to live where and with whom they choose is lost due to barriers…
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This project was completed in September 2011
People living with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the population of Americans living below the poverty line, and have significant challenges in accruing financial assets for the long-term. Disability policy historically requires significant limitations on income and assets, although contemporary disability policy is…
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This project was completed in September 2016
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2018
SWIFT Center offers school, states, and districts the ability to build capacity to scale up and sustain new practices for schoolwide inclusive reform in urban, rural, and high-need schools in grades K-8 for students with disabilities. SWIFT Center focuses on improving the knowledge and skills of classroom educators to implement inclusive…
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Seacoast Child Development Clinic closed in July 2017 and no longer provides evaluations and services to New Hampshire’s children and families.
If you are in need of services, please contact your child’s primary care physician for a referral to an appropriate provider. Additionally, you may view the NH-ME LEND's resources on Child Development.
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This project was completed in September 2011
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This project was completed in September 2016
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This project will identify mid-life predictors of living in a food insecure household at age 60 and older, explore whether living in a food insecure household in mid-life is associated with reduced odds of well-being or healthy aging among persons age 60 and older, and, examine changes in the odds of living in a food insecure household among adults as they transition onto Social Security…
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The University of New Hampshire’s Departments of Education and Social Work, in collabor
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The UNH-Institute on Disability (IOD), in partnership with numerous UNH academic and administrative partners is working to provide inclusive higher education opportunities to young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Planning efforts are well underway on the Durham campus to provide a 2- year day and/or residential Community Transition Program (CTP). A CTP Program is a federally…
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This project was transferred to the Westchester Institute for Human Development in July 2021
Kelsey Carroll has one goal--to graduate from high school. But there are plenty of reasons why she shouldn’t. She attends a school with one of the highest dropout rates in New Hampshire and has dealt with homelessness, abuse, self-mutilation, and ADHD. As a freshman, she didn't earn a single academic…
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This project was completed in September 2015
The determination of usual source of care providers by patients
Previous research has shown that having a 'usual' source of care, and especially a usual provider, is associated with better health and health care outcomes. Noting the positive association between having a 'usual' provider and health, Healthy People 2020 made linking people with 'usual…
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2016
In recent years, work incentives provisions have been added to most public benefits programs, so that beneficiaries can continue to access needed benefits while also earning income and building a career. However, the level of earnings of beneficiaries has not shown an increase, due to the fact that many consumers remain unaware of these…
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This project was completed in September 2016
Youth Empowerment Services (YES) is a three-year initiative designed to develop and promote leadership and self-advocacy skills to help young people prepare for their future.
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THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 2019
Overview
In July 2017, the Institute on Disabil
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