Research and Training Center on Independent Living

Read All About Us!

Working in Partnership

The RTC/IL is proud to partner with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Disability and Health Program on a number of projects designed to improve the health and participation in the community of people with disabilities.

See our Collaborations page to learn more.

Our mission is to further Independent Living
for people with disabilities by collaborating with consumers
on productive research and by using innovative methods
to disseminate useful knowledge.

Who We Are

The Research and Training Center on Independent Living is made up of a team committed to research that can be used to enhance Independent Living (IL) for people with disabilities. Our team is based at The University of Kansas, but we collaborate with researchers at other universities and professionals at a variety of other disability organizations.

Our Research

We conduct a wide range of research projects and use a variety of research methods and designs, including policy analysis and empirical research, as well as qualitative, group, and single subject designs.

The RTC/IL is the host center for other RTCs, including the RTC on Community Living and the RTC on Measurement and Interdependence in Community Living.

Knowledge Translation

Our research is used in a variety of ways. We provide training in the field, disseminate our findings through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications, share new information with policy makers for decision making, and create useful products for consumers and community based organizations.

Academic Training

Students, many with disabilities, who are committed to the philosophy of Independent Living are recruited to join the RTC/IL and to earn graduate degrees while they participate in research and development.

Several students have entered the University of Kansas Applied Behavioral Science graduate program and joined the Research Group on Rehabilitation and Independent Living (RGRIL) to work on RTC/IL projects, receiving stipends for their work. Often, their project work counts toward academic program requirements.

Consumer Involvement

Consumers and service providers identify their critical needs and then work closely with center staff to develop research and products that address these needs. This process ensures that our research and products meet real, as opposed to perceived, needs in the field.

Funding

The Research and Training Center on Independent Living was established with funding from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education. The Centers for Disease Control, Paralyzed Veterans Administration, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and other organizations also support and work with us to better the lives of people with disabilities.

History

More information about the RTC/IL and its past accomplishments can be found at History of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living. Also view this description.