Dissemination and knowledge translation

Each research project has its own dissemination activities. To learn more about those, visit each project site. Also, several news articles have detailed MICL projects, which can be accessed at About Us.

Additional projects in progress are:

The Center for Independent Living Resource project provides overviews of specific topics relating to transition to community living with practical “how-to” information and additional resources using a research synthesis. The goal of this project is to provide service providers with a research-based handout collection that they can use and distribute as a means to improve participation in society by individuals with disabilities. To achieve the objective, the existing CIL fact sheets must first be collected to determine need, format, etc., which must be categorized, and then matched with research sources. Then individual fact sheets will be used, adapted, or written for collection. Background research and literature review phase is done. Using the ILRU website directory of CILs, 599 CIL websites were examined. Of that number, 231 were satellites, which typically used copies of its source website. Canadian CIL sites also were examined. Thirty-nine fact topics were determined. The most-oft published fact sheets were on independent living itself, Olmstead court case, independent living history, emergency preparedness, employment, disability etiquette, and legal rights.

The Get.RIIL On-line Database is an accessible, efficient tool that provides uniform access to disability research information. A RIIL summary provides key study elements — background information, research design, research participant characteristics, findings, conclusions, implications, and author/organization contact information — in a consistent, easy-to-read format along with research definitions. Context is indicated (e.g., how the study relates to others) along with study implications and possible uses. For reading ease, uncommon words are defined, acronyms are avoided, and analogies and stories are incorporated if available as illustration points. Publications summarized focus on community participation and use by RTC researchers in their project design. As of June 2007, 55 summaries related to community participation have been entered into the RIIL database, which makes a total of 2,306 summaries on independent living research and practices. Defining “participation” in regards to community participation of people with disabilities has been difficult. Should it be broadly defined and the employment, housing, health, recreation, etc. of people with disabilities? Or should it be more restrictive? Ultimately, the grant research project topics serve as a guide for research translation choices.