Recognizing Syracuse University as a national leader in disability rights and policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) with a $4.6 million grant to support the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Employment Policy. The funding is administered by HHS’ National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, the U.S. government’s primary federal research organization for disability.

“BBI is a premier research institute that embraces leading-edge study of disability policy,” says Vice President for Research Duncan Brown. “This award acknowledges Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to advancing scholarship and research with broad social impact.”

The national center contributes to the next generation of federal and state employment policies in support of people with disabilities, according to Peter Blanck, BBI chairman and University Professor at the College of Law, who is principal investigator (PI). “It serves as a hub for forward-looking research, education, training and knowledge dissemination, helping to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the second quarter of the 21st century,” he says.

The cornerstone of the center is an ambitious, five-year agenda of coordinated research projects designed to understand the conditions under which people with disabilities can enter, succeed and remain in the labor force. The projects, which address facets of the employment life cycle, share a commitment to policy solutions for the future labor market and the employment potential of people with disabilities. Topics include:

• Labor demand, local infrastructure and the reframing of disability employment policy
• Self-employment and the use of AI in hiring practices
• Workplace accommodations and contingent work

Findings will be disseminated widely to people with disabilities, policymakers, researchers, educators and employers via accessible policy briefs, publications, educational and training materials, webinars and podcasts.

The center is guided by a team of leading disability educators, researchers and community leaders. Partners include Rutgers, Harvard and Cornell universities and Mathematica. Partnerships are also planned with disability-led organizations such as the National Organization on Disability, Independent Living Research Utilization, Mental Health America, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and Association of People Supporting Employment First, among others.