National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

Program Objectives

To support and coordinate research and its utilization to improve the lives of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities, especially persons with severe disabilities through: (1) Identifying and eliminating causes and consequences of disability; (2) maximizing the health, physical, and emotional status of persons with disabilities and their functional ability, self- sufficiency, self-development and personal autonomy; (3) preventing or minimizing personal and family, physical, mental, social, educational, vocational, and economic effects of disability; and (4) reducing and eliminating physical, social, educational, vocational, and environmental barriers to permit access to services and assistance and to use their abilities in daily life.