SVRI - Research

Research

SVRI has a long history in providing disability and rehabilitation research.  The Research and Training Center (RTC) was established in 1972 to provide research and development capabilities to the Institute.  The role of research is further re-defined in recent years to reflect a "research <> praxis" philosophy and to align with the Institute’s Mission.   The current title for this function is SVRI-Research.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center

Wisconsin will be home to a national research and training center aimed at improving employment rates and the quality of employment for people with disabilities, funded by a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the U.S. Department of Education.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Effective Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery Practices will be jointly based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Fong Chan, UW-Madison professor of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education (RPSE), and John Lui of the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute at UW-Stout will serve as co-directors of this national research collaborative, which also includes Michigan State University, the University of Texas-El Paso, Southern University at Baton Rouge, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) as key partners.

David Rosenthal, UW-Madison professor and RPSE chair, will serve as associate director, and Catherine Anderson of the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute will serve as assistant director.

In addition to conducting research with input from multiple stakeholders, the center will translate new knowledge and provide training and technical assistance to public and non-profit organizations to incorporate theory-driven, culturally-sensitive, evidence-based practices into services provided to people with significant disabilities.

Archived Research:

Current Research Projects:

  • Program Evaluation of Transition Partnership School (TPS)
  • National Practice Analysis of Disability Benefits Specialists

Ongoing Research Activities:

  • Consumer Evaluations
  • Needs Assessments