Partners In Disability Research, Advisory Board

The Partners in Disability Research is the IDRPP's Research Advisory Board.  Members are individuals with disabilities and family members who play an important role by ensuring our research is meaningful, brings in all perspectives, and is helpful to people with disabilities.  Members provide feedback on research projects, grant proposals, and strategies for sharing research results.  

Partners in Disability Research Coordinator

Do you want feedback from the Disability Research Advisory Board?

Would you like our feedback on a project? You can request our feedback through this survey!

Request Feedback from Us

This framework is designed to help researchers meaningfully engage individuals with disabilities in providing input on research studies, methods, materials, and processes. The goal is to support accessible, inclusive, and community-informed research practices by creating structured opportunities for feedback before and during the research process. Below you will find common areas of feedback and our feedback matrix.

Bringing Disability Perspectives into Your Research

Thank you for reaching out to IDRPP Partners in Disability Research to provide feedback to your research. Including the perspectives of people with disabilities in research planning and design helps ensure that studies are accessible, relevant, respectful, and responsive to real-world experiences. Engaging community members with disabilities throughout the research process can improve the quality, equity, and impact of research while helping ensure that research practices and outcomes better reflect the needs and priorities of the communities most impacted.

Considerations for Inclusive Design and Common Areas for Feedback

Areas	Questions
Research Questions and Priorities	Are the research questions meaningful and relevant? Are important topics missing? Does the research reflect real-world experiences?
Recruitment and Outreach	Are recruitment methods accessible? Are recruitment materials understandable? Are there barriers that may discourage participation? Are outreach methods culturally and disability inclusive?
Consent Process	Is the consent form understandable? Is the information presented clearly? Are there accessibility barriers in the consent process? Does the process support informed decision making?
Study Materials and Communication	Are materials written in plain language? Are documents accessible? Are instructions clear? Are communication methods appropriate?
Data Collection Methods	Are interviews, surveys, or activities accessible? Are accommodations sufficient? Is participation burdensome? Are there sensory, mobility, cognitive, or communication barriers?
Participant Experience	What could improve comfort and trust? Are there concerns about privacy or safety? What would make participation easier? Are timelines and expectations reasonable?
Accessibility and Accommodations	What accommodations should be offered? Are there barriers in technology or meeting formats? Are multiple participation options needed? Are accessibility supports communicated clearly?
Compensation and Incentives	Is compensation fair? Are payment methods accessible? Are there concerns related to benefits eligibility?
Dissemination and Sharing Results	How should findings be shared with the disability community? What formats would improve accessibility? What language or framing should be avoided?

Example of Feedback Matrix

Research Area	What the Researcher Shared	Reviewer Feedback	Barrier or Concern Identified	Suggested Change	Priority Level
Recruitment Materials	Flyer and email invitation	Language is too technical	May discourage participation	Use plain language and shorter sentences	High
Consent Process	Online consent form	Difficult to navigate with screen reader	Accessibility barrier	Revise document formatting	High
Interviews	90-minute interview plan	Session may be too long	Fatigue concern	Offer breaks or shorter sessions	Medium