Langston University

The Langston University RRTC on Research and Capacity Building for Minority Entities represents a collaborative research, development, and dissemination project funded by the National Institute on Disability and Independent Living Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) for five years at approximately $875,000 per year. The project will engage minority entities/minority-serving institutions to generate new knowledge leading to improved rehabilitation experiences and outcomes for people with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations and enhanced research capacity and infrastructure at minority-serving institutions. The LU-RRTC will conduct five major studies and numerous research capacity-building activities informed by Advocates-In-Residence (AIR) including people with disabilities from underserved populations that address the following the Minority Entities:

1. Longitudinally testing the efficacy of a Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Model (PMRTM) for training and mentoring MSI-based faculty/Fellows

2. Assessing the feasibility of a Cultural Competence in Employment Support Training Model (CEST) for providers serving PWD from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations with co-occurring opioid and/or substance use disorder

3. Developing multiple autoethnography case studies in lived experience that explore underrepresented Fellows’ intersectional race and/or disability concordance and perceived efficacy of a Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Model (PMRTM), Peer Multiple Mentor Model (P3M), or Visiting Disability and Equity Research Mentorship Program (VERMP)

4. Examining rehabilitation counselor intersectional race and/or disability concordance and quality of services and employment outcomes for PWD from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds served by state vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs) and American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Programs (AIVRPs)

5. Longitudinally testing an Institutional Research Capacity-Building and Infrastructure Model (IRCBIM) across five different MSIs.

The LU-RRTC serves as a national resource center for Minority-Serving Institutions / Minority Entities that are seeking to develop their Research Infrastructure (RI), and to enhance their capacity to engage in disability and rehabilitation research. To this end, the RRTC will initiate dissemination, training and technical assistance activities for developing strong RIs within MEs for the conduct of research, preparation, submission, and management of NIDILRR funded research grant projects. Technical Assistance (TA) services will be provided as a part of LU-RRTC interventions for research projects participants and to ME and SVRA requestors around the country. The quality, intensity, and duration of TA will vary by system (i.e., ME or SVRA) and the readiness of TA recipients.

I. Minority Entity TA Areas

• Faculty Scholar Role & Function Balance Consultation (e.g., teach-ing/service/research balance)
• Sponsored Programs Office Operations Consultation
• Research Infrastructure Strategic Planning
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) Operation Consultation
• NIDILRR Research Proposal Development Mentorship
• NIDILRR Research Project Management Consultation
• Manuscript for Peer Reviewed Publication Development Mentorship
• NIDILRR Request for Comment (RFC) or Request for Proposal (RFP) Interpretation Consultation
• NIDILRR Expert Panel Application Development Consultation
• Data Management and Analysis Software and Related Technology Support Consultation

II. State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (SVRA) TA Areas

• SVRA Policy Consultation to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities
• SVRA Rehabilitation Practitioner Consultation or Training to Improve Outcomes for Persons from Traditionally Underserved Communities

“SPECIAL ISSUE” Journal of Rehabilitation [Jan./Feb./March 2022] Volume 88, Number 1

LU-RRTC 2021 Monograph

A Multisite Evaluation of an Emerging Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model for Advancing the Science on Disability/Health and Rehabilitation Research Capacity Building at Minority-Serving Institutions

Policy Research Briefs

1. (Volume 1 Issue 1 [January 2016]) Immigration Trends’ Impacts on State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Minority Application Rates: A National Time Series Forecast Model Demonstration Study
2. (Volume 1 Issue 2 [May 2016]) Federal Research Agency Policy and Systems and Disability and Health Scientific Workforce Diversity Development- A Key Informant Study
3. (Volume 1 Issue 3 [September 2016]) An Evaluation of a Disability and Health Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model (IRCBIM) at a Tribal College/University- A Case Study Approach
4. (Volume 2 Issue 1 [January 2017]) A Historically Black College/University Based Evaluation of a Disability and Health Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Model: Case Study Approach
5. (Volume 3, Issue 1 [July 2020]) Forecasting COVID-19 Issues for People of Color with Disabilities While Advancing the Minority-Serving Institution Research Capacity Building Science- A Framework for Federal Agencies 

1. Research Excellence of Minority Serving Institutions and Minority Investigators: Promising Models for Disability, Rehabilitation, Independent Living, and Health.
2. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling Volume 48, Number 4, Winter 2017
3. NIDILRR Researchers at Langston University RRTC Win 2021 National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns Awards: Vernon Hawkins Pioneer and Leadership Award and Felicia Hunter Organization Award

1. A National Delphi Survey of New Immigrating Populations and Trends’ Impacts on State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
2. A National Investigation of Factors that Contribute to Minority Disabilty and Health Research Leaders Career Development
3. An Autoethnographic Approach to Understanding Skill Enhancement Strategies for Minority Researchers With Disabilities
4. Disease Impact of Lupus on Functioning and the Need for Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Services
5. Factors Affecting Effective Delivery of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for African American Males with Substance Use Disorder Employment Barriers
6. Factors Affecting Rehabilitation Research Productivity in Minority Serving Institutions-Technical Recommendation
7. Historical and Legislative Context for Section 21 and Need for Minority Researchers
8. Institutional Research Capacity Building and Infrastructure Model (IRCBIM) Evaluation-Baseline and Intermediate Phase Results
9. Latino with Substance Use Disorders
10. Lived Experiences of Black Male Graduate Students in Counselor Education Programs
11. National Survey of American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Program and Veterans Affairs Interagency Collaborations
12. National Survey of State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency and Veterans Affairs Interagency
13. Overview-National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
14. Post-doctoral Opportunity-Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program Synopsis
15. The Politics of Disability Ex-Offender Status and Employment What Every Rehabilitation Counselor Needs to Know
16. The use of employment Vocational rehabilitation services for persons with HIV AIDS and substance abuse
17. Vocational Rehabilitation Outcomes for Native American and Alaskan Native Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
18. ADVANCED REHABILITATION RESEARCH TRAINING (ARRT)

Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Academy Project Overview:

The LU-RRTC Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Academy represents a collaborative effort between Langston University and the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Academy will mentor Fellows to conduct research that addresses the rehabilitation needs of persons with disabilities from traditionally underserved backgrounds and communities.

Ultimately, the program will build Fellows’ scholarly self-efficacy and research skills by providing them with state-of-the-science knowledge of scientifically valid measurement strategies and methodologies, and direct hands-on experience in the conduct of research and grant proposal development.

Fellows must conduct research and develop a research grant proposal that addresses Priority A:

• Conducting research that examines experiences and outcomes of individuals with disabilities from traditionally underserved racial and ethnic populations. Applicants must focus their research activities on topics that fall under at least one of the following major life domains identified in NIDILRR’s Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 (78 FR 20299): (1) Employment, (2) Participation and Community Living, or (3) Health and Function.

Peer-to-Peer Mentor Research Team Academy Goals

Research Methodology: Provide research Fellows with the most current scientific information on measurement and methodologies, principles and standards, and best practices for culturally and linguistically competent appropriate disability-related rehabilitation research.

Leadership: Provide research Fellows with an innovative opportunity to actually develop and conduct their own research addressing experiences and outcomes of persons with disabilities from underserved racial and ethnic populations. In addition, Fellows will have the opportunity to interact with peer program Fellows from other institutions or work settings and different ethnic and cultural backgrounds thereby building linkages between disability and rehabilitation researchers across the nation.

Technical Assistance: Provide program Fellows with an innovative opportunity to have their work evaluated through interaction and feedback from Peer-to-Peer Research Team Mentor Panels that will be formed for each Fellow. Panel members will take a leadership role in providing examples and developing strategies for the transfer of research findings to practical applications in planning, policy-making, program administration, and delivery of services to individual with disabilities. Findings may be published in a professional journal and presented at a professional meeting.

1. “ABCs of RSA911 data”
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p60za3g52qn/
2. “Labor Market Information Series”
   a. Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Patterns: Occupation Types and Trends
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p4n00473oey/
   b. Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Patterns: Demographic Distribution
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p2y14g95duk/
   c. Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Patterns: Wage Variations
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p5mg3ki4kpo/
3. “NIDILRR Grant Writing 101”
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p6x8kz3oe5m/
4. “Including Veterans in the Workplace”
   Session 1
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p9rbqngo39w/
   Session 2
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p93krbiawi5/
5. “Quotations and Codes and Memos, Oh My!
   The Basic Qualitative Research and Data Analysis Using Altas.it
   http://connectpro97884399.adobeconnect.com/p3fehzukxs0/

National Institute on Disability and Independent Living Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

LU-RRTC Project Team:

Corey L. Moore, Rh.D., Principal Investigator/Director
Edward O. Manyibe, Ph. D., CRC, LADC Research Associate Professor and Research and Capacity Building Director
Andre L. Washington, Ph.D., CRC, Research Associate Professor and Technical Assistance Director
Atashia M. Muhammad, Ph.D., LPC, LPC-S, NCC, Research Assistant Professor and Director of Operations
Nyree Cunningham-Pullen, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Dytisha m. Davis, Ph.D., CRC Research Associate Professor
James O. Nyamao, M.P.H., Research Associate
Ruben Herron, Ph.D, CRC, LPC, Research Assistant Professor
Penghua Wang, M.S., Data Scientist
Kacie Dentleegrand, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Collaborating Partners:

Langston University RRTC has convened a highly skilled team of collaborators with expertise that spans the areas of research, capacity building, policy formation, advocacy and dissemination.

• Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (AANAPISI)
• Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
• South Carolina State University (HBCU)
• Delaware Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program
• Kessler Foundation
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD
• Addiction Technology Transfer Center