Applications for our 2026 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Summer Leadership Academy are now open! Check out the application and register for our info webinar to learn more: autisticadvocacy.org/aci

Please join us for our Money Follows the Person (MFP) webinar where Natalie Kean, Henry Claypool, Julie Cope, and Wayne Somes will highlight the history of the program, State snap shots, and Tribal MFP Initiatives. Additional speaker details are available on the registration page: zurl.co/azmzC

This year's Heller Social Policy Impact Report features many Lurie Institute projects and successes from this past year. Check it out: zurl.co/ObLjz

December News from the Lurie Institute ☃️ Happy Holidays! Celebrate staff accomplishments, explore upcoming webinars, and check out our invites for new blog submissions: zurl.co/FCfBk Sign up to get newsletters from the Lurie Institute or our various research Centers in the future: zurl.co/yz03r

Join us in welcoming Alex Levine, PhD, MPH as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy. We're excited to have you at Lurie and we wish you a wonderful and fulfilling fellowship!

Willi Horner-Johnson, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator at the National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research, has received the Margaret “Peg” Nosek Award from the Disability Section of the American Public Health Association. Learn more: zurl.co/WTvMm

We are thrilled to share that Lurie researchers Joseph Caldwell and Ian Moura were selected to be members of the National Academy of Social Insurance’s 2026 class!

Looking for a book to read over the winter break? Join us in reading A Perfect Turmoil: Walter E. Fernald and the Struggle to Care for America's Disabled, by our own visiting scholar, Alex Green. We'll be posting a discussion guide in the early spring that you can facilitate in your own community.

Today, December 13, marks the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Since its inception, the Convention has played a vital role in advancing disability rights and promoting inclusion in countries around the world. Learn more: zurl.co/HUmG8

Join us on January 29, 2025 at 2 PM ET for our Money Follows the Person (MFP) webinar, where national policy advocates and state administrators will discuss the program’s history, state snapshots, and Tribal MFP initiatives. Register here: zurl.co/ezXP5 Accessibility: ASL & Captioning provided

We're doing a research study about the things that young people with disabilities think are important for their sexual health. The researchers also want to learn about the things that make it difficult or easy for people to get sexual health services. Learn more: zurl.co/T42ui #SexEdForAll

Last month, Lurie Institute Graduate Research Assistant Nick Mirin presented at the Gerontological Society of America’s 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. His presentation, Combatting the Caregiver Crisis, highlighted critical intersections between disability and caregiving: zurl.co/rN0Xz

Submit a Pregnancy Blog 📝 Are you disabled and pregnant? Interested in writing about reproduction, pregnancy, disability, or related topics? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experiences with us through our Pregnancy with a Disability blog: zurl.co/7uR8o

Do you have a disability or health condition that impacts your day-to-day life? Brandeis University is doing a research study. Visit to learn more about the study: zurl.co/hnGiQ Learn more about the study in American Sign Language at zurl.co/tA0jW

Saturday, November 29, marked 50 years since the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Act affirmed a promise to students with disabilities and their families that every child is entitled to a free and appropriate public education.

In a recent blog post, Michelle Castille shares her experiences as a disabled parent, likening them to the everyday complexities of doing laundry. Read here: zurl.co/LNw2D #ParentsWithDisabilities #DisabledParents #DisabledParenting #DisabledParent #DisabilityResearch

Today, we remember John Kelly, a Brandeis alum and an influential disability rights activist and leader, who passed away on November 14. His courage, persistence, and unwavering commitment to disability justice will be deeply missed. Read his obituary: zurl.co/AZ870

Last year, we welcomed four disabled leaders from around the world who shared their work and vision in connection with the IDPD theme. Watch the webinar: zurl.co/z5Vhh Learn more about IDPD: zurl.co/nudNg

In this webinar, facilitated by researcher and adoptive parent Kara Ayers, we hear from two disabled parents, Robin Wilson-Beattie and Yomi Young, about their experiences with adoption: zurl.co/PvOUq

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and a newly released brief from the Community Living Policy Center, produced in collaboration with the Family Support Research and Training Center, highlights the importance of adding family caregiver questions to the American Community Survey (ACS).

Nicole Lomerson, Research Associate II at Lurie, along with Robyn Powell, Senior Research Associate at Lurie, were both quoted in a Boston Globe article examining how Massachusetts’ IVF insurance law leaves many people without adequate coverage: zurl.co/pafpU

Yomi Young, a recent panelist for our Disabled Parents’ Adoption Experiences Webinar, was interviewed on Here & Now to honor the legacy of her dear friend, Alice Wong- disability activist, author, and founder of the Disability Visibility Project. lnkd.in/dBX3-pRE

In this webinar, panelists reflected on the intersection of disability and race, noting how disability often compounds stigma as an additional marginalized identity: zurl.co/8Mwpo

We at the Lurie Institute are deeply saddened by the passing of Alice Wong, a visionary disability activist, writer, and tireless advocate for disability media and culture.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the contributions of family caregivers. The FSRTC at the University of Illinois Chicago recently launched a new podcast series, dedicated to amplifying the voices of unpaid family caregivers: zurl.co/DylYE

Introducing the Accessible Pregnancy Action Plan 🤰🏻 an innovative new tool that supports pregnant people with disabilities. Explore the new resource on our website: TinyURL.com/AccessiblePregnancyActionPlan #DisabilityPregnancy #PregnancyResearch

Thank you to those who attended our 2025 Carrie Buck Fellowship keynote event, either in person or online! The event recording is now available on Youtube. The ASL view in the event's recording is small, so we've added an ASL only video to YouTube. Watch now: youtu.be/fZbj9EQH3rU

General preconception health education often does not address the specific concerns or needs that women with mobility disabilities consider before pregnancy. These women require preconception health education that is tailored to their bodies and circumstances.

Our new video research brief covers general and disability-specific preconception health education topics women with mobility disabilities should know consider: zurl.co/3qIRn #DisabilityPregnancy #DisabledPregnancy #PregnancyResearch #Pregnancy #PreconceptionEducation

We’re pleased to have had so many Lurie researchers and students present at the recently concluded 2025 Annual Conference of the American Public Health Association.

Did you know that November is #NationalAdoptionMonth? Expand your understanding about adoption by attending our webinar about disabled adoptive parents and their experiences growing their families through adoption. Register now: brandeis.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #DisabledParents #Adoption

Help the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities identify important topics for the community! English: TinyURL.com/NRCPD-survey Español: TinyURL.com/NRCPD-encuesta #ParentsWithDisabilities #DisabledParents #DisabledParenting #DisabledParent #DisabilityResearch

Apologies that the alt text was not included in the previous post.

Our recent study revealed that disabled people of color face systemic barriers that lead to institutional placements and make it harder to transition back into their communities. Learn more about these barriers in a new podcast featuring our partners at NCIL ⬇️ Read the brief: zurl.co/pNKGP

Dr. Megan Madison, a recent graduate of the PhD program at the Heller School co-authored a series of children’s books designed to support early conversations about consent and disability justice. You can learn more about the series here: zurl.co/0TUbo

The Carrie Buck Lecture recording is available now! Laura Millar discusses how consent is not just a yes-or-no moment, but a core component of Disability and Reproductive Justice. Watch here: zurl.co/K8u7e

One week away! Register now: TinyURL.com/DisabledParentsAdoptionWebinar

In a newly released study, Davis et al. explore the preconception needs and experiences of people with mobility disabilities, offering a qualitative look at their preconception health and counseling experiences. Learn more: zurl.co/Q1gOI

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy conducted a study examining barriers impacting access to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services faced by disabled people of color: zurl.co/AYxS8

A few great moments from Tuesday’s keynote conversation between Laura Millar and Rebecca Cokley 💬 Keynote recording coming soon!

Thank you to all who attended our 3rd Annual Carrie Buck Distinguished Fellowship Keynote! It was such an engaging and thought-provoking conversation. We extend our deepest gratitude to our 2025 Fellow, Laura Millar, for sharing her expertise and insights with us. Recording coming soon!

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy interviewed disabled people of color about the barriers they faced to getting Medicaid services: zurl.co/1Yfzc

Celebrating 80 years of NDEAM! While people with disabilities contribute greatly to the U.S. economy, gaps in access, income, & healthcare persist. This brief explores how Medicaid HCBS funding can enhance employment opportunities. Read the full brief: zurl.co/MrK2X

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy interviewed disabled people of color about the barriers they faced to getting Medicaid services: zurl.co/7r6eX

Share your story 💬 November is National Family Caregivers Month! Our friends at the Family Support Research and Training Center (FSRTC) will be celebrating family caregivers by sharing their experiences. #FamilyCaregiver #NationalFamilyCaregiversMonth

Disabled women are paid only 68 cents to every dollar nondisabled men make. Equal pay isn’t just about numbers; it’s about justice, access, and survival. Learn more: zurl.co/Wkxdj #DisabledWomensEqualPayDay #DisabledWomensEPD

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy studied the obstacles disabled people of color encountered getting Home and Community-Based Services. The study found that participants and their interpersonal relationships were constrained by difficult economic circumstances: zurl.co/31kDU

Shared decision-making, competitive compensation, and meaningful mentorship are key elements of our peer research training model. Learn more about our article article: zurl.co/ZawMd #DisabilityResearch #PeerResearch #NDEAM #NDEAM2025

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy conducted a study examining barriers impacting access to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services faced by disabled people of color.

"Employing disabled people in the research field can prevent harm and ensure that research is responsive to the needs of the communities most impacted by the research.” - Laurin Bixby, Research Scientist #NDEAM #NDEAM2025 #DisabilityResearch