The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University’s Heller School leads research that helps shape policies, programs and practices which improve the lives of people with disabilities across the lifespan.

We partner with people with disabilities, community organizations, policymakers, and clinicians to produce research that addresses the critical issues that people with disabilities and their families face. This research incorporates qualitative and quantitative projects that are informed by the disability community and grounded in disability justice. Our research team includes established academic scholars, postdoctoral fellows, professional research staff, and student research assistants. We prioritize mentorship of the next generation of researchers.

What's Happening at the Lurie Institute

State of the Science 2023: Community Living Policy

The Community Living Policy Center is hosting a three-part webinar series on State of the Science: Community Living Policy.

The three webinars will bring together researchers, advocates, and other disability community stakeholders to discuss current research, gaps in knowledge, needs of the community, and opportunities to advance community living policy. These discussions will help inform the work of researchers and research funders to help shape access to equitable and person-centered home and community-based services in the future.

Visit the Registration Page to Learn More

What to Think About Before Having a Baby

What to Think About Before Having a Baby is the first of four videos by the National Center for Disability & Pregnancy Research in its guide for women with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Access NCDPR's first video guide

Lurie Institute Director Promoted to Full Professor

Congratulations to Monika Mitra on her promotion to full professor as the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Disability Policy Monika Mitra, PhD, the director of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, has been promoted to full professor. Mitra is now the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Disability Policy.

Congratulations, Monika! We're so proud of you.

CLPC's Director, Joe Caldwell, Awarded NARRTC's Commendation Award for 2023

Congratulations to Joe Caldwell, director of the Community Living Policy Center, for being awarded NARRTC's prestigious Commendation Award for 2023.

According to NARRTC: "Commendations are awarded by NARRTC for research, teaching, service, knowledge translation, or advocacy in the field of disability for specific, focused activities or achievements. Commendations recognize important contributions that strategically or creatively advance the field and/of disability." Well deserved, Joe!

Our Annual Report for 2022 Now Available

Our annual report for 2022 is now available. Find out about our research, our new and continuing intiatives, our educational activities and community work, and more.

Our annual report is available in two formats: a visual version and an accessible, text-only version.

Read Lurie's Annual Report for 2022

We're Hiring for an Open-Rank Faculty Appointment in Disability Policy

We are seeking a scholar whose research and teaching apply to issues of disability policy. The specific focus within this broad field is open, and applicants with expertise in areas such as health, poverty, community-living policy, employment, housing, civil rights, and intersectionality are welcome to apply.

The Heller School is looking for candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship with a record of funded research and public engagement. We hope to identify a future colleague for whom our tagline, “knowledge advancing social justice,” resonates.

Learn more and apply

Advocacy & Action at the Intersection of Disability & Reproductive Justice

On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, the Lurie Institute presented Advocacy & Action at the Intersection of Disability & Reproductive Justice, a conversation between Laurie Bertram Roberts and Rebecca Cokley of the Ford Foundation.

Access the Webinar Recording

Announcing the Establishment of the Community Living Equity Center

Participants Needed for Research Study of New HCBS Outcome Measures

Review the study description and eligibility criteria

Current Featured Work

New Brief: Pregnancy Care for Women with Intellectual Disabilities

This National Center for Disability & Pregnancy Research brief in plain-language format describes findings from interviews with doctors about pregnancy care for women with intellectual disabilities.

Pregnancy Experiences of D/deaf People — Plain-language format

Research Summary: Pregnancy Experiences of D/deaf People

This research brief in plain-language format by the National Center for Disability & Pregnancy Research describes the pregnancy experiences of d/Deaf people and identifies ways to improve care.

Providing Perinatal Care to Expectant Mothers with Physical Disabilities - banner

Webinar: Providing Perinatal Care to Expectant Mothers with Physical Disabilities

Lauren Dyer, a parent with a physical disability, shared her lived experience navigating perinatal care. Drs. John Harris and Heidi Leftwich described the reproductive health and perinatal care needs of people with physical disabilities and how we can improve care for this population.

Reproductive Health and Perinatal Care Needs of People with Intellectual Disabilities webinar

Webinar: Reproductive Health and Perinatal Care Needs of People with Intellectual Disabilities

The Center for Parents and the National Center for Disability & Pregnancy Research presented a webinar on the reproductive health and perinatal care needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Access the webinar recording.

Our Areas of Study

Healthcare Equity

People with disabilities across the United States face significant disparities in finding and receiving healthcare. Our work uncovers these disparities through rigorous analysis and identifies promising policy solutions that governments, hospitals, insurance providers, clinics, and providers can use to ensure that people with disabilities receive equitable care.

Parents with Disabilities

Parents with disabilities have experiences and support needs that are often different from those of parents without disabilities. Our research identifies these experiences and needs to shape policies and programs that help parents with disabilities raise their children, receive culturally competent healthcare, and advocate for themselves when working with child welfare agencies or family courts.

Young people, including girl with prosthetic leg, sitting on a bench

Community Living Policy

The Lurie Institute conducts and supports research into policies that integrate people with disabilities into the wider community. People with disabilities have the right to live, work, and play in the community, and we are proud to help support those rights through our work.

“People with disabilities, like everybody else, should have the supports to live and to thrive in their communities.”

—Monika Mitra, Director of the Lurie Institute