Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Announces January Forum Date

Focus Is Federal Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Contact: Debra Wright, (202) 554-7576

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 5, 2010)—The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research announces the eighth forum in a bimonthly lunchtime seminar series aimed at providing policymakers and others with an opportunity to hear about the latest disability policy research findings. “Is a Makeover Needed for Federal Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services?” is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at Mathematica’s office at 600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. Speakers will be Todd Honeycutt, researcher, Mathematica; Yunsian Tai, senior analyst, Government Accountability Office; and Carl Suter, executive director, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.

The speakers will discuss variability in the funding and delivery of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and present options for changing the federal funding formula. Honeycutt will describe recent findings on how likely people with disabilities are to receive VR services, based on where they live or other demographic characteristics. Tai will present options for changing federal funding of VR services, drawing on a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Suter will discuss policy implications.

The disability policy forums can be attended in person or via webinar. Go to www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/researchforums.asp to register to attend or request any necessary accommodations. Lunch will be provided.

The Center for Studying Disability Policy’s mission is to inform disability policy formation with rigorous, objective research and data collected from the people disability policy aims to serve. The center was formed in 2007 to coalesce and further strengthen Mathematica’s extensive disability policy research and data collection efforts, and to ensure that the results of Mathematica’s work are accessible to the disability policy community.

Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research firm, provides a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation, and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of health care, education, family support, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs.