Welcome to the Center for Studying Disability Policy

Disability Research Consortium

A cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration

About the Disability Research Consortium

Mathematica’s Center for Studying Disability Policy (CSDP) is one of two policy research centers leading the Social Security Administration’s new Disability Research Consortium (DRC). Funded through a five-year cooperative agreement, the CSDP will develop new research with a team of disability policy experts and researchers at Mathematica as well as the University of Illinois-Chicago, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Virginia Commonwealth University. SSA awarded a second cooperative agreement for the DRC to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The CSDP and its partners in the DRC will build the evidence base to support policy improvements for three disability populations:

• Workers After the Onset of a Significant Medical Condition. Research involving this population will examine and highlight policies and programs that help workers maintain or return to employment after the onset of significant, long-term medical conditions.
• People with Significant Chronic Conditions and Long-Term Impairments. Research in this area will explore approaches to helping individuals with chronic conditions maximize their employment potential, self-sufficiency, and well-being while reducing their dependence on public benefits.
• Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities. This work will consolidate and build on the body of knowledge on effectively promoting positive adult outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities.

For more information about the goals of SSA’s Disability Research Consortium, please visit http://www.ssa.gov/policy/drc/index.html