Disability Resource Center

Disability-Related Research Opportunities

The Disability Resource Center receives requests to share research opportunities related to disability, access, and the experiences of disabled people. This page provides a central place for Purdue students to explore current opportunities and decide whether they may be interested in participating.

Participation in any study listed on this page is completely voluntary. The Disability Resource Center does not conduct or endorse the studies listed below. Questions about a specific study, including eligibility, participation, privacy, compensation, accessibility, or research procedures, should be directed to the research team conducting the study.

Current Research Opportunities

Autism Support Programs and High-Impact Practices

Institution: Ball State University

This study explores how autistic undergraduate students at four-year public universities experience autism-related institutional supports and educational opportunities such as internships, undergraduate research, service learning, learning communities, and capstone experiences.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Are currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at a four-year public university in the United States
  • Identify as autistic through formal diagnosis, school identification, or self-identification
  • Are able to provide your own informed consent
  • What you will do: Complete an anonymous online survey
  • Time commitment: Approximately 15–20 minutes
  • Format: Online
  • Compensation: Participants may choose to enter a drawing for one of five $25 digital gift cards

The survey also includes the AQ-10 autism characteristics screener for descriptive and exploratory research purposes. It is not being used as a diagnostic or clinical assessment.

Researcher: Amy Goodman, M.S., CCC-SLP, Ph.D. Candidate, Special Education, Ball State University

IRB: Ball State University IRB-FY2026-362

Participate in the Autism Support Programs and High-Impact Practices study

Questions about this study may be directed to Amy.Goodman@bsu.edu.

Caregiver Experiences and Mental Health Among Disabled Adults

Institution: Oregon State University

This study examines caregiving experiences among disabled adults and how those experiences relate to mental health.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Live in the United States
  • Identify as a person with a disability or chronic condition
  • Currently receive help with activities of daily living from at least one caregiver
  • What you will do: Complete an online survey about disability status, caregiving experiences, and mental health
  • Time commitment: Approximately 45 minutes
  • Format: Online

Research team: Bridget Klest, Ph.D.; Kathleen Bogart, Ph.D.; and Melissa Shang

IRB: Oregon State University HE-2026-2075

Participate in the Caregiver Experiences and Mental Health study

Questions about this study may be directed to melissa.shang@oregonstate.edu.

For Researchers

The Disability Resource Center does not distribute individual research recruitment requests through its student email list. Researchers seeking participants for disability-related research may submit their study for consideration for this webpage.

Submission does not guarantee that a study will be posted. Research opportunities are reviewed for relevance, appropriate research oversight, clarity of participant information, and accessibility before they are added to the page.

Researchers should be prepared to provide information about the study, participant eligibility, time commitment, compensation, recruitment dates, research oversight, accessibility, and a direct participation link.

Submit a Disability-Related Research Opportunity

Questions About a Study

Questions about participation, eligibility, compensation, privacy, accessibility, or other study-specific information should be directed to the research team listed with each opportunity.

For questions about this webpage or the research opportunity submission process, please contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@purdue.edu.