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.

Are you a researcher seeking participants? Submit a Disability-Related Research Opportunity for consideration.

On this page

Current Research Opportunities

Select a study title below to expand its details, including eligibility, time commitment, compensation, and how to participate. Select the title again to close it.

Accessibility Usability Study of CONTENTdm Digital Collections

Organization: OCLC

OCLC is seeking student feedback to improve the accessibility of its CONTENTdm Patron User Interface ahead of its launch. The interface supports searching, browsing, and interacting with digital collections such as local history photographs, oral histories, and scanned newspapers.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are a student who uses assistive technologies, such as a screen reader, screen magnifier, keyboard navigation, or other tools
  • Regularly use library resources
  • What you will do: Complete realistic tasks, such as finding a collection, locating information within it, and searching for an item, while sharing your screen and thinking aloud
  • Time commitment: One 60-minute session
  • Format: Remote
  • Compensation: $100 gift card

No preparation is required. There are no right or wrong answers; participants' questions and difficulties help the team identify opportunities to improve the interface.

Study contact: Alyssa Berger, XD Accessibility Intern, OCLC

To express interest or ask questions, email berger85@purdue.edu and share what assistive technology you use so the study team can discuss scheduling.

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
  • Compensation: Not specified in the recruitment information

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.

Experiences of Disabled Undergraduate Engineering Students

Institution: Utah State University

This study explores the experiences of undergraduate students with disabilities in engineering programs, including how students make changes to or adapt their learning environments. The research will compare students' experiences with principles of Universal Design for Learning to identify opportunities for improving accessibility in engineering education.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are currently an undergraduate student
  • Identify as a student with a disability
  • Are enrolled in an engineering program
  • What you will do: Participate in an individual interview about your experiences in engineering education
  • Time commitment: Approximately 45–60 minutes
  • Format: Online via Zoom
  • Compensation: $25 Amazon gift card

Researcher: Autumn Cuellar, Ph.D. Candidate, Engineering Education, Utah State University

Principal Investigator: Cassandra McCall, Ph.D., Utah State University

IRB: Utah State University IRB Protocol #15359

Complete the recruitment survey for the Engineering Education study

Questions about this study may be directed to autumn.cuellar@usu.edu or cassandra.mccall@usu.edu.

ADHD, Intellectual Giftedness, Twice-Exceptionalism, and Self-Esteem

Institution: Regent University

This study examines ADHD, intellectual giftedness, and self-esteem among adults. It includes people with ADHD, people identified as intellectually gifted, people with both, and people with neither. Having both ADHD and intellectual giftedness is referred to in this study as twice-exceptionalism.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Live in the United States
  • Can read and understand English to review the consent information and complete the surveys

Participants may have an ADHD diagnosis, be identified as intellectually gifted, have both, or have neither.

  • What you will do: Complete a demographic survey and questionnaires about ADHD symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
  • Time commitment: Approximately 15–20 minutes
  • Format: Online survey
  • Compensation: Opportunity to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card
  • Recruitment closes: December 31, 2026

Researcher: Sophia Rose Swiatek, Psy.D. Candidate, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Psychology and Counseling, Regent University

IRB protocol: Regent-IRB-2025-2026-243

Learn more or participate in the ADHD, Intellectual Giftedness, and Self-Esteem study

For questions about the study or to report an accessibility barrier, contact Sophia Rose Swiatek at sophswi@mail.regent.edu.

Information 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 inclusion on this webpage.

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

Researchers should be prepared to provide:

  • A brief description of the study and its purpose
  • Participant eligibility criteria
  • A description of what participation involves
  • The expected time commitment
  • Whether participation is online, in person, or both
  • Information about compensation or incentives, if applicable
  • Recruitment start and end dates
  • Institutional Review Board or other research oversight information
  • Information about the accessibility of the study and participation process
  • A direct link students can use to learn more, complete a screening form, or participate
  • Contact information for the research team

Researchers are responsible for ensuring that their study materials, recruitment process, and participation procedures meet the requirements of their institution and applicable research oversight.

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.