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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network conducts research collaboratively as a network and individually within ADA Centers.
Overview of the 2021-2026 Research Cycle
The ADA National Network conducts research to learn more about how the ADA works through projects exploring many aspects of the ADA. Combined, the ADA Centers planned 24 research projects for the 2021-2026 research cycle.
Common ADA research topics in the 2021-2026 research cycle are facility access, barrier removal, non-discrimination, and program access. People with disabilities are participants in 12 projects across eight ADA Centers. Other research projects focus on family members or professionals, like ADA Coordinators or service providers. The ADA National Network’s research addresses all five titles (sections) of the law. The greatest number of projects relate to Title II, the section of the ADA that relates to state and local governments.
The research projects use a variety of methods to answer questions about the ADA. Most of the ADA National Network research projects use qualitative methods, which involves collecting non-numerical information to understand things like experiences and opinions. Common qualitative research techniques include interviews and focus groups. Fourteen projects across eight ADA Centers planned qualitative research projects.
Quantitative research involves exploring a topic using numbers and statistics. Common quantitative approaches include surveys and analyzing data sets. Six ADA National Network research projects within three ADA Centers use quantitative methods.
Mixed methods research combines qualitative and quantitative methods. Mixed methods research is the second-most common approach taken by the ADA National Network. Eleven projects conducted by nine ADA Centers use mixed methods.
An important part of the research process is sharing the findings. Sharing ADA research findings allows others to use the information to help ensure people’s rights under the law are respected. All ADA Centers plan to write journal articles to share what they learned. It is also important for research findings to be shared with the communities and participants who were included in the research so they know what was discovered. ADA Centers do this through their websites, social media, technical assistance, and training activities.
State of the Science Conference on the ADA
Every five years, the ADA National Network holds a State of the Science Conference on the ADA. This free virtual ADA State of the Science Conference will be held on February 26 and March 12, 2026. The conference will consist of lightening sessions from ADA researchers focusing on four themes:
- Employment.
- Community Living and Participation.
- Health and Function.
- Outreach and Engagement.
Information from the previous State of the Science conferences is also available.
- Access videos, slides, and information from the virtual 2021 State of the Science Conference on the ADA.
- Access webcasts, slides, and information from the 2016 State of the Science Conference on the ADA.
ADA Knowledge Translation Center’s Research
The ADA Knowledge Translation Center conducts research on methods and approaches that help to improve use of ADA-related research findings and ADA-related information by relevant stakeholders. These studies were designed to be rigorous, but also pragmatic, embedded, and engaged. We developed them with the goal of generating usable evidence, valued by our stakeholders, to support the entire ADA National Network in its work.
In addition to its research projects, the Knowledge Translation Center is available to provide knowledge translation technical assistance to the regional ADA Centers.
National Network Collaborative Research Project
The ADA Participation Action Research Consortium examines the factors that influence the participation of people with disabilities in their communities.
Regional ADA Centers’ Research
Each region conducts research on important topics related to the ADA. See the regional ADA Centers’ research projects from the 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 research cycles below.
