The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people with disabilities through research, training, and career development to promote health equity and inclusion in biomedical and behavioral research. The ALS Network thanks the NIH for its commitment to the ALS community. Recent initiatives include:
- In December of 2022, a working group recommended strategies for including individuals with disabilities in the scientific workforce. This led to a Request for Information on revising the NIH mission statement regarding “reducing disability.”
- In March 2023, the NIH released the Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) to reinforce these principles in all NIH activities.
- In September 2023, the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities recognized people with disabilities as a population facing health disparities in NIH-supported research.
The Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) is creating a Disability Research Strategic Plan to outline scientific themes and objectives that enhance research on disability health. They will gather input from NIH entities and external stakeholders through Community Roundtables and a Town Hall in fall 2024. Further engagement activities will be announced on their website.
Beginning in October 2024, DPCPSI will hold virtual Community Roundtables and Town Hall webinars. See below for the schedule of events and registration links for each event:
- Wednesday, November 6, 2024 – Community Roundtable: Clinicians and Professional Associations
- Thursday, November 7, 2024 – Community Roundtable: People with Lived Experience and Advocacy Organizations
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – Community Roundtable: Researchers
- Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Community Roundtable: Clinicians and Professional Associations
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – Community Roundtable: People with Lived Experience and Advocacy Organizations
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – Town Hall on Disability Research