Housed in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the Illinois Institute for Rehabilitation and Employment Research (IIRER) is a hub for innovation and discovery that addresses vocational behavior, community integration, career development, and employment. We partner with communities in Illinois and around the world, sharing knowledge and empowering people in ways that enrich lives. Through a variety of statewide and federal initiatives, our goal is to maximize the well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
IIRER mission
The IIRER promotes the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions by promoting career development, employment, and community integration through innovative research, service, evaluation, education, and technical assistance.
Institute-wide goals
- Conduct clinical and community-based research and evaluation to examine the interaction of psychosocial, environmental and health factors to gain a greater understanding of vocational behavior, community integration, career development, employment, and well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
- Promote research-informed education and resources regarding vocational behavior, community integration, career development, and employment to professionals and organizations to enhance the quality of services and maximize the well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
- Provide research-informed resources to local, state, national and international stakeholders and policy makers to promote vocational behavior, community integration, career development, employment, and well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
- Provide, support, and implement research-informed services that address vocational behavior, community integration, career development, and employment to maximize the well-being of individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions.