Institute for Accessible Science (IAS): Advancing Inclusion of Persons with Disab

描述(由申请人提供)：为身体有缺陷的个人增加学习生物医学科学并最终享受其职业生涯的手段，需要创造一个环境和实验室辅助技术(AT)，不仅建立他们的经验，而且建立他们进行典型生物医学科学活动的信心。我们建议成立无障碍科学研究所(IAS)，该研究所将针对并打破将残疾人纳入生物医学研究的身体和态度障碍。IAS任务的核心将是创建IAS-Hub--一个用于共享信息、模型模拟和资源的独特网络基础设施--它将成为推动机构转型的平台。这个强大的基于网络的互动社区将帮助残疾人士解决在进入生物医学科学职业的教育管道中遇到的问题。IAS-Hub将收集和跟踪残疾人士和其他资源的信息，并为残疾人士、研究人员和教育工作者提供一个互动论坛，以交流信息、提供网络研讨会、在线研讨会和互动实验室培训模拟。通过国际残疾评估中心，我们将就教育机构和课程选择、职业和与残疾有关的问题与个别残疾人士进行沟通和协助。IAS-Hub还将为面临教育和体制困难的残疾人士提供资源，这些困难涉及教室、实验室和住房的建筑无障碍；交通；财政支持；医疗保健需求；以及生物医学科学系目前对他们的态度。此外，我们将为残疾人创造一个身临其境的实验室培训环境(ABIL)，让他们与AT一起练习，使他们能够尽可能独立地执行生物医学研究中常用的实验室技术。这些干预措施预计不仅将增加残疾人士进入生物医学科学研究的专门知识和信心，而且还将在增强残疾人士要求在科学课程和研究实验室中提供更多便利方面发挥关键作用。 公共卫生相关性：我国生物医学研究社区的多样化是确定创新解决方案以促进美国人口人类健康改善的重要一步。我们建议通过加快残疾人进入科学事业并取得成功来促进生物医学劳动力的多样化。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Increasing the means for individuals with physical limitations to study - and ultimately enjoy a career in - biomedical science requires creating a setting and lab assistive technology (AT) that build not only their experience but also their confidence in performing typical biomedical science activities. We propose to establish the Institute for Accessible Science (IAS), which will target and break down physical and attitudinal impediments to the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in biomedical research. Central to the IAS mission will be the creation of the IAS-HUB - a unique cyberinfrastructure for sharing information, model simulations, and resources - that will serve as a platform to drive institutional transformation. This powerful web-based interactive community will assist PWDs with solving problems encountered in the education pipeline toward a career in biomedical science. The IAS-HUB will collect information on and track PWDs and other resources as well as provide an interactive forum for PWDs, researchers, and educators to exchange information, offer webinars, online workshops, and interactive laboratory training simulations. Through the IAS-HUB, we will communicate with and assist individual PWDs on educational institution and curriculum choices, careers, and disability-related concerns. IAS- HUB will also serve as a resource for PWDs facing educational and institutional difficulties regarding architectural accessibility of classrooms, laboratories, and housing; transportation; financial support; healthcare needs; and current attitudes toward them in biomedical science departments. In addition, we will create an immersive laboratory training environment (ABIL) for PWDs to practice with AT, enabling them to perform as independently as possible lab techniques commonly used during biomedical research. These interventions are expected not only to increase the know-how and confidence of PWDs to enter biomedical science research but also will play a critical role in empowering PWDs to request greater accommodations in science curricula and research laboratories. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Diversification of our nation's biomedical research community is an essential step toward the identification of innovative solutions to promote the improved human health of the U.S. population. We propose to promote the diversification of the biomedical workforce by accelerating the entry and success of persons with disabilities in science careers.