The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities at Brandeis University has been informed that it will not be able to apply for continued federal funding, which may lead to the cessation of its operations when current funding expires at the end of August. The center has spent nearly a decade researching laws affecting custody rights of disabled parents and providing support to them. Principal investigator Monika Mitra stated that without further funding, there will be no national infrastructure dedicated to addressing these issues with evidence-based solutions for stakeholders, including judges and healthcare providers.
Recently, the grant that funds the center was removed from the federal grant portal Grants.gov. This grant is part of a larger group of 36 awards, totaling over $6.5 million, from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research that have been removed from the federal database this year. Mitra received information indicating that the grant would not be reposted.
Heather Watkins, a disabled parent and board member of the research center, expressed concern that the absence of the center would create a significant gap in support for disabled parents. In May, a proposal from the White House Office of Management and Budget suggested changes that could lead to the arbitrary termination of grants and increased involvement of political appointees in the grantmaking process. The Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.
Mia Ives-Rublee from the Center for American Progress remarked that the funding cut is part of a broader trend affecting the disability community. Nicole Lomerson, a research associate at the center, highlighted the importance of the center's resources for disabled parents navigating the child welfare system. Mitra expressed her surprise and disappointment at the inability to apply for further funding, calling it a significant setback for disability rights and family equity.