Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion
Founded in 2021, the RISEI Lab conducts rigorous, data-driven studies at the intersection of technology, workforce, education, and social policy. We partner with government agencies, nonprofits, and international organizations to advance social and economic inclusion for marginalized populations.
Our mission is to drive transformative change by conducting cutting-edge research, offering innovative policy recommendations, and providing comprehensive training and educational services.
We envision a future where every individual, regardless of their social or economic background, has the opportunity to thrive. We aim to be instrumental in creating evidence-based policies and programs that meaningfully improve people's lives.
The Research and Innovation for Social and Economic Inclusion Lab focuses on catalyzing change through research, innovation, and empowerment, with particular emphasis on advancing competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities and promoting social and economic inclusion across diverse populations.
$50M+ lifetime funding | $4M+ active support
$4.29M | U.S. Department of Education (2022-2028)
Education, Outreach, Partnership Development, Individualized Services, and Capacity Building to eliminate
subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. Comprehensive data analysis and policy guidance.
$2.98M | Federal Model Project (2023-2028)
Innovative partnership models advancing special education services, transition planning, and post-secondary
outcomes through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
Investigating how accessibility features in digital assessments affect student performance using process
data from NAEP. Addresses critical gaps in understanding testing accommodations for students with disabilities,
examining the relationship between availability and utilization of accessibility features and math performance.
Global Partnership | Special Olympics International
Leading global evaluation framework implementation across 170+ countries to assess impact of unified sports
and inclusive programming on social inclusion, community attitudes, and participant outcomes. Designed
multi-level evaluation methodology now used worldwide to measure social impact and inform program development
for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
We welcome inquiries from prospective graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and collaborators interested in special education research, implementation science, and educational equity.