A new lab in the College of Education and Health Professions has established a collaborative hub where faculty, students and community partners can work together to improve postsecondary outcomes for people with disabilities. 

The Arkansas Transition Research Advocacy Community Lab (AR-TRAC) will promote meaningful access and positive life outcomes for people with disabilities and their families.

"As the flagship university in Arkansas, driven by our land-grant mission, we want to be leaders in connecting research, advocacy and engaging our community to make a positive impact in the state," said Sheida Raley, co-director of the AR-TRAC Lab and assistant professor of special education. "To us, this means not only generating new knowledge but also opportunities to put that knowledge into action for youth, families, schools and service providers."

With a focus on collaborative, person-centered and evidence-based practices, the lab plans to conduct interdisciplinary research that improves transition outcomes for youth with disabilities and their families. Raley is joined by co-directors Melissa Savage, Suzanne Kucharczyk and James Sinclair in conducting the lab's work.

The team hopes to empower youth with disabilities and their families to be self-determined in their journey to achieving the successful life they desire. 

The AR-TRAC Lab leverages existing projects, such as ELEVATE, Leaders for Transition, PACE and Teaming for Transition, to support future research and experiences for youth with disabilities. By promoting interdisciplinary studies and impactful research, the college has allowed the lab's faculty to collaborate across departments, including social work, counseling and vocational rehabilitation. 

"The College of Education and Health Professions' supportive environment makes cross-departmental and community collaboration possible," said Savage, assistant professor of special education. "This foundation of support by Dean Kate Mamiseishivili and the dean's WE CARE initiatives positions the AR-TRAC Lab to recruit doctoral scholars, grow federal funding and build lasting community partnerships aligned with our mission."

The AR-TRAC Lab founders are focused on creating sustainable and impactful programs and plan to develop a nationally recognized center for transition research and advocacy at the U of A. They also plan to launch a community engagement board to ensure the lab's work is grounded in the needs of Arkansas families.

Through multiple federally funded projects, the AR-TRAC team hopes to sustain consistent leadership training.

"Our work is about ensuring that transition services in Arkansas are best supporting outcomes for youth with disabilities and their families," said Sinclair, assistant professor of special education. "We want to see youth with disabilities not only included but thriving, whether that means securing meaningful work, participating fully in their communities or pursuing higher education, and the AR-TRAC Lab gives us a structure to make that vision a reality."

In the project's first year, the lab has established a website, secured federal grants, launched community partnerships and begun developing tools to shape both research and practice.

"One of our biggest goals is to make sure that Arkansas becomes a national leader in transition innovation," said Kucharczyk, associate professor of special education and head of the college's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. "That means building sustainable partnerships, producing rigorous research and always centering the voices of youth and families in our work."

The lab provides faculty the opportunity to build on efforts that have started to directly improve employment, postsecondary education, community participation and self-determination for youth in Arkansas.

Those interested in learning about or engaging with the work in the AR-TRAC Lab can contact artrac@uark.edu.