Life Span Institute Research Centers


Center for Community Health and Development

The KU Center for Community Health and Development supports health and development through collaborative research and evaluation, teaching and training, and technical support and capacity building.

people high-fiving after a team game in a park
teacher high-fiving a student at a school table with other children looking at them.

Center for Research on Learning

KU Center for Research on Learning is dedicated to development and research of educational programs and practices that improve outcomes for all learners, including those with learning differences or disabilities.

Explore KUCRL

Child Language Doctoral Program

The interdisciplinary Child Language Doctoral Program prepares researchers in child language and language impairments in a way that bridges knowledge of language acquisition, children’s language impairments, developmental psychology, and linguistics.

Smiling child with Minnie Mouse shirt, looking through net that surrounds trampoline

Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment

The Cofrin Logan Center serves as a hub for research, training, education, and outreach. The center is dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating addiction and related disorders, promoting health and improved quality of life, and reducing stigma.

people blurred out in the background looking at a person in a group addiction therapy session

Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies

The Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies conducts timely and meaningful research and evaluation to inform health and disability policy, with the goal of improving access and quality of care for all people, particularly for those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Woman who is blind in puffy coat with support dog
teacher on the floor with children in a Juniper Garden's affiliated childcare center

Juniper Gardens Children's Project

Juniper Gardens is a collaboration between the local urban community, KU faculty and students, and partner organizations that develops meaningful solutions to improve the care and educational experiences of children.

Juniper Gardens

Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training

Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training aims to improve quality of life for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families through research and training on the causes, nature and management of autism.

Child participating in an autism evaluation exercise with toys and a researcher.

The Kansas Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center

The Kansas Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at the University of Kansas is dedicated to scientific research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Physician and young child looking at tape measure during development appointment

KU Center on Developmental Disabilities

The KU Center on Developmental Disabilities enhances the quality of life, self-determination, and inclusion of Kansans with developmental disabilities and their families through research, training, technical assistance, and community service.

Researcher Sheida Raley and two Free State High School teachers discuss a self-determination method for improving learning
Parents playing with their young child in a park. The child is holding a toy rattle.

Life Span Institute at Parsons

The Life Span Institute at Parsons is committed to optimizing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families through research, training, technical assistance and public service.

Life Span Institute at Parsons

Merrill Advanced Studies Center

The Merrill Advanced Studies Center is a catalyst for scholarship on disabilities and policies that shape university research. Its conferences and publications establish new directions and build collaborative projects in both science and policy.

Senior leaders attending a Merrill conference, including Chancellor Doug Girod and former Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little

Research & Training Center on Independent Living

Research & Training Center on Independent Living furthers independent living for people with disabilities by collaborating with consumers on research that is relevant to their lives and by using innovative methods to disseminate knowledge.

closeup, side view of a person using a wheelchair on a sidewalk in a park

SWIFT Education Center

SWIFT Education Center leads the nation in equity-based Multi-tiered System of Support education research and services. It aims to transform education so that it benefits each and every student, their families, and ultimately the communities in which they live.

Teacher standing in front of colorful bulletin board leading an exercise

Beach Center on Disabilities

The Beach Center on Disability focuses research, training, and advocacy on promoting abilities of people of all ages who experience disability, in order to assure a self-determined, goal-driven, and self-selected quality of life within communities where everyone lives.

Woman seated in wheelchair playing video games with young man who has Down Syndrome