This podcast features interviews with the project's director, research study leads, and steering committee members discussing the research and training of the project. The new podcast will release episodes on the second Monday of each month over the next five years. Listeners can follow and enjoy the podcast on any of these platforms:

Season One:

Episode 1: Project Director Jenn McDonough

Release Date: September 8, 2025

On this episode, we talk with Project Director Jenn McDonough about what the RRTC on IDD project is, how it started, and where its going from here. Jenn gives us an overview of the funding and of the five research studies that comprise the project.

Episode 2: Research Study One Principal Investigator Dr. Ben Schwartzman

Release Date: October 6, 2025

On this episode, we talk with the principal investigator of Research Study One, Dr. Ben Schwartzman about his team's study, as he and his team are developing a combined parent and peer mentorship program to help adults with IDD connect to employment.

Episode 3: Research Study Two Principal Investigator Alissa Brooke

Release Date: November 10, 2025

On this episode, we talk with the principal investigator of Research Study Two, Alissa Brooke about her team's study: The Impact of CIE on the Lives of People with IDD: A Mixed-Methods Intervention Development Study Across Multiple Businesses.

Episode 4: Research Study Three Principal Investigator Dr. Timothy Tansey

Release Date: December 8, 2025

On episode four, we catch up with the principal investigator of Research Study Three, Dr. Timothy Tansey about his team's study: Inspiring and Preparing Disempowered Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Pursue Technology Training and Careers: Scaling up the TECH-Prep Intervention.

Episode 5: Research Study Four Principal Investigator Jaclyn Camden

Release Date: January 12, 2026

We sit down with Jaclyn Camden, the principal investigator of Research Study Four, and discuss the research of her and her team as they create a technical assistance and training model for college professionals to improve employment opportunities for college students with IDD.

Episode 6: Research Study Five Principal Investigator Dr. Carol Schall

Release Date: February 9, 2026

We are joined by Dr. Carol Schall, the principal investigator of Research Study Five. She breaks down the research that she and her team are conducting to increase the quality of supported employment services provided to people with IDD by establishing a valid and reliable scale for implementation.

Episode 7: Troy Carter, Research and Communications Assistant

Release Date: March 9, 2026

Troy Carter, a research and communications assistant on the project, tells us about his journey to his current career and the ups and downs along the way.

Episode 8: Dr. Whitney Ham and Crystal Hence, Directors of Technical Assistance and Training

Release Date: April 6, 2026

In a special episode of Zooming into Focus, Whitney and Crystal have a conversation about training and technical assistance and how the general public can utilize the resources that are produced by the project team. They also discuss what Technical Assistance is and how people can gain information from the team about anything IDD and disability employment related.