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What is the National Institute of Disability Management and Research?

Committed to reducing the human, social and economic cost of disability to workers, employers and society through education, research, policy development and implementation resources to promote workplace based reintegration programs.

The National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR), founded in 1994, is an internationally recognized organization committed to reducing the human, social and economic costs of disability.

NIDMAR's primary focus is the promotion of education, professionalization, and program standards which international research has proven is the most effective way of restoring and maintaining workers' abilities, while reducing the costs of disability for workers, employers, government and insurance.

NIDMAR's success is the result of collaborative initiatives undertaken by leaders in labour, business, government, education, insurance and rehabilitation.

NIDMAR is supported by a broad-based Board of Directors with senior representatives from across Canada and internationally.

As a long-term labour-management and multi-party organization committed to disability management in the workplace, NIDMAR is supported by an endowment fund created through contributions from the federal and provincial governments, major private corporations and public organizations.

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NIDMAR's main areas of activity are:

  1. Education and Training The Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), founded and supported by NIDMAR, provides a range of degree and continuing education programs.
  2. Professional Standards Occupational Standards in Disability Management and Return to Work were developed that identify a discreet set of characteristics in experience, skills and competencies required by individuals working in the field from the perspective of a variety of stakeholder representatives. This was followed by development of professional certification examinations to meet those standards, which followed national and international guidelines for professional certifications. This entire initiative culminated in the development of a consensus based, transferable, recognizable and highly professional standard of excellence in the field of practice for employers, workers and providers. The two professional designations are: Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC).
  3. Program Standards International research identified key success factors in the effective implementation of Disability Management and Return to Work strategies which consistently produce positive measurable economic and social outcomes from across a broad range of organizational settings and jurisdictional boundaries. A series of audit / assessment tools were developed by NIDMAR so that organizations can measure their program performance and maximize their return on investment. A major initiative was undertaken in collaboration with a large cross section of employers, unions and workers compensation boards to ensure the development of a consensus based, psychometrically stable, calibrated and scorable audit tool. The result was the Consensus Based Disability Management Audit (CBDMA). Through regression analysis, two assessment tools were also developed, the Workplace Disability Management Assessment (WDMA) and the Disability Management Self Assessment (DMSA).
  4. Research and Policy Development Research initiatives provide a variety of qualitative and quantitative research outcomes. This information is published, made available and is used to enhance both educational programs and product/service development.
  5. Workplace Program Implementation Support products, services and programs to assist workplaces to develop and implement Disability Management programs are available through NIDMAR.