USU disability research and training center at risk of losing major funding
Jul 22, 2025, 4:30 PM | Updated: 5:14 pm
A major disability research and training center at Utah State University is at risk of losing its core funding, leaving its future uncertain. (Photo credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Photo credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — A major disability research and training center at Utah State University is at risk of losing its core funding, leaving its future uncertain.
USU’s Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice has been working to help people with disabilities since 1972.
“It’s made such a huge difference in the lives of people with disabilities. (It) was really a privilege. And it’s hard to see that be threatened and potentially go away,” said Matt Wappett, the center‘s executive director.
Wappett said they did more than 250 projects to help people with disabilities last year.
“We provide training for teachers. We provide early intervention services. We provide Medicaid services for adults with developmental disabilities,” Wappett said.
The institute’s funding hinges on a federal grant.
“If we lose that core grant, we lose the ability to write other grants and to bring in other projects that would continue to allow us to support people with disabilities here in our state,” Wappett said.
However, the federal government is considering cutting funding to centers like this. If they do, Wappett says:
“We wouldn’t have the ability to bring in new projects. We would eventually shrink and who knows? Hopefully not go away.”
It’s possible the university could help out a bit if the center does lose the grant. But, it still won’t be enough—they’d at least have to shrink their efforts, if they can keep going at all.
Wappett said they have received funding through June of next year. Congress is expected to decide on these proposed cuts by the end of September.
KSL NewsRadio’s Sam Herrera contributed to this report.
