Co-Principal Investigator
University of Missouri St. Louis
Christopher Worth is a doctoral student at the University of Missouri–St. Louis whose research focuses on dignity of risk within the framework of self-determination for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). His work examines how relationships with educators, service providers, and community partners shape outcomes in competitive employment, inclusive higher education, and community participation.
Christopher is Co-Principal Investigator on two NIDILRR-funded projects—My Risk for Opportunity, Autonomy, and Dignity (My ROAD), which expands dignity of risk practices on college campuses, and Dignity of Work, which applies this framework in supported employment settings. He has co-authored multiple publications, including conceptual frameworks and practice recommendations for embedding dignity of risk in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs, and co-developed a dignity of risk continuum used by organizations to evaluate and expand opportunities for choice, inclusion, and independence.
In addition to his academic work, Christopher brings a strong background in advocacy and community organizing. He is founder of It’s Worth Organizing, a grassroots initiative focused on educational equity and community participation, and a founding member of the Coalition for Truth in Independence, which amplifies the perspectives of people with disabilities from underrepresented groups. His contributions have been recognized with the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disability Services President (2023), the award for statewide leadership in advocacy and education the Collaborative Research Award from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (2023), and the Missouri Mental Health Champion Award (2018).
In addition to his academic work, Christopher brings a strong background in advocacy and community organizing. He is founder of It’s Worth Organizing, a grassroots initiative focused on educational equity and community participation, and a founding member of the Coalition for Truth in Independence, which amplifies the perspectives of people with disabilities from underrepresented groups. His contributions have been recognized with the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disability Services President (2023), the award for statewide leadership in advocacy and education the Collaborative Research Award from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (2023), and the Missouri Mental Health Champion Award (2018).
As a researcher with cerebral palsy and a learning disability, and as someone who experienced foster care and institutional settings, Christopher’s lived experiences deeply inform his approach. He is committed to participatory research methods that center the voices of people with I/DD and to developing interventions responsive to people from diverse backgrounds. His work bridges research, advocacy, and creativity, advancing opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue self-determined lives.