News and Notes 468 June 30

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 06/30/2021 - 13:27

NARIC welcomes readers to visit its virtual booth at next week's 2021 RESNA Virtual Conference; This Just In... features a study exploring the relationship between higher levels of education and employment for people with visual impairments; Research in Focus explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected employment for workers with disabilities from February 2020 to January 2021; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation (RTC-CL) published new policy research brief, The Direct Support Workforce and Covid-19: Low Wages and Racial Disparities; Dr. Leora Cherney, principal investigator for nine NIDILRR-funded projects, receives the 2021 Women in Rehabilitation Science Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine; Dr. James Krause, principal investigator for more than 20 NIDILRR-funded projects, is named Distinguished Professor of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in the College of Health Professions; the Southwest ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Effective Communication; the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, ADA Jeopardy: Learn, Connect, and Celebrate 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network, where members from ADA Network Regional Centers will answer ADA-related questions in a Jeopardy-style game; the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (CeKTER) hosts webinar, Using an Equity Framework in Employment Practice Implementation, where presenters will explore the concept of, and strategies for, promoting equitable implementation science; the Workplace Accommodation Expert Support System (Work ACCESS) seeks individuals with experience in providing workplace accommodations for employees with mental health concerns for a development brainstorming session; the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network hosts webinar, ADA Update, discussing the latest developments on applying the ADA in the workplace.

Date sent: 
2021-06-30
NARIC news: 

Next week, we will be exhibiting at the 2021 RESNA Virtual Conference, along with some of the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers and the Initiative to Mobilize Partnerships for successful Assistive teChnology Transfer (IMPACT Center). RESNA is one of many conferences that have opted for virtual only or hybrid virtual/live events during the COVID-19 pandemic. These virtual events offer more opportunities for people to attend professional and consumer conferences, since they don't have the expense or time constraints of travel. Until we can see our colleagues and patrons in person, we welcome the opportunity to meet you in the virtual space!

This Just In: 
Educational attainment and employment for individuals with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), Volume 115(2), Pgs. 152-159. NARIC Accession Number J86244.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study explored the relationship between higher levels of education and employment for people with visual impairments in comparison to the general population. Researchers reviewed data from the American Community Survey collected between 2008 and 2017. On average, across the 10-year period, individuals with visual disabilities who had a college degree had an employment rate of 62.5 percent compared to 46.2 percent for those with some college education or an associate’s degree, 37 percent for individuals with a high school diploma, and 26.2 percent for those with less than a high school diploma. However, individuals with visual impairments were much less likely to be employed compared to those without disabilities across all levels of educational attainment. Findings underscore the value of obtaining a college degree for individuals with visual impairments in terms of employment. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Workers with Disabilities Were Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, but Stayed Engaged in the Labor Force
This week's Research In Focus looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected employment for workers with disabilities between February 2020 and January 2021.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Research Brief: The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 - Low Wages and Racial Disparities
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation (RTC-CL) (90RTCP0003) has published a new policy research brief, The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19: Low Wages and Racial Disparities. The brief summarizes the results of a national survey conducted by RTC-CL of nearly 9,000 direct support professionals (DSPs) providing support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the findings, respondents reported fear of COVID-19 infection among DSPs and the people they support, low wages, high turnover and vacancy rates, and significant wage differences between Black DSPs and their White counterparts.
 
News items: 
NIDILRR Researcher Receives Women in Rehabilitation Science Award
Leora Cherney, PhD, principal investigator for nine NIDILRR-funded projects, received the 2021 Women in Rehabilitation Science Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. The award is given in recognition of world-class rehabilitation research conducted by a female scientist. Dr. Cherney received the award for her 40 years of clinical and research experience in the area of adult neurologic communication disorders, including quantitative and qualitative studies, single-subject research and randomized clinical trials, and measures outcomes relative to both impairment and participation levels. Dr. Cherney has authored over 100 journal publications and five books.
 
NIDILRR Researcher Honored by MUSC
James Krause, PhD, principal investigator for more than 20 NIDILRR-funded projects, was named a Distinguished Professor of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in the College of Health Professions. Distinguished Professor is the highest academic rank in the College of Health Professions, requiring both international prominence and sustained, meritorious service to the university. Dr. Krause leads the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Longitudinal Study, launched in 1973, and has published more than 280 publications in SCI and other neuromuscular disorders.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: The ADA and Effective Communication
The NIDILRR-funded Southwest ADA Regional Center (90DP0092) will host a webinar, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Effective Communication, July 6th, 2-3:30 pm ET. Presenters will provide information about the responsibilities of state and local government agencies and private businesses in meeting the standards for effective communication with people with disabilities under the ADA. Presenters will share resources to assist these agencies and businesses in removing barriers and providing communication access for people with disabilities. Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar: ADA Jeopardy – Learn, Connect, and Celebrate 30 Years of the ADA National Network
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DP0086) will host webinar, ADA Jeopardy: Learn, Connect, and Celebrate 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network, July 7th, 2-3:30 pm ET. In a Jeopardy-style game, members from the NIDILRR-funded ADA National Network Regional Centers will answer ADA-related questions to help attendees learn more about the law. Attendees will have a chance to join the game by suggesting questions for the bonus round. Registration is free and required. Questions may be submitted with registration.
 
Webinar: Using an Equity Framework in Employment Practice Implementation
The NIDILRR-funded Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research (CeKTER) (90DPEM0004) will host a webinar, Using an Equity Framework in Employment Practice Implementation, July 15th, 2-3 pm ET. Presenters will discuss equity implementation for employment-focused researchers, and their related collaborators. Presenters will explore the concept of, and strategies for, promoting equitable implementation science. Registration is free and required. This webinar is the first in the Knowledge Implementation Track of CeKTER's Knowledge Translation Academy.
 
Participate: 
Work ACCESS Development Brainstorming Session
The NIDILRR-funded project Workplace Accommodation Expert Support System (Work ACCESS) (90DPEM0004) seeks individuals with experience in providing workplace accommodations for employees who have mental health concerns for a development brainstorming session, July 13th, 11 am - 12:30 pm ET. Participants will spend about 90 minutes in a group teleconference to brainstorm on accommodation problems and solutions that can be incorporated into the Work ACCESS assessment tool. Participants must be 18 or older, with experience using or recommending workplace accommodations for mental health concerns, work in and be participating from the US, and be fluent in spoken or written English. Registration is required and eligible participants will receive $40 compensation. For more information, contact Karen Milchus at karen.milchus@design.gatech.edu.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
ADA Update with the Job Accommodation Network
The Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network will host a webinar, ADA Update, July 13th, 2-3 pm ET. Representatives from the Office of Legal Counsel at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will discuss the latest developments on applying the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the workplace. Presenters will offer practical tips for compliance and answers to tough ADA questions. Registration is free and required.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=923423&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c