News and Notes 475 August 18

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 08/18/2021 - 16:25

In anticipation of the 2020 Paralympics, NARIC features Paralympic and other sports participants from the NIDILRR community in its Spotlight blog; This Just In... article describes a simple, low-cost socket fabrication method that can be performed by people with minimal prosthetic training; the New England ADA Regional Center and the ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center publish factsheet, The ADA, Addiction, and Recovery for Private Businesses and Nonprofits; co-investigator for the Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System Center receives award for the best oral presentation, Lifetime abuse experience of women with spinal cord injury (SCI), at the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA); the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, ADA National Network 30th Anniversary Series: Spotlight on Webinars and On-Line Courses; the Northeast ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Beyond Extra Time for Exams: Accommodation at Colleges and Universities; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living (RRTC/PICL) hosts State of the Science Virtual Conference, presenting interventions and programs designed to improve community living outcomes among people with disabilities; the Virginia Commonwealth University Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Center seeks participants at least 18 years of age for a study on adjustment and resilience after a traumatic brain injury (TBI); the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) at the Department of Labor publish Secure Your Financial Future: A Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities.

Date sent: 
2021-08-18
NARIC news: 

As we head toward the end of August, we're very excited to see the 2020 Paralympics finally getting underway in less than a week! As with the Olympics, the 2020 Paralympic Games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of world-class athletes with disabilities will compete in more than 20 sports from archery to triathlons. Did you know that several members of the NIDILRR community have competed in the Paralympics and other major sporting events, including Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, NIDILRR's director? Meet a few of these exceptional athletes in our Spotlight blog!

This Just In: 
A novel, low-cost transradial socket fabrication method using mass-producible components and expanding rigid foam. Prosthetics and Orthotics International. NARIC Accession Number: J86717.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study describes a simple, low-cost socket fabrication method that does not require specialized equipment or electricity and can be performed by people with minimal prosthetic training. Millions of people in low- and middle-income countries lack access to prosthetic care. A well-fitting, durable socket is important for prosthesis comfort and function, but conventional fabrication techniques require highly trained clinicians and specialized equipment. The authors developed a rapid method for fabricating a rigid foam socket directly over the residual limb, with a mass producible, strong, cosmetically appealing plastic outer shell. They fabricated sockets for individuals with unilateral transradial amputations and evaluated socket function. An individual with no formal prosthetic training was able to fabricate sockets and assemble a functional, comfortable prosthesis system within 90 minutes. All necessary materials, tools, and written instructions for fabrication and fitting can be provided in a kit for under $100. Specialized equipment and electricity are not required. Further work is required to determine durability, assess comfort, refine suspension methods, and develop instructional materials in an appropriate format that overcomes language barriers. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Factsheet: The ADA, Addiction, and Recovery for Private Businesses and Nonprofits
The NIDILRR-funded New England ADA Regional Center (90DP0089)and the ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center (90DP0086) published a factsheet, The ADA, Addiction, and Recovery for Private Businesses and Nonprofits. The factsheet provides definitions and examples of when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is applicable. It provides several scenarios where a person might be protected under the ADA for employment, education, or healthcare treatment, including discussion of medication assisted treatment for substance use disorders. This factsheet is part of a series on the ADA, addiction, and recovery. The factsheet is also available in Spanish.
 
News items: 
NIDILRR Researcher Receives Best Oral Presentation Award at ASIA
Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD, co-investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System Center (90SI5027), received the award for the best oral presentation at the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) annual meeting in St. Louis, MO. Her presentation, Lifetime abuse experience of women with spinal cord injury, highlighted interpersonal violence against women with spinal cord injury (SCI) as an issue of significant concern and an understudied topic in need of additional attention and research.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: ADA National Network 30th Anniversary Series – Spotlight on Webinars and On-Line Courses
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DP0091) will host a webinar, ADA National Network 30th Anniversary Series: Spotlight on Webinars and On-Line Courses, August 24th, 2-3:30 pm ET. Presenters will review the various educational programs available through the ADA National Network that cover an array of topics, including disability rights, employment, healthcare, and more. Presenters will explore how one can earn credits for professional credentialing/licensing requirements, where to find out about the sessions/programs, and how to register for upcoming sessions. Registration is free and required. Continuing education credits are available upon request.
 
Webinar: Beyond Extra Time for Exams – Accommodations at Colleges and Universities
The NIDILRR-funded Northeast ADA Regional Center (90DP0088) will host a webinar, Beyond Extra Time for Exams; Accommodations at Colleges and Universities, August 25th, 1-2 pm ET. Presenters will explore the technical assistance provided by the Northeast ADA Regional Center to students and postsecondary schools about some less-familiar forms of accommodation, such as food allergies, service and emotional support animals, online learning, and more. This webinar is an introduction to thinking through how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies in the college or university setting. Registration is free and required.
 
RRTC/PICL State of the Science Virtual Conference
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living (RRTC/PICL) (90RT5043) will host a State of the Science Virtual Conference, September 8th, 15th, and 22nd, 2-3:30 pm ET each day. Speakers will present interventions and programs designed to improve community living outcomes among people with disabilities. Sessions focus on setting the stage for understanding community participation, factors influencing community participation, and applying lessons learned to increase community participation. Registration is free and required for each session.
 
Participate: 
VCU TBIMS Seeks Participants for Adjustment and Resilience after TBI Study
The NIDILRR-funded Virginia Commonwealth University Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Center (90DPTB0005) seeks participants for a study on adjustment and resilience after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants will meet regularly with a rehabilitation professional and will receive information about brain injury, recovery, and how to get better. All meetings will be virtual. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires. All participants must be 18 years of age or older and be at least 3 months post-injury. Services provided during the study are free and participants will be mailed a check after each questionnaire is completed. To register for the study, contact Karen Brooke at 866/296-6904 or Karen.Brooke@vcuhealth.org.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
DOL and EBSA Financial Toolkit Guides People with Disabilities to a Secure Future
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) at the Department of Labor have published Secure Your Financial Future: A Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities. The toolkit guides people with disabilities as they strive to obtain or maintain employment and achieve financial stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The toolkit is organized around five stages of the employment lifecycle with tools and resources addressing common financial concerns at each stage: preparing, starting, maintaining, changing, and retiring from a job.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=924685&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c