News and Notes 486 November 3

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 11/03/2021 - 12:56

In observance of National Family Caregivers Month, organized by the Caregiver Action Network, NARIC has resources in its Spotlight Blog, including the latest research from the NIDILRR community, to understand the state of caregiving and develop new programs and supports; This Just In... features an article in the Disability and Health Journal on the effects of a consumer-driven home modification invention on community participation for people with mobility disabilities; Research in Focus discusses how Black young adults with mental illness find support from vocational counselors seeking to understand their needs; the Southeast ADA Regional Center posts An Insider's Perspective of the Legal System, latest episode in the Disability Rights Today podcast; principal investigator for recently completed NIDILRR-funded field-initiated projects on stroke to receive the 2021 Freda Newcombe Prize, recognizing distinguished scientists of cognitive neuropsychology, from the British Neuropsychological Society (BNS); the project Research and Education to Support the Science of Independent Living for Inclusion and Engagement: National Center of Excellence RRTC (RESILIENCE RRTC) to host next session of the Built to Scale online seminar series; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living hosts seminar, The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19: What We Know and What We Need to Do; the Temple University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation of People with Serious Mental Illness (TU Collaborative) seeks participants for research study, Parenting Through Leisure, focusing on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the Department of Health and Human Services publishes report, Physical Activity and the Health of Wheelchair Users: A Systematic Review in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy (CP), and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

Date sent: 
2021-11-03
NARIC news: 

November is National Family Caregivers Month, organized by the Caregiver Action Network, recognizing those who provide essential care and medical assistance to a family member or friend with a disability. This support makes it possible for older adults and those with disabilities to live in their homes and communities. While family caregiving can be rewarding, it can also take at a toll on those who provide care, physically, financially, and emotionally. Thankfully, there are programs, services, and even technology that can help. Visit our Spotlight Blog to learn about some of these resources, and the latest research from the NIDILRR community to understand the state of caregiving and develop new programs and supports.

This Just In: 
Effects of a consumer driven home modification intervention on community participation for people with mobility disabilities. Disability and Health Journal NARIC Accession Number: J87323.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study explored the effects of a consumer-driven home modification intervention on community participation for people with mobility disabilities. The intervention, the Home Usability Program (HUP), was implemented with 195 consumers at two different Centers for Independent Living and included a self-assessment of their home environment and implementation of a home usability change. The HUP positively affected the community participation of people with mobility disabilities, with a 39.5 percent increase in social and recreational activities immediately following the intervention. However, six months after the intervention, this effect returned to baseline. The community-based, consumer-driven home modification program in this study showed promise for improving community participation outcomes among people with disabilities, but more research is needed to understand why results did not persist. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Black Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness Experience Barriers to Vocational Growth, Find Support from Vocational Counselors Who Seek to Understand Their Needs
This week's Research In Focus finds that Black young adults with serious mental illness can face challenges in working with vocational rehabilitation, but counselors who actively seek to understand their needs and experiences can help them toward employment success.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Disability Rights Today: An Insider's Perspective of the Legal System
The NIDILRR-funded Southeast ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0005) has posted An Insider's Perspective of the Legal System, the latest episode in the Disability Rights Today podcast. The episode features an interview with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court of Northern California. Judge Cordell shares her unique perspective on how our legal system works and issues of prejudice within the system.
 
News items: 
NIDILRR Researcher Receives Newcombe Prize
Laurel Buxbaum, PsyD, principal investigator for recently-completed NIDILRR-funded field-initiated projects on stroke (H133G060068; H133G030169), will receive the 2021 Freda Newcombe Prize from the British Neuropsychological Society (BNS). The prize recognizes distinguished scientists in the discipline of cognitive neuropsychology. Dr. Buxbaum will present the Newcombe Prize Lecture on her research titled The Way(s) You Do the Things You Do: Left Hemisphere Representation and Selection of Tool Knowledge at the BNS Autumn Meeting.
 
Grantee event: 
Built To Scale Seminar Series: National Community of Practice on Family Supports
The NIDILRR-funded Research and Education to Support the Science of Independent Living for Inclusion and Engagement: National Center of Excellence RRTC (RESILIENCE RRTC) (90RTGE0003) will host the next session of the Built to Scale online seminar series, November 9th, 11 am – 12 pm ET. Presenters will discuss the scaling of the National Community of Practice on Supports to Families with Members with Developmental Disabilities. This series explores researchers' challenges and success in successfully scaling evidence-based health interventions. Registration is free and required. Previous sessions in this series are archived on the website.
 
Webinar: The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living (90RTCP0003) will host a webinar, The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19: What We Know and What We Need to Do, November 10th, 11am – 12pm ET. Presenters will summarize results of a 12-month follow-up survey on the direct support professional (DSP) workforce and their experiences supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters will share what the data revealed and recommendations to strengthen the workforce to keep DSPs and the individuals they support safe. Registration is free and required.
 
Participate: 
Parenting Through Leisure Study
The NIDILRR-funded Temple University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation of People with Serious Mental Illness (TU Collaborative) (90RTCP0001) seeks participants for their research study Parenting Through Leisure, which focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. Participants must be at least 18 years of age with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder and must be a parent of a child 5-15 years of age who is interested in participating in leisure activities with the participant. Eligible participants will be asked to complete three 90-minute interviews, and will receive a $20 gift card for each completed interview. Participants will also be enrolled in an online program to support them with ideas and make plans to participate in more recreation with their child. Additional eligibility and program information are available on the linked webpage, or email TUCollab@temple.edu.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
Physical Activity and Health of Wheelchair Users with MS, CP, and SCI
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the Department of Health and Human Services has published a report, Physical Activity and the Health of Wheelchair Users: A Systematic Review in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy (CP), and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The authors reviewed more than 160 studies of physical activity in people with these disabilities. The review found that physical activity has some benefits, such as improvements in walking ability, balance, depression, and sleep, depending on the type of activity and the population participating. Evidence was limited for other outcomes such as long-term cardiovascular benefit. An evidence summary and full report are available.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=926684&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c