News and Notes 490 December 1

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 12/01/2021 - 12:54

In observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), NARIC has assembled items from its Spotlight blog on robotics, technology for aging in place, mobile health, and augmentative and alternative communication, among others; This Just In... features a study examining depression and pain as potential contributors to patient-provider discordance in the assessment of disease activity in youth with lupus; Research in Focus looks at return to driving as a common recovery goal for people following traumatic brain injury; the RRTC on Health and Function of People with Psychiatric Disabilities publishes manual, Enhancing Your Immune Health: Facilitator's Guide; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment publishes research report, Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Rural and Urban People with Disabilities; the Northeast ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, What's the Question?, discussing the most common and also most challenging questions related to the ADA; the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) seeks individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their caregivers to provide feedback on a new factsheet, Stay Healthy After Traumatic Brain Injury; the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network (JAN) hosts webinar, Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders, exploring workplace accommodations and assistive technology options for employees with autoimmune disorders.

Date sent: 
2021-12-01
NARIC news: 

Since 1992, the United Nations has observed December 3rd as International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This year, commemorative events around the world will focus on the theme of leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an equitable, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. This includes reducing inequalities through technology solutions. NARIC's Research In Focus series highlights the latest research from the NIDILRR grantee community in an easy-to-read format, including research on inequality and its reduction through the use of technology. We assembled some examples from this series in our Spotlight blog, including items on robotics, technology for aging in place, mobile health, and augmentative and alternative communication, among others.

This Just In: 
Understanding patient-provider discordance in adolescents with lupus: The role of pain and antidepressant medication use. Health Psychology Open, Volume 7(2). NARIC Accession Number: J87281.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study examines depression and pain as potential contributors to patient-provider discordance in the assessment of disease activity in youth with lupus. The study conducted a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance registry for 859 adolescent participants. Results indicated that discordance exists, with adolescents rating themselves as sicker compared to rating by the provider. In preliminary analyses, both pain ratings and antidepressant medication use were significant predictors of discordance. Access the full abstract and ordering information from REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Return to Driving May Be an Important Goal for Improving Quality of Life for People with Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Returning to driving is a common recovery goal for people who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. This week's Research In Focus looks at who is likely to return to driving and how it can impact their well-being, participation, and quality of life.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Enhancing Your Immune Health: Facilitator's Guide
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Health and Function of People with Psychiatric Disabilities (90RTHF0004) has published a manual, Enhancing Your Immune Health: Facilitator's Guide (PDF). The manual has five modules which can be used separately or in a five-week course to guide users in learning how the immune system works and gaining new skills for improving their health. The goal of the guide is to assist participants to lessen their vulnerability to colds, flu, and infections by adopting a healthier lifestyle that includes adequate sleep, less stress, a balanced diet, good nutrition, and certain immunity aids backed by research evidence. The guide was designed to educate people with lived experience of mental illness, but can be used by anyone who wishes to understand and enhance their immune health.
 
News items: 
New Report Examines Rates of Social Isolation and Loneliness Among People with Disabilities
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment (90RCTP0002) published a research report, Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Rural and Urban People with Disabilities (PDF). The report discusses a study on the experiences of and the risk factors for social isolation and loneliness in people with disabilities in rural and urban areas. The report also highlights the importance of access to employment and transportation to lower social isolation and feelings of loneliness among people with disabilities, regardless of where they live.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: What's the Question?
The NIDILRR-funded Northeast ADA Regional Center (90DP0088) will host a webinar, What's the Question?, December 6th, 1 – 2 pm ET. Presenters will discuss the most common and also most challenging questions related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addressed by the Northeast ADA Technical Assistance team. These include questions related to service animals, physical design, and digital accessibility, as well as other ADA-related issues. Participants may submit questions in advance. Registration is free and required by December 5th.
 
Participate: 
MSKTC TBI Consumer Factsheet Testing
The NIDILRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) (90DPKT0009) is recruiting individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and caregivers to provide feedback on a new factsheet, Stay Healthy After Traumatic Brain Injury. Participants must be at least 18 years of age, have a diagnosis of TBI, or be a caregiver of a person with a TBI. Participants will take part in interviews that last 60 minutes and will receive a $25 gift card for their time. For more information and to register, call 202/403-5600 or email msktc@air.org.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
Webinar: Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders
The Office of Disability Employment Policy's Job Accommodation Network (JAN) will host a webinar, Accommodation Solutions for Autoimmune Disorders, December 9th, 2 – 3 pm ET. Presenters will explore workplace accommodations and assistive technology options to keep employees with autoimmune disorders safe and successful in the workplace. Presenters will explore a range of common limitations due to autoimmune disorders and accommodation approaches tailored for a variety of industries, including administrative services, healthcare, information technology, transportation, and manufacturing. Registration is free and required.
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=927352&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c