News and Notes 496 January 26

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 01/26/2022 - 12:20

In anticipation of the 500th issue of News and Notes, coming in February, NARIC staff offers events, resources, and news items from NIDILRR grantees shared in its Spotlight blog; This Just In... presents a study examining the association of self-reported demographic, mental health, physical health, and health behavior factors with subjective cognitive difficulties in individuals with spinal cord injury; in Research in Focus, rehabilitation physicians and counselors discuss long-term effects of COVID-19 and experiences of "long-haulers" returning to work; the Northeast ADA Regional Center posts video, Martin Luther King's Impact on a Disability Advocate, featuring the advocate's visit to the Dr. King memorial in Washington, DC; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation publishes Frontline Initiative: DSPs Respond to COVID-19, covering issues important to direct support professionals (DSP) who support people with disabilities in a variety of community settings; the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Accessible Signage, focused on which signs are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), where and when signs may be required, and which signs must be tactile; the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, hosts its virtual quarterly business meeting, including a 30-minute public comment period on an upcoming project examining the state of the nation's home- and community-based services (HCBS) prior to, and during, the pandemic that contributed to the inability of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transfer to lesser-density community housing options, resulting in widespread deaths.

Date sent: 
2022-01-26
NARIC news: 

It's hard to believe, but it has been 10 years since we launched News and Notes! We started our newsletter as a way to connect our patrons to the fascinating work of the NIDILRR grantee community and highlight their accomplishments. In the decade that has past, NIDRR became NIDILRR, joined the Administration for Community Living (ACL), and celebrated its 40th anniversary. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the 50th anniversary of the Architectural Barriers Act, the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the 100th anniversary of the vocational rehabilitation program in the US. In between it all, we shared hundreds of events, resources, and news items from the grantees. Take a look at our blog for some then-and-now reminiscences and be on the lookout for our 500th issue coming in February!

This Just In: 
Mental health, pain, and sleep factors associated with subjective cognitive difficulties in individuals with spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, Volume 66(3), Pgs. 248-256. NARIC Accession Number: J87463.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study examined the association of self-reported demographic, mental health, physical health, and health behavior factors with subjective cognitive difficulties in a group of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who averaged more than 30 years postinjury at assessment. Researchers found that greater subjective cognitive difficulties were associated with being female, elevated anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, worse pain, use of multiple medications, worse self-rated diet, and tobacco use. Depressive, anxiety, and pain symptoms; sleep disturbance; and injury level remained significant predictors of variance in subjective cognitive symptoms when considering all variables simultaneously. Findings suggest that improving mental health symptoms, pain experiences, and sleep difficulties may improve subjective cognitive symptoms in individuals with SCI. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Rehabilitation Physicians and Counselors Share Their Experience of Working with COVID-19 Long-Haulers and the Challenges These Individuals May Face Returning to Work
In this week's Research In Focus, rehabilitation physicians and rehabilitation counselors discussed the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the experiences of "long-haulers" as they return to work.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Video: Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Impact on a Disability Rights Advocate
The NIDILRR-funded Northeast ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0003) produced and posted a video, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Impact on a Disability Rights Advocate. The video features B.J. Stasio, a disability rights advocate, visiting the memorial to Dr. King in Washington, DC. Mr. Stasio reflected on the life and work of Dr. King, his impact on the civil rights movement, and the profound effect of that work on the disability rights movement.
 
News items: 
Frontline Initiative Highlights COVID-19's Impact on Direct Support Professionals
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation (90RTCP0003)has published Frontline Initiative: DSPs Respond to COVID-19. Frontline Initiative covers issues important to direct support professionals (DSPs) and supervisors who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other disabilities in a variety of community settings. This issue shares stories by and for DSPs covering the challenges they've experienced during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline Initiative is produced in collaboration with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: Accessible Signage
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0012) will host a webinar, Accessible Signage, February 3rd, 2:30-4 pm ET. Presenters will discuss what signs are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards. Presenters will discuss frequent questions regarding signage under the ADA and ABA, such as where and when signs may be required and which signs must be tactile. Presenters will explain ways to meet various provisions and common sources of confusion about accessible signage. Questions may be submitted in advance. Registration is free and required. Continuing education credits are available upon request.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
National Council on Disability Seeks Public Comments on HCBS TOMORROW
The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, will host its quarterly business meeting January 27th, 12-4 pm ET. During the virtual meeting, NCD will open a 30-minute public comment period focusing on information for an upcoming project examining the state of the nation's home- and community-based services (HCBS) prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic that contributed to the inability of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transfer to lesser-density community housing options and resulted in widespread deaths. Registration is free and required. Comments may be sent in advance to PublicComment@ncd.gov.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=928856&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c