News and Notes 499 February 16

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 02/16/2022 - 12:28

In memory of David R. Beukelman, PhD, a dedicated researcher in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and a member of the NIDILRR grantee community, NARIC presents more than 100 pieces in its collection which he authored or co-authored over more than 40 years; This Just In... presents a study assessing factors associated with social connectedness in adults with mobility disabilities; the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) publishes factsheet, Bone Loss After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI); GoVoBo, captioning technology developed under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Improving the Accessibility, Usability, and Performance of Technology for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH-RERC) was selected as a Disability Innovation for the Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator program; co-principal investigator for the Disability Employer Practices Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) and the RRTC on Employment Policy: Center for Disability-Inclusive Employment Policy Research gives testimony on COVID-19 and Disability Employment Research for the Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP): the Mid-Atlantic ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, ADA Advocacy in the Post-ADA World; the Pacific ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Learning from Patients to Provide Accessible Healthcare and Effective Communication for Patients Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation conducts study on social inclusion and retirement for older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD); the National Council on Disability (NCD) releases a Health Study Framework to guide policymakers to improving health equity for people with disabilities.

Date sent: 
2022-02-16
NARIC news: 

This week we learned of the passing of David R. Beukelman, PhD, a dedicated researcher in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and a long-time member of the NIDILRR grantee community. Dr. Beukelman's work is foundational to the AAC field which, as he noted in one presentation, did not exist when he first started working with children with cerebral palsy as a speech language pathologist. He authored and edited its leading texts, mentored and advised emerging AAC researchers, and conducted research and development that expanded the use of AAC to underserved populations. Our collection includes more than 100 pieces that he authored or co-authored over more than 40 years. Learn more about Dr. Beukelman and his work from his colleagues at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on AAC.

This Just In: 
Assessing factors associated with social connectedness in adults with mobility disabilities. Disability and Health Journal. NARIC Accession Number: J87550.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study assessed social activity, isolation, and loneliness among people with mobility disabilities compared to those with non-mobility disabilities and identified factors associated with social connectedness among people with mobility disabilities. Using data from the National Survey on Health and Disability, the researchers found that adults with mobility disabilities were less likely than respondents from other disability groups to report feeling isolated, but these groups did not differ on measures of social activity or loneliness. Within the mobility disability group, being unemployed and in fair or poor health were predictive of greater loneliness, more isolation, and less satisfaction with social activity. Levels of social isolation were significantly greater for rural dwellers with mobility disabilities compared to urban dwellers. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Factsheet: Bone Loss After SCI
The NIDILRR-funded Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) (90DPKT0009) recently published a factsheet, Bone Loss After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The factsheet explains why bone loss happens to people with SCI, the risks for bone fracture, and how bone fractures can cause other health problems. The factsheet outlines the ways to treat bone loss and minimize the risk of having a fracture. The factsheet is also available in Spanish (PDF).
 
News items: 
GoVoBo Selected for Disability Innovation Accelerator
GoVoBo, captioning technology whose protoype was developed under the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Improving the Accessibility, Usability, and Performance of Technology for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH-RERC) (90RE5020), was selected as a Disability Innovation for the Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator program. GoVoBo is a universal, automated captioning and translation application that can be used across multiple platforms. Through the accelerator program, participants receive development funding, technical coaching, workshops with subject matter experts, exposure and mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch to industry leaders.
 
Senate HELP Committee Hears Testimony on COVID-19 and Disability Employment Research
Lisa Schur, PhD, JD, co-principal investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Disability Employer Practices Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) (90RTEM0008) and the RRTC on Employment Policy: Center for Disability-Inclusive Employment Policy Research (990RTEM0006), testified for Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Highlighting Innovations, Maximizing Inclusive Practices, and Overcoming Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities for the Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Dr. Schur highlighted the most recent employment statistics of people with disabilities and recent data showing a rise in employment of people with disabilities during the pandemic, possibly due to an increased willingness among employers to hire workers with disabilities and provide accommodations such as telework and flexible schedules.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: ADA Advocacy in the Post-ADA World
The NIDILRR-funded Mid-Atlantic ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0008) will host a webinar, ADA Advocacy in the Post-ADA World, February 22nd, 2-3:30 pm EST. Presenters will discuss the ongoing efforts of two independent living and disability rights organizations in Pennsylvania to advocate for enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Presenters will highlight their work with the City of Williamsport, PA to provide access for people with disabilities to the city government's buildings, programs, and services (ADA Title II). Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar: Learning from Patients to Provide Accessible Healthcare and Effective Communication for Patients Who are Blind or Have Low Vision
The NIDILRR-funded Pacific ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0006) will host a webinar, Learning from Patients to Provide Accessible Healthcare and Effective Communication for Patients Who are Blind or Have Low Vision, February 24th, 2:30-4 pm ET. Presenters will share the experiences of people who are blind or have low vision when seeking healthcare based on focus group research on patient health experiences. Presenters will also discuss techniques for working directly with patients as well as how training and facility design can contribute to high quality, accessible patient care. Registration is free and required.
 
Participate: 
Retirement and IDD Study
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation (90RCPT0003) is conducting a study to learn more about social inclusion and retirement for older adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Retired adults with IDD and an ally of their choice (i.e., a family member, friend, or direct support professional) are invited to participate in interviews over Zoom about their thoughts on retirement, steps they took to retire, and what they are doing now. Eligible participants must be adults with IDD who are 45 or older and who have left paid employment or reduced the number of hours they work in paid employment. Allies must be adults who have known the participant for a year or more. Eligible participants and their ally will be interviewed for about 60 minutes and will each receive a $50 gift card. Additional eligibility and contact information are available on the website.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
NCD Releases Health Equity Framework
The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency, released a Health Equity Framework to guide policymakers to improving health equity for people with disabilities. NCD’s framework begins with four core areas that NCD views as foundational for achieving health equity for people with disabilities. These core areas and their components call for designating people with disabilities as a Special Medically Underserved Population, requiring comprehensive clinical-care curricula and disability-competent education for healthcare providers, requiring the use of accessible medical and diagnostic equipment, and improving data collection concerning healthcare for people with disabilities. The framework will be discussed during a stakeholder webcast, February 23rd, 2-3 pm ET. Registration is free and encouraged for the webcast.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=929417&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c