News and Notes 503 March 16

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 03/16/2022 - 12:02

In observance of Brain Awareness Week, as well as Brain Injury Awareness Month, NARIC points to over 40 NIDILRR-funded projects conducting research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and offers a link to the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center for learning more about TBI; This Just In... presents a study exploring the personal experiences of people with disabilities navigating the US healthcare system; INROADS: Intersecting Research on Opioid Misuse, Addiction, and Disability Services publishes video and brochure, Trust Disabled People's Lived Experience; the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities (TechSAge RERC II) sponsors inaugural Stretch Robot Pitch Competition, inviting college students to propose innovative hardware or software solutions using the Stretch robot to support individuals with disabilities at home; principal investigator for the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System Center was interviewed for feature article, As fires rage, survivors struggle to find care, for WebMD; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities and RRTC on Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities host webcast, Collaborative Relationships: Promoting Transition Capable Youth; the Pacific ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Increasing Equitable Healthcare for People with Disabilities: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic; the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities hosts webinar, Black, Disabled, Deaf, and Proud; the Center for Research, Training, and Dissemination of Family Support for People with Disabilities Across the Life Course accepting applications for its postdoctoral fellowship program on research in family caregiving for persons living with a disability; the Administration for Community Living (ACL) publishes call for nominations for the RAISE Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council in the Federal Register; the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) releases report, Employment of Persons with a Disability: Analysis of Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Findings in Brief, examining the unprecedented changes in employment for America's workforce, both with and without disabilities, during the pandemic.

Date sent: 
2022-03-16
NARIC news: 

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and this is also Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign to raise awareness of brain science. Did you know that nearly 40 NIDILRR-funded projects are currently conducting research and development supporting people with traumatic brain injury (TBI)? These projects cover the life span: children, adolescents and transition-aged youth, adults, and older adults. They explore return to school or work, family and romantic relationships, chronic pain, mindfulness, driving, and so much more! Some of these projects also train up-and-coming researchers in TBI and include people with TBI in their research teams, supporting the next generation of brain researchers. Visit the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center to learn more about TBI and start your brain science education.

This Just In: 
Disability stories: Personal perspectives of people with disabilities on navigating the U.S. health system. Disability and Society. NARIC Accession Number: J88198.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study explored the personal experiences of people with disabilities as they navigate a healthcare system in the United States (US). Based on interviews with adults who self-identified as having a disability and who shared their perspectives on disability policy as it pertains to the US healthcare system, Americans with disabilities and chronic illness or injury tend to be in poorer health, use more health services, and pay more for healthcare than those without disabilities. Consequently, their lives can be profoundly affected by federal and state health policies. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Video: Trust Disabled People's Lived Experience
The NIDILRR-funded INROADS: Intersecting Research on Opioid Misuse, Addiction, and Disability Services (90DPGE0007) published a video and brochure, Trust Disabled People's Lived Experience. The video and brochure define ableism and explain how it impacts people with disabilities who also have opioid use disorder. They also highlight the importance of respecting people with disabilities, trusting their experience, and being creative and adaptive in treatment planning. These resources were created in collaboration with the Boston Center for Independent Living and four community members.
 
News items: 
TechSAge Stretch Competition Spotlights Student Innovation
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities (TechSAge RERC II) (90REGE0006) recently sponsored the inaugural Stretch Robot Pitch Competition, hosted at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Students were invited to propose innovative hardware or software solutions using the Stretch robot to support individuals aging with disabilities at home. Stretch is an open source mobile manipulator with reaching, grasping, and sensing capabilities to support people with a wide range of tasks. The winning proposals included using Stretch for household tasks and providing wayfinding assistance, and 3D printing different handles for grasping a variety of objects. In addition to a cash prize, the first place winners will have the opportunity to develop and test their proposed solution in the McKechnie Family LIFE Home.
 
Burn Injury Research in WebMD
Jeffrey Schneider, MD, principal investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System Center (90DPAD0006), was interviewed for a feature article, As fires rage, survivors struggle to find care, for WebMD. Dr. Schneider discussed the long-term impact of burn injury, which some researchers consider to be a chronic condition, and some of the challenges burn injury survivors face in finding treatment and relief as they recover.
 
Grantee event: 
Webcast: Collaborative Relationships – Promoting Transition Capable Youth
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities (90RTEM0002) and RRTC on Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (90RTEM0003) will host a webcast, Collaborative Relationships: Promoting Transition Capable Youth, March 24th, 2 – 2:45 pm ET. Presenters will discuss how to establish a Collective Impact Team and how to include emerging adults with disabilities as team members. Presenters will also discuss models of holistic and collaborative relationships and the content and practice that generates "capability." Registration is free and required. Continuing education credits are available upon request.
 
Webinar: Increasing Equitable Healthcare for People with Disabilities – Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The NIDILRR-funded Pacific ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0006) will host a webinar, Increasing Equitable Healthcare for People with Disabilities: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 24th, 2:30 – 4 pm ET. Presenters will discuss the barriers and discrimination experienced by people with disabilities in accessing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presenters will also discuss the needed changes in the US healthcare system to address and eliminate these persistent problems and lessen the significant disparities and poorer health outcomes of people with disabilities. Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar: Black, Disabled, Deaf, and Proud
The NIDILRR-funded National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities (90DPCP0012) will host a webinar, Black, Disabled, Deaf, and Proud, March 30th, 12 – 1 pm ET. Presenters will discuss their experiences as parents with disabilities and their perspectives as parents with intersectional identities. Registration is free and required.
 
Participate: 
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Family Caregiving
The NIDILRR-funded Center for Research, Training, and Dissemination of Family Support for People with Disabilities Across the Life Course (90RTEG0002) is accepting applications for its postdoctoral fellowship program focused on research in family caregiving for persons living with a disability. The fellowship program includes opportunities to participate in ongoing research and to work with a primary advisor to gain experience in one or more of the existing projects. Fellows will also have opportunities to work with health policy leaders to gain skills in generating health policy briefs related to family caregiving. Eligibility criteria and application instructions are available from the website. Applications should be submitted by March 21st.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
ACL Announces Call for Nominations for the RAISE Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) published a call for nominations for the RAISE Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council in the Federal Register. The RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council will support the preparation of updates to the Initial Report to Congress that will be released every other year. Updates may include new developments, challenges, opportunities, and solutions to better recognize and support family caregivers. Up to 15 non-federal voting members will be appointed for three-year terms and may include individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, older adults who need long-term services and supports, health care and social service providers, and others. Nominations are due April 11th. Additional information including nomination requirements is available in the Federal Register announcement.
 
ODEP Report Highlights Disability Employment Trends During COVID-19
The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released a report, Employment of Persons with a Disability: Analysis of Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Findings in Brief (PDF). This report examines the unprecedented changes in employment for America’s workforce, both with and without disabilities, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey to provide insight into key labor force statistics, employment across industries and occupations, and the effect of the easing of social distancing and the ability to telework on occupational employment change.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=930361&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c