News and Notes 504 March 23

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 03/23/2022 - 11:54

In observance of the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), NARIC offers recent additions to its collection of research on the ACA, including several from the NIDILRR grantee community; Research in Focus finds that transgender people with disabilities may have more unmet healthcare needs than their cisgender peers; This Just In... presents a study on an automated fall detection device for older adult wheelchair and scooter users; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Person-Centered Outcomes and Measurements releases research brief, Influence of Disability Models on Person-Centeredness in Home and Community-Based Services; latest episode of Adventures in Accessibility, the podcast of the Rocky Mountain ADA Regional Center, features Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen, who continued his career after losing his left arm in a car accident; researcher from the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-Based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment (RTC Rural) discussed the need for better representation of people with disabilities in research and data collection on episode of Barrier Free Futures podcast; the Rehabilitatiion Research and Training Center on Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities hosts webinar, Ask Me Anything About Supported Employment and Individual Placement and Support (IPS); the Southeast ADA Regional Center hosts three-part webinar series, Employment and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services Outcomes hosts  Measuring Outcomes of People with Disabilities: An International Forum; the Administration for Community Living (ACL) hosts livestream, Celebrating ACL's 10th Anniversary; the Department of Transportation (DOT) hosts virtual public meeting, Air Travel by Persons Who Use Wheelchairs.

Date sent: 
2022-03-23
NARIC news: 

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), landmark legislation that lead to historic advances in health equity. Thanks to the ACA, Americans with disabilities have gained health coverage without lifetime limits, and protections are in place for people with preexisting conditions. The ACA also brought community living options to more people, supported the Aging and Disability Resource Centers and the No Wrong Door System, increased supports for mental health and substance use disorder, and much more. Our Research In Focus series highlighted a study that found that expansion of Medicaid under the ACA may have allowed more people with disabilities to find and keep jobs without losing much needed medical coverage. Research is ongoing to understand the impact of the ACA on improving access and reducing disparities in healthcare. Check out recent additions to the NARIC collection on the ACA, including these from the NIDILRR grantee community.

This Just In: 
Insights on an automated fall detection device designed for older adult wheelchair and scooter users: A qualitative study. Disability and Health Journal, Volume 15(1), Pgs. 101207. NARIC Accession Number: J88197.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study examined the desired specifications, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness of an automated fall-detection device desired by older adults who use a wheelchair or scooter. Through interviews with full-time wheelchair and scooter users, the authors found that preferred features included wireless charging, a watch form, ability to change the individual who is contacted in the event of a fall, and the ability to disable a notification in the event of a false alarm. Participants felt that an automated fall-detection device would be useful and easy to use. Participants also reported challenges with previous fall-detection devices and the need for specific design requirements to facilitate ongoing use. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Research in Focus: 
Even with Health Insurance, Transgender People with Disabilities May Have More Unmet Healthcare Needs than Their Cisgender Peers
This week's Research In Focus finds that transgender people with disabilities may be more likely to have unmet healthcare needs, such as access to primary care, specialists, or prescriptions, compared to cisgender people with disabilities.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Influence of Disability Models on Person-Centeredness in Home and Community-Based Services
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Person-Centered Outcomes and Measurements (90RTGE0004) released a research brief, Influence of Disability Models on Person-Centeredness in Home and Community-Based Services. The brief examines the medical, social, and biopsychosocial frameworks of disability; evolving concepts of person-centeredness; and implications for providers and others who deliver HCBS in order to achieve improvements in person-centered supports.
 
News items: 
New Podcast Episode Spotlights Musicians' Adventures in Accessibility
The latest episode of Adventures in Accessibility, the podcast of the NIDILRR-funded Rocky Mountain ADA Regional Center (90DPAD0009), featured Rick Allen, drummer for the band Def Leppard, and his wife Lauren Monroe, a musician and healing arts educator. Mr. Allen lost his left arm in a car accident in 1984 and continued his drumming career using a semi-electronic drum kit. Mr. Allen and Ms. Monroe founded Raven Drum Foundation which serves, educates, and empowers people with disabilities, people in crisis, and other at-risk populations, using drumming as a tool for connection and healing.
 
Researcher Interviewed on Barrier Free Futures Podcast
Lillie Greiman, researcher from the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-Based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment (RTC: Rural) (90RTCP0002), was interviewed for Disability Data and the Need for Better Access and Equity, an episode of the Barrier Free Futures podcast. Ms. Greiman discussed the need for better representation of people with disabilities in research and data collection and why rural disability data is difficult to find. Ms. Greiman also discussed the work being done by RTC: Rural to improve the representation of people with disabilities who live in rural communities in research.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: Ask Me Anything About Supported Employment and IPS
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities (90RTEM0004) will host a webinar, Ask Me Anything About Supported Employment and Individual Placement and Support (IPS), March 28th, 12 - 1 pm ET. In this interactive session, participants are invited to pose their questions to guest experts in supported employment and IPS to learn how these programs may lead to successful employment outcomes for people with psychiatric disabilities. Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar Series: Employment and ADA
The NIDILRR-funded Southeast ADA Regional Center (90RTCP0002) will host a three-part webinar series, Employment and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), March 30th, April 27th, and May 25th, 2 - 3:30 ET. Webinar topics will be Disability Disclosure: From Application to Employment, The Interactive Process: The Foundation for Receiving an Effective Accommodation, and Employment: Long Haulers and COVID. Registration is free and required for each session.
 
Virtual Forum: Measuring Outcomes of People with Disabilities – An International Forum
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services Outcomes Measurement (90DPAD0005) will host a forum, Measuring Outcomes of People with Disabilities: An International Forum, April 11th, 11 am - 2 pm ET. International presenters and panelists will discuss global approaches for using outcome measures to enhance the human and civil rights of people with disabilities. A panel discussion will explore the different indicators, frameworks, and approaches used around the world to assess quality in disability service and policy contexts and propose improvements for the future. Registration is free and required.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
Save the Date: Celebrating ACL's 10th Anniversary
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will host a livestream, Celebrating ACL's 10th Anniversary, April 26th, 1 - 2:30 pm ET. The event will celebrate ACL's achievements during the last decade, explore current opportunities and activities, and look ahead to what needs to be done to achieve ACL's vision for the future of the country. The event will feature two panels of leaders from the disability and aging communities. The panelists will discuss community living, ACL's accomplishments within these communities, and how the disability and aging communities can work together to create partnerships and collaboration. Sign up for ACL updates to be alerted when registration opens.
 
DOT Public Meeting on Air Travel by Persons Who Use Wheelchairs TOMORROW
The Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a virtual public meeting, Air Travel by Persons Who Use Wheelchairs, March 24th, 10:15 am - 5:30 pm ET. This meeting is an opportunity to listen and learn from persons who use wheelchairs on the difficulties they encounter during air travel. It is also an opportunity for airlines to discuss both the challenges they face in providing accessible air transportation and actions they are taking or planning to take to improve the air travel environment. Information gathered during the event will aid DOT in identifying actions to advance safe accommodation for travelers with disabilities. Registration is free and required. Members of the public and industry are also encouraged to review and comment on DOT's recently proposed rules to improve accessibility of lavatories on single-aisle aircraft.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=930575&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c