News and Notes 527 August 31

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 08/31/2022 - 12:13

In recognition of the beginning of a new year of study for the nation's college students, NARIC features NIDILRR-funded research on young people with disabilities entering and navigating postsecondary education in its Spotlight blog; This Just In... presents a study examining factors from assistive technology professionals that impact timeliness of wheelchair service delivery; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation publishes Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of DSPs, focusing on issues affecting the direct support professional (DSP) workforce; principal investigator for the Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Center was interviewed for article in Kaiser Health News, Cognitive Rehab May Help Older Adults Clear Covid-Related Brain Fog, principal investigator for Thresholds Health Literacy and Wellness Promotion Center and co-investigator for Peer Navigators for the Health and Wellness of People with Psychiatric Disabilities to receive the 2022 Michael S. Neale Award from the American Psychological Association (APA); the ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center hosts webinar, What's Race Got to Do with It? An Intersectional Approach to Disability Rights; the project Using the National Survey on Health and Disability Panel to Document the COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences of Working-Age Americans with Disabilities seeks participants for its 2022 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD), exploring how access to health care, insurance, and the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting the lives of people with disabilities; the University of New Hampshire Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program on Employment is accepting applications for its postdoctoral fellowship program focused on disability and employment research to begin in 2023; the Office of Special Education Progrms (OSEP) at the Department of Education releases interactive fact sheet, OSEP Fast Facts: Educational Environments for School Aged Children with Disabilities.

Date sent: 
2022-08-31
NARIC news: 

Recent weeks have seen a stream of families dropping off their young adults at college. Photos shared on social media show cars packed with boxes, suitcases, and all the things these young people will need to help them feel safe, comfortable, and ready to face the semester ahead. The crowds in the dorms likely include college students with disabilities. These students may have brought with them assistive devices, apps or programs, or other items to support their learning needs. As they settle in, they may reach out to the office of disability services to find out about accommodations, technology options, and other services and supports available to help them reach their academic goals. Explore some of the recent NIDILRR-funded research on young people with disabilities entering and navigating postsecondary education, and those planning their transition into the working world in our Spotlight blog.

This Just In: 
Investigation of factors from assistive technology professionals that impact timeliness of wheelchair service delivery: A cross-sectional study. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. NARIC Accession Number: J89111.
New to the NARIC collection, this NIDILRR-funded study examined factors associated with variability in time from assessment to delivery of a wheeled mobility device (cycle time). Based on analysis of data from the Functional Mobility Assessment/Uniform Dataset Registry, the average national cycle time was 101.5 days. Geographic area (Capital Metro, Great Lakes, and Northeast area), higher years since onset of disability, and customizable devices were associated with higher cycle time. Non-customizable devices, scooters, Group 2 power wheelchairs, and funding source (Medicaid managed care and “other”) were associated with lower cycle time. The findings suggest that longer cycle time is likely related to variations in clinical practice, insurance coverage criteria, and the level of customizability of the device needed for a particular diagnosis, especially for those with long-term disabilities. Access the full abstract and ordering information in REHABDATA.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of DSPs
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation (90RTCP0003) published Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of DSPs, the latest issue of its bi-annual publication focusing on issues affecting the direct support professional (DSP) workforce. This issue shares the voices of DSPs from underrepresented communities, and aims to broaden the understanding of lesser-heard voices. Topics covered include advocating for one's mental health, racism and discrimination, low wages, rural issues, DSPs with disabilities, self-care, and more.
 
News items: 
NIDILRR Researcher Interviewed by Kaiser Health News
Joseph T. Giacino, PhD, principal investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Spaulding-Harvard Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Center (90DPTB0011), was interviewed for an article, Cognitive Rehab May Help Older Adults Clear Covid-Related Brain Fog, in Kaiser Health News. Cognitive rehabilitation is therapy for people whose brains have been injured by concussions, traumatic accidents, strokes, or neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Giacino discussed how the repetitive tasks of restorative cognitive rehabilitation help the brain rebuild connections after it is injured, similar to building muscle.
 
NIDILRR Researcher Receives Neale Award from APA
Lisa Razzano, PhD, principal investigator for the NIDILRR-funded Thresholds Health Literacy and Wellness Promotion Center (90DPHF0001) and co-investigator for the project Peer Navigators for the Health and Wellness of People with Psychiatric Disabilities (90DPHF0008), will receive the 2022 Michael S. Neale Award for Contributions by Psychologists in Public Service from the American Psychological Association (APA). The Neale Award honors psychologists who have contributed a body of work that has directly touched the lives of individuals with serious mental illnesses, and influenced a generation of practitioners, researchers, advocates, and administrators working to improve the lives of people in recovery. Dr. Razzano receives the award in recognition of her substantial contributions to community mental health and the profession of psychology.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: What's Race Got to Do with It? An Intersectional Approach to Disability Rights
The NIDILRR-funded ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center (90DPAD0004) will host a webinar, What's Race Got to Do with It? An Intersectional Approach to Disability Rights, September 13th, 1 - 2:30 pm ET. Presenters will introduce the concept of intersectionality, with particular emphasis on the ways in which ableism and racism shape experiences and perceptions of disability. The presenters will discuss how the ADA National Network Regional Centers and other disability service organizations can conduct outreach to, support, and collaborate with underserved communities. Registration is free and required by September 12th.
 
Participate: 
2022 National Survey on Health and Disability Closing Sept 2nd
The NIDILRR-funded project Using the National Survey on Health and Disability Panel to Document the COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences of Working-Age Americans with Disabilities (90IFRE0050) is conducting the 2022 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to understand how access to health care, insurance, and the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting the lives of people with disabilities. The survey is open to US adults 18 years old or older, with any disability and any type of health care coverage, including no coverage. Individuals who identify as men or Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), and those who live in AR, DE, FL, GA, IN, KY, MS, OH, OK, TN, and TX are encouraged to participate. This is a multi-year survey and previous respondents are also encouraged to participate. Participants may also complete the survey by phone. Participants will have a chance to win one of ten $100 gift cards. The survey closes September 2nd. For more information, call 855/556-6328 (Voice/TTY) or email healthsurvey@ku.edu.
 
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Employment Research
The NIDILRR-funded University of New Hampshire Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program on Employment (90AREM0004) is accepting applications for its postdoctoral fellowship program focused on disability and employment research to begin in early 2023. Postdoctoral research associates will engage in didactic and on-the-job training with a multidisciplinary team of experienced mentors. Primary activities include contributing to grant-funded projects, conducting collaborative and independent research, producing peer-reviewed manuscripts, and presenting at national conferences and professional meetings. Two positions are open for application. Eligibility criteria and application instructions are available from the website.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
OSEP Releases Fast Facts on Educational Environments of School Aged Children with Disabilities
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the Department of Education released an interactive fact sheet, OSEP Fast Facts: Educational Environments for School Aged Children with Disabilities. The factsheet highlights the educational environments of school aged children with disabilities who received services under IDEA Part B during the 2020-2021 school year, particularly how many students received services within a regular class during the majority of the school day. The data are displayed by region, disability, and racial or ethnic group, and the factsheet compares data between the 2012 and 2020 school years. This factsheet includes interactive sections to see data from individual states.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=934624&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c