Research In Focus is a weekly publication featuring reader-friendly summaries of the latest research from NIDILRR-funded projects. Each installment presents you with an overview of a recently-published NIDILRR-funded study, highlighting important findings, and discussing implications or directions for future research. This could be a starting point to learn more about the intervention, technology, or program. We hand-select the articles from our diverse library collections, aiming to broadly cover interesting research in many areas of disability, various types of intervention, and a wide range of age spectrum from early childhood to aging with and into disability. To be alerted to new articles, sign up for our weekly email newsletter News and Notes from the NIDILRR Community and Beyond! These articles are also available in Spanish. Are you a NIDILRR grantee? Learn how to recommend your recent study for an upcoming issue.
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may have difficulty processing and responding to social cues. Social information processing (SIP) is the ability to understand and reason through challenging social situations, such as conflict situations. Children who have difficulties with SIP may have trouble making and... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Working women with disabilities (WWD) face disadvantages compared to working men with and without disabilities. Studies show the average WWD is paid only 83% as much as a working man with a disability and 67% as much as a working man without a disability. Negative attitudes and stereotypes about WWD may contribute to... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is brain damage resulting from an external force, such as a fall or a car accident. TBI can be rated as mild, moderate, or severe depending on how long the person loses consciousness. Some people with mild TBI, sometimes called a concussion, may still experience injury serious enough for... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
An estimated 285 million people worldwide have a visual impairment, meaning that they have significant vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. To compensate for their vision loss when accessing computers, some people with visual impairments use assistive computer software such as screen-... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
A spinal cord injury (SCI) consists of damage anywhere along the spinal cord from an accident or other trauma, oftentimes causing weakness or paralysis. Many people with SCI use wheelchairs to get around. Along with mobility, wheelchairs offer physical support for a person’s trunk and limbs. A properly functioning... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have lifelong conditions that may affect their ability to communicate, learn, or make decisions. About a third of adults with IDD have a “dual diagnosis” of both IDD and a mental illness, and this number is increasing. According to earlier studies, people... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Children and teens with behavioral health disabilities may have symptoms that make it harder for them to participate in school and other activities. These symptoms may include feelings such as anxiety or depression, as well as behaviors such as aggression or noncompliance with authority figures. Children and teens with... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
People who are blind or visually impaired have lower employment rates than people without disabilities. Many people with visual impairment are unable to drive. As a result, they may face additional challenges in finding reliable transportation to get to and from work, which can limit their options for employment.... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Volunteering has many benefits for individuals: According to past research, people who volunteer experience higher self-esteem, are happier, and develop stronger social networks than people who do not volunteer. Volunteering can also be a path to future employment. Volunteer activities may be either formal, as a... Read this article
A study funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
As the world population ages, more and more people will be living with age-related disabilities. These individuals may require assistance with personal tasks like bathing, managing medications, and housework. Robots can be designed as a solution to help older... Read this article
The contents of NARIC web site were developed under a contract from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (contract #GS-06F-0726Z). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the NIDILRR, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government
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