National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

New Online Course Equips Personal Care Assistants with Essential Knowledge for Supporting Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
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EAST HANOVER, N.J., Aug. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new interactive, online course, "Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: A Course for Personal Care Assistants," was designed to enhance the training of personal care assistants (PCAs) for individuals with spinal cord injury. The course was unveiled today at the Paralyzed Veterans of America Healthcare (PVA) Summit + Expo at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld Hotel in Orlando, FL. The presentation was given by Jeanne Zanca, MPT, PhD, FACRM, assistant director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation and chair of the Foundation's Institutional Review Board.

Key Points: 
  • Launch of "Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: A Course for Personal Care Assistants," is an important step toward ensuring quality personal care assistance services for individuals with spinal cord injury
    EAST HANOVER, N.J., Aug. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new interactive, online course, " Understanding Spinal Cord Injury : A Course for Personal Care Assistants," was designed to enhance the training of personal care assistants (PCAs) for individuals with spinal cord injury.
  • Elevate training for personal care assistants with free, interactive online course: Understanding Spinal Cord Injury
    The course, the first specifically designed to introduce personal care assistants to spinal cord injury, is available at no cost at https://www.kflearn.org , the Foundation's site for educational and training resources for consumers and professionals.
  • Recognizing its focus on client-centered care for spinal cord injury, the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC) has endorsed the new course.
  • "Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: A Course for Personal Assistants," is a significant step towards ensuring the quality of personal care assistance services provided to individuals living with spinal cord injury," Dr. Zanca emphasized.

Sponsors of the Future (SoF) Selected to be Featured in the GoodToday Campaign

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 11, 2023
Workplace, SOF, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Human, Movement, EAST, Future

EAST GREENWICH, R.I., Aug. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sponsors of the Future (SoF), a local organization with a mission to become the global voice of inclusion by bridging the gap with real-world applications, announced today that it will be featured in GoodToday's 'Disability Independence' campaign on 8/23. GoodToday is a nonprofit organization changing workplace giving across the globe. To support this campaign click here. Every dollar raised will be matched by the corporate sponsors.

Key Points: 
  • GoodToday is a nonprofit organization changing workplace giving across the globe.
  • Every dollar raised will be matched by the corporate sponsors.
  • "Our recent outcome from the first inclusive practical program and fundraiser that allowed local and global sponsors to come together is evident.
  • "We're grateful to our community for suggesting and supporting a powerful cause and very excited to feature Sponsors of the Future.

New Online Alliance Aims to Inspire More Accessible Technology for People with Hearing Loss

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Life, Hearing loss, Assistive Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Disability, Gallaudet University, Rehabilitation, AIR, Independent living, American Institutes for Research, Center for Accessible Technology, Kool-Aid, OTC, WHO, World Health Organization, Music, Research

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- One in seven Americans now has hearing loss, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally the numbers are expected to double by 2050. This growing problem is driving the need for new technologies to help people successfully communicate, live and work. These products and services are often developed without the input of consumers with hearing loss who use them. A new online program called the Industry-Consumer Alliance for Accessible Technology (ICAAT) hopes to change that.

Key Points: 
  • These products and services are often developed without the input of consumers with hearing loss who use them.
  • A new online program called the Industry-Consumer Alliance for Accessible Technology (ICAAT) hopes to change that.
  • ICAAT provides an easy, structured way for industry and consumers to work together and inspire better technology.
  • "You're at a competitive disadvantage if your products aren't accessible to people with hearing loss," says Dr. Christian Vogler, director of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (DHH Technology RERC) at Gallaudet University.

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center's Grant Transfers to the University of Northern Colorado

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
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GREELEY, Colo., March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC), a member of the National Network of ADA Centers, is pleased to announce it is now part of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). The center's grant, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, transferred to UNC on March 1, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • GREELEY, Colo., March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Rocky Mountain ADA Center ( RMADAC ), a member of the National Network of ADA Centers, is pleased to announce it is now part of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC).
  • The center's grant, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, transferred to UNC on March 1, 2023.
  • RMADAC's grant with the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research was extended in 2021 for Region 8 .
  • Leadership within UNC expressed their enthusiasm for the grant transfer:
    "We are extremely excited to welcome the Rocky Mountain ADA Center's staff to the University of Northern Colorado," said Dean Kamel Haddad of the College of Natural and Health Sciences at UNC.

Kessler Foundation awarded Social Security Administration funding to expand research for improving employment outcomes following neurotrauma

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 17, 2023
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EAST HANOVER, N.J., Feb. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kessler Foundation has received $3,000,000 from the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program (ICAP) to fund a Vocational Resource Facilitation Demonstration Project (VRFD) to help adults stay in the workforce following disabling neurotrauma. Partners in the five-year project include Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and Mathematica, the social policy research company.

Key Points: 
  • Partners in the five-year project include Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and Mathematica, the social policy research company.
  • While Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides a necessary safety net, research shows that with early access to targeted vocational counseling, many people can return to the workforce.
  • Kessler Foundation was one of only two organizations to receive funding from SSA's new ICAP program.
  • While Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides a necessary safety net, research shows that with early access to targeted vocational counseling, many people can return to the workforce.

People with disabilities reached new employment levels in 2022, outperforming their peers without disabilities

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 23, 2023
Kessler Foundation, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, University, Bureau, Workplace, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, BLS, Employment, Poverty, National Employment Standards, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Health Information National Trends Survey, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Government, COVID-19, Statistics, King Salman Center for Disability Research, Great Resignation, Economics, Independent living, Resignation, Annual report, Federal, UNH, Organization, Woman, Fed, NIDILRR, Doctor of Philosophy, Nursing, Video game, Health insurance, Management, Disability

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- January 23, 2023. The year 2022 was a remarkable and historic time for the employment of people with disabilities. That's according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) 2022 Year-End Special Edition, issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD), based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Reports.

Key Points: 
  • The year 2022 was a remarkable and historic time for the employment of people with disabilities.
  • The year 2022 was a remarkable and historic time for the employment of people with disabilities.
  • Employment trends in 2022 built upon the 2021 recovery from the pandemic recession—where people with disabilities reached beyond pre-COVID-19 levels and even pre-Great Recession levels.
  • These trends are in stark contrast to those of their working counterparts without disabilities who have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels.

Chick-fil-A Donates $5M to 46 Nonprofits through True Inspiration Awards Program

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
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ATLANTA, Jan. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced the nonprofit grant recipients of the 2023 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards® program with a total of 46 award winners – an increase of 12 from 2022. Collectively, these organizations will receive a total of $5 million in grants to further their community efforts. To be selected for a grant, an organization must work to address key issues that align with Chick-fil-A's corporate social responsibility priorities: Caring for People, Caring for Others through Food, Caring for our Communities and Caring for our Planet.

Key Points: 
  • This year, more than 589,000 members voted through the app to help select the regional grant recipients for the 2023 True Inspiration Awards program.
  • The True Inspiration Awards program was established in 2015 to carry on Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy's legacy of generosity and community service.
  • The full list of 2023 True Inspiration Awards grant recipients is below.
  • To learn more about the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards program, visit chickfila.com/true-inspiration-awards .

nTIDE November 2022 Jobs Report: People with disabilities continue to outperform people without disabilities in labor market

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 2, 2022
Face, Knowledge, Kessler Foundation, Woman, Employment, Independent living, University, Rehabilitation, Archive, Statistics, COVID-19, Bureau of Labor Statistics, IOD, Fed, BLS, Person, Dale Rogers Training Center, News, Brain, National Employment Standards, Research, NIDILRR, Q&A, Cognition, Spinal cord, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Workplace, Health Information National Trends Survey, Multimedia, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, Doctor of Philosophy, Bureau, UNH, Health insurance, Tutoring, Disability

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Dec. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Job numbers rose again for people with disabilities, in contrast to people without disabilities, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). People with disabilities continued to show strength in the labor market in November, as evidenced by the substantial rise in their employment-to-population ratio.

Key Points: 
  • People with disabilities continued to show strength in the labor market in November, as evidenced by the substantial rise in their employment-to-population ratio.
  • "Similar to last month, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities increased and remains above historic highs.
  • Our new survey compares the workplaces of 2017 and 2022, revealing gains in recruiting, hiring, accommodating, and retaining employees with disabilities.
  • Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.

Kessler Foundation announces findings of 2022 National Employment & Disability Survey on effects of COVID-19 pandemic on employer practices related to people with disabilities

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 21, 2022
EAST, Disability, University, Government, Spinal cord, NIDILRR, MS, Employment, Organization, Person, Cognition, Research, UNH, Multimedia, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Institute, Partnership, Knowledge, Health Information National Trends Survey, Dale Rogers Training Center, Goal, Doctor of Philosophy, DRS, Kessler Foundation, Economics, Rehabilitation, National Employment Standards, Workplace, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Brain, Center, COVID-19, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Management, Ridesharing company, Tutoring

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kessler Foundation released thought-provoking findings from a new national survey that details the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workplace experiences of people with disabilities. The 2022 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Supervisor Perspectives compares the employment practices of today with those elicited by a similar Kessler Foundation Survey conducted in 2017. Both surveys were conducted in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.

Key Points: 
  • The 2022 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Supervisor Perspectives compares the employment practices of today with those elicited by a similar Kessler Foundation Survey conducted in 2017.
  • Hiring and recruiting people with disabilities was more important to both supervisors and upper management in 2022.
  • The new survey builds upon the 2017 National Employment & Disability Survey: Supervisor Perspectives , which used an innovative design to identify effective practices.
  • Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.

2022 National Survey Provides Insights into Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Supervisor Perspectives: Comparing the Workplaces of 2022 and 2017

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 20, 2022
News, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Disability, University, Spinal cord, VP, MS, Employment, Person, Cognition, Research, Workforce, Multimedia, Institute, Partnership, Senior, Knowledge, Health Information National Trends Survey, Goal, Supervisor, Doctor of Philosophy, Kessler Foundation, King Salman Center for Disability Research, Rehabilitation, Workplace, Bureau, University of New Hampshire, Brain, Center, Communication, COVID-19, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, View, Ridesharing company, Pension fund, Tutoring, Economics

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Points: 
  • Disability Survey: Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Supervisor Perspectives.
  • Discover firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the ways employers recruit, hire, train, and retain people with disabilities in the workforce.
  • This survey is the fourth in a groundbreaking series conducted in partnership with the University of New Hampshire focused on deconstructing the employment barriers and key workplace influencers for people with disabilities.
  • Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.