When Thea Flaum suddenly found herself caring for a family member with a spinal cord injury (SCI), she quickly discovered a lack of resources and support for the loved ones faced by this unexpected challenge. To address this gap, she created FacingDisability.com, a comprehensive platform offering valuable information on everything from medical care to a video series featuring the firsthand experiences and insights from people living with SCI.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, learn about Thea’s journey and how she created one of the most extensive, free resources for families of people with SCI. Also, hear about her new podcast, “I Was A Wheelchair Kid,” aimed at children and teens with SCI.
Transcripts for all episodes are available here.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015 and 90DPHF0012).
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we're discussing the value of rebalancing long-term services and supports (LTSS) — away from institutional care and toward community-based services.
We are joined by Courtney Priebe, MPH, a policy associate at ADvancing States, an organization that works to design, improve and support state systems that provide LTSS for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Courtney is one of the authors of a policy brief on rebalancing LTSS developed in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
A transcript of this episode is available.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015 and 90DPHF0012).
#HCBS #LTSS #Rebalancing
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’re diving into the powerful role of peer mentoring in supporting employment for people with disabilities.
In rehabilitation, peer mentors are individuals who provide guidance and perspective to others who may be recovering from an illness or injury or living with a chronic condition or disability. The critical, ongoing support of a peer mentor helps others navigate life after injury, offering practical advice rooted in lived experience and opening doors to new possibilities, including employment.
One of our guests is Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research and an author on a recent paper about what makes employment-focused peer mentoring programs successful. We are also joined by Rob Kozarek, a long-time peer mentor in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Henry B. Betts, MD, LIFE Center, who brings a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation.
Transcripts of all our episodes are available.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we discuss the Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network, an academic and professional community created to integrate contributions from disability studies into occupational therapy education.
Our guests are two of the founding members of the network. Danbi Lee, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, is an associate professor of occupational therapy in the University of Washington department of rehabilitation medicine, as well as a core faculty member of the disability studies program. Alisa Sheth, PhD, OTR/L, is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Pacific University in Oregon.
Transcripts for this podcast are available.
This podcast is supported by grants 90DPK0007, 90RTGE0004, 90SIMS0015) from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.
At some point in life, nearly everyone will become a caregiver, need one, or rely on a family member for care. Supporting this critically important population is essential to maintaining the health, stability and well-being of our communities.
Our guest is Conor Callahan, MSW. Conor is the author of a new policy brief, "Supporting America's 53 Million Family Caregivers," funded by a grant to the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
He is also a senior policy associate on the caregiving and workforce policy team at ADvancing States, an organization dedicated to improving long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers.
Conor has extensive experience in state and federal policy and is a leading expert in the effort to support family caregivers nationwide. Most recently, he led a multi-state collaborative to strengthen connections between paid and unpaid caregiving.
Transcripts for this and all other episodes are available.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how occupational therapy graduate students at the University of Illinois Chicago contribute to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database. The database is the go-to resource of more than 580 rehabilitation measures, reviewed and summarized by educators and allied health students.
Our guests are Sabrin Rizk, PhD, OTR/L, assistant professor of occupational therapy in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences, and occupational therapy graduate student, Asianna Griffin.
Read the transcript for this episode.
This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
On this episode we talk about a free, online "microlesson-based" training program for direct service professionals (DSPs) on how to use a communication skill known as motivational interviewing to enhance person-centered delivery of home and community-based services (HCBS).
Our guests are Linda Ehrlich Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Bob Sattler, a partner at Support Development Associates, which supports organizations and agencies in providing person-centered HCBS.
In addition to sharing their insights on the podcast, Bob and Dr. Ehrlich-Jones are looking for DSPs to pilot test and provide feedback on the training. Learn more about the pilot testing and see if you're eligible to participate.
A transcript for this episode is available.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’ll be talking about loneliness and spinal cord injury.
My guests are Sherri LaVela, PhD, MPH, a research health scientist, and Marissa Wirth, lead social science program coordinator, both in the in the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. LaVela is also a research professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University.
Dr. LaVela and Marissa conducted extensive research about how loneliness affects people with SCI and have uncovered factors that contribute to and alleviate loneliness in this population. They have also developed an educational curriculum for health care providers on loneliness and SCI, which we'll discuss at the end of this episode.
Transcripts are available for each episode.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, Elissa Larkin, CCC-SLP, HEC-C, a research speech-language pathologist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, shares insight into an online training course aimed at helping service industry employees improve communication with customers who have communication disabilities. To learn more about the course and how you can participate, go to the Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment website, linked above.
Tune in to learn more about the team's research, and discover practical tips for better engaging with people who have communication challenges.
Transcripts of all episodes are available.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube and browse the podcast archive for past episodes.
This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.
On this episode, we will hear about the results of a national survey of people with disabilities about the facilitators and barriers they face in getting a job and staying employed. Our guests are Emily Dinelli, L/CPO, a research assistant and Angelika Kudla, LCMHCA, a senior project manager both in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Emily and Angelika are lead authors on a pair of recentpapers based on the national survey.
A transcript of this episode isavailable.
This podcast is supported by grants from the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.
MENTOR is a free, virtual exercise, mindfulness and nutrition program for people experiencing mobility challenges. The 8-week program is from the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD).
Our guests for the episode are Jim Rimmer, PhD, NCHPAD Director, and Tim Behrens, a MENTOR participant who says the program was a "turning point" for him after complications from COVID-19, including stroke and long COVID.
Interested in enrolling in MENTOR? Complete this brief screening to see if you qualify. All participants receive a box of free exercise equipment delivered to their door, as well as access to a health coach and nutritionist. Call Lorie Cashdollar at 312-238-8046 or email her at lcashdolla@sralab.org with questions.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast focuses on sexuality and spinal cord injury (SCI). Our guest is Nicole Sharf, MA, a clinical psychology graduate student in The Chicago School and graduate research assistant at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab where she works on a project to support the mental health of people with SCI.
Listen to learn how SCI can impact sexual health and what people with SCI can do to improve their sexual satisfaction.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we learn how a new, $2.5 million, 5-year grant will support research to enhance accessible and inclusive air travel for people with physical disabilities as well as older adults.
Our guests are Shu Cole, PhD, professor of Health and Wellness Design at the Indiana University School of Public Health--Bloomington, and Jacqueline Kish, PhD, OTR/L, a post-doctoral fellow in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and an investigator on the grant.
Dr. Cole is partnering with Dr. Kish and investigators from CROR to conduct the research. The grant is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we focus on vocational rehabilitation to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month this October.
Our guests are Jennifer Barthel, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Sabrina, her client.
After experiencing a stroke that impacted her memory and ability to keep pace at work, ultimately resulting in her being laid off, Sabrina sought vocational rehabilitation services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Listen to Sabrina's story to hear how she regained her confidence and secure employment.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk about the Clinical Research Registry at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab with our guest, Carolyn Ostrowski, Clinical Research Registry coordinator.
Get involved in our cutting-edge research: By becoming a member of the Clinical Research Registry, you have the opportunity to become a participant in current and future research studies at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Learn more by listening to our podcast and sign up today.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Transcript for this an all episodes is available on the Podcast Webpage.
On our latest episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, our guest is Mike Whelan, an advisory committee member for the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Mike shares his personal experience with spinal cord injury (SCI) and his inpatient rehabilitation journey.
This episode is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, to investigate how differences in inpatient rehabilitation intensity and length of stay affect outcomes for people with SCI in different countries.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
What is disability data justice? How are people with disabilities counted? Why do we need accurate data about people with disabilities? Our guests for this episode are Bonnie Swenor, PhD, the founder and Director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, and Kate Caldwell, PhD, Director of Research and Policy at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice in the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Both Dr. Swenor and Dr. Caldwell have been involved in leading efforts to democratize the collection of data on people with disabilities.
Transcripts for all episodes are available here.
This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we talk about cutting-edge research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that could help people with spinal cord injury regain some motor function.
Our guest is Monica Perez, PT, PhD, Scientific Chair, Arms + Hands Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Her innovative protocol uses noninvasive neurostimulation combined with physical therapy to strengthen connections between neurons and has led to lasting improvements in grasping and walking in some participants with spinal cord injury.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we explore how inpatient rehabilitation length of stay can affect outcomes in people with spinal cord injury.
Our guests are:
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Transcripts are available on the podcast website.
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, we will be talking about accessibility and public transportation around Chicago.
Our guests are Jacqueline Kish, PhD, OTR/L, a postdoctoral fellow in CROR's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-Based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Kira O’Bradovich, a disability and community advocate who serves as Advocacy Committee Chair for the Chicago Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and a Data Dissemination Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. Kira’s current advocacy work focuses on improving the accessibility of public transit here in Chicago.
Find the transcript here.
This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).