National Institute On Disability, Independent Living, And Rehabilitation Research Research Articles

Suicide Attempts and Ideation Among Veterans/Service Members and Non-Veterans Over 5 Years Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Combined NIDILRR and VA TBI Model Systems Study.

This study compared rates of suicide attempt (SA) and suicidal ideation (SI) during the first 5 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) among veterans and service members (V/SMs) in the Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Model Systems National Databases to each other and to non-veterans (non-Vs) in the NIDILRR database. Twenty-one NIDILRR and 5 VA TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States. Participants with TBI were discharged from rehabilitation alive, had a known military status recorded (either non-V or history of military service), and successful 1-, 2-, and/or 5-year follow-up interviews completed between 2009 and 2021. The year 1 cohort included 8737 unique participants (8347 with SA data and 3987 with SI data); the year 2 (7628 participants) and year 5 (4837 participants) cohorts both had similar demographic characteristics to the year 1 cohort. Longitudinal design with data collected across TBIMS centers at 1, 2, and 5 years post-injury. History of SA in past year and SI in past 2 weeks assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and rehabilitation outcomes were also assessed. Full sample rates of SA were 1.9%, 1.5%, and 1.6%, and rates of SI were 9.6%, 10.1%, and 8.7% (respectively at years 1, 2, and 5). There were significant differences among groups based on demographic, injury-related, mental/behavioral health, and functional outcome variables. Characteristics predicting SA/SI related to mental health history, substance use, younger age, lower functional independence, and greater levels of disability. Compared with participants with TBI in the NIDILRR system, higher rates of SI among V/SMs with TBI in the VA system appear associated with risk factors observed within this group, including mental/behavioral health characteristics and overall levels of disability.

International survey on the implementation of the European and American guidelines on disorders of consciousness

Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic procedures for patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoCs) vary significantly across countries and clinical settings, likely due to organizational factors (e.g., research vs. non-academic hospitals), expertise and availability of resources (e.g., financial and human). Two international guidelines, one from the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and one from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in collaboration with the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), were developed to facilitate consistent practice among professionals working with this challenging patient population. While the recommendations of both guidelines agree in principle, it remains an open issue how to implement them into clinical practice in the care pathway for patients with pDoCs. We conducted an online survey to explore health professional clinical practices related to the management of patients with pDoCs, and compare said practices with selected recommendations from both the guidelines. The survey revealed that while some recommendations are being followed, others are not and/or may require more honing/specificity to enhance their clinical utility. Particular attention should be given to the implementation of a multimodal assessment of residual consciousness, to the detection and treatment of pain, and to the impact of restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemics on the involvement of patients’ families/representatives.

Preliminary data from effects of knowledge translation methods on VR counselors providing pre-ETS to youth with significant disabilities: A brief report

BACKGROUND: Passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 placed an emphasis on increasing student education and preparation for employment for students as young as 14. When Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was awarded a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to establish a Rehabilitation and Research Training Center (RRTC) on employment for transition-age youth with disabilities, one of the studies focused on knowledge translation methods to develop and deliver a toolkit to assist VR counselors (and others) providing pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) to students 14 to 16 years of age with significant disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this practice brief is to share preliminary findings from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of VCU-RRTC on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities’ study, Effects of Knowledge Translation Methods on Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Providing Pre-ETS to Youth with Significant Disabilities 14–16 years of age. METHOD: To prepare this practice brief, program staff conducted a thematic analysis of interview findings from Phase 1 and reviewed program materials from Phase 2 to identify preliminary observations. Program materials included instructor case notes, student reports, student pre- and post-tests, interviews with families, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and school staff after instruction. RESULTS: From Phase 1, VR counselors, educators, and families desired early exposure to career exploration and felt that interest-driven experiences and education was generally lacking. From Phase 2, it was observed that lesson content needed to be relevant and engaging to younger students, who often had a very abstract understanding of work and limited self-awareness about career interests, personal interests, and strengths. CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the study underscore the desire and need to increase collaboration between educators, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and families. Observations from Phase 2 demonstrate the value of Pre-ETS instruction to younger students with significant disabilities, and how increased collaboration can prepare students for employment through early career exploration, workplace readiness skills, and community based work experiences.

Comparison of veterans affairs and NIDILRR traumatic brain injury model systems participants with disorders of consciousness

ABSTRACT Objective To characterize demographic, pre-injury, and outcome data within the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and Veterans Affairs (VA) Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) cohorts with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with no command-following ability at time of admission to acute rehabilitation. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting NIDILRR and VA TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) centers. Participants 396 NIDILRR and 72 VA participants without command-following ability who experienced TBI with subsequent Disorder of Consciousness (DoC). Main Outcome Measure Pre-injury and injury characteristics, rehabilitation outcomes, and 1-year self-reported outcomes. Results VA TBIMS cohort included individuals who were active duty or had military service before their injury. The VA cohort were more likely to be re-hospitalized at 1-year follow-up or residing in a long-term care or rehab setting. The NIDILRR TBIMS cohort had higher FIM and DRS scores at rehabilitation discharge, while the VA participants saw longer lengths of stay and higher numbers of “violent” injury types. Conclusions This study allows for a better understanding of the comparability between VA and NIDILRR DoC cohorts providing guidance on how veteran and civilian samples might be merged in future TBIMS studies to explore predictors of recovery from a DoC.

Trajectories Of Life Satisfaction In Hispanics Over The 10 Years After Traumatic Brain Injury

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To identify the trajectories of life satisfaction at 1 to 10 years post-TBI and to examine which demographic, injury and rehabilitation characteristics at the time of injury are associated with those trajectories. <h3>Design</h3> Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to examine baseline predictors of trajectories of life satisfaction among Hispanic individuals across 1, 2, 5, and 10 years after TBI. <h3>Setting</h3> TBI Model System Database. <h3>Participants</h3> This study included 1,051 Hispanic individuals from the multi-site, longitudinal TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) database, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Individuals were enrolled in the study after sustaining a TBI and while undergoing inpatient rehabilitation at a TBIMS site and were included if they completed at least one Satisfaction with Life Scale at 1, 2, 5, or 10 years after TBI. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The primary outcome measure of interest was life satisfaction, measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener et al., 1985) at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years post-TBI. <h3>Results</h3> A linear (straight-line) movement of life satisfaction trajectories over time was the best fit to the data. Life satisfaction increased over time, with higher overall trajectories for Hispanic individuals who were partnered at baseline, born outside the U.S., and who experienced a non-violent cause of injury. There were no significant interactions for time with any of these main effect predictors, suggesting no differential change over time in life satisfaction trajectories as a function of these characteristics. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Results revealed increases in life satisfaction over time among Hispanic individuals with TBI and shed light on critical risk and protective factors that may inform targeted rehabilitation and intervention services with this underserved group. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> None.

Barriers and facilitators to technology transfer of NIDILRR grantees

Purpose The objectives of this mixed-methods study were to gather survey and interview data about the barriers and facilitators from grantees funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and to extract themes that could inform program changes that would increase technology translation (TT) success in assistive technology (AT). Materials and methods We developed a TT Barriers and Facilitators survey consisting of Likert scale and multiple-choice questions about barriers and facilitators to TT. With survey respondents who were willing, we conducting a semi-structured interview and asked pointed questions to expand upon survey response rankings and perceived barriers and facilitators. The questions were framed to explore the grantee’s personal experience with ATTT and what helped and hindered their individualised processes. Results Across survey and interview respondents, the three most common themes when exploring the barriers and facilitators of TT were funding, incentives, and collaboration. Conclusions Results indicate that there is a need for increased collaboration and access to additional resources such as funding for pilot grants, support to assess technology marketability, help to navigate regulatory and legal aspects, and assistance in establishing goals to help grantees successfully transfer assistive technologies to consumers. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION A large amount of research and development into assistive technology does not lead to tech transfer which means that these technologies are not getting to the people that need them. Educating tech transfer offices at universities about how to transfer AT would improve outcomes greatly. Creating a community of practice where grantees can find academic or industry partners would also increase the likelihood of tech transfer. Some tools to catalyse these improvements are: mentoring, access to consultants, podcasts, and online training.

American and European Guidelines on Disorders of Consciousness: Ethical Challenges of Implementation.

American and European Guidelines on Disorders of Consciousness: Ethical Challenges of Implementation.

Creating a resident-centric rehabilitation research team

BackgroundThe 36-month Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) or Physiatry residency provides a number of multidisciplinary clinical experiences. These experiences often translate to novel research questions, which may not be pursued by residents due to several factors, including limited research exposure and uncertainty of how to begin a project.Limited resident participation in clinical researchnegatively affects the growth of Physiatry as a field and medicine as a whole. Thetwo largest Physiatry organizations – the Association of Academic Physiatristsand the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – participate inthe Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC), seeking to improvethe state of rehabilitation and disability research through fundingopportunities by way of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NationalInstitute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research(NIDILRR) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Apaucity of new Physiatry researchers neutralizes these efforts.ResultsThis paper detailsthe creation of a novel, multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Resident Researchprogram that promotes resident research culture and production. Mirroring ourcollaborative clinical care paradigm, this program integrates facultymentorship, institutional research collaborates (Neuroscience Nursing ResearchCenter, Neuroscience Research Development Office) and departmental resources(Shark Tank competition) to provide resident-centric research support.ConclusionsThe resident-centricrehabilitation research team has formed a successful research program that waspiloted from the resident perspective, facilitating academic productivity whilerespecting the clinical responsibilities of the 36-month PM&R residency. Residentresearch trainees are uniquely positioned to become future leaders ofmultidisciplinary and multispecialty collaborative teams, with a focus onpatient function and health outcomes.

The Deleterious Impact of Opioids on Sleep-Related Respiration During Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation From Moderate to Severe

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To identify differences sleep related respiration between those receiving and not receiving opioid medications. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional, secondary analyses. <h3>Setting</h3> Acute inpatient rehabilitation for moderate to severe TBI. <h3>Participants</h3> 248 consecutive admissions who underwent level-1 polysomnography. <h3>Interventions</h3> Receipt of opioid medications on the day of polysomnography (PSG). <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> PSG including respiratory measures: oxygen saturation, central apneas events per hour, obstructive apneas and hypopnea events per hour, and total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). <h3>Results</h3> After adjustment for number of prescribed medications, those receiving opioids on day of PSG experienced increased frequency of central sleep apnea events and higher frequency of obstructive sleep apnea events. Compared to those who did not, receiving opioids was associated with lower oxygen saturation nadir during and a greater number of oxygen desaturations across. Greater total AHI was observed for those receiving opioids. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Opioid use early after TBI appears to impact important sleep parameters and sleep related respiration that may influence recovery. Further investigation is needed to understand the impact of opioid medications, alone or in combination with other medications, on functional outcomes both early after TBI and in the chronic phase to develop recommendations on how and when to use these medications given their usage in managing pain after injury. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> Research reported in this article was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award (CER-1511-33005). This research was sponsored by VHA Central Office VA TBI Model Systems Program of Research; Subcontract from General Dynamics Information Technology (W91YTZ13-C-0015; HT0014-19-C-0004) from the Defense Health Agency TBI Center of Excellence and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 90DPTB0013-01-03; Indiana University School of Medicine, Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, 90DRTB0002; Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 90DPTB0008). The TBI Model Systems is a funded collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). Clinicaltrial.gov Registration Number: NCT03033901.

Linking scores on the 4- and 5-item versions of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in people with traumatic brain, spinal cord, or burn injury: a National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Model System study

BackgroundThe Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used measure of subjective well-being. Recent evidence indicates the fifth item of the scale reduces the reliability of the scale and is inappropriate for use in traumatic injury populations. The purpose of this study was to develop a linking procedure between the five-item version of the SWLS and a modified four-item version, which removes the problematic item, for use in Spinal Cord (SCI), Traumatic Brain (TBI), and Burn Injury populations.MethodsProration (i.e. adding the mean of the four items to their total) was identified as a potential linking solution that could be easily implemented in clinical or research settings. The validity of the proration approach was evaluated by examining mean differences, cross group classification by SWLS category, score correlations, the intraclass correlation coefficient, and visual inspection of Bland-Altman plots in a large sample of SCI, TBI, and Burn Injury survivors who were participants in the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Model Systems’ National Databases.ResultsA total of 17,897 (SCI n = 8566, TBI n = 7941, and Burn n = 1390) participants were included in this study. SWLS scores ranged from 5 to 35, and the average score difference between directly derived and prorated scores was 0.39 points. A large majority of the sample (93%) had score differences of < 4 points (i.e. approximately 0.5 SD). The correlation between the prorated and directly derived scores was very high (r = 0.97) and the ICC value indicated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.97).ConclusionsThis study provides a valid scoring approach for researchers or clinicians who don’t want to lose continuity with previously collected data but prefer to switch to the modified four-item version of the SWLS. Clear guidance is provided for traumatic injury researchers or clinicians on how to implement the proration scoring approach.

"Living Well" After Burn Injury: Using Case Reports to Illustrate Significant Contributions From the Burn Model System Research Program.

The Burn Model System (BMS) program of research has been funded since 1993 by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The overarching aim of this program is to improve outcomes and quality of life for people with burns in the areas of health and function, employment, and community living and participation. This review reports on BMS contributions that have affected the lives of individuals with a significant burn injury using case reports to associate BMS contributions with recovery. In January 2020, current BMS grantee researchers assessed peer-reviewed BMS publications from 1994 to 2020. Using case report methodology, contributions were linked to three individuals treated at one of the four Burn Model System institutions. With over 25 years of NIDILRR funding, unique BMS contributions to patient recovery were identified and categorized into one of several domains: treatment, assessment measures, sequelae, peer support, employment, and long-term functional outcomes. A second review for significant results of BMS research that add to the understanding of burn injury, pathophysiology, and recovery research was identified and categorized as injury recovery research. The case study participants featured in this review identified select NIDILRR research contributions as having direct, personal benefit to their recovery. The knowledge generation and clinical innovation that this research program has contributed to our collective understanding of recovery after burn injury is considerable. Using case study methodology with three adult burn survivors, we highlight the impact and individual significance of program findings and reinforce the recognition that the value of any clinical research must have relevance to the lives of the study population.

The Importance of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Importance of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Social factors and injury characteristics associated with the development of perceived injury stigma among burn survivors

Improvement in burn survival has shifted the focus of burn care from beyond merely preserving life to improving the quality of life for burn survivors. Healthy psychosocial function is critical to the development of sustained elevations in quality of life after injury, with social and community integration serving a crucial role. Accordingly, the experience of social stigma could pose a significant hindrance to the process of recovery. In this retrospective analysis of patient-reported outcomes following burn injury as captured in the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Burn Model Systems database, we examined the patient and injury characteristics associated with the subsequent experience of social stigma by burn survivors. Using multivariable regression analysis, we found that facial burns and amputations are independent risk factors for experiencing social stigma, while male sex and increased community integration were protective. Taken together, these findings suggest a role for targeted counseling for patients who sustain facial burns and/or amputations, as well as the continued investment in burn-survivor outreach programs aimed at improving social support for survivors.

The Validity Of A Smartphone-based Seated Postural Control Assessment In Non-ambulatory Adults

Individuals who rely on wheeled mobility have unique fall risk factors (e.g. seated postural control) but recommended fall risk screening tools are predominately designed for ambulatory individuals. Consequently, most non-ambulatory adults do not undergo comprehensive fall risk screening or receive targeted fall prevention strategies. PURPOSE: To examine the validity of smartphone-based postural control assessments in non-ambulatory adults. METHODS: Eleven participants (age: 35.4 ± 17.9) completed three clinical tests: The Trunk Control Test, Function in Sitting Test (FIST), and Tee-Shirt Test, as well as, four instrumented balance tasks in a standardized order: eyes open, eyes closed, functional reach, and functional stability boundary. During the balance tasks, participants held a smartphone and research-grade accelerometer to their chest. These devices measured root mean square (RMS) acceleration in the medial-lateral (ML), anterior-posterior, and vertical axes during all tasks. A median split of FIST scores differentiated participants with better and worse postural control. Spearman rank-order correlations between the two devices’ measurements were conducted, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the area under the curves (AUC) were constructed to distinguish participants with better and worse postural control. RESULTS: Participant scores from the FIST differed between those with better and worse postural control (p = 0.020). There were significant moderate to strong correlations between measures derived from the smartphone and measures derived from the research-grade accelerometer during the balance tasks (ρ = 0.636-1.000; p < 0.01-0.035). The AUC for ROC plots were significant for RMS ML sway during the eyes open task and functional stability boundary (p=0.045 and 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSION: This pilot study illustrated that smartphone technology may be able to provide a valid assessment of seated postural control and have the ability to distinguish between those with better and worse postural control in the ML direction. Leveraging this form of technology could provide easily accessible and objective fall risk assessments for non-ambulatory adults. Funded by: The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

NIDILRR: Supporting Applied Research and Development to Improve the Lives of People With Mental Illness.

This Open Forum describes the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), a component of the Administration for Community Living under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDILRR funds applied research and development projects to improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities, including those with mental illness, to perform activities of their choice in the community and to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities.

Minimum Competency Recommendations for Programs That Provide Rehabilitation Services for Persons With Disorders of Consciousness: A Position Statement of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems

Persons who have disorders of consciousness (DoC) require care from multidisciplinary teams with specialized training and expertise in management of the complex needs of this clinical population. The recent promulgation of practice guidelines for patients with prolonged DoC by the American Academy of Neurology, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) represents a major advance in the development of care standards in this area of brain injury rehabilitation. Implementation of these practice guidelines requires explication of the minimum competencies of clinical programs providing services to persons who have DoC. The Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the ACRM, in collaboration with the Disorders of Consciousness Special Interest Group of the NIDILRR-Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to address this need through the present position statement. Content area-specific workgroups reviewed relevant peer-reviewed literature and drafted recommendations which were then evaluated by the expert panel using a modified Delphi voting process. The process yielded 21 recommendations on the structure and process of essential services required for effective DoC-focused rehabilitation, organized into 4 categories: diagnostic and prognostic assessment (4 recommendations), treatment (11 recommendations), transitioning care/long-term care needs (5 recommendations), and management of ethical issues (1 recommendation). With few exceptions, these recommendations focus on infrastructure requirements and operating procedures for the provision of DoC-focused neurorehabilitation services across subacute and postacute settings.

An Organizational Case Study of a 5-Year Development Project to Promote Cognitive Support Technology Use, Academic Success, and Competitive Employment Among Civilian and Veteran College Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries

Project Career was a 5-year interdisciplinary development initiative funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The project merged cognitive support technology (CST) with best practices in vocational rehabilitation to improve postsecondary and employment outcomes for veteran and civilian undergraduate students with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Project staff conducted assessments of students' needs relative to assistive technology, academic achievement, and career preparation; provided CST training to 146 students; matched students with mentors; provided vocational case management; delivered job development and placement assistance; and maintained an electronic portal regarding academic accommodations and career resources. A single-group, quasi-experimental analysis revealed that Project Career students significantly improved their psychological outlook on their education and their careers, academic performance, persistence toward degree completion, and prospects for competitive careers after graduation. Project Career provides a national model based on best practices for helping postsecondary students with TBI to attain their academic and career goals.

Effects of Statin Treatment on Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Neuroprotective treatments that have shown promise in reducing secondary injury and improving recovery in animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not been found effective to date in humans. One reason may be the delay after injury in initiating treatment. Statin medications are among the promising neuroprotective agents in animal models, and their presence in the bloodstream of many individuals at the time of injury might optimize their clinical impact. This observational study conducted by a subset of centers participating in the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)-funded TBI Model System program sought to examine the effects of taking statin medication at the time injury on functional outcomes. Participants >50 years of age were prospectively enrolled during patient rehabilitation. Demographic data, cardiovascular history, and brain injury history were obtained through chart abstraction and interview. Prescription medication use in the year prior to enrollment was determined from a national pharmacy search service. Propensity scoring was used to create 49 pairs of participants who were well matched on demographic and clinical attributes but discordant for statin use. The treated and untreated participants did not differ on initial Glasgow Coma Score, time until commands were followed, duration of post-traumatic amnesia, or Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at rehabilitation admission, discharge, or 1 year post-injury, or on acute or rehabilitation hospital lengths of stay. Evidence of greater and lesser statin compliance was not associated with outcome. This study did not provide support for a clinically important benefit of statin use at the time of moderate to severe TBI.

Library Resources in Specialty Rehabilitation Model System Centers

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) funds three types of Model System Programs in the United States: spinal cord injury, traumatic brain ...

Review of AbleData: Tools & Technologies to Enhance Life

ABSTRACTAssistive technology (AT) can significantly enhance quality of life for people with disabilities. AbleData, produced by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), provides comprehensive, unbiased information about a broad range of assistive technology products for use by a variety of populations with disabilities. The database search function is intuitive and simple to use, and is augmented by browsing features and indexing links. Additional helpful resources are linked from the site.