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Descriptors:
Financial Problems; Independent Living; Insurance; Access to Health Care; Disabilities; Labor Market; Resource Allocation; Social Services; Public Policy; Equal Opportunities (Jobs); Income; Access to Education; Rehabilitation; Disability Discrimination; Participation; Gender Differences; Baby Boomers; Economic Factors

Abstract:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an essential lifeline for millions of Americans. Without it, many families would be in deep financial distress. SSDI is insurance that workers pay for through premiums deducted from their pay. In return, workers gain the right to monthly benefits if a disabling condition ends their capacity to earn a living. This insurance function of SSDI is critically important. The need for it is not made obsolete by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or by advances in medicine and assistive technology. Such developments expand opportunities for some people with disabilities. But others with disabilities face increasing impediments to work as the demands of work change. Most people with disabilities do not receive SSDI. Some work despite their conditions; others do not meet the strict test of disability for SSDI. Broadly speaking, the goals of national disability policy are to fully integrate people with disabilities into all aspects of American society--including equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. These goals are pursued through varied systems that provide access to health care, appropriate education, rehabilitation, legal protections against discrimination, and wage replacement income when work incapacity strikes. The SSDI program provides vital income support for workers who have lost their capacity to earn a living. It sustains millions of families and keeps many of them out of poverty. Its policies require a careful balance of security for people who are unable to work and opportunity for those who aspire to work. Lawmakers need to allocate adequate resources for attentive and prompt administration of the program. The fundamental structure of SSDI remains sound and is critically important in today's highly competitive labor market. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Independent Living; Needs Assessment; Focus Groups; Disabilities; State Agencies; Rehabilitation; Blindness; Visual Impairments; Delivery Systems; Transportation; Outreach Programs

Abstract:
A statewide assessment of stakeholders' needs was conducted for a state agency providing habilitation, rehabilitation, and independent living services to persons of all ages who are visually impaired (that is, those who are are blind or have low vision). This needs assessment was designed to acquire an accurate and thorough picture of the agency's strengths and weaknesses. Five focus groups were conducted as part of this assessment to identify stakeholders' views of the service delivery needs of persons who are visually impaired. The analyses of the data from the focus groups were clustered into four distinct themes or concerns regarding the variability in services, outreach, transportation, and service delivery. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Foreign Countries; Young Adults; Disabilities; Social Services; Secondary School Students; Special Needs Students; Longitudinal Studies; Interviews; Independent Living; Parents; Gender Differences; Student Placement; Special Education; Qualifications

Abstract:
This article, by Jon Olav Myklebust from Volda University, Norway, presents analyses of social security dependence among students with special educational needs in Norway who at the start of upper secondary school had various disabilities--of a somatic, psychological and/or social nature. They were all educated in ordinary schools, in special or regular classes. These young people have been followed prospectively from their first years in upper secondary school and into their late twenties. The analyses indicate which circumstances contribute to social security dependence, with an emphasis on how the independent variables differently influence social security dependence among men and women. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Regional Schools; Independent Living; Graduation; School Districts; Self Advocacy; Counties; Skill Development; Community Resources; Special Needs Students; Federal Legislation; Public Schools; Models; School Counseling; Special Education; Disabilities; Youth

Abstract:
Transitioning in to adult-hood as a special needs youth can be a challenging experience for both disabled youth and their families. IDEA 2004 legislation mandates all special needs individuals receive skill development in the areas of self-determination, self-advocacy, employment, adult service agency access and independent living. School districts throughout the United States continue to develop a unique approach in an attempt to meet these requirements. This research assesses the knowledge of Transition Planning among the special needs students and their families enrolled in Gloucester County Special Services School District (GCSSSD) and the Delsea Regional Public Schools, both located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. This mixed methods triangulation convergence model utilized both quantitative and qualitative results to answer the research questions. Its participants consisted of 198 special needs students and their families from both school districts. The results revealed GCSSSD students and their families are unaware of the laws pertaining to Transition Planning, Community resources, and the steps necessary to ensure a successful transition beyond high school graduation. Results from the Delsea Regional participants were inconclusive, due to a low participation rate. The recommendation for GCSSSD is to institute multiple strategies to educate the students and families enrolled in the school district about Transition Planning it's laws and the services available to them beyond high school graduation. Meanwhile Delsea Regional School District should conduct the study independently. The results from their study can be utilized in the development of a new approach to improving service delivery in the area of Transition to the special needs students and their families within their school district. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Disabilities; Rehabilitation Programs; Pediatrics; Children; Program Evaluation; Rehabilitation; Foreign Countries; Action Research; Participatory Research; Intervention

Abstract:
This article presents the experience of a rehabilitation program that undertook the challenge to reorganize its services to address accessibility issues and improve service quality. The context in which the reorganization process occurred, along with the relevant literature justifying the need for a new service delivery model, and an historical perspective on the planning; implementation; and evaluation phases of the process are described. In the planning phase, the constitution of the working committee, the data collected, and the information found in the literature are presented. Apollo, the new service delivery model, is then described along with each of its components (e.g., community, group, and individual interventions). Actions and lessons learnt during the implementation of each component are presented. We hope by sharing our experiences that we can help others make informed decisions about service reorganization to improve the quality of services provided to children with disabilities, their families, and their communities. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Older Adults; Individual Needs; Disabilities; Patients; At Risk Persons; Hospitals; Probability; National Surveys

Abstract:
Purpose: This study determined whether returning to the community from a recent hospitalization with unmet activities of daily living (ADL) need was associated with probability of readmission. Methods: A total of 584 respondents to the 1994, 1999, and/or 2004 National Long-Term Care Surveys (NLTCS) who were hospitalized within 90 days prior to the interview and reported ADL disability at the time of the interview were considered for analysis. Medicare claims linked to the NLTCS provided information about hospital episodes, so those enrolled in Health Maintenance Organizations or Veterans Affairs Medical Centers were not included (n = 62), resulting in a total sample size of 522. ADL disability was defined as needing human help or equipment to complete the task. Unmet ADL need was defined as receiving inadequate or no help for one or more ADL disabilities. Disability that began within 90 days of the interview was considered new disability. Results: After adjusting for demographic, health, and functioning characteristics, unmet ADL need was associated with increased risk for hospital readmission (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.03-1.82). Risk of readmission was greater for those with unmet need for new disabilities than those with unmet need for disabilities that were present before the index hospitalization (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.01-2.73). Implications: Many older patients are discharged from the hospital with ADL disability. Those who report unmet need for new ADL disabilities after they return home from the hospital are particularly vulnerable to readmission. Patients' functional needs after discharge should be carefully evaluated and addressed. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Deaf Blind; Telecommunications; Rehabilitation; Children; Adults; Delivery Systems; Intervention; Individual Needs; Physical Disabilities; Genetic Disorders

Abstract:
Rehabilitation efforts for children with congenital dual sensory impairments, or deafblindness, have a long-standing history. Rehabilitation for older people with acquired dual impairments has recently moved to center stage because of the increasing number of clients who require such services (Saunders & Echt, 2007). For both these groups of clients, service delivery follows already established pathways. However, it has been the authors' experience that a third group of rehabilitation clients, namely, those who are affected by slowly progressive and early-onset impairments, often require individually tailored unique interventions that need to remain flexible over long periods. This article describes one such process in which a client's (and the rehabilitation agency's) rehabilitation goal was to make telephone services accessible in the presence of a progressive sensory-and-motor impairment that was due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndrome. (Contains 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Disabilities; Special Needs Students; Developmental Studies Programs; Transitional Programs; Program Descriptions; Accessibility (for Disabled); Comprehensive Programs; Models; Early Intervention; Independent Living; Change Strategies; Education Work Relationship; Normalization (Disabilities)

Abstract:
One of the biggest fears and challenges a parent of a child with special needs faces is navigating the post-22 landscape. When a child hits the age of 22, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is no longer required to provide daily services and support. Whatever the abilities, or disabilities, of a child, every parent has the same concerns about how their child will productively fill their days and live as independently as possible without the safety net of the DESE. One of the transition paths most frequented is entering the workforce. Public and private schools alike work to teach their students the basic skills they need to work. In fact, the national Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that students must have a transition plan in formulation by the age of 16. This article describes the vocational program developed by the League School of Greater Boston which specifically addresses the challenges students, their parents, and their employers face when they are on their own. The strength of the program lies in its integration into the school's everyday curriculum from the earliest ages so that students are well-prepared with the life and functional skills they need to maintain success on the job site. The program is based on the school's over-all directive of working with students in multiple contexts--classroom, community, and home--to gain the skills they need to be independent. It is also supported by a team approach, with teachers, vocational staff, parents, businesses and residential staff working together with the student to build the social as well as the practical skills to get the job done. A vocational program that incorporates life skills at an early age is critical to the success of future employees with special needs. Bringing young students into the community to gain familiarity and comfort with appropriate life and functional skills, and having a broad and unified support team to reinforce these skills, are the critical components to developing future happy, satisfied and successful employees. Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Disabilities; Intervention; Psychotherapy; Fidelity; Rehabilitation; Pediatrics; Children; Measurement Techniques; Literature Reviews; Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Program Implementation

Abstract:
To increase the rigor of pediatric rehabilitation research, there is a need to evaluate the degree to which an intervention is conducted as planned (i.e., fidelity). Generic fidelity measures evaluate more than one intervention and often include nonspecific attributes of the therapy process common to both interventions. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of generic fidelity measures and examine how these attributes fit with pediatric rehabilitation. A review of generic fidelity measures was conducted utilizing health and education databases. Five generic fidelity measures are described and examined for their applicability to pediatric rehabilitation. The measures were used in nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria, involving people ages from 11 years to greater than 65 years undergoing psychotherapy. From the 76 nonspecific items, 37 items were judged to be applicable to pediatric rehabilitation. Common characteristics of nonspecific attributes with pediatric rehabilitation are discussed, and investigator plans to conduct future testing. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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Descriptors:
Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Depression (Psychology); Burnout; Patients; Chronic Illness; Pain; Disabilities; Anxiety; Human Body; Foreign Countries; Measures (Individuals); Gender Differences; Correlation; Rehabilitation

Abstract:
This study sought to assess burnout and its relation to pain, disability, mood and health-related quality of life in a group of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Forty-five patients with chronic WAD ([greater than or equal to] 3 months) referred to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation centre were included. A questionnaire covering data on background and lifestyle, the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire, pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the EQ-5D was filled in before the first visit to the clinic. A high proportion of burnout as measured using the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire was found in the patient group (87%). Burnout correlated moderately with present pain intensity, neck disability, depression and health-related quality of life. The results indicate the possible clinical importance of burnout in relation to chronic WAD and the need for further studies including a larger study population and a longitudinal study design. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.) Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract

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