INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes , we explore assistive technology with a focus on wheelchair breakdowns, repairs and real-world considerations for people who rely on wheelchairs. Our guests are Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT, ATP , assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh and principal investigator of the multi-center Equity and Assistive Technol...

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is at the forefront of advancing the study of “osseointegration,” a novel surgical technique in the field of prosthetics in which a metal rod is surgically implanted into the bone of the residual limb, allowing for a direct connection to the prosthesis. For patients with limb loss, the procedure offers numerous benefits, from improved comfort, control and balance to an enha...

What happens when people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) use storytelling to share their lived experiences? Can telling their own stories spark connection, confidence and even hope? In this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how the simple, creative act of storytelling can have a profound impact. Join us as we step inside Tellin’ Tales of Parkinson’s Disease, a unique storytelling project of...

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we talk with Viraj, 29, about living independently in Utrecht, the Netherlands, after a spinal cord injury. Viraj shares his journey from a life-changing accident in India to intensive rehabilitation and returning to work in Utrecht, highlighting the unique support system that allows him to live independently in fully accessible housing. Find the podcast on ...

For more than 50 years, the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database has been the cornerstone of spinal cord injury (SCI) research in the United States. Since 1973, it has captured detailed information from thousands of people with traumatic SCI, helping researchers track long-term outcomes, improve rehabilitation care and guide new discoveries. In this episode, we explore how the databa...

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’re discussing the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) and its role in translating complex health information into accessible and useful resources for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burn injury. Our guest is Cindy Cai, PhD , a researcher at the American Institutes for Research and the principal...

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we're exploring the challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to air travel, and opportunities to enhance accessibility. Mike Whelan, one of our guests, is a member of several Shirley Ryan AbilityLab spinal cord injury research advisory councils and counts himself as a "million miler" -- logging more than a million miles in the air as he travels...

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 experi...

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 disabili...

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 othe...

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 Universi...

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...

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 , assistan...

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...

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 Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. LaVela is also a research professor of physical medicine and reh...

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. Learn more ab...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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, ul...

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 r...

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 Di...

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 Pritz...

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 thera...