Honoring the ADA

July 26, 2019

In honor of the Americans with Disabilities Act 29th anniversary, Kessler Foundation is sharing its resources that support people with disabilities in the workforce. The purpose of the ADA law is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else, in all areas of public life. Kessler Foundation strives to help create equal opportunity through employment and disability research, and funding to organizations that specialize with assisting veterans, young adults, and individuals with disabilities in the workforce and various areas.

Employing People with Disabilities
From 2004 to 2019, Kessler Foundation

Kessler Scientists in Germany to Expand Research

July 24, 2019

Seven Kessler Foundation scientists from the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research are headed to Berlin, Germany this week for the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society’s 41ST International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, July 23-27. They will be presenting research posters, speaking at symposiums, and chairing two sessions.  

The theme this year is “Biomedical engineering ranging from wellness to intensive care.”

The seven scientists who are attending include:

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Join the Fun!

July 10, 2019 Kessler Foundation's 18th Annual Stroll 'N Roll Every dollar you give or raise supports innovative rehabilitation research and employment initiatives that change the lives of people with disabilities. Join us and become a champion for people with disabilities.

Sunday, September 22, 2019
10:00 AM — 1:00 PM | Rain or Shine
Verona Park
Verona, NJ

Register Now for Free!

Join us on Sunday, September 22, 2019, from 10 AM to 1 PM in Verona Park, for the best Stroll 'N Roll ever! This family event brings together more than

Consumer Conference for Persons with Brain Injury

June 26, 2019 Moving Forward: Improving Emotional,
Physical and Cognitive Health after Brain Injury

 

Friday, September 27, 2019
8:15 am – 3:00 pm
Hotel Westminster
Livingston, NJ

Register Now!

Admission is free but registration is required.
Please register by Friday, September 20, 2019, additional registrations will be accepted after this date as space allows.

Please Join Us!

Moving Forward: Improving Emotional, Physical and Cognitive Health after

New Tool for Restoring Mobility to Stroke Survivors

June 20, 2019

By Carolann Murphy, PA, Senior Writer

June 19, 2019. The application of new technology in rehabilitation research has resulted in a new tool for restoring mobility to individuals recovering from stroke. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recently approved the ReStore exo-suit (ReWalk Robotics), a soft, fabric-based exoskeleton, for gait retraining for stroke survivors in rehabilitation centers. ReStore, the only soft suit approved by the FDA for stroke rehabilitation, was tested in 40 research participants at five rehabilitation research facilities, including Kessler Foundation.

Karen Nolan, PhD, senior research scientist,

Embracing Fatherhood After TBI

June 11, 2019

 

Happy Father's Day! In celebration, I share a story to demonstrate how your support makes all the difference for fathers, like Pete Welch, who live with disabilities. You advance groundbreaking rehabilitation research to help Pete and others with disabilities live fuller, more engaged lives with their families.

After Hurricane Sandy, Pete and his then-girlfriend, Ali, were assessing the storm's damage when Pete fell three stories, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. After doctors saved his life, Pete began his journey to recovery with Ali by his side.

During his rehabilitation, Pete worked hard and participated in several

Preventing Memory Loss

June 6, 2019

 

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. A unique research study at Kessler Foundation, made possible by donors like you, seeks ways to prevent memory loss and reverse impairments for those living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Approximately 40 percent of people aged 65 and older in the US—16 million people—experience age-associated cognitive impairments, like memory loss and dementia. “It’s a very big issue,” says Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, director of The Centers for

Breast Cancer, Mobility, and Sleep Disorder Research

May 30, 2019

At Kessler Foundation, research in breast cancer, mobility and sleep disorders is performed to find treatments and help rehabilitate lives.

Studies in Sleep/Wake Disorder
At the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation, Anthony Lequerica, PhD, senior research scientist, studies neurological disorders. His research includes, sleep/wake disorders after brain injury and exploring how cultural issues influence rehabilitation outcomes. Sleep/wake disorders are common after a brain injury, and can cause difficulty at

World MS Day—You Help Improve the Invisible Symptoms of MS

May 30, 2019

 

Today, May 30, is World MS Day. I share a story to thank you for your support and show how you help people with Multiple Sclerosis, like Rosemarie Collopy, live to the fullest, despite the invisible symptoms of the disease.

After her diagnosis, Rosemarie had to adjust to the challenges of living with MS. For her, these were fatigue, weakness, balance problems, and difficulties with thinking and remembering. "The cognitive symptoms were the most frustrating and eventually forced me to give up my job," she recalls.

Most people know about the physical symptoms, but few, including doctors, fully understand the cognitive symptoms, which are often invisible. Many are diagnosed with MS in the prime of their lives, and more than half will develop cognitive problems. MS

Wheelchair 10K Winners

May 29, 2019

By Angela Smith, Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10k race director

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On a picture-perfect Memorial Day, 23 national and international wheelchair racers gathered in Ridgewood, NJ to compete in the 19th Annual Kessler Foundation Wheelchair 10K—the wheelchair division of the Fred d’Elia Ridgewood Run. Racers competed for a total purse of $15,000. James Senbeta and Jenna Fesemyer from the University of Illinois wheelchair racing team were the top male and female finishers with times of 23:02 and 25:58 respectively. Glen Ridge, NJ native Tony Nogueira took first in the masters division, and 71 year old Carlos Guzman from Queens, NY bested the quad division with a time of 33:45. 

Improving Quality of Life for Veterans with Disabilities

May 23, 2019

This Memorial Day, Kessler Foundation is highlighting how funding and studies in veterans research help improve their quality of life and create employment opportunities.  

GI Go Fund
Kessler Foundation funds organizations that help veterans find employment. One organization in particular is GI Go Fund. Our sponsorship assisted in the opening of its Jackson Drysdale Veterans Center, in Newark, NJ in December 2018. The center specializes in employment training for veterans and offers incubator space for veteran owned businesses.    

Dedicated to SCI Care and Research

May 20, 2019

Improving the lives of people with spinal cord injuries depends on the efforts of a team of professionals who have dedicated their careers to care and research. 

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Meet Nathan Hogaboom, PhD, post-doctoral fellow in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research and Outcomes & Assessment Research. Dr. Hogaboom, Kessler’s first fellow in regenerative rehabilitation, focuses his research on shoulder pain and pathology in people with SCI. He works closely with Dr

Adapting to Life After SCI: Preparing for the Future through Education

May 20, 2019

On July 4, 2009, a diving accident changed the life of Gianfranco Gervasio, a native of Bergen County. At the time of his spinal cord injury (SCI), he was 27, and had a job in banking. During his stay at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Gianfranco spent time rethinking his future, including his prospects for employment. Although his employer was willing to place him in another position, Gianfranco wasn’t ready to return to work so soon after his injury. “I had a lot to deal with,” he said, “and I wasn’t enthusiastic about the work I had been doing. Realizing that finding and keeping a good job would be more difficult because of my disability, I decided that it was essential to pursue a bachelor’s degree.” 

Ask the Expert: Employment & Disability

May 20, 2019

An Interview with John O’Neill, PhD, CRC, Employment Researcher

Dr. O’Neill is director, Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation; research professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical school; senior research scientist, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Returning to Work after Spinal Cord Injury

May 17, 2019

Megan Helsel had a passion for the outdoors and dreamt of working with wildlife. After earning an associate’s degree in natural sciences from Bergen Community College in 2010, she completed a bachelor’s degree in biology from Montclair State University. Megan excelled during her undergraduate studies, winning a competitive scholarship from the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals. With a love for ornithology (the study of birds), she volunteered with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society. There,