Fashion for All: Adaptive Clothing for People with Disabilities

February 5, 2020

 

By Nicky Miller 

Often, when we think of people with disabilities, the word fashion, is far from our minds.

Recently, I was fortunate to meet the amazing Mindy Scheier, a fellow fashionista, entrepreneur, and designer. She has designed and styled for many big fashion houses in the industry, from Saks Fifth Avenue to INC and Bloomingdale's.

She’s the founder and CEO of Runway of Dreams. Scheier works with mainstream brands on adaptive modifications to their existing clothing lines for people with disabilities. For some people with disabilities, buttons and zippers are hard to adjust. In other areas, wheelchair users struggle with clothes getting stuck in the wheels.

World Cancer Day

February 3, 2020

February 4 is World Cancer Day.

In the U.S., 3.1 million women have a history of breast cancer.

Many report experiencing weakness and fatigue long after their treatment has ended, diminishing quality of life and interfering with daily activities.

“Exercise is demonstrated to have tremendous benefits for cancer survivors, including improved fitness, strength, self-esteem, and quality of life,” says Dr. Michael Stubblefield, director of Cancer Rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. However, many have difficulty participating in a traditional exercise program because of weakness and fatigue.

Researchers at Kessler Foundation, led by Guang Yue, PhD, director of the

Academic Internships Expand Career Options for College Students with Disabilities: The Washington Center Experience

January 30, 2020

By Carolann Murphy, PA

Transitioning to the workplace is challenging for college students, especially those with disabilities. Internships that provide opportunities for networking and exploring career options, as well as work experience and academic credit, are important options for students with disabilities. To connect students with a range of experiences in government and the nonprofit and private sectors, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) offers summer and semester internships.

Founded in 1975, TWC has helped more than 60,000 young people, including students with disabilities, start on the

Demanding Equal Care for Muslim Patients

January 8, 2020

By Nicky Miller and N. Erkut Kucukboyaci 

By combining clinical observations with findings from extant literature on health disparities, Kessler Foundation researchers turned the spotlight on below average health outcomes of Muslim Americans in the healthcare system.

(Photo above L-R Erkut Kucukboyaci, Roohsey Hasnain, Joman Natsheh)

“This is an underrepresented group that finds it difficult to negotiate the complex healthcare system and it is important to give them a voice,” says N. Erkut Kucukboyaci, PhD, an associate research scientist in the Center for Traumatic Brain

Reducing Diagnostic Uncertainty What the Evidence-Based Researcher Can Do for Clinical Practitioners

January 7, 2020

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Gordon Chelune, PhD, presents “Reducing Diagnostic Uncertainty What the Evidence-Based Researcher Can Do for Clinical Practitioners.” Dr. Chelune presented this topic at last year’s 2019 Kessler Foundation Baird Visiting Educational Professional Lecture.

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, 

Financial Tool to Enhance Quality of Life After SCI

January 7, 2020

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Henry Stifel, Ethan Ordog and Nancy Guerin presents, “Financial Tool to Enhance Quality of Life After SCI.”

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on Apple

Sleep Apnea and Stroke

January 3, 2020

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Brian Benoff, MD, FCCP, FAASM, of Holy Name Medical Center, presents “Sleep Apnea and Stroke.”

 

This is part eight, and the final podcast from the series.

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on 

Impact of Spatial Neglect

December 19, 2019

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Peii Chen, PhD, senior research scientist at the Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research at Kessler Foundation, presents “Impact of Spatial Neglect.”

This is part seven of an eight part series. Listen to the series as it's posted. 

Listen to the podcast, 

Happy New Year!

December 19, 2019

Happy New Year and thank you for changing lives with your generosity. 

Your generosity gives the gift of first steps, improved memory, and independence for people with disabilities.

Learn more about your impact.

On behalf of all of us at Kessler Foundation, best wishes for a happy and healthy new year filled with all things good.

 

4 Things to Do Now to Give Less to the IRS on April 15

December 18, 2019

April 15—the dreaded tax day—may seem like a long way off, but you can take action now, before December 31, to give less to the IRS and more to change the lives of people with disabilities.

Even better: when your charitable giving is part of your overall financial plan, you can give more and have a greater impact, without actually giving more.

Even better than that: give by December 31 and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar!

So what are the four things to do now to give less to the IRS on April 15?

1. Donate highly appreciated, publicly traded assets, such as stock, bonds, or real estate that you have held

One Tough Cookie—and Generous Donor, Too

December 18, 2019

In October 2013, as 5th grader Isabella Sementilli went to sit down, a classmate pulled out the chair from under her. In that moment, her life was changed forever. Isabella sustained a brain injury, a fractured tailbone, and back and neck injuries. She lives with the effects of her brain injury to this day.

Isabella can longer do the things she once loved, like tap dance or play tennis. But in overcoming her obstacles, Isabella has found new passions—baking and fighting for anti-bullying and brain injury awareness. The cookies she bakes, which she has named Iznettes, are sold at her dad’s restaurant, and she donates the proceeds to support causes she cares about, including Kessler Foundation. Isabella also wrote, illustrated, and self-published a picture book

Caregiver Guide to Bowel and Bladder Function after Stroke

December 16, 2019

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Lizette Hocbo-Balin, BSN, CRRN, of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation presents “Caregiver Guide to Bowel and Bladder Function after Stroke.”  

 

 

This is part six of an eight part series. Listen to the series as it's posted. 

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on Apple Podcasts, 

Impact of Communications and Hearing Impairment

December 12, 2019

In this episode of Kessler Foundation’s podcast, Pamela Tamulevicius, MSR, CCC-SLP, of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation presents “Disability Disparities: The Impact of Communication and Hearing Impairments.”

 

This is part five of an eight part series. Listen to the series as it's posted. 

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on Apple Podcasts, 

Questions about Disability and Loneliness

December 11, 2019

The holiday season can take a toll on your mind and body. There can be an extra level of difficulty, if you are living with an acquired disability.

We asked Helen M. Genova, PhD, assistant director of the Kessler Foundation's Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research and director of the Social Cognition and Neuroscience Laboratory to share her thoughts on how dealing with an acquired disability can effect someone mentally and physically.

What are the emotional effects an acquired disability can have on an individual?

People who have an acquired disability may have a number of emotional issues

Working Smart to Achieve Functional Outcomes

December 9, 2019

In this episode of Kessler Foundation's podcast, Gretchen March, OTR, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, presents “Working Smart to Achieve Functional Outcomes Using ICF Framework for Goal-Writing and Treatment Planning.”

 

 

This is part four of an eight part series. Listen to the series as it's posted. 

Listen to the podcast, view the transcript and download this episode and others for free on Apple