Registration closed for the 22nd Annual PM&R Board Review Course, 4/22 - 4/30

January 13, 2010

Presented in cooperation with UMDNJ Department of PM&R and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, this course offers a comprehensive curriculum and up to 70 CME credits. For more information and to Reg

January 13, 2010 - Click here now for the nation's largest review course in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. This course, offered in cooperation with UMDNJ Department of PM&R and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, offers a comprehensive curriculum taught by expert faculty and the opportunity to earn up to 70 CME credits. Clinicians preparing for the PM&R board exams have the option to select from 2 mock oral exam sessions for an additional fee. A special one-day registration is available for the April 28 Prosthetics & Orthotics Program. (This program is

Kessler Foundation Trustees Approve $1,933,835 in Grants

December 17, 2009

Kessler Foundation approved an allocation of $1,933,835 through its Transition to Work initiative. Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded $423,742 to benefit grant programs that increase employme

December 17, 2009. WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Board of Trustees of Kessler Foundation has approved a grant allocation of $1,933,835 to benefit people with physical disabilities through Kessler's "Transition to Work" initiative. Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded $423,742 in grants to benefit grant programs that increase employment opportunities for this underserved population. The total amount awarded for employment initiatives during 2009 was $2,357,577.

"This year has been a challenging one for people with disabilities trying to seek employment," said Elaine Katz, Vice

Rodger DeRose Attends White House Jobs Summit

December 14, 2009

 

 Rodger DeRose, president and CEO of Kessler Foundation, was one of the 130 business leaders called to the White House by President Obama to develop creative approaches to job development. 

December 14, 2009 - On December 3, 2009, the White House convened the Jobs and Economic Growth Forum, an important step toward meeting the nation's ongoing challenges. President Obama invited leaders representing every sector of the economy to brainstorm ways to create jobs quickly as the economy slowly recovers. Attendees were assigned to one of six working groups, where they discussed optimal strategies. Rodger DeRose, president and CEO of Kessler Foundation, provided input to the session on 'Encouraging Business Hiring and Job Creation', an area that reflects the Foundation's

North Jersey Navigators Set New Records at National & World Championships

November 30, 2009

 The Navigators adaptive sports team wrapped up their best season in years at the 2009 National Junior Disability Championships in St. Louis, Missouri and the 2009 International Wheelchair and Ampute

November 23, 2009

At the 2009 National Junior DisabilityChampionships (NJDC), all the athletes obtained new personal best records and the team netted a total of 123 medals (77 Gold, 30 Silver, 16 Bronze), set 16 new national records, and once again placed FIRST in the large team category (teams with 9-23 athletes). The Navigators team competed in track, field, swimming, archery and table tennis events. The team averaged 22.98 points per athlete while the team that placed second averaged 13 points per athlete.

In addition, 4 members of the Navigators competed on the

Foundation Awarded Grant to Produce SCI Educational Videos

November 30, 2009

A grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation will enable researchers to develop a series of 3 educational videos on the prevention and management of medical complications in persons with spinal cord i

November 30, 2009

This grant for $97,500 from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation will enable researchers to develop a series of 3 educational videos on the prevention and management of medical complications in persons with spinal cord injury. This brings the year to date grant total for Kessler Foundation to $4.7 million.

This interactive, multi-media-based, medical education series that will provide guidance and assistance for consumers with SCI, caregivers and professionals in the management and prevention of common medical complications associated with SCI. The three

Improving Quality of Life for Wounded Warriors and Their Families

November 12, 2009

A Signature Program Grant from Kessler Foundation funds the Army Wounded Warrior Career Demonstration Project, a national project of the National Organization on Disability.

November 12, 2009

Signature Program Grants support large initiatives that increase opportunities for citizens with disabilities to obtain competitive employment. A Signature Program Grant from Kessler Foundation funds the Army Wounded Warrior Career Demonstration Project, a national project of the National Organization on Disability.

Soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan face enormous challenges to re-entering society. Achieving satisfactory quality of life often depends on finding a job or training for a new career, but disability is a barrier for many veterans. Many who

Recent MS Grant Brings Foundation Total to $4,600,000 for 2009

November 4, 2009

Helen Genova, PhD, John DeLuca, PhD, and Glenn Wylie, PhD, received a Multiple Sclerosis Grant Award to develop a method of measuring cognitive fatigue in individuals wit Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Thi

November 4, 2009

 Investigators Examine Cognitive Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Using fMRI

Helen Genova, PhD, and colleagues, Drs. John DeLuca and Glenn Wylie, were awarded a Multiple Sclerosis Grant Award to develop a method of measuring cognitive fatigue in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This award, which is valued at $344,000 over a three-year period, brings Kessler Foundation's total awards for the year to $4,600,000.

These investigators will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to pinpoint activity in regions of the brain during

Kessler Foundation Urges Improvement in Employment Opportunities for the Disability Community

October 14, 2009

 

Kessler Foundation Urges Improvement in Employment Opportunities for the Disability Community

 �Finding a job is hard enough, having a disability makes it even harder,� emphasized president and CEO Rodger DeRose.  This is why Kessler Foundation awards grants to organizations that are exploring

October 1Kessler Foundation Urges Improvement in Employment Opportunities for the Disability Community

Largest Minority Population in the U.S. Faces Serious Employment Challenges

October 14, 2009 – West Orange, NJ –Kessler Foundation, one of the largest non-profits supporting individuals with disabilities, is honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month by calling attention to the serious challenges facing the disability community in this key area. With

Research Center Awarded $724,000 for Rehabilitation Research Training Center

October 9, 2009

The SCI/Outcomes & Assessment Labs were awarded a 5-year NIDRR grant for the Rehabilitation Research Training Center.  Kessler Foundation will collaborate with Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on t

October 9, 2009 - October 8, 2009. Dr. David Tulsky, Dr. Noelle Carlozzi and the SCI/Outcomes team were awarded a 5-year NIDRR grant for the Rehabilitation Research Training Center. Kessler Foundation Research Center will collaborate with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on this important project, which will focus on measuring function in people with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke. Kessler Foundation will receive $724,000 over the 5-year period.

A summary of the project:

The purpose of this Rehabilitation Research Training Center is

NIH Funds Study of Visuospatial Rehabilitation after Stroke

October 5, 2009

 More than $153,000 from the NIH/NICHD will further investigation of visuospatial deficits that are linked to poor rehabilitation outcomes, increased morbidity, and impairments in driving, shopping, sp

October 5, 2009 Visuospatial Rehabilitation after Right Hemisphere Stroke

Principal Investigator: Peii Chen, Ph.D. Research Scientist Stroke Rehabilitation Research Laboratory Grant Number: 1R03HD063177-01

National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NIH/NICHD)

Award Amount: $153,854

Project Period: 09/10/2009 – 8/31/2011

Project Summary

Of 5.7 million stroke survivors in the United States, up to 90% may have visuospatial deficits, linked to poor rehabilitation outcomes, an increase of

Cultivating a Better Planet for People With Disabilities

September 17, 2009

Cultivating a Better Planet for People With Disabilities

 A Community Employment Grant supports Arthur & Friends Greenhouse Project, which is training young adults with physical disabilities to work in agribusiness. (

September 17, 2009 - Dedicated to 'cultivating a better planet', Arthur & Friends Greenhouse Project fulfills a dual mission—providing fresh, healthful produce for the community and meaningful work for people with physical disabilities. Founded by Wendie Blanchard, Arthur & Friends is an agribusiness program in Sussex County that trains people with disabilities to grow and market organic lettuce, leafy vegetables, plants and herbs that are grown hydroponically. Arthur & Friends aims to raise the employment rate among people with disabilities

Kessler Foundation Receives Quality Of Life Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

September 5, 2009

Kessler Foundation is proud to announce that it has received a $13,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

August 5, 2009(West Orange, NJ August 2, 2009) – Kessler Foundation is proud to announce that it has received a $13,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 86 grants totaling almost $500,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that help people living with paralysis and their families become more integrated members of society. Since inception of the program in 1999, nearly 1,600 grants have been awarded, totaling almost $13 million.

Kessler Foundation will use the grant to help fund a consumer conference for 100 attendees that will address the

Signature Employment Grant

August 3, 2009

Signature Employment Grant focuses on increasing employment for individuals with disabilities in New Jersey.

August 3, 2009
The Kessler Foundation's Signature Employment Grant Program is focused on increasing employment and career advancement for individuals with mobility and/or physical disabilities in New Jersey.

Projects must be collaborative, have multiple funding sources, and serve a large geographic area. A letter of inquiry must be submitted to the Foundation in order to be considered for this grant. The Foundation will subsequently invite selected organizations to submit a full application. Organizations located outside of the service area may apply, providing the project is based in New Jersey.

The average grant is for two years and ranges from $100,

NIDRR Grant Brings Total Amount for New Grants to >$2,500,000

July 23, 2009

July 23, 2009 - Improving New Learning and Memory in TBI: Applying fMRI to Measure Outcome

Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Laboratory receives 3-year NIDRR grant of $591,000 to investigate common cognitive deficits in traumatic brain injury.

The Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Laboratory, led by director Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, received another significant award valued at $591,000 over three years to investigate common cognitive deficits in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This grant extends the current and ongoing NIDRR-funded clinical trial that is exploring how to remediate learning and memory. Individuals with TBI are randomly assigned to a memory retraining group or a placebo control group that engages in memory exercises. Outcome is being

CONNECTIONS Newsletter

July 13, 2009

Experimental Treatments for SCIand Its Consequences: Be AwareBefore You Decide

July 13, 2009 Kessler Foundation Research Center Awarded More Than Two Million Dollars in Grants

Kessler Foundation on Cutting Edge of Research for People with Disabilities

West Orange, NJ - July 6, 2009 - Kessler Foundation announced that it was awarded seven grants totaling $2,049,100 during the first half of 2009. The grants were awarded by federal and state agencies, major universities and other health organizations to support research that improves quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke and other disabling conditions.

"Kessler Foundation Research Center continues to be recognized as a national leader in the