Perceived stress of individuals with disabilities in the United States during COVID-19.

Purpose/objective: This study was conducted to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted the stress, resiliency, and quality of life of people with disabilities near the height of the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020.

Research Method/design: An online survey of 990 individuals who self-identified as having at least one disability in the United States was conducted.

Results: Quality of life, coping/resilience skills, number of identified disabilities, and age were all significantly related to perceived stress.

Direct Support Professionals: Stress and Resiliency Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study reports on the results of an online survey of direct support professionals (DSPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 to measure their perceived quality of life, stressors, coping/resilience skills, and knowledge of health care rights directly related to the pandemic for the persons that they support. Specifically, we examined direct support workers' perceptions of their quality of life, levels of stress, and their self-reported resilience skills. We found that perceived stress was strongly correlated with both self-reported quality of life and resilience, but not with years of DSP experience.

RETAIN Kentucky: A return-to-work and stay-at-work program for people with disabilities grounded in the conservation of resources theory.

This article, the first in the Return-to-Work (RTW) Corner series, summarizes a comprehensive RTW and Stay-at-Work (SAW) program in Kentucky, which is funded by the United States Department of Labor. The program, Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network: Kentucky (RETAIN Kentucky), focuses on RTW and SAW strategies, depending upon participants' employment status at the time of enrollment in the project. RETAIN Kentucky services are implemented by RTW Coordinators (RTWCs) who help people with non-work-related injuries and illnesses continue in the workforce.

Home functioning profiles in people with multiple sclerosis and their relation to disease characteristics and psychosocial functioning.

Background: For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), limitations in performing activities of daily living can have a significant impact on personal independence, residential safety, and quality of life. In this study we explored the utility of the Home Functioning Scale in identifying home functioning profiles and generating rehabilitation interventions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether distinctive and meaningful home functioning profiles could be identified among adults with MS based on Home Functioning Scale scores.

Including students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities in school extracurricular and community recreation activities.

We conducted an online statewide survey of teachers of students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities to determine the extent to which their students were included in school extracurricular and community recreation activities. For the 252 teacher respondents who indicated that their primary caseload consisted of students with significant intellectual disabilities, we report the numbers of students participating in school and community activities and the primary type of support students required to participate in each activity. Finally, we identify implications for practitioners who want to increase the participation of students with significant disabilities in school and community activities.

Quality of life dimensions for adults with developmental disabilities: a comparative study.

The quality of life construct has gained prominent attention in human services over the last 20 years. We investigated whether quality of life differences exist between adults with developmental disabilities and the general population. Differences were found in scales measuring well-being and decision-making as well as other more specific variables.