Research at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire seeks to inform the services, systems, and policies that positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities. Below is a list of recent scholarly publications and creative works authored by the IOD's faculty and staff.
Fall 2024
Pandemic Impacts on the Workplace: Voices from NH Small Businesses
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, but the COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how vulnerable they can be. Small local businesses deserve targeted support to keep doors open, provide for employees, and safeguard the community.
New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Program (NH OHSP) at the UNH Institute on Disability interviewed small business owners and workers statewide to better understand their workplace safety and health practices during the pandemic. See key findings from their study.
2024 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Hospitality Industry
A new Kessler Foundation survey of supervisors in the hospitality industry – focused on restaurant and traveler accommodations – has revealed critical insights into the recruitment, support, and accommodation of workers with disabilities. The findings, released today in a special live Zoom webinar, offer actionable takeaways for employers looking to diversify their workforce and enhance workplace inclusion. Key points revealed that proactive recruitment, effective partnerships, and targeted accommodations are critical to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.
The 2024 Kessler Foundation National Employment and Disability Survey: Hospitality Industry is the fifth in a groundbreaking series conducted in partnership with the IOD Center for Research on Disability, focused on deconstructing the employment barriers and key workplace dynamics for people with disabilities. The final sample consisted of 813 supervisors, ages 18 and older, working in the U.S. for companies in the hospitality industry that employed 25 people or more. Learn More
Summer 2024
Social Infrastructure and Health among mid-life and Older Adults in Rural America: An Environmental Scan of Existing Data
This paper, written with colleagues in the Interdisciplinary Network on Rural Population Health, is an environmental scan of existing data for furthering research on the topic of social infrastructure and health. The paper summarizes the key features of ten datasets and describes the analytic strengths and weaknesses of the available data, which is essential for researchers to assess their analytic options.
Citation: Rhubart, D., Henly, M. , Henning-Smith, C., & Guest, A. (2024) Social infrastructure and healthy aging in rural America: A summary of existing data. Aging and Health Research, 100186. doi: 10.1016/j.ahr.2024.100186. https://www-sciencedirect-com.unh.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S2667032124000076
Relegated to the Sidelines: A Qualitative Inquiry of Gatekeepers’ Perspectives and Values of Physical Education for Disabled Children
An inter-department/institute CHHS collaboration resulting from an RSI award recently had the following manuscript accepted for publication by Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly.
Several institutional aspects within the U.S. public school system impede the delivery of adapted physical education (APE) services to disabled children, including a lack of understanding and prioritization of these services by the special education team and a lack of qualified APE professionals to deliver these services. Thus, we conducted a qualitative inquiry grounded in a critical-ableism perspective to explore special education gatekeepers’ experiences and perspectives of APE. These findings illustrate the complexities around the provision of physical education and APE to disabled children.
Citation: McNamara, S., Craig, P., Henly, M., & Gravink, J. (2024) Relegated to the Sidelines: A Qualitative Inquiry of Gatekeepers’ Perspectives and Values of Physical Education for Disabled Children. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, pre-press. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2023-0174. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2023-0174
Development of PREPARE for Autistic Adults: An Adult Autism Training for Resident Physicians Designed with Autistic Adults and Family Members
This study evaluates a training program developed to better prepare resident physicians studying internal and family medicine to provide care for autistic adults, with the goal of increasing the number of physicians with autism training.
The advisory board, PREPARE, (Promoting Residents’ Excellence in Patient-centered cARE) for Autistic Adults, is a group author for this newly released journal article, Development of PREPARE for Autistic Adults: An adult autism training for resident physicians designed with autistic adults and family members. This paper is the first of two, with the latter to be published at a future date, and it will describe the pilot program to the curriculum.
NH-ME LEND Program Support Assistant Amy Frechette is a member of the PREPARE advisory board and directly contributed to the development of this training.
Citation: Hand, B. N., Gilmore, D., DeVassie, H., Longo, A., Juckett, L., Hanks, C., Havercamp, S. M., & Coury, D. (2024). Development of PREPARE for Autistic Adults: An Adult Autism Training for Resident Physicians Designed with Autistic Adults and Family Members. Autism in Adulthood. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2023.0137
Improving Outcomes for NH Youth in Residential Treatment Facilities
UNH Today ran IOD's story, Improving Outcomes for NH Youth in Residential Treatment Facilities, last month. The article highlights our Children's Behavioral Health team's progress in improving outcomes for New Hampshire youth in residential treatment programs. Read the full story.
Developmental Disabilities Network Journal features several articles written by IOD Staff
The latest issue of the Developmental Disabilities Network Journal features several articles written by IOD staff. The Developmental Disabilities Network Journal is an open-source academic journal focused on rigorous scholarship about disability systems and the value and impact of the Developmental Disabilities Network.
This network comprises organizations and programs that conduct interdisciplinary pre-service preparation, advocacy, research, community services, and information dissemination with and on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. We also welcome scholarship from programs with a similar focus on disability rights, community living, and interdisciplinary research.
This journal specifically highlights programs, practices, and policies that encourage the full inclusion of people with disabilities in communities and all aspects of public life.
Advancing Strength-Based Inclusive Mental Health Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Luther Kalb and Joan B. Beasley
The Person Experiences Interview Survey: A Measure Addressing Ableism in Mental Healthcare for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Micah Peace Urquilla
Professional Development Strategies for Treating People with IDD and Mental Health Needs
Jennifer L. McLaren, Elizabeth Grosso, and Karen L. Weigle
Recognizing Disabled Entrepreneurs in New Hampshire and Beyond
Kelly Nye-Lengerman’s commentary on the systems and structures in place that create barriers for disabled entrepreneurs in New Hampshire was picked up by the NH Bulletin last month. Nye-Lengerman’s article touches on a range of issues that many Americans with disabilities who are business owners face. Read the article
Collaboration With Researchers with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: An Illustration of Inclusive Research Attributes Across Two Projects
Researchers have implemented inclusive research for over 30 years. This article describes how two research projects collaborated with researchers with disabilities and aligns the description with four attributes of inclusive research developed by a consensus of international experts with and without disabilities.
Kramer, J. M., Dean, E. E., Urquilla, M. P., Beasley, J. B., & Linnenkamp, B. (2024). Collaboration with researchers with intellectual/developmental disabilities: An illustration of inclusive research attributes across two projects. Inclusion, 12(1), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-12.1.55
Core Components and Implementation Determinants of Multilevel Service Delivery Frameworks Across Child Mental Health Service Settings
IOD’s JoAnne Malloy co-authored an article examining effective mental health service delivery. This paper works to identify key elements that can help improve the high-quality implementation of multilevel service delivery frameworks, with the goal of ultimately increasing access to high-quality mental health care for youth across a wide range of settings.
Moore, S. A., Cooper, J. M., Malloy, J., & Lyon, A. R. (2024). Core Components and Implementation Determinants of Multilevel Service Delivery Frameworks Across Child Mental Health Service Settings. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 51(2), 172–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-023-01320-8
Responsive Practice Training Promotional Video
The NH Disability and Health Program (DHP) team created a promotional video for their healthcare provider training with faculty and students from the UNH Nursing Department. Professors Anne Meginnis and Samantha Arnold spoke about how Responsive Practice has been useful in complementing their students' clinical and classroom experiences as they prepare them to work with patients from different backgrounds. Nursing students Lily Libbey and Elizabeth Wise shared insights from the student perspective.
The New Hampshire Disability and Health Program (DHP) Publishes Report on Food Security and Disability
The NH Disability and Health Program (DHP) recently published the 2023 Needs Assessment: Food Security & Disability. The report provides perspective on how people with disabilities are at an increased risk of food insecurity. Barriers include financial challenges, transportation, and accessibility.
Stott, G., Henly, M., & Poehlman, E. (2023). Food Security for Adults with Disabilities in New Hampshire. University of New Hampshire. Institute on Disability: Durham, NH.
Fall 2023
Development and Content Validity of the Person Experiences Interview Survey (PEIS): A Measure of the Mental Health Services Experiences of People with Developmental Disabilities
People with developmental disabilities and mental health service experiences have a right to be included in healthcare decisions, including the evaluation of their mental health services and providers. However, few self-report measures address this need. This study aimed to fill this gap by developing and evaluating the content validity, including comprehension, relevance, and comprehensiveness, of the Person Experiences Interview Survey (PEIS) with people with developmental disabilities and mental health experiences.
Kramer, J. M., Beasley, J. B., Caoili, A., Kalb, L., Urquilla, M. P., Klein, A. E., Poncelet, J., Black, S., and Tessler, R. C. (2023). Development and content validity of the person experiences interview survey (PEIS): A measure of the mental health services experiences of people with developmental disabilities. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14.
Hyun Ju Kim's Paper Published at PLOS ONE
Hyun Ju Kim's paper, "Differential Impacts of Reduced Worktime on Work-Life Balance in Korea," is published at PLOS ONE. Using longitudinal household data from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS) from 2001 to 2017, this study aims to shed light on how the work hour reduction policy may differently affect workers with various levels of resources and support by demographic and socioeconomic status.
Relationship of Business Practices and Characteristics to Supervisors’ Perceived Effectiveness of Disability Recruitment
Public sector employers are promoting inclusive workplaces, but the impact of such policies on employees’ perceptions of employer attractiveness has rarely been studied. A deeper understanding of how inclusive workplaces relate to employer attractiveness may inform recruitment policies and retention management. Findings from this study suggest that inclusive workplaces are advantageous in terms of employer attractiveness, not just for the beneficiaries of such policies, but even more so in the public sector.
Chen, A., O’Neill, J., Phillips, K. G., Houtenville, A. J., and Katz, E. Relationship of business practices and characteristics to supervisors’ perceived effectiveness of disability recruitment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, (Preprint), 1-10.
Changes in Life Satisfaction and Health for Rural and Non-rural Older Adults in the United States
Megan Henly and Deb Brucker's paper analyzing Health and Retirement Study data on disability, aging, and health was recently published in the Journal of Rural and Community Development (December 2023). This paper examines whether county-level rural and non-rural status is associated with changes in life satisfaction and perceived decrease in health among U.S. residents aged 65 and older. Findings indicate that functional decline has a relationship to perceived health change and life satisfaction, but that the most substantial community and individual level characteristics are related to health, not life satisfaction.
Henly, M., and Brucker, D.L. (2023) Changes in life satisfaction and health for rural and non-rural older adults in the United States. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 18(4).
Core Components and Implementation Determinants of Multilevel Service Delivery Frameworks Across Child Mental Health Service Settings
The goal of this paper is to facilitate cross-sector knowledge sharing and provide direction for researchers, system leaders, and practitioners who are working to support the high-quality implementation of these service delivery frameworks.
Moore, S. A., Cooper, J. M., Malloy, J., and Lyon, A. R. (2023). Core Components and Implementation Determinants of Multilevel Service Delivery Frameworks Across Child Mental Health Service Settings. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 1-24.
Summer 2023
Full-Time Caregiving During COVID-19 Based on Minority Identifications, Generation, and Vaccination Status
Published on August 28, 2023, this study compared different types of full-time caregiver (e.g., children, older adults, COVID-19 patients) and subgroups (e.g., disability, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic for potentially meaningful distinctions.
Jablonski, E. S., Surfus, C. R., & Henly, M. (2023). Full-Time Caregiving During COVID-19 Based on Minority Identifications, Generation, and Vaccination Status. In Social Factors, Health Care Inequities and Vaccination (pp. 43-64). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Occupational Requirements and Worker Physical and Mental Health Functioning: How Measuring Workplace Accommodation Use May Inform Disability Policy
This study explores the role of workplace accommodations in enabling workers with disabilities to maintain or return to employment. It examines the interplay between accommodations, workers' physical and mental functioning, and job requirements, focusing on workers in three occupations with relatively high proportions of Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) applicants. To test our hypothesis that the use of accommodations mitigates lower functioning, we surveyed 802 workers currently or recently employed as cashiers, receptionists, or nurses. We report the average levels of self-assessed functioning among these workers in each of our physical domains, and four mental domains, and compare results for respondents who use accommodations and those who do not need them. Our findings suggest that the Social Security Administration might consider how a measure of accommodation availability could provide better understanding of which occupations are primed either for worker retention or re-entry after DI receipt.
Henly, M., Brucker, D. L., & Houtenville, A. J. (2023). Occupational Requirements and Worker Physical and Mental Health Functioning: How Measuring Workplace Accommodation Use May Inform Disability Policy. Soc. Sec. Bull., 83, 17.
Evaluation of telemental health services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: protocol for a randomized non-inferiority trial
Roughly 40% of those with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) have mental health needs, twice the national average. Unfortunately, outpatient mental health services are often inaccessible, increasing reliance on hospital-based services. While telemental health services hold potential to address this gap, little is known about the effectiveness of telemental health for the diversity of persons with IDD, especially as it relates to crisis prevention and intervention services. Accordingly, the aims of this study are to: (1) compare telemental health versus in-person crisis prevention and intervention services among people with IDD; and (2) understand if outcomes vary across subpopulations, to identify potential disparities.
Kalb, L. G., Kramer, J. M., Goode, T. D., Black, S. J., Klick, S., Caoili, A., Klipsch, S., Klein, A., Urquilla, M. P., & Beasley, J. B. (2023). Evaluation of telemental health services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Protocol for a randomized non-inferiority trial. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 795.
Spring 2023
StatsRRTC in Disability and Health Journal
Debra Brucker’s article “Comparing effects of question set order and location within a survey instrument of two commonly used disability question sets among a U.S. population of adults” was published on December 31, 2022, in the Disability and Health Journal. Using data from an Internet survey (N=13,277) fielded in September 2020 that varied question set order and placement of disability measurement questions among respondents, this study found the most consistent disability prevalence estimates when using the American Community Survey set of disability questions regardless of survey design, but wider ranges of estimates when using the Washington Group Short Set of disability questions. Further research is needed to understand the possible survey priming effects that might influence estimates from the Washington Group Short Set.
Citation: Brucker, D. (2022). Comparing effects of question set order and location within a survey instrument of two commonly used disability question sets among a U.S. population of adults. Disability and Health Journal, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101424
Food Insecurity Among Those with Disability
Megan Henly, Debra Brucker, and Alisha Coleman-Jensen recently published “Food insecurity among those with disability: Cross-survey comparison of estimates and implications for future research” in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. This paper examines rates of food insecurity for those with a disability across four surveys and identifies policy-specific areas each source could inform for future research.
Citation: Henly, M., Brucker, D. L., & Coleman-Jensen, A. (2022). Food insecurity among those with disability: Cross-survey comparison of estimates and implications for future research. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13336
Violence & Aggression in Health Care: A Report Prepared for the NH Health Care Violence Prevention Consortium
New research from the NH Healthcare Violence Prevention Consortium (NHHVP) puts a spotlight on the incidence and consequences of violent events within New Hampshire's hospitals. Over 200 staff from six New Hampshire emergency departments responded to the survey conducted during the summer of 2022, sharing multiple insights into not only the challenges but potential solutions as well. Read more about the findings from the research, funded by the Endowment for Health and the NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program (PI: Karla Armenti).
Citation: Antal, P. (2022). Violence and aggression in healthcare. NH Health Care Violence Prevention Consortium.
Investigating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Provision of Workplace Accommodations
"Investigating racial and ethnic disparities in the provision of workplace accommodations" by Debra Brucker and Megan Henly used data from the 2002–2018 Health and Retirement Study to examine whether receipt of workplace accommodations varies by race, controlling for individual and employment characteristics. Differences in race were not found, but it was noted that people with work limitations who worked for larger organizations were significantly more likely to receive accommodations, holding all else constant. The report was submitted to the University of Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Consortium in fulfillment of a project funded by the SSA.
Citation: Brucker, D., & Henly, M. (2022). Investigating racial and ethnic disparities in the provision of workplace accommodations. University of Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Consortium.
2022 National Survey Provides Insights into Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Supervisor Perspectives
Andrew Houtenville, Debra Brucker, and Erica Jablonski, in partnership with Kessler Foundation, released "2022 national survey provides insights into effects of COVID-19 pandemic on supervisor perspectives: Comparing the workplaces of 2022 and 2017” on October 21 in conjunction with a webinar.
Citation: Houtenville, A., Brucker, D., & Jablonski, E. (2022). 2022 national survey provides insights into effects of COVID-19 pandemic on supervisor perspectives: Comparing the workplaces of 2022 and 2017. Kessler Foundation.
Work: A Social Determinant Worth Capturing
In collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), an online assessment was distributed among state occupational health contacts and epidemiologists in all 50 states to assess current practices in the collection of work and employment data on COVID-19 cases in state public health surveillance systems. We share the results and recommendations in the article "Work: A Social Determinant Worth Capturing", recently published in the special issue "COVID-19 in the Workplace: Observations, Research, and Lessons Learned" in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Citation: Armenti, K., Sweeney, M., Lingwall, C., & Yang, L. (2023). Work: A Social Determinant of Health Worth Capturing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1199. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021199
Fall 2022
NCSS Training for 988 National Suicide Lifeline Counselors
The National Center for START Services (NCSS) has developed an online, asynchronous (on-demand) training course that enables 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline screeners and counselors to provide support and assistance to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD) and mental health needs (hereafter referred to as ASD-IDD/MH) who contact the Lifeline seeking help.
The training was developed by NCSS with experts in suicide prevention for people with ASD-IDD/MH and includes current best practices. All training developed by NCSS is evidence-informed, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally competent. Learn more.
Full-time Caregiving During COVID-19 Based on Minority Identifications, Generation, and Vaccination Status
Authors Erica Jablonski, Chris Surfus, and Megan Henly’s (Project: ARRT) recent research titled “Full-time Caregiving During COVID-19 Based on Minority Identifications, Generation, and Vaccination Status” was accepted for publication by Research in the Sociology of Health Care. This study compared different types of full-time caregivers (e.g., children, older adults, COVID-19 patients) and subgroups (e.g., disability, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic for potentially meaningful distinctions.
Citation: Jablonski, E., Surfus, C., & Henly, M. (in press). Full-time caregiving during COVID-19 based on minority identifications, generation, and vaccination status. Research in the Sociology of Health Care.
Staying Safe at Work and NDEAM
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the RAISE team is proud to announce the enhanced Staying Safe at Work (SSAW), 2nd Edition curriculum. The team continues to provide trainings to teach underserved workers, including workers with low literacy skills or limited English proficiency, workers with disabilities—including intellectual and developmental disabilities—and young workers about health and safety on the job.
Visit the RAISE website for more information.
Summer 2022
Work Limitations as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Job Crafting and Work Performance
Authors Vidya Sundar and Deb Brucker's (Project: Job Crafting) recent research titled “Work limitations as a moderator of the relationship between job crafting and work performance: Results from an SEM analysis of cross-sectional survey data” was accepted for publication by the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation on June 7. Job crafting, an informal approach to job redesign that workers may initiate, typically leads to higher work performance. For people with work limitations, the gains in work performance are more moderate than those found for people without work limitations.
Sundar, V., & Brucker, D. (in press). Work limitations as a moderator of the relationship between job crafting and work performance: Results from an SEM analysis of cross-sectional survey data. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.
Social Security Benefits Play Key Role in Preventing Older Americans from Lacking Enough Quality Food
The publication, authored by Debra Brucker (Grant: Food security among older adults), Katie Jajtner, and Sophie Mitra, studies Social Security benefits that make it easier for older Americans to afford the food they need to live a healthy, active life. Although this finding may seem obvious, to our knowledge, this is the first study that directly examines the link between income from Social Security in old age and food insecurity, whereby a household can’t get adequate food because it has insufficient money and other resources.
Data was used from a unique national household survey—the Panel Study of Income Dynamics—to examine changes in the ability of a household to purchase food from year to year. We focused on how just under 1,000 households receiving Social Security benefits for the first time or experiencing an increase in Social Security benefits affected their food insecurity.
Brucker, D., Jajtner, K., & Mitra, S. (2022, June 27). Social Security benefits play key role in preventing older Americans from lacking enough quality food. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/social-security-benefits-play-key-role-in-preventing-older-americans-from-lacking-enough-quality-food-175879#comment_2832453
The Flint Water Crisis
Chris Surfus, PhD, and Cara Sanner wrote a chapter on the Flint Water Crisis in Celeste Murphy Greene, PhD's, book Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty, which was released in June 2022. The book examines the issue of environmental justice across 11 short chapters, with the aim of creating a resilient society.
Surfus, C., & Sanner, C. (2022). The Flint Water Crisis. In C. M. Greene (Ed.), Environmental justice and resiliency in an age of uncertainty. Routledge.
Americans Aging with Disabilities Are More Likely to Have Multiple Chronic Conditions
Using data from the 2010-2017 National Health Interview Survey, we found that older adults with disabilities are more likely to experience two or more chronic conditions than older adults without disabilities, controlling for sociodemographic factors and health behaviors.
Brucker, D., Lauer, E., & Boege, S. (in press). Americans aging with disabilities are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions. Journal of Disability Policy Studies.
Spring 2022
The Association of Disability Status with Job Tenure for U.S. Workers
The purpose of this study is to highlight differences in individual and employment-related factors associated with job tenure for American workers with and without disabilities. Using newly available survey data (N=1,538), multivariate results show that workers with disabilities have shorter job tenure than others when controlling for job quality, individual characteristics, and job characteristics.
Brucker. D., Henly, M., & Rafal, M. (2022). The Association of Disability Status with Job Tenure for U.S. Workers. Institute on Disability.
Effects of Telehealth Parent Coaching in Supporting Family Participation, Cohesion, and Adaptability
The University of New Hampshire CORE Pilot Research Partnership’s latest publication reviews the outcome of the CoRE Pilot Research Initiative with collaborators from OT and HMP.
Smith, S. L., Aytur, S. A., & Humphreys, B. P. (2022). Effects of Telehealth Parent Coaching in Supporting Family Participation, Cohesion, and Adaptability. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health.
National Center for START Services (NCSS) NRCMHIDD 2021 Annual Report
The NCSS National Research Consortium on MHIDD 2021 Annual Report is now available for download. The report includes research priorities, key partners and staff, and important updates from 2021.
Fall 2021
Examining Differences in Prescription Opioid Use Behaviors Among U.S. Adults With and Without Disabilities
With colleagues from Brandeis University, Eric Lauer and Debra Brucker analyzed data from the 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (128,740 individuals; weighted N of 244,831,740) to examine disability-based differences in (1) reasons and sources of last prescription opioid misuse and, in multivariate models overall and stratified by disability, the likelihood of (2) prescription opioid use, and if used, (3) misuse and prescription opioid use disorder (OUD), overall and stratified by disability. Adults with disabilities were 11% more likely than adults without disabilities to report any past-year prescription opioid use, adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and behavioral health characteristics. However, among adults with any prescription opioid use, which is more common among people with disabilities, likelihood of prescription OUD did not vary by disability status. Pain relief as the reason for last misuse was associated with 18% increased likelihood of prescription OUD, if any use.
Reif, S., Lauer, E. A., Adams, R. S., Brucker, D. L. (2021, July 30). Examining differences in prescription opioid use behaviors among U.S. adults with and without disabilities. Preventive Medicine.
Brucker Collaborated with Dartmouth for Social Impact Practicum
Debra Brucker collaborated with Dartmouth University to craft a social impact practicum that undergraduate students will participate in as part of their studies. The students will use publicly available data sets to craft data visualization products that highlight disparities that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic for persons with disabilities.
Brucker, D. (2021). Social Impact Practicum. Dartmouth University.
Make Stuff and Love People: Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes
This book is filled with over 1,500 images, including 500 QR codes to "how-to" videos for making hundreds of assistive technology devices. This is the most comprehensive book yet on creating devices for specific functional imitations, as well as specific tasks at home, school, the workplace, and the community.
Willkomm, T. (2021). Make Stuff and Love People: Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes (Vol. 3). University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.
StatsRRTC New Report Examines Differences in Prescription Opioid Use Behaviors
With colleagues from Brandeis University, Eric Lauer and Debra Brucker (Stats RRTC) analyzed data from the 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (128,740 individuals; weighted N of 244,831,740) to examine disability-based differences in (1) reasons and sources of last prescription opioid misuse and, in multivariate models overall and stratified by disability, the likelihood of (2) prescription opioid use, and if used, (3) misuse and prescription opioid use disorder (OUD), overall and stratified by disability. Adults with disabilities were 11% more likely than adults without disabilities to report any past-year prescription opioid use, adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and behavioral health characteristics. However, among adults with any prescription opioid use, which is more common among people with disabilities, likelihood of prescription OUD did not vary by disability status. Pain relief as the reason for last misuse was associated with 18% increased likelihood of prescription OUD, if any use.
Reif, S., Lauer, E. A., Sayko Adams, R., Brucker, D. L., Ritter, G. A., & Mitra, M. (2021, June 30). Examining differences in prescription opioid use behaviors among U.S. adults with and without disabilities. Preventive Medicine.
From Where I Sit
Kathy Bates authored a series of new monthly blog posts highlighting an accessible catamaran called the Impossible Dream, the 99 Faces of Mental Health exhibit, and NH mobile crisis resources.
Bates, K. (August 2021). Redefining What’s Possible [Blog Post]. From Where I Sit.
Bates, K. (September 2021). Sunlight [Blog Post]. From Where I Sit.
Bates, K. (October 2021). Dancing in the Rain [Blog Post]. From Where I Sit.
Summer 2021
StatsRRTC New Report Examines Differences in Prescription Opioid Use Behaviors
With associates from Brandeis University, Eric Lauer and Debra Brucker (Stats RRTC) analyzed data from the 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (128,740 individuals; weighted N of 244,831,740) to examine disability-based differences in (1) reasons and sources of last prescription opioid misuse and, in multivariate models overall and stratified by disability, the likelihood of (2) prescription opioid use, and if used, (3) misuse and prescription opioid use disorder (OUD), overall and stratified by disability. Citation: Reif, S., Lauer, E. A., Sayko Adams, R., Brucker, D. L., Ritter, G. A., & Mitra, M. (2021, June 30). Examining differences in prescription opioid use behaviors among U.S. adults with and without disabilities. Preventive Medicine.
Food Sufficiency and Barriers to Free Food Access during COVID-19 pandemic
Using newly available survey data, this article examines levels of food sufficiency for working-age persons with and without disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Citation: Brucker, D., Stott, G., & Phillips, K. (2021). Food sufficiency and barriers to free food access for working-age Americans with disabilities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disability and Health Journal.
NH Disability & Public Health Project Study
The NH Disability & Public Health Project study demonstrates that the Responsive Practice health care provider training positively affects providers' knowledge, outlook, and approach to caring for people with disabilities. Citation: Phillips, K., England, E. & Wishengrad, J. (2021). Disability-competence training influences health care providers' conceptualizations of disability: An evaluation study [in press]. Disability and Health Journal.
Disability in Focus: June 2021
The June report reveals that better preventive health care is needed for NH adults with mobility disabilities. Currently, 6 in 10 NH adults with mobility disabilities report their health as fair or poor. However, with better access to health promotion programs and preventive health care, their health can improve. Citation: NH Disability & Public Health Project. (2021, June). Disability in Focus: June 2021 [Data Brief]. UNH Institute on Disability.
The Association of Disability Status with Job Tenure for U.S. Workers
Using newly available survey data the team found that job tenure was shorter for people with disabilities than for people without, and the article in which this is detailed was recently accepted for publication. Citation: Brucker, D., Henly, M., & Rafal, M. (2021). The Association of Disability Status with Job Tenure for U.S. Workers. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.
Psychiatric presentations and medication use in older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are living longer, yet research about the medical and psychiatric needs of older adults still lags behind that of younger individuals with IDD. The aim of this study was to assess age-related differences in the mental health presentations of adults with IDD.
Citation: Wise, E., Holingue, C., Klein, A., Caoili, A., Charlot, L., Barnhill, J., & Beasley, J. (Accepted). Psychiatric presentations and medication use in older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
2021 New Hampshire Disability & Public Health Report
DPH's May report reveals the need for better preventive health for Adults with IDD. Compared to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) nationally, adults with IDD in NH are more likely to live in a rural area. They are more likely to live in their own home, with family, or in a foster home. Other adults with IDD live in urban areas and in institutions or group homes. Citation: DPH. (2021, May). 2021 New Hampshire Disability & Public Health Report [Series Report]. Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire.
Introduction to a Special Series on PROMISE.
The issue intends to make accessible new knowledge on the practices and policies that contribute to the post-school success of low-income youth with disabilities. The articles share insights gained from the PROMISE experience and justify the need for a continued emphasis on examining education and employment practices that lead to post-secondary education, long-term employment, and financial independence. The full special issue on PROMISE is open source and available to all. Citation: Crane, K., Hartman, E. & Nye-Lengerman, K. (2021). Improving the Adult Outcomes for SSI Youth Recipients: Introduction to a Special Series on PROMISE. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(2), 67–68. doi: 10.1177/2165143420980726
Spring 2021
2020 Center for START Services Annual Report
CSS’s report highlights achievements which would not be possible without their network partners. CSS would like to thank everyone in the START Network for contributing to their shared mission of improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs and their families.
Center for START Services. (2021). Center for START Services 2020 Annual Report. University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability. centerforstartservices.org
Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals
The latest issue is part of a special series called Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE): Lessons Learned to Support Transition Services and Programs.
Crane, K., Hartman, E. & Nye-Lengerman, K. (Guest Eds..) (2021, May). Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(2). Hammill Institute on Disabilities & SAGE. https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/cdeb/44/2
Changes in the Employment Status of People with and without Disabilities in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic
Using data from the monthly Current Population Survey, EPM-RRTC’s new paper provides monthly employment and unemployment statistics for people with and without disabilities in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to date (January 2021).
Houtenville, A., Paul, S., & Brucker, D. (2021, March 29). Changes in the employment status of people with and without disabilities in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(21)00300-2/fulltext
Disability RAPP Sheet: Spring 2021
This issue looks at how the pandemic has impacted people with disabilities through the lens of assistive technology, health care, and higher education. We explore how COVID-19 has both challenged the disability community and hopefully inspired lasting innovations.
Schuh, M., Patrick, S., Rodriguez-Legendre, I., Bhattarai, D., & Eberle, R. (Eds.) (2021, March). Disability RAPP sheet (Spring 2021). Disability Rights Center-NH in collaboration with Institute on Disability, New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. https://drcnh.org/rap-sheet/spring-2021-disability-in-the-time-of-covid-19/
Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in IDD
The first edition of Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (referred to as the IDD-MH Prescriber Guidelines herein), provides accessible best practice resources with a focus on integrated health and positive medicine for prescribers of persons with IDD and mental health needs. The IDD-MH Prescriber Guidelines offer an overview of integrated health and psychopharmacological best practices in the treatment of patients with IDD and ASD.
Center for START Services. (2021). Integrated Mental Health Treatment Guidelines for Prescribers in IDD. University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability. https://centerforstartservices.org/
IOD’s Annual Report and Report on Scholarly Activities and Engagement
The Institute on Disability produces an annual report and report on scholarly activities and engagement to document and summarize the year’s accomplishments and outcomes and highlight many of its innovative and interdisciplinary research, academic, service, and dissemination initiatives.
Gianino, M., Eberle, R., & Frechette, A. (2021). Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire's College of Health and Human Services FY 2020 Report on Scholarly Activity and Engagement July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability
Gianino, M., & Eberle, R. (2021). Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire's College of Health and Human Services FY 2020 Annual Report July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.
Mental Health Support Needed for Transgender Adults with Disabilities
The latest issue of DPH’s Disability in Focus shows that in New Hampshire, 2 in 5 adults who are transgender have a disability. When adults were asked about stress, depression, and emotional problems in the last 30 days, adults with disabilities who were also transgender had the most mentally unhealthy days. You can read the full issue on DPH’s website.
Disability & Public Health (DPH). (2021, March). Mental Health Support Needed for Transgender Adults with Disabilities (Disability in Focus Series). University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.
NH Leadership Series Inclusive Oral Health Care Video
The new training video addresses challenges people with disabilities face when accessing oral health care and methods for supporting positive patient experience. Produced by the NH Leadership Series class of 2020 Sensitive Smiles oral health care action group, Sensitive Smiles, and funded by Northeast Delta Dental Foundation.
NH Leadership Series. (2021, March). Inclusive Oral Health Care [video]. University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.
Occupational Injury and Illness in New Hampshire Data Report to Inform Programs and Policies
NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program’s latest report contains data and information on occupational injuries and illnesses in New Hampshire, which marks an important step on the path to a safer and healthier work environment for New Hampshire workers.
Armenti, K., & Antal, P. (2021, March 1). Occupational Injury and Illness in New Hampshire Data Report to Inform Programs and Policies. University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability. iod.unh.edu
Psychotropic Use Among Youths with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The authors examined the prevalence of psychotropic medication prescribing among outpatient youths with IDD. Polypharmacy, antipsychotic use, and anticonvulsant use in the absence of seizure disorders were common among youth with IDD referred to the crisis service.
Polypharmacy, antipsychotic use, and anticonvulsant use in the absence of seizure disorders were common among youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities referred to the crisis service. Older age, number of psychiatric diagnoses, living in a group home, and psychiatric hospitalization correlate with these prescribing practices. These elevated prescribing rates in a very vulnerable population warrant further study.
McLaren, J. L., Lichtenstein, J. D., Metcalfe, J. D., Charlot, L. R., Drake, R. E., & Beasley, J. B. (2021). Psychotropic use among youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Psychiatric Services. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900465
Putting Policy Into Practice: Impact Of The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) On Speech-Language Pathologists And Students With Disabilities
This article is intended to provide background information, and critical analysis regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as it relates to speech-language pathology practice and provision of services to students with disabilities within the schools.
McCabe, M. & Nye-Lengerman, K. (in press). Putting policy into practice: impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on speech-language pathologists and students with disabilities. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.
There’s No Place Like Home
Everyone needs a place to call their own and should be able to choose where they live. In the latest installment of From Where I Sit, Kathy Bates explores the concept of livability I and some of the problems people with disabilities face when trying to find housing.
Bates, K. (2021, April). There’s No Place Like Home. From Where I Sit.
Health Disparities among Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Beneficiaries Who Participate in Federal Rental Housing Assistance Programs
Using newly available 2013-2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data linked with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administrative records on public and assisted housing programs, multivariate analyses find higher predicted probabilities of fair or poor health status, chronic condition diagnoses (hypertension, asthma, diabetes) obesity, and health care utilization among SSDI and SSI beneficiaries participating in HUD's non-elderly rental housing assistance program participants compared to other residents.
Brucker, D., & Helms Garrison, V. (2021, April 01). Health Disparities among Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Beneficiaries Who Participate in Federal Rental Housing Assistance Programs. Disability & Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101098
Winter 2021
Armenti, K., & Laflamme, D. NIOSH Surveillance Grant. (2020, October). Analysis of New Hampshire Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to Better Understand Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration by Industry Category. Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire. https://iod.unh.
Beasley, J. Center for START Services. (2020, December 1). Research Examines Family Caregiver Experiences for People with IDD and Mental Health Needs. Tennessee Works. https://www.tennesseeworks.org/blog
Bates, K. (2021, January). Fighting the Covid-19 Battle. From Where I Sit. [Online Blog Post]. https://iod.unh.edu/blog/2021/01/fighting-covid-19-battle
Charlot, L., Doerfler, L. & McLaren, J., 2020. Psychotropic medications use and side effects of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, [online] 64(11), pp.852-863. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jir.12777.
Kalb L., Beasley J., Caoili A., McLaren J., & Barnhill J. (2020, December). Predictors of mental health crisis among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities enrolled in the START program. Psychiatric Services. doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000301
Helms, V., Coleman-Jensen, A., Gray, R., & Brucker, D. (2020, November). Household Food Insecurity and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Housing Assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/99781/err-277.pdf?v=2790.7
Henly, M., & Brucker, D. EPM-RRTC. (2020) More than just lower wages: intrinsic job quality for college graduates with disabilities. Journal of Education and Work. doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2020.1842865
Houtenville, A. and Rafal, M. (2020). Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America: 2020. University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. https://disabilitycompendium.org/annualreport
Holingue, C., Kalb, L., Klein, A., Beasley, J., 2020. Experiences with the Mental Health Service System of Family Caregivers of Individuals with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability Referred to START. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, [online] 58(5), pp.379-392. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.379.
Migliore, A., Butterworth J., & Nye-Lengerman, K. (In press). Rethinking Management Information Systems for Scaling up Employment Outcomes. Journal of Disability Policy Studies.
Mitra, S., & Brucker, D. (2020) Disability and aging: From successful aging to wellbeing through the capability and human development lens. Disability and Health Journal, 13(4), 100926.
doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100924
Mitra, S., Brucker, D., & Jajtner, K. (2020). Wellbeing at older ages: Towards an inclusive and multidimensional measure. Disability and Health Journal. 13(4). doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100926
Paul, S., Rafal, M., & Houtenville, A. (2020). Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2020. University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. https://disabilitycompendium.org/
Paul, S., Rafal, M., & Houtenville, A. (2020). Annual Disability Statistics Supplement: 2020. University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. https://disabilitycompendium.org/
Polacsek M., Meuser T., Brucker D., & Moran A. (2020, December). Food Security Status and Food Purchasing Behaviors: findings from a sample of Maine residents during the covid-19 pandemic. University of New England.
