Thank you WEGO Health for underwriting our Ning Plus network

We want to express our gratitude to WEGO Health for underwriting our Ning Plus network for one year. The Society of Healthcare Professionals with Disabilities currently uses Ning to manage our members-only network which currently includes over 85 members. We are still a young, small organization but we have active plans to grow so we can provide resources and support to the disability community.

Click here to join the Society of Healthcare Professionals with Disabilities.

Membership is complimentary and is open to healthcare professionals, friends, family members, and others who wish to support the disability community.  Join Now

You can learn more about WEGO Health by visiting http://www.wegohealth.com

Alabama Assistive Technology Expo & Conference (ALATEC)

Alabama Assistive Technology Expo & Conference (ALATEC)
Auburn University
May 19-20, 2011

Overview
The Alabama Assistive Technology Expo and Conference (ALATEC) will provide an opportunity to see first-hand the latest in assistive technologies, practices and services for persons with disabilities that will increase the ability of such persons to access education, employment, housing, transportation, health care and leisure/recreation in the community of choice. ALATEC will provide professional development and training to increase the knowledge and skills in a variety of areas including, but not limited to: Adult Services, Education/Learning, Visual and Hearing Impairment, Communication, and Physical Accessibility/Mobility.

ALATEC will provide a unique opportunity for vendors, persons with disabilities, their families and loved ones, professionals (e.g. educators, rehabilitation counselors, EI personnel, Speech/Language Pathologists, therapists and other service providers) to exchange and gather information relative to the accessibility and availability of assistive technology.

ALATEC is a collaborative effort of the following organizations:

Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Auburn University Center for Disability Research & Service
Auburn University Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling/School Psychology
Auburn University Office of Professional & Continuing Education

Learn more here.

March 2011 Disability Employment Statistics Released

The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has released disability employment statistics for March showing that the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.0. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 69.7. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 15.6 percent, compared with 8.9 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

Click here for more information. 

Nurses with sensory disabilities: their perceptions and characteristics

A survey design was used to explore the perceptions and characteristics of registered nurses (RNs) with sensory disabilities and their risk for leaving their jobs. An earlier study found that nurses with disabilities are leaving nursing and that employers do not appear to support these nurses. Work instability and the mismatch between a nurse's perceptions of his or her ability and the demands of their work increase risk for job retention problems. This study's convenience sample of U.S. RNs had hearing, vision, or communication disabilities. Participants completed a demographic form, three U.S. Census questions, and the Nurse-Work Instability Survey. Hospital nurses were three times more likely to be at risk for retention problems. Nurses with hearing disabilities were frustrated at work. Hearing difficulties increased with years spent working as a nurse. Many nurses with sensory disabilities have left nursing. Early intervention may prevent work instability and increase retention, and rehabilitation nurses are ideally positioned to lead early intervention programs.

Neal-Boylan L, Fennie K, Baldauf-Wagner S. Nurses with sensory disabilities: their perceptions and characteristics. Rehabil Nurs. 2011 Jan-Feb;36(1):25-31.
PMID: 21290962

Access the full article here (PDF).