Body
INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast is produced by the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and hosted by CROR communications coordinator, Sharon Parmet. On this podcast, we feature interviews with CROR scientists and other leading experts in rehabilitation research. We'll talk about employment for people with physical disabilities, the use of mobile devices to help improve rehabilitation outcomes, the Rehabilitation Measures Database, access to home and community-based services and much more. Episodes will be released the second Tuesday of the month.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. (Grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).
Season 3
Episode 31: Peer Mentoring For Employment
Body
Released Sept. 9, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’re diving into the powerful role of peer mentoring in supporting employment for people with disabilities.
In rehabilitation, peer mentors are individuals who provide guidance and perspective to others who may be recovering from an illness or injury or living with a chronic condition or disability. The critical, ongoing support of a peer mentor helps others navigate life after injury, offering practical advice rooted in lived experience and opening doors to new possibilities, including employment.
One of our guests is Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research and an author on a recent paper about what makes employment-focused peer mentoring programs successful. We are also joined by Rob Kozarek, a long-time peer mentor in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Henry B. Betts, MD, LIFE Center, who brings a wealth of real-world experience to the conversation.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).
Episode 30: The Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network
Body
Released Aug. 12, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we discuss the Occupational Therapy & Disability Studies Network, an academic and professional community created to integrate contributions from disability studies into occupational therapy education.
Our guests are two of the founding members of the network. Danbi Lee, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, is an associate professor of occupational therapy in the University of Washington department of rehabilitation medicine, as well as a core faculty member of the disability studies program. Alisa Sheth, PhD, OTR/L, is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at Pacific University in Oregon.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
Episode 29: Supporting America's 53 Million Family Caregivers
Body
July 8, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we are talking about family caregiving.
At some point in life, nearly everyone will become a caregiver, need one, or rely on a family member for care. Supporting this critically important population is essential to maintaining the health, stability and well-being of our communities.
Our guest is Conor Callahan, MSW. Conor is the author of a new policy brief, "Supporting America's 53 Million Family Caregivers," funded by a grant to the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
He is also a senior policy associate on the caregiving and workforce policy team at ADvancing States, an organization dedicated to improving long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Conor has extensive experience in state and federal policy and is a leading expert in the effort to support family caregivers nationwide. Most recently, he led a multi-state collaborative to strengthen connections between paid and unpaid caregiving.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
Episode 28: Student Contributions to the Rehabilitation Measures Database
Body
June 10, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we explore how occupational therapy graduate students at the University of Illinois Chicago contribute to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database. The database is the go-to resource of more than 580 rehabilitation measures, reviewed and summarized by educators and allied health students.
Our guests are Sabrin Rizk, PhD, OTR/L, assistant professor of occupational therapy in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences, and occupational therapy graduate student, Asianna Griffin.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
Episode 27: Microlessons for Direct Service Professionals to Enhance Person-Centered Services
Body
Released May 13, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we are talking about a free, online "microlesson-based" training program for direct service professionals (DSPs) on how to use a communication skill known as motivational interviewing to enhance person-centered delivery of home and community-based services (HCBS).
Our guests are Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, associate director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Bob Sattler, a partner at Support Development Associates, which supports organizations and agencies in providing person-centered HCBS.
In addition to sharing their insights on the podcast, Bob and Dr. Ehrlich-Jones are looking for DSPs to pilot test and provide feedback on the training. Learn more about the pilot testing and see if you're eligible to participate.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
This podcast is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
download
Episode 26: Loneliness and Spinal Cord Injury
Body
April 8, 2025
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, we’ll be talking about loneliness and spinal cord injury.
My guests are Sherri LaVela, PhD, MPH, a research health scientist, and Marissa Wirth, lead social science program coordinator, both in the Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. LaVela is also a research professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University.
Dr. LaVela and Marissa conducted extensive research about how loneliness affects people with SCI and have uncovered factors that contribute to and alleviate loneliness in this population. They have also developed an educational curriculum for health care providers on loneliness and SCI, which we'll discuss at the end of this episode.
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).
Episode 25: Improving Customer Service for People with Communication Disorders
Body
On this episode of INside the OUTcomes: A Rehabilitation Research Podcast, Elissa Larkin, CCC-SLP, HEC-C, a research speech-language pathologist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, shares about an online training course that is aimed at helping service industry employees improve communication with customers who have communication disabilities. Tune in to learn more about the team's research and discover practical tips for better engaging with people who have communication challenges.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
INside the OUTcomes is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grants 90DPKT0007, 90RTGE0004, 90RTEM0001, 90SIMS0015).