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Karen Tamley: A Life of Expanding Civil Rights and Increasing Access for People with Disabilities
Karen Tamley was born with a congenital spinal condition that meant she would never be able to walk and would always need a wheelchair. It was the late-1960s, long before the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted, so there were few resources available for her or her parents.
In the News
Tiny Machine Poised to Unlock Brain’s Mysteries
A team of scientists, led by researchers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, has developed novel technology promising to increase understanding of how brains develop, and offer answers on repairing brains in the wake of neurotrauma and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research Project
Workplace Changes during the Pandemic Help Employment Levels for People with Disabilities Reach New Highs
The last 12 months have been an unprecedented boon for people with disabilities who want to work. From November 2021 through November 2022, the employment-to-population ratio among people with disabilities rose 5.5% to 36.5%, according to the recent National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report. That compares with less than a 1% increase for people without disabilities.
In the News
Karen Tamley: Q & A
President and CEO Karen Tamley joined Access Living in March 2020 after serving three Chicago mayors as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. CROR Outcomes asked Tamley to reflect on how the pandemic has changed the employment landscape for people with disabilities.
In the News
Preventing Nerve Injuries Acquired in the ICU by Patients with Severe COVID
A new study published in the October 2022 issue of the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation from a research team led by SRAlab clinicians identified the cause of — and hope for a potential prevention of — nerve injuries in patients treated in the intensive care unit for severe COVID-19.
Research Project
Reconstructive Surgery for People with Spinal Cord Injury
The Journal of Neurophysiology recently published a review by Adenike Adewuyi, MD PhD — a 2022 graduate of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program — and her mentor, Colin Franz, MD, PhD, physician-scientist, at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The review defines a clinical framework for evaluating patients with spinal cord injuries to determine their candidacy for nerve transfer surgery.
Research Project
Electrodiagnostic Laboratory
The Electrodiagnostic Laboratory performs nerve and muscle diagnostic testing that include the electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS).
Service
Assessment of a Microprocessor Ankle for Low Mobility Individuals with Amputation: Phase I
This study is being done to conduct a preliminary investigation into a new prosthetic microprocessor controlled ankle, called the Damping, Stiffness, and Repositioning (DSR) ankle. Participants will visit the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab 10-16 times over 9 weeks, each visit lasting approximately 3 hours, to perform a series of walking and mobility tests with both their own prosthetic ankle and the DSR ankle.
Research Project
Breathing low oxygen to enhance spinal stimulation training and functional recovery in persons with chronic spinal cord injury: The BO2ST Trial
The goal of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, block-randomized clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy and potency of daily acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) combined with transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation (tSTIM) and skill-based walking practice.
Research Project
Arc’s Self-Determination Scale
Area of Assessment
Activities of Daily LivingBehavior
Assertiveness
Life Participation
Motivation
Quality of Life
Reasoning/Problem Solving
Self-efficacy
Social Support
Social Relationships
Time
minutesAssessment Type
Patient Reported Outcomescost
$0.00Rehabilitation Measure
Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization and Pleasure (CASP-19)
Area of Assessment
Quality of LifeTime
minutesAssessment Type
Patient Reported Outcomescost
$0.00Rehabilitation Measure
General Self-Efficacy Scale
Area of Assessment
Life ParticipationQuality of Life
Self-efficacy
Stress & Coping
Time
minutesAssessment Type
Patient Reported Outcomescost
$0.00Rehabilitation Measure