Featured and Guidelines.shtml
Mon, 09/16/2024
Life Span Institute investigator Alison Gabriele among recipients of KU teaching awards
The University of Kansas is proud to announce 16 faculty members from the Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses as recipients of KU’s annual teaching awards.
Wed, 09/11/2024
AI Project for Early Childhood Language Assessment Aims to Speed Up Intervention for Children with Developmental Delays
Researchers at Juniper Gardens Children's Project are piloting an innovative approach using artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up the analysis of Early Communication Indicator (ECI) assessments, which evaluate language development in young children.
Wed, 09/04/2024
Life Span researchers join with PBS project to improve access to media literacy for students
The project, funded through a grant from the Library of Congress, will address the growing gap between students with disabilities and their peers in reading, writing and civics.
Wed, 09/04/2024
Study: All students, teachers benefit when support provided for self-determination model of instruction
A KU program implemented the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction in 15 schools and found that when it was provided with online training models and coaching, schools were more likely to implement it with fidelity and continue its use.
Tue, 09/03/2024
Study finds people with pre-existing disabilities had long COVID at much higher rates
An analysis of a national health survey showed individuals with pre-existing disabilities who contracted COVID suffered long COVID at much higher rates than their nondisabled peers. This exacerbates existing barriers to health care access and inequities in health, requiring an adjustment of health policy, researchers say.
Wed, 08/28/2024
Life Span partners with teachers, schools to train early-childhood special educators; publishes guide for teacher prep programs
Project MounTaiN at KU is in its second year of training working and future teachers to better serve early childhood students with high-incidence disabilities and partnering with area schools to provide student teaching and support to education centers. The project also published a guide for other teacher prep programs looking to improve.
Tue, 08/06/2024
Researchers leverage AI to help business provide nutritious choices in American food deserts
KU's Tera Fazzino, along with a multidisciplinary group of researchers across several institutions, will help create an artificial-intelligence-powered digital tool, called the NOURISH platform, to help businesses and startups operating in food deserts give more nutritious choices to an estimated 24 million Americans.
Tue, 07/23/2024
Heat waves disproportionately increase health risks for people with disabilities
Heat can exacerbate preexisting conditions, including neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, and more. While the risk of heat-related illness applies to everyone, those at the highest risk include the very young, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Mon, 07/08/2024
Social stigma creates barriers to treatment for people with substance use disorders
Stigma associated with substance use can dehumanize people, increase shame and be a roadblock for those who might seek assistance or health care.
Tue, 07/02/2024
Pilot study aims to engage exercise virtually among mobility impaired individuals
Researchers at the Life Span Institute’s Research and Training Center on Independent Living are working to learn more about effective ways to promote aerobic exercise among this group with a pilot study involving 10 participants in a 16-week virtual intervention program.
Wed, 06/26/2024
Researchers describe how federal funding supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities nationwide
University of Kansas researchers shared information about how federal funds are distributed to each state to help individuals, families and caretakers.
Thu, 05/30/2024
Gatlinburg Conference draws 430 experts in IDD research from around the world
The Gatlinburg Conference kicked off with a panel on inclusive communication in research, which helped set the tone for the 56th annual event from April 17-19 in Kansas City, Mo.
Thu, 05/16/2024
Team leads special journal edition on including people with disabilities in research
A team from the KU Center on Developmental Disabilities in the Life Span Institute led the development of the Special Issue of Inclusion, the e-journal of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Wed, 05/01/2024
7 myth-busting facts about the risk of eating disorders
KU Life Span Institute researchers and other mental health experts reveal the truth about eating disorders in these facts that dispel the many myths around this serious condition.
Fri, 04/26/2024
5 ways to better communicate with people who use AAC devices
As part of Assistive Technology Month in Kansas, we’re highlighting some of their advice on how others can help facilitate better conversations in and outside of the classroom to better allow everyone to participate in conversations.
Tue, 04/23/2024
Groups Raise Awareness During Youth Violence Prevention Week
The Youth Violence Prevention Center of Kansas City is joining community organizations and schools to mark a national week focused on preventing violence among youth.
Wed, 04/17/2024
Fair offers resources for youth with disabilities transitioning from high school
Youth who have disabilities and their families are invited to a resource fair on May 4 for Wyandotte County residents to help support successful transition from high school.
Tue, 03/26/2024
Life Span Institute to host global audience for developmental disabilities research conference
The KU Life Span Institute will welcome more than 350 scientists, graduate students and practitioners to the 56th annual Gatlinburg Conference on April 17-19.
Thu, 03/07/2024
Life Span Institute research explores impact of adaptive exercise for people with disabilities
KU Life Span Institute researcher Lyndsie Koon is leading three pilot projects assessing the effectiveness of HIFT to improve various health outcomes, including fall risk, metabolic health, strength, flexibility, quality of life, psychosocial health and more.
Tue, 02/13/2024
Life Span Institute researcher responds to NIH changes designation changes for people with disabilities
The National Institutes of Health has announced changes that will now designate people with disabilities as a population with health disparities.
Mon, 02/05/2024
KU alumnus publishes research on cannabis use and driving with support from Guthrie award
Will Davis, a KU alumnus mentored by Michael Amlung of the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, recently published research on cannabis use with the help of the Patrick Guthrie Hawks for Hope Award.
Fri, 02/02/2024
John Colombo one of four Higuchi Award Winners
LAWRENCE — Four faculty members at two Kansas universities were named recipients of the Higuchi-KU Endowment Research Achievement Awards, the state higher education system’s most prestigious recognition for scholarly excellence. ...
Wed, 01/31/2024
Life Span Institute investigators recognized for research excellence at KU Athletics events
KU highlights exceptional faculty researchers who exhibit talent and tenacity in their academic disciplines, heightening the university's reputation as one of the nation’s leading research universities.
Thu, 01/25/2024
Pilot Study Demonstrates Potential for PTSD Treatment Program for Veterans, First Responders
An intensive five-day treatment for veterans with PTSD had significantly lower drop-out rates compared to more lengthy interventions, according to results from a pilot study authored Bruce Liese, clinical director at the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the KU Life Span Institute.
Tue, 01/16/2024
ABATE study to test a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome
KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is participating in the first clinical trial testing a drug intended to slow down or even prevent Alzheimer's in people with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for the disease.
Tue, 01/09/2024
Books Provide Road Map for Educators, Schools to Promote Self-Determination
Two new books based upon research at the KU Life Span Institute provide a road map for educators, school communities and families to promote self-determination and use the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, or SDLMI.
Tue, 12/12/2023
Researchers Concerned About Proposed Changes to U.S. Census
Researchers concerned changes to the American Community Survey, the most comprehensive survey of American life, has the potential to significantly disrupt the knowledge of and ability to conduct research about people with disabilities.
Mon, 12/04/2023
Programs in Kansas Presented as a Model to Address Sexual Violence by Reducing Health Disparities
Presenters from Kansas and the University of Kansas shared how initiatives in the state are working to end sexual violence using a framework of support structures that include reducing disparities and addressing social determinants of health.
Wed, 11/29/2023
KUCDD Advisory Group Honored for Leadership in Disability Education
The AUCD recently honored the Kansas University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities – Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Consumer Advisory Panel with the 2023 Gordon Richins Award for Leadership and Advocacy.
Mon, 11/20/2023
Grant to Support Project's Goal to Make Disability Data Accessible and Inclusive
With the support of new $2.25 million federal grant the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities project is poised to build on its more than 40 years of financial information translation and dissemination to bring those data stories to new audiences.