Featured and Guidelines.shtml
Fri, 11/17/2023
Accessible Home for the Holidays
If you're hosting friends or family who have a physical disability, you may worry about how to accommodate their needs. The good news is that, with helpful tips from the free “Making Homes Visitable” booklet, you can host loved ones for the holidays.
Wed, 10/04/2023
Conference for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities will focus on leadership, advocacy
The SOAR Conference will be led by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and will bring together self-advocates from across the country to learn and grow.
Mon, 10/02/2023
National study led by Life Span Institute researchers asks people with disabilities to share their experiences
People with disabilities are invited to participate in a national study based at the University of Kansas that aims to document their experiences with a variety of issues to understand the needs of underrepresented communities.
Wed, 09/27/2023
KU Project Aims to Identify Risk Factors for Toddlers with Autism Who May Remain Minimally Verbal
A five-year project with KU Life Span Institute researchers are working on a study to provide guidance for therapists to predict which children will remain minimally verbal and benefit most from intensive early language intervention.
Mon, 09/25/2023
Researchers to test app that empowers students with disabilities through self-determination
Researchers at the University of Kansas who have been instrumental in developing and implementing the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction have secured funding to test a new app that delivers the proven method to students.
Thu, 09/21/2023
Study identifies grammar challenge task with potential to identify language disorder among older children
To help identify Specific Language Impairment (SLI) in children who are beyond their preschool years, researchers at the KU Life Span Institute have evaluated a new, more grammatically challenging language task to aid in diagnosis.
Mon, 09/11/2023
Community health researchers support program that aims to reduce family separation
The KU Center for Community Health and Development provided support for an initiative to prevent poverty-related issues that lead to family separation in Louisiana.
Fri, 09/08/2023
Study Shows Food from Tobacco-owned brands more 'hyperpalatable' than competitors' food
Many of us know all too well the addictive nature of a big portion of food in the United States — most call it “junk food.” In fact, this kind of salty, sweet and high-fat fare makes up the lion’s share of what’s marketed to Americans. ...
Thu, 09/07/2023
Distinguished Professor's Lecture to Address Self-determination for People with Disabilities
Karrie Shogren will present her inaugural distinguished professor lecture, “Advancing Self-Determination: Building Systems of Supports with the Disability Community,” at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
Fri, 09/01/2023
KU researchers partner with state to better understand experiences of Kansans on disability services waitlist
The KU Life Span Institute is working the state to better understand the impact to thousands of Kansans stuck on a waitlist for disability services. Researchers are looking for solutions to the current backlog as well as how to prevent future delays for essential support services.
Wed, 08/30/2023
Study Demonstrates Adding Complex Component of Milk to Infant Formula Confers Long-Term Cognitive Benefits
Five-and-a-half-year-olds whose baby formula had included milk fat globule membranes and lactoferrin (MFGM+LF) went on to perform nearly 5 points higher on IQ tests years after they were weaned.
Fri, 08/25/2023
Partners Announced for KU Initiative to Move Toward Rightful Presence in Regular Education Classrooms
Research center at the Life Span Institute announces four state education agencies selected as partners on project directed toward creating changes in systems, policies, and practices. Each was selected for its high level of commitment to and progress toward inclusion of students with disabilities.
Tue, 08/22/2023
Trina Spencer named director of longtime KU research center
Trina Spencer, PhD, has been named director of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, one of 12 research subcenters at the KU Life Span Institute.
Tue, 08/15/2023
Study identifies best ways of helping teachers support students with autism
A new study from the University of Kansas and University of Washington sheds light on the best ways to train teachers so they understand the practices and can implement them in their classrooms.
Tue, 08/01/2023
Researchers to identify key brain and behavioral changes in aging women with premtuations of the Fragile X gene, FMR1
Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome is a genetic disorder first documented in a small group of men who had grandchildren with Fragile X Syndrome. Scientists are now looking to learn more about its effect in women.
Wed, 07/26/2023
Researchers to study program aimed at improving equity in children’s health in Kansas City, Kan., communities
KU researchers have been awarded a federal grant to improve language and communication skills in underserved communities in Kansas as part of an intervention program shown to be effective in multiple settings.
Fri, 06/16/2023
Pharmacy researcher develops intervention for metabolic diseases
Liqin Zhao, KU associate professor of pharmacology & toxicology and investigator at the Life Span Institute, has developed a treatment that could apply to heart disease, stroke and a host of other human diseases related to metabolism.
Thu, 06/15/2023
Defense Department funds KU research project on eating disorders in military
A University of Kansas researcher who developed the first screening tool for eating disorders in veterans has been awarded a four-year, $4.2 million grant by the Department of Defense to address this condition in active-duty members of the military.
Wed, 04/26/2023
New federally-funded project builds on research to reduce youth violence
Jomella Watson-Thompson is leading one of only five federally-funded national centers of excellence on youth violence prevention with the Youth Violence Prevention Research Center-Kansas City (YVPC-KC).
Tue, 04/25/2023
New smartphone app helps students with eating disorders at KU
The Building Healthy Eating and Self-Esteem Together for University Students, or “BEST-U,” app has been helping students at KU living with eating disorders and soon could be expanded to other universities.
Mon, 04/17/2023
Record attendance at Autism Across the Life Span conference
A record number of attendees participated in this year’s Autism Across the Life Span conference on March 24 at the KU Edwards Campus. More than 175 registered to attend the one-day event, hosted by the KU Life Span Institute’s Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training.
Mon, 03/27/2023
Researchers land grant to help K-2 teachers test strategies to reduce challenging classroom behavior
A recent study from the University of Kansas has found that teachers widely believe increasing students’ engagement in instruction can help decrease challenging behaviors.
Tue, 02/28/2023
KU autism conference to feature wide range of sessions for professionals, scientists, families
The Autism Across the Lifespan conference also will feature a panel discussion by women with autism on how this demographic has been historically overlooked within the autistic community. They will discuss neurodiversity, sexuality, relationships and community engagement.
Mon, 02/20/2023
Podcast by and for Native Americans shines light on disability, mental health
The new podcast Black Feathers provides a platform for discussions on disability and mental health within Tribal Nations.
Tue, 01/31/2023
Life Span Institute researcher among KU Research Achievement Award winners
Life Span Institute researcher Tylers Hicks is among the recipients of this year’s Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award and the KU Research Staff & Postdoctoral Achievement Awards.
Tue, 01/24/2023
Karrie Shogren Named Distinguished Professor
Karrie Shogren advises foreign government ministers, presents in countries around the globe and contributes her knowledge to Kansas in presentations across the state. In recognition of her academic excellence, she has been recognized with the rank of distinguished professor.
Tue, 01/17/2023
Federal surveys fail to count 20 to 43% of individuals who are disabled
People with disabilities represent the nation’s single largest and fastest growing minority group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 1 in 4 adults qualifying as disabled. However, up to nearly half of this population may be uncounted.
Wed, 10/19/2022
New $10 Million Grant to Promote Equity Leadership and Educator Well-Being
The SWIFT Education Center, part of the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas, was awarded a $10 million federal grant to promote equity leadership and educator well-being among educational leaders in Black, Hispanic and Native American communities.
Fri, 09/23/2022
CDC-Funded Research Project at KU to Evaluate Initiatives to Reduce Youth Violence in Kansas City Metro Area
With an aim to inform and develop local solutions to reduce community rates of youth violence nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded the University of Kansas a grant to establish one of only five federally funded national centers of excellence on youth violence prevention. ...
Wed, 07/13/2022
KU Center Director, Interim Liberal Arts Dean Receives Research Award from International Congress on Infant Studies
The International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS) honored John Colombo, director of the KU Life Span Institute and interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, with an award recognizing his 35 years of research.