News
Thu, 03/14/2024
REDCap Project Modifications in Production Status
The REDCap Production Status for projects provides a tools to review changes before potentially creating inconsistencies between existing data and any data collected after the change. We review the process for submitting changes, and what happens when “potentially critical issues” are flagged by the REDCap software.
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.
Fri, 03/01/2024
Three Life Span Institute central office staff honored
Life Span Institute staff Donna Burruss, Laci Ulrich, and Jennifer Myers Holwick were recognized for their service in late February.
Wed, 02/14/2024
Research team led by Kelsie Forbush among four awarded support for projects that advance racial equity
Kelsie Forbush honored for development of a new perinatal eating disorder screening tool for Black, Afro-Caribbean and African American individuals as 2023 KU Racial Equity Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity Award recipient.
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.
Tue, 02/06/2024
Art therapy shows promise in residential treatment setting for women with substance abuse disorder
A study from KU researchers at the KU Life Span Institute's Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment of women in residential treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) indicates the creation of visual art indeed may be an effective strategy to reduce “delay discounting.”
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.
Wed, 01/31/2024
Study to explore potential for using app to measure hydration
Staying hydrated by drinking fluids is about more than quenching your thirst. Joints work better and can absorb the shock of movement. Toxins get flushed, your skin is more resilient and your kidneys can better remove waste. ...
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.
Mon, 01/15/2024
Community engaged research focus of 2024 Collaboratory
About 100 KU Span Institute staff, investigators and students gathered Jan. 11 for the 2024 Collaboratory at Maceli’s. ...
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.
Wed, 12/06/2023
Double Data Entry, Data Validation, and Data Comparison in REDCap
Data validity is something that research teams are always concerned with (or should be concerned with). Building systems into data collection that mitigate the risk of invalid or erroneous data is a best practice, and there are many ways to do that. Well-designed online surveys and data collection instruments that...
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.
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.
Tue, 11/07/2023
SOAR Conference Guests Share Strategies for Self-Advocacy, Disability Rights, and More
The 2023 SOAR Conference organized by and for individuals with disabilities hosted 200 guests to discuss self-advocacy strategies, disability rights, building healthy relationships, inclusion in research, and more.
Fri, 10/27/2023
KU TPE Gets Boost with Grant Funding from National Community Care Corps
An inclusive college certificate program at KU for young adults with intellectual disabilities will increase capacity with funding to hire student assistants and academic coaches through a two-year grant of nearly $125,000 from the National Community Care Corps.
Wed, 10/25/2023
Center for Community Health and Development to Partner with Statewide Initiative to Prevent Sexual Violence
The Center for Community Health and Development will help assess the statewide nonprofit address sexual violence with work including evaluating its readiness to plan and implement equity-focused strategies, develop recommendations based on assessment findings to promote health equity, and advance primary prevention in future work.
Tue, 10/24/2023
4 Communication Technology Programs That Can Benefit People with Disabilities
Kansans may be able to access communication technology under a collection of federal and state programs, including one for low-income households that offers discounts for affordable internet connection and several others specifically for individuals with disabilities.
Mon, 10/09/2023
12 Exercise Tips for People with Physical Disabilities
OK, maybe physical fitness isn’t your main goal in life. But for you to reach other important goals, such as maintaining your ability to live independently, work or care for others, physical fitness can increase stamina and strength. ...
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
Researchers looking for toddlers who may have autism
This study has the goal of providing guidance for therapists to predict which children will remain minimally verbal and benefit most from intensive language intervention at earlier ages.
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.