Disability Research / 30.03.2026

[caption id="attachment_72995" align="aligncenter" width="500"]disability-and-independence.jpg Photo by Gustavo Fring[/caption] For many adults with disabilities, true independence goes beyond access to services—it means having the freedom to make meaningful choices about how those services are delivered. The Self-Determination Program (SDP) represents a powerful shift in how support is provided, placing individuals at the center of decision-making and giving them control over their own lives. Rather than fitting into pre-designed service systems, self-determination allows individuals to design supports that reflect their goals, preferences, and lifestyles. This approach is transforming disability services across the United States by promoting flexibility, empowerment, and person-centered care.
Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus / 02.06.2020

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54424" align="alignleft" width="152"]Margaret A. Turk, MD Vice-Chairman, PM&R Distinguished Service Professor Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Public Health & Preventive Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University  Dr. Turk[/caption] Margaret A. Turk, MD Vice-Chairman, PM&R Distinguished Service Professor Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Public Health & Preventive Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University All authors contributed to these responses. (Margaret A. Turk MD, Scott D. Landes PhD, Margaret K. Formica PhD, Katherine D. Goss MPH) MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Throughout this pandemic, there have been published reports related to vulnerable populations and severity of disease with COVID-19, however disability populations have not been studied. People with disabilities in fact report many of the risk factors for severe outcomes from this virus, usually at younger ages. One such population is people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), with estimates of  2.6 to 4 million people living in the US – and also with reported high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and pulmonary conditions. These comorbid health conditions are reported as common risk factors for severe outcomes with COVID-19, along with older age.
Author Interviews, Diabetes, Diabetes Care, Disability Research / 26.02.2014

Barbara H. Bardenheier PHD, MPH, MA Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GAMedicalResearch.com Interview with: Barbara H. Bardenheier PHD, MPH, MA Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study? Dr. Bardenheier: Our main findings were that older adults who become disabled, even mildly, are at increased risk of developing diabetes.