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The incorporation of People with Disability (PWD) in organizations is a subject taken up by international organizations, such as the European Union and the United Nations, which has had subsequent consequences in Spain with the development of legislation and specific initiatives. In this paper we have considered the concept of disability as part of diversity and, above all, as a fundamental subject of human rights and justice, which has allowed us to include the collective of PWD among the stakeholders of companies. The research on the incorporation of disability as an integral part of the policies of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in companies is very recent, although the term Corporate Social Responsibility and Disability is already used. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the commitment with PWD of Spanish companies considered socially responsible by the sustainability indices used. We have included in four large dimensions ( Stakeholders, Visibility, Human Resources and Accessibility) the indicators that have allowed us to analyze the information on PWD published by these companies in their sustainability reports or similar documents accessible through their websites. The results suggest that the companies are more concerned about improving their image towards the exterior than for the commitment with their own employees, which is consistent with the dimension Visibility being where the companies carry out more actions in favor of PWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the statutory accident insurers developed an action plan running from 2012 to 2014. This should contribute to realization of this convention and to further branding the concept of the statutory accident insurance as social insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons with chronic disabilities report the lowest subjective well-being (SWB) in many countries. The gap in SWB compared with the non-disabled population is smaller in some countries than in others. Data from the European Social Survey were analysed in order to: (1) describe the inequality in SWB in 21 European countries; and (2) identify the main determinants of this inequality in SWB. Data on a range of topics of a total of 40,605 persons, including 2,846 persons with serious chronic disabilities, were used of the European Social Survey. SWB was measured using multi-item scales for 'emotional well-being' and 'satisfying life'. Variables on disability, socio-demographics (age, gender, household composition), socio-economic status (level of education, net household income), participation (paid work, voluntary work, social contacts), and personal resources (supportive relationships, social cohesion, vitality, optimism, resilience, perceived autonomy, perceived accomplishment, perceived capacity, perceived engagement, perceived meaning and purpose) were entered stepwise in regression models of SWB. The results show that persons with disabilities are in a disadvantaged position in terms of SWB in all countries. In the Northern countries, the gaps between disabled and non-disabled persons are smaller than in Eastern European countries. In all countries inequality in SWB is explained mostly by personal resources and not by the level of disability, socio-economic status or level of participation in work. The implications of these findings for policy and practice (e.g. social cohesion and physical exercise programs) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maladaptive behaviors, such as aggressive and disruptive behaviors, are a significant risk factor for maintaining community placement by individuals with intellectual disabilities. When experienced researchers provide training to individuals with intellectual disabilities on a mindfulness-based strategy, Meditation on the Soles of the Feet, the individuals are able to effectively self-manage their maladaptive behaviors. We investigated whether similar effectiveness would be found if community-based therapists provided the training to similar individuals living in the community. Three adults with mild intellectual disabilities and mental illness living in the community were taught by a community-based therapist to use this strategy to control maladaptive behaviors that included verbal aggression, disruptive behavior and physical aggression. They were taught to shift the focus of their attention from the negative emotions that triggered their maladaptive behavior to a neutral stimulus, the soles of their feet. All three individuals were able to reduce their maladaptive behaviors to near-zero levels and maintain their community placement that they had been at risk for losing, due to their maladaptive behavior. Subjective measures of various psychological symptoms showed a reduction in two of the individuals. Our study suggests that the demonstrated effectiveness of Meditation on the Soles of the Feet can be achieved by a community-based therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to examine the issue of scale correspondence by testing the theory of planned behavior (TPB) using two models. Participants were 223 adults ( M age = 45.4 years, SD = 10.8) with self-reported physical disabilities who completed an on-line survey. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed demographic questions, TPB items, and two measures of physical activity. Path analyses, using one model that included a measure of behavior developed according to the TPB recommendations and a second model that used the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) generally supported the hypotheses of the TPB. Further, the model with the TPB scale ( R2 = .66) accounted for more variance in physical activity than the model using the PASIPD ( R2 = .15). Our findings are consistent with previous research; however, we argue that scale correspondence may not be statistically or philosophically appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine changes in life expectancy free of disability using longitudinal data collected from 1984 through 2000 from two cohorts who composed the Longitudinal Studies of Aging I and II. Life expectancies with and without ADL and/or IADL disability are calculated using a Markov-based multistate life table approach. At age 70, disability-free life expectancy increased over a 10-year period by 0.6 of a year in the later cohort, which was the same as the increase in total life expectancy, both increases marginally statistically significant. The average length of expected life with IADL and ADL disability did not change. Changes in disability-free life expectancy resulted from decreases in disability incidence and increases in the incidence of recovery from disability across the two survey cohorts. Age-specific mortality among the ADL disabled declined significantly in the later cohort after age 80. Mortality for the IADL disabled and the nondisabled did not change significantly. Those with ADL disability at age 70 experienced substantial increases in both total life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy. These results indicate the importance of efforts both to prevent and delay disability and to promote recovery from disability for increasing life expectancy without disability. Results also indicate that while reductions in incidence and increases in recovery work to decrease population prevalence of disability, declining mortality among the disabled has been a force toward increasing disability prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to examine levels of happiness among persons with and without physical disability, and to study prediction of happiness from satisfaction with various life aspects. A group of persons with physical disability ( N = 397) and the control group of persons from the general population ( N = 913) filled in the Fordyce instrument ( Social Indicators Research, 20:355–381, ) to evaluate levels of happiness and the “International Well-being Index” to measure satisfaction with particular life aspects. Both groups expressed positive happiness level and satisfaction with the majority of life aspects. However, happiness level of persons with disability was significantly lower. Forty-eight percent of the variance in happiness among persons with disability and 30% of the variance in happiness among the control group can be assigned to various life satisfaction aspects. Satisfaction with health, relationships, and achievements contribute to happiness in both groups, while satisfaction with physical safety and acceptance by the community are significant happiness predictors only for persons with disability. Economic status is the only significant predictor for the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disabilities impact individuals across all demographic groups, resulting in multiculturalism within the culture of disability. Several years ago researchers within the area of disabilities studies noted a tendency to overlook the cultural heterogeneity within their samples of individuals with disabilities and called for greater awareness. It is unclear to what degree research psychologists as well as other disciplines have heeded the call to adopt a cultural lens when studying populations with disabilities. A methodological and content review of sexuality and disability studies was conducted to evaluate how researchers are conceptualizing and presenting cultural data. Recent articles in four leading disability journals from 2002 to 2006 were reviewed, yielding 54 studies and over 11,000 participants. The content analysis found tremendous inconsistency in the collection style and reporting of cultural information (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation). Results indicate ethnic minorities may continue to be under-recruited and understudied in the disability and sexuality literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reviewed intervention studies on teaching augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to deaf–blind individuals. Studies meeting pre-determined inclusion-exclusion criteria were identified through electronic databases and hand searching and were summarized in terms of: (a) participants, (b) AAC mode, (c) target skills, (d) intervention procedures, and (e) main findings. Certainty of evidence was assessed through critical appraisal of each study’s design and methodological rigor. Seventeen studies, comprising 103 participants, were identified. Most participants had combinations of developmental, physical, and sensory impairments. A range of AAC modes were taught, including textures, tangible objects, and line-drawn symbols. Basic requesting skills were the most common intervention targets and these were most often taught using well-established behavioral procedures (e.g., prompting, differential reinforcement). Positive outcomes were reported for 90% of participants, but the evidence for 11 of the 17 studies was inconclusive because of methodological weaknesses. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical advances and the growth of the elderly population have focused interest on trends in the health of the elderly. Three theories have been advanced to describe these trends: compression of morbidity, expansion of morbidity, and dynamic equilibrium. We applied multistate life table methods to the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to estimate active and disabled life expectancy from 1992 to 2003, defining disability as having difficulty with instrumental activities of daily living or activities of daily living. We found increases in active life expectancy past age 65 and decreases in life expectancy with severe disability. These trends are consistent with elements of both the theory of compression of morbidity and the theory of dynamic equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The objective of this paper is to outline the proposed development process for the ICF Core Sets for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and to invite clinical and consumer experts to actively participate in this process. ICF Core Sets are selections of categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) that are relevant to persons with a specific condition or in a specific setting.Method:The project is a cooperation between the ICF Research Branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaboration Centre of the Family of International Classifications (DIMDI, Germany), the Classification, Assessment and Terminology (CAT) team and the Disability and Rehabilitation (DAR) team at WHO, the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) and International Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) and partner institutions across the world. The project will consist of four worldwide studies to be conducted from 2006 to 2007 with a proposed ICF Core Set Consensus Conference to be held in 2007. ICF categories relevant for SCI are to be identified by means of (I) an empirical study, (II) a systematic review of outcomes and measures used in SCI research (III) an expert survey and (IV) focus groups and semistructured interviews with persons with SCI. Consensus about items that have to be part of a Comprehensive and of a Brief ICF Core Set for SCI will be reached in a final ICF Core Set Consensus Conference. Subsequent field testing will be necessary to validate this first version of ICF Core Sets for SCI.Invitation for participation:The development of ICF Core Sets is an inclusive and open process. Anyone who wishes to actively participate in this process is invited to contact the project coordinator (Monika.Scheuringer@med.uni-muenchen.de or http://www.icf-research-branch.org/research/spinalcord-injuries.htm). Individuals, institutions and associations can be formally associated as partners of the project.Spinal Cord (2006) 44, 541–546. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101918 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the concordance in physical activity among parents and youth with physical disabilities. Parent and youth pairs were divided into two groups based on the child's age (children: N = 123, age 9.15± 1.39 years; adolescents: N = 133, age 14.40± 1.83 years) and completed a modified version of the Canada Fitness Survey. There were no associations between parent and youth physical activities (children: r s = .17, p = .06; adolescents: r s = .09, p = .31), regardless of disabling condition. Additional research is needed to better understand familial influences of physical activity behavior in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on a grant awarded to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to study physiologic effects of sexual function in the handicapped. Test of methods to improve sexual satisfaction; Invitation of participants in the research project.