Hasil untuk "Vocational rehabilitation. Employment of people with disabilities"

Marina Carvalho Arruda Barreto, Ricardo Goes de Aguiar, Ricardo Cartes-Velásquez et al.

Multimorbidity has emerged as a pressing public health concern on a global scale, primarily driven by population aging and the epidemiological transition, which has resulted in an increased prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the functioning profile of individuals with multimorbidity in Chile, focusing on capacity and performance, and to explore the association between multimorbidity and compromised functioning. Methods: Data from the II ENDISC, a cross-sectional population study conducted in Chile in 2015, were analyzed. The sample comprised 12,265 randomly selected individuals aged 17 and above, who were interviewed using the Model Disability Survey. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were employed to assess the impact of multimorbidity on capacity and performance. Results: The results revealed that individuals with multimorbidity presented worse capacity scores (38.31 vs. 19.72) and performance scores (44.51 vs. 27.28) compared to those without multimorbidity. Furthermore, adjusted risk through GLM shows that individuals with multimorbidity had a higher risk of experiencing worse capacity (1.39) and performance (1.29) scores. Gender, self-rated health, age, employment status, and education level were identified as factors associated with varying degrees of impact on functioning. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of addressing multimorbidity and its associated factors in healthcare planning and intervention strategies, particularly for socioeconomically vulnerable populations, to enhance well-being and functioning among individuals with multimorbidity.

Ma. Janice J. Gumasing, Timothy Ray P. Del Castillo, Antoine Gabriel L. Palermo et al.

This study examines strategies to enhance transport inclusivity and passenger satisfaction for persons with disabilities in public bus systems in the Philippines. Drawing on data collected through an online questionnaire from 396 persons with disabilities who responded across various regions in the country, this study investigates eight key factors affecting satisfaction: vehicle design, diverse seating options, sensory considerations, assistance services, safety measures, subsidies/discounts, accessibility, and communication and information quality. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships between these variables, passenger satisfaction, and intention to reuse public transport. The SEM results revealed that accessibility (β = 0.359, <i>p</i> = 0.005), vehicle design (β = 0.248, <i>p</i> < 0.001), diverse seating options (β = 0.485, <i>p</i> < 0.001), safety measures (β = 0.3867, <i>p</i> = 0.001), and subsidies/discounts (β = 0.447, <i>p</i> < 0.001) significantly influenced passenger satisfaction. In turn, satisfaction had a strong positive effect on the future intention to use public transport (β = 0.760, <i>p</i> < 0.001). However, sensory considerations (β = 0.163, <i>p</i> = 0.225), assistance (β = 0.133, <i>p</i> = 0.519), and communication and information quality (β = 0.171, <i>p</i> = 0.345) were not statistically significant. The model demonstrated a good fit (chi-square/df = 4.03; SRMR = 0.078; NFI = 0.956), supporting the robustness of the proposed framework. These findings suggest that design-centered improvements and subsidies/discounts are critical to inclusive transport experiences, while overreliance on assistance may not guarantee satisfaction. This study recommends promoting autonomy through universal design, enhancing digital and physical accessibility, and increasing public awareness. These insights are intended to guide policymakers and transit authorities in creating a more inclusive, equitable, and user-driven transportation system.

Md Abdul Baset Sarker, Art Nguyen, Sigmond Kukla et al.

This paper introduces a novel AI vision-enabled pediatric prosthetic hand designed to assist children aged 10-12 with upper limb disabilities. The prosthesis features an anthropomorphic appearance, multi-articulating functionality, and a lightweight design that mimics a natural hand, making it both accessible and affordable for low-income families. Using 3D printing technology and integrating advanced machine vision, sensing, and embedded computing, the prosthetic hand offers a low-cost, customizable solution that addresses the limitations of current myoelectric prostheses. A micro camera is interfaced with a low-power FPGA for real-time object detection and assists with precise grasping. The onboard DL-based object detection and grasp classification models achieved accuracies of 96% and 100% respectively. In the force prediction, the mean absolute error was found to be 0.018. The features of the proposed prosthetic hand can thus be summarized as: a) a wrist-mounted micro camera for artificial sensing, enabling a wide range of hand-based tasks; b) real-time object detection and distance estimation for precise grasping; and c) ultra-low-power operation that delivers high performance within constrained power and resource limits.

Vishnu Hari, Kalpana Panda, Srikant Panda et al.

Large Language Models (LLMs) routinely infer users demographic traits from phrasing alone, which can result in biased responses, even when no explicit demographic information is provided. The role of disability cues in shaping these inferences remains largely uncharted. Thus, we present the first systematic audit of disability-conditioned demographic bias across eight state-of-the-art instruction-tuned LLMs ranging from 3B to 72B parameters. Using a balanced template corpus that pairs nine disability categories with six real-world business domains, we prompt each model to predict five demographic attributes - gender, socioeconomic status, education, cultural background, and locality - under both neutral and disability-aware conditions. Across a varied set of prompts, models deliver a definitive demographic guess in up to 97\% of cases, exposing a strong tendency to make arbitrary inferences with no clear justification. Disability context heavily shifts predicted attribute distributions, and domain context can further amplify these deviations. We observe that larger models are simultaneously more sensitive to disability cues and more prone to biased reasoning, indicating that scale alone does not mitigate stereotype amplification. Our findings reveal persistent intersections between ableism and other demographic stereotypes, pinpointing critical blind spots in current alignment strategies. We release our evaluation framework and results to encourage disability-inclusive benchmarking and recommend integrating abstention calibration and counterfactual fine-tuning to curb unwarranted demographic inference. Code and data will be released on acceptance.

Paul-Otto Müller, Oskar von Stryk

Temporomandibular disorders affect a significant portion of the population, often causing pain and restricted jaw movement. Physiotherapy with active jaw exoskeletons seems to be a promising treatment approach. However, there has been limited progress in this area, with only a few studies published. The lack of detailed simulations and biomechanical jaw models in these papers impedes the design and validation of such devices. Thus, this work presents an open-source and extendable jaw model framework to support the development of jaw exoskeletons for TMD rehabilitation. The framework includes three model variants with varying complexity: a rigid body model with point-on-surface constraints, a rigid body model with mesh geometry constraints, and a hybrid model combining rigid dynamics with finite element methods. Model customization is facilitated through JSON configuration files, requiring minimal programming expertise. The framework was evaluated using experimental kinematic data from a single participant, with muscle excitations computed via PID controllers tuned through global optimization. The models successfully reproduced jaw movements without prior individualization, demonstrating their suitability for prototyping and studying exoskeleton behavior. The basic models are ideal for rapid prototyping, while the hybrid model provides insights into the effects of exoskeletons on the masticatory system. This framework establishes a foundation for advancing jaw exoskeleton development, with future work focusing on patient-specific modeling, improved anatomical detail, and tools for exoskeleton control and design. The framework code is publicly available and can be found at https://github.com/paulotto/exosim.

Olivia L. Pastore, François Jarry, Jammy Zou et al.

We used a single-case experimental research design to examine the effect of modelling (peer versus non-peer) on exercise self-efficacy in stroke survivors who participated in a community-based exercise program. Data were obtained using an ABCA design: (A₁) no model/baseline 1 (3 weeks); (B) peer model (6 weeks); (C) non-peer model (6 weeks); and (A₂) no model/baseline 2 (3 weeks). Four participants completed self-efficacy questionnaires after each weekly session. Overall, participants reported higher exercise self-efficacy in the model conditions (Cohen’s <i>d</i> range from −0.37 to 4.22), with ratings appearing highest for the non-peer model. Modelling in general may help stroke survivors increase their exercise self-efficacy. Lastly, we provide our reflections on the pragmatics of completing a study within a community setting.

Usama Ahmed Khan, Mariam liaquat, Mehwish saghir et al.

Background: Increase in range of motion of ankle and functional mobility is the most important long-term consideration for the conservative management of cerebral palsy patients. Objective: To compare the effects of agonist contract versus antagonist contract-relax technique on ankle range of motion and functional mobility in the spastic cerebral palsy patients. Methodology: It was randomized control trial. The target population was spastic diplegic CP patients of age 6-12 years with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >24, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) score of 1-3, and Modified Ashword Scale (MAS) score of <2. Total number of participants were seventy-two (thirty-six in each group i-e agonist contract relax group and antagonist contract relax group. It was a single blinded study. The protocol of both groups was done three days per week for eight consecutive weeks and data was collected at baseline, 4th week and 8th week. The outcome measures were spasticity and functional mobility. Results: Total sample size was 72. Out of which 42(58.3%) were male and 30(41.7%) were female. The mean of age was 9.36 in agonist group and 8.89 in antagonist CR group. The results showed no significant difference for any outcome in between group comparison (p-value >0.05), however, the within group results showed significant difference (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that both techniques are effective for improving functional mobility and range of motion in cerebral palsy patients Key words: Agonist Contract Relax Technique, Antagonist Contract Relax Technique, Cerebral Palsy, Functional Mobility, Spasticity.

Jordan Taylor, Ellen Simpson, Anh-Ton Tran et al.

LGBTQ+ people have received increased attention in HCI research, paralleling a greater emphasis on social justice in recent years. However, there has not been a systematic review of how LGBTQ+ people are researched or discussed in HCI. In this work, we review all research mentioning LGBTQ+ people across the HCI venues of CHI, CSCW, DIS, and TOCHI. Since 2014, we find a linear growth in the number of papers substantially about LGBTQ+ people and an exponential increase in the number of mentions. Research about LGBTQ+ people tends to center experiences of being politicized, outside the norm, stigmatized, or highly vulnerable. LGBTQ+ people are typically mentioned as a marginalized group or an area of future research. We identify gaps and opportunities for (1) research about and (2) the discussion of LGBTQ+ in HCI and provide a dataset to facilitate future Queer HCI research.

Jasur Shukurov

With the ever-growing expansion of mobile technology worldwide, there is an increasing need for accommodation for those who are disabled. This project explores how machine learning and computer vision could be utilized to improve accessibility for people with visual impairments. There have been many attempts to develop various software that would improve accessibility in the day-to-day lives of blind people. However, applications on the market have low accuracy and only provide audio feedback. This project will concentrate on building a mobile application that helps blind people to orient in space by receiving audio and haptic feedback, e.g. vibrations, about their surroundings in real-time. The mobile application will have 3 main features. The initial feature is scanning text from the camera and reading it to a user. This feature can be used on paper with text, in the environment, and on road signs. The second feature is detecting objects around the user, and providing audio feedback about those objects. It also includes providing the description of the objects and their location, and giving haptic feedback if the user is too close to an object. The last feature is currency detection which provides a total amount of currency value to the user via the camera.

Lorenzo Vianello, Clément Lhoste, Emek Barış Küçüktabak et al.

Partial-assistance exoskeletons hold significant potential for gait rehabilitation by promoting active participation during (re)learning of normative walking patterns. Typically, the control of interaction torques in partial-assistance exoskeletons relies on a hierarchical control structure. These approaches require extensive calibration due to the complexity of the controller and user-specific parameter tuning, especially for activities like stair or ramp navigation. To address the limitations of hierarchical control in exoskeletons, this work proposes a three-step, data-driven approach: (1) using recent sensor data to probabilistically infer locomotion states (landing step length, landing step height, walking velocity, step clearance, gait phase), (2) allowing therapists to modify these features via a user interface, and (3) using the adjusted locomotion features to predict the desired joint posture and model stiffness in a spring-damper system based on prediction uncertainty. We evaluated the proposed approach with two healthy participants engaging in treadmill walking and stair ascent and descent at varying speeds, with and without external modification of the gait features through a user interface. Results showed a variation in kinematics according to the gait characteristics and a negative interaction power suggesting exoskeleton assistance across the different conditions.

Ruidong Cheng, Yuling Shao, Xi Li et al.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that often results in significant motor and sensory deficits, impacting the quality of life. Current rehabilitation methods, including physical therapy and electrical stimulation, offer variable outcomes and often require invasive procedures. Temporal interference (TI) stimulation has emerged as a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation technique capable of targeting deep neural structures with precision, providing a promising alternative for SCI rehabilitation. This study explores the efficacy of TI stimulation as a non-invasive approach for improving motor and sensory function in patients with incomplete SCI. Three male patients with incomplete cervical SCI (AIS D) participated in a two-week intervention consisting of 14 sessions of TI stimulation targeting their injury sites. TI stimulation was delivered using frequencies of 1000 Hz and 1040 Hz, with assessments conducted pre- and post-intervention, including motor and sensory evaluations, functional scales, and imaging studies.All participants demonstrated significant improvements in neurological function, motor strength, sensory perception, and functional independence. Neurological levels of injury shifted upward in all cases, with one patient improving from C5 to C7. Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) results shows additional strength, prehension and sensory outcomes obtained for the arm and hand functions of participants. Motor scores (UEMS and LEMS) increased, sensory scores for light touch and pin prick improved, and functional assessments, such as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Barthel Index (BI), showed marked gains. Pain scores also decreased in two participants, highlighting additional therapeutic benefits.

Robert Golub, Steve K. Lamoreaux

In his book \textit{The Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics}, published in 1932, J. von Neumann performed an analysis of the consequences of introducing hidden parameters (hidden variables) into quantum mechanics. He showed that hidden variables cannot be incorporated into the existing theory of quantum mechanics without major modifications, and concluded that if they did exist, the theory would have already failed in situations where it has been successfully applied. von Neumann left open the possibility that the theory is not complete, and his analysis for internal consistency is the best that can be done for a self-referenced logical system (Gödel's theorem). This analysis had been taken as an ``incorrect proof" against the existence of hidden variables. von Neumann's so-called proof isn't even wrong as such a proof does not exist. One of the earliest attempts at a hidden variable theory was by D. Bohm, and because there were no experimental consequences, W. Pauli referred to it as an ``uncashable check." To our knowledge, a successful hidden variable extension to quantum mechanics with testable consequences has not yet been produced, suggesting that von Neumann's analysis is worthy of rehabilitation, which we attempt to provide in a straightforward manner.

Jiaxuan Zhang

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the survival status and employment-related challenges of people with disabilities. We discuss strategies to improve their employability skills and expand their employment opportunities. In addition, we put forward suggestions on strengthening corporate social responsibility and helping people with disabilities. Through case analysis and practice at home and abroad, this study provides empirical support and suggestions on policy for promoting the employment of disabled people. On the one hand, disabled people face many challenges in survival. First, due to physical or psychological obstacles, they often need special medical and rehabilitation services, and the high cost of these services puts them under big economic pressure. Second, due to a lack of social recognition and discrimination, people with disabilities face many obstacles in areas such as education, employment, and social participation, making it difficult for them to integrate into society. Additionally, the social security system for people with disabilities is incomplete, and they face many difficulties in pensions, medical care, finding housing, etc. On the other hand, in terms of employment, the challenges faced by disabled people are severe. First, due to physical or psychological barriers, their employment scope is limited, and their occupation is unsuitable. Second, disabled individuals encounter numerous unjust treatments in the workplace due to society's lack of understanding and discrimination towards them. Therefore, improving the employment skills of disabled people and increasing employment opportunities are the key. One objective is improving employment competitiveness through vocational training and skill improvement. Another objective is to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities through policy guidance and corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility is an important force to promote employment for disabled people. Enterprise managers should realize that disabled people are part of society, and they have the right and ability to participate in social production. Therefore, enterprises should actively fulfill their social responsibilities, provide employment opportunities for disabled people, and promote inclusive development for the disabled. At the same time, the government should supervise enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities and create employment opportunities for disabled people through legislation and policy guidance. The survival and employment situation of people with disabilities face many challenges. By improving employability skills, increasing employment opportunities, and integrating corporate social responsibility and disability, the survival and employment situation of people with disabilities can be effectively improved. In summary, through case analysis and practice at home and abroad, this study provides empirical support and policy recommendations for promoting the employment of disabled people.

Seongjin Kim, Jinyeong Bae

The purpose of this study is to develop Care Farms, which are stably operated in most countries in the European Union, as a policy measure to expand employment opportunities for the disabled, which is a key task of the 6th Basic Plan for Employment Promotion and Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled (2023-2027). This is to examine institutional measures that can be introduced in Korea to achieve integrated community care for the mentally disabled. Care farms, which operate in most countries in the European Union, are agricultural and welfare functions that promote physical and mental health, education and training, jobs and employment, care, and improvement of quality of life for socially vulnerable people, including the mentally disabled. It is a concept that comprehensively refers to social agriculture. In Korea, where the current policy roadmap for social farms is insufficient, we would like to study institutional utilization plans for the introduction of care farms.In order to achieve this purpose, this study reviews laws and previous studies related to care farms and analyzes literature data as the main research method, and conducts a case study on one domestic care farm practice site to determine ways to utilize care farms for integrated care for the mentally disabled. I would like to present. As a result of the study, in order to operate a care farm that can continuously raise funds and utilize it for the care of the mentally disabled in the Korean context, the farm must be structured to generate profits through vocational rehabilitation. Additionally, there is a need to create a customized residential space near the farm, equipped with housing for independent living and community facilities for healing and vocational education activities. In other words, mentally disabled people provide labor as workers on farms, receive wages, and use those wages to achieve independent living and residence. In a comprehensive care farm where the farm and residential space are separated, people with mental disabilities will be able to settle into a care service that integrates production, consumption, and service support by generating income while using housing and healing services.

N. Galitskaya

Most Latin American States have adopted regulations that protect the labor rights of persons with disabilities and comply with international standards. International legal instruments establish that their participating States must ensure effective access to technical and vocational guidance programs, as well as to employment, vocational training and continuing education services. However, the labor legislation regarding the norms relating to persons with disabilities is not only slowly developing, but also opposes the integration of persons with disabilities into the world of work. The only ways to help attract employers to hire people with disabilities are quotas, tax incentives, and priority in obtaining government orders at public auctions. The purpose of the study is to identify the compliance of the national legislation of Latin American countries with the conventions ratified by them on the protection of the labor rights of persons with disabilities. Objectives of the work: to study the legislation of Latin American countries regulating the implementation of the labor rights of persons with disabilities; to identify problems that hinder their employment. The methods of comparative law, system analysis, statistical and formal logical methods were used in the work. The results of the study. The use of the medical definition of disability in the national labor legislation of most Latin American countries hinders the integration of persons with disabilities, reinforcing the link between disability and disability. The low level of education, insufficient qualifications, training costs and special equipment of workplaces are serious obstacles to the entry of persons with disabilities into the labor market. Inconsistent government policies in the field of habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities for the labor market, as well as the lack of economic incentives, hinder the growth of demand for disabled workers. Organizations prefer to pay fines for non-compliance, because they perceive the costs incurred when concluding employment contracts with people with disabilities as uncompensated financial expenses. A direct link has been established between poverty and disability, as well as between the economic resources of countries and their ability to realize social rights. The conclusion is formulated that despite the visible positive changes, discrimination against persons with disabilities persists in the national legislations of the countries of the region under consideration. There is a need for more thorough verification of the implementation of legislation related to the quota of jobs for people with disabilities by government agencies, and a departure from the medical approach to the definition of disability. Legislative changes are required to create administrative and financial incentives for employers to comply with the law.

Mara de Visser, Marloes de Graaf-Zijl, J. Anema et al.

Background The consequences of restrictive measures during the COVID-19 outbreak have potentially been enormous, especially for those in a vulnerable position in the labour market. This study aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on work status, working conditions and health among people with (partial) work disabilities—with and in search of work—during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Methods A mixed methods design was used, combining a cross-sectional online survey and ten semi-structured interviews with people with a (partial) work disability. The quantitative data included responses to job-related questions, self-reported health, and demographics. The qualitative data consisted of participants’ perceptions about work, vocational rehabilitation, and health. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the responses, conducted logistic and linear regression and integrated our qualitative findings with the quantitative findings, aiming at complementarity. Results Five hundred and eighty-four participants (response rate 30.2%) completed the online survey. The majority of participants experienced no change in work status: 39 percent remained employed, 45 percent remained unemployed, six percent of respondents lost their job, and ten percent became employed during the COVID-19 crisis. In general, the results showed a deterioration in self-rated health during the COVID-19 outbreak, both for participants at work and in search of work. Participants who lost their job during the COVID-19 crisis reported the highest deterioration in self-rated health. Interview findings revealed that loneliness and social isolation were persistent during the COVID-19 crisis, especially among those in search of work. Additionally, employed participants identified a safe work environment and the possibility to work at the office as important factors for overall health. Conclusions The vast majority of study participants (84.2%) experienced no change in work status during the COVID-19 crisis. Nonetheless, people at work and in search of work encountered barriers to maintaining or (re)gaining employment. People with a (partial) work disability who lost their job during the crisis appeared to be most affected in terms of health. Employment and health protections could be strengthened for persons with (partial) work disabilities in order to build resilience in times of crisis.

Firas Al-aboudy, Hasan Baiee, Rasha Azeez

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the sleep characteristics among patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs) and find the relationship between variables of their demographic and sleep disorder. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was designed to achieve the stated goals of patients with CLD in the Al-Najaf Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Al-Sadr Medical City from November 1, 2020, to June 1, 2021. The sample was selected from 120 adult patients ≥18 years using non-probability sampling (purposeful) with CLD (disease duration of six months or more) . The questionnaire consisted of two socio-demographic parts with clinical data (18 items) and a general health questionnaire (28 items) with 4 implicit subscales, including insomnia and anxiety level. Results: There was a strong significant relationship between sleep disorder and age (P=0.001), occupational status (P=0.001), daily activity (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.001), and duration of disease (P=0.001), gender (P=0.021), educational level (P=0.04), marital status (P=0.049), and type of disease (P=0.01). However, there was no significant relationship between sleep disorder and the remaining demographic and clinical data. Discussion: In conclusion, there is a relationship between the sleep disorder of CLD patients and their socio-demographic data. There is a strong significant relationship between patients’ physical status and their sleep disorder (P=0.001). This result means that the disease has a significant effect on sleep.

Nasser Ali Aljarallah, Ashit Kumar Dutta, Abdul Rahaman Wahab Sait et al.

Stroke survivors have access to a wide range of drug and non-drug treatments for the resulting physiological and functional problems. However, comprehensive therapies typically fail to meet the demands of a large percentage of patients. The recent clinical studies to improve protocol scientific evidence have resulted in a new development phase for rehabilitation medicine. Stroke rehabilitation supports individuals to lead a normal life. It assists the physicians in offering an effective environment to the patients. The evaluation of a patient’s progress in rehabilitation is based on the clinician’s subjective observations and the patient’s self-reported data. Deep learning techniques offer novel forms of individualized treatment. Nonetheless, missing data is one of the crucial factors that reduces the performance of data classification techniques. Thus, there is a demand for functional recovery prediction models for supporting stroke patients (SPs) to improve their quality of life. In this study, the researchers intend to build a framework for predicting functional outcomes using the electronic health record data of SPs. An attention-based bidirectional gated recurrent unit is used for developing the data imputation model. In addition, a shallow-convolutional neural network is employed for predicting the functional outcomes based on the modified Barthel Index. Data from 356 SPs were utilized for evaluating the performance of the proposed framework with the benchmark metrics and baseline models. The findings reveal that the proposed framework outperforms the state-of-the-art classification by achieving an average accuracy, precision, recall, F1-measure, specificity, and sensitivity of 98.18, 97.48, 98, 97.74, 96.74, and 97.24, respectively. The proposed framework can be implemented in real time to support SPs.

Caro Wolfner, Corilyn Ott, Kalani Upshaw et al.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a global and multifaceted impact on public health. Marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as college students and postdoctoral fellows with disabilities or pre-existing conditions, are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Various barriers contribute to an individual’s intentions to seek mental health help, but with COVID-19’s unprecedented permeability, more research is needed to support this student population. This phenomenological study explored the coping strategies and help-seeking behaviors of college students and postdoctoral fellows with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using semi-structured, in-depth interviews from fall 2020 (n = 36) and spring 2021 (n = 28), a thematic analysis was conducted. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping was used to triangulate findings, to better understand the relationship between perceived stressors, coping mechanisms, and psychological outcomes. The findings show that (1) college students with disabilities coped in multiple ways (i.e., behavioral, relational, and mental), with some noting improvements in their coping abilities by spring, and (2) stigma prevented college students with disabilities from seeking help when needed. These findings emphasize the need for higher education to address ableism and use factors beneficial to fostering resiliency (i.e., social support, optimism, and self-advocacy) among college students with disabilities.

Yufei Wang, Zhanyi Sun, Zackory Erickson et al.

Robot-assisted dressing could benefit the lives of many people such as older adults and individuals with disabilities. Despite such potential, robot-assisted dressing remains a challenging task for robotics as it involves complex manipulation of deformable cloth in 3D space. Many prior works aim to solve the robot-assisted dressing task, but they make certain assumptions such as a fixed garment and a fixed arm pose that limit their ability to generalize. In this work, we develop a robot-assisted dressing system that is able to dress different garments on people with diverse poses from partial point cloud observations, based on a learned policy. We show that with proper design of the policy architecture and Q function, reinforcement learning (RL) can be used to learn effective policies with partial point cloud observations that work well for dressing diverse garments. We further leverage policy distillation to combine multiple policies trained on different ranges of human arm poses into a single policy that works over a wide range of different arm poses. We conduct comprehensive real-world evaluations of our system with 510 dressing trials in a human study with 17 participants with different arm poses and dressed garments. Our system is able to dress 86% of the length of the participants' arms on average. Videos can be found on our project webpage: https://sites.google.com/view/one-policy-dress.