Answered Questions is a monthly resource for the Spanish language Disability Community that fills an information need. This month’s question is: I just graduated college and I now work for a non-profit organization that helps people who are experiencing homelessness, including people with disabilities. I would like to learn more about how I can help people with disabilities facing homelessness. What research, resources, and information are available so that I can support my clients with disabilities? This edition of Answered Questions includes items that discuss research and support for people with burn injuries experiencing homelessness; a study on the exposure of trauma and the experiences of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for people with mental illness; a study on the foot health of people with disabilities experiencing homelessness; the Life Skills Manual; and more. More about Answered Questions.
NIDILRR-Funded Projects:
The Northwest Regional Burn Model System (NWRBMS) (in English) delivers person-centered services and conducts rigorous research to improve physical function, psychosocial health, community participation, financial well-being, and employment choices of people after burn injury. The NWRBMS works towards the development of informed best practices for engaging people with burn injuries who experience homelessness (PEH) in longitudinal research and rehabilitation; the creation of a peer navigator program for PEH; and a clinically useful return-to-work risk screening tool to inform the intensity of vocational rehabilitation (VR) needs. The Center’s resources (in English) include fire safety, newsletters, factsheets, infocomics, and infographics, and a video library.
From the NARIC Collection:
The article, Exposure to trauma and the experiences of PTSD for people living with serious mental illness and a history of homelessness (in English), discusses a study that examines the experiences of people with serious mental illness, co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a history of homelessness who were now living in supportive housing and receiving employment services. Descriptive findings show that the participants were exposed to an average of nearly 9 types of traumas, with many of these traumas directly related to their time experiencing being unhoused. This study highlights the importance of addressing the symptoms of PTSD for people with serious mental illness in supportive housing receiving employment services and supports the notion that trauma-informed services should be an integral part of supportive housing services.
Intervention:
The article, Responding to foot health needs of people experiencing homelessness: The role of a publicly funded community-based podiatry service (in English), looks at a study that examined a podiatry service which aims to improve the foot and ankle health of people with and without disabilities experiencing homelessness in Melbourne, Australia. The service operates as part of a large community health service and includes a fixed site as well as outreach services. This study demonstrated that intervening on foot and ankle problems of people experiencing homelessness who may not seek care on their own could be achieved through a publicly funded health service, using simplified pathways to care including outreach.
Advocacy:
The article, Advocating for change to meet the developmental needs of young children experiencing homelessness (in English), discusses the considerable risks faced by young children experiencing homelessness for developing physical and cognitive disabilities and how federal and state programs often overlook their needs. The article discusses the role of occupational therapy practitioners in advocating for improved access to high-quality, federally mandated programming for this population and the barriers faced by homeless families with and without disabilities in accessing equitable early developmental services.
Education About Resources:
The article, Homelessness: Understanding the unmet needs and identifying resources (in English), looks at a study that aimed to provide education and resources on needs related to health and wellbeing, community integration, and routine development to people with disabilities who are homeless residing at an emergency shelter in Connecticut. As part of the study, occupational therapy graduate students worked with individuals with disabilities at the shelter on how to best access community-based resources and services related to occupational needs. Preliminary findings provide a basic understanding of the occupational needs of individuals with disabilities experiencing homelessness. The authors suggest future research that support linking occupational therapy with the unhoused population to achieve individual goals, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance life skills management.
Human Interest:
The article, People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by homelessness and getting support seems “almost impossible”, looks at the intersection of disability and homelessness in the United Kingdom (UK). The article also looks at a study that looked at the experiences of people with disabilities, including people with autism spectrum disorders, experiencing homelessness and the barriers they face in obtaining support. Finally, the article looks at risk factors of being homeless that people with disabilities face across the UK.
Resources:
- The Frequently Asked Questions: Housing Needs of People with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Crisis (PDF) answers questions that look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people with disabilities, the housing needs of people with disabilities, how are homeless people with disabilities being affected by the pandemic, and how the community meet the housing needs of people with disabilities, among other topics.
- The question from the community, Where can I find housing options?, shares resources that NARIC’s information specialists share with people with disabilities facing homelessness and service providers to find housing and related services and supports. This question is also available in English.
Tools:
- The Life Skills Manual, developed by Christine Helfrich, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA under several NIDILRR-funded grants (in English) is an evidence-based curriculum developed in response to a lack of resources available for adults with and without disabilities who desire to learn practical life skills to live independently in the community of their choosing. The content of the curriculum was created in partnership with people who were trying to live independently in their communities, people who were experiencing homelessness, peer leaders, service delivery workers from a range of disciplines, and others. Interested in learning more about the manual? Listen to Dr. Helfrich discuss the manual in this episode of NARIC’s Spotlight Podcast (in Eglish) or read the transcript in English or Spanish on NARIC’s website. Those interested may order a copy of the manual (in English).
Further Research:
REHABDATA:
PubMed:
International:
Each month, we look through the searches on our blog and through the information requests made by our patrons who speak Spanish and pick a topic that fills the largest need. Each resource mentioned above is associated with this month’s information need. We search the various Spanish language news sources and feeds throughout the month to bring you these articles. With the exception of the NIDILRR Projects, From the NARIC Collection, and Further Investigation, all the linked articles and resources are in Spanish – any that are in English will be clearly marked.
