Kessler Foundation Disability Rehabilitation Research And Employment

Welcome to this 2024 Kessler Foundation Baird Visiting Educational Professorship Lecture podcast. Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD, a prominent researcher in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) and disabilities, was a featured speaker at the 2023 Kessler Foundation Baird Visiting Educational Professorship. Her work primarily revolves around implementing and assessing evidence-based strategies aimed at establishing employment opportunities and facilitating community reintegration for veterans with SCI and other disabilities. In this podcast, she discussed the effectiveness of standardized evidence-based approaches that combine vocational rehabilitation with clinical care, highlighting their potential to enhance quality of life and foster competitive employment. Dr. Ottomanelli shared findings from two studies conducted in collaboration with the VA examining vocational rehabilitation in SCI. She also detailed key strategies for enhancing outcomes and implementing the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model int