Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab We study rehabilitation outcomes, develop and test rehabilitation measures, and manage the Rehabilitation Measures Database

The Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (SRALab) is a national leader in assessing the long term impact of rehabilitation on individuals with disabilities.

New research led by assistant director, Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, suggests mobile cognitive assessments (MCAs) could play...
05/27/2026

New research led by assistant director, Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, suggests mobile cognitive assessments (MCAs) could play an important role in stroke rehabilitation and recovery monitoring.

MCAs are brief smartphone-based tests that assess cognitive functions such as memory, attention and problem-solving in real-world settings outside the clinic.

In a 14-day study, individuals with stroke completed ecological and momentary assessment surveys multiple times per day. Participants showed high participation rates, and there was promising reliability and alignment with traditional cognitive testing, supporting the potential of MCAs as a complement to standard neuropsychological assessments.

Read the study in ACRM Journals - The Archives of PM&R and ARRCT Open Access here: https://bit.ly/3PGHHmw

director, Allen Heinemann, PhD, presents at the 20th ISPRM Society World Conference in Vancouver on our funded inter...
05/23/2026

director, Allen Heinemann, PhD, presents at the 20th ISPRM Society World Conference in Vancouver on our funded international research on how rehabilitation length of stay affects outcomes for people with spinal cord injury in different countries. You can read more about the research in a recent publication in the journal, Rehabilitation Psychology: https://bit.ly/4nHCCXu

Living with cancer affects more than physical health — it can also shape how people cope emotionally, socially, and day ...
05/21/2026

Living with cancer affects more than physical health — it can also shape how people cope emotionally, socially, and day to day. The Cancer Coping Questionnaire was developed to better understand the strategies people use to manage the challenges of cancer and its treatment. By measuring coping experiences and approaches, this tool can help researchers and clinicians better support individuals throughout their cancer journey.
See this instrument and more than 600 others on the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database: https://bit.ly/3RTUtyt

Yesterday at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, associate director, Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, was celebrated for her promoti...
05/20/2026

Yesterday at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, associate director, Linda Ehrlich-Jones, PhD, RN, was celebrated for her promotion to research professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine!

Although the promotion officially took place in 2023, this was the first celebration of such promotions since 2019, and we were thrilled to finally gather and recognize the incredible achievements of Linda and all the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab staff who received promotions at Northwestern in the last few years.

Congratulations, Linda, on this well-deserved honor and your continued leadership and impact in research and rehabilitation! 👏
https://bit.ly/3RlESro

05/20/2026

Huge congratulations to Cheri Blauwet, MD, our senior vice president and chief clinical officer, who was just named to the Forbes “Accessibility 200” list!

Dr. Blauwet is a world-renowned physiatrist, a longstanding champion of accessibility and an elite athlete. She is a seven-time Paralympic medalist with leadership roles on the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and the Boston Athletic Association (the organizers of the Boston Marathon). This is Dr. Blauwet’s second consecutive recognition by Forbes as a global leader in accessibility-related fields.

“Accessibility and universal design are reshaping how people live, work and engage with the world around them,” said Dr. Blauwet. “At Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, advancing human ability is at the center of everything we do. Through patient care, research, technology and innovation, we are helping unlock human potential in transformative ways. I’m honored to be part of this work and to be recognized by Forbes for the second consecutive year.”

Congrats, Dr. Blauwet! Read more on our blog: bit.ly/3PLlp2V

A new, three-year grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation will support the development of an innovative smartphone ap...
05/19/2026

A new, three-year grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation will support the development of an innovative smartphone app designed to reduce loneliness among people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Led by Alex Wong, PhD, DPhil, assistant director of the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, the technology will help to identify individuals at risk for social isolation and deliver personalized, psychology-based supportive messages. Read more about the project: https://bit.ly/4uu3GMP

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, Levi Hargrove, PhD, scientific chair of The Regenstein Foundation Center for Bio...
05/16/2026

On this episode of INside the OUTcomes, Levi Hargrove, PhD, scientific chair of The Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, discusses osseointegration — an innovative procedure that directly connects prosthetics to the body for improved comfort, control, balance and quality of life.
Listen here: https://bit.ly/3RlOCln

The Motor-free Visual Perception Test helps clinicians assess visual perception skills without requiring motor involveme...
05/14/2026

The Motor-free Visual Perception Test helps clinicians assess visual perception skills without requiring motor involvement, making it especially useful for individuals with physical or motor impairments. The assessment evaluates abilities such as visual discrimination, spatial relationships, visual memory, and figure-ground perception — skills that are critical for everyday functioning and rehabilitation planning. See it and more than 600 other measures on the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Rehabilitation Measures Database: https://bit.ly/4dlbQ2j

ACRM Measurement Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group UIC College of Applied Health Sciences

A new publication in Rehabilitation Psychology shares findings from focus groups with people with spinal cord injury (...
05/14/2026

A new publication in Rehabilitation Psychology shares findings from focus groups with people with spinal cord injury ( ), care partners and rehabilitation clinicians about rehabilitation experiences and discharge preparedness. Participants across all groups emphasized that inpatient rehabilitation stays are often too short and can leave people insufficiently prepared for community living. People with SCI and care partners highlighted challenges related to accessibility, emotional adjustment, and the need for more training and support after discharge, while clinicians discussed balancing patient needs with insurance and length-of-stay requirements. Read the paper: https://bit.ly/4dqxKl1

The focus groups are part of a -funded CROR grant investigating how inpatient rehabilitation length of stay and other factors influence outcomes for people with SCI across different countries. The findings highlight the importance of individualized, patient-centered rehabilitation and stronger support for community reintegration after discharge.

APA Division 22 (Rehabilitation Psychology) National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

research scientist, Anne Deutsch, PhD, RN, and colleagues from other Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems sites, examined ...
05/13/2026

research scientist, Anne Deutsch, PhD, RN, and colleagues from other Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems sites, examined whether psychoactive substance use (excluding alcohol) is associated with unintentional injuries among adults with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).
👉 They analyzed data from 316 participants in the SCI Model Systems database and found that 15% experienced at least one unintentional injury within the past year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
👉 The study showed that psychoactive substance use was significantly associated with fall-related injuries, even after adjusting for demographic and injury-related factors, but it was not linked to non-fall-related injuries.
👉 The findings suggest that healthcare providers should routinely assess and monitor psychoactive substance use in people with spinal cord injuries, especially those who are ambulatory, to help reduce the risk of future fall-related injuries.
The research is published in Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation - TSCIR: https://bit.ly/48XO37t

Yue Cao, Nicole DiPiro, Edelle Field-Fote, Debbie Coleman, Lynn Worobey, Amanda Botticello, Jennifer Coker, and James Krause are authors on the paper.

Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System Shepherd Center Kessler Foundation

05/12/2026

A fact sheet we were proud to develop with Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center!

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