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Many undergraduate students attending UK universities have a chronic illness or disability. Support for disabled students has increased in recent years through government funding and university disability services. This research examined experiences of disabled undergraduate students in academic and extra-curricular areas of student life and experience of university disability support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 undergraduate students. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: symptoms impacting on university life, academic issues, extra-curricular activities and experience of university support. Extensive and varied challenges were experienced in relation to all areas of student life. Some disabled students felt well supported but others felt much more support was needed. Some students had limited or no engagement in extra-curricular activities. Some progress appears to have been made in the last twenty years in supporting disabled undergraduate students but more support is needed. Disability support should be extended beyond academic work to include extra-curricular activities. Points of interest: Disabled undergraduate students at university in the UK experience significant challenges which affect their academic work, social activities, sports and career development activities. This research found that some disabled undergraduate students felt well supported by university disability support but others felt much more support was needed. Some disabled undergraduate students do not take part in any social activities, sports or career development activities. University disability support for academic work should be developed so that all disabled students feel well supported. University disability support should be increased to include support for social activities, sports and career development activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background There is a consensus among scholars, policymakers, and implementers that addressing the complex nature of intimate partner violence (IPV) requires a collaborative response. However, there is limited literature on how various professionals work collaboratively to address the needs of women with disabilities who experience IPV. This study combines the perspectives of women with disabilities and those of professionals to understand collaboration in providing IPV services to women with disabilities. Methods Twenty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 IPV service providers and 11 women with disabilities. The data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results The findings are presented under three themes: the first shows a consensus among different IPV service providers and disabled women on the importance of collaboration when supporting victims of IPV with disabilities; the second depicts the common ways in which collaboration occurs when supporting women with disabilities; and the third illuminates the critical elements that boost effective collaboration. Conclusion Supporting IPV victims with disabilities requires active collaboration at both an internal and external level. Strengthening collaboration among different actors requires trust, specified roles, and the allocation of adequate resources.

Introduction: The relationship between coaches and athletes with disabilities is critical for enhancing athletes' performance and psychosocial well-being. This study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for coaches, sports organizations, and policymakers dedicated to supporting athletes with disabilities. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted. Five databases were searched, including PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. A total of 22 studies were included for thematic analysis. Results: This systematic review identifies key factors influencing the coachathlete relationship in disabled sports. These factors are categorized into three main domains: professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. In the professional domain, effective coaching requires sport-specific skills and adaptive techniques tailored to the unique needs of athletes with disabilities. Coaches must understand the technical and tactical aspects of each parasport and adapt training plans to optimize performance and foster independence. The interpersonal domain emphasizes communication strategies and teambuilding practices. Effective communication involves understanding athletes' needs and adapting approaches to maximize strengths. Building rapport, managing conflict, and fostering a supportive team environment are crucial for maintaining a positive coach-athlete relationship. The intrapersonal domain highlights the importance of self-reflection and continuous learning. Coaches who engage in self-reflection and professional development better understand their behaviors and biases, enabling them to tailor coaching strategies to the specific needs of athletes with disabilities. Continuous learning is essential for remaining responsive to the evolving needs of these athletes. Discussion: This review underscores the importance of a holistic approach that integrates professional expertise, interpersonal skills, and intrapersonal awareness. By addressing these factors, it provides a foundation for developing more effective coaching strategies and supports for athletes with disabilities, ultimately enhancing their performance and well-being. Future research should explore cultural differences, the specific coaching needs of athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the impact of policies and structural barriers on the coach-athlete relationship in disabled sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examines the accessibility of museums in Istanbul for people with disabilities. The aim is to determine the suitability of museums in Istanbul for individuals with physical, visual, and hearing impairments, identify the problems they encounter in museums, identify physical limitations, and develop solution proposals. The qualitative research method was used in the research conducted in 2022-2023 covering museums in Istanbul. The research consists of two parts. In the first part, the museums to be visited were determined. Then, the checklists were submitted for approval to two expert academics. Opinions regarding the questions in the checklists were obtained by conducting a pilot study with six individuals with physical impairments, two with visual impairments, and two with hearing impairments. In the second part, the accessibility was evaluated by visiting 41 museums in Istanbul using checklists consisting of 23 questions. The findings were analyzed using the content analysis method. Considering the data of the research, none of the museums met the requirements for accessibility, museums were far from providing minimum standards for individuals with physical, visual, and hearing impairments, and individuals with physical, visual, and hearing impairments were unable to visit museums due to inadequate physical conditions rather than financial constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity has tripled in the world as a result of high caloric intake. People with disabilities are more likely to be overweight and obese. Objectives: this study aimed to estimate the association between disability status and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in the population aged 18 years and older in Colombia in 2017. Methods: we conducted a secondary analysis of data from Colombia's 2017 National Quality of Life Survey (ECV). The dependent variable was the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and the independent variable was the disability status. Additionally, confounding variables were incorporated. An ordinal logistic regression was performed to estimate the magnitude of the association. The complex sample design of the 2017 LCS was considered in all results. Results: we included data from 18,957 persons aged 18 years and older; 7.9 % had a disability, and 64.4 % consumed sugar-sweetened beverages. People with moderate and severe disability were 18 % and 41 %, respectively, less likely to have a higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages compared to people without disability (OR: 0.82; 95 % CI: 0.72-0.95 and OR: 0.59; 95 % CI: 0.39-0.90). When stratified by age group, this association remained only in those older than 45. Conclusions: in Colombia, in 2017, people with disabilities older than 45 years consumed fewer sugar-sweetened beverages than people without disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historiography on blindness in the early modern period has focused almost entirely on the condition itself, rather than the lived experiences of the blind. It is often suggested that before the modern age it is impossible to access their lives. This article challenges that assumption. The evidence, though fragmentary, is far richer than has been supposed. The article shifts the focus to the blind themselves: their emotional responses, experiences and lives, and the impact on their families. It demonstrates how the experience of blindness was shaped by factors such as age, social status, gender, occupation, and the degree of disability. The well-to-do found ways to adapt, while the poor faced a desperate struggle to survive. The blind continued to live among their neighbours, and through recovering their experiences we also gain a more nuanced picture of social attitudes across the early modern period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to identify the requirements for the integration of people with disabilities in the secondary education tracks in the Republic of Yemen. The researchers used the descriptive approach based on the analysis of a set of sources and references and studied them analytically to discover the characteristics of the disabled and their needs, and was limited to the categories of learning disabilities (visual, hearing, and motor disabilities). The study concluded a set of requirements, the most important of which are: proposing the opening of paths commensurate with people with disabilities, their characteristics and needs, such as vocational education and technical education, and working to provide means and equipment that support the education of people with disabilities. The study also included the preparation and qualification of the educational and administrative staff in secondary schools and enabling them to master sign language and Braille writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representation of the disabled community is often associated with negative stereotypes. This negative connotation, among others, includes the difficulty of having a perfect life, being considered a burden, not having opportunities for romantic relationships, and being dependent on others. In the Malaysian context, studies on the representation of disabilities through the media are still not extensive. The representation of these disabled is more prevalent on television programs. While in newspapers, the stereotype is maintained. At the same time, several locally produced films centered on this issue. Taking the problems mentioned as a basis, this study looks at the representation of the disabled in local films. This study uses a close reading method on 5 films which are Redha (Beautiful Pain) (2016), Pekak (2016), Guang (2018), MagiK (2023), and Abang Adik (2023). The findings reveal that while stereotypical representations persist, these films also highlight universal humanitarian issues and the talents and advantages of disabled characters. This new representation challenges existing stereotypes and offers a more nuanced view of disability. The study concludes that although there has been progress in portraying disabled characters in Malaysian films, further efforts are needed to ensure that media representations are inclusive and free from harmful stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast development of the technology of embedded systems has had a great impact on the healthcare field. Using low-cost, robust parts, this research proposes an innovative technology and design that enables paralyzed patients or elderly individuals to have a smart room with a voice recognition control unit that works like a joystick for various purposes. The aim is to create an environment that meets their needs and increases their independence, thereby improving their quality of life. The research will show the design of the control unit and present the various applications that can be programmed using voice commands, such as a wheelchair, bed, temperature, lights, TV, and alarm. The voice recognition module will be trained using the patient's voice, for example, to change the movement direction of a wheelchair. The system is based on training the Voice Recognition Module v3 with the use of Arduino and Node MCU. The results of the commendable accuracy of the English word response in a quiet environment ranged between 90% and 100% at the 0.2-meter distance and 50% and 100% at the 0.5-meter distance. While in a noisy environment, it ranged between 40% and 100% at the 0.2-meter distance and 10%– 90% at the 0.5-meter distance. As for the Arabic-pronounced words, they ranged between 60% and 100% at the 0.2-meter distance and 30% and 100% at the 0.5- meter distance in a quiet environment. And, in a noisy environment, it ranged between 30% and 100% at the 0.2-meter distance and 10% and 100% at the 0.5- meter distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To access urban services, the spatial components of urban space must enable every possible trip route to be devoid of any barriers, including those relating to the legal framework, metropolitan area, society, and administration. The right to access is for understanding the barriers to accessibility. Therefore, what is the required state necessary to put forth the significance of the motto, "accessibility for all"? Is it only making urban space accessible, or is it also a matter of perceiving accessibility as a right? The research aims to reveal the deficiencies of the perception that accessibility is a human right. The research question is, "how do the barriers prevent people with disabilities from obtaining their right to access?" In the user perspective analysis, twelve focus group discussions were conducted in Ankara with various members of persons with reduced mobility (PRM). The primary finding from both the theoretical review and these discussions is that accessibility must be perceived as an integrated concept with the inclusiveness of urban spaces, emphasizing the social and spatial dimensions of the issue. It is an inclusive right that unequivocally must be extended to all individuals, encompassing every individual of PRM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a consensus among scholars, policymakers, and implementers that addressing the complex nature of intimate partner violence (IPV) requires a collaborative response. However, there is limited literature on how various professionals work collaboratively to address the needs of women with disabilities who experience IPV. This study combines the perspectives of women with disabilities and those of professionals to understand collaboration in providing IPV services to women with disabilities. Methods: Twenty-nine in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 IPV service providers and 11 women with disabilities. The data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. Results: The findings are presented under three themes: the first shows a consensus among different IPV service providers and disabled women on the importance of collaboration when supporting victims of IPV with disabilities; the second depicts the common ways in which collaboration occurs when supporting women with disabilities; and the third illuminates the critical elements that boost effective collaboration. Conclusion: Supporting IPV victims with disabilities requires active collaboration at both an internal and external level. Strengthening collaboration among different actors requires trust, specified roles, and the allocation of adequate resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Primary Education Research Journal is the property of International Primary Education Research Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gümüshane Üniversitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Gumushane University, Faculty of Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the research paper is to conduct a systematic analysis of everyday life, forms of self-organization, and peculiar features of the repatriation of the sick and disabled Ukrainians from the tsarist army in the prisoner of war camps in Germany in 1917. The scientific novelty. The presented issue is the first attempt at a holistic representation of the everyday life of sick prisoners of war who were admitted to the camp infirmaries, as well as of the process of repatriation of disabled Ukrainian prisoners from three Ukrainian camps (Rastatt, Wetzlar, Salzwedel) in the territory of Germany. Conclusions. The life of disabled people in the camps of Ukrainian prisoners of war was marked by significant difficulties caused by both the limited physical capabilities of that category of camp inmates and the limitation of the choice of food allowance. The last circumstance, the need to perform hard labor, as well as the general discomfort that marked the prisoners' stay in the camps, led to the contraction of tuberculosis and other diseases in some of the camp inmates. An infirmary was established in each camp to improve their health, but its main purpose was to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. In order to solve the problem of disabled and seriously ill prisoners, the governments of the warring states (including Russia and Germany) reached an agreement on the proportional exchange of those two categories of persons. That made it possible to start the process of their mutual repatriation, but its volumes were relatively small due to the actual opposition of the Russian government, which feared that in such a way, the enemy's human resources would be strengthened. As a result, the departure of repatriates was chronically delayed, and although they received limited humanitarian aid from Ukrainian camp communities, as well as Russian and international Red Cross organizations, the morale of the disabled deteriorated. But despite all the difficulties, over 530 disabled and sick people, including Ukrainian activists as well, went home from three Ukrainian camps in 1917. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effects of sensory-motor perception and movement training on the developmental areas and emotional and behavioral problems of children with neurodevelopmental problems. The sensory-motor perception and movement training program applied in this work focused on the personal and social, fine and gross motor, receptive and expressive language, emotion, and behavior issues of 15 children aged 2 to 6 years consisting of nine children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, three children having Speech Disorder, and three children having General Development Delay. The program was applied for 18 weeks, six days a week and two hours per day, for a total of 216 hours. The Denver-II development scale and the Child Behavior Checklists (separately for ages of 2-3 and 4-6) were used to create the pretest-posttest design. Using these data, the positive impacts of training on development areas as well as emotional and behavioral issues were measured. According to the Wilcoxon signed-rank test results, children's Denver-II development scale and its sub-dimensions' scores after sensorymotor perception and movement training improved significantly (p<0.05). When the pretest and posttest averages of Child Behavior Checklist for children aged 2-3 and 4-6 were compared, internalizing, externalizing, and overall scores decreased significantly after sensory-motor perception and movement training (p<0.05). In conclusion, children with developmental problems aged 2 to 6 who received sensory-motor, perception, and movement training showed significant decrease in anxiety levels, significant reduction in aggressive and destructive behavior, and significant improvement in fine- and gross-motor abilities as well as language and social skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visually impaired individuals may encounter some negative situations in their daily lives, both legally and religiously. While laws deal with the legal aspect, Islamic law deals with the religious aspect. In order to minimize the difficulties that visually impaired people may face in their daily lives, Islamic law has made some flexible provisions based on the principle of facilitation. This work, which we are introducing, deals in detail with the information on the provisions for the visually impaired in ibādāt, muāmalāt, munāqahāt - mufārekāt, ukūbāt and some other issues by including the views of the four major madhhabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disability is a situation and process that includes difficulties in rationalizing and coping with it on the part of individuals with disabilities and their families. It can be said that religion has an important place among the ways used to make sense of the situation in question and to cope with the process. This is because religion is a resource that can provide the spiritual strength needed for people to cope with the situation they are in, by giving answers to people to make sense of the situation they are in. One of the basic elements that bring this function of religion to life is religious education. The main institution that organizes informal religious education activities for people with disabilities in Turkey is the Presidency of Religious Affairs. This study aims to understand the problems and expectations of hearing- and visuallyimpaired individuals who take part in the informal religious education given to people with disabilities in the Qur'an courses in the Presidency of Religious Affairs. The research is structured with a phenomenological pattern. Interviews consisting of semi-structured questions were used to obtain the data. Thirty people, 15 of whom were hearing impaired and 15 visually impaired, participated in the interviews. The data were analyzed with descriptive analysis and content analysis techniques. The results of the research were evaluated in four dimensions: the sources of the religious education of the participants, their coping with disability and the effect of religion, their religious education needs, and their expectations from the Qur'an courses in which they receive non-formal religious education in line with these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table tennis is a sport that is enjoyed by many, including those with physical and intellectual disabilities. This scoping review summarised the current test protocols for assessing table tennis technical proficiency in individuals with disabilities. Relevant articles were searched through four databases (Scopus, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) covering three key aspects: disability, table tennis, and technical proficiency. The search resulted in 14 studies included for data extraction, covering physical impairments, intellectual disability, and development coordination disorder. Almost all studies (93%) were conducted on well-trained para-table tennis athletes competing in high-level competitions. There exist protocols to assess service accuracy and stroke accuracy, hand–eye coordination, quality of specific skills and ball control, functional reach, and trunk rotation. The forehand topspin and backhand topspin drives were tested the most. Table tennis robots and video cameras are the common equipment used. Moving forward, future research should develop technical proficiency tests for players across all competency levels. The skill assessment criteria and scoring methods should be standardised and clearly explained. The validity and reliability of tests should be established. Lastly, there is great potential in using artificial intelligence to enhance the assessment of table tennis proficiency in individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management & Labor / Yönetim ve Çalışma Dergisi is the property of Yonetim ve Calisma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Literature has numerous dimensions, among which novels and short stories are worth the mention. Stories from the past have been including disabled male and female characters in their plots, but the question of how these characters have been depicted is still debatable. When it comes to writers of the disability study, it has been noticed that they have been trying to establish the present state of people with impairments with the help of their deformed or disabled characters. It has been witnessed that novels and short stories concentrate on bringing out the darker side of a disabled person by focusing on his/her issues and sufferings. The objective of this paper is to expose that literary works rarely focus on the brighter facet of a disabled character, especially a woman. It projects the differences that are endured by fictional individuals. The analysis undertakes the theory of Intersectionality to support its arguments of projecting the discrepancies in the picturisations of disabled female dramatic personas in novels and short stories. Hence, the research with the aid of select prose narratives brings out the conventional sketches of fictional impaired women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many marginalised groups there is a consistent and inflexible requirement that leadership within its representative bodies be comprised of members from the same marginalised group. This demand is often absent within the representative bodies for disabled people. This article discusses this issue and whether there can truly be 'nothing about us, without us' when so many disability leadership positions are colonised by non-disabled people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Debate Jurídico Ecuador is the property of Universidad Regional Autonoma de los Andes (UNIANDES) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Obtaining reasonable adjustment(s) (RAs) legally requires disabled people to disclose their impairment(s) to their employer, the provision of which can be crucial to them performing the essential duties of their job. Yet, employers report a key barrier to employing disabled people is their lack of willingness to disclose their impairment(s). This article examines the lived experiences of disabled people's employment endeavours identifying why this may be occurring. Disabled interviewees communicated that previous experiences with employers strongly influences their employment objectives, and willingness to disclose. The participants' shared ethnographic experiences of employment demonstrate that RAs can be the predominant factor in their remaining employed and that prior encounters with employers have made them aware that employers are often unwilling to approve the RAs necessary for them to seek employment, to obtain employment, to perform their duties, to fairly compete with co-workers, to preserve their health, and/or to maintain employment. Employers often claim they have few disabled employees because current employees will not disclose their impairment(s) and they face barriers to locating and hiring disabled people who want to work. Employers are often unknowledgeable about disability and don't make genuine efforts to employ disabled people. The research found that how disabled people are treated when asking an employer for reasonable adjustments impacts if they will request them in the future and influences their future employment goals. The research concludes that reasonable adjustments will remain a key barrier to disability employment if unknowledgeable employers remain those solely empowered to decide upon their provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the property of World Health Organization and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Stress is faced by every individual in their day-to-day life activities. During pandemic, most people have experienced multiple episodes of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Several medical and dental problems are reported with stress and the fastest and easiest way to study and investigate is through body fluids, mainly saliva. Hence, we aim to study salivary α amylase in disabled individuals and hypothesize that salivary α amylase could be a reliable stress biomarker in disabled individuals. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted including 200 individuals grouped into controls (100) and disabled individuals (100). Disabled individuals were further grouped into physically (50) and mentally (50) disabled. Stimulated and unstimulated saliva was collected from all the participants and were investigated for salivary α-amylase by direct substrate method. The enzyme activity was analyzed using a spectrophotometer and the obtained were analyzed statistically. Result: Salivary α-amylase showed significant difference between controls and disabled group (p = 0.000). Salivary α-amylase was least in the mentally disabled group compared to physically disabled group. Age related comparison of salivary α-amylase was higher in physically disabled whereas gender related comparison showed females in physically disabled group to be more affected than controls. Conclusion: Saliva, the easy and most researched fluid, is rich in salivary α-amylase. Salivary α-amylase is a potential biomarker to assess stress. Further diagnostic studies are required to know the salivary changes and their influence on individual general health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aging of our population and the intensification of major chronic disease problems will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of disabled people, resulting in increased pressure on social care and a heavier burden on the government and families for the elderly. At the same time, the unbalanced allocation of health resources will pose even more serious challenge to the medical treatment and nursing care of the disabled population. Objective To explore the differences of disability rate, disability degree and influencing factors among middle-aged and elderly people in eastern, central and western regions of China. Methods Data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were analyzed from 2022-10-05 to 2023-01-13, and 19 170 middle-aged and elderly people aged 45 years and above were selected as the study subjects. Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales were used to determine disability. The situation and degree of disability in middle-aged and elderly people were considered as dependent variables, and independent variables were selected from three aspects of general demographic characteristics, health evaluation and lifestyle according to CHARLS data questionnaire. Binary and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the factors affecting the disability and degree of disability of middle-aged and elderly people in eastern, central and western regions of China. Results Comparison of the rate and degree of disability among middle-aged and elderly people in eastern, central and western regions showed statistically significant differences (χ2=143.014, P

Abstract This study investigated the risk of heatwaves for people with disabilities and other socioeconomic attributes using Health Care Bigdata in South Korea. The Health Care Bigdata provides detailed information on heat-related illness (HRI) patients in 2011–2020 from seven major cities. We employed the Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model (DLNM) to measure heat waves' relative risk. Our findings are four-fold. First, the relative risk (RR) of disabled people was 5.075 (95% confidence interval 4.476–5.674), significantly surpassing that of non-disabled people, 3.296 (2.517–4.075). Second, among various personal characteristics studied, disability influenced RR the most, exceeding impacts from elderly (4.457: 3.748–5.166), low-income (3.909: 3.004–4.813), and outdoor (4.052: 2.940–5.164). Third, the disabled young group (5.305: 4.414–6.195) was more vulnerable than the non-disabled elderly group (4.287: 3.576–4.999). Lastly, no significant difference in relative risk was observed between the mild (4.413: 3.855–4.971) and severe disabled groups (4.013: 3.121–4.905).

Prosthetic feet are essential aids for individuals with disabilities, enabling them to stand and walk. However, current prosthetic foot designs often fall short in terms of material properties, potentially compromising safety on various surfaces. This study examines the impact of different rubber types, specifically their hardness, on the friction between prosthetic feet and flooring materials. We evaluated the static friction coefficients of five rubber types on four different floor surfaces under varying normal loads, utilizing an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model. Results demonstrate that rubber hardness and normal load significantly influence the friction coefficient. A decrease in rubber hardness increases the friction coefficient, thereby reducing slippage. Notably, a reduction in rubber hardness enhanced the friction coefficient by up to 62%, while an increase in normal load improved it by 35%. Additionally, dynamic friction coefficients were assessed through robotic locomotion experiments on different flooring surfaces using the various rubber materials. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing the safety and performance of prosthetic feet.

(1) Background and Methods: This study evaluated characteristics of South Korean patients necessitating home-based primary care (HBPC) from 2018 to 2022, distinguishing between homebound individuals with chronic conditions and those with registered disabilities. (2) Result: Among 171 HBPC recipients, 56.1% were homebound, predominantly older with a median age of 81 years (interquartile range (IQR 68.5–86.0)), while 43.9% were disabled, generally younger with a median age of 39 years (IQR, 28–64). Activities of daily living were assessed, revealing a median score of 14 (IQR, 10–19), indicative of high care dependency. The most common conditions among homebound patients were dementia (27.1%) and physical mobility difficulties (21.9%), whereas mental disabilities (53.3%) and mobility issues (36.0%) prevailed in disabled patients. The primary HBPC needs for homebound patients included management of acute medical conditions (27.1%) and sores (17.7%). Conversely, regular health check-ups (46.7%) and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (26.7%) were prevalent among the disabled group. (3) Conclusion: Notably, over 90% of HBPC patients required assistance with daily activities, highlighting significant differences in the needs and characteristics between older, homebound individuals with multiple comorbidities and younger, disabled patients receiving medical aid. These insights emphasize the necessity to develop customized HBPC programs to adequately cater to the diverse patient needs within South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with disabilities are marginalised in mainstream culture and they also experience increased restrictions in a variety of areas, such as sport. The barriers they encounter may adversely affect their life satisfaction, especially if they have a low perceived sense of autonomy and resilience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between autonomy, resilience and life satisfaction in para-badminton athletes and the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between autonomy and life satisfaction. Methods: Data were collected from 137 para-badminton athletes (male: 65.0% and female: 35.0%). Self-reported measures were used to assess the participants' autonomy, resilience and life satisfaction levels. Results: A structural equation model analysis was performed; the model had sufficient fit indices (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.94, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.06, standardised root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.07). The findings showed that autonomy had a significant effect on resilience (β = 0.32, P = 0.001). Further, resilience had a significant effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.19, P = 0.011) and significantly mediated the effect of autonomy on life satisfaction (β = 021, P = 0.033). Conclusion: This study revealed that autonomy fosters resilience among athletes, in turn allowing them to achieve greater life satisfaction. Therefore, society and sport communities should actively seek ways to improve the autonomy and resilience levels of athletes with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaving no one behind is the main slogan of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is easier to say than to achieve this slogan as marginalized groups are often left behind due to multiple barries and challenges i.e. geographical area, ethinicity, sex, socio-economic status and historical background. Through community programmes conducted by All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM-SDG), leaving no one behind is possible yet challenging. This article examines the impacts of twenty-three (23) APPGM-SDG programs in Perlis and Kedah. Data was collected through content analysis from solution providers' proposal and reports, focus group discussions (FGD) and site visit. The findings indicate that 20 out of 23 programs delivered an impactful programs in four (4) domains-improvement in knowledge and motivation, the skills, networking and system. An important aspect of the program is that integrating of TVET into community programs is proving to be an important component in ensuring sustainable development and truly leaving no one behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 disrupted all aspects of society, and student transitions to higher education were not protected from this impact. The pandemic extended health, economic, social, and educational inequalities across the UK, and we experienced considerable impact across the learning ecosystem. As we aim to support all learners into, through and beyond the university experience, it is essential to look at applicants’ intentions to study through this contextual lens, and to consider the impact of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis alongside other key learning and life experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The four narratives that follow bring together the stories from the lived experiences of a postgraduate blind maths student, her tutor, her transcriber and a learning technologist over the course of five years. It provides an insight into what is needed to help one student with their own way of learning maths. It also demonstrates how pulling at one thread can help to unravel and reveal the many lenses through which accessible maths needs to be approached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Table tennis is a sport that is enjoyed by many, including those with physical and intellectual disabilities. This scoping review summarised the current test protocols for assessing table tennis technical proficiency in individuals with disabilities. Relevant articles were searched through four databases (Scopus, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) covering three key aspects: disability, table tennis, and technical proficiency. The search resulted in 14 studies included for data extraction, covering physical impairments, intellectual disability, and development coordination disorder. Almost all studies (93%) were conducted on well-trained para-table tennis athletes competing in high-level competitions. There exist protocols to assess service accuracy and stroke accuracy, hand–eye coordination, quality of specific skills and ball control, functional reach, and trunk rotation. The forehand topspin and backhand topspin drives were tested the most. Table tennis robots and video cameras are the common equipment used. Moving forward, future research should develop technical proficiency tests for players across all competency levels. The skill assessment criteria and scoring methods should be standardised and clearly explained. The validity and reliability of tests should be established. Lastly, there is great potential in using artificial intelligence to enhance the assessment of table tennis proficiency in individuals with disabilities.

Introduction: Doctors with disability are likely to face major life crises, challenges and distressing emotions from unforeseen circumstances that threaten their physical well-being. We aimed to identify the existence of work-related pain and discomfort that may cause surgeon's disability. Surgeons who were struck with unpredictable disasters leading to disabilities were also reviewed., Methods: We conducted a 10-year literature review. In addition, citations about surgeons' physical disabilities were complemented with commentaries about disabled surgeons from gray literature. The quantitative citations were quality assessed by MERSQI scores and evidence graded according to GRADE. For the qualitative study part, the severely traumatized surgeons were analysed by means of Cullberg's crisis phases (CCP) and analysed from Tedeschi and Calhoun's post-traumatic growth perspective (PTG)., Results: Altogether 3593 citations from PubMed were studied, and 10 citations met inclusion criteria with a total of 11591 participants. We included 6 surgeons subjected to highly traumatic events complicating their medical career. Our quantitative citations' mean MERSQI score was 11.73 (SD .79) and the citations' evidence value completed grade II (moderate quality: 11.26 to 12.00 scores). Work-related musculoskeletal pain and occupational injuries may lead to physical disabilities. The accidentally traumatized surgeons fought through the four CCP phases and reached successfully the PTG stage., Conclusions: The surgical workforce is at high risk of work-related musculoskeletal morbidity which can progress to chronic pain and disruption of surgeon's career. Surgeons with disabilities faced serious barriers in their career. Institutions and healthcare systems must urgently develop support strategies for surgeons with disabilities.

Background: Oral candidiasis (OC) is an oral health disease that could influence patients' oral health quality of life., Aim: To estimate prevalence of OC among disabled and non-disabled individuals and its potential risk factors in the Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia., Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out among 148 disabled and non-disabled participants. The technique of concentrated oral rinse employing the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium accompanied with 0.05% chloramphenicol was conducted to assess and isolate candida . Oral examination using the World Health Organization guidelines was conducted to examine participants' oral health status. A pre-designed questionnaire was also used to evaluate sociodemographic, medical history, and oral hygiene habits of the studied population., Results: Out of 148 participants ( n = 57, 38%) had colonized candida . None of the studied population had visible Candida lesions. However, Candida was found in the oral rinses without the subject presenting any lesions or issues caused by Candida (asymptomatic colonization). The most common prevalent OC among participants were Candida albicans , Candida glabrata , Candida dubliniensis , Candida krusei , Candida tropicalis , and Candida parapsilosis ( n = 35, 61%; n = 8, 14%; n = 6, 10%; n = 5, 9%; n = 2, 4%; and n = 1, 2%) respectively. Diabetes, smoking, poor plaque, and gingival status were key potential risk factors that significantly associated with candida 's density and presence ( P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.01, and P = 0.01) respectively. Disability status had no statistically significant effect on presence and density of Candida ., Conclusion: The prevalence of OC is almost third of the studied population; thus, may provoke a need to develop preventive strategies to reduce the OC rate and establish solid treatment plans., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The relationship between coaches and athletes with disabilities is critical for enhancing athletes' performance and psychosocial well-being. This study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for coaches, sports organizations, and policymakers dedicated to supporting athletes with disabilities., Methods: A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted. Five databases were searched, including PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. A total of 22 studies were included for thematic analysis., Results: This systematic review identifies key factors influencing the coach-athlete relationship in disabled sports. These factors are categorized into three main domains: professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. In the professional domain, effective coaching requires sport-specific skills and adaptive techniques tailored to the unique needs of athletes with disabilities. Coaches must understand the technical and tactical aspects of each parasport and adapt training plans to optimize performance and foster independence. The interpersonal domain emphasizes communication strategies and team-building practices. Effective communication involves understanding athletes' needs and adapting approaches to maximize strengths. Building rapport, managing conflict, and fostering a supportive team environment are crucial for maintaining a positive coach-athlete relationship. The intrapersonal domain highlights the importance of self-reflection and continuous learning. Coaches who engage in self-reflection and professional development better understand their behaviors and biases, enabling them to tailor coaching strategies to the specific needs of athletes with disabilities. Continuous learning is essential for remaining responsive to the evolving needs of these athletes., Discussion: This review underscores the importance of a holistic approach that integrates professional expertise, interpersonal skills, and intrapersonal awareness. By addressing these factors, it provides a foundation for developing more effective coaching strategies and supports for athletes with disabilities, ultimately enhancing their performance and well-being. Future research should explore cultural differences, the specific coaching needs of athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the impact of policies and structural barriers on the coach-athlete relationship in disabled sports., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (© 2024 Liu, Yu, Bleakney and Jan.)

Interaction and communication for normal human beings are easier than for a person with disabilities like speaking and hearing who may face communication problems with other people. Sign Language helps reduce this communication gap between a normal and disabled person. The prior solutions proposed using several deep learning techniques, such as Convolutional Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and K-Nearest Neighbors, have either demonstrated low accuracy or have not been implemented as real-time working systems. This system addresses both issues effectively. This work extends the difficulties faced while classifying the characters in Indian Sign Language(ISL). It can identify a total of 23 hand poses of the ISL. The system uses a pre-trained VGG16 Convolution Neural Network(CNN) with an attention mechanism. The model's training uses the Adam optimizer and cross-entropy loss function. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of transfer learning for ISL classification, achieving an accuracy of 97.5 % with VGG16 and 99.8 % with VGG16 plus attention mechanism.•Enabling quick and accurate sign language recognition with the help of trained model VGG16 with an attention mechanism.•The system does not require any external gloves or sensors, which helps to eliminate the need for physical sensors while simplifying the process with reduced costs.•Real-time processing makes the system more helpful for people with speaking and hearing disabilities, making it easier for them to communicate with other humans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: Although malnutrition has been shown to influence the clinical outcome of poststroke disabled patients, the associated factors and the prediction model have yet to be uncovered., Objectives: This study aims to assess the current prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition in poststroke disabled patients and establish a prediction model., Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional survey among Chinese poststroke disabled patients (≥18 y old) was conducted in 2021. Information on patients' basic data, medical history, Barthel Index, dysphagia, and nutritional status was collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that influence malnutrition. Nomogram was developed and internal validation was conducted using 5-fold cross-validation. External validation was performed using the data from a preliminary survey. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to analyze the predictive value of the nomogram., Results: Four hundred fifty-seven cases were enrolled, with the prevalence of malnutrition as 71.77%. Age (aOR = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.006-1.078), pulmonary infection (aOR = 4.301, 95% CI: 2.268-14.464), dysphagia (aOR = 24.605, 95% CI: 4.966-191.058), total intake volume (aOR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995-0.999), Barthel Index (aOR = 0.965, 95% CI: 0.951-0.980), and nasogastric tube (aOR = 16.529, 95% CI: 7.418-52.518) as nutrition support mode (compared to oral intake) were identified as the associated factors of malnutrition in stroke-disabled patients (P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for nomogram was 0.854 (95% CI: 0.816-0.892). Fivefold cross-validation showed the mean AUC as 0.829 (95% CI: 0.784-0.873). There were no significant differences between predicted and actual probabilities. The DCA revealed that the model exhibited a net benefit when the risk threshold was between 0 and 0.4., Conclusions: Age, pulmonary infection, dysphagia, nutrition support mode, total intake volume, and Barthel Index were factors associated with malnutrition in stroke-related disabled patients. The nomogram based on the result exhibited good accuracy, consistency and values., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Zeng Xi reports financial support was provided by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Zeng Xi reports a relationship with The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University that includes: employment. Cai Ang reports a relationship with The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University that includes: employment. Zeng Hongji reports a relationship with Zhengzhou University that includes: employment. Wu Junfa reports a relationship with Huashan Hospital Fudan University that includes: employment. Ding Yu reports a relationship with Chinese PLA General Hospital that includes: employment. Zhao Weijia reports a relationship with Zhengzhou University that includes: employment. Zeng Xi has patent #CN109172380A with royalties paid to CN109172380A. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is part of the Family of International Classifications of the World Health Organization (WHO) and acts as a tool for describing and organizing information about the functioning and disability of people with and without disabilities, providing a language standard. Marajó is a region with infrastructure peculiarities and disabled people who face very specific and little-known challenges there. Classify the mobility of people with physical disabilities in the Marajó archipelago according to the ICF. Cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, referring to the activity profile of physical PCD residents in the municipalities of Marajó. The subjects were selected by convenience through the dissemination of the action in Basic Health Units visited by the group of the "Abrace o Marajó'' Project between August 2021 and January 2022. The participants underwent a structured interview where they answered an adapted checklist, based on the ICF biopsychosocial model, which provides a standardized language. The ICF data used are related to the "activity and participation" domains, with a focus on mobility. The study included 51 physically disabled persons, with a predominance of age between 40 and 59 years (39.22%), men (54.90%), browns/mulattoes (62.75%). Most respondents had mobility problems, with 88.24% having difficulty walking (d450), 84.31% having difficulty lifting and carrying objects (d430), 78.43% having difficulty using transportation (d470), 64.71% using some locomotion device (d465), and 41.18% with impaired fine use of the hands (d440). These data suggest that the mobility deficit combined with the lack of accessibility may be one of the factors that most interfere with the lives of these participants, as it limits and/or restricts their participation in daily activities. Disabled persons residing in Marajó have several limitations and/or restrictions on participation in day-to-day activities related to lack of mobility, the main limitations are those with the highest percentages, that is, walking, lifting, and carrying objects, and using means of transport. In this regard, it is vital to adopt public policies aimed at improving the infrastructure of streets and sidewalks in order to facilitate access for this population, thus promoting an increase in the level of activity and participation. This study can contribute to the visibility of the needs of disabled persons who live in Marajó and the implementation of public policies to assist this population, as well as to understand their main difficulties and what accessibility measures can bring more autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Apple Watch (AW) Series 1 provides energy expenditure (EE) for wheelchair users but was found to be inaccurate with an error of approximately 30%, and the corresponding error for heart rate (HR) provided by the Fitbit Charge 2 was approximately 10% to 20%. Improved accuracy of estimated EE and HR is expected with newer editions of these smart watches (SWs)., Objective: This study aims to assess the accuracy of the AW Series 4 (wheelchair-specific setting) and the Fitbit Versa (treadmill running mode) for estimating EE and HR during wheelchair propulsion at different intensities., Methods: Data from 20 manual wheelchair users (male: n=11, female: n=9; body mass: mean 75, SD 19 kg) and 20 people without a disability (male: n=11, female: n=9; body mass: mean 75, SD 11 kg) were included. Three 4-minute wheelchair propulsion stages at increasing speed were performed on 3 separate test days (0.5%, 2.5%, or 5% incline), while EE and HR were collected by criterion devices and the AW or Fitbit. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was used to indicate the absolute agreement between the criterion device and SWs for EE and HR. Additionally, linear mixed model analyses assessed the effect of exercise intensity, sex, and group on the SW error. Interclass correlation coefficients were used to assess relative agreement between criterion devices and SWs., Results: The AW underestimated EE with MAPEs of 29.2% (SD 22%) in wheelchair users and 30% (SD 12%) in people without a disability. The Fitbit overestimated EE with MAPEs of 73.9% (SD 7%) in wheelchair users and 44.7% (SD 38%) in people without a disability. Both SWs underestimated HR. The device error for EE and HR increased with intensity for both SWs (all comparisons: P<.001), and the only significant difference between groups was found for HR in the AW (-5.27 beats/min for wheelchair users; P=.02). There was a significant effect of sex on the estimation error in EE, with worse accuracy for the AW (-0.69 kcal/min; P<.001) and better accuracy for the Fitbit (-2.08 kcal/min; P<.001) in female participants. For HR, sex differences were found only for the AW, with a smaller error in female participants (5.23 beats/min; P=.02). Interclass correlation coefficients showed poor to moderate relative agreement for both SWs apart from 2 stage-incline combinations (AW: 0.12-0.57 for EE and 0.11-0.86 for HR; Fitbit: 0.06-0.85 for EE and 0.03-0.29 for HR)., Conclusions: Neither the AW nor Fitbit were sufficiently accurate for estimating EE or HR during wheelchair propulsion. The AW underestimated EE and the Fitbit overestimated EE, and both SWs underestimated HR. Caution is hence required when using SWs as a tool for training intensity regulation and energy balance or imbalance in wheelchair users., (©Marius Lyng Danielsson, Melanie Vergeer, Guy Plasqui, Julia Kathrin Baumgart. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 07.05.2024.)

The aim of this scoping review was to gather, summarize, and map the knowledge of peoples' experiences on humanoid robots, capable of assisting people with activities of daily living. The review was guided by the framework of Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. We found 44 papers describing nine robots that could assist with a variety of tasks listed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The mixed population experienced little or no anxiety toward the robots, and most accepted the robots' ability to monitor for safety reasons. Some participants disliked the robots' large size and slow movements. Most of the participants found the robots easy to use. They wanted improvements in the robots' functionality and the ability to personalize services. Several of the participants found the services interesting and useful, but not for themselves. The experiences of humanoid robotic assistance showed an insufficient level of technical readiness for assisting in physical assistance, a lack of personalization and readiness for use in home settings. The practical relevance of these findings lies in guiding future research and development toward a more individualized approach focusing on user needs and experiences to enhance the efficacy and integration of humanoid robots in health-care.