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Disability has traditionally posed a significant barrier for millions of individuals who are unable to benefit from current technologies such as digital interfaces, the internet, and personal computers. Nowadays, developments in information communication and technology (ICT) are transforming the way we handle and interact with our environment, making it easier and more convenient. However, individuals with disabilities face numerous restrictions and challenges, hindering their full involvement and access to the devices. This paper proposes an efficient and trusted communication mechanism that utilizes knowledge factors and friendship similarity schemes to improve the accessibility and accuracy of information transmission in a networked environment for disabled people. The proposed mechanism ensures the involvement of trusted devices in the network for accuracy and immediate decisions for disabled individual. The proposed approach is validated and compared to existing methods using various security metrics, including social trust, objective trust, experienced trust, and recommended trust. Through this research, we aim to address the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities to benefit from modern technological advancements.

This study investigated the experiences of people with disabilities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted individually with 13 participants between May 2020 and February 2021. The data were thematically analyzed. Three themes were identified: (1) “Being an active agent in changing how things are done in the face of COVID restrictions”, revealed changes that participants made to their daily routines resulting from government-imposed and self-imposed restrictions; (2) “Pandemic restrictions wreak havoc”, explained participants challenges with adapting to the restrictions; and (3) “Trying to be resilient in the face of pandemic changes” described participants’ efforts to cope with life during the pandemic. The findings illustrate how life changed for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Participants reported specific types of challenges at each time point. As the vaccine rollout became more imminent, participants expressed more hope for the future and getting back to normal.

Disability has traditionally posed a significant barrier for millions of individuals who are unable to benefit from current technologies such as digital interfaces, the internet, and personal computers. Nowadays, developments in information communication and technology (ICT) are transforming the way we handle and interact with our environment, making it easier and more convenient. However, individuals with disabilities face numerous restrictions and challenges, hindering their full involvement and access to the devices. This paper proposes an efficient and trusted communication mechanism that utilizes knowledge factors and friendship similarity schemes to improve the accessibility and accuracy of information transmission in a networked environment for disabled people. The proposed mechanism ensures the involvement of trusted devices in the network for accuracy and immediate decisions for disabled individual. The proposed approach is validated and compared to existing methods using various security metrics, including social trust, objective trust, experienced trust, and recommended trust. Through this research, we aim to address the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities to benefit from modern technological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the experiences of people with disabilities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted individually with 13 participants between May 2020 and February 2021. The data were thematically analyzed. Three themes were identified: (1) "Being an active agent in changing how things are done in the face of COVID restrictions", revealed changes that participants made to their daily routines resulting from government-imposed and self-imposed restrictions; (2) "Pandemic restrictions wreak havoc", explained participants challenges with adapting to the restrictions; and (3) "Trying to be resilient in the face of pandemic changes" described participants' efforts to cope with life during the pandemic. The findings illustrate how life changed for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Participants reported specific types of challenges at each time point. As the vaccine rollout became more imminent, participants expressed more hope for the future and getting back to normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Even though informal caregivers have always been a major element within any society, their contribution to the healthcare system has only recently been recognized. Accordingly, the sustainability of their informal social role is becoming a major concern to policymakers. In Saudi Arabia, recognition of informal caregiving is still limited. This study was carried out to investigate the experience of caregiving in informal settings through identifying the needs of the caregivers along with their expectations of the formal system. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the experience of Saudi informal caregivers who were caring for at least one individual with a dependency resulting from either disability, aging, or both. A self-administered questionnaire was designed specifically for this study with 88% reliability. A convenient sample of 300 caregivers was invited electronically through 14 websites supporting families with dependent individuals. Results Of the eligible participants (n = 271), about two-thirds were caring for one elderly person or more, while one-third were caring for individual(s) with disabilities. The two groups did not differ in their needs; their greatest perceived needs were necessary equipment for care recipients, free time to socialize, alternative care setting, and proper income. Overall, the needs on the system level were the highest, followed by the needs on the financial level, then on the social level. On the other hand, the caregivers of individuals with disabilities had greater expectations of formal support than caregivers of the elderly. The greatest expectation among the participants was facilitating care recipients’ mobility within their communities. Overall, the expectations of information support were the highest followed by the expectations of financial support and then material support. Conclusion The participants expressed great expectations of formal support along with some unmet needs. Further research is recommended to emphasize the role of primary caregivers along with the nature of the assistance received throughout the caregiving process. The needs of individuals with dependencies along with those of the caregivers must be considered in the planning process of healthcare services. Finally, the expectations of informal caregivers should lead the priorities of the development decisions of long-term care services.

Background: Even though informal caregivers have always been a major element within any society, their contribution to the healthcare system has only recently been recognized. Accordingly, the sustainability of their informal social role is becoming a major concern to policymakers. In Saudi Arabia, recognition of informal caregiving is still limited. This study was carried out to investigate the experience of caregiving in informal settings through identifying the needs of the caregivers along with their expectations of the formal system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the experience of Saudi informal caregivers who were caring for at least one individual with a dependency resulting from either disability, aging, or both. A self-administered questionnaire was designed specifically for this study with 88% reliability. A convenient sample of 300 caregivers was invited electronically through 14 websites supporting families with dependent individuals. Results: Of the eligible participants (n = 271), about two-thirds were caring for one elderly person or more, while one-third were caring for individual(s) with disabilities. The two groups did not differ in their needs; their greatest perceived needs were necessary equipment for care recipients, free time to socialize, alternative care setting, and proper income. Overall, the needs on the system level were the highest, followed by the needs on the financial level, then on the social level. On the other hand, the caregivers of individuals with disabilities had greater expectations of formal support than caregivers of the elderly. The greatest expectation among the participants was facilitating care recipients' mobility within their communities. Overall, the expectations of information support were the highest followed by the expectations of financial support and then material support. Conclusion: The participants expressed great expectations of formal support along with some unmet needs. Further research is recommended to emphasize the role of primary caregivers along with the nature of the assistance received throughout the caregiving process. The needs of individuals with dependencies along with those of the caregivers must be considered in the planning process of healthcare services. Finally, the expectations of informal caregivers should lead the priorities of the development decisions of long-term care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Individuals with disabilities (IWD) have a higher risk of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) either in childhood or adulthood, increasing the risk of suicide attempts, mental disorders, and substance use disorder. The aim of this study was to explore the association between substance use, psychiatric symptoms and suicidal behavior with PTEs. A Multisite cross-sectional study was conducted. Materials and methods: The sample includes 1,098 participants with any type of disability (motor, intellectual, visual, and mixed) located in Mexico City. Traumatic events, violence, discrimination, addictive disorders, and psychiatric disorders were examined. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. Data was collected between September--October 2014. Results: People with motor or visual disability have a higher prevalence in nicotine use disorder (NUD), generalize anxiety disorder (GAD), mayor depression disorder (MDD), want to be dead, and lifetime suicide attempts. Intellectual disability group only presents GAD and MDD. All disability groups have a high prevalence of PTEs. Verbal violence in childhood, sexual abuse, discrimination and serious accidents had a strong impact in the development of NUD, psychiatric symptoms and suicidal behavior. Conclusion: These findings show the relevance of develop specific tools for detection, referral and treatment, in order to improve the mental health of people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/ObjectivesIndividuals with disabilities (IWD) have a higher risk of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) either in childhood or adulthood, increasing the risk of suicide attempts, mental disorders, and substance use disorder. The aim of this study was to explore the association between substance use, psychiatric symptoms and suicidal behavior with PTEs. A Multisite cross-sectional study was conducted.Materials and methodsThe sample includes 1,098 participants with any type of disability (motor, intellectual, visual, and mixed) located in Mexico City. Traumatic events, violence, discrimination, addictive disorders, and psychiatric disorders were examined. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. Data was collected between September–October 2014.ResultsPeople with motor or visual disability have a higher prevalence in nicotine use disorder (NUD), generalize anxiety disorder (GAD), mayor depression disorder (MDD), want to be dead, and lifetime suicide attempts. Intellectual disability group only presents GAD and MDD. All disability groups have a high prevalence of PTEs. Verbal violence in childhood, sexual abuse, discrimination and serious accidents had a strong impact in the development of NUD, psychiatric symptoms and suicidal behavior.ConclusionThese findings show the relevance of develop specific tools for detection, referral and treatment, in order to improve the mental health of people with disabilities.

This study analyzes how the policies and practices of personnel management directed at individuals with disabilities in João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, are configured concerning their insertion and inclusion into the labor market. For such, a quantitative research of descriptive character was conducted using the survey method. The research was developed with individuals, with and without disabilities, who worked and resided in João Pessoa. In total, 90 individuals partook of the study, 45 of which presented disability while the other 45 presented none. The questionnaire was applied in person and made available on the internet by means of the Google Docs system. Data analysis was done using SPSS, consisting of a factorial and descriptive analyses, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and non-parametric tests Kruskal-Wallis and median. The results demonstrated that, despite the individuals with disabilities perceiving an evolution of personnel management policies and practices applied by the organizations regarding the manner of capturing, accepting and coexisting with individuals with disabilities, they are not yet enough to assure their effective inclusion in the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was evaluation of quality of life according to the level of physical activity be­tween two groups of wheelchair basketball players. We included 34 individuals divided into the two groups according to the level of physical activity during the week. Individuals in the first group had trainings two times per week (16 individuals) and in the second group had trainings three to six times per week (18 individuals). Differences between these two groups were measured in quality of life and level of physical activity. Results of discriminative analysis have shown that there is statistically sig­nificant difference in quality of life, and results of Student t-test have shown that there is also statis­tically significant difference in level of physical activity as well as total quality of life. Individuals, who were active three to six times per week according to the schedule, had better results in all variables of the quality of life.

The article discusses the ways to mitigate the barriers in addressing the health and mental health-related disabilities of American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Topics covered include the strength-based perspective, the higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy of AI/AN peoples, and substance abuse disorders.

The aim of the study was evaluation of quality of life according to the level of physical activity between two groups of wheelchair basketball players. We included 34 individuals divided into the two groups according to the level of physical activity during the week. Individuals in the first group had trainings two times per week (16 individuals) and in the second group had trainings three to six times per week (18 individuals). Differences between these two groups were measured in quality of life and level of physical activity. Results of discriminative analysis have shown that there is statistically significant difference in quality of life, and results of Student t-test have shown that there is also statistically significant difference in level of physical activity as well as total quality of life. Individuals, who were active three to six times per week according to the schedule, had better results in all variables of the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between unemployment and poor health outcomes, such as depression, is well documented. Numerous studies show that levels of unemployment and depressive disorders are disproportionately high among individuals with disabilities compared to those without disabilities. However, very little has been done to examine the association between employment and depressive disorder symptoms among individuals with disabilities. The present study, evaluates the association between depressive disorder symptoms and unemployment taking onto account gender and ethnicity among working age individuals with disabilities in the general population. The study utiiizes data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results showed that unemployment among individuals with disabilities is not only high, but there were significant gender and ethnic differences. Significant gender and ethnic differences were also found in reports of depressive disorder symptoms. After adjustments for potential confounders were made, unemployment was significantly predictor of depressive disorder symptoms for women from all ethnicities. While among men unemployment significantly predicted depressive disorders among White and Black men. There is need for effective and targeted public policy programs to increase employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities especially minorities and women. Vocational rehabilitation counselors need to assess individuals with disabilities for depressive disorder symptoms and offer appropriate treatment/referral where necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knechtle, B. & Lepers, R. (2013). Wheelchair half-marathon and marathon performance - the 'Oita International Wheelchair Marathon' 1983-2011. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 8(4), pp.974-985. We compared participation and performance trends of individuals with disabilities competing in the half- and full-marathon in the 'Oita International Wheelchair Marathon' from 1981 to 2011. The performance times decreased during the 1980's until the middle 1990's and stabilized thereafter for both half-marathoners and marathoners. The mean top five overall finishers times were 0:52±0:07 h:min for half-marathoners and 1:36 ±0:11 h:min for marathoners, respectively. The mean age of the finishers increased significantly (p < 0.01) by 0.51 year per annum for the half-marathoners and by 0.62 year per annum for the marathoners, respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.001) age effect on time performance for both distances. The best time performance was observed for the age comprised between 16 and 54 years for half-marathoners, and between 25 and 49 years for marathoners, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]