e10 Abstracts / Disability and Health Journal 2 (2009) e1ee15

companionship and encouragement/praise from others were perceived as key

facilitators. Preference for unhealthy foods, frequent fast food dining, and

difficulty controlling overeating were seen as major barriers to healthy

eating among PWID; facilitators included encouragement for healthy

choices and a supportive social network. DSPs endorsed similar facilitators

for their own behavior change (i.e., encouragement and a network of like-

minded others), but tended to frame their barriers externally (e.g., culture/

food traditions, competing time demands). DSPs reported promoting

healthy behaviors among PWID by serving as role models, setting up buddy

systems, and providing encouragement and reminders for healthy choices.

DSPs emphasized social support strategies as powerful, universal facilitators

for health behavior change. DSPs were interested in future participatory

health promotion research efforts for themselves and the people they

support. Inclusion of DSPs in health promotion interventions for PWID

holds promise for the adoption and maintenance of physical activity and

healthy eating behaviors in both groups.

Racial Ethnic Disparities in Establishing Usual Source of Care

among Young Adults With and Without Disabilities, Age 14-28

Janet Valluzzi, MBA, OTR/L, Center for Birth Defects and Developmental

Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Scott Grosse, PhD, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental

Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Using data from the 2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, this session

provides a profile of young adults with and without a disability, ages 14-28,

stratified by racial/ethnic group. It focuses on racial/ethnic disparities with

respect to having a usual source of care. With disability characterized by an

activity, sensory, or social role limitation, findings indicate about 9.2% (95%

C.I. 8.2 e 10.3) of all young adults 14-28 years old are reported as having

a disability. Estimates of young adults with a disability across identified

racial/ethnic groups are: 1) White, non-Hispanic 10.0% (95% C.I. 8.7 e

11.6); 2) Black, non-Hispanic 8.5% (95% C.I. 6.6 e 10.8); Other, non-

Hispanic 10.0% (95% C.I. 6.7 e 14.8) and Hispanic 6.6 (95% C.I. 5.3 e

8.3). The estimate for Hispanic young adults with disabilities differs by

reported language spoken in the home: 1) English 8.5% (95% C.I. 6.2 e

11.5) and 2) Other language 5.0% (C.I. 3.6 e 6.8). Significant differences

in reported poor health and poor mental health status for young adults

with and without a disability were found for each identified racial/ethnic

groups.

Young adults with and without a disability are equally likely to not have

a usual source of care. The top three reasons cited not having a usual source

of care are: young adult is seldom sick, cost of care, and a recent move. As

the United States becomes increasingly diverse, policies and programs may

address specific needs of young adults of various racial and ethnic

backgrounds to support their use of a usual source of care.

Academic Barriers of College Students Diagnosed with Autoimmune

Related Disabilities

Lauren E. Boyle, MS, CHES, Department of Applied Health Science,

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Nancy T. Ellis, HSD, MPH, Department of Applied Health Science,

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Academic Barriers of College

Students Diagnosed with Autoimmune Related Disabilities

A preliminary study was conducted to identify barriers to academic

success of college students at a Big Ten University who have been

diagnosed with autoimmune diseases (recognized by 1990 Americans with

Disabilities Act). An eight, open-ended item instrument was developed,

jury validated and administered to six focus groups (November 2007 to

January 2008). Subjects were recruited via newspaper ads, Facebook,

fliers, classrooms, and Oncourse. Data were analyzed qualitatively and

using descriptive statistics. Eighteen participants represented 11

autoimmune diseases (Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus,

rheumatoid arthritis, etc). Fifteen students (83.3%) did not register with

the University Disabilities Services Office. Over two thirds (66.7%) stated

stress was their major trigger to flare-ups and identified 12 personal,

physical, psychological, and environmental barriers to class arrival and

class attendance. Nine (50%) reported eight physical and cognitive

difficulties during class. Thirteen (72.2%) reported their physical and

emotional needs and academic goals were compromised. Eight (44.4%)

reported professors were not understanding of their disorder. Related pain/

fatigue affected class presence, assignments, and exams. Sixteen (88.9%)

wanted a student organization for peer and academic support. A campus

wide study is recommended in collaboration with the University

Disabilities Services Office to identify students with autoimmune diseases

who are not using their services, and to formally assess disability-related

impairments to academic success and quality of college life. For this

purpose a 50 item structured response survey instrument was developed

and planned for university-wide implementation in Fall 2008.

Impact of family, income assistance and return to work programs on

ADLs and employment for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

(SCI): A household decision model

Walter Jones, PhD, Department of Health Administration and Policy,

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Clara Elizabeth Dismuke, PhD, Department of Health Administration and

Policy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

James S. Krause, PhD, College of Health Professions, Medical University

of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

The employment and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) status of

individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are critically important for

themselves, their families, and their communities. SCI can be devastating,

with low employment and family support levels for disabled individuals

leading to high poverty rates and major requirements for income

assistance from government programs such as SSI, SSDI, Medicare and

Medicaid. Return to work programs have only had limited effectiveness

in increasing employment and improving the status of the disabled,

including those with SCI. However, previous studies of employment and

income of individuals with SCI have used cross-sectional data, and have

not considered how changes in relevant variables can affect both

employment and household income over time. The current research is

based on a model of household production and decision making. It

examines how changes in household demographics (acquiring or losing

a spouse, and arrival or departure of children), the acquisition of

education and training, and changes in the need for assistance with ADLs

are related to employment prospects and household income of SCI

individuals over time. To test the model, the researchers use well-

established and validated data from longitudinal surveys of 1,530 SCI

individuals in the Southeastern and Midwestern U.S. The results will

provide us with a much better understanding of how SCI individuals, and

their households, make decisions regarding employment and household

income post-injury, and will help policymakers develop more effective

public programs to assist SCI-disabled individuals and their families.

Spinal cord injury research in the news media: Trends and shifting

foci

Matthew Kehn, BA, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC

Thilo Kroll, PhD, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Dundee,

Dundee, United Kingdom

Objective: To document representational shifts of spinal cord injury/disease

(SCI/D) research in the media over the past decade.

Background: In recent years, embryonic stem-cell research has catapulted

into the political spotlight, partially strengthened by the advocacy of