Last March, the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Family Support at the University of Illinois in Chicago (H133B140046) and the Easter Seals gave the Disability Community the opportunity to be a part of a dialogue in English and Spanish on what members of the community think family support researchers should investigate. The dialogue is called Family Support: Tell Us What We Need to Know and, although the online portion of the dialogue is closed, those who wish to be a part of the conversation can still participate by phone or by pen and paper until May 31st, 2015.
Topics can include healthcare; the financial, spiritual, or emotional aspects of being a family caregiver; transportation; day to day concerns about providing assistance or care; or education. To participate, you can submit your topic by calling 844/781-4158 and leaving a message. Or you can download the form, fill it out, and send it to FSRTC c/o Dr. Sandy Magana, 1640 W. Roosevelt Road, M/C626, Chicago, IL 60608. You can also scan your form and email it to mmoral29@uic.edu. You can also participate by letting your network know about the dialogue on social media by using the hashtags #FSNeedtoknow and #AFDíganos (Spanish) and friend Easter Seals on Facebook to follow news and updates on the dialogue.
Is your organization holding an event or meeting where family caregivers will be participating? Consider a discussion of where family support research is most needed. Print a few copies to collect your organization’s ideas and help steer the future of this important research.
If you would like more information, please contact the RRTC on Family Support by calling toll free 844/781-4158, visiting the Family Support website at fsrtc.ahslabs.uic.edu, or sending an email to dialogue@easterseals.com.