Areas of
Research
The Hattie Larlham Research
Institute (HLRI) is committed to helping
provide the best overall care for the individuals
we serve. Thus, research projects are both
currently ongoing and consistently being
explored in many different areas that affect
the lives of children with disabilities.
Examples of current project areas include
clinical care, psychosocial issues, allied
therapy and assistive technology. The HLRI
has worked with local and national hospitals
and universities. We will continue to collaborate
with a variety of entities in the future
to ensure issues being researched have the
resources necessary to achieve success.
Clinical Care:
The fragile medical conditions
of many residents at Hattie Larlham have
inspired research into the clinical care
of medically fragile individuals. The Hattie
Larlham Research Institute is committed
to working with local and national institutions
to determine the best clinical care for
the individuals we serve as well as others
for whom our finding might apply. HLRI has
worked with University Hospitals of Cleveland
on a project that could have profound effects
on the antibiotics individuals with certain
medical conditions are given. Clinical care
is an aspect of daily life for many individuals
with disabilities, thus HLRI will continue
research to optimize the care our individuals
receive.
Allied Therapy:
The individuals residing
at Hattie Larlham receive physical therapy,
occupational therapy and speech/language
therapy on a regular basis. These therapies
are necessary for the health and well being
of the individual and the Hattie Larlham
Research Institute is committed to determining
the efficacy of these therapies on individuals
with disabilities and to promoting best
practices in allied therapies.
Hattie Larlham Research
Institute has worked with students and faculty
at Kent State University and the University
of Akron to provide a setting for students
to perform clinical training. These partnerships
have also resulted in student-conducted
research projects on assistive technology
planning as well as intentionality of communication.
Hattie Larlham also provides the opportunity
for local, physical and occupational therapy
students to gain clinical experience and,
in the future, will begin to focus more
on researching the effects of different
therapy techniques.
Assistive Technology:
Assistive Technology refers
to any device that is used to maintain,
increase or improve the functional capabilities
of individuals with disabilities. With that
in mind, the Hattie Larlham Research Institute
has developed an assistive technology program
focusing on enabling access to a variety
of objects and experiences through switch
usage, computer access and communication.
Switches and individually designed switch
programs have allowed individuals to participate
in activities by independently activating
devices they otherwise could not control.
Some examples of these devices include toys,
kitchen aids, CD players/radios and many
other every day devices. Through the use
of the computer, individuals have been able
to complete computer games, begin to learn
the basics of communication and, for the
first time, independently create art projects.
Communication devices range from simple
to complex and allow each individual to
communicate at a level they feel comfortable,
whether that is simple, single phrase communication,
or conversational communication. Assistive
technology has already opened new doors
for many of the individuals who reside at
Hattie Larlham and as both the individuals’
abilities and the assistive technology program
expand, the Research Institute will continue
to assist with innovations in practice and
measurement of impact of assistive technologies.
This program has provided
HLRI a fertile ground for research into
assessments, implementation and most effective
device usage by the population served by
Hattie Larlham. The Hattie Larlham Research
Institute has worked with speech pathology
students and faculty at the University of
Akron to study the acquisition of technology.
University of Akron biomedical engineering
students have also worked to design new
assistive technology devices to be used
at Hattie Larlham such as a wheelchair rocker
and a collapsible wheelchair tray. With
the assistive technology program in place,
a foundation has been laid for future research
projects. The Hattie Larlham Research Institute
plans on continue to work with local and
national universities as well as assistive
technology manufacturers to develop research-based
best practices for assistive technology
usage by individuals with significant disabilities.
The HLRI recognizes the importance of assistive
technology for individuals with disabilities
and will continue to work to determine how
to best use this technology to serve individuals
with disabilities. |
