$7 Million Awarded for Patient-Centered CER

Just announced! Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) awards $7 million for new patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) led by AOTF Board of Trustee, Elizabeth Pfieffer PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA and Jessica Kramer, PhD, OTR/L, AOTF Engage Summit 2024 Co-Chair, and OTJR Associate Editor.

Effectiveness and Implementation of a Peer- and Staff-Delivered Transportation Intervention for Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

"Public transportation can allow people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) to go places and do activities. Even though travel training is often provided by vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs, many young adults with IDDs do not learn how to use public transportation. Some people believe that young adults with IDDs cannot learn to use public transportation safely — this is an example of ableism. However, there are young adults with IDDs who do use public transportation independently and safely. These young adults can show other young adults with IDDs how to use public transportation on their own. That way, more young adults with IDDs can learn to use public transportation and do activities that support their health and participation in the community."

This project aims to determine whether a travel training program called Chance to Ride, which is an eight-week intervention designed to teach young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) how to use public transportation safely and independently, produces the same outcomes when delivered by a peer supporter with an IDD as it does when provided by a professional staff member. Additionally, the project will explore the factors that facilitate or hinder community service organizations in offering Chance to Ride. The main outcomes being measured in the study are loneliness, satisfaction with social activities, and travel skills.

Dr. Pfeiffer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in the College of Public Health at Temple University and the Director of the Research, Engagement and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health (REACH) Lab. Her research focuses on the development of interventions and outcomes measures to support engagement in meaningful activities in the community for transitional age youth and young adults with ASD and/or IDD. In all aspects of her work in the REACH lab, she is committed to engaging stakeholders/community partners in research planning and decision-making. Dr. Pfeiffer teaches research in the post-professional and entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program and mentors PhD students. She continues her clinical practice in the area of pediatrics. In addition, she's an AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Awardee and Health Services Research Grant Recipient.

Dr. Kramer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida. Dr. Kramer’s occupational therapy practice experience is with enabling children and youth ages 3 to 20 with multiple, severe disabilities to participate and learn in a public school setting. Dr. Kramer’s research draws upon theoretical concepts and methodologies from occupational therapy, disability studies, education and rehabilitation to partner with youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the development and evaluation of rehabilitation products, develop community-based interventions that equip youth with I/DD and their families with the skills to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation, and design high-quality patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) using contemporary measurement approaches. In addition, she's an AOTF Mid-Career Research Excellence Awardee and Health Services Research Grant Recipient.

Read full PCORI article.