Subject matter experts discuss how and why a new, online education class, “Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: A Course for Personal Care Assistants,” was created. The course introduces learners to the physical and emotional experience of individuals living with SCI and offers suggestions for building positive working relationships. Course content was created with guidance from individuals who have real-world experience with SCI, focus groups, and support from various organizations. Free to the public, the course’s goal is to increase knowledge about SCI, improve communication between clients and assistants, and enhance quality of care.

Jeanne Zanca, MPT, PhD, Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, and Denise Fyffe, PhD, scientific researchers from the Center for Spinal Cord Injury Research at Kessler Foundation describe the course development process and subject matter included.

Learn more about this course at https://kesslerfoundation.org/understanding-spinal-cord-injury-course-personal-care-assistants

To enroll in this free online course, visit: https://bit.ly/understandingSCI

Learn more about:
Jeanne Zanca, MPT, PhD - https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Jeanne-Zanca
e-mail Address: jzanca@kesslerfoundation.org

Denise Fyffe, PhD - https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Denise%20Fyffe

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD - https://kesslerfoundation.org/aboutus/Trevor%20Dyson-Hudson

Read the accompanying PowerPoint presentation at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/UnderstandingSCI_NNJSCIS_Lecture_2023.pdf

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/Acquire%20In-Depth%20Knowledge%20on%20a%20New%20SCI%20Personal%20Caregiver%20Course%20%E2%80%93%20Transcript.pdf

This lecture was presented by Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury Systems, Kessler Foundation, and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, a Select Medical hospital, and supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90SIMS0012).

========================================

Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded remotely on October 12, 2023, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.