This March, the Family Support Research & Training Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Easter Seals are joining together to support a national research initiative Family Support: Tell Us What We Need to Know. From March 9 to March 30, 2015, a national dialogue will be available for family caregivers, individuals with disabilities, providers and researchers to provide feedback on the topic they think family support researchers should explore further. Whether it’s the practical day-to-day concerns about providing assistance; healthcare, transportation or education; or the financial, spiritual or emotional aspects of being a family caregiver, the comments provided during the survey period will be used to shape a strategic plan for family support research in the U.S. We look forward to hearing what’s important to you!
Family caregivers and others can participate in the dialogue through an online forum in English or Spanish by using a more traditional paper form or by phone. The online forum, IdeaScale, is an interactive platform using web-based software. Comments can be posted by anyone who registers on the site. IdeaScale provides a moderated, respectful environment in which dialogue participants can react to others’ comments or vote for topics they like. All ideas are encouraged. All dialogue participants will be asked for their zip code, relationship to family support, age range, and geographic area (whether they live in an urban, suburban, or rural area). Anyone can read comments posted without registering; however to post and respond, the quick registration is required. Easter Seals has used Ideascale for town hall-style dialogues for the past five years on topics as varied as veterans’ services, public transportation, and emerging technologies for people with disabilities.
Log in to the dialogue, read comments, register, and participate.
Visit the English IdeaScale website: FSNeedtoKnow.ideascale.com or the Spanish IdeaScale website afdiganos.ideascale.com
For more information, contact:
Family Support Research & Training Center
Toll-free (844) 781-4158
Family Support Research & Training Center website: fsrtc.ahslabs.uic.edu
National Dialogue website: fsrtc.ahslabs.uic.edu/research/needtoknow
Email: dialogue@easterseals.com
