Kessler Foundation

Last updated
Kessler Foundation
Formation1985
FounderDr. Henry H. Kessler
PurposeImprove function and quality of life for persons with spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other neurological and orthopedic conditions

Kessler Foundation, established in 1985, [1] [2] is a nonprofit in the field of rehabilitation research for people with disabilities. [3] Kessler Foundation has its roots in the Kessler Institute, [1] founded in 1949 to improve medical outcomes and employment of people disabled by brain or spinal injury. [4] Kessler Foundation conducts rehabilitation research with the goal of increasing function for cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. [5]

Contents

History

In 1949, [6] Henry H. Kessler, MD, founded the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, [7] [8] a hospital seeking to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities.

Following World War II, the Kessler Institute served disabled veterans and used skills that Kessler developed as a captain in the United States Navy serving in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II helping handicapped civilians. [9] [10]

In April 1956, Henry Kessler said it was important to match vocational education programs for people with physical limitations with their interests and abilities with previous work experience. This included determining whether people were best suited to technical, clerical, or industrial work, and whether they had the “emotional or mental” tolerance for stressful jobs. [11] [12]

In August 2003, Kessler Foundation sold Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to Select Medical Corporation. [13]

In 2007, Kessler Foundation merged with the Kessler Medical Rehabilitation and Research and Education Corporation. [14]

In 2008, the organization co-sponsored the International Conference on Behavioral Health and Traumatic Brain Injury focusing on addressing injuries of Iraq War soldiers. [15]

In 2022, Kessler Foundation’s scientists’ work included researching the cognitive and physiological effects of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, [16] and new rehabilitation technologies (e.g. robotic exoskeletons) [17] and virtual reality relevant to these conditions. [18]

In 2022, Kessler Foundation added a Center for Autism Research to its organization. [19]

Research

Kessler Foundation includes almost 200 staff members who work in areas such as neuropsychology, neuroscience, outcomes assessment, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, rehabilitation engineering, gait analysis and motor control. Other research projects in 2022 included: robotic exoskeletons to assist with mobility for people with disabilities, [17] memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis, [20] and a study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic children. [21]

Grants

Kessler Foundation distributes external grants to nonprofit programs that expand job opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2008 and 2009, Kessler Foundation granted about $500,000 to the Arthur & Friends project, which trains developmentally disabled workers in how to grow produce in hydroponic greenhouses. [22]

In 2018, the grantmaking division of Kessler Foundation provided $2,186,673 in direct grants to various organizations. In 2019, it provided $2,689,734. [3]

In 2021, Kessler Foundation provided approximately $2 million to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, including $1 million through its Community Employment grants program. [23]

In 2021, Kessler Foundation funded a cafe in Woodbridge, NJ, that trains young adults with special needs in food service industry work. [24]

In 2022, Kessler Foundation approved approximately $1 million in grants to support initiatives that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. [25]

In 2022 and again in 2023, Kessler Foundation provided $250,000 Signature Employment Grants to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) to strengthen its work-readiness training for people with disabilities through its Hospitality Pathways. [26]

The Community Employment Grant program supports projects, programs, pilot initiatives, and creative solutions that work toward improving the employment and career advancement of New Jersey citizens with disabilities. Grants are for one year and range from $25,000 to $50,000 each. [27]

Books

Kessler, Dr. Henry H. Kessler (1968) The Knife is Not Enough. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Heumann</span> American disability activist (1947–2023)

Judith Ellen "Judy" Heumann was an American disability rights activist, known as the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement". She was recognized internationally as a leader in the disability community. Heumann was a lifelong civil rights advocate for people with disabilities. Her work with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofits, and various other disability interest groups significantly contributed to the development of human rights legislation and policies benefiting children and adults with disabilities. Through her work in the World Bank and the State Department, Heumann led the mainstreaming of disability rights into international development. Her contributions extended the international reach of the independent living movement.

Ross D. Zafonte is an American board-certified physiatrist known for his academic work in traumatic brain injury and is recognized as an expert in his field. His textbook, Brain Injury Medicine: Principles and Practice, is regarded as a standard in brain injury care. Zafonte has spoken at national and international conferences about traumatic brain injury, spasticity and other neurological disorders, and has authored more than 300 peer review journal articles, abstracts and book chapters. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurotrauma and NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation</span>

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is a division of the Select Medical Corporation that provides physical medicine and rehabilitation programs and services. There are currently three inpatient rehabilitation facilities located throughout New Jersey. On June 1, 2010, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation was awarded the Gallup Organization Great Workplace Award. The award is presented to the best performing workplaces in the world. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation was one of only 25 recipients of the award. Kessler has also been ranked among the top one percent of rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Brainkind is a UK charity founded over 30 years ago in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, as The Disabled Housing Trust. Brainkind provides residential, day services, care, rehabilitation and support to meet the needs of people with acquired brain injury (ABI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and neurological conditions. Brainkind also provides care and support to enable living in the community and support at home.

Supported employment refers to service provisions wherein people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, mental health, and traumatic brain injury, among others, are assisted with obtaining and maintaining employment. Supported employment is considered to be one form of employment in which wages are expected, together with benefits from an employer in a competitive workplace, though some versions refer to disability agency paid employment. Companies such as Skilcraft in the United States are an example of "supported employment" which is defined in law for state and federal reimbursements.

National Telecommuting Institute, Inc. (NTI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. NTI is headquartered in Boston.

Steven R. Flanagan is a nationally renowned expert in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is professor and chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine, and the medical director of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Wehman</span>

Paul Wehman is a professor of counseling and special education at the School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University. He also is Director of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy Krieger Institute</span> Hospital in Maryland, United States

The Kennedy Krieger Institute is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, Johns Hopkins affiliate located in Baltimore, Maryland, that provides in-patient and out-patient medical care, community services, and school-based programs for children and adolescents with learning disabilities, as well as disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system. The Institute provides services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe and is involved in research of various disorders, including new interventions and earlier diagnosis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JFK Medical Center (Edison, New Jersey)</span> Hospital in New Jersey, United States

John F. Kennedy University Medical Center (JFKMC), an affiliate of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), is a 499-bed full-service, acute care hospital, and the home of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitative Institute. It is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and is located in Edison, New Jersey. In 2021 it announced an affiliation with the St. Joseph's Wayne Medical Center, also in New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vocational rehabilitation</span> Occupation rehabilitation processes

Vocational rehabilitation, also abbreviated VR or voc rehab, is a process which enables persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment or other useful occupations.

Community integration, while diversely defined, is a term encompassing the full participation of all people in community life. It has specifically referred to the integration of people with disabilities into US society from the local to the national level, and for decades was a defining agenda in countries such as Great Britain. Throughout recent decades, community integration programs have been increasingly effective in improving healthcare access for people with disabilities. They have been valued for providing a "voice for the voiceless"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Verghese</span> Indian physician

Mary Puthisseril Verghese (1925–1986) was a physician in India who was among the earliest pioneers of Physical medicine and rehabilitation in the country. Mary Verghese was instilled in a home where love and respect were two main factors in their close knit family. She was caring of others and wanted to give back to her community in any way that she could. In 1963, she took charge of what was the first department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with an inpatient facility in India at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. She was instrumental in expanding the services of the department with the establishment of the first inpatient rehabilitation institute of the country in 1966. In recognition of her contributions to the field of medicine, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1972.

Community Options, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization that provides housing and employment supports to people with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury. The organization's headquarters are located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it has offices in 10 states, supporting more than 4,000 people with disabilities. Community Options was founded by Robert Stack in 1989. In 2015 Community Options was named the fourth-largest nonprofit organization based in New Jersey.

Henry Howard Kessler was an American physician, surgeon, and pioneer in rehabilitation medicine and orthopedic surgery. He focused on treating the whole person, rather than just the physical ailment. He founded the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and wrote five books on rehabilitation medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's Specialized Hospital</span> Hospital in New Jersey, United States

Children's Specialized Hospital (CSH) is a children's rehabilitation hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It has 140 beds. Founded in 1891, the hospital supports a wide range of research with five core areas of research focus - autism, mobility, cognition, brain injury, and chronic illness. It treats infants, children, teens, and young adults up until the age of 21. Its largest campus is in New Brunswick campus which is a member of the greater Children's Academic Health Campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disability in the Philippines</span>

In the Philippines, disability is one of the social issues affecting a portion of the Philippines' population. To ensure the equality and rights of disabled persons, there are Philippine laws and policies that were passed regarding persons with disabilities (PWDs). There are also numerous non-government associations that seeks to encourage and help improve the wellbeing of people with disabilities.

Gail F. Forrest is an associate director of Human Performance and Engineering Research at Kessler Foundation and an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at New Jersey Medical School. She has also conducted more than 20 federal, state, and national clinical trials for patients with spinal cord injury. She is also part of the research team winning the Neuromod Prize in 2022 for new collaborative work on the development of neuromodulation therapies.

Sylvia Walker was a disability rights activist and professor with the School of Education at Howard University.

References

  1. 1 2 Cooper, Chet (2011). "On the Move with the Kessler Foundation". Ability Magazine.
  2. ↑ "Kessler Foundation". causeIQ.com. CauseIQ. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  3. 1 2 Roberts, Brandon; Schwencke, Ken; Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi; Glassford, Alec; Suozzo, Andrea (2013-05-09). "Kessler Foundation Inc, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  4. ↑ Cook, Joan (1975-11-02). "Kessler Institute Is Enlarged". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  5. ↑ Lindner, Linda (18 May 2022). "Kessler Foundation names Saffer of Mandelbaum Barrett as chairman of the board". ROI-NJ. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Named Newark's No. 1 Citizen". New York Times. February 22, 1945. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  7. ↑ Rusk, Howard (December 12, 1954). "Two Friends of Disabled; An Account of the Rehabilitation Work of Dr. Kessler and the Late Dr. Albee". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  8. ↑ Special (April 9, 1972). "Normal Life Is Goal In Kessler's Cures". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  9. ↑ Special (February 2, 1947). "TO AID CIVILIAN AMPUTEES: Clinic to Be Opened Tomorrow in New Jersey Hospital". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  10. ↑ Special (February 4, 1947). "JERSEY CLINIC AIDS CIVILIAN AMPUTEES: 50 Doctors and Artificial Limb Makers Meet to Open Center at Hasbrouck Heightsl". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  11. ↑ Special (May 25, 1953). "Kessler Institute Sets Stone". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  12. ↑ Special (May 21, 1956). "INSTITUTE TO WIDEN TESTS FOR DISABLED". New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  13. ↑ "Kessler rehabilitation center to be sold". New Jersey Hills Media Group. 5 June 2003. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  14. ↑ "Non-profit News: What's new". The Record (Hackensack, NJ). Gannett Company. North Jersey Record. 6 March 2007.
  15. ↑ Superville, Denisa (10 June 2008). "Brain trauma conference will draw top experts". The Record (Hackensack, NJ). Gannett Company. North Jersey Record.
  16. ↑ Lindner, Linda (18 May 2022). "Kessler Foundation names Saffer of Mandelbaum Barrett as chairman of the board". ROI-NJ.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  17. 1 2 MDDI Staff (1 June 2021). "Exoskeleton Has Positive Impact on Patients with MS". MobiHealthNews. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  18. ↑ Lovett, Laura (9 May 2018). "Kessler Foundation, Virtualware team up to create VR tool for stroke patients". MobiHealthNews. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  19. ↑ Lindner, Linda (2022-04-14). "Kessler Foundation launches center for Autism research". roi-nj.com. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  20. ↑ Wexler, Marisa (23 January 2020). "Memory Training Could Make Brains of MS Patients More Efficient, Study Suggests". Multiple Sclerosis News Today. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  21. ↑ Ali, Shirin (17 Feb 2022). "Autistic children three times more likely to report negative changes during pandemic, study says". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  22. ↑ Collins, Glenn (2011-03-02). "Greenhouse Projects Nurture Produce and Workers". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  23. ↑ Doyle, Bill (2022-01-11). "Kessler Foundation announces 2021 grants totaling 2 million dollars". candid.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  24. ↑ Doyle, Bill (2021-11-09). "Special needs café in Woodbridge reopens". nj1015.com. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  25. ↑ Doyle, Bill (2023-02-09). "Kessler Foundation grants nearly $1M to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities". roi-nj.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  26. ↑ Berger, Todd (2023-04-28). "Kessler Foundation Awards $500,000 for Work-Readiness Training for Disabled". roi-nj.com. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  27. ↑ “Kessler Foundation Announces 2008 Grant Opportunities for People with Disabilities in New Jersey”
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.