Kessler Foundation - Changing the lives of people with disabilities through research in stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and by funding innovative programs that promote employment for people with disabilities. Podcasts are from various consumer and professional lectures presented by our researchers and guest lecturers.
Navigating Government Programs After Spinal Cord Injury
After a spinal cord injury, government assistance programs can help cover healthcare, replace lost income, support employment, and meet basic living needs. But attaining that help is rarely simple. Kessler Foundation researchers at the Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System (NNJSCIS) and seven additional collaborating spinal cord injury model systems centers across the United States conducted focus groups with people living with spinal cord injury to better understand their experiences. Participants described both the benefits of public assistance and the barriers they face, including complex rules, long waits, and limits on savings. The study also identified practical ways to improve access to support and help people maintain financial stability over time.
LEAD INVESTIGATOR: Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/amanda-botticello-phd-mph
LEARN about our Outcomes and Assessment research, https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/center-outcomes-and-assessment-research
READ all our Real-Life Science summaries, https://kesslerfoundation.org/newsletter/real-life-science
LISTEN to all our Real-Life Science summaries, soundcloud.com/kesslerfoundation/sets/real-life-science
EXPLORE our spinal cord injury research, https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/spinal-cord-injury
PARTICIPATE: Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? Go to https://kesslerfoundation.org/join-our-research-studies?field_research_categories_target_id[302]=302
Production Notes
This podcast was recorded, produced, and edited by Joan Banks-Smith, Sr. Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation (September 2026).
Accessibility
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media more accessible. These tools help ensure people with visual or cognitive impairments can access our materials. Automated voices may not always capture intonation or pronunciation as clearly as the accompanying text. If you experience issues with our AI narrators, please contact us at communications@kesslerfoundation.org.
1 Oct 2026
Discover Peer Support and Connection After Spinal Cord Injury - The QuadCast
The QuadCast
Inner Strength, Featuring Angela Smith and Maryann Hobbie
This episode of The QuadCast explores how people living with spinal cord injury and their loved ones find inner strength while navigating loss, change, and the emotional and social experiences that often accompany injury. The conversation shows how social connection, shared experience, personal reflection, and community can foster well-being, offering practical ideas and encouragement through honest dialogue and peer support.
At the heart of the episode is Kessler Foundation’s Inner Strength program, a monthly virtual gathering for people living with spinal cord injury and their loved ones. Maryann Hobbie, a spinal cord injury survivor, chaplain, and author, facilitates the program with Angela Smith (https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/angela-smith), the Foundation’s peer mentoring program coordinator and community engagement specialist. Drawing on lived experience, compassion, and connection, they guide thoughtful conversations that help participants reflect, connect with others, and find strength in community.
The QuadCast Podcast (https://quadcast.org) hosted by John McAleavey is a weekly show featuring the spinal cord injury community and stories of personal resilience. This episode is part one of a two-part joint podcast and is used by permission.
To learn more about upcoming gatherings or to register, visit the Foundation’s Events webpage (https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-usdriven-purpose-leading-impact/events).
Chapters
* 00:00 Introduction and Personal Stories
* 02:59 Resilience in Caregiving
* 06:58 Living with Spinal Cord Injury
* 11:03 Inner Strength in Times of Loss
* 23:14 Finding Inner Strength
* 25:38 The Importance of Connection
* 28:28 Adapting to Loss and Grief
* 31:38 Finding Purpose
* 35:22 Inner Strength Program
22 Sept 2026
Tailored Rehabilitation Could Improve Thinking Speed in People with Progressive MS
Many people with progressive multiple sclerosis experience slower thinking speed. This can make it harder to process information, stay focused, and keep up with everyday tasks. According to a secondary analysis of the international CogEx trial, tailoring cognitive rehabilitation to each person’s needs may help improve thinking speed in people with progressive multiple sclerosis. Kessler Foundation researchers and collaborators from 10 additional research centers explored which attention-based exercises were most closely linked to these gains. Using a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program called RehaCom, they identified the strongest gains and key factors that contributed to cognitive improvement.
Read the transcript, https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2026-09/Tailored%20Rehabilitation%20Could%20Improve%20Thinking%20Speed%20in%20People%20with%20Progressive%20MS%20_Real-Life%20Science-TRANSCIPT.pdf
Kessler Foundation Collaborators:
Silvana Costa, PhD, https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/silvana-lopes-costa-phd
Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/nancy-chiaravalloti-phd
John DeLuca, PhD, https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/john-deluca-phd
Brian M. Sandroff, PhD, https://kesslerfoundation.org/about-us/foundation-staff/brian-m-sandroff-phd
LEARN about our Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research, https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/center-neuropsychology-and-neuroscience-research
READ all our Real-Life Science summaries, https://kesslerfoundation.org/newsletter/real-life-science
LISTEN to all our Real-Life Science summaries, soundcloud.com/kesslerfoundation/sets/real-life-science
EXPLORE our multiple sclerosis research, https://kesslerfoundation.org/research/multiple-sclerosis
PARTICIPATE: https://kesslerfoundation.org/join-our-research-studies?field_research_categories_target_id%5B290%5D=290&field_location_value=All&field_mri_study_value=All&field_inpatient_study_value=All&field_lead_investigator_target_id_verf=All
Production Notes
This podcast was recorded, produced, and edited by Joan Banks-Smith, Sr. Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation (September 2026).
Accessibility
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media more accessible. These tools help ensure people with visual or cognitive impairments can access our materials. Automated voices may not always capture intonation or pronunciation as clearly as the accompanying text. If you experience issues with our AI narrators, please contact us at communications@kesslerfoundation.org.
Who has been a guest on Kessler Foundation Podcasts
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Steven Kirshblum
John DeLuca
Brian Sandroff
Karen Nolan
Christina Dandola
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
463,652
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
81
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