Welcome to the Fall 2025 Newsletter of the Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life
Laboratory!
As we close out another productive semester, I am excited to share the incredible work and
milestones our team has achieved. This fall, we had the privilege of engaging with colleagues and
leaders in the field at several major conferences, including the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury
Professionals, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Gerontological Society of America. These
opportunities allowed us to showcase our research, learn from others, and strengthen collaborations
that will help advance our mission.
I am also thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of two outstanding students who graduated this
semester: Weiwei Li and Nichole Katz. Their dedication and contributions have been invaluable to
our lab, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their future careers.
Our research continues to focus on improving health, safety, and quality of life for people with
disabilities. This semester, we made significant progress in our ongoing studies on fall prevention
and management, an area that remains critical for promoting independence and reducing risk.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in our work. I am deeply grateful to our team,
collaborators, and partners for their commitment and passion. As we look ahead to 2026, I am
excited about the opportunities to expand our research and make an even greater impact.
— Laura Rice, Ph.D.
Director, Disability, Participation, and Quality of Life Laboratory
Update from Fire Readiness for Wheelchair Users (FEW) Study
People who use wheelchairs and scooters face unique challenges during fire emergencies and are
up to four times more likely to die in residential fires compared to those without mobility
disabilities. To address this urgent issue, researchers at the University of Illinois developed the
Fire Readiness for Wheelchair Users (FEW) program—an online, six-week fire safety education
initiative. The program combined self-paced modules with weekly group discussions led by a
therapist and a firefighter.
Forty-two adults participated, learning about fire prevention, evacuation planning, building
support networks, and recovery after a fire. Results showed significant improvements in
participants’ preparedness and confidence in handling emergencies. Many reported making
concrete changes, such as installing smoke detectors, modifying their homes, creating evacuation
plans, and proactively communicating with fire departments and landlords.
While overall stress levels did not change, participants expressed feeling more mentally prepared
and empowered to act during emergencies. The study demonstrates that targeted, theory-based
education can translate into real-world safety improvements. Broader adoption of the FEW
program could help healthcare providers, disability organizations, and fire departments deliver
life-saving education tailored to people with mobility disabilities.
Interested in participating in this study? Contact dpqol-fcs@illinois.edu for more information or scan the QR code above.
Do you know anyone that could be interested? Download the flyer using the link below.
Interested in participating in the iROLL+ Study? See more information below.
Interested in participating in the WheelSafe study? See more information below.
