The basis of any democracy is """"""""one person, one vote"""""""". Every vote is important and every voice must be heard. This is especially true for individuals with disabilities whose life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is directly affected by the laws and statutes passed by elected officials. If a person does not vote, they have chosen to allow others to speak for them. But when an individual is denied the ability to vote, or becomes disenfranchised from voting, it undermines our country's very foundation. Relevance of research to public health: It is imperative that strategies be developed, based on both evidence and experience, so all individuals vote and affect the social, public and community-health programs, products and services that directly impact their lives.
Aims and Objectives: The project describes the experiences around the process of voting, from the point of view of adults with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and any feelings of disenfranchisement that may occur prior to or during voting; Furthermore, the project captures the perceptions of the TBI individual regarding their capacity to vote and perceptions of caregivers, chief judge poll workers, and health care professionals of the TBI individuals capacity to vote on Election day. Research design and Methodology: We utilize a participatory action research (PAR) and Grounded Theory approach, including video and audio taping, structured interviews, transcribing and coding of PAR participants with and without TBI before, during and after three elections held at the country, state and federal level (presidential primaries). The project supports the NIH Mission and goals by (1) pursuing fundamental knowledge about the nature of the behavior of persons with TBI (NIH Mission Statement), (2) application of that knowledge to reduce the burden of suffering and disability among persons with TBI (NIH Mission Statement), (3) fostering fundamental creative discovery/ innovative research strategies (PAR) to advance significantly the Nation's capacity to improve health (NIH Mission goal 1). ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21HD055202-02
Application #
7449744
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-U (90))
Program Officer
Ansel, Beth
Project Start
2007-06-20
Project End
2010-05-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$176,333
Indirect Cost
Name
Carolinas Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
074524513
City
Charlotte
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
28232
Hirsch, Mark A; Iyer, Sanjay S; Englert, Danielle et al. (2011) Promoting exercise in Parkinson's disease through community-based participatory research. Neurodegener Dis Manag 1:365-377
Hirsch, Mark A (2009) Community-based rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease: from neurons to neighborhoods. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 15 Suppl 3:S114-7