[Liz Lasher]

Hello. My name is Elizabeth Lasher. I am a doctoral student in the department of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology, and Rehabilitation Education at The Pennsylvania State University. I am recruiting women with spinal cord injuries for an on-line research project that will investigate quality of life, job satisfaction, and the return to work related experiences of women with SCI. I am seeking both employed and unemployed women who are at least 18 years of age or older and who have been injured for at least one year to participate in this study.

I am currently conducting this research study as a partial requirement for my doctoral degree at The Pennsylvania State University. For many years, I have had interest in spinal cord injury specifically as it related to women. Before returning to school to pursue my doctoral degree, I worked as a rehabilitation counselor for ten years on a spinal cord injury unit at a rehabilitation hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Currently, research on the return to work experiences of women with SCI is close to nonexistent. Increasing the understanding of what it is like to be a woman with a SCI who has either returned to work, attempted to return to work, or would like to return to work will offer very valuable insight into understanding the most effective approaches to helping women return to work. The purpose of this study is to gain an increased understanding of the return to work experiences of women with SCI as well as issues or barriers associated with the ability or inability to return to work. Factors that influence quality of life and job satisfaction will also be investigated.

If you are interested in participating in this on-line study, or would like to read more about it, please go to the following link, which will take you to a secure website.

The survey can be accessed one of two ways: by going to www.psychdata.com and entering survey #119800 or by directly using the link www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=119800

If you have any additional questions or will require accommodation(s), please contact me at ejl155@psu.edu

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Elizabeth