Dr. Christen Mendonca, a current postdoctoral researcher at UAB within the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Recreational Technologies (RecTech), has been selected as the first Rett Syndrome Postdoctoral Fellow. He will begin his appointment on August 1, 2025.

Christen Mendonca

Rett syndrome is a rare genetic condition that primarily affects girls and leads to severe cognitive and physical impairments. A major priority of this fellowship is to design a program for families who have a child with RS to improve the quality of life of both the child and family and ensure that children with RS are included in school and community events.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to help advance the wellness for the Rett syndrome population,” Mendonca said. “Historically, the RS population has been underserved, but at the SHP Research Collaborative we aim to bring health and wellness to all.”

Mendonca brings a diverse and interdisciplinary background to the position. He earned his Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences from Drexel University. He has previously worked as an exercise trainer and strength and conditioning coach.

He originally came to UAB in 2021 to work with RecTech and began researching the use of video games as exercise for individuals with limited mobility. Since arriving to Birmingham, he has attained a graduate certificate in mixed-methods research from UAB. His work has consistently centered on using innovative technology to improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

At RecTech, Mendonca has worked on several projects integrating assistive technologies into physical activity and rehabilitation strategies. His research combines engineering design, user-centered methodology and applied neuroscience, making him well-suited for the translational focus of the RS postdoc.

Mendonca will work under mentorship of CEDHARS Director Dr. Jim Rimmer as well as a team of experts to develop a comprehensive telewellness program referred to as the WINNERS (Wellness Innovation Network – a Nurturing Environment for Rett Syndrome) project.

“Dr. Mendonca stood out as an exceptional candidate for the RS postdoc position because of his strong research background in rehabilitation science and his extensive training with one of the leading disability health researchers in the U.S., Dr. Mohan Thirumalai and mentorship from Program Manager of RecTech Sangeetha Mohanraj,” Rimmer said.

The project will focus on establishing an online healthcare-to-wellness program that extends the continuity of care from clinical services to home- and community-based health promotion and wellness for children with RS and their caregivers.

As part of the fellowship, Mendonca will collaborate with UAB researchers in neurology, genetics and biomedical engineering. He will also work closely with clinical partners and families affected by RS, bridging laboratory research with real-world application.

Mendonca’s appointment underscores UAB’s commitment to advancing rare disease research and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. With his technical expertise and dedication to improving quality of life, he is poised to make a significant impact in the field.

“Dr. Mendonca’s deep commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities placed him at the top of a very competitive applicant list,” Rimmer said. “ We’re excited to strengthen the scientific foundation of wellness for youth and young adults with Rett syndrome. This funding will also allow us to explore innovative ideas that bridge clinical practice and community engagement — a goal that is central to our mission.”

Melissa Do’s story begins not in a lab or a classroom, but across the Pacific a half century ago, rooted in the courage of her parents who fled war-torn Vietnam in search of a new life.

Melissa Do Her mother fled in 1975, and a few years later, her father was rescued at sea by a U.S. naval ship after running out of food, having ensured every woman and child was safe before he left the boat himself. That act of selflessness would become a family legacy.

“He stayed with the captain’s family, helped around their home and eventually got into college,” Do recalls. “My parents came from nothing, but gave everything.”

Do grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where her parents worked in missile defense, serving over three decades to the Department of Defense. Engineering was the family language.

“They were my role models – so smart, so humble. I was obsessed with my parents growing up,” she said.

Engineering seemed like the natural path, but it was a visit to Vietnam as a teenager that shifted her direction.

“I saw firsthand the lack of access to healthcare and how limited resources affected people’s well-being. I wanted to do something that merged science and service.”

That calling led her to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she pursued biomedical engineering and eventually entered the neuroengineering Ph.D. program. Now a candidate nearing her dissertation defense, Do is conducting pioneering research in non-pharmaceutical interventions for sleep disorders among breast cancer patients.

At the heart of this work is transauricular vagus nerve stimulation – a gentle, non-invasive electrical stimulation technique applied through the ear to modulate the body’s stress response and improve sleep.

“Sleep is so foundational to healing,” Do explained. “These women are going through hormone therapy, chemo or radiation and they’re still being mothers, working jobs. It's amazing, but the stress and physical toll disrupt their sleep, which slows their recovery.”

Melissa Do with her parents on her father's birthdayHer research, funded by the Palliative Research Enhancement Project (PREP), aims to offer a safe, accessible alternative to sleep medications – many of which breast cancer patients are reluctant to use due to side effects and drug fatigue.

“One participant texted me a few days in and said, ‘I slept so good. My grandkids were running around, and instead of yelling at them, I was just laughing,’” Do said with a laugh of her own. “That was huge. She was skeptical at first. But that’s the real impact.”

That impact wouldn’t be possible, she adds, without the support of CEDHARS and the Adaptive Human Performance Lab, the facility where she runs her pilot study.

“It’s been such a privilege,” she said. “The infrastructure, the mentorship, even the environment – people peek their heads in because the space is so welcoming. Every time I walk down the hall, I’m reminded this is where academia and science meet compassion. It’s not just research – it’s about people.”

Participants, too, have felt that sense of connection.

“They often say it doesn’t feel like a doctor’s office – it feels personal. They feel heard. I think that’s why we haven’t had any dropouts in the study.”

Beyond the lab, Do is keenly aware of the broader implications of her work.

“We hope this becomes a foundation for non-invasive treatments that improve sleep, mood and inflammation – not just for breast cancer patients, but for everyone. Sleep disorders are so common and so overlooked, yet they impact every part of our lives.”

For Do, the intersection of empathy, science and innovation is where she finds purpose.

“Engineering gave me the tools. But empathy – my parents, the women in my study, the mentors I’ve had – gave me the reason. That’s what keeps me going.”

At the core of her work and drive, though, is the recognition of the impact of her roots. From the trans-Pacific journey to the take-your-kid-to-work days, where Do grew a fascination with technology, she can’t emphasize enough the guiding light her parents have been.

“They’ve been my why. They made incredible sacrifices and built a life here so that I could have opportunities like this. They’re retired now and traveling the world. I tell them all the time they should write a book.”

Welcome to the November installment of trending news and stories in the disability community. This edition features stories on U.S. government regulations, personal narratives on the disability experience and more.

If you come across a piece of media of any sort that you’d like us to feature, from articles to movies and anything in between, please share with us at CEDHARS@uab.edu.

Life on Wheels Behind Bars | New Mobility

Donavan Bryant is a wheelchair user serving a 12-year prison sentence in New York. He shares personal details on what life is like in prison — from getting mobility equipment, to showering, managing health issues, dealing with other inmates and more. “Being in a situation like prison,” he writes, “you’re either going to have some serious personal growth or you are going to go mad, simple as that.”

Disability rights group tells history of State Hospital through ‘people, not patients’ | South Carolina Daily Gazette

In 1866, Samuel Able, then around 10 or 11 years old, had a cleft palate so severe he couldn’t speak, which landed him in what was then called the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum. All that’s left of Able’s story now are doctors’ notes about his years spent confined with adult men at one of the nation’s first state-funded asylums for the mentally ill. Doctors called Able “one of the most mischievous patients in the asylum” and noted that if “he had the power of speech he would hardly be regarded as insane,” according to patient records. He died before the 1900s, though exactly when is unknown. When disability rights group Able South Carolina started working on a project to uncover and tell the stories of people institutionalized at the sprawling campus along Bull Street, Able’s story stuck out to director Kimberly Tissot for his age and just how little is known about him.

‘A disabled South Park character from 24 years ago is getting me harassed today’ | BBC

This article is a column written by a wheelchair user in the United Kingdom who discusses the bullying and harassment he’s experienced as a result of the popular show “South Park.” He says, “I can feel the anger rising. How am I facing this abuse again after 20 years? My name is Alex. But increasingly young people shout ‘Timmy’ at me in the street. This isn’t mistaken identity - it‘s mockery because I use a wheelchair.”

Living with a disability doesn’t mean we are worthless | Sickle Cell Disease News

This first-person column by Mary Shaniqua details her lived experience, both positive and negative, of living with a disability. She says, “Although approximately 1 in 6 people worldwide are living with a significant disability, the narrative that those of us with disabilities deserve less continues to be perpetuated. As a sickle cell disease patient, I know that stigma all too well. It suggests that I am worth less than my nondisabled counterparts, and that my diagnosis is the beginning and the end of my life’s purpose. Though frustrating, and at times infuriating, I’ve learned over the years that other people’s preconceptions about me are their own problem. What’s important is how I see myself.”

Exploring disability through student-written play | CBS News Vermont

This television news station shares a video spotlighting a local student Sadie Chamberlain, who wrote, directed and starred in the original play on the lived experiences of people with disabilities. The play, “Taste of Freedom,” came from a desire to channel emotional frustration in an artistic expression, drawing from her experiences as someone with cerebral palsy and the challenges she and others face in day-to-day life.

Hearing loss is biggest disability among military veterans, expert says | Fox News

As thousands of wounded warriors and military veterans battle disabilities and injuries every day, the most common ailment often gets overlooked. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is the leading disability in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to Dr. Thomas Tedeschi, Chief Audiology Officer for Miracle-Ear. Utah-based Tedeschi, who is also a Vietnam-era Army veteran, shared in this Fox News Digital story how prevalent hearing loss and complications are among the veteran community.

Department of Labor Launches Tool to Provide Workers with Disabilities, Employers Ideas for Workplace Accommodations | USDOL

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of a new tool that provides access to more than 700 accommodation ideas for workers with disabilities and their employers. The “Situations and Solutions Finder” offers examples of workplace accommodations shared by users of the Job Accommodation Network, a service of the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. The database draws its examples from organizations large and small, across industries, and from the private and public sectors. The tool allows users to filter and save results by disability, limitation and/or occupation.

American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws | NBC News

The U.S. Transportation Department recently announced a $50 million fine against American Airlines over allegations it mistreated passengers with disabilities, which the department said in some cases caused injuries. The fine is 25 times larger than any other fine by the department for disability-related violations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on a conference call with reporters. The airline from 2019 to 2023 “provided unsafe and undignified physical assistance to passengers on a number of occasions that, at times, resulted in injuries.”

Despite moving to Birmingham in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Eric Evans will be leaving Birmingham with expert knowledge on rehabilitation research, a wife, life-long friends and a new kidney.

“Obviously, a lot has happened the past couple years – very significant events,” he said with a laugh.

Dr. Eric EvansAfter nearly four years in an entirely new part of the country and in a postdoc position at UAB, Evans is moving on to become a Graduate Medical Education Research Coordinator at the Northeast Georgia Health System in Gainesville, Georgia.

Prior to his move to Birmingham, Evans lived his entire life in Indiana, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in kinesiology as well as a doctorate in health and rehabilitation science from Indiana University – Indianapolis.

With background and personal interest in exercise and video gaming, his dissertation was a combination of the two along with active gaming, or exer-gaming. Evans conducted research during the early stages of virtual reality technology, using headsets for exercise and pain sensitivity.

Evans continued his research on the combination of exercise and technology with a postdoc position under Dr. Mohan Thirumalai, director of RecTech and one of CEDHARS core directors. The position had him working on projects involving technology, health and wellness as well as the freedom to pursue his own academic interests.

“Personally, it’s been a whirlwind as well as professionally,” Evans said. “Getting thrown into an environment that’s completely different than the one I came from and had done all my higher education at took a bit of an adjustment. Obviously, Covid didn’t help with that either.”

Nearly all of Evans’ research while at UAB was online-based with health coaching and self-management programming, which was an adjustment: all his prior work had been hands on in a laboratory-based setting. Over time, though, he was able to pursue more hands-on research in the areas he was interested in.

Evans was awarded pilot funding with Dr. Laurie Malone, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, for a research project studying the use of virtual reality for physical activity and socioemotional health in an underserved community in Birmingham. Publications are still in the works.

“It’s cool to see a research proposal get funded and be able to implement it,” he said. “Once you see the person, it’s awesome, but getting it approved, working with community partners and things I had zero experience in, you take a leap of faith.”

Part of what made the research meaningful for Evans was that the research team was able to leave the technology with the community members and Lakeshore Foundation so that it could continue to be utilized going forward, which Evans believes the field should focus on more.

“I read the literature, and these brilliant programmers develop their own VR games, which is so cool, but the research side and implementation has a gap there,” he said. “You have a game that was created that is not immediately accessible to everyone else. I had struggles with balancing projects with long-term implementation. It can be a socioeconomic barrier. I wanted to see that gap narrowed.”

In his new job, Evans won’t be directly working on his own research, but he will be able to guide the research of physician residents with the skills and knowledge he’s gleaned while at UAB.

From protocol design and data analysis to IRB and recruitment, Evans will facilitate the research projects of these physician residents as part of their program in the medical education department.

“I’m not a subject matter expert in most of the things these doctors are, but my role is to make sure they understand the process of research. When they told me about the position, I was like, ‘Sign me up.’”

Moving his career in academia into the healthcare setting will be an adjustment, but Evans is excited for the new chapter. He’s loved his time at UAB and will miss the roots he’s grown in Birmingham, and he’s been asked by many people around him if he’ll miss the VR research in his new role.

“The short answer, without being callous, is no. It has nothing to do with that space. It has everything to do with this new position and the direction it could lead me in my career, and I’m genuinely excited for it. Where I was to where I am now, the evolution over time helps me to keep discovering myself and what I want to do regardless of whether it’s in academia or healthcare.”

Welcome to the October installment of trending news and stories in the disability community. This edition features stories on the disability community’s perspective on the presidential election, revolutionary wheelchairs and more.

Welcome back for the next installment of trending news and stories in the disability community. This edition features stories on accessibility in U.S. sports venues and Paralympic athletes.

CEDHARS Director Dr. Jim Rimmer, inaugural Lakeshore Foundation endowed chair in health promotion and rehabilitation science in the UAB School of Health Professions, was named the 2024 recipient of The Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award.

Welcome back for the next installment of trending news and stories in the disability community.

Alex Evancho had been considering a career in physical therapy as she finished up degrees in Spanish and psychology at the University of Georgia.

Welcome back for our second installment of trending news and stories in the disability community. This edition features articles on disability pride books, spotlights on disability creatives and news on accessibility advancements.

Dr. Yumi Kim, postdoc in the Department of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation and SHP Research Collaborative, recently received a psychosocial research postdoctoral training fellowship grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to study participant engagement in spinal cord injury research.

As Dr. Scott Crawford enters his bedroom, adorned with photos of sailboats, nautical memorabilia and sailing decorations from wallpaper all the way down to the light switches, he is filled with a sense of peace and serenity.

Dr. Hui-Ju “Zoe” Young graduated from the Health Leadership Academy (HLA) on Wednesday after completing the 9-month program. As part of this program, Young was part of an interdisciplinary team and completed a group project focused on improving job quality for respiratory therapists at UAB.

We are excited to introduce our new series highlighting different stories and news items coming out of the disability community. We will share trending articles, podcasts, books, movies and any form of media that increases visibility of and perspective from the disability community.

The inaugural CEDHARS research symposium “Addressing Ableism in Research, Healthcare, and Higher Education” was held January 25-26, 2024, at the UAB Alumni House to bring together and promote leading voices in the movement toward inclusion science.

Our fellow Research Collaborative center, the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), turned 25 on April 1. As we celebrate a quarter century of NCHPAD, we’re immensely proud of the nationwide impact the center has had promoting the health, wellness and inclusion of people with disabilities into all areas of life.

Movement to Music, M2M, dance instructors will be helping adapt a community event series being hosted this summer by Women Under Construction Network to make it inclusive and accessible for all.

The Alabama primary nomination for the 2024 election took place a few weeks ago. In the spirit of the election year, let’s discuss voting rights for Alabamians with disabilities.

James Tucker recently retired from director of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, ADAP, which he headed for almost a decade. He worked for ADAP from 1997-2024, and prior to that, he was involved in disability rights litigation with other organizations.

Tucker’s retirement plans include spending time with family, traveling and hiking. He recently corresponded with CEDHARS to share his perspective on disability rights in Alabama and how they have evolved since he began working in the field.