Research

The Research department of the Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation works at the interface between rehabilitation and participation research, especially for people with acquired brain injuries and a resultant need for support. The focus of the research projects is on post-acute neuro-rehabilitation and the participation of people with acquired brain injuries in society. To be able to appropriately research the realities faced by the people affected, the Research department of the Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation has an interdisciplinary composition, bringing together scientists from medicine, health sciences, social sciences and the arts. Participative cooperation with affected people is aimed for in all research activities so that the research can be based on these people’s needs and challenges.

With its research activities, the Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation aims to provide academic support for its offerings to people with disabilities, from the highly specialised P.A.N. Centre for Post-Acute Neuro-Rehabilitation to the independent design of everyday life in the residential offerings of Ambulant Betreutes Wohnen [outpatient assisted living] and the leisure offerings at Villa Donnersmarck or the two FDS Hotel gGmbH properties.

This is how the Foundation puts its rehabilitative and educational offerings on an evidence-based footing. At the same time, the Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation pursues the goals of making an independent contribution to current scientific rehabilitation-related accompanying and healthcare research. What’s more, the Foundation’s research work is also involved in the new field of participation research. Because the participative involvement of people with disabilities in the research process is an important approach for identifying the issues that are of personal interest to people with disabilities.