Dear participant,

Thank you for your help and participation in my dissertation study! My name is Marianne Middlebrook and I’m currently in my fourth year in the Psy.D. program at Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ. 

 I have SMA type 2, and am passionate about mental health and wellness, especially for a population that I am proud to be a part of!

My dissertation will examine the ability to cope with disability. My goal is to empower people with SMA through this study.

You can choose to participate in my study in two ways: through the completion of my survey, and/or by engaging in a semi-structured interview. The survey consists of multiple choice and Likert scale questions to measure your coping abilities/strategies as well as how much stigma you experience with respect to your disability status. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes, and will be completed electronically via Google Forms. All survey data will be anonymous and confidential; your name or any other identifying information will not be collected. At the end of the survey, you will be directed to a link to enter your email address if you would like to participate in the lottery. If you choose to participate, you will be entered in a raffle to win one of two $25 Starbucks gift cards.

 If you choose to participate in the interview, you will be instructed to send an email indicating your interest to the email address listed at the end of the survey. I will contact you further via email regarding scheduling a 60-minute interview via zoom. Any information I gather from you during the interview will be kept completely confidential.

Participation in my study is completely voluntary, and will not result in any direct benefit or penalty for participation or lack thereof. You can withdraw from the study at any time without penalty, and you can omit any part of the survey/interview that you feel uncomfortable responding to. 

I want to extend my sincere appreciation for participating in my study! You are using your voice and your lived experience to make a difference in the lives of those in the SMA community. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding the study at mmiddlebrook@steu.edu. This study is being conducted under the guidance of my dissertation chair, Dr. Glen Sherman, Ph.D., who can be contacted at gsherman@steu.edu . For answers to any questions you may have about your rights as a research subject, contact the Chair of the Institutional Review Board, Dr. Michele Yurecko, Ph.D. at ​irb@steu.edu  ​or 973-290-4036.

By continuing with this survey, you are agreeing to participate.

Thank you!

Marianne Middlebrook, MSW, LSW

Doctoral student

Saint Elizabeth University