|
||||
 |
| TECH EDGE By John M. Williams One of the joys of working in the field of Assistive Technology is you get to meet people who see a person with a disability being challenged and decide to address that need. Entrepreneurs Myron Alexander, through his company ease of Life Products, and Rob Mayben, through his desktop desk, are making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in just this way. A review of the assistive technology featured at the Abilities Expo in Atlanta. Neurotechnology companies provide innovative tools to improve quality of life for people with chronic medical conditions. Designers are rethinking the wheelchair in exciting new ways. (Now if only someone would design a system where people who need innovative wheelchairs could easily afford [...] | TECH EDGE By John M. Williams About a year ago, I first started hearing about something called the Impulse that was raising excitement among people in the disability community who believe that assistive technology products increase their independence and improve their quality of life physically and psychologically. The Impulse™ Bluetooth® technology is an access product specifically designed for persons with physical limitations, allowing them to use any muscle surface (face, jaw, neck, arm, leg, etc.) to control their computer. This device is particularly applicable for persons with degenerative conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or any [...] Finding the right mobility device requires thinking carefully, using experts, and, sometimes, taking political [...] People who have limited sight or dexterity can benefit from Kindle 2’s text-to-speech feature. But authors object that the Kindle’s robotic reader can deprive them of up to 25% of royalties they ordinary collect from audio versions of their books. [...] A man’s love for his Chesapeake retriever helped him overcome some of the difficulties high-level quadriplegia presents. By Laird A. Doctor My adventure started long before my injury, when I received a lovable eight-week-old Chesapeake retriever I named Max. | TECH EDGE By John M. Williams In a recent historic event sponsored by the National Press Club, Jim Fruchterman, chief executive officer of Benentech, announced partnerships between Bookshare (www.Bookshare.org) and universities nationwide and between Bookshare and publishers to provide digital books for Bookshare’s accessible on-line library for people with print disabilities. Bookshare is a web-based digital library that gives people with print disabilities the same ease of access to books and periodicals enjoyed by those without disabilities. Bookshare allows a book to be scanned once and then shared with many qualified individuals who require digital formats that are easy to download, [...] | TECH EDGE By John M. Williams Reading is one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I devour novels, history books, biographies of great men and women, and short stories. Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain are my favorite short story writers. Their writings transport me either backwards or forwards into different eras. I would develop mental apathy if I could not read. At 63, it is difficult for me to read type smaller than 10 point. I sometimes use a magnifying glass to read. One of the most frustrating areas for me when reading is dealing with hyphenations when the [...] Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) offers numerous benefits to individuals living with disabilities. But education is paramount to ensure the safety and efficacy of this treatment [...] Building a new accessible home? Michael Anderson has a story to tell. “My builder had his lawyer there. I knew then, there was a fight [...] 52 year old quadriplegic gets an independence boost as form meets function when a van, a man, and a new wheelchair come [...] Polio survivor and United Spinal Member Kathy Galletly on her transition from getting around the hard way to using a powered [...] This United Spinal member says his two-wheeled wonder is his ticket to freedom. By Alan Maccini I am a 48-year-old male diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) (a neurologic condition affecting the bundle of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord) which was featured in the January 2008 issue of Action. My original prognosis was that I probably would never walk again. Fortunately, after many months of physical therapy and nerve regeneration, I progressed from a wheelchair to a walker, and now I can use a cane. Needless to say, I am very limited in where I can [...] For more information on maintenance, service, and sales of manual and power wheelchairs, as well as scooters, hand-cycles and accessories, contact Wheelchair Medic at 718-352-1623 or visit www.wheelchairmedic.com. Ray Grim, who manages the Wheelchair Medic division of United Spinal Association, recommends an easy do-it-yourself wheelchair maintenance plan. First, is to periodically clean the entire frame with a damp cloth and mild detergent or disinfectant (do not use bleach) and then dry thoroughly. Polish chrome plated parts by using a commercially available polish or metal protectant spray. Check wheelchair frame for rust and cracks and that the nuts and bolts are in place and [...] Keep your power wheelchair juiced and humming with these tips on wheelchair battery [...] Your wheelchair cushion is your first line of defense against skin breakdown. By Dr. Richard Louis Bruno Those who wheel instead of walk have a special enemy: Gravity. And where does this enemy exert its particularly pernicious pull? It’s through the gluteal muscles (if you have some) and the ischial bones of the pelvis, that is, your butt. And your first line of defense against gravity? The seat cushion. Much of the information in this article is available at United Spinal Association’s USA Tech Guide (www.usatechguide.org/cushion_reviews.php), a great source if you’re in the market for any assistive technology device. Inspired by California facility, Push to Walk in New Jersey offers clients with SCI a chance for recovery on the East Coast. By Anya Starykh Jim Laughlin (right) gets some assistance on the Power Plate from trainer Eric Prol. At 21, Darren Templeton of Kinnelon, New Jersey, has many accomplishments to boast of. A student at Ramapo College, he’s an avid athlete and a passionate rugby player. He recently went skydiving for the first time and is thinking of going again in the spring. He is also organizing a ski trip to Windham Mountain Ski Resort in Upstate New York with some [...] |
   |
||
|
Copyright © 2010 United Spinal’s Action Online Magazine - All Rights Reserved |
||||
