The Amazon Kindle as Reading Device for the Disabled

Most people take it for granted: holding open and reading a book. But for those without full use of their hands or another similar physical disability, this can be a much more difficult process than for an able-bodied person. Holding open a small paperback book and turning a single page at a time can be difficult for a quadriplegic. That’s why new ebook readers such as the Amazon Kindle have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of those who otherwise would have a difficult time reading. Read more

ReWalk System Helps Paraplegics Walk Again

Being able to stand up as a quadriplegic thanks to today’s standing wheelchair technologies has provided me with a lot of health and emotional benefits (See my story about Using a Standing Wheelchair). However, the Rewalk device invented by an Israeli company Argo Medical Technologies, Ltd. takes it literally a step further. Can you imagine what it must feel like to be able to walk and even climb stairs again after being confined to a wheelchair for many years as a paraplegic?

Wearing a backpack device and braces on their legs, paraplegics can select a desired activity such as standing up or walking with a remote control. A sensor on the chest determines the torso’s angle and guides the legs to move forward or backward to maintain balance. The device basically does the walking for you.

Once approved by the FDA, many wheelchair users with sufficient upper body strength and mobility will be able to take advantage of this exciting new product and this will definitely give them a new perspective on life. Based on what I have read, the product is expected to become available some time in 2010 with a price tag of $20,000 (but don’t quote me on that).

Even though I won’t qualify for using the ReWalk product myself due to my high spinal cord injury as a quadriplegic, I am happy to know that many paraplegics’ quality of life is likely to improve with this walking device.

You can find more info about the ReWalk at Argo’s Website or simply by watching this Very Cool Video.

Accessible Fishing for the Disabled Using a Wheelchair

We love seeing the ingenuity and creativity that so many in the disabled community demonstrate on a regular basis. It’s amazing what people are able to accomplish in continuing to pursue those things that they love. Fishing Abilities, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that helps physically disabled individuals to be able to enjoy fishing. They have created a whole system using electric reels and pulleys to allow those without even the use of their upper body and arms to be able to hook a fish and reel it all the way in. It’s really a pretty cool video to watch when you see the whole setup working. And of course, if you’re interested in accessible fishing, take a look at the Fishing Abilities website.

Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Modification for a Quadriplegic

Here’s a tip we found on how to modify your bathroom to give greater access to you as a person with a physical disability using a wheelchair.

First Paraplegic Woman Reaches Kilimanjaro Summit in her Wheelchair

Climbing to the top of the 19,340 feet high Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is quite an accomplishment for any person, but conquering the highest mountain in Africa as a paralyzed person using a wheelchair definitely stands out. It took 28 year old Erica Davis from Carlsbad California six days to reach the snow capped summit in near freezing temperatures.

Two videographers and a photographer recorded the climb for a documentary titled “Through the Roof.” I am already looking forward to watch this inspirational movie when it comes out.

There were sections of the climb that were so rugged, narrow and rocky that Erica could not fit her chair through certain passages. Porters carried her in those parts, but Erica pushed herself solo at least 60 percent of the climb. It was never because she wasn’t physically capable. The chair just wouldn’t fit through certain parts.

Anyone who is interested to find out more about this amazing undertaking can read the entire story here.

Source: The San Diego Union Tribune

Many People with Disabilities are Great Employees

Being a C5/C6 Quadriplegic working in the software industry I often read technical articles in various magazines. Recently I ran into this Computerworld article that highlights that employees with disabilities stand out as being incredibly creative, persistent, hard-working and loyal. Many of us who have significant physical disabilities have to be creative and persistent for our own survival. Because we are often not able to do things the “normal” way, we are literally forced to be creative and perform tasks however we can, and we carry that creativity into problem-solving in the workplace. We have to be persistent and know there’s always a way to accomplish a task. Based on my own experiences being employed as a disabled person I do find a lot of truth in those statements. You can read this enlightening story here.

Harry Lewenstein’s Life as a Quadriplegic

Harry Lewenstein, a retired electronics industry marketing executive from Palo Alto CA, passed away on Feb 3 2010, four days after his 83rd birthday. In 1997, during a retirement bicycle tour in Portugal, Harry fell and broke his neck. He was a C6/C7 quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Harry published the story of his life as a disabled person online. He had, he said, the ability to be content with whatever life had provided him, and so accepted his disability with no bitterness and according to his family he was quite an inspiration. – Source Palo Alto Online News

Read Harry’s Life as a Quadriplegic story here. Many quadriplegics will be able to relate to Harry’s story very easily.

Using Velcro With Remotes

This is an ingenious idea – use velcro on your wheelchair and on remotes to keep you from dropping the remotes. It really works amazingly well!

Pushing for Greater Hiring of the Disabled

Here at Disabled and Productive, we feel that anything that pushes people to focus on a person’s inherent skills, willingness to work, and productivity rather than on disabilities is a good thing. Too often a person’s disability becomes, to others, the main focus of who that person is. So I found this video of a commercial that pokes fun at the disabilities in all of us to be refreshing. It really carries a positive message about focusing on what a person can do, instead of what that person can’t do. Because, let’s face it, everyone has limitations and has things that he or she is terrible at. Take a look:

Accessibility for People with a Mobility Disability in and around Disney World

Disney World can be an amazing vacation destination as evidenced by the over 40 million people that visit each year. I’m sure there are many people confined to wheelchairs who have never visited Disney World and have some questions about how accessible it really is. Last year, I spent two weeks during Spring – long enough to make a decent accessibility assessment – visiting all of the Disney World parks and I would like to report on some of my personal experiences getting around as a C5/C6 quadriplegic in a motorized wheelchair. Hopefully, some of you confined to a wheelchair and thinking about making a trip to Disney World will be able to pick up a few tips while reading this article. Read more