Obama Orders Increased Employment of the Disabled

Yesterday, on July 26, President Obama issued an Executive Order to increase the Federal Employment of the Disabled. Citing the 54 million Americans living with disabilities and the need to set an example and reduce workforce discrimination, the order notes that the Federal Government should be a model for the hiring of the disabled.

Additionally, the order has specific time-lines of 60 days and 120 days for federal agencies to design and implement strategies to increase the hiring of the disabled.

We think this is a really encouraging step and commend President Obama for his dedication to employing qualified Americans, no matter what their physical condition.

To read the full press report and text of the Executive Order, visit Whitehouse.gov.

The ADA Turns 20

This year, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 20 years old, and while not perfect, this piece of legislation has made a profound difference in the lives of countless Americans. As part of our recognition of the impact of the ADA, we’ll be highlighting stories of people whose lives have been positively impacted by the changes brought about by the ADA.

Today we have for you a story from the Minnesota Public Radio News. The Gray sisters, only a year apart in age, have lived profoundly different lives – but both of their lives have been touched by disability.

It’s an excellent story and one that I think really highlights some of the changes in attitude the ADA has brought about. The ADA really put in motion a shift in mindset towards the view that the disabled are valued members of society, and that if you open doors to allow them to contribute, your society as a whole will be all the richer for it.

The short radio program is definitely worth listening to, and if you’d like to read the full story it’s on the Minnesota Public Radio web site: Disabilities Act at 20.

Rex Robotic Legs Allow Paraplegics to Walk Again

We posted a story last February about the ReWalk system, a device invented by an Israeli company Argo Medical Technologies, Ltd. that enables paraplegics to walk again. When I was watching the Belgian news on the Internet yesterday, which I do occasionally to keep in touch with what’s going on in the country where I was born, another walking device for paraplegics was featured. Hayden Allen from New Zealand, a paraplegic as a result of a motorcycle accident, showed off a pair of robotic legs that help paraplegics walk again. It caught my attention and I decided to investigate the system some more. Read more

Crossing the Mile High “Swinging” Bridge at Grandfather Mountain in a Wheelchair – A Dream Come True

I remember going on a day trip to Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina a few years after my disabling accident when I was still living in Charlotte, NC. Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains and it’s best known for its mile high “swinging” bridge that links two of the mountain’s rocky peaks. The panoramic views from the bridge are supposedly spectacular, but I never got to see it because there was no wheelchair access to the bridge when I visited. Needless to say that I was very excited when I read an article about a new structure built at the top of Grandfather Mountain that provides wheelchair access to the bridge. Read more

Journey Forward – Changing Lives One at a Time

A few weeks ago we discovered and posted about a nonprofit started with the mission of helping to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Founded by Dan Cummings after he regained the ability to walk again through intense exercise, Journey Forward aims to help those with spinal cord injuries recover function and improve the quality of their lives. After reading about the program on their web site, we wanted to know more and recently had the privilege of interviewing Journey Forward and their founder Dan. Their words were a dose of inspiration, and reinforced our belief in the importance of helping others achieve their goals. Read on to hear about how Journey Forward is making a difference and changing lives one at a time.

Read more

Turn Your Wheelchair into a Hand Cycle in 30 Seconds

Ok, this one is short and sweet, but I think it’s an awesome demonstration of a really great device. Rio Mobility makes the Dragonfly – a hand cycle wheelchair attachment that takes less than 30 seconds to connect – and you can connect it while you are in your wheelchair.

Rio Mobility also makes an electric hand cycle attachment and seems to be creating some really innovative wheelchair products. We definitely recommend taking a look at their site just to see some of the cool stuff they’ve come up with.

What do you think? Would you want to use a hand cycle attachment like this one? Let us know!

Hand-Cycling Across the United States

For anyone who has ever driven across the continent, from one end of the United States to the other, it becomes apparent just how large and vast the US is. Now imagine traveling across it using only the power of your arms.

That’s exactly what Kristina Ripatti-Pearce did.

After the former Los Angeles Police Officer became paralyzed in a 2006 shooting, her life changed drastically, but her determination to take on challenges in life never diminished.

ESPN has a story about her and some of the challenges she faced riding across the US that you might want to check out: Paralyzed Police Officer Races Bike Across US.

Scouting with a Disability: A Story of Inspiration, Goals and a Very Worn Pair of Shoes

As with any organization, The Boy Scouts of America have rules and guidelines that must be adhered to. When Nathaniel Schrader of Chantilly, Virginia, joined a local Boy Scout troop, the leadership was hesitant. They werenʼt sure how a boy with cerebral palsy would be able to fit in or even progress within the ranks with all his limitations. The leadership offered information on another troop in the area that served mobility impaired scouts but Nathaniel wanted to stay with his Cub Scout friends, all of whom chose this particular troop. Leadership wasnʼt sure how to teach a scout with so many limitations. Read more

A Thought-Controlled Wheelchair

Sometimes you see things that make you believe the Sci-Fi future is coming along much more quickly than we expected.

This thought-controlled wheelchair is one of those things. With just a week of training, a computer system can be synced to a person’s brain patterns, allowing that person to control a wheelchair through thought alone.

With approximately 95% accuracy, and fail-safe mechanisms built in, this invention could potentially provide increased ease of mobility to persons with severe spinal cord injuries. Although it isn’t ready to be introduced to the general public yet, the prospect that this type of device is on the horizon is really encouraging.

What do you think – would you be willing to trust a machine controlled only by your thoughts? I think it’s exciting, but kind of scary too.