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.

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.

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.

What’s YOUR Excuse?

I need to keep this video queued up to watch every single time I am feeling sorry for myself, or feeling like saying “I can’t” or “no.”

Normally I can’t stand commercials but this one is brilliant. Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myDYE49KPlQ&feature=related

The Conquest Wheelchair Accessible Motorcycle

How’s this for a crazy concept: a wheelchair accessible motorcycle. Wait, what does that even mean? Well, take a look at the video below and you’ll see that it means being able to roll your wheelchair right up into a specially modified 3-wheeled motorcycle, lock in with a secure locking pin, and then ride using hand controls.

Last week I focused on a disabled pilot flying small airplanes, and this week I’m sharing with you the Conquest Wheelchair Accessible Motorcycle, because the theme of freedom and independence is an important one. We love seeing ways in which people are using their imaginations and technology to increase the ability of people with mobility disabilities to be more independent.

To me, riding a motorcycle screams Independence and Freedom. Anyone who has ridden for years can tell you that the connection to the road and the feeling of being in your surroundings, not closed off from them, is one of the major appeals of riding a motorcycle.

And really, how cool is it to be able to pull your wheelchair right into this motorcycle, lock into it, and then ride? The answer is: really, really cool. So take a look at this short video on the Conquest and if you’d like more information visit them at MobilityConquest.com.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=ertjjZv4Sao&feature=channel

The Dream of Becoming a Pilot Can be Reality

“I didn’t really believe it was possible for people who have disabilities to fly airplanes, so I never really looked into it.”

As someone who has taken flying lessons myself, I understand the thrill of being in control of an airplane and the freedom you feel when you are able to go nearly anywhere. Guatam, as a child, had the dream of being a pilot, but when polio left him disabled and requiring the use of crutches, he didn’t think he could make his dream happen.

I’m happy to report that Guatam went after his dream and found a way to take pilot lessons and is on his way to becoming a licensed pilot. I enjoyed this interview of him and the video of him flying – it just shows that you should never make assumptions of what you can and can’t do.

(Skip ahead to 55 seconds into the video to see the start of the story. For the direct video link go here: http://vimeo.com/1524176)

Freedom in the Air – ITV Interview from Gautam Lewis on Vimeo.

How to Improve Disabled Parking

For anyone using a van with a lift, listen to this scenario and tell me if it sounds familiar: you drive into a large parking lot for an event (professional baseball game, concert, etc.) and search out the disabled parking spots so that you have a space to lower you ramp. Only, once you find the disabled spots, they are completely filled by regular (non-ramp) cars – meaning there is no safe space to park your van without worrying about someone parking next to you and blocking your life.

If this has ever happened to you, you know how frustrating it can be. Now, I am not saying at all that the people parked in those disabled spaces don’t have a need to park there and shouldn’t be able to park near to stores. I know how important that close parking is to people with disabilities that put them in pain when they walk, or make walking any sort of distance very difficult.  But many disabled spots have protected lined-off areas next to them specifically so that ramps can be lowered. And ramp-vans need those spots. Imagine coming back to your car in the pouring rain only to find a car parked next to you, blocking you from lowering your ramp. You’d have to wait who knows how long until the owner of that car comes back and moves it before you could get back in your car and leave.

So my idea to improve disabled parking is simple. We create two types of disabled parking spaces. The two types of spaces would be: those with marked off hash lines for ramps or lifts, and spaces without. If you don’t need a lift on your vehicle, you get a placard that allows you to park in the close spaces, but does not allow you to park in the hash mark spaces. And vans and vehicles with lifts wouldn’t park in the spaces without marked off areas next to them for obvious reasons.

Does this make sense to you? Would you support such an idea? Share your thoughts, or what your plan would be.

Disabled Sports USA

I love coming across videos like this because what you see is the power of the human spirit, and the willingness of people to help others improve their outlook and their lives.

“Disabled Sport USA’s mission is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation and educational programs.”

Take a look at the video, and if you feel inspired, you may want to take a look at the Disabled Sports USA web site.

Disabled Sports USA from Shannon Falter on Vimeo.

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