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Every American deserves access to our country's cities-it's the law. But what does it really mean for a city to be accessible?
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Every American deserves access to our country's cities-it's the law. But what does it really mean for a city to be accessible?
To get a better understanding of how cities in the U.S. are faring when it comes to accessible living, The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation looked at 100 of some of the largest cities in the United States and ranked them based on criteria that provides a snapshot of not just accessibility, but livability for people using wheelchairs.
First we looked at how hospitable a city's climate is for those living with paralysis and tried to avoid cities with extremes in temperature or snowfall. Then we ranked the cities based on their air quality, number of physicians, rehab specialists and rehab centers, accessible fitness and recreation facilities and paratransit systems.
We also looked to see if the city population contained large numbers of physically disabled people and whether those people have been able to get employment.
Lastly, we examined the age of the city (old building are harder to make accessible) and checked out the spending and eligibility requirements for Medicaid.
What we wound up with was a list of twenty cities that are on the right track for offering hospitable environments for people in wheelchairs.
This doesn't mean that these 20 cities, or any of the cities in this country, don't have some work to do. "We have raised the bar for what people who need access are entitled to," says Dot E. Nary, a research assistant and activist at The University of Kansas's Project Workout on Wheels. "Before the ADA, disability was viewed as a personal frailty but now people recognize that we shouldn't have to accept the things we've had to in the past." That means re-defining the word 'accessible' to truly represent access for everyone.
The cities in ranked order:
1. Seattle, Wash.
2. Albuquerque, N.M.
3. Reno, Nev.
4. Denver, Colo.
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Chicago, Ill.
7. Birmingham, Ala.
8. Winston-Salem, N.C.
9. Orlando, Fla.
10. Lubbock, Texas
11. Miami, Fla.
12. Tampa, Fla.
13. Durham, N.C.
14. Fort Worth, Texas
15. Virginia Beach, Va.
16. Arlington, Texas
17. Baltimore, Md.
18. New Orleans, La.
19. Arlington, Va.
20. Atlanta, Ga.
By Sara Vigner. For the complete article click here.
For anyone who has a disabling condition or is physically challenged, playing a round of golf can be difficult. Ottobock, a world leading supplier of innovative solutions for people with limited mobility, helps the seemingly impossible become reality with the ParaGolfer.
Now available for the first time in Canada, the ParaGolfer sit-to-stand mobility aid is unmatched in design features and characteristics. It allows a player within seconds to be positioned in a fully upright stance where they can compete with others at eye level and grasp a club with two hands. The well thought-out design ensures nothing will get in the way of a precise swing making possible increased distance off the tee and improvements to the game.
As well as improving golfing opportunities and enjoyment levels, the ParaGolfer can offer emotional benefits to the occupant as it enables standing, providing increased mobility and freedom to promote independence and a renewed self confidence.
The therapeutic benefits from this expanded mobility are also notable. Included is the stimulation of metabolism, along with the reduction of spasms and enhanced joint mobility due to the stretching of muscles from regular standing. South African professional golfer Anthony Netto helped develop the ParaGolfer after he suffered a spinal cord injury when his car was struck by a drunk driver. “Golf means exercise, fun, and quality of life,” he shares. “Experiencing those things is especially important for people with limited mobility, and the ParaGolfer is doing its part by helping players return to a full, normal game.”
For more details visit: www.ottobock.ca or melissa.humphrey@ottobock.com.
People living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other health complications. They’re encouraged to get exercise, but often there’s no health and fitness centre close by to support their unique needs, especially in remote or rural areas of Canada.
“We know that physical activity is a good thing and it’s especially important for people with an SCI to be as active as possible,” says Dr. Dalton Wolfe at the Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ont. “But it’s difficult to stay fit without the right support.”
Enter the Online Physical Activity and Nutritional Counselling (OPAN) study. With support from the Rick Hansen Institute, Dr. Dalton Wolfe and his team (including SCI Action Canada) are working to see if a web-based fitness program can increase physical participation levels among those living with an SCI.
OPAN involves in-home exercise classes geared to one’s mobility and injury. Via video conference, an experienced fitness trainer leads the seated-aerobics program, which includes sessions in flexibility and deep breathing. The small initial study has now been expanded with more participants.
“[The study] is about empowering people to manage their own lives better,” says Dr. Wolfe. “If this works, we hope to expand the services and find a way to sustain an ongoing program.”
Bungee jumping in a wheelchair? Yup. Christine Rougoor was hoisted above the hand rail of a bridge in Whistler, British Columbia, before being nudged over the edge with the bungee rope attached to her wheelchair.
A group of volunteers counted down before pushing the wheelchair off the bridge as Rougoor, from Niagara Falls, Ontario, plunged towards a snowy creek before the elastic cord caught her fall.
Footage of the jump was uploaded to YouTube on March 17 and has drawn the attention of media outlets from around the world. The feat was made possible by 9Lives Adventures Inc., a charity that helps people with disabilities take part in extreme sports. The charity held a video contest for people with physical disabilities to share their stories. The top four won an all-expenses-paid trip to Whistler to go snowmobiling and bungee jumping.
Rougoor, who was paralysed in a motocross accident while on holiday in Florida in 2008, was quoted in the local Whistler newspaper: "I flew all the way out there and I didn't really know what to expect. I knew we were going to go snowmobile riding and bungee jumping, but that's it.” 9Lives founder Karim Ladki said: "The chair provides much more stability for the bungee jump. It prevents the blood from rolling around the body too fast and prevents black-outs."
A new app sponsored by Working Like Dogs promises to bring relief to service dogs. The free "Where to Go" app for the iPhone provides a directory of airport relief areas which helps you and your service animal find relief areas in airports throughout the USA.
Airport animal relief areas can be difficult to locate—but Where to Go overcomes that challenge.
Airports are listed, with short directions to the relief area. There are also links to U.S. Department of Transportation FAQs and updated ADA regulations about service animals, as well as other information included on the app.
For more information and to download the app visit workinglikedogs.com.
How do you know you're dealing with a quality adaptive ski program? The National Sports Center for the Disabled recommends asking these questions:
1. Are the instructors certified by Professional Ski Instructors of America or does the program have a PSIA-certified staff member in charge of training?
2. Will you receive a personal evaluation to assess your goals and adaptive equipment needs?
3. What type of ski equipment does the program provide? How old is it? Will they rent equipment without a lesson? Can you use equipment off-site?
4. How accessible are buildings and slopes? Do they have heated or regularly maintained ramps? How far are buildings from the shuttle system? Is the shuttle accessible?
5. How long has the program been in business?
6. Will the program give references?
Here's a guide to help find the adapted gear that’s right for you.
Monoski
A bucket on a framework with a shock absorber that attaches to a single ski. Good for leg amputees, paras, individuals with lower limb concerns, and even those without a disability who just want to play in some cool gear. Monoskiing requires balance and outriggers for turning.
Revolution Pro Comp. From $3,025. By Freedom Factory. Great ski for anyone with good upper body mobility and balance. Available in adult and junior sizes with a choice of colors. Delivery is 6-8 weeks. Visit www.spokesnmotion.com.
Mogul Master SP (single pivot). From $1,600. By Freedom Factory. The evolution of the original Mogul Master, with a single pivot loading system. Like the Revolution, it’s available in a choice of colors. Delivery is 6-8 weeks. Visit www.spokesnmotion.com.
Yetti Program Ski. From $2,100. By RadVentures. While known for its medal count (right up under Praschberger) and its elite riders (Chris Waddell, etc), the Yetti is the ideal program ski, offering multiple adjustments. Delivery time is 4-8 weeks. Yetti Performance Packages are available from $2,800.
KGB. By U.S. Paralympic monoskier Kevin Bramble, the ski is custom-made to order. It’s an advanced ski for advanced riders. Prices vary. Contact Kevin at Kevinbramble@hotmail.com.
Praschberger. The world leader in alpine ski medal count. Designed by European monoskier Alois Praschberger, this ski is available in adult and youth sizes and in a race configuration. Recommended for higher-level paras and leg amputees. Distributed by Paul Speight at www.spokesnmotion.com.
Tessier LEISURE Uniski. Currently the most-used sit ski in competitions worldwide. Available through www.spokesnmotion.com.
BiSki
A bucket mounted on a frame with shock absorber that attaches to two skis - great for quads, those with limited balance or movement, skiers with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, or those just beginning to ski.
The Mogul Master TWO (MMT). From $2,611. The Bi-Ski version of Freedom Factory's Mogul Master. This ski is available in adult and junior versions, multiple color choices and ships in 6-8 weeks. Visit www.spokesnmotion.com.
The Unique BiSki. From $2,500. Manufactured by Enabling Technologies, this ski is ideal for those who require some assistance to ski. An upright skier handle, detachable fixed outriggers and a front bar for the rider to hold onto are optional equipment with this ski. Available at www.spokesnmotion.com.
Mountain Man FFS Dual Ski. The original bi-ski. Made with custom skis. Not available online. Call (406) 587-0310 for more information.
The Tessier "LEISURE" Dualski. A high-performance sit ski that does as well on hard snow as in powder snow. Its totally articulated frame offers great comfort and sliding security. Visit www.spokesnmotion.com.
Outriggers
These are the crutch-like stabilizers with ski tips on the ends used to turn and for balance by monoskiers and biskiers, as well as some lower extremity amputee skiers. Required equipment for monoskiing and biskiing.
Superlite Outriggers. From $329. Manufactured by Enabling Technologies, these lightweight outriggers are available in adult and child sizes and in standard and race configurations. Available at www.spokesnmotion.com.
RadVentures Outriggers. From $329. From the manufacturers of the Yetti Monoski, these outriggers use actual ski tips for ease in carving. Ideal for racing.
The SKI 2 from TRS is the only prosthetic ski accessory in the world that allows the skier the choice of body-powered cable operation or simple pendulum mechanics.
The device has a unique shock absorbing system and accepts a wide variety of ski poles. The standard pole hand grip is removed and the pole slips into a hollow cylinder and is held in place by Velcro® so that it can tear free if snagged. The Ski 2 is excellent for Nordic or Alpine skiing. For more information click here or call TRS at (800) 279-1865.
The key to good skiing is a ski that fits. Try different setups. Your local Adapted Program, Ski School or resort rental shop should have a few for you to rent or try out.
Adapted ski equipment technology has come a long way since 1978 when adapted sports pioneer Peter Axelson (www.beneficialdesigns.com) first introduced the Sit Ski and the Arroyo monoski and put the technology into the public domain.
Thanks to Axelson, we're now seeing manufacturers with monoskis, bi-skis, shredder plates, snowboard frames, monoski snowboard mounts and more. Some of the continent’s top monoski racers are also developing and marketing their own skis.
The 20 women named to the 2011 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activty includes Paralympic medalist Chantal Peticlerc. This is Chantal`s 6th time to receive the honor.
The objective of the list is to focus on women who are leaders and role models making a difference on the Canadian or international scene. The women on the MIW are influential women who contributed in a significant way to sport and physical activity in the year 2011. “These leaders share a passion for sport and physical activity—and use it to improve the lives of others. These women are game changers who motivate others to become leaders.”
Porthole Cruise Magazine has named Special Needs Group, the leading global provider of special needs equipment for the travel industry, as the winner of its Editor-in-Chief Award 2012 for “Best Travel Assistance For Cruisers With Disabilities.” This was the first year that Porthole has included this category as part of its annual awards, which are determined by Bill Panoff, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, based on his personal travel experiences. They are presented to pay tribute to standouts in the travel industry.
"After personally traveling with a family member who required extra assistance, I turned to the experts at Special Needs Group," said Panoff. "The experience couldn't have been easier or more convenient. The company truly made the difference in our cruise vacation."
Twenty percent (62 million) of the U.S. population has some form of disability, and the number of these individuals is increasing daily. Studies show that 24 million disabled Americans would travel/travel more frequently if their special needs were met. The accessible market also includes Baby Boomers and mature adults who may be “slow walkers” and do not consider themselves disabled, but who could benefit from special needs products and services.
For more visit www.porthole.com or www.specialneedsgroup.com.
Regular walking is one of the most effective forms of physical activity that improves heart health. To make it fun and easy to get moving the American Heart Association created Walking Clubs.
Walking is also easy to start and continue and it has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. By joining or forming an American Heart Association Walking Club you can connect with others who share your goals, lifestyles, schedules and hobbies -- and do it all free. An American Heart Association study revealed that American adults are 76 percent more likely to take a walk if another person is counting on them.
In contrast, research shows 45 percent of gym members will quit going to the gym in a given year and 30 percent will cancel their membership. For many people, Walking Clubs may provide a safe and effective lifestyle intervention to prevent heart disease and stroke. Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day will improve circulation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and promote weight loss.
Joining an existing Walking Club or forming your own is easy: visit www.mywalkingclub.org.
The first wheelchair-accessible vehicle was recently unveiled in Miami. Manufactured by Miami-based VPG, the MV-1, known as the "First Mobility Vehicle", rolled off the assembly line in Indiana in September and was presented to Marc Buoniconti this fall.
Buoniconti, who suffered a spinal cord injury while playing college football at The Citadel in 1985, is the president of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis which has spearheaded significant advances in spinal cord injury research and rehab. “Imagine, I'm getting the very first one. I think a vehicle of this kind is way overdue,” said Buoniconti.
Read more and see video:Buoniconti Unveils First Wheelchair-Accessible Car.
Ricochet is a golden retriever that loves to surf! With a unique, and highly skilled background of service/therapy/surf dog training, he's the only known dog in the world who surfs with disabled surfers and special needs kids for therapeutic purposes! Ricochet is busy raising awareness and funds for human/animal causes since he first surfed with quadriplegic surfer, Patrick Ivison (Team Colours) on August 20, 2009. Twenty one months later, on July 25, 2011... he had raised his $100,000th dollar for Patrick the Miracle Dog!
Ricochet is a finalist in the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards! See the video player for more on this amazing surfer dog!
To learn more about the dogs nominated, visit www.herodogawards.org
Join the conversation!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeroDogAwards
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmericanHeroDog
It's a fact. Less than half of the estimated 86,000 Canadians with a spinal cord injury are physically active.
A new fitness guide developed by McMaster University researchers is looking to change that. While fitness is important for everyone, it is critical for people with disabilities who are at risk for complications related to inactivity. The toolkit mobilizes strategies to inform, teach and enable people living with SCI to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle. The toolkit lists activities for people with spinal injuries, how much they should do each week, provides a weekly action plan and strategies to overcome obstacles.
Some suggested activities:
Manual Chair Users
- Wheel for fun and endurance
- Cycle using hand cycle or stationary bike
- Swim
- Build strength with a resistance band
- Lift weights, even cans and water bottles will do
- Rake the lawn or shovel snow
Power Chair Users
- Use a movement therapy machine
- Swim with assistance
- Use an arm ergometer
- Do standing frame exercises
- Dance
- Curl
- Use cable pulleys
- Practice yoga, pilates or tai chi
The complete toolkit is available at www.sciactioncanada.ca
Two of the world’s most iconic athletes will take to the stage together at the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards in Cape Town in December to address the issue of sport as a tool for social change.
Oscar Pistorius, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist and one of South Africa’s most high-profile athletes, will address the most impressive gathering in the history of sport and development alongside Michael Johnson, the Olympic legend, world-record holder and Beyond Sport Ambassador.
Johnson and Pistorius, who between them have won a total of 16 Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship gold medals, will discuss the role sport has played in breaking barriers in their own lives, and how they can teach that to the next generation as part of the Beyond Sport Summit, to be held in Cape Town between Monday 5th and Thursday 8th December.
Sport’s role as a tool for social inclusion is particularly topical for Paralympic champion Pistorius, who has faced a long-running battle to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Olympic Games. In July the double-amputee ran the qualifying time for the Olympic Games, but this week SASCOC insisted he would have to repeat that performance in the three months before the Games to have any chance of competing.
Oscar Pistorius said: "I am delighted that the Beyond Sport Summit & Awards are coming to South Africa, and I look forward in taking part. The chance to share a stage with a legend like Michael Johnson and consider what sport can do to inspire youth, to increase social inclusion and to help drive social change is a particularly exciting opportunity. I expect the Summit to inspire us all to do more in this field in South Africa and across the world."
Alongside Pistorius and Johnson, confirmed speakers at the Beyond Sport Summit include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former South Africa national football captain Lucas Radebe, and a host of other star names from South African and international sport, politics and business, as well as representatives from English football clubs Manchester City and Liverpool, the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies – the four teams nominated for Beyond Sport Team of the Year.
Over 300 executives from some of the world's top companies, including Sony Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, StubHub, Barclays and more have also confirmed their attendance. Throughout the week, the Beyond Sport Summit will use a combination of networking opportunities, insightful panels, and action-led working sessions to bring together those who use sport as a vehicle to create social impact with influential figures from the worlds of business, government and federations, whose attitudes and decisions can have substantial impact in the field.
The Beyond Sport Summit will also see the winners of the Beyond Sport Awards announced. 35 projects have been shortlisted, covering 18 countries and 22 different sports. They were chosen from close to 400 entries from more than 125 countries that submitted applications to this year’s Awards. The Beyond Sport Award winners will receive a substantial package of business support to help them grow and become sustainable in the future.
Beyond Sport is a global initiative that seeks to celebrate and support any organisation or individual with the goal to drive positive social change through sport. It is partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, TIME Inc and UNICEF. For the full programme of the 2011 Beyond Sport Summit and Awards, or for more information on Beyond Sport.
Help Team Canada GO FOR GOLD and you could WIN $1000!
After 10 years of excellence, five consecutive gold medals at the ISIHF World Championships, and an undefeated international record, the Canadian Amputee Hockey Team is getting ready to continue the dominance of Canadian hockey on the international stage again.
In April 2012, the team will travel to Finland to compete for its 6th consecutive Gold Medal.
As part of the fundraising push to cover training costs and travel expenses for the World Championships, the team is giving supporters a chance to win $1000!
It’s an online hockey pool... with a twist. Partnering with Ultimate Loser Pool, the rules are simple... pick a losing team from the NHL games each Saturday night. If your team loses in either regular time or overtime, you are still alive. If they win in regular time, overtime, or if the game goes to a shoot out, you are eliminated. You can't pick the same team twice, so it gets interesting after a few weeks.
The pool begins Saturday, October 22nd, and ends at the All-Star Break. Sign up online at www.canadianamputeehockey.ca. Make a $20 donation through the PayPal link. (You don't need a PayPal account to do this.) Your user name and password will be emailed to you, along with a tax receipt for your donation. Log in and make your weekly picks at www.ultimateloserpool.ca.
Picks must be in each week by Friday at midnight MST.
The winner “skates” away with $1000! That's a lot of silver to help the team win gold!
Cycling is a great form of exercise for anyone… cardio and strength workouts rolled into one. It’s a wonderful way to discover new places at your own pace. For amputees, it’s an ideal way to condition lower limbs, even residual ones.
If you cycled prior to your amputation you already have the motor skills needed to ride post-amputation. All you need is the confidence to ride again, and possibly some minor modifications to your prosthesis (if you choose to wear it to ride) and/or your bike.
The decision to use a prosthesis for bike riding often depends on the level of amputation. Those with very short above-knee residual limbs, and those who don’t use a prosthesis for daily activity, are more inclined to ride without. One benefit of riding with it however, is the exercise that the residual limb gets which aids circulation and muscle development even though your sound side may do all the work.
To say “balance” is the key to bike riding may be stating the obvious, but for amputees balance takes on a whole new meaning. Balancing on a bike is different after limb loss. Click Here for excellent suggestions and considerations specific to amputees from frame size, seat height, pedal security, foot position and more.
Oh, the joys of travel! Bright cities bold against the night sky. Majestic mountains draped in fir trees and foggy mists… was that a mountain lion? Fields of fresh-cut hay and groves of oak, elm, ash and maple, all arrayed in autumn finery. An ever-changing, ever shifting panorama, up close. This is the menu offered to passengers traveling across the United States by train. Randie Sue ElliottI took such a trip from Los Angeles to Orlando with her husband Tom, mother, sister, and her electric wheelchair. They traveled in the sleeper coach; her husband and her in an accessible room. One lazy morning, Randie Sue interviewed Richard Gocha, the attendant for her car and gleaned some terrific insight into accessible train travel. Read her interview here.
You know they're coming. It's almost time. No, not the relatives; the resolutions! As we look ahead to the holiday season, and ahead to next year, you'll probably give a moment's thought to what your own health resolutions for the New Year might be.
Maybe you want a diet and exercise plan. Maybe you want to eat better; perhaps you're planning to actually exercise more often, rather than just thinking about it more often.
Maybe you don't want to take on too much; you don't want to tackle the whole kit and kaboodle at once with your diet and exercise plan. So you're considering which of these is best to start with. Shall I diet? Shall I exercise? Where to begin? It's a perennial debate, even in scientific circles.
So where do you start in your diet and exercise plan? Click Here for some good advice from Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D., a certified Family Physician and Bariatric Physicians (the medical specialty of weight management.)
Increase your flexibility with myofascial stretching. There’s a tough connective tissue surrounding every cell of your body like a three-dimensional spider web. It’s called fascia, and when mistreated the web tightens and you suffer for it.
Injury, trauma, poor posture or impaired biomechanics can cause the fascial system to tighten, which puts abnormal pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, bones, organs and the brain. How do you know when fascia has been comprised? There are a variety of symptoms with pain and restriction of motion among the most telling.
Most recreational enthusiasts, and of course athletes, experience sports-related pain at some point in their active years. Having the added challenge of a disability can increase the chances of incurring some pain, tightness, or discomfort after an activity because the body is being asked to function in adapted ways.
Also, scar tissue or other restrictions in the fascial system related to the original injury can pull the body out of alignment, causing pain and dysfunction. When the body is asked to function at higher levels of activity, the likelihood of these difficulties increases.
Click Here to learn how Myofascial Stretching, when completed properly, can result in permanent lengthening of the body’s connective tissue with the capacity to dramatically improve health and quality of life. An article by Jill Stedronsky and Brenda Pardy, OTs in Denver, Colo., specializing in Myofascial Release Treatment.
Worried about getting a prosthetic limb wet? Vacuum-sealed waterproof covers for upper or lower extremities will keep your hardware dry be it at sea on a jet ski, or simply in the shower.
XEROSOX products are available in multiple sizes at affordable prices. Order online at www.xerosox.com or call (888) 937-6769.
