Assistive technology
Self-care and improved mobility
On Dec. 21, 2016, Aron Anderson, a Swedish man, became the first person to reach the South Pole by sit ski. Anderson, a wheelchair user as a result of childhood cancer, completed a 21-day journey that took him some 398 miles from the
… READ MOREJames has a life-threatening condition, but he’s desperate to leave his mark on the world. An amazing new device could help him create a very personal legacy. James Dunn, from Whiston, and his newly-adapted camera, with, left to
… READ MOREI love how designer Manuel Hess put it… “a walker doesn’t have to look like a disease itself.” Harsh but SO true! His proposal for a walker, called PROSUS, ditches the stigma and is instead designed with dignity in mind. By
… READ MOREWHILL, the leader in intelligent personal electric vehicles (EVs), presents its new FDA-cleared vehicle, the Model M, at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show. Whill, January 4, 2017 The Model M features patented omni-wheel technology to
… READ MORERehab pioneer Dr. Geoff Fernie’s innovative path from making Pink Floyd, Cream and other rock stars look good, to doing good for millions of people with disabilities. Dr. Geoff Fernie explains how FallsLab enables researchers to
… READ MORE‘It’s been really neat to watch because we never thought we would see it.’ Evelyn Moore, an Edmonton toddler who suffered paralysis after a tumour developed on her spine, is now standing on her own two feet with the
… READ MOREUnlike most cold-climate wheelers, Dave Kott can’t wait until the first snowfall at his Minnesota home. It’s then that he can put to the test his newly improved, homemade snow plow that runs with the use of actuators, similar to
… READ MOREVERA is an all-in-one device that utilizes a tele-rehab platform to help patients perform prescribed in-home exercise programs while monitoring their compliance and reporting results back to their physical therapists. The goal is to
… READ MOREStudy finds that home care is beneficial for the children, but it comes at great cost to family members or guardians. U.S. families provide nearly $36 billion [USD] annually in uncompensated medical care at home to children who have
… READ MORERyan. Alex. Siri. These are names of robotic voices that are often programmed on electronic tablets. They also become default identities for people with speech disorders who rely on technology to communicate. John Gregoire of Windham,
… READ MOREAlex Ghenis, Paula Larson, Ian Jaquiss and Ellen Stohl are four very different people with disabilities — with one similarity in common: Each agreed to share a day of their lives, taking us on a tour of what do they do, where they
… READ MOREWhy hire engineers with disabilities? They’re practiced problem solvers. Disabled engineers make great contributors—if they can get past the interview. On the Job: Kurt Driscoll had to go through endless interviews before finally
… READ MOREExperimental treatment improves grip, finger motion up to 300 percent in quadriplegics. Stimulator Bypasses Spine Injury, Helps Patients Move Hands. An experimental procedure involving an implanted spinal stimulator is showing early
… READ MOREThe Iris walker was designed with as much style as functionality. It’s lightweight, easy to use, easy to fold, and completely practical all while having a slim silhouette, tasteful colors, and a fashionable built-in bag for any
… READ MOREToyota and Segway inventor Dean Kamen have teamed to produce this stair-climbing, self-balancing, all-terrain mobility ninja. iBOT – An advanced mobility system restoring freedom and dignity. DEKA Research BBC 25 May 2016 A
… READ MOREJonathan Coleman holding a piece of G-Putty while his son Oisin holds a piece of Silly Putty. Irish Times, Naoise Culhane Photo Many composites blend stiff materials, such as glass or carbon fibers, into a softer elastic polymer
… READ MOREApparel manufacturers could play a vital role in helping people with disabilities navigate barriers. Approximately half of the respondents reported that they have declined to participate in activities or events because they lacked or
… READ MORESome cerebral palsy cases caused by genetic anomalies, not just brain injury: study. Antony Kelly Photo 570 News Larissa Pavone MD, Deborah Gaebler-Spira MD, Donald McGovern CPO FAAOP, Steven Makovitch MD, Stefania Fatone PhD,
… READ MOREThe Liftware Level is a motorized utensil that automatically bends itself to counteract involuntary hand movements, to allow people afflicted with disorders like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease to feed themselves.
… READ MOREMaayan Ziv was born with muscular dystrophy which she says has helped her build up a sense of resilience. “People assume that I’m a sweet little girl who has nice dreams,” she says wryly, “watch me kill that
… READ MOREJust like other children learn how to crawl, Evelyn slowly figured out how to wheel. Evelyn Moore at Treehouse, an indoor playground in northeast Edmonton that she often visits with her mom. With no wheelchairs small enough for baby
… READ MOREThis past Tuesday, I rolled by my local wheelchair shop to make a small chair adjustment. I’ve recently been working with one of the staff members to rebuild my backrest in a way that would give me better posture, and I wanted one
… READ MOREJesi Stracham used to captivate biotech investors and inadvertently move markets with social media posts documenting her dogged quest to get out of her wheelchair and back onto her feet. Jesi Stracham participates in an adaptive water
… READ MOREWhile playing baseball at the age of 21, an ill-advised slide into third base cost Loren Worthington the use of his limbs. 30 years later, he’s now a talented sports photographer whose work earned him a job capturing adaptive sports
… READ MOREConnor Groenewoud just started junior high school this fall. And as the only boy in his entire school in a wheelchair, the 12-year old understands other students at times have trouble with the fact that he’s different. Sarah
… READ MORESelf-driving scooter demonstrated at MIT complements autonomous golf carts and city cars. “Mobility is not only outdoors. You also want to be mobile in big complexes, like malls. So the concept of mobility is not only on the roads
… READ MOREBraces for people with scoliosis can be awkward, cumbersome and even painful. A good fit is crucial, especially since the brace is often worn day and night. Young girls that suffer from spinal curvature will soon be able to wear
… READ MOREOne of my most memorable moments in high school came during my freshman year. A motivational speaker was addressing us in a huge assembly. I was seated with one of my best friends at the front of the auditorium, and the whole group
… READ MORETwo years ago Medscape did a survey of physicians, healthcare providers, and consumers to gauge relative acceptance of new technologies and attitudes toward medical information sharing. We also published that survey in a peer-reviewed
… READ MORECrossing over a lush grassy meadow on my handcycle, I stop on the wooden walkway to take in my surroundings — new spring growth on the trees juxtaposed with the sun’s illumination of giant granite walls. The thunderous sound of
… READ MORE
