Assistive technology
Self-care and improved mobility
Increased video-conferencing may boost willingness to book virtual appointments. A demonstration at the University of Alberta rehabilitation robotics lab shows how a robot with a video screen allows a specialist to monitor patient
… READ MORENearly 2 years after minor surgery, Maria Konopeskas just wants to get home. Maria Konopeskas was admitted to hospital for relatively minor surgery in November 2017. She’s still there. Jean Delisle CBC Laurie Fagan, CBC News
… READ MOREDriving a hand-controlled Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross CUV, Air Force veteran Karah Behrend took second place at the 2019 Rebelle Rally, an eight-stage, women’s-only off-road competition. Behrend was the first adaptive athlete to
… READ MOREWheelchair court sports are a blast. And modern sports chairs are built to be faster and more agile than ever, making them even more fun to use and very exciting to watch in action. Arizona athlete Tim Surry uses a Top End Pro
… READ MOREA research group has developed a new, lightweight and motor-less device that can be easily attached to an ankle support device – otherwise known as an ankle foot orthosis (AFO). The new device will aid stroke patients in their
… READ MOREChildren with Cerebral Palsy have more energy to play and be physically active for longer, thanks to specially designed orthotics. AFOs for kids with cerebral palsy improve stability. Pinterest photo Staffordshire University 9 June
… READ MOREUsing biomedical modelling, researchers at TU Wien have developed a completely new type of wheelchair; specially designed handles make the drive more efficient and ergonomic. The crank levers change length throughout each revolution,
… READ MOREWhen child-care centres reopen, they should consider the needs of children with disabilities. Across Canada, some provinces have either opened or are looking at opening their child-care centres again following pandemic closures. But
… READ MOREOnline booking tool closed and recurring rides suspended during pandemic. DATS introduced changes to service intended to help prevent the spread of the virus and manage ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. But disability advocates
… READ MOREWhen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Stacy Ellingen, 34, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, lost two of the three caregivers she depends on to dress, shower, eat and use the bathroom. The caregivers — both University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh students
… READ MORECOVID-19 has had a significant impact on all Australians, but there are very good reasons why the impact might be more keenly felt by people with disability and their carers. More than isolated: The experience of children and young
… READ MORE‘This will, I believe, serve as a destination for many families.’ Shouldice Park in an inclusive playground brought to Calgary, Alberta, Canada by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. Landscape Structures Tricia Kindleman,
… READ MOREIn 2011, a new custom ankle foot orthotic (AFO) brace, herein referred to as the Moore Balance Brace, was introduced to the podiatric community. From the outset, the Moore Balance Brace was marketed and promoted to prevent falls in
… READ MORE‘We’ve never felt more alone on this journey,’ says Mark Daprato after his son turned 21. Mark Daprato’s son Deane has a form of cerebral palsy and throughout childhood and adolescence he benefited from many
… READ MOREOur 2020 Adapted Bike Program is OPEN. We are working on one-on-one curbside appointments. See HOW IT WORKS. Registration now open. Space is limited. Bikes are loaned on a first come/first served basis. Braceworks has provided The CP
… READ MOREWhen functional ability declines, changing the way of walking by, for instance, walking slower, pausing for rest or using walking aids, can facilitate older adults’ outdoor mobility. These were the findings of a study conducted at
… READ MOREAlberta’s single site restriction doesn’t apply to health-care aides working in people’s homes. Laverne Bissky and her husband made the decision years ago to take care of their 24-year-old daughter Kasenya Bissky,
… READ MORECOVID-19 has been disruptive to all families, a McMaster University professor says, but the effects of school closures, medical equipment shortages and social distancing are further amplified for families of children with
… READ MOREDisabled people face being marginalised by the very programmes that are designed to help them. Research shows disabled people face being marginalized by the very programs that are designed to help them. Projects and welfare systems
… READ MOREMore users needed: Lessons from Alberta’s coronavirus contact tracing app. Alberta released its contact tracing app, ABTraceTogether, last week. But early uptake figures and a key design quirk show how challenging it will be for
… READ MOREAs companies re-open, employees may don wearable tech to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Blackline Safety. By Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum 1 May 2020 As shuttered businesses make plans to resume on-site operations, many plan to outfit
… READ MOREUniversal Design is better for all humans, not just the disabled. When I became paralyzed at the age of 15, I learned to live by hacking. Can’t walk anymore? Hack ambulation with a wheelchair. Illustration by Raquel Kalil Tyler
… READ MOREHelp accessing personal protective equipment is on the way, says Alberta Health Services. ‘We feel forgotten’: Disability community overlooked during COVID-19, families say. Government of Alberta says its working with
… READ MORESchools need a closer connection to children with special needs during closures. The Richmond family, left to right: Hayley, Jake, Phil and Harry. Jake and Harry have a rare genetic condition with a variety of complex special needs.
… READ MOREA new electromyography biofeedback device that is wearable and connects to novel smartphone games may offer people with incomplete paraplegia a more affordable, self-controllable therapy to enhance their recovery, according to a new
… READ MOREI can’t tell you how thrilled I was to independently send my wife a text for the first time. Meet Todd Stabelfeldt. He’s been using Tecla since February 2014. We asked Todd to share with us his thoughts since introducing Tecla
… READ MOREThe new devices, developed by a collaborative team based in the US, Canada, and Kenya, are easy to use and allow people in different cultural contexts to quickly enhance their ability to communicate. Figure 1. The first prototype (top
… READ MOREAn open-access study, published in Rehabilitation Research and Practice, investigated the wear time of commonly used AFOs in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Shoes for Orthotics, AFOs, DAFOs. CHASA support groups The O&P EDGE
… READ MOREBabylon mobile app allows you to check symptoms, consult with doctors. Using Babylon, an app developed by Telus Health, patients can have one-to-one video consultations with doctors, with the cost of those virtual visits covered by
… READ MOREVariations call for adjustable devices. We can hopefully create devices in the future that adapt, learn, and grow with each individual. – Katherine Steele PhD Cascade DAFO By Greg Gargiulo, Lower Extremity Review November 2016
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