Community development

Alberta’s health system needs overhaul, auditor general says

Auditor general Merwan Saher wants the health-care system to make a ‘quantum leap’. Patients’ health information should flow to all of that person’s care providers, auditor general Merwan Saher says in his … READ MORE

Think the UK has a social care crisis now? Just wait until 2025

The demographic crystal ball shows elderly care is a crisis set to deepen, fast. No wonder UK politicians are grasping for solutions. The United Kingdom is on the verge of a social care crisis as funding for the care of the elderly is … READ MORE

How accessible tech helps people living with disabilities

Apple “Designed for Everyone” campaign marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people in the world are living with some sort of disability. That’s one in seven of … READ MORE

Environmental and personal factors still create barriers for people with disabilities

Assistive products and technologies – such as wheelchairs, upper-limb prostheses, and hearing and speech devices – hold promise for partially or fully mitigating the effects of impairments and enabling people with disabilities to … READ MORE

Everything you need to know about horse therapy

More and more Canadians are horsing around with their healthcare. Horse therapy, also known as equestrian or equine-assisted therapy, is a versatile treatment program that has patients galloping to ranches and stables to recover from … READ MORE

Bloorview School program for kids with disabilities suspended

School’s board says no able-bodied children enrolled in integrated program. Parents upset. The board of a Toronto private school with a one-of-a-kind kindergarten class that integrates students with disabilities and able-bodied … READ MORE

Ontario begins shifting home care responsibilities

Ontario begins dissolving its 14 community care access centres next week, but critics insist the move won’t cut red tape, free up money or improve home care for patients. When Carter Keith was five and a half months old, a … READ MORE

Call for more accessible seating at Calgary Philharmonic

Friends initially told they couldn’t sit side by side in wheelchair section, as they had for past decade. Music fans Lochlan Magennis, who uses a wheelchair, and Ken Potma, shown outside Arts Commons in Calgary. The two friends … READ MORE

New kind of house call comes to The Woodlands

Sarah Rhea was out of town on a weekend business trip when her husband called, worried that their 4-year-old son’s fever, sore throat and cough were worse than the day before. Diagnosing ear infections with a new smartphone … READ MORE

Paid consultants help patients navigate Canada’s Byzantine health-care system

Andrée Colella had been in and out of hospital for months with bladder and bone infections when her husband, Tom, broke down and asked for help from an unconventional source: a private health-care advocate. Patient navigator, Jana … READ MORE

The rise of the private patient advocate

After bouncing around doctors’ offices in an effort to treat her debilitating back pain, Maureen had become discouraged with the lack of progress. She had seen multiple specialists yet nothing seemed to provide relief, and she began … READ MORE

Calgary doctor connects disabled children with accessible activities

Let’s make it easy for these kids. Dr. Sarah MacEachern is on a campaign to get kids with disabilities more physically active — and help parents make that happen. MacEachern, a first-year University of Calgary pediatric … READ MORE

UN calls on Canada to ensure rights of Canadians with disabilities

The United Nations called on Canada today to address the “persisting gaps in the exercise and enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities, such as education, work and employment and an adequate standard of living, including … READ MORE

Ecuador paraplegic president-elect stirs hope for disabled people

Ecuador’s paraplegic president-elect Lenin Moreno will become a rare head of state to use a wheelchair when he takes office next month, stirring hope for disabled people worldwide. Ecuadorean presidential candidate Lenin Moreno … READ MORE

Air powered, waterproof wheelchair makes splash park ultra-accessible

A new waterproof, motorized wheelchair that runs entirely on compressed air was unveiled today at Morgan’s Wonderland, a 25-acre theme park in San Antonio, Texas. The park was built specifically for individuals with disabilities, … READ MORE

Changes coming to Alberta’s troubled support program for severely disabled adults

Problems with access, delays in processing applications, criticized by auditor general. Community and Social Services Minister Irfan Sabir announced changes to the AISH program in a response to the auditor general’s damning … READ MORE

State-of-the-art special needs school opens its doors in Calgary

After three long years of lobbying and construction, a unique school welcomed its students in for the first time this week [January 2017] in Calgary’s northwest. Students at Christine Meikle used to learn in an aging, cramped … READ MORE

Calgary Herald’s ‘Life with Emily’ documentary a finalist for international media award

The Calgary Herald has been named a finalist in a prestigious international media awards competition for a 2016 project called Without Limits: Kids With Special Needs. Our Special Children. Taking a break from lunch, 7 year old Emily … READ MORE

Calgary mom raising funds to bring music therapy to public high school

A Calgary mom is raising money so teenagers can benefit from a program that’s changed her daughter’s life. Christina Ryan dances with her daughter Emily Pitchers in 2016. Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald Photo Annalise Klingbeil, … READ MORE

Controversial changes to physiotherapy coverage put on ice: Alberta Health Services

‘The hardest hit people would have been the working poor or people who are struggling to get by.’ Alberta Health Services has backed away from planned changes that would have restricted physiotherapy services now covered. … READ MORE

Reducing frustration with health care for adults with chronic medical conditions

Navigating the U.S. health care system can be frustrating for anyone, but for adults with chronic medical conditions, the frustration can become overwhelming as they juggle multiple providers, medications and treatments. A pain point … READ MORE

Aids to Daily Living program could be outsourced to Alberta Blue Cross: AUPE

The province’s largest public sector union has some concerns about an anticipated move by the government to outsource the Aids to Daily Living program. Alberta Aids to Daily Living, AADL helps Albertans with a long-term disability, … READ MORE

The future of inclusive fashion is here

Open Style Lab’s ten-week interdisciplinary research program teams designers, engineers, and occupational therapists to create wearable solutions with and for clients with disabilities. Open Style Lab 2016 fellows and clients. New … READ MORE

Digital toolkit aims to prevent falls amongst the elderly

The Falls Risk Assessment Toolkit identifies patients at risk of falls and, potentially unplanned hospital admissions, and is available to all UK healthcare professionals to implement a review of patients at risk of potentially … READ MORE

Life With Music – Fundraiser by Christina Ryan

Emily Pitchers, 16, plucks the strings on a guitar with JB Music therapist Catherine Mitchell during a weekly session at the teenager’s family home. Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald. In celebration of National Music Therapy Month, we … READ MORE

Issues for parents caring 24/7 for children with complex care needs

A new research report has been published by the charity WellChild which explores parents’ experiences of managing care for children with complex care needs throughout the 24-hour day. Calgary photojournalist Christina Ryan and her … READ MORE

Who will care for the caregivers?

I should have put his socks back on. The thought kept nagging me as I finished my clinic notes, replaying the afternoon in my head. My final patient of the day — a man with dementia — was a late addition to the schedule, after his … READ MORE

Brain-controlled robot lets physically challenged see the world

For those with severe motor disabilities, mind-controlled prostheses have long offered a sliver of hope that they might one day be able to regain some semblance of autonomy. The Teleport uses a simple off-the-shelf brain control … READ MORE

Survey results – Healthcare system failing people with disabilities

Survey paints picture of healthcare system failing people who have disabilities in Arizona. The results of a recent survey of people who have disabilities living in Arizona and their experiences with medical providers reveals a … READ MORE

In the Garden of Hope & Ingenuity

Rehab 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

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