Occupational therapy

Adolescents with cerebral palsy report similar quality of life to their able-bodied peers

“Our results are encouraging. Across 10 different areas of life, adolescents with cerebral palsy only ranked their quality of friend and peer relationships as on average lower than adolescents in the general population, … READ MORE

Non-invasive brain stimulation may help treat symptoms of rare movement disorders

Electrical stimulation of the brain and spinal cord may help treat the symptoms of rare movement disorders called neurodegenerative ataxias, according to a study published in the August 22, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical … READ MORE

Alberta law to allow unwed parents to share financial burden of disabled adult children

The proposed legislation would allow parents to apply for financial support from ex-partners. Christina Ryan reads to her daughter, Emily, who is 18 but still requires constant care due to her Down syndrome and several other medical … READ MORE

The curious case of Charles Krauthammer

Charles Krauthammer, Pulitzer-prize winning columnist for The Washington Post, best-selling author, Fox News commentator and well-respected conservative rhetorician, died on June 21 after an aggressive return of cancer following … READ MORE

Forget the cell phone screen, a forearm is all you’ll need to read

Researchers report haptic interface for mobile technology. Postdoctoral student Yang Jiao communicates words to Jaeong Jung, an undergraduate student, using phoneme signals transmitted to the haptic device on his forearm. Purdue … READ MORE

Why we’re putting an Xbox controller on display at the V&A

The games console is part of our drive to exhibit modern objects – as a way to make sense of our complex world The Xbox adaptive controller marks an important moment in contemporary design history. Victoria And Albert Museum/PA … READ MORE

Cerebral palsy patients test Canadian researchers’ virtual rehabilitation system

Canadian researchers developed an at-home virtual rehabilitation system for people with weakness on one side of their body, then tested it in a two-month-long cerebral palsy related clinical trial – Functional Engagement in Assisted … READ MORE

Learning to improve foot control in cerebral palsy

A device to measure foot control is being trialled to improve walking ability for adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Learning to improve foot control in Cerebral Palsy, Shari O’Brien. School of Human Movement and … READ MORE

Students showcase their award winning accessibility related designs

National competition aims to find innovative, practical and low-cost solutions to make our communities more accessible for persons with disabilities. Innovative Designs for Accessibility – The IDeA competition. Universities Canada … READ MORE

Robots as tools and partners in rehabilitation

Why trust should play a crucial part in the development of intelligent machines for medical therapies. A robot congratulates a patient for correctly sorting the colored beakers. Shelly Levy-Tzedek University of Freiburg 17 August 2018 … READ MORE

Taekwondo school offers unique course for people with Down syndrome

Hydra Martial Arts partnered with Calgary Ups and Downs society to start special needs class. Instructors at Hydra Martial Arts teach Taekwondo to students with Down syndrome in Calgary. Anis Heydari CBC Anis Heydari, CBC News Calgary … READ MORE

How the iPhone and App Store have redefined accessible software

Everyone acknowledges the societal and technological effects the iPhone has had on the world. In late 2007, Time named the original model its “invention of the year,” and rightfully proclaimed it “the phone that … READ MORE

How do you assess pain in children who can’t express themselves?

New research identifies priorities in identifying pain in non-verbal children with medical complexity. Pain is a frequent problem for children with complex medical conditions — but many of them are unable to communicate their pain … READ MORE

Low wages are driving a shortage of care providers – elders and the disabled now face a crisis in California

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 14 percent of Americans have developmental disabilities like Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism. The rates of such disabilities are on a steady rise, and some members of … READ MORE

Student designs controller to boost disabled sister’s dexterity

An all-inclusive, spherical games controller – breaking down the barriers between able-bodied and disabled users whilst promoting rehabilitation. The James Dyson Award Designer Billy Searle shows his sister Jess how to use … READ MORE

First look at how children with cerebral palsy develop language skills

A new study of children with cerebral palsy could help ease the speech and language challenges many of these children face as they get older. The Hustad lab studies how speech, language, and communication abilities develop and change … READ MORE

Non-surgical recovery of function: Not a fantasy

“Improved voluntary hand function occurred within a single session in every subject tested.” Dr. Reggie Edgerton, Director of UCLA Edgerton Lab, poses for a portrait in his lab on the campus in Los Angeles, California, March 16, … READ MORE

Mayo Clinic researchers uncover methods to quantify the yips and golfer’s cramp

The findings could open the door to improved treatment options. Banff Springs Golf Course and Hotel. Banff, Alberta. Jim McVeigh, Mayo Clinic News Network July 19, 2018 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Almost every golfer knows the feeling. … READ MORE

Calgary mom of terminally ill boy urges empathy in neighbourhood parking spat

‘I’ve had people come to my door and tell me that I needed to move the vehicle or they were going to hit it.’ Melissa Huitema and her sons, from left, Cade, 5, Kean, 3, and Kai, 7, are seen in this undated handout … READ MORE

Kids with cerebral palsy achieve goals at Edmonton ‘brain camp’

At the beginning of “brain camp” each of the eight kids attending set a goal to work toward. For Tacee French, the goal is to strengthen her right hand so she can lead a cow by a rope. Danika Dobson, 9, right, attends a summer … READ MORE

Child care providers often lack the training, resources to serve children with disabilities

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law nearly 30 years ago, a recent statewide survey of child care providers and early interventionists in Illinois suggests little has changed with regard to promoting the … READ MORE

The most valuable person you haven’t hired yet

People with disabilities are the original hackers. You should hire them. Edelstall – Coworking Space Hannover. Kiwihug Unsplash By Christina Mallon, Fast Company July 9, 2018 When you think about disabled people, strength and … READ MORE

The secret world of disabled gamers

Studies like this one could begin to make digital games more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Games for people with disabilities. The Economist Emerging Technology from the arXiv, MIT Technology Review July 3, … READ MORE

People with disabilities failed by dearth of funding worldwide, say campaigners

As UK co-hosts world’s first disability summit, Theresa May warns that most vulnerable are ‘forced, every day, to deal with prejudice and even violence.’ Frank, who has cerebral palsy, lives in Kakuma refugee camp, in northern … READ MORE

Dementia patients could remain at home longer thanks to ground breaking technology

Innovative new technology will enable people with dementia to receive round the clock observation and live independently in their own homes, a new study in the journal PL0S One reports. sabinevanerp, Pixabay CC0 By Natasha Meredith, … READ MORE

High-flying young doctor overcomes stroke that grounded him

Flying at 35,000 feet at the start of a trip from their Chicago home to Hawaii to celebrate the upcoming birth of their first child, Dave Levy woke his sleeping wife and said, “Does my right eye look weird?” After … READ MORE

How music helps rehab patients learn to move again

‘Music is part of the most complex auditory language the brain ever invented.’ Music therapist Jennifer Buchanan works with post-stroke patient Alan Hubbard at the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured in … READ MORE

Early physical therapy benefits low-back pain patients

Patients with low-back pain are better off seeing a physical therapist first, according to a study of 150,000 insurance claims. Analysis of 150K insurance claims shows health, cost upsides of starting care with a PT. About 80 percent … READ MORE

Leg exercise is critical to brain and nervous system health

In a new take on the exercise truism ‘use it or lose it,’ researchers show neurological health is an interactive relationship with our muscles and our world. MabelAmber Pixabay CC0 Frontiers in Neuroscience, Science Daily … READ MORE

Paint job transforms walls into sensors, interactive surfaces

Smart walls react to human touch, sense activity in room. Researchers at CMU and Disney Research used simple tools and techniques to transform walls so that they will react to touch and sense activity in a room. CMU Byron … READ MORE

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