Quadriplegia

Quadriplegic Ontario man hand-cycling across Canada to promote activity after injury

“I want to dip my tires in both oceans.” Kevin Mills leaves Cape Spear, N.L., on May 24 after the start of his cross-Canada trip in a wheelchair bicycle. GREG LOCKE, THE GLOBE AND MAIL Follow the journey • Full route maps • … READ MORE

Brain implants and wearables let paralyzed people move again

A “neural bypass” routes signals around the damaged spinal cord, potentially restoring both movement and sensation. Motion Restored: Luke Tynan, who was paralyzed in 2017 by a spinal cord injury, demonstrates the wearable system … READ MORE

Looping the Olympic Peninsula

I have visited tropical rainforests, including the Amazon, but a temperate rainforest? I couldn’t picture it, much less a temperate rainforest within three hours of a major American city. Yet Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is home … READ MORE

Ian Mackay blows away power wheelchair 24-hour distance record

On June 22, accessibility advocate Ian Mackay blew his way to a new world record for distance wheeled in 24 hours by mouth-controlled power wheelchair. Photos courtesy of Celina Smith. New Mobility Ian Ruder, New Mobility June 23, … READ MORE

New to a wheelchair, BC man learns life skills from support group as the camera rolls

Story of Dan McLean and members of Accessible Okanagan told in Re-inventing the Wheel. Dan McLean, centre in black T-shirt, with Accessible Okanagan members behind him and friends. McLean is one of the wheelchair users cast in the … READ MORE

Bluetooth – a technology with bite

Those familiar with this young column know that “the machine” represents the large or small barriers and roadblocks those of us with mobility disabilities have to overcome. Todd Stabelfeldt By Todd Stabelfeldt, New Mobility July … READ MORE

Alberta Wheel Girls: Support group helps connect women in wheelchairs

The support group started in April as a way to connect women in wheelchairs. Emma Read started an Instagram page to share her experiences living with a wheelchair. Submitted by Emma Read Jamie Malbeuf, CBC News Edmonton August 12, … READ MORE

Adaptive athlete takes the podium at 2019 Rebelle Rally off-road competition

Driving 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 MORE

Switch Control changed my world

I 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 MORE

Parents say they can’t afford their disabled children under N.L. health system

Many families don’t qualify for coverage for costly special equipment and respite care. The family of six-year-old Lauren Tucker says they struggle to pay for all the care she needs — and they’re not the only ones. … READ MORE

Humans and machines learn together to win a competition

People using brain-computer interface are more efficient when both human and machine are allowed to learn. EPFL researchers trained two tetraplegic users to compete in the international Cybathlon BCI race. Both learned incrementally … READ MORE

Families agonize over who will care for their severely disabled children as they age

Deane Daprato when he was six-years-old and a day student at what was then called Bloorview MacMillan Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. CTV News Sandie Rinaldo, Anchor, National News Weekend & Reporter, CTV News W5 March 17, 2018 When … READ MORE

Alberta father hopes son’s story highlights the importance of inclusive education

For Herrington and his wife, they never imagined school would be an option for their son. Just recently, the grade 1 student received a Cool Kid award during an assembly, but perhaps his greatest feat yet is walking for the first time … READ MORE

People with tetraplegia gain rapid use of brain-computer interface

A new approach to calibrating the pioneering BrainGate brain-computer interface allowed three clinical trial participants with tetraplegia to gain control of a computer cursor after just one simple calibration step. Brain power. A … READ MORE

Researchers call on province to fund genetic testing for cerebral palsy

New study shows genetic variations are a factor in 20 per cent of hemiplegic CP cases. What was thought to be an almost entirely environmental disorder has a significant genetic component. – Stephen Scherer, Hospital for Sick … READ MORE

Todd Stabelfeldt: Titan of tech

Todd Stabelfeldt is a busy man these days. When not traveling all over the country delivering powerful speeches like “Convenience for You is Independence for Me” — at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose last … READ MORE

Phone app helps people with ALS speak using just their eyes

GazeSpeak runs on a smartphone and uses artificial intelligence to convert eye movements into speech, so a conversation partner can understand what is being said in real time. The eyes say it all. GazeSpeak, Enable Team, Microsoft … READ MORE

A day in the life of four wheelers

Alex 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 MORE

Stimulator bypasses spine injury, helps patients move hands

Experimental 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 MORE

Nevada issues semi-autonomous license to quadriplegic driver

Sam Schmidt (in the car) and the team of Arrow engineers with Project SAM in the pit lane at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Schmidt did some demo laps for the crowd on Carb Day. Arrow photo. Jonathan Gitlin, Ars Technica September … READ MORE

SCI life: Accessibility pioneer

The world that existed before the ADA is still fresh in the mind of J.R. Harding. Paralyzed in a 1982 schoolyard fight, Harding, a C5 quadriplegic, had to work hard for the life he wanted. A friend of high-profile politicians, a … READ MORE

Big data in healthcare goes far beyond EHR

Big data has applications in medtech that extend far beyond electronic health records. An analytics expert explains how data and algorithms have the potential to create a neuroassistive device to help paralyzed patients. In 2014, Ian … READ MORE

I’m the first quadriplegic person to regain thought-control of my arm

After being paralysed six years ago, Ian Burkhart is now able to swipe a credit card and play the computer game Guitar Hero, thanks to a device that uses machine learning to read his thoughts and stimulate his arm. Ian Burkhart, Ohio … READ MORE

Drive with your eyes! Eye tracking wheelchairs for quadraplegics

Patrick Joyce, who suffers from motor neuron disease (MND), has received a $196,000 prize from Hackaday after inventing a unique 3D printed mobility device. The Eyedrivomatic technology, developed in collaboration with Steve Evans and … READ MORE

Robot arm controlled by quadriplegic’s intentions

California researchers have linked a robot arm to the brain of a quadriplegic man, giving him smooth control over the arm. Quadriplegic Erik Sorto gives himself a drink, via electrodes in the part of his brain linked to intentions. by … READ MORE