The Nation's Leading Event for People with Abilities -- Abilities Expo in Boston September 20-22

BOSTON, August 22, 2013 /VMiNewswire/ -- VMi New England's community of people with disabilities—which also includes families, caregivers, seniors, wounded veterans and healthcare professionals—welcomes the much-anticipated return of the Abilities Expo Boston on September 20-22, 2013 at The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Admission is free.

Abilities Expo has enjoyed tremendous success in bringing life-enhancing products and services, education, resources and fun to people with disabilities in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and San Jose each year.

The Abilities Expo Boston will feature an impressive line-up of exhibits, celebrities, workshops, events and activities to appeal to people of all ages with the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, learning, developmental and sensory disabilities.

"We are thrilled for the opportunity to bring Abilities Expo to Boston," said David Korse, president and CEO of Abilities Expo. "We can't wait help people explore the possibilities and open their eyes to all the things they can do."

The Latest Products and Services Attendees will experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They will find mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for people with sensory impairments and much more.

Relevant Workshops A series of compelling workshops which address pressing disability issues will be offered free-of-charge to all attendees. Sessions will focus on travel, emergency preparedness, therapeutic recreation, thriving as a parent of a unique child, home accessibility, finding the correct mobility device and that is just for starters.

Sports, Instruction, Dancing and More! Abilities Expo does not merely inform, it engages and it entertains. Attendees of all levels of ability will learn the latest hip hop dance moves and play a host of adaptive sports like rowing, power soccer and more. And the kids will love the face painting!

Meet the Animals Animals have become an intrinsic part of the community of people with disabilities. Some are essential to the healing process, while others help their human partners become more independent. Expo-goers will enjoy assistance dog demos, and learn how service monkeys can help people with special needs.

Celebrity Encounters Meet Chelsie Hill, co-founder of the dance sensation Team Hotwheelz and one of the dynamic divas of Push Girls, Sundance Channel's award-winning, boundary-breaking docu-series that traces the lives of four women in Hollywood who happen to be in wheelchairs.

Jennifer French, silver medalist for Sailing at the 2012 Paralympian Games and the 2013 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, will conduct a workshop and book signing for her new autobiography, On My Feet Again.

Come to VMi New England's Mobility Center were every day is a Ability Expo

National Spinal Cord Injury Month: Will You Stand Up For Those Who Can't?

September has been designated by Congress as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Sponsored by Sen. Mark Rubio of Florida, the resolution notes:

• the estimated 1,275,000 individuals in the United States who live with a spinal cord injury (SCI) cost society billions of dollars in health-care costs and lost wages;
• an estimated 100,000 of those individuals are veterans who suffered the spinal cord injury while serving as members of the United States Armed Forces;
• every 48 minutes a person will become paralyzed, underscoring the urgent need to develop new neuroprotection, pharmacological, and regeneration treatments to reduce, prevent, and reverse paralysis; and
• increased education and investment in research are key factors in improving outcomes for victims of spinal cord injuries, improving the quality of life of victims, and ultimately curing paralysis.
  

“Paralyzed Veterans of America is passionate about its commitment to increasing awareness, supporting research to find a cure and advocating for exceptional quality of care for patients with spinal cord injury/disorders

Research into treating or finding a way to reverse paralysis from spinal cord injury is often expensive and hard to come by, involving specialized equipment and staff that many hospitals and research centers cannot afford. Government funding and support, as well as that of the private sector, will be crucial in the search for a treatment for paralysis.

Paralyzed Veterans of America has since its inception supported research in spinal cord science as well as educational initiatives to improve the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury—more than $100 million into research that promises new therapies, treatments and potential cures for paralysis. Top researchers supported by Paralyzed Veterans now confidently speak of a cure.

Boston Abilities Expo 2013

 Boston Abilities Expo September 20-22

For almost as long as we've been servicing and selling wheelchair vans , The Abilities Expo has been improving the lives of Americans with disAbilities, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. This unique forum features three days of cutting-edge products and services, compelling workshops, fun-for-the-whole-family activities and has become the leading event for the community of people with disabilities (PWDs).

Abilities Expo reaches out to all ages and all sectors of the Community including wounded veterans, persons recovering from immobilizing accidents, seniors with age-related health concerns, children with disabilities, individuals with mobility and spinal issues, people who have vision and hearing impairments, people with developmental disabilities and many more. Whether your challenges are mild or severe, this is your event.

Exhibitor Profile

Automobiles, van/conversions - Assistive technologies - Bathroom equipment - Beds, furnishings & accessories - Chairs & accessories - Clothing & apparel - Daily living aids - Durable medical equipment - Exercise, recreational, sports equipment & services - Home medical equipment & services - Incontinence products - Insurance & insurance services - Legal services - Publications - Ramps/lifts - Rehabilitative care/services - Residential programs - Seating/positioning systems & accessories - Travel & hospitality services - Wheelchairs, scooters & walkers

Able Flight Brings Wheelchair user to the Sky

Humanity has always seen flight as one of the most sublime images of freedom in motion. It seems almost unfair that our feathered friends get to move about so quickly to wherever they may please. It seems to be nothing short of magical. Piloting an aircraft was a pipedream for wheelchair users for many a year; that is, until 2006.

Charles Stites founded the non-profit group, Able Flight, for the sole purpose of giving those accustomed to wheels a new pair of wings. Able Flight works to give scholarships to people who have physical disabilities for the purpose of obtaining a Sport Pilot license. Some of the group's funding goes to purchasing special modified aircraft for people with differing needs to have a plane to fly.

Nothing says it better than the mission statement used by foundation: Able Flight's mission is to offer people with disabilities a unique way to challenge themselves through flight training, and by doing so, to gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance.

The program received a special boon in 2010 when a partnership with the premiere Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology took place. Able Flight offers a range of scholarships for students to go learn from the world-class flight instructors at Purdue.

Most flight instruction takes place during the months of May and June, for a total of 5 to 6 weeks. This time covers ground-based classwork and in-flight training, all leading up to the check ride tests. Most flight training is now conducted with Able Flight's joint training program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Career training can take place at a number of locations.

The scholarship types range from a full-ride scholarship for those looking to obtain a Sport Pilot license, to those seeking training for a career working on and with Light Sport Aircraft in either maintenance or dispatching. Another scholarship is made available for those who had a pilot's license and are seeking to get back in the air after an injury.

The requirements are basic as well. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen seventeen years or older with a disability. Recipients have had disabilities ranging from lost limbs and SCI to congenital birth disorders.

Leonardo Da Vinci captured a strong sentiment for those who admire the sky, Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

Thanks to Purdue University and Able Flight, being in a wheelchair doesn't mean just looking into the sky any longer.

September is National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month

 

WILL YOU STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T?

Every 48 minutes someone in the U.S. is paralyzed from a spinal cord injury.  Millions worldwide are living with paralysis as a result and living with the knowledge that there is currently no cure for their injury.

In an effort to raise awareness about the critical need for better treatments and preventive measures, September has been designated National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month by the U.S. Senate, the result of a resolution co-sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL).  To bolster the resolution’s message, we are launching an awareness campaign lasting the entire month of September.

The goal of the campaign is to ask “Will You Stand Up For Those Who Can’t?”  The intent is to create a national conversation about the devastation of paralysis, and to bring this condition to the forefront of public awareness.

“Paralysis does not discriminate.  People need to realize that paralysis can happen to anyone at any time,” said Nick Buoniconti.  “But the reality of today’s statistics can’t be disputed.  Every 48 minutes another person in the U.S. will become paralyzed. That is simply unacceptable. Each of us must do what we can to make a difference.  I am personally asking you, will you stand up for those who can’t and do one or more of the following?”

We are asking our friends and supporters to:

Make a donation in honor of a loved one, caregiver, scientist or organization who is working to improve the life of those injured.  If you would like to host a small fundraising party at your house, please email bfinfo@med.miami.edu and we will send you more information.

“The inspiring work of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis has touched the lives of millions of young athletes, accident victims and troops in harm’s way and I commend them for it,” said Sen. Rubio. “By designating September as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, I hope we can further educate the public about how crippling accidents can be prevented while promoting the important work being done to help victims walk again.”

ADA Design Guide 1 - Restriping Parking Lots

Accessible Parking Spaces

When a business, State or local government agency, or other covered entity restripes a parking lot, it must provide accessible parking spaces as required by the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Failure to do so would violate the ADA. In addition, businesses or privately owned facilities that provide goods or services to the public have a continuing ADA obligation to remove barriers to access in existing parking lots when it is readily achievable to do so. Because restriping is relatively inexpensive, it is readily achievable in most cases. This ADA Design Guide provides key information about how to create accessible car and van spaces and how many spaces to provide when parking lots are restriped. (illustration showing a woman getting out of the driver's side of a car into a manual wheelchair)  

Accessible Parking Spaces for Cars

Accessible parking spaces for cars have at least a 60-inch-wide access aisle located adjacent to the designated parking space. The access aisle is just wide enough to permit a person using a wheelchair to enter or exit the car. These parking spaces are identified with a sign and located on level ground.  

Van-Accessible Parking Spaces

Van-accessible parking spaces are the same as accessible parking spaces for cars except for three features needed for vans:

a wider access aisle (96") to accommodate a wheelchair lift; vertical clearance to accommodate van height at the van parking space, the adjacent access aisle, and on the vehicular route to and from the van-accessible space, and an additional sign that identifies the parking spaces as "van accessible."

One of eight accessible parking spaces, but always at least one, must be van-accessible.  

(illustration showing a van with a side-mounted wheelchair lift lowered onto a marked access aisle at a van-accessible parking space. A person using a wheelchair is getting out of the van. A dashed line shows the route from the lift to the sidewalk.)

Features of Accessible Parking Spaces for Cars

(plan drawing showing an accessible parking space for cars with a 96 inch wide designated parking space, a 60 inch wide min. marked access aisle and the following notes)

Sign with the international symbol of accessibility mounted high enough so it can be seen while a vehicle is parked in the space. If the accessible route is located in front of the space, install wheelstops to keep vehicles from reducing width below 36 inches. Access aisle of at least 60-inch width must be level (1:50 maximum slope in all directions), be the same length as the adjacent parking space(s) it serves and must connect to an accessible route to the building. Ramps must not extend into the access aisle. Boundary of the access aisle must be marked. The end may be a squared or curved shape. Two parking spaces may share an access aisle.

 

Three Additional Features for Van-Accessible Parking Spaces

(plan drawing showing a van-accessible parking space with a 96 inch wide designated parking space, a 96 inch wide min. marked access aisle and the following notes)

Sign with "van accessible" and the international symbol of accessibility mounted high enough so the sign can be seen when a vehicle is parked in the space 96" min. width access aisle, level (max. slope 1:50 in all directions), located beside the van parking space Min. 98-inch-high clearance at van parking space, access aisle, and on vehicular route to and from van space

 

Location

Accessible parking spaces must be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible facility entrance. Where buildings have multiple accessible entrances with adjacent parking, the accessible parking spaces must be dispersed and located closest to the accessible entrances. When accessible parking spaces are added in an existing parking lot, locate the spaces on the most level ground close to the accessible entrance. An accessible route must always be provided from the accessible parking to the accessible entrance. An accessible route never has curbs or stairs, must be at least 3- feet wide, and has a firm, stable, slip-resistant surface. The slope along the accessible route should not be greater than 1:12 in the direction of travel. Accessible parking spaces may be clustered in one or more lots if equivalent or greater accessibility is provided in terms of distance from the accessible entrance, parking fees, and convenience. Van-accessible parking spaces located in parking garages may be clustered on one floor (to accommodate the 98-inch minimum vertical height requirement).  

Free Technical Assistance

Answers to technical and general questions about restriping parking lots or other ADA requirements are available by telephone on weekdays. You may also order the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and other ADA publications, including regulations for private businesses or State and local governments, at any time day or night. Information about ADA-related IRS tax credits and deductions is also available from the ADA Information Line. Department of Justice


ADA Information Line800-514-0301 (voice)
800-514-0383 (tty)

 

Internet

You may also review or download information on the Department's ADA Internet site at any time. The site provides access to ADA regulations, technical assistance materials, and general ADA information. It also provides links to other Federal agencies, and updates on new ADA requirements and enforcement efforts.

Internet address: www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/index.html

Reference: ADA Standards for Accessible Design (28 CFR Part 36):
§ 4.1.6 Alterations;
§ 4.1.2 Accessible Sites and Exterior Facilities: New Construction, and
§ 4.1.6 Parking and Passenger Loading Zones.

wheelchair van: battery maintenance- some useful tips

BATTERY MAINTENANCE - SOME USEFUL TIPS.

 

BATTERY MAINTENANCE: SOME BASIC TIPS

There is nothing worse than getting inside your wheelchair van, turn the key (or pushing a few buttons), and hear "click, click, click, click..." Oh no, a dead battery!  Although this isn't a major mechanical issue, it's a major inconvenience, and could possibly leave you stranded in a parking lot or even unable to get in or out of your car or wheelchair van.  The good news is that it's very preventable.

It's important to consider all of the electrical devices, and the power demands required for todays wheelchair vans and other vehicles outfitted with mobility equipment. These devices could be factory systems like power door locks, power windows, power seats, anti-theft devices, keyless entry and even the vehicle's clock. These devises could also be aftermarket systems or mobility equipment like a remote starter, wheelchair lift, transfer seat, scooter lifter, or an electronic wheelchair securement system.  All these electronics require a source of reliable power, so read on, and we will explain some basic tips and information regarding non-sealed lead acid batteries typically used in wheelchair vans and mobility equipped vehicles.

First, here's a brief explanation on how your wheelchair van's battery works and how it's recharged:  A vehicle battery's main purpose is to provide a source of power or electricity to get the vehicle started. Its secondary purpose is to supply power or electricity to all of those other systems and devices mentioned above.  Once a car, truck or wheelchair accessible vehicle is started and the engine is running, the vehicle's charging system, namely the alternator, immediately goes to work recharging the battery back to 100% state of charge. This is due to the loss of battery power that was required to turn over the engine and start your vehicle. Additionally, the vehicles charging system provides all of the electricity that the automobile needs to be driven, like operate your lights, windshield wipers, heat and air conditioning systems, even play your favorite radio station.   Your wheelchair lift, scooter lifter, turnout seat or other electronic adaptive mobility equipment is connected directly to your battery, compounding its importance in keeping your vehicle reliable.  In simpler terms, your wheelchair van's battery is essentially like a gas tank. If you keep taking power out of it and your vehicle's charging system can't put anything back into it, or isn't given an opportunity to do so, you soon will have no power in reserve for when you need it most.

Driving habits, not defects in batteries, are often the cause of battery failure. Short and infrequent trips can rob a battery of its charge and not allow it to properly recharge.  In fact, a German manufacturer of luxury automobiles revealed that of 400 vehicles returned to dealerships under warranty for not starting or a dead battery, nearly 50% simply needed their batteries charged, not replaced, and had no other mechanical problems.  They simply didn't have enough of a charge, most likely due to the owner's driving habits.

Another common cause of battery failure is acid stratification. The electrolyte on a stratified battery concentrates on the bottom, causing the upper half of the cell to be acid poor. This effect is similar to a cup of coffee in which the sugar collects on the bottom when the waitress forgets to bring the stirring spoon. Batteries tend to stratify if kept at low charge (below 80%) and never have the opportunity to receive a full charge. Short distance driving while operating power doors, power ramps, power kneel systems, and HVAC electric blowers contributes to this. Acid stratification reduces the overall performance of the battery.

The more common reasons for a dead battery are:

• Forgetting the headlights are turned on after you park the van.
• Forgetting a reading light or courtesy light is turned on. This is easy to do since most cars have a feature that delays turning off the interior lights after you leave the van, so that you don't notice that you left a light turned on.
• A corroded or loose connection between the battery and the cables attached to it.
• A defective interior door switch or trunk lamp switch that leaves the bulb lit.
• A defective charging system that does not replenish the battery's charge.
• An old battery that has lost its ability to maintain a full charge.
• Repeated use of a platform wheelchair lift, scooter lifter, turnout seat or other mobility equipment without allowing the vehicle's battery to re-charge.

 

Batteries can have a life expectancy of 3 to 5 years, after which they should be replaced preventatively even if they are working well.  Batteries have to work much harder during winter months when it is cold out, and batteries often start to show signs of failure in sub-freezing temperatures. Maintenance is an important part of ensuring a battery's operating life. Simply driving the vehicle does not always adequately recharge the battery.

Here is some information that will help preserve battery life on your wheelchair van or vehicle with mobility equipment.

• Vehicles stored for more than 30 days should have the negative battery cable disconnected.
• In cold temperatures, a discharged battery can freeze and damage the plates. Batteries with damaged plates require replacement.
• In hot weather (80 degrees and above), if a battery discharges, it greatly affects the battery's long-term life.
• Do not leave any door open for an extended period. The OEM electronic system will not "sleep" right away. During this time, there could be up to a 200-milliamp draw from other devices and systems and mobility equipment in the vehicle, even if the dome lights are off.
  Very short drives reduce a battery's charge while long drives increase it.

Vehicles that are not driven on a daily basis may require the use of an On-Board Automatic Trickle Charger to keep the battery fully charged. When buying a new battery for your wheelchair van, we suggest you purchase and install a battery with the greatest Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) capacity possible. Of course the physical size, cable hook up, and terminal type must be a consideration.