Solar Powered Wheelchair Wins Award

Solar Powered Wheelchair Wins Award
By Energy Matters

A team from University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science recently won first place in a 2012 World Cerebral Palsy Day competition for their solar powered wheelchair design.

We first reported on solar wheelchairs back in 2010, when Haidar Taleb had just begun a journey to take him across the United Arab Emirates.

Inspired by roofs on convertible cars, the lightweight solar panels on the U.Va. team’s wheelchair are retractable and don’t significantly add to its length, width, height or weight when stored. A system of hinges on both sides of the chair controls the deployment of the solar panels. The three panels have a conversion efficiency of 15% and a capacity of 160 watts.

Here is a link to a video demonstrating the chair in action!
http://youtu.be/GRr6O-1-Jqk


When fully deployed, the custom solar panels cover an area of over one square meter. The wheelchair can operate for more than 4.5 hours at a speed of 8 kilometres per hour on a fully charged lead acid deep cycle battery, a range increase of more than 40 percent over batteries alone. At a speed of 1.6 km/h and suitable light exposure, the wheelchair and can run “indefinitely”; without needing to utilise battery power.

Built with lightweight materials, while the system may look fragile, it has been designed to operate under conditions more extreme than would be experienced in normal use. The panels and retractable mechanisms account for less than 15% of the completed wheelchair’s unoccupied weight.

Anyone with enough physical dexterity to use a joystick can operate the chair; including retracting and deploying the solar panels. In addition to standard features common to this type of wheelchair, USB power outlets are provided that can power a wide range of small devices.

In a wonderful display of generosity, the team will use their prize money to perform some final tweaks to the chair give it the individual in Turkey who submitted the initial suggestion for a solar-powered wheelchair.

The remaining prize money will be returned to United Cerebral Palsy in support of future World CP Day competitions.

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Navigating the World in a Wheelchair

By Crystal McClure

View similar stories.

One of the greatest challenges an individual with a disability faces is the issue of accessibility. Even today, there are still many places that are not fully accessible to those with disabilities; specifically those who use wheelchairs. Wheelchair-friendly establishments continue to be the exception rather than the rule.

Accessibility in the Home

As a child, I was often unaware of how often my wheelchair made it difficult for me to visit certain places. My parents did everything they could to ensure that my wheelchair did not cause me to be left out of many life experiences. They made modifications where necessary so places and things were accessible. My dad built ramps into our house so I could enter and exit the house on my own. When I reached my teen years, he made sure the bathroom was modified so I could do things on my own. Each time my grandfather built a new home for himself and my grandmother, he always made sure that I could get through all doors and hallways inside the house. I am very grateful to my family for always keeping an eye out for accessibility issues, whether in the home or out in public.

When I became an adult and had the privilege of purchasing my own home, only minor modifications had to be made. A ramp was installed to allow me to enter and exit. My dad installed a new high rise toilet so I would be able to use the bathroom without the need for a toilet chair over the commode at all times. This has made living on my own so much easier.

Challenges of Public Restrooms

Often, one of the biggest frustrations for those who use wheelchairs is public restrooms. During my childhood, my mother had to lift me on and off the toilet. Most times we would use a regular stall, which meant the door would not shut because of my wheelchair. This made me very nervous and I would hold it or not be able to use the restroom even though I really needed to go.

Many times, public restrooms are not big enough to accommodate larger-than-average wheelchairs, and in some cases, are not even designed to accommodate a regular size chair. This has been my experience in restaurants and hotels. Just as when I was a child, I have been in restaurants where my wheelchair barely fit into the stall and I could not close the door. When faced with this obstacle, I request to speak to the manager and am often told the restroom meets the required code.

While I understand public places meet code by having the handrails and a wider stall, that does not always mean that it is accessible for someone in a wheelchair. In my personal experience, the handrails are of no use to me as they are up too high and too far away from the toilet. When I do try to use them, I end up pulling my wheelchair under them instead of being able to pivot my body as needed. This has also caused me to jam my knees under a toilet paper holder.

Another issue I have with restrooms is my wheelchair sliding across the floor when I transfer. I have fallen many times because of this. It is very difficult to transfer when the toilet is standard height. Hotel showers are also not wheelchair accessible in many cases. This means that unless the person has someone with them who can lift them safely in and out of the bathtub, they have to sponge bathe and wash their hair in the sink.

Simple Steps to Improve Wheelchair Accessibility

There are some things that can be done to help improve accessibility for wheelchairs in public restrooms. First, persons building the restroom should make sure the stall is big enough to accommodate any size wheelchair and even scooters. Next, place rubber non-skid mats in front of the toilets. This will help secure the wheelchair into place so that it does not roll out or away from the user when he or she is transferring. Finally, all toilets in handicap stalls should be higher than a standard toilet. This will also help with the ease of transferring and reduce the chance that a handicapped person will fall.

Often times, the main door to the restroom is heavy and difficult to open in a wheelchair. I have been in some restrooms where the main door had a push button for opening. This would benefit accessibility for the disabled in all restrooms. If these steps were taken to ensure accessibility for those in wheelchairs, more issues such as these would likely be noticed and addressed.

Speak Up

As the caregiver of a child with a disability, you have the right to speak up and bring accessibility issues to the attention of management. Do not be afraid to be that voice your child needs you to be! As they say, it only takes one person speaking up to make a change. So, let’s speak up and see a change made for the benefit of the wheelchair community.

Have you or your child had frustrating experiences with wheelchair accessibility? Do you have any creative solutions or suggestions? Let us know in the comments!

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Man With Cerebral Palsy Driven By His Passion For Music

Some may say that Korey Soderman dances to a different beat. The 23-year-old music fanatic who was born with cerebral palsy has always been restricted to a wheelchair, but that has never stopped him from rock’n and roll’n.

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/man-with-cerebral-palsy-driven-by-his-passion-for-music

Inventors Called on to Develop Solar Powered Wheelchairs for People with Cerebral Palsy

Earlier this year, "World CP Day" held a global contest asking for inventors, designers, and developers to come up with ideas that would change the world for those with cerebral palsy. There were hundreds of submissions and the organization has settled on 3 that they think could make the biggest impact. Read about the 3 ideas in our latest "In The News" article.


http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/in-the-news/inventors-called-on-to-develop-solar-powered-wheelchairs-for-people-with-cerebral-palsy

History of Paralympic Games

August 29, 2012
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In 1948, a hospital outside London witnessed the birth of the Paralympic movement, as a Jewish doctor who had fled Nazi Germany sought to change the lives of patients with spinal injuries -- and inspire new hope in them through sport.

The first "Stoke Mandeville Games" were organized in 1948 to coincide with the London Olympics, the second to be held in Britain.

Named for the hospital in Buckinghamshire where Prof. Ludwig Guttmann's pioneering spinal injuries unit was based, the competitors in those initial Games -- 14 men and two women -- took part in a wheelchair archery contest.

Many were military veterans injured on the battlefields of World War II.

Just a year later, six teams competed at Stoke Mandeville -- with wheelchair netball, a forerunner of wheelchair basketball, being introduced -- as sport became a central part of a rehabilitation process that had been revolutionized by Guttmann.

In 1956, a "statement of intent" was unveiled for the Games, which were by this time international, according to to the Mandeville Legacy website run by the local authority.

It read: "The aim of the Stoke Mandeville Games is to unite paralyzed men and women from all parts of the world in an international sports movement, and your spirit of true sportsmanship today will give hope and inspiration to thousands of paralyzed people."

Four years later, inspired by Guttmann's vision, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in tandem with the Olympics.

And five decades on, some 4,280 Paralympians from 165 countries -- the largest number ever -- have returned to Britain to compete in what is now the premier international sporting event for those born with disabilities, or disabled by injury or illness.

In an echo of those first Stoke Mandeville Games, a number of those competing are military veterans, this time wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Blinded in Afghanistan

The United States' 227-member 2012 Paralympic team includes 20 military veterans and active-duty service members, almost 10% of the total.

Among them is Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, blinded last September in Afghanistan when a homemade bomb exploded in his face.

He will compete in a swimming event on the anniversary of his injury, the Team USA website says.

Described by the United States Association of Blind Athletes as "an inspiration to others and a true American hero," Snyder -- who made the swim team while at the U.S. Naval Academy -- returned to the sport within weeks of losing his sight.

In order to make the London 2012 team, he's had to train hard and also learn how to steer a straight course in the lanes of a 50-meter pool without the aid of vision.

There's no doubting his determination.

"I am not going to let blindness build a brick wall around me," USABA quotes Snyder as saying. "I'd give my eyes 100 times again to have the chance to do what I have done and what I can still do."

Veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan also figure in the 300-strong British squad, ParalympicsGB.

Cyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth, who lost an arm to shrapnel from a rocket in Basra, southern Iraq, five years ago is one of them.

He found his way into elite sport thanks in part to Battle Back, an initiative to boost the recovery of injured military personnel run by the UK Ministry of Defence, with help from UK charities, including Help for Heroes.

Butterworth, one of eight former or current British military service personnel selected for the Games, was not an athlete before his injury -- but all that changed when he got on a bike at a talent-spotting day for injured veterans.

'Best thing that's ever happened'

Within months, Butterworth shed excess pounds, embraced the technical aspects of track racing and started to break national and world records.

Three years and two world championship titles later, he is keen to add a Paralympic gold medal to his haul, he told CNN.

"The way I think of it now is, it's probably the best thing that's ever happened to me," he said of his injury. "I've met new people. I've tried a few things out, different sports; done loads of things that I never did before. It's kind of made me the person I am today. And I have changed since losing my arm, but I think only for the better."

Martin Colclough, who runs the Battle Back "Phoenix" program for Help for Heroes and was previously a major in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, told CNN that Butterworth's remarkable achievements had been helped by close cooperation between Britain and the United States.

Shortly after the Battle Back program was set up in 2008, a handful of British veterans traveled to San Diego to join dozens of American Paralympians at a sports training camp.

There, Butterworth -- who was going through a tricky period in his transition to cycling -- was inspired by U.S. track cyclist Greta Neimanas. Quite literally, she "lent a hand" by letting Butterworth try out her prosthetic arm, specially engineered for cycling, in place of his all-purpose limb, Colclough said. The gesture gave Butterworth a vital confidence boost.

This year, 17 British veterans were the first overseas athletes invited to compete in the "Warrior Games," an event for disabled former and current service members staged by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) in Colorado, Colclough said.

It's not necessarily easy for injured veterans to break into elite sport, especially competing against people who may have had decades to adapt to their impairments, rather than perhaps four or five years, Colclough said.

But Colclough has high hopes both now and for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, by which time the Battle Back program will have been running for twice as long.

The self-discipline and mental strength of those from a military background, coupled with the access they have to military training resources, helps them make the most of natural talent and fight to the top, he said.

In addition, some UK Paralympic training programs are run alongside the equivalent Olympic programs, so all those involved can access the same sports science experts and groundbreaking technological advances.

"This is not a part-time endeavor," Colclough said. "If you want to be world class as a Paralympian, it's a full-time occupation."

Watching around the world

As the competitors from all backgrounds make their final preparations ahead of their big day on the world stage, excitement is building among those set to witness their endeavors.

The London organizing committee says more people than ever before are due to attend these Paralympic Games, with a record 2.3 million tickets already sold and more set to be released.

n addition, some 4 billion TV viewers around the world are expected to tune in live to the 11-day event, which opens Wednesday, the USOC said. The International Paralympic Committee has said it will also stream more than 780 hours of sport live on its website, www.paralympic.org.

In the United States, NBC plans to screen five-and-a-half hours of the Games, in four one-hour shows and a 90-minute special. The USOC says this is more than was broadcast for previous Paralympics, but some disappointed would-be viewers have set up online petitions calling for greater coverage.

Over the course of the Games, American athletes will take part in 19 of the 21 sports contested and attempt to improve on their third place in the medal tables in Beijing.

Some of the events will be well-known to those who were glued to the Olympics -- athletics, archery, table tennis and cycling among them -- while others, such as goalball, played by the visually impaired, wheelchair rugby and boccia, a game similar to petanque, will be less familiar to many sports fans.

Viewers will have to familiarize themselves with a key element in how the Paralympics work -- the system of classification of impairments, designed to ensure that athletes in each sport compete against similarly-abled rivals.

The UK government says it hopes the Games will not only inspire more disabled people to embrace sport at all levels, but also help change public perceptions about disability.

'Pride and honor'

One of those at the forefront of breaking down barriers is South African runner Oscar Pistorius, the first double-amputee to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Born with missing fibulas -- his legs were amputated below the knees as an infant -- Pistorius uses special carbon fiber prosthetic limbs.

Nicknamed "The Blade Runner," Pistorius made it to the semifinals of the individual 400-meter and the 400-meter relay final at London 2012, competing against able-bodied athletes. He will be back in front of the roaring crowds at the Olympic Stadium to defend his Paralympic 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter titles.

His status as a world-class athlete, as well as a disability pioneer, has seen Pistorius grace the cover of publications from the New York Times Magazine to GQ and Men's Health in South Africa. He also made it into Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2012.

The United States has its own "Blade Runners" in sprinter Blake Leeper, a double amputee who could challenge Pistorius over 100 meters, and 22-year-old Jarryd Wallace, from Georgia. The latter had his right leg amputated two years ago because of a medical condition but has swiftly transitioned from a talented able-bodied runner to a Paralympic contender.

Other U.S. Paralympians to watch in 2012 include swimmer Jessica Long, who took six medals at the Beijing Paralympics, four of them gold, and wheelchair racer Jessica Galli, who won five medals in 2008 and set a world record over 200 meters.

"Our Paralympians embody what it means to be an American," USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun says on the body's website. "They will compete with the pride and honor that is inherent in representing the United States of America, inspiring Americans young and old with their stories of triumph."

Athletes from other nations will similarly dazzle and inspire those around them, as they overcome all odds to take home medals.

From its humble beginnings in Stoke Mandeville, the place which also lends its name to one of the one-eyed London 2012 mascots, the Paralympic movement has come a long way.

But in its commitment to bringing people together to test and celebrate what they can do, rather than what they cannot, its core spirit has remained unchanged.

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Wanting to take some time this morning to shine a light on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.  Check out this awesome new truck, that the good folks at Mobility SVM have just launched.  They also make custom vans as well! Do you have a custom handicap modified vehicle?  If so, can you tell us where you purchased it?  I know many of our community members need this type of information.

http://bit.ly/handicappedvehicles

For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit:
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org

Making the Decision to Place a Child in a Residential Center

By Dana DeRuvo, R.N.

One in six children in the U.S. lives with a chronic disability. Some will be placed in a residential facility for long-term care. For parents of some children with cerebral palsy, this can be an excruciating and exhausting choice. I know this firsthand.

I made the decision to place my son Nicholas in a residential center when he was 10, although he didn’t move in until he was 12. By sharing my story and details on how the decision came about, I hope to help parents who may find themselves in the same situation.

Nicholas developed cerebral palsy as an infant as a complication of a heart defect. Every medical doctor told me they “were cautiously optimistic” that he would one day walk and talk. Of course, I wanted to think this would be true. I started him in a preschool program that served both typical and special needs toddlers, thinking this would give him the best incentive to overcome his challenges.

When Nicholas was six, I was a member of a counsel at our county Developmental Disabilities Services Organization. A mother there told us how she had placed her older school-age daughter in a residential program in another state. I was horrified. I could not – would not – even think about that as a possibility.

Nicholas attended a very good elementary day program at The Jesse Kaplan School in Rockland County, NY. He progressed well and was very much liked there. But as he got older and bigger, I knew he needed more social stimulation than he was offered at school and getting from home. He also needed more sophisticated technology to assist with different positioning options as he was getting too heavy for me to lift safely. I also knew that even if I had Oprah- or Bill Gates-type money, I could not provide Nicholas with the emotional and mental stimulation that a large, professional care center would offer.

Nicholas’ Doctor Weighs In

I sought advice from a trusted doctor, Nicholas’ neurologist, Dr. Bob Wolff. He told me that children like Nicholas, who could understand their environment but are nonverbal, tend to become clinically depressed. They may even require antidepressant medication if they don’t receive appropriate stimulation. When I heard that, I knew I had to do better for Nicholas, so I started asking about and researching options.

Years earlier, my brother, who is a teacher, had mentioned that a colleague’s brother was head of The Center for Discovery, a residential center about an hour north of my home. I remembered the conversation, although I wouldn’t even consider the thought at the time. Now, I had to think of the reality of my older daughter and younger son’s needs along with Nicholas’ requirements. Even though I had a good support system in place, the physical impact of caring for him was having a detrimental effect on all concerned.

Involving the School District

By law, school districts are required to offer an education to special needs children. If they can’t meet the child’s needs, they are required to pay the educational component of an alternative placement, until the child is 21. Therefore, the school district has a financial interest in any decision a family makes to put their child in a residential center.

The key to whether the district is meeting the child’s needs is contained in his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP). Many districts opt to keep students local to limit spending. Parents need to be assertive with school officials if they believe the goals of an IEP are not being met, and should insist on arbitration or even consider litigation if necessary. Fortunately, my school district was very supportive of my choices when it came to Nicholas’ need for placement.

Research and Placement

I researched The Center for Discovery, which I soon learned had earned a reputation as a model facility for people with disabilities. I spoke to parents whose children were already there, interviewed doctors, and visited the school and residential quarters unannounced. Everyone said the same thing: it was a great place. Many parents told me their one regret was they hadn’t placed their children there sooner.

I applied for Nicholas and we waited 18 months to be notified that there was an opening. It’s the call I knew we were all in need of but, at the same time, the one I dreaded.

I explained to my two other children that Nicholas was going to the “Ivy League” of college for himself, just like one day they would want to find the best fit for college for themselves.

It has now been almost six years since Nicholas entered The Discovery Center. Nicholas is thriving. Last year a young woman resident asked him to the prom! I, too, regret that I did not begin the process for placement sooner. The therapists are always trying new positions and equipment on him, and he has been very much embraced by the school staff and his housemates.

Of course, I never feel like I see him enough. I still get emotional when I leave him, but I have the same feelings about my daughter being in college and my younger son preparing for college.

I recently saw the mother who had placed her daughter in a residential program many years earlier. We laughed about how I had come full circle in my feelings. We learned that we had to put aside our emotions and think about what was best for our child, just like we do with our typical children.

Nine Tips for Parents on Making a Residential Placement

1. 1) Research the laws in your state. A good place to start is the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, which offers links to state agencies where you can get information and help.
2. 2) Find a location near you. You’re going to want to be close for regular visits and in case of an emergency.
3. 3) Check the facility’s reputation with doctors and referring agencies.
4. 4) When you visit the center, take along other friends and family members. Everyone will have a different perspective and will see things or think of questions to ask you might have missed.
5. 5) Ask the center for phone numbers of other parents whose children are there so you can contact them for their experience.
6. 6) Note how the staff handle your questions about safety and cleanliness. Are they defensive? Do they seem willing to cooperate with you? Drop in unannounced to see if you notice anything different.
7. 7) Check staffing ratios. Ask if there is 24-hour medical care available. How far away is the nearest hospital?
8. 8) If you live in an area without a lot of choices, consider getting involved at the center as a volunteer. You can observe what’s going on and even help expand activities offered.
9. 9) Once you make a placement, stay involved and supportive of staff. At many centers, staff members are often good-hearted and willing, but they are stretched thin. Make sure you give compliments and assistance as freely as constructive criticism.

More cerebral palsy information and other valuable resources for parents, families, caregivers and others are available from Cerebral Palsy Family Network.

New Law Provides Better Access to Medical Records and Buildings

On the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, two more milestones for disabled Americans have been reached:

• Guaranteed easy physical access to medical buildings, especially for adults and children in wheelchairs.
• Audio access for deaf and hard of hearing to medical information in a manner that is understandable to them.

These improvements are the result of settlements in complaints filed in Michigan and New Hampshire by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Known as the 200th Project Civic Access agreement, they led to the U.S. Justice Department Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative. The changes will impact more than four and a half million individuals with disabilities.
This nationwide initiative reinforces the message that disability discrimination in health care is illegal and unacceptable. Federal prosecutors across the nation will spearhead this new effort designed to guarantee access for disabled people to all medical buildings and to ensure the disabled are not discriminated against in receiving potentially lifesaving medical information.
Over the next few months, specific initiatives will begin. Be sure to follow CP Family Network on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news on cerebral palsy and disability rights.

Choosing Your Child’s First Wheelchair

By Lee Vander Loop
CP Family Network Editor

About a third of children with cerebral palsy are non-ambulatory and will require the use of a wheelchair for transportation outside, indoors, or both. Getting the right wheelchair at an early age helps a child gain independence and all the confidence that can inspire.

When a child reaches a size where they can’t be carried safely, around 3 years old, it’s time to get a wheelchair. If you’re new to this need, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the choices. But as a parent who has dealt with this issue for many years, there are really only fourbasic considerations:

• Is it comfortable?
• Is it reasonably adaptable?
• Does it provide the needed support and alignment?
• Is it easy enough to transport?

That said, there’s an amazing array of wheelchairs and associated technology available today that didn’t exist even 10 years ago. Lightweight, ultra-light, electric, “smart,” sports, all-terrain and customized seating are just some of the wheelchair options for non-ambulatory children and adults in today’s world. There are even wheelchairs that incorporate gyroscopic technology and four-wheel drive.

Selecting a Wheelchair Seating System

Most hospitals and all rehabilitation centers offer “seating clinics.” This is where physical and occupational therapists evaluate a child’s needs and make recommendations for a wheelchair, a.k.a. seating system. Be aware that these clinics may deal with only certain manufacturers and therefore won’t be showing you what other options may be available.

A main consideration of therapists is to choose a seating system that distributes a user’s weight away from areas of the body that are most at risk for pressure sores. For someone who spends hours of their day in the sitting position, the parts of the body that are the most at risk for tissue breakdown include the ischial tuberosities, coccyx, sacrum and greater trochanters. The seating system also must provide stability, comfort, shock absorption and aid in seating posture.

Custom seating systems can be created for individuals with scoliosis or other complex muscular skeletal conditions when it’s obvious that standard seating systems aren’t suitable.Usatechguide.org, developed by the United Spinal Association, offers an impressive list of manufactures of custom and molded wheelchair seating systems.

Questions to Ask

You should ask these questions of whatever seating system your child’s therapists recommend:

• How and why did the therapists select the style, options or seating system they are presenting?
• Can the chair/seating system be adjusted for future growth, changes in posture, or function?
• Can the wheelchair or seating system be folded or converted for easy transport?
• Can the chair be used in a vehicle tiedown system (if you will be using a tiedown system)? If so, what adaptions need to be made?
• What additional accessories are available, such as seating trays, clamps to attach switches or alternative communication devices?
• What adaptations are being added and do they facilitate your child’s needs?
• What type of headrest is being used and what parameters are being used in assessing the best headrest for your child?
• What type of harness system will be used with your child’s new wheelchair or seating system and what is its crash-test rating? Examples of today’s offerings of harness systems can be found at Convaid.  A five-point restraint harness is recommended for children.

What about a Powered Wheelchair?

A Swedish study of wheelchair use among children with cerebral palsy found, not surprisingly, that children using powered wheelchairs experienced much greater independence than those that required adult pushing. Therefore, the researchers suggested that children be introduced to a powered wheelchair as soon as they can safely begin to use one.

Additional Resources

For additional advice from the CP Family Network, read Stroller and Wheelchair Selection.

The RESNA Wheelchair Service Provision Guide, developed by the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America, offers a wealth of information on wheelchair selection.

The major U.S. wheelchair manufacturers that offer pediatric power wheelchairs are: Invacare,Permobil, Pride Mobility, and Sunrise Medical.

National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers is a national association that provides lists and locations of people who specialize in complex rehab wheelchairs and seating positioning systems.