Assistive Tech

By Diane Vitillo, MS, OTR, PTA, CAPS, Original AFO Assist When I was 5 years old, polio was not part of the life I had imagined for myself. In the early 1950’s, thousands of children in the US were stricken with polio. Two of my playmates contracted the disease, but I was the lucky one…I didn’t…

By Jolene Montgomery You come to the Abilities Expos to network, check out workshops, view the dancing … and see the latest and greatest products in the disability universe. Now, without donning a mask or leaving your couch, here’s a preview of 5 New Products available at the Abilities Virtual Experience, perfect for gifting friends,…

By Lauren McKinnie Whether you’ll be utilizing a wheelchair ramp van to get around yourself or you’re looking into how to operate one for a loved one, there are many ins and outs of these assistance vans that you’ll want to know. When it comes to wheelchair vans, there are two different types of mechanisms that can…

By Brandon Winfield, iAccess Life What if you could know before you go? Would you take more chances, would you try something new? I personally feel that every day as a wheelchair user can be a test of your comfort zone. For some (even myself at times), I feel that this can be a hindrance on…

By Nate Crosby, SPR Therapeutics, LLC Nearly 1.7 million Americans are living with an amputation and another almost 200,000 will undergo an amputation this year. The number of people living with amputation is expected to continue to climb as America deals with an unprecedented, epidemic level of obesity and diabetes. Following amputation many people report…

By Don Clayback, NCART Cuts to Illinois’ Medicaid program are squeezing Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) providers to the point where they are not be able to provide services to the nearly 4,000 Illinois residents who depend on the state to pay for CRT equipment. Two Leading CRT Providers Unable to Participate in Medicaid Illinois spends a…

An estimated 37 million people in the United States suffer from hearing loss. Let’s reflect on the enormity of that number—it’s about one out of every eight people. And of those, only one in four people who experience hearing loss actually seek treatment. When your hearing starts to fail, it is often so gradual that…

By Mickae Lee, National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) All advocacy action begins not just with acknowledging that change is needed, but also believing that change is possible. In the world of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) we know without a doubt that access to innovative technology for individuals with disabilities is an ever-growing…

By Alexander Hoppe, Olin College of Engineering Currently 1 in 5 persons in the United States are living with a disability. In the coming decades, populations of people with ambulatory disabilities are likely to continue to increase. Toyota Motor North America’s Social Innovation division seeks to make mobility a source of inspiration and a way…

By Curtis Merring, Permobil The application of power assist should move more from a reactive approach to a proactive approach. For example, instead of thinking, “I will get a power assist when I need it in the future,” we should think, “I’m getting a power assist device now, so I won’t need it in the future.”…

By Jennifer French, Neurotech Network “It just isn’t fair,” she thought, looking up at her children. Dawn Gast was on a trip in downtown Chicago with the three youngest of her seven children. While crossing busy Michigan Avenue, she tripped in the middle of the street and was bleeding with her children aged 5, 7…

By Don Clayback, NCART On November 23, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) published the 2016 Medicare fee schedule. As feared, the new payment rates include major reductions (as high as 30% to 40% or more) to critical components used with Complex Rehab wheelchairs. But there is still time to act! Complex Rehab wheelchairs and…