Disaboom wheelchairposse Blog

How Thought-Controlled Wheelchairs Work

Fredomtocome — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:43:00 GMT

Complete tetraplegia: In many ways, it is the worst possible medical diagnosis, short of imminent death. Total physical paralysis from the neck down can result from spinal cord injuries or diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Sufferers become totally dependent upon others, but they often feel isolated because they have lost the ability to talk. Most of us take for granted the ability to walk from one room to another, but for the severely disabled, even this common action requires assistance from someone else.magine, then, that a completely paralyzed person could control a motorized wheelchair simply by thinking about it. By bypassing damaged nerves, such a device could open many doors to independence for disabled people. In this article, we'll examine a company that is working to make that "what if" into reality. We'll also find out how the same technology could restore speech to people unable to talk.

Whenever you perform a physical action, neurons in your brain generate minute electric signals. These signals move from the brain and travel along axons and dendrites, passing through your nervous system. When they reach the right area of the body, motor neurons activate the necessary muscles to complete the action.

Almost every signal passes through the bundle of nerves inside the spinal cord before moving on to other parts of the body. When the spinal cord is severely damaged or cut, the break in the nervous system prevents the signals from getting where they need to be. In the case of neuromuscular disease, the motor neurons stop functioning -- the signals are still being sent, but there's no way for the body to translate them into actual muscle action.

How can we solve the problem of a faulty nervous system? One way is to intercept signals from the brain before they are interrupted by a break in the spinal cord or degenerated neurons. This is the solution that the thought-controlled wheelchair will put to use.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/audeo.htm Filed under: mind to control wheelchairs

Can you help me?

Finetooner — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:09:00 GMT

Greetings all:

I'm in the process of revising one of our more important Powerpoints and you folks are the "subject matter experts." What does a quality powered wheelchair cost on today's market? What does a replacement control arm or "joystick" cost?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Jeffrey Ward
Facilitator/Designer - Below Wing & Contract Partners
Airport Customer Service Training & Standards
Atlantic Southeast Airlines
P. 404-856-1494 C. 678-697-0183
A-Tech Center
990 Toffie Terrace
Atlanta GA 30354-1363
jeffrey.ward@flyasa.com
"Attitude determines Altitude"

my life or lack of

kell2127 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Some people have asked me why don't I write about myself instead of just posting jokes...I am a very shy person and I don't let people see the real me, but I will try....My name is Kelli, I'm 45 and I know my situation isn't unique, but it sure feels that way to me. I've been in a wheelchair since I was eleven, so I had to "grow up" at a young age. While all my friends were out having fun I was at home listening to people talk about their job or money Something that a eleven year old shouldn''t have to deal with. When I finally went back to school, everyone was not sure what to do or say I never felt like I fit in

After I finished High School, I tried college, but I couldn't manage because the campus was so big and my classes were on opposite ends, back then you didn't see a lot of wheelchairs, I wasn't aware of any govt. programs to help me get a electric chair, so I toughed it out three months and came back home

After six months of doing nothing, I went to a trade school for the disabled where I met my husband/best friend. We had alot of things in common, we both needed someone and we wanted to be independant. We were married later that year and moved out on our own He took me everywhere there was nothing we couldn't do together.

He died two years ago, and now I'm lost I have moved back in with my parents They are both elderly and not in good health I have a older sister that comes by when she can, but she is married and has her own life I do not have any close friends that I can go do things with and I don't drive, so I usually stay in my room on this computer I do have a scooter that I ride around the block occasionally, but I usually stay inside playing games on this computer or watching tv, my friday nights is just me and netflix, my life or lack of is rather boring I am a very emotional person, I cry at the drop of a hat I do not take things with a "grain of salt" My mom says I make more out of what is said, but I think I see things clearer than "normal" people

I stared at this blog for weeks debating whether to post it, it seems rather depressing to me

Wheelchair Bound: Still Second Class Citizens

Walter Schmidt, VSO CPA CTM — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:47:00 GMT

Wheelchair Bound Vietnam Veterans: Some Would Still Treat Us as Second Class Citizens

This was written two-years ago. Unfortunately, it is still apropos... at least for the establishment in question.

Three decades later, and notwithstanding the $20 million in spending for a celebration of United States success in Iraq and Afghanistan that has found its way into our current Federal budget, if you’re a wheelchair bound Vietnam Veteran (with emphasis on being wheelchair-bound) you just might find yourself once again being treated unfairly. This, as my own recent events, and as elaborated in the following letter, found.

The Letter

October 2, 2006

Catering Hall
New Hyde Park, NY

Dear Catering Hall:

After 37 years, I unfortunately was once again reminded what it feels like to be treated as a second-class citizen. This time because you, Catering Hall, choose to have no handicapped access to your catering hall.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 was hosting a once-in-a-lifetime event this past Saturday -- their 25th Anniversary Dinner. Having served three tours in Vietnam in the ‘60s and finding myself relegated to a wheelchair full-time in the ‘90s due to that service, to then be told on Saturday that all you could do to get me (400 pound motorized-chair, plus my 220 pounds) into your building was to provide four waiters who would try to carry me up a dozen steel steps in the back of your building, was not something I expected to find in the year 2006. This, especially after I had called your establishment several weeks earlier to check on its handicapped accessibility and was told it was.

To quote from the Catering Hall credo, [the organization’s credo mentions helping the disabled]. And you even consider yourself, the “Can Do Catering Hall.”

I might not be a member, but one thing I do know that you could not do -- provide a way for this veteran to join in my long awaited celebration with my surviving Vietnam veteran brothers and sisters this past Saturday.

You should be ashamed.

Respectfully, Walter C. Schmidt

Post Script

It seems “within” the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) there still exists a way for public-facilities to legally not have wheelchair accessibility.

I’m sure my Iraq and Afghanistan brothers and sisters would agree, take some of that aforementioned $20 million in budgeted celebration money and spend it to plug the ADA legal loopholes that keep wheelchair bound individuals from gaining access to facilities that hold themselves out as being available for public events.

To end on a positive note and for all of my fellow wheelchair bound veterans -- eligible veterans now have an opportunity to purchase the iBOT 4000 Mobility System, developed by Independence Technology, through medical coverage provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - placed on the Federal Supply Schedule in 2005 under contract number V797P-3006M.

Assessments are now being conducted at VA hospitals with coverage criteria taking into account a veteran’s medical diagnoses, prognosis, functional abilities, limitations, goals, and ambitions.

However, it may not be suitable for everyone. Users must: weigh between 75 lbs and 250 lbs, have the ability to operate a hand-operated joystick, and complete the training program.

And why am I mentioning this here and now? Among other things the iBOT 4000 Mobility System climbs stairs!

You have to love technology.

--- Regards, Walt Schmidt

How I Manage To Spend 15 Hours A Day In My ‘Chair...

Walter Schmidt, VSO CPA CTM — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:34:00 GMT

How I Manage To Spend 15 Hours A Day In My ‘Chair With Only Stage 0.5-1.0 Pressure Sores

To first get us on the same page (and why I say Stage 0.5-1.0)

The formal stages are:

    * Stage 1 - Skin intact but reddened for greater than 1 hour after relief of pressure
    * Stage 2 - Blister or other break in dermis with or without infection
    * Stage 3 - Subcutaneous destruction into muscle with or without infection
    * Stage 4 - Involvement of bone or joint with or without infection

(The definitions of the four pressure ulcer stages are revised periodically by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) in the United States)

My pressure sores usually don’t show -- why I call them Stage 0.5 -- but since I have feeling (feeling yes, any muscle control, no) I can feel when they start ‘cooking;’ like the itching/discomfort of a bad sunburn which has a lot of pressure being applied to it, constantly.

In any event, my day is (usually) in my ‘chair at 4:45 a.m. and back in bed around 8 p.m.

The ‘secret’ to keeping my pressure sores to a minimum is four-fold.

1 - I have an air cushion but will be trying another type soon. Both were gotten for me as a result of seating-clinic evaluations. Regardless of the type of the cushion, seating-clinic evaluations are key.

2 - I regularly move my chair or pull my upper-body forward (no more than 5 minutes between moves) ever-so-slightly (less than 5 seconds) -- combined with a 60-120 second ‘run’ three or four times a day -- throughout the day. ‘Chair movement equals slight jostling which equals some better circulation.

3 - My ‘chair has TILT among its feature. So when the itching gets bothersome or my wife notices my pressure sores have reached Stage 1, I spend 5 minutes each hour with my ‘chair in full tilt. This puts my back close to parallel to the floor. I also have POWER LEG RESTS. So while I’m tilted back, I have them ‘fully extended.’ I refer to this position as... Assuming the Astronaut-Position [smile].

4 - Using accessible transport twice a day, 5 to 6 days a week, for 45 to 115-plus minutes ride-time, each time, seems to help -- again, ‘chair movement equals slight jostling which equals some better circulation. In this case the ‘movement’ is as a result of being tied-down right above the rear-wheels of a bus, which really is a bus-cab mounted on a truck-frame - can you say leaf-springs? This ‘combination’ is the result of cost-savings enjoyed by the Nassau County (Long Island, NY) Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

I hope you find this helpful, and ‘stand’ ready to answer any questions.

p.s. Just learned posting a blog doesn't include one's name [ smile ] Walt Schmidt.

Blisters

verigoth — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:55:00 GMT

Being a quad in a manual chair I of course have those nifty rubber coated hand rims. But my palms have now become my heels and I have these nasty blisters! If that isn't enough, I went to the Mall of America on Sunday and one of my blisters broke open! That wasn't the first time such a thing has happened, but it's definately the worst so far. I have yet to find a pair of gloves I like and hate lotion, is there anything else I can do for my hands? Also, does anybody know if I'm hurting anything by just leaving it be?

How Do I Post to my Group's Blog?

Tim — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:20:00 GMT

Each Group has Members and Moderators.

Every member and moderator of a group has the ability to post a blog to the group as well as upload photos to a group gallery. In addition to its members each group will have several moderators or group 'owners.' The moderators are responsible for approving group membership requests and managing the group's content to ensure that group posts are on relevant and on topic. The moderators are also free to function as group members. They simply have another layer of responsibility or ownership of the group.

If you would like to become a group Moderator please send a private message to timpoindexter with the group you would like to moderate. Please also acknowledge that you understand Moderator requirements and that you intend to abide by them.

Ok, so you want post a photo or blog to a group? First, is your blog or photo relevant to the group? Good.

Here's how you post:

Currently it's not explicitly clear how to actually post something to a group so I'll give you the work around...

To add a blog post to this Group make sure you are a member of the group and signed in and then click this link:

http://disaboom.com/Groups/wheelchairposse/Blog/NewPost.aspx

To add a photo use this link:

http://disaboom.com/Groups/wheelchairposse/photos/photos.aspx

Well, Someone Had To...

Walter Schmidt, VSO CPA CTM — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:48:00 GMT

Well, Someone Had To...

That said, what shall we make our current common purpose?