Category Archives: Disabilities

Thanks to Invacare touchscreen technology has now been encompassed into powerchairs

BASEL, Switzerland, Aug-28-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Global brand leader Invacare brings next generation technology to powerchairs, following extensive trials and consumer-led insights. Touch screen technology is used daily on devices such as smartphones and tablets and thanks to Invacare, this smart technology has now been encompassed into powerchairs.

The innovative REM400 remote has an impressive 3.5” colour touch screen that puts the user in complete control. Its features include:

• Swipe or tap operation
• Direct or menu navigation access to profiles and functions
• Adjustable brightness
• Glove mode setting
• Screen lock out function
• Configured for left or right handed use

And it doesn’t end there. The REM400 has built-in Bluetooth which allows connection to PC’s, laptops and Macs. Its integrated mouse mover with on screen mouse clicks lets users connect to their world through their remote.

One of the great benefits of a touch screen remote is that there are no fixed buttons. This makes the REM400 suitable for those with more complex physical and cognitive needs.

To see the REM400 in action, checkout the new video.

To find out more about Invacare LiNX, please visit www.invacarelinx.com.

Download the REM400 brochure.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Invacare adds a range of specialist controls to its LiNX powerchair range

CARDIFF, United Kingdom, Aug-24-Aug-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Global brand leader Invacare is once again raising the bar in the powerchair market, following on from the successful launch of the LiNX control system last year. Invacare has taken the smart technology a step further with a new touch screen remote, in-built Bluetooth technology, enhanced programming features and a range of specialist controls, all available on the remarkable Invacare LiNX powerchair range.

Touch screen remote
Introducing next generation technology to powerchairs, Invacare is pleased to present the REM400 remote with its 3.5” interactive screen that requires minimal force to operate. Following extensive customer-insight research, this innovative remote can be configured to a users’ physical and cognitive ability, thanks to its extensive functional capabilities. Also available is a REM500, a display only version of the REM400. Both remotes can be used with a wide range of specialist controls.

Bluetooth technology
The REM400 and REM500 controls have built-in Bluetooth technology to allow users to connect to their PC, Mac and compatible Android devices that have built-in HID functionality.

Enhanced programming features
The LiNX system now allows professionals to mix and match the drive, seating and environmental controls in order to customise the display to suit the user’s lifestyle. E.g. The profiles can be customised by names such as Home, Outdoor and Work, with functions specific to each one. Profiles can also be set by user input options i.e. head control.

Another new feature is the ability to adjust the joystick commands. The basic commands on a powerchair are forward, reverse, left and right but there are also other commands such as tilt, recline, lights, horns etc. to consider. The REM400 and REM500 allow these commands to be changed to suit the user, based on frequency or even by accessibility.

Specialist controls
To maximise a user’s control and independence, the REM400 and REM500 allow a selection of specialist user inputs to be used on Invacare’s remarkable powerchairs. They range from head controls, chin controls, Sip ‘n’ puff systems, joystick options, proximity switches and dual controls, allowing Invacare to provide a control solution for many powerchair users. To help professionals select the best control for a powerchair user, Invacare has put together a useful app with five simple steps to assist with the process. Take a look at the app by visiting www.linx4you.com plus it can downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

TDX SP2 base updates
The above offering is available on all Invacare LiNX powerchairs, with a selection of the specialist controls only compatible with the TDX SP2 Ultra Low Maxx – and it is with this chair that Invacare is now able to fully enter the complex rehab market. For more information on the TDX SP2 Ultra Low Maxx, visit www.invacareULM.com. As well as feature heavy, the TDX SP2 base itself can be customised thanks to the 10 contemporary shroud and rim insert options available which sit nicely on its new black tyres and castors. There is a new single sided fork option on the front and rear castors.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

The End of Alzheimer’s? A revolutionary scientific advance to the cure

Interface Dynamics Control Corporation (IDCC) has completed the first phase of its decade-long Advanced Therapeutic Interventions Project, with the result that a new approach to arresting and curing Alzheimer’s disease and the other neurodegenerative diseases has been produced and verified. IDCC is now launching the Project’s second phase, which will validate the first phase findings.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 5.1 million Americans currently affected. The direct cost of Alzheimer’s is greater than $200 billion annually, a number expected reach between $1.2 and $1.5 trillion by 2050. Indirect costs are substantial: more than 15 million caregivers delivered some 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $200 billion.

IDCC has discovered the mechanism of and means to control the protein misfolding, abnormal aggregation, and degradation processes associated with the degenerative and prion diseases. That mechanism is also implicated in the failure to clear toxic intracellular proteins and in the dysfunction of apoptotic (programmed cell death) pathways. It underlies the adverse functions of the neuroglia (glial cells), including microglia, which provide immune defense to the central nervous system (CNS) and maintain homeostasis and protection for neurons in the brain and the peripheral nervous system.

The process of neurodegeneration has not been understood previously, which has precluded the production of any arresting or curative procedures or drugs. The Project’s findings, however, should lead to the realization of a new class of curative procedures and pharmaceuticals which can be engaged to defeat the disease-initiating neurodegenerative insult, thereby introducing the possibility of preventing these devastating diseases. There are direct implications for the human cancers, but verification of those implications must await further experiments.

The first major activity under the Project’s second phase will be the production of a new class of active imaging system. That system will be utilized to demonstrate the activities and accessible control points of the process pathways which, when certain abnormal events occur, trigger the incipient causal mechanisms of disease. The Project is currently developing the staff and capitalization required for execution of its second phase.

About IDCC 
IDCC was founded thirteen years ago to produce definitive solutions to seemingly intractable problems of social and technological significance. It is privately held and maintains its projects and client identities in strict confidence unless and until information releases are authorized by competent authority.

Contact Details: Peter W. Atkinson
IDCC
4655 Logsdon Drive
Annandale, VA 22003-3564 USA
+1.703.879.7065
Peter@InterfaceDynamicsControl.com

Via EPR Network
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The Hearing Company Reveal Handy Tips for Hearing Aid Users to Stay Active and Play Sports

As we look back upon a fantastic year for British sport, the UK’s leading provider of modern hearing aids has some great ideas about participating in sport, despite any hearing difficulty.

When the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games was only added to by the Paralympic games, an important message was sent out which made clear that just about anybody could take part in fun and exciting competitive sport and all would benefit from doing so; even those with hearing difficulties.

The modern hearing aid allows the hearing impaired to lead as normal a life as possible, and do many of the things that they might have done previously. But wearing hearing aids and playing various sports can be extremely challenging, whether those sports are played individually, or as part of a team.

Communication is vital in team sport, but that communication needn’t purely be verbal. If you are keen to remove your hearing aid during the game, it is important to speak to your coach and your teammates and suggest the best way for them to communicate with you during practice and match play. When the coach is dishing out important words of wisdom, make sure you have a clear line of sight to the information, or suggest an alternative method of getting the information across, such as a whiteboard.

As small electronic devices, a number of hearing aids can be sensitive to excessive sweat. A simple headband or sweatband will prevent any moisture from affecting the hearing aid, and can even help to keep the device in place.

A number of waterproof digital hearing aids are available, and these devices, won’t just help with a little sweat, but can also be worn whilst swimming. These devices are more expensive to purchase and are only recommended to regular swimmers.

For more information about the different types of hearing aid available and the ways to book a hearing test with The Hearing Company, visit the official website today.

Via EPR Network
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Half Of Australian Workers Have Considered A Career Change In The Past Five Years Says carecareers

carecareers is a NSW government-funded initiative launched to help job seekers connect with the thousands of opportunities in the care sector, and to provide career advice, including what transferrable skills are useful and what on-the-job-training is available.

Job opportunities in the disability and community care sector are booming; employers in this sector are looking to recruit up to 10,000 people in the next five years – because the number of people who require some form of paid-care is expected to rise to 380,000.

There is a need to recruit people across a wide range of positions including:physiotherapistsspeech pathologists, frontline support workers, gardeners, drivers and cooks, as well as executive staff and accountants, marketing, human resources professionals.

Research commissioned by carecareers shows:

More than half of Australian workers (52%) have considered changing careers in the past five years. (57% women, 49% men)

Almost two-thirds of people aged 18-34 have considered a career change in the past five years.

More than half of Australian workers consider the disability and community care sector provides rewarding work. Of the industries surveyed, disability and community care also ranked highest for its respect for workers (35%).

Overview of career changers attracted to work in the sector:

The most common reason given by people looking for a change of career is that they are “looking for a more satisfying and fulfilling career”.

Career changers come from a wide variety of industry sectors with the three largest being retail/sales (23%), administration (12%) and hospitality (14%) industries.

The majority of career changers are women, with an average age of 34.

What has carecareers achieved in the past 12 months?

More than 10,000 job applications for positions have been made through the carecareers service in the past 12 months, an increase of 50% on the previous year.

More than 300 employers across NSW have registered to use carecareers to attract a range of workers in the sector since it launched (January 2010).

The carecareers advisory-service team have spoken personally with thousands of people considering a career in the sector.

What are the benefits of a ‘carecareer’?

There has never been a better time to explore a career in the disability and community care sector. Employment is booming, with 10,000 more people needed to fill a wide variety of roles over the next five years.

Work within the disability and community care sector offers employees flexible working hours, on-the-job training, and employment security, with the demand for staff increasing as the sector booms.

One area of significant job growth in the sector will involve allied health professionals, especially in rural and regional communities. Increasing specialisation of allied health professionals, combined with sector-wide increases in demand for services and a greater focus on recruitment and retention are fuelling demand for these professionals.

Recent research found more than half of respondents recognised the disability and community care sector as providing rewarding work, far ahead of major industry sectors including retail, mining and manufacturing. [Source: Essential Poll, April 2012]

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Jobs Boom In Illawarras Disability And Community Care Sector

The increasing demands of an ageing population and a rise in the numbers of individuals accessing disability services are driving a jobs boom in the disability and community care workforce, with up to an estimated 400 new workers needed in the Illawarra region by 2017.

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector became the biggest employer in both the Wollongong and wider Illawarra region in the year ending August 2011, overtaking Manufacturing, Retail, Public Administration and Education for local employment.

Mike Field, Project Manager, Workforce Recruitment at National Disability Services recently launched a television commercial aimed at promoting the benefits of a career in the sector. The commercial features the experiences of Talia Low, who has cerebral palsy, and the inspiring professionals who have helped support her journey to start high school.

“There has never been a better time to explore a career in the disability and community care sector. Employment is booming, with up to 10,000 new workers needed in NSW to fill a wide variety of roles providing support for more than 380,000 people by 2017,” Mr Field said.

“Recent research found that more than half the number of respondents recognised the disability and community care sector as providing rewarding work, far ahead of other major industry sectors including retail, mining and manufacturing.

“The sector offers a broad range of career choices, from speech pathologists and occupational therapists to drivers, gardeners and IT professionals. Students and young people, return-to-work parents and career changers will play a vital role in filling job vacancies and providing high-quality support services in the future.

“You can go online and take a quick picture-based career quiz to find out what type of job in the sector would suit you best,” he said.

Greenacres Disability Services CEO Stephen Beard said his organisation had supported carecareers since it began in 2009 and recruits staff through the website.

“The carecareers website and online tools are an asset to Greenacres Disability Serviceswhen it comes to recruiting new staff” Mr Beard said.

“A career with a disability or community care provider like Greenacres offers not only a rewarding career, but job security, flexibility and good opportunities for training and career advancement.”

“Greenacres currently supports more than 900 people in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra and surrounding areas each week. We look forward to the challenge of attracting new workers and offering greater career opportunities in years to come.”

Via EPR Network
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Still Growing: Comfort Medical Opens Retail Outlet

Comfort Medical Supply, LLC located in Ormond Beach, FL since 2005, has been ranked – despite economic pressures – has been ranked on the Inc 500 and Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in the U.S. for two years in a row and is now offering a retail outlet open to the public. The store is located in the Ormond Oaks Plaza in Ormond Beach at 619 S. Yonge St.

Comfort Medical Supply is a national supplier of home medical equipment and is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation (HQAA). An approved Medicare supplier, Comfort supplies to all lower 48 states with 7 locations in the Southeast specializing in complex rehab power chairs, power mobility, drug-free pain therapy and orthotic support devices. Comfort was founded in 2005 and acquired Southeast Mobility Group, LLC in January 2007. The company has continued to grow despite the many obstacles the home medical equipment industry has endured over past years due to legislation affecting Medicare and health care.

Historically, the company ‘s revenues were derived almost exclusively from insurance coverage. However, due to reimbursement cuts in Medicare and other private insurance over the past 2 years, the company has ventured into the retail segment, where products often aren’t covered by insurance. “We recognized that to continue our growth, we had to offer additional products that are sold on a cash basis”, said Craig Daley, President & CEO. “Retail products such as home lifts, vehicle carriers, bathroom safety and daily aids to living are in high demand. When our customers receive a device that is covered by insurance, they soon discover that there a number of other items available that they also need to meet their living needs on a daily basis. Our retail segment is now available to meet those needs at competitive pricing.”

The retail store is open Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Special appointments are available by calling (386) 673-6902.

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NSW Minister For Disability Services Launches TV Ad As Care Sector Jobs Boom

The NSW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, has launched a new television commercial aimed at promoting the benefits of a career in the sector and the online job listing and portal www.carecareers.com.au.

carecareers, developed by the state’s peak body for disability service providers National Disability Services (NDS) NSW, provides resources, advice and job opportunities to anyone thinking about a career in the sector.

Minister Andrew Constance said carecareers reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to providing training and skilled opportunities for individuals to enter and pursue meaningful careers in the disability and community care sector.

“It is about changing people’s perceptions about the breadth of activities and challenges in the sector, showing the human face and rewarding nature of the work available,” Mr Constance said.

The commercial features the experiences of Talia Low, who has cerebral palsy, and the inspiring professionals who have helped support her journey to start high school.

“There has never been a better time to explore a career in the disability and community care sector. Employment is booming, with up to 10,000 new workers needed to fill a wide variety of roles providing support for more than 380,000 people by 2015,” said Mike Field, Project Manager, Workforce Recruitment at National Disability Services.

“Recent research found that more than half the number of respondents recognised the disability and community care sector as providing rewarding work, far ahead of other major industry sectors including retail, mining and manufacturing. The sector offers a broad range of career choices, from speech pathologists and occupational therapists to drivers, gardeners and IT professionals.”

“Students and young people, return-to-work parents and career changers will play a vital role in filling job vacancies and providing high-quality support services in the future. You can go online and take a quick picture-based career quiz to find out what type of job in the sector would suit you best,” he said.

To view the new carecareers television commercial please visit www.carecareers.com.au/videos/talias-story

Via EPR Network
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Nominate Your Loved One for the ‘Gift of Hearing’ from Estes Audiology

Estes Audiology (www.HearLifeAgain.com), a professional hearing healthcare provider dedicated to improving the lives of the hearing impaired and their families is again giving away three sets of hearing aids during its annual “Gift of Hearing” holiday giveaway. Each year, Estes Audiology donates hearing aids in December to worthy individuals who suffer from hearing loss and lack the financial resources to purchase hearing aids. Estes Audiology is soliciting nominations regarding qualified participants starting today thru December 9, 2011. On December 14th, the recipients of the ‘Gifts of Hearing’ will be notified.

“We are fortunate to live and work in the great communities of New Braunfels, Georgetown and Boerne. During this holiday season, Estes Audiology wants to continue its annual tradition of helping those in need of hearing assistance through our ‘Gift of Hearing’ program, ” said Soriya Estes, Au.D., founder and owner of Estes Audiology. “This annual giveaway is our way of saying thanks to the people of Central Texas. It warms all of our hearts when we hear what an impact our gift has made.”

Jane Whitehouse was a past recipient from the “Gift of Hearing”. When reflecting on the impact of receiving such a gift, she emotionally says, “I cannot put into words what Estes Audiology has done for me. That same year my husband passed away and I was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder. For years, I had been plagued with hearing loss. With the hearing aids, I could hear again. Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel towards Estes Audiology and its staff for this wonderful gift.” Her daughter-in-law Lisa Whitehouse added, “It was definitely the best Christmas gift I have ever been a part of. Receiving the hearing aids has totally changed her life.”

To be considered as a recipient for ‘the Gift of Hearing’, participants or those who nominate them must write a short essay – 400 words or less – describing how hearing aids would impact them and the lives of the people with whom they interact. Nominations and essays for the ‘Gift of Hearing’ holiday giveaway may be submitted directly to info@estesaudiology.com or may be mailed to Estes Audiology Hearing Center, 1528 Common Street, Suite 5, New Braunfels, Texas 78130. The winners will be selected based on the following criteria: hearing need, financial need, opportunity to impact the recipient’s life, and opportunity to impact the lives of the people with whom they interact.

This is the sixth year that Estes Audiology Hearing Centers has given away sets of hearing aids to deserving individuals. Since the ‘Gift of Hearing’ program’s inception in 2005, Estes Audiology has given away more than 13 pairs of hearing aids to hearing impaired individuals – an in-kind donation worth more than $59,000.

Estes Audiology, a woman-owned professional hearing healthcare provider, was founded by Soriya Estes, Au.D., a well-known Central Texas audiologist and former adjunct professor at the University of Texas-Austin. Estes Audiology currently has offices in New Braunfels, Georgetown, Boerne and San Marcos. Putting its patients first, employing only the most talented and educated staff, using state-of-the-art measurement tools, and providing the most digitally effective hearing solutions and devices, Estes Audiology is the hearing healthcare provider of choice in Central Texas.

To learn more about Estes Audiology and to take its online hearing evaluation, visit HearLifeAgain.com.

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WeInterpret.Net and University of Maryland Medical System Expand Contract

WeInterpret.Net has signed a contract with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and has been providing sign language interpreting services to both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University Specialty Hospital, both in Baltimore. The additional seven member hospitals have now been added to the contract. Located in Baltimore City and Glen Burnie, along with Cambridge, Easton, and Chestertown on the eastern shore, the list of participating hospitals includes Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Memorial Hospital at Easton, Chester River Hospital Center, Dorchester General Hospital, and the James Lawrence Kernan Hospital. As one of the largest hospital networks and related clinic services in Maryland, hundreds of patients each year require interpreting services to communicate successfully with hospital staff and medical personnel. WeInterpret.Net, providing interpreting services throughout the state of Maryland and in many locations across the country, is pleased to have been chosen by the University Medical System to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nationally Certified and Qualified Interpreters provided by WeInterpret.Net assure that the hospital is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. which requires equal access through appropriate methods of communication.

weinterpret

Appropriate communication methods vary by individual and We Interpret.Net can provide interpreters skilled in American Sign Language, Signed English, The Rochester Method, Cued Speech and Oral Interpretation. In areas such as the Washington / Baltimore metro area, interpreters are in high demand and short supply. “Full-time staff interpreters along with managers who are also certified interpreters, allows the agency to respond to every request with qualified interpreters even on the busiest of days or during the overnight and weekend hours,” stated Tauna Faries, Vice President of Operations for WeInterpret.Net.

About WeInterpret.Net
Maryland Interpreting Services, a Maryland corporation doing business as WeInterpret.Net and WeInterpretLinked was established in 1996. Owner and President, David Stephenson is a nationally certified interpreter. Since its establishment, it has provided some 6 million hours of interpreting services to some 900 customers through offices in Utah, Virginia, Maryland and New Mexico. Staff Interpreters and Independent Sub-Contractors numbering over 1000 provide On-Site (www.WeInterpret.Net) and Video Remote Interpreting. (www.WeInterpretLinked.com)

About University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) was created in 1984 when the state-owned University Hospital became a private, nonprofit organization. It has evolved into a multi-hospital system with academic, community and specialty service missions reaching every part of the state and beyond. (www.umm.edu) UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. It also has one of the world’s largest kidney transplant programs, as well as scores of other programs that improve the physical and mental health of thousands of people daily.

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WeInterpret.Net Signs With The University Of Maryland Medical System To Provide Sign Language Interpreting

WeInterpret.Net a Sign Language Interpreting agency in Maryland has a contract with the University of Maryland Medical System and is providing Interpreting services currently to the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University Specialty Hospital, both in Baltimore. This contract is for the provision of services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients when communicating with their medical providers. As one of the largest hospitals in the area, the contract for interpreting services is one of the largest outside of the federal government entities in the state of Maryland. This contract allows the hospital to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

weinterpret.net

WeInterpret.Net has signed a contract with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and is currently providing signed language interpreting services to both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University Specialty Hospital, both in Baltimore. As one of the largest hospital networks and related clinic services in Baltimore, hundreds of patients require interpreting services to communicate successfully with hospital staff and medical personnel. WeInterpret.Net, providing interpreting services throughout the state of Maryland and to many locations across the country, is pleased to have been chosen by the University Medical System to provide services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nationally Certified and Qualified Interpreters provided by WeInterpret.Net assure that the hospital is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which requires equal access through appropriate methods of communication

Appropriate communication methods vary by individual and We Interpret.Net can provide interpreters skilled in American Sign Language, Signed English, The Rochester Method, Cued Speech and Oral Interpretation. In areas such as the Washington / Baltimore metro area, interpreters are in high demand and short supply. “Full-time staff interpreters along with managers who are also certified interpreters, allows the agency to respond to every request with qualified interpreters even on the busiest of days or during the overnight and weekend hours,” stated Tauna Faries, Vice President of Operations for WeInterpret.Net.

About WeInterpret.Net
Maryland Interpreting Services, a Maryland corporation doing business as WeInterpret.Net and WeInterpretLinked was established in 1996. Owner and President, David Stephenson is a nationally certified interpreter. Since its establishment, it has provided some 6 million hours of interpreting services to some 900 customers through offices in Utah, Virginia, Maryland and New Mexico. Staff Interpreters and Independent Sub-Contractors numbering over 1000 provide On-Site (www.WeInterpret.Net) and Video Remote Interpreting. (www.WeInterpretLinked.com)

About University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) was created in 1984 when the state-owned University Hospital became a private, nonprofit organization. It has evolved into a multi-hospital system with academic, community and specialty service missions reaching every part of the state and beyond. (www.umm.edu)

UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. It also has one of the world’s largest kidney transplant programs, as well as scores of other programs that improve the physical and mental health of thousands of people daily.

Via EPR Network
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