ERIC_ED313820
ERIC_ED313820
ABSTRACT
This sourcebook provides information for the
practical implementation of independent living technology in the
everyeqy rehabilitation process. "Information Services and Resources"
lists d_tabasesr clearinghouses, networks, research and development
programs, toll-free telephone numbers, consumer protection caveats,
selected publications, and technology resources related to specific
disabilities or age groups. "The Equipment Selection Process"
addresses the importance of systematic selection procedures and
provides guidelines for the initial client interview and an
independent living skills checklist. "Technology at Home" offers
advice on use of hospital beds at nome, nome management, personal
care, clothing and shoes, architectural adaptations, and
environmental control devices. "Educational and Vocational
Technology" descr:.bes technical aids which may benefit disabled
employees and students at all levels of education. "Recreational and
Leisure Technology" focuses on wheelchair sports, water sports,
winter sports, leisure activities such as gardening and fitness, and
toys and games. "Technology for Personal Mobility" deals with seated
wheeled systems, other types of mobility equipment such as walking
aids and lifts, seating and positioning technology, and personal
vehicles. Other sections include "Control, Communication and Sensory
Aids," "Microcomputer Applications," and "Funding, Models, Policy,
Statistics." (JDD)
U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
411A
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
f=1
'TECHNOLOGY
For INDEPENDENT LIVING
SOURCEBOOK
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Patricia Horner
U
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
SOURCEBOOK
Third Printing
Copyright 1984
by the
Printed in the
United States of America
ISBN 0-932101-08-9
FOREWORD
This publication represents the second effort by the Education and Pub li, ation
Committees to compile our current knowledge base and related information sources in
the area of technology for independent living. The first was the Technology for
Independent Uvingi Resource Guide published last year. The Sourcebolk continues and
updates these materials, adding sections on control, communication and microcomputer
applications. It also extends the scope of the original Guido by adding material
to help consumers, practitioners and developers gain a better perspective on the
many and individual fields covered, as well as some understanding of the priorities
for intervention or action within them.
The original Resource Guide, and now the Sourcebook, reflect a trend in RESNA from
simply reporting on technology, toward the development and presentation of materials
and information on the practical implementation and application of technology in the
everyday rehabilitation process. This increasing orientation in RESNA toward more
service delivery and community-based information is a result of the growing number
of rehabilitation practitioners within RESNA who both seek and provide us with this
information
We are indebted to Alexandra Enders for setting the pace in this direction
as well as for the tremendous effort put forth in compiling, revising and
extending this Sourcebook.
A special thanks is also given to Maurice LeBlanc who provided the support for the
initial Resource Guie on which this book is based and to Christine Thompson, who,
under very tight timelines, typed and proofed the Sourcebook for publication
Gregg C. Vanderheiden
Chairman. Publications Committee
May, 1984
If you have or know of information which you believe should be in the next edition
of the SourcPbook. please forward the information to RESNA's office, attention
Sourcebook Editor. If you are willing to assist the Editor in compiling the
information for a section (existing or new) of the next edition, please contact
either the RESNA office or the Publication committee chairperson The quality,
accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Sourcebook is dependent upon participation by
consumers and professionals from each of the fields covered.
,-,
U
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The need to expand and update the Resource Guide becar u obvious, and many
members of RESNA helped make this second edition happen. David Jaffee,
from the Palo Alto VA Rehabilitation R&D Center, had the original data
files translated so they would vork on the Trace Center's computers
Chris Thompson, of the Trace Center's staff, did all the typing, retyping,
and arrangement a mammoth job -- in record time Without her, this
book woula not have been produced
r,
3
lv TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA IBM ie
"Making Toys for Handicapped Children" R "Hints on Operating a Successful Driver Education
McCorkey and D Jeffree Human Horizons Series, Program " Margaret Young, OTR Ontario Crippled
Souvenir Press, Ltd 43 Great Russell Street, Children's Centre, 350 Rumsey Road, Toronto,
London, Eng!ano. Ontario, Canada
"Mobility Device Evaluation Guide" Helen Tsuda, Teaching Driver Education to the Physically Handi-
et al Children's Hospital at Stanford, Rehabili- capped Human Resources Center Albertson, NY
tation Engineering Center, Palo Alto, CA
Hand Controls and Assistive Devices for the
Drawing reprinted from Prentke Romich Catalog, Physically Disabled Driver Human Resources
Shreve, OH Center Albertson NY
Douglas Hobson Um /ersity of Tennesee Rehabili- "Computer Shopping for the Blind Consumer"
tation Engineering Program, 682 Court, Meriiphis, Sensory Aids Technology Update Sensory Aids
TN Four-dation, 399 Sheridan, Palo Alto, CA
"Side by Side Trials An Evaluation Methodology Gregg Vanderheiden Trace R&D Center, 314 Weisman
for Comparative Testing of Modular Wheelchair Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison WI
Insert Systems" S Schar:ein, R Holte
Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference On "How Cat Use a Computer If I Can't Use Its
rtehabilitation Engneering RESNA, 4405 East-West Standard Keyboard?" Gregg Vanderheiden Trace
Highway, Bethesda, MD R&D Center, 314 Waisman Center, 1500 Highland
Avenue, Madison WI
Rehab Brief. June 25, 1964 NIHR, NARIC, 4407
Eighth Street NE, Washington DC 20017
tJ
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984
Network (Jews Vol 6, #3 Newsletter of the
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network
Illinois Special Needs Population, Turner Hall
205, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
INTRODUCTION
1
CONSUMER PROTECTION 26
EVALUATION FORMATS 42
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
53
DEVICE SELECTION, BASIC USE AND TRAINING 53
1 t_
TECHNOLOGY AT HOME 55
INTRODUCTION ,
57
HOSPITAL BEDS AT HOME 57
HOME MANAGEMENT 60
PERSONAL CARE 62
CLOTHING & SHOES 62
ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS 63
INTRODUCTION 75
TECHNOLOGY SERVICE DELIVERY 75
PROJECT TEACH A MODEL PROGRAM 75
ORGANIZATIONS 76
RESOURCE CENTER 77
EDUCATIONAL AIDS INFORMATION RESOURCES 78
MANUFACTURERS 78
ORGANIZATIONS 78
DATABASES 78
RESOURCES 79
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 82
INTRODUCTION 85
COSTS 85
WORKSTATION DESIGN 85
THREE CASE STUDIES 89
FARMING .. 90
A RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPING ACCESSIBLE JOBSITES 91
TECHNOLOGY FOR EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES 91
ORGANIZATIONS 91
GROUPS CONCERNED WITH COMPUTER EMPLOYMENT 92
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 99
PUBLICATIONS 99
PERIODICALS 101
CATALOGS AND D'RECTORIES 102
SPORTS 109
AUDIOVISUALS 118
SOME LOCAL RECREATION PROGRAMS 119
LEISURE ACTIVITIES 122
GARDENING 122
MUSIC 122
NEEDLEWORK
123
FITNESS
124
TRAILS
124
INTRODUCTION . 156
THE FUNCTION OF A WHEELCHAIR CUSHION 156
PRESSURE RELIEF 157
POSTURAL SEATING . 159
A BRIEF GUIDE TO POSTURAL SEATING TECHNOLOGY 159
SEATING SERVICE PROGRAMS 164
COMMERCIAL SOURCES 166
SIDE-BY-SIDE TRIALS 170
PUBLICATIONS 172
BIBLIOGRAPHY 173
AUDIOVISUALS 178
INTRODUCTION 179
HINTS ON OPERATING A SUCCESSFUL DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAM 179
ASSOCIATION OF DRIVER EDUCATORS 4 THE DISABLED 180
DRIVING EVALUATION FORMS 181
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATION FORM 185
CAR SELECTION AND PURCHASE 185
GUIDE TO THE USE OF HAND CONTROLS AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES 186
OTHER RESOURCES' PUBLICATIONS AND AUDIOVISUALS 187
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 189
CONTROL 193
INTRODUCTION 193
CONTROLLER CHARACTERISTICS 194
GUIDELINES FOR SWITCHES 195
UUIDELINES FOR GOOD INTERFACES 195
'NTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZED INTERCONNECTION PROJECT 196
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS CONTROL / ND ASSESSMENT 197
SOME MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS OF CONTROLS 198
ALTERNATIVES TO PURCh _E DO IT YOURSELF 201
R&D ORGANIZATIONS 202
COMMUNICATION 203
INTRODUCTION 227
USING A COMPUTER WHEN YOU CAN'T USE ITS STANDARD KEYBOARD 233
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 236
PUBLICATIONS 236
CLEARINGHOUSES e: CATALOGS 237
NEWSLETTERS 238
MASS MARKET COMPUTER MAGAZINES 238
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 239
INFORMATION EXCHANGE NETWORKS 241
RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 243
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION 243
IN COGNITIVE REHABILITATION 244
VOICE INPUT 245
VOICE OUTPUT 245
COMPUTER ACCESS FOR BLIND PEOPLE 246
FUNDING 251
We all use "technical aids" With the advance of technology, physical strength and ability have
declined as the primary measure of worth and the oely means to compete for survival When we
need to accomplish a task beyond our physical capabilities, a tool is developed to make that
task possible or safer or faster or Just easier and more corvement One of the identifying
features of the human species has been its skill at making and using tools The story of
humankind can readily be told as the history of the development of technological innovation
Compared to the enormous power of machirary, a'l ,uman beings are phisicaily limited At each
point in history, society defines and redefines the criteria for physical and mental normalcy
Certain members are excluded from being able to independently maintain themselves based on these
arbitrary limits In cases where technology is able to acceptably compensate for the limita-
tion, especially when a significant portion of the population has a similar disability, the
limitation is redefined as being whin normal limits, and those people are no longer stigma-
tized as being handicapped Disab.lity a matter of degree Technology .:an reduce the gap.
as in the case of eyeglasses Not even airline personnel are discriminated against any longer
for wearing corrective lenses Lower back problems seem to be headed into the "normal" range
there is a store in Boston specializing in low back problems, and it is definitely not focusing
its marketing strategy toward the "disability" market, its target is the "normal" person with a
back problem Hearing aids also appear to be heading out of the "adaptive aid" category, even
the U S President now openly wears one, and thi. advertising campaigns for hearing aids are
increasingly emphasizing convenience, happiness, and quality of life
The last ten years have been exciting times in the field of applied technology for disabled
people. From a time when there weie very few devices, we now have a situation where there a-e
more crevices than anyone can keep track of without the help of a computer R&D efforts have
increased, service delivery is beginning to change from an art to a science, and we can begin to
exchange ideas about how and why we have succeeded and failed
Along with the many new devices that are now on the market or under development, there has come
an explosion of information about technical aids for disabled people If you are an information
specialist, you may find yourself inundated with it If you are a practitioner or a consumer,
you may know it's out there, but not know quite where to find it This Sourcebook was written
to help make some sense out of the sometimes bewildering array of information available on
technical aids for disabled people
The emphasis throughout is on practica: applications of technology Many sources have been
quoted, to give you an idea of the resources that you have available to you
Organizations and people have been listed who may be able to help find answers for your ques-
tions Publications are listed as sources of more information A few of the publications are
out of print, but have been included because they are classics, still useful, and nothing better
exists to supercede them They can generally be found in therapy departments or rehabilit,'.on
medicine units
There is one major resource that has not been specifically referred to in this g, 'e As a
group, this resource is often overlooked, even though their information is usually the most
effective, least expensive, and has stood the test of time disabled consumers Find tnem, ask
them que ions, listen to them Trade nformationl Mrs B may want to know about shower
benches, but she probably has a wealth of information about kitchens This informatiun has
proven its reliability and validity Take advantage of it whenever possible
A listing of local community resources was '-eyond the scope of this book If you don t know
where else to start looking, try the yellow pages of the phone directory These are some
suggested headings crutches, wheelchairs, wheelchair lifts and romps, van conversions, hearing
aids, handicapped equipment, physical therapy equipment, physician's & surgeon's equipment and
supplies surgical appliances and supplies, 13habolotation services, home health services,
handicapped assistance,handicapped transportation services, human services organizations, social
service organizations, rental service stores, associations Your directory may have others
This resource guide is not intended to convey everything you always needed to know about tech-
nology for disabled people It is, however, a good place to start if you are looking for
practical information Good luck'
ajtAsynp.)4.4.40, FALsbiAle
u
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDErZNOENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 1
A NOTE ON MYSTIFICATION: Avoiding Hardware Inferiority Complexes (HIC)
If the idea is to provide functional services, then we must give up this socially enforced
tendency to worship equipment and refocus on people Here are some phrases to repeat before a
mirror
If you are not a technologist "I don't care if it 1.; 'state-of-the-arty" "No, I'm not dumb,
you lust have to learn to express yourself sc we can understand you" "Microprocessor, shmicro-
processor,"
If you are a technologist "Sixty seconds of .11ence" (You may have to work up to this I
"That sounds like a good idea Can I explain how we might be able to build it7" "Gee, I didn't
know that"
Jim Tobias
"Grassroots Rehabilitation Technology and the Delivery System"
HAAS Workshop, Houston, Texas
December 4-5, 1980
A NOTE ON TECHNGPHILIA
The danger exists that technology will be viewed as an end in itself, not as a means to an end
Technology produces two groups of people those who love it (technophiles) and those who don't
(technophobes) Some people have a low "gadget tolerance," and don't feel comfortable around
sophisticated assistive devices Questions about gadget tolerance must be asked of the
pruvider, the consumer, and the caregiver Devices obviously shouldn't be pushed on someone who
doesn't like them, they'll end up in the closet But there is another danger here, that of the
"technophile," the person with a high gadget tolerance Sometimes devices are requested because
they are new, innovative, "glittery," not because they are best suited to the individual
Please note that when questioning the degree of gadget tolerance, the provider who is asking the
question should do some self-examination at that point, and also look at the motivation of other
team members who are recommending devices
Alexandra Enders
"Questionable Devices"
Special Sessions
Second International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
June, 1984
CONSUMER PROTECTION 26
ARTHRITIS 32
CEREBRAL PALSY 32
DISABLED CHILDREN 32
DISABLED ELDERLY 34
LARYNGECTOMY 34
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 34
ONE-HANDED 34
OSTOMY 35
PARKINSON'S DISEASE 35
STROKE 35
The ABLEDATA System Is a computerized data re- fined to assure you of the most current product
trieval system for information on rehabilitation information
products, funded b' the National Institute for
Handicapped Research of the U S Department of Products listed in ABLEDATA extend from the simple
Education and operated by the National Rehaoilita- to the sophisticated and reflect a broad range of
tion Information Center (NARIC) The ABLEDATA equipment needs Products are identified by the
product database lists commercially available following categories
rehabilitation products. The national database
lists only manufacturers, sole distributors or o Personal care o Home management
national distributors with unique mail-order pro- o Vocational/Educational o Mobility
duct catalogs Bibliographic materials and organ- o Seating o Transportation
ization information are available through BRS on o Communication o Recreation
REHABDATA (NRIC), also maintained by NARIC Using o Ambulation o Therapeutic Aids
ABLEDATA can help people make more informed deci- o Orthotics /Prosthetucs o Sensory Aids
sions about purchasing the appropriate aids or
devices they require
WHAT DOES AN ABLEDATA PRODUCT LISTING INCLUDE'
ABLEDATA can provide answers to questions like
Each ABLEDATA product listing includes the follow-
My uncle has impaired vision What kinds of ing descriptive information
reading aids are available to help him?
o Common product name
My company is developing an Employee Assistance o Brind name
Plan Is there a resource for equipment which o Manufacturer
could help those people injured on-the-job to o Cost
return to work quickly' o Description of the product
o Informal user comments (if available)
Kelly had always enjoyed carpentry and I think o Abstracts of formal evaluations (if available)
it would be therareutic to continue, but
maneuvering standard tools is impossible How
can I find out what adaptive devices are HOW CAN A PRODUCT BE LISTED ON ABLEDATA'
available'
ABLEDATA welcomes recommendations from product
I manufacture fishing gear and have developed a users, researchers, health professionals and manu-
fishing pole mount for wheelchairs Is there a facturers regarding equipment and devices to add
centralized place to list its availability' to the database. In addition, the staff reviews
journals and manufacturer catalogs as well as
My patient wants to star out of a nursing home, contacting individuals on the field of rehabilita-
but wonders about maintaining a daily routine tion for new product ideas
alone Are i,,re devices which would help"
As an integral component with the actual database,
Pat will be going back to work shortly I think the ABLEDATA System includes a network of informa-
a van would be a wise purchase at this point, tion Brokers The Network of Information Brokers
but how can I get comparative irformation about consists of Regional Information Brokers trained
van modifications to help Pat make an informed by NARIC to successfully access ABLEDATA's product
decision? listings Regional Information Brokers are em-
ployed by a variety of rehabilitation related
facilities and organizations They serve as a
ABLEDATA lists over 10,000 products which are local access point for product information The
commercially available Further, ABLEDATA is Information Broker provides interpretation of the
updated monthly, which means that the F.,roduct clients' requests or needs for obtaining informa-
listings are continually being expanded and re- tion from the database and provides additional
r.
A.
5 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 19$4 5
INFORMATION SEAVICES AND RESOURCES
information on local or regional vendor resources Identifiers, and all generic or common product
and other related services for the products. names listed by category In addition, a separate
and more detailed index is available with all
Requests for information about equipment nay be terms indexed alphabetically with alternative
directed to the Brokers by anyone, including dis- terms (or synonyms) and cross-references for ap-
abled individuals or family members, rehabilita- propriate searching terms The ABLEDATA Thesaurus
tion professionals, manufacturers or vendors, (2nd edition) is available for $25 00, including
educators, public or private agencies, or re- postage and all supplements Searching the data-
searchers. In addition to computer printout in- base is accomplished by free text searching This
formation, the Information Broker can provide method of searching may use either words desig-
photocopies of the manufacturer's literature for nated in the controlled vocabulary or may be
further detailed information, and for local re- searched using any word or phrase in conjunction
quests the Broker can provide supplier informa- with applied limitations or operators Any of the
tion, sources for repair and maintenance or other fields or paragraphs may be searched but consis-
related resources and referrals tency of terminology within tile data entries is
DATA ENTRY FORMAT particularly critical with free text searching
NARIC provides training workshops specifically for
The content of each data entry in the files in- learning to search ABLEDATA
cludes the following fields
SAMPLE DATA ENTRY
AN Accession number (Computer record ID number,
includes code for year/month data entered) AN 83-07-006900
NM Generic name of item NM INSULIN SYRINGE INFUSER
BN Brand name (trade name and/or model number) BN ACCU RINGE MODEL SP250, INSULIN PUMP
MN Manufacturer's name MN DELTA MEDICAL INDUSTRIES
CD Manufacturer's and distrtutor's code numbers CD 1372
to locate address AV MANUFACTURER
AV Availability (major distributors or developer CT $1,50000, 0583
if not commercially available) DE INSULIN PUMP FOR CONTROLLING BLOOD GLUCOSE
CT Cost/date LEVELS UNIT IS SIZE OF A PACK OF
DE Description- -brief statement describing item CIGARETTES CLIPPED TO BELT OR WORN IN
CM Comments includes information evaluative POCKET CONNECTING SYRINGE IS INJECTED INTO
data, contraindications, limitations, etc SKIN AND TAPED HOLDS FOUR DAY SUPPLY OF
(from disabled individuals, rehabilitation INSULIN USES U-100 UNDILUTED INSULIN
professionals, etc (OTHER CONCENTRATIONS CAN BE USED) UNIT IS
EV Evaluation -- formally documented test results PROGRAMMED TO DELIVER INSULIN AT MULTIPLE
ID Identifiersindex terms from controlled TIMES ACCORDING TO THE USERS SELF MONITORED
vocabulary listed in thesaurus BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS 1 1/16 BY 2 5/8 BY 4
3/8 INCHES 5 112 OUNCES SYRINGE 3 CC P3-
Generic Name, Brand Name, Manufacturer, Distribu- 0-L BATTERY NICKLE CADMIUM RECHARGEABLE
tors, Cost and Description are self-explanatory BATTERY OR NON RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
and must be completed for each data entry The DELIVERY TUBE 2 FEET LONG INTERNAL VOLUME
Accession Number is not used for searching the 12 UNITS NEEDLE STANDARD LUER HUB. NUMBER
database The first four digits identify the 25 TO 27, 1/2 TO 3/4 INCHES LONG ON/OFF
month and year the data was entered intc he REVERSE CONTROLS BASE RATE FROM 0 28 UNITS
system, and the last six digits are a document OF INSULIN PER HOUR TO 28 INSULIN UNITS PER
identification number for internal editing pur- HOUR (99 OPTIONS) ID PERSONAL CARE
poses A Code Number is assigned to each manufac- PERSONAL HEALTH
turer and distributor and is used to access a CM MUST HAVE A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION TO RECEIVE
separate file to obtain the address of desired PRODUCT
companies. Presently the fields, or paragraphs,
for Comments and Evaluation are not completed for The ABLEDATA System is designed as a central data-
all data entries, these are completed as the in- base, and is stored at Bibliographic Retrieval
formation is submitted or otherwise available Services (BRS) in 1.tham, New York It may be
Comments include informal use evaluation or gen- accessed anywhere in the country, or internation-
eral comments from disabled individuals, health ally, by persons with subscriptions to BRS through
professionals or anyone desiring to share informa- special telecommunications lines lie, Telenet,
tion regarding giroducts All data submitted is Tymnet) BRS subscriptions range from !1600 to
reviewed before input to the system, and verified $3500 per connect hour, and telecommunication
if necessary The Evaluation field is for for- charges range from $600 to $11 00 per connect
mally documented evaluation results, primarily hour There is a $15.00 per hour/$1 5 per
from research programs Evaluation results may be citation royalty for public access to ABLEDATA
reproduced in total or summarized if lengthy, with Each program generates its own policy regarding
references for obtaining the complete results charging fees for providing searches of ABLEDATA
or other databases Some provide searches free of
The :dentifier field is the only paragraph re- cost; others havo minimal fees As of 2/1/84,
quired to use a controlled vocthulary. These NARIC charges $10.00 per search providing up to
terms are assigned from the list of categories and 100 citations, and $5 00 for every additional 100
sub-categories listed in the ABLEDATA thesaurus citations (or portion thereof)
The thesaurus for ABLEDATA is being developed
simultant.ously with the data entries, The The-
saurus includes all controlled vocabula" or
21
6 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 6
INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Bibliographic Retrieval Services people with disabilities get into the bathtub
Items range from a heavy-duty polyvinyl cushion
If you would prefer to access ABLEDATA directly, that inflates with water cnd costs less than $300
it is available to anyone with a subscription to to an electric, stainless steel, floor-mounted
Bibliographic Retrieval Services MRS) For In- left priced at more than $2,300
formation regarding the equipment and resources
necessary to publicly access ABLEDATA. call or "Some 47 different bathtub benches end shower
write BRS, 1200 Route 7, Latham NY 12110, stools are distributed by 32 companies A molded
800/833-4707. New York residents call 518/783- plastic seat with no back support costs $11, a
1161 vinyl upholstered chair snd backrest with remov-
able arms sells for $265
BRS AFTER DARK "Nineteen manufacturers offer 23 different powered
mobility products, starting with a battery-
To directly access the ABLEDATA or REHABDATA, you operated metal frame with small wheels and foot-
must have a subscription to BRS (Bibliographic rests that converts most standard four-legged
Retrieval System) The BRS Search Service, which chairs into motorized vehicles for indoor use It
is used by major research centers, cornorations costs about $860 At the top of the line is a
and university libraries around the world, 's now four-wheeled, eight-speed electric cart for either
available to the home computer user Called indoor or outdoor travel It can reach speeds of
BRS/AFTER DARK, this comprehensive new service up to 22 mph and retails for around $3,000
provides access to information from millions of
journals, reports, books and articles via a trans- "Fourteen different models of emeraency alert
parent, user-friendly interface to the sopnisti- systems are available from manufacturers A $60
cated BRS Search software Available from 6 p m unit consisting o' a wireless remcte-control sig-
until midnight. local time, the service offers naler that can be clipped to a pocket, bed or
dramatically reduced searching casts during con- wheelchair activates an alarm receiver plugged
venient, after-work hours BRS/AFTER DARK is into a standard outlet up to 100 feet away At
available for a one -time subscription fee of $75 the other end of the spectrum is an exotic $2,300
which covers the search service, the BRS/AFTER microprocessor-based system that periodically re-
DARK Newsletter, electronic mail, and other quests a simple response from the person it is
services. Access to BRS/AFTER DARK costs as monitoring
little as $6.00 per connect hour, include 'NINET
telecommunications charges Further in ition "A variety of 60 lines of men's and women's cloth-
is available from Cathy Anderson, BRS/AFTErt DARK, ing with special off-and-on features are available
1200 Route 7, Latham, NY 12110, 518/783-1161 from 16 listed manufacturers Items range from
easy slip-on blouses priced at about $5 up to an
$85 jacket with Velcro fasteners in the front
HOW ABLE IS ABLEDATA?
The article goes on to say that
In the November 1983 issue of Changing Times Maga-
zine, an article, "Things that help the handi- With the printouts from Abledata /ou can get a
capped help themselves," reported the following good idea of the variety of products available,
information who makes them and how much you can expect to
pay Printouts may also include names of local re-
"To get a first-hand idea of just how well the sources and distributors"
computerized product ident'fication system
works, Changing Times sought information cn a Reprinted with permission from Changing Times, The
variety of products selected at random We re- Kip linger Magazine, November 1983 issue Copy-
quested information on right 1J83 by The Kip linger Washington Editors,
Inc, 1729 H Street NW, Washington, DC This
"o a hammer that a one-armed person could use, reprint is not to be altered in any way, except
o a device to help a paralyzed person get into with permission from Changing_Times
a bathtub,
o an immersible bench that a disabled person THE ABLEDATA USERS' GROUP
can use in a bathtub or s. ower,
o powerad modes of transportation other than The ABLEDATA Users' Group is an association of
expensive electric wheelchairs, individuals and organizations who access ABLEDATA
o a means by which a disabled person could regularly The annual fee is $35 The Users'
summon help in an emergency, and Group was created in response to the diversity of
o clothing designed especially for people with ABLEDATA's users The Users' Group accomodates a
disabilities wide variety o participants by allowing the
ABLEDATA staff to target the,' technical
"A few days later we received a package of print- assistance toward specific needs
outs the informed us that
For more information, contact ABLEDATA, 4407
"United ?acific Curp, 245 Roosevelt Rd, West Eighth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, 202/635-
Chicago, III 60185, manufacturers a hammer with 6090, TOO 202/35-5684
nail slots in a magnetized head that allows one-
hand use. It retails for about $20
Accent on Information, P 0 Box 700, Bloomington, bases of information for the disabled In most
IL 61701
cases, the information will be available within 24
hours
A commercial computerized product database with
data entries organized by categories of equipment To initiate a search or to request a search form
and by disability function Data entries include call 800/275-8700 (in California, 800/223-2437),
ideas for how to make or adapt equipment, and or write American International Data Search, Inc,
organizations of interest to disabled persons 2326 Fair Oaks Blvd, Suite C, Sacramento, CA
Total database includes 5,400 entries, repre- 95825
senting approximately-1.000 companies, developers
and organizations Product printouts are avail ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted
able by mail for a cost of $12 00 for the first 50 Children, 1910 Association Drivk,, Reston, VA
entries and $08 for every additional citation 22091, 703/820-3660
Photocopies of the literature can be provided for
some products Each data entry lists the product Information on curricula, teaching methods, re-
name, cost, and a brief description search, program descriptions, assessment and other
topics related to the education of handicapped and
Accent Buyer's Guild grew out of the information gifted children can be fund in the Council on
system, and lists manufacturers, distributors, and Exceptional Children (CEC) quarterly abstract
organizations, classified by product type or journal Exceptional Child Education Resources
function It is an abbreviated version of the (ECER) and in the ERIC monthly abstract journals
database holdings Information listed includes Resources in Education (RIE) and Current Index to
names and addresses only Cost is $10 00 Journals in Education (CIJE). These three
publications provide you with abstracts of journal
Assistive Device Database System (ADDS) articles, books, research reports, conference
proceedings, curriculum guides, project reports,
The Assistive Device Database System ( ADDS) is a and other types of education literature, both
source of information on adaptive equipment, Published and unpublished.
programs and other resources available .o You can search the information in these publi-
handicapped or disabled persons ADDS contains cations manually or by computer Hundreds of
information not only on commercially available university, professional and public libraries sub-
devices, but also on those which are custom made scribe to ECER, RIE, and CIJE. You can search the
ADDS was originally developed by the Assistive subject indexes by hand to find abstracts of
Device Center at California State University, articles and documents on your topic Many of
Sacramento for use by college and university coun- these libraries also offer computer searching of
selors who advise disabled students needing assis- ECER and ERIC (RIE and CIJE) Some libraries are
tance to accomplish tasks essential to getting a funded to offer free or inexpensive searches to
complete education, especially those students in certain groups If your topic is fairly complex,
the fields of sciences and enginee-ing or you need to have a comprehensive review of the
literature, a computer search can save you many
ADDS provides information on communication, mani- hours in the library
pulation, mooility and sensory handicaps ADDS
provides four basic types of information Computer searches of ECER a id ERIC are available
from CEC Information Services at the follov.ing
o Devices, including purpose, manufacturer, rates
vendor, cf)st and skill neeoed for use
o Bibliographic citations, including author, Regular and Institution Rates
title, source, and abstract
a Resource persons, including name, address, One database (ECER or ERICI $3500 (up to 50
phone, organizational affiliation, specialty. abstracts), two databases (ECER and ERIC) $50 00
and service offered (up to 100 abstracts)
o Service agencies, including name, organiza-
tion, address, phone, publications, anu types Special CEC member rates
of disabilities served
One database IECER or ERIC) $2500 (up to 50
abstracts); two databases (ECER and ERIC) $40 00
(up to 100 abstracts)
ADDS is being made available by American Irter-
national Data Search (AIDS), Inc ADDS will be Additional abstracts at $5 per 25, add 10% for
available fo; direct on-line searching through postage and handling
commercial services and computer networks Ini-
tially searches will be performed by the AIDS If you need help locating a library near you the,
staff, but can be delivered electronically to "our offers computer sea thing or would like to order a
computer or terminal search from CEC, call CEC Information Services at
703/620-3660
If you do not have a computer or terminal or if
you prefer AIDS to do the search you may make an The Council for Exception& Children operates the
information request via a toll-free number or mail ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted
in an information request form American Irter- Children under a contract with the National Insti-
national Data Search can also access oti 'Sr data- tute of Education
/j
O 1
INFORMATION CLEARINGIOUSES
Bioengineering Program, Association for Retarded publishes newsletters The Center also dissemi
Citizen'. (ARC) of the United Stater 2501 Ave. J, nates information to rural areas and culturally
Arlingtan, Ts; 76011. diverse populations
The purpose of the ARC Bioengineering Program is The Center prove'. .iblications about specific
to improve the quality of life for mentally re- seas of interest, add,esses of parent organize
tarded persons, especially severely/profoundly lions, information about other resources, ideas on
retarded persons, through technology Program how to wort with schools and other agencies to
activities consist of adapting currently available create. Jest programs possible, and newsletters
assistive devices for use by ietarded persons, wheel ac:tress timely suDjects of interest
developing new assistive devices when needed, and
consolidating information on the use of techno- Those who may use the services of the Center
logical aids into a technology resource library include parents of children expeeencing ha, 11
IV ssouri
The European Economic Community (EEC) is develop- Information Systems as Technical Aids for the
ing a new technical aids ootem for disabled per- Disabled A Transnational View James F Garrett,
sons. Called "Handyner, the system consist,- )f Editor Rehabilitation International USA, 1123
two parts: Handyaids, which lists information n Broadway, New York, NY 10010 $20 00 1982
technical aids available in EEC countries and
Scandinavia, and Handywho, which carries informa- Four papers from the 1981 conference in Bellagio,
tion on professionals and organizations that Italy, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation
develop or provide technical aids in these
countries
Information Services on Technical Aids for People
Long-range plans include Handysearch, an inven- with Disabilities An International Perspective
tory of research in the field of technical aids, Barbara Duncan, Editor 1132 Broadway, New York,
Handyce, information on EEC documents and legisla- NY 10010 $20 00 1982
tion cncerning disabled persons, and Handynews, a
servic:e that reports new developme.ts, meetings This book is the proceedings of the First Inter-
and conferences on technical aids national Conference on Information Systems on
Technical Aids for People with Disabilities, held
For more information, contact Patrick Daunt, Head, October 4-8 in Bellagio, Italy An exploration of
Bureau for Action in Favor of Disabled People, Al the best ways to promote international exchange of
613 200, rue de la Loi, B-1049, Brussotis, Belgium information on technical aids There is an inter-
national overview of technical aid information
systems in Sweden, England, Australia, Germany,
International Commission on Technical Aids, Italy, Japan and the U S The proceedings also
Housing, and Transportation (ICTA) include a resource section listing information,
publications and journals on technical aids and
A commission within Rehabilitation Interriational services available for individuals who experience
Located in Stockholm, Sweden, it promotes an handicaps
international exchange of information through
publications, conferences, and seminars Contact
ICTA Information Centre, FACY, S -161 25 Bromma
Sweden
"The official role of the Federal Goverrment in CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDI-
vocational rehabilitation, prosthesis research, CINE, School of Medicine, 211° Abington Road,
and other disability-related research dates back Cleveland, OH 44105, 216/444-4900 P Hunter
to the 1930's and 1940's. The presence of the Peckham, Ph L.
Federal Government as a purchaser of devices to
aid disabled people reaches back even further to Functional Electrical Stimulation Research on
the years following the Civil War Much of the restoration of neuromusculoskeletal impairment by
groundwork for the current system of rehabilita- functional electrical stimulation, closed loop
tion research was laid in the 1°40's by the Na- control of electrically stimulated muscles to
tional Academy of Sciences and the armed sery ces improve FES orthoses for restoration of hand func-
in response t she postwar needs of veterans A tion, therapeutic applications of FES for manage-
large share of the initial research was conducted ment of abnormal muscle contractions in cerebral
by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veter- palsy, biofeedback system for replacement of tac-
ans Administration IVA) on prosthetic devices tile information in quadriplegic, development of
Prosthetics research, along with an expanded focus external control logic and percutaneous stimula-
on other areas of disability-related research, tion systems
still continues in the VA system The present-day
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) had CEREBRAL PALSY RESEARC1, 3UNDATION OF KANSAS,
its beginning as the Office of Vocational Rehabi- INC, PD Box 8217, 2021 N Old Manor, Wichita,
litation within the then Department of Health, KS 67208, 316/688-18881 John F Jonas, Jr,
Education, and Welfare (DHEW) in the early 1950's John H Leslie
Since these early efforts, the range and depth of
the Federal initiative have expanded markedly In Work Site Modification Research on worksite
addition, this area of R&D has steadily gained rtodif !cation using technology systems approaches
increased attention and recognition by the Federal to determine whether generalizable principles
Government over the years, though it remains small of design are feasible for neurologically impaired
in comparison to the immensity of the problems persons, develop taxonomy of performance charac-
involved. The private and nonprofit sectors of teristics, investigate the occ ationally signifi-
our society have also become increasingly involved cant physical skills of pre-vocational disabled,
in disability-related products and services" develop an Available Motions Inventory, develop
determined time standards, investigate use of
from Technology and the Handicapped, Office of robotic arm, design interfaces with computer,
Technology Assessment IOTA), U S. Congress, communication devices, and word prccessors, deve-
Washington, DC, 1982 lop head wand, make and install tooling or adap-
tive devices for production lines in at least
National Institute of Hnnclicapped Research, three sheltered workshops
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue. SW,
Washington, DC DALLAS REHABILITATION FOUNDATION, 7850 Brookhollow
Road, Dallas, TX 75235, 817/273-2249, 214/637-
The National Institute of Handicapped Research 0740 Raymond Dabney, Alfred R Potvin
(NiFIR) provides leadership and support for a
national and international program of compre- Quantification of Human Performance Researc h on
hensive and coordinated research regarding the improved me.hod of quantification of human per-
rehabilitation of handicapped persons, and sees formance, refinement expansion, clinical evalua-
that this knowledge is made available to those who tion, and commercialization of the sensory and
can best use it. Developing and applying new motor function
technologies to th effort is the main focus of
the Institute's Rehabilitation Engineering Cen- ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION, 2001 Eye Street
ters. NW, Suite 405, Washington, DC 20006, 202/457-
4900 John Walsh
Each center is encouraged to establish official
working relationships with institutions of higher Evaluation of Technology & Stimulation of Indus-
learning in medicine, engineering, and related try foster a commercialization process 'o lead to
sciences, and to assist in the development of increased availability of assistive devices for
manpower and training programs through which the handicapped, stimulation of industry to partici-
technique, hardware, and systems development can pate in production, marketing and distribution of
be introduced safely into the service delivery devices, developing criteria for selection of
systems. Duplication of effort is avoided through devices for tasting, development of evaluation
intercenter coordination Each center has a., protocol
approved core of research emphasis and eat h re-
flects the needs of major patient populations of GALLAUDET COLLEGE Division of Research, 400 Flo-
the center. In the following list, the respective rida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202/651-
core area of research, and a brief description of 5440 Raymond J TrybLs, %CI
spec.fic focus, is listed beneath each REC
Sensory Aid0-.1-Deaf and Hearing Impaired re-
search into the various technologies for the deaf
18
30
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 18
INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES
WATA WA AMAL, Mugamaa Building, Tahnr Square, Another mechanism that NIHR and other Federal
Cairo, Egypt. Sahah Hommossani agencies involved in this area use is the Inter-
Architectural barriers agency Committee on Rehabilitation Engineering
This working group is composed of representatives
Veterans Administration from the National Science Foundation, the National
Council on the Handicapped, the National Bureau of
VA has been involved in disability-related tech- Standards, the National Aeronautics & Space Admin-
nology research since the late 1940's For many istration, the Veterans Administration, the
years, VA was the primary supporter of federally National Institute of Handicapped Research, the
sponsored research in this area, especially in the Department of Health and Human Services, the
field of prosthetics research In the last few Department of Transportation, the National Insti-
years, VA has expanded its disability-related tute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders
research focus to include a broader range of and STroke, and the Senate Committee on Labor and
areas The establishment of the Rehabilitations Human Relations This Interagency Committee was
Engineering Research and Development (RER&D) instrumental in the development of NIHR's Long-
program is the VA's response to the increased Range plan
research and service needs of the veteran popula-
tion and of disabled people in general
The Private Sector Role in Disability-Related
REHABILITATION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, Central Research
Office, Veterans Administration Central Office,
810 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20420, "It is difficult to characterize the 'private
202/389-5147 sector' involvement in disability- related
research The private sector may mean a large,
REHABILITATION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER, multi-national, multi-product, billion-dollar-a-
Decatur Veterans Administration Hospital, 1670 year c-mpany like the Johnson & Johnson Corp, or
Claremont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, 404/321-6111 it may mean a small, single-product firm like
Amigo Sates Co, or possibly a private nonprofit
REHABILITATION RESEARCH & DEVELO'DMENT CENTER, organization such as the Cystic Fibrosis Founda-
Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, Box 20, tion or Muscular Dystrophy Association These
Hines, IL 60141, 313/343-7200 diverse organizations provide a wide variety of
products and services to disabled people How-
REHABILITATION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER, Palo ever, each is quite different from the others in
Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, Mail Stop terms of priorities, resources, and function
153, Palo Alto. CA 415/493-5000, x 5464 Manufacturers of health-related devices that spe-
cifically serve disabled people are frequently
referred to as part of the medical device indus-
Office of Special Education (OSE), Department of try In addition, there era thousands of agencies
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, that derive their funds from charity or provide
DC philanthropic services, these may be foundations,
service organizations, funds, or associations.
OSE is the third largest Federal supporter of The medical device industry and charitable founda-
disability-related research, and the largest in tions and related organizations are both extremely
the area of educationally related efforts diverse groups that exist to serve an equally
diverse 'market'"
:3 _.t.
800 telephone numbers are nothing new, but you might be surprised by how
many companies nave them. Expert advice on choosing or using a device may
be only a call away And because it's free, it's worth a try
By dialing (800) 55-1212, you can find out if a manufacturer has a toll-
free number. Or if you want more than 35,000 toll-free numbers listed both
by company and category, write to Toll-Free Digest, Box 800, Claverack, NY
12513 or call (8001447 -4700 to order the 480-page book. It costs $10 95
plus $2 shipping.
Except where noted, use 800 cumber only outside the respective state
A-BEC Aquatherm Products Corp
Torrance, CA Borg Textile Corp
Rahway NJ Chicago, IL
800/421-2269 800/526-4296
800/262-1331 in California 800/241-8992
Ascher surgical Supplies, Inc E F Brewer Co
Abest Philadelphia, PA
SP' Newton, USA Menomonee Falls, WI
800/523-1300
800/558-8777
Abbey Medical, Inc B-D Drake Willock
Subsidiary American Hospital Briox Technologies, Inc
Portland, OR
Supply Corp Worcester, MA
800/547-5534 800/225-7496
Hawthorne, CA
800/421-5186 B&F Medical Products, Inc John Bunn Co.
Toledo, OH
Abbott Laboratories Tonawanda, NY
800/537-3419 800/828-7331
North Chicago, IL
800/942-9255 Ballert Orthopedic Corp
800/323-9067 in Illinois The Burdick Corporation
Chicago, IL Milton, WI
800/345-3456 800/356-0701
Active Aid
Redwood Falls, MN Banyan International Corp
800/533-5330 Canyon Products
Abilene, TX
Simi Valley, CA
800/351-4530
Aeroceuticals Health Care 800/221-5499
Products Battle Creek Equipment Co
Southport, CT Carrom Health Care Products
Battle Creek, MI
800/243-9876 Maryland Heights, MO
800/253-0854 800/325-4004
Aiay Be Mar Surgical Supply Co
Delavan, WI Cheesebrough Pond's Inc
Centerport, NY
800/558-3276 Hospital Products Divison
800/645-5322
Greenwich, CT
Ahmed, Inc 800/245-5320
Bell-Horn
Boston, MA Philadelphia, PA
800/225-0211 Cleo Living Aids
800/523-4516 Cleveland OH
Allied Healthcare Products, Inc 800/321-0595
Bio Clinic Co.
Chemetron Medical Division San Bernardino, CA
St Louis, MO Clinical Data Instruments, Inc
800/854-2369 Brookline, MA
800/325-3890
800/225-9180
Biomega Corp
Alpha Unlimited Gainesville, FL
800/237-6836 The Clinipad Corporation
800/874-1878 Guilford, CT
AMEREC Corporation 800/243-8548
Biosearch Medical Products, Inc
Bellevue/ WA Somerville, NJ
800/426-0858 Colson Equipment, Inc
800/526-5976
Caruthersville, MO
American Health Sciences 800/325-4128
Biostim, Inc
Phoenix, AZ Pi inceton, NJ
800/528-0181 Conco Medical Co
800/257-5184 Bridgeport CT
Amigo Sales, Inc. 800/243-2194
Otto Bock
Bridgeport, MI Minneapolis, MN
800/248-9130 Control Products
800/328-4058 Stockton, CA
800/344-3288
800/892-3453 CA only
Johnson & Johnson Products, Inc Marcy Fitness Products Mountain Medical Equipment, Inc
Patient Care Division Alhambra, CA Littleton, CO
New Brunswick, NJ 800/423-3920 800/525-8950
800/526-2459
Mark One Healthcare Products, Inc Mulholland
Jordan Plastics Corporation a member of the Seton Group see Mobility Plus
PLASTA-MEDIC Philadelphia, PA
Carson, CA 800/523-3660 John Nageldinger & Son, Inc.
800/421-5536 Westbury, NY
Medela, Inc 800/645-3496
La Jolla Technology, Inc Crystal Lake, IL
San Diego, CA 800/435-P316 NARCO Scientific, Air Shields
800/854-1915 D.vision
MEDFURN Systems Hatboro, PA
Labtron Scientific Corporation Flushing, NY 800/523-5756
Hauppauge, NY 800/847-4018
800/645-9066 National Wheel-O-Vator, Inc
Medi Inc Patterson, LA
Lattoflex International Holbrook, 12640,30590, MA 800/551-9095
Hudson, NY 800/225-8634
800/341-1522 Neuromedics, Inc.
Medical Devices, Inc Clute, TX
Lec Tec Corp St Paul, MN 800/231-2330
Eden Prairie. MN 800/328-0875 800/392-3726 TX only
800/328-6276
Medical Devices International Newton, USA
Leisure Pt Chairs Corp Rochester, NY
Kansas City, KS Waukegan, IL 800/828-6284
800/255-4147 800/323-9035
Nissen Corp
Lifeline Systems Medical Specifics Cedar Rapids, IA
Massachusetts Dallas, TX 800/553-7901
800/343-4632 800/448-4511 x 304
800/962-1480 x 304 NY only OTC Professional Appliances
Lossing Orthopedic Cincionati, OH
Minneapolis, MN Medpro, Inc 800/543-0458
800/328-5216 East Brunswick, NJ
800/526-0988 x 121 Orthioi Corporation
Lotus Health Care Products Costa Mesa, CA
Naugatuck, CT Medtek Comoration 800/854-6900
800/243-2362 Princeton, NJ
800/257-5103 Ortho-Med, Inc
Lumex Portland, OR
Bay Shore, NY Medtronic Neuro Division 800/547-5571
800/645-5272 Minneapc..a, MN
800/328-0810 Otto Bock
The Lumiscope Co. Inc Minneapolis, MN
Edison, NJ Mir octonka, Inc 800/328-4058
800/221-5746 Minnetonka, MN
800/221-5747 800/328-5927 OWL Biomedical
800/328-5926 Charlotte, NC
MGI Strength/Fitness Systems Inc 800/828-1186
Independence, MO Mistogen Equipment Co
800/821-3126 Oakland, CA Oxygen Enrichment Company, Ltd.
800/227-0525 Schenectady, NY
Maclaren 800/833-4751
New York Mobility Plus
800/233-1224 Santa Paula, CA PCP-Champion
800/325-7397 Ripley, OH
Mac Levy Products Corp 800/543-0458
Elmhurst, NY Mobilizer Medical Products
800/221-0277 Mount Vernon, NY Palmer Industries
800/431-1720 Endicott, NY
Made Medical Products, Inc 800/847-1304
Carlstadt, NJ Mor-Loc Corporation
800/526-6370 Claremont, NC Parke Davis & Co
800/438-9201 :Aed/Surg Division
Marathon Medical Equipment see Professional Medical
Denver, CO Motion Designs Products
800/525-0654 Clovis, CA
800/888-2827
800/888-2837
"ONSUMER PROTECTION
BUYER BEWARE -- SHOPPING FOR ADAPTIVE DEVICES STEPS TO OLLOW IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR
ASSISTIVE DEVICE
"Technology advances in recent years have created
a multitude of aids for disabled people aids "Read the instructions and your warranty care-
hr..; opened up doors of employment and inde- If you have not received a copy of a
pendence. But these aid are expensive, and some- warrant; with your device, w to the man' 'ac-
times have 'bugs which have not been ferreted out turer or seller and eel, a your device is war-
Individuals and agency representatives need to ranted Be sure that you don't expect features or
exercise caution when purchasing expensive, new performance your device isn't designed to give or
aquipment. expect warranty coverage that was never promised
Will It Solve the Problen,; "Before deciding on a "Contact the warrantor The seller may not be the
particular device, make sure it will solve the warrantor Write or call the company at the ad-
problem. Identify the tasks the equipment will dress given in the warranty Describe your prob-
solve and then thoroughly question vendors to lem and explain exactly what you think the company
assure that thnir device can handle those owes you under the warranty repair, refund, or
tasks.... replacement When you call a company, se-id a
follow-up letter to put in writing what was said
...Get Promises in Writing "Before committing Send all letters by certified mail and kee,1
several thousand dollars to a particular vendor, copies But remember having a warranty doesn't
insist on a demonstration Do not :,,Ay a piece of mean you automatically get your money back If a
equipment based on a brochure If an aid appears product is defective, the company is entitled to
suitable, but a demonstration isn't possible, make try to fix it
sure he device can be roturned with a full re-
fund. Any reputable WO' agree to this, "If the company Is not helpful, contact a state or
but get the agreemr ring . A verbal local consumer p. Jtection office or complaint
promise of a deice ": and capabili- center At present, agencies handling problems of
ties, or the vendor's re, ,_. Abilities, is no the disabled are not accustomed to giving warranty
promise Always save correspondence, letters of information or resolving warranty problems, but
agreement and technical information you, state consumer protection office or complaint
handling center routinely helps people solve war-
Service and Reliability "When considering any ranty problems and gives warranty information
device, check it out for service and reliability
Ask to talk to satisfied customers using the "If contacting a consumer protection office
equipn. in a similar application If a vendor doesn't resolve tt e problem and the amount of
is unwilling to supply customer references, there money involved ,s-small, you can go to a small
msy be a good for bad) reason Find out the cost claims court The costs are low, procedures are
of a yearly service contract versus the cost of a simple, and lawyers are usually not needed The
typical repair bill for the aid What is the clerk of the small claims court can tell you how
turnaround tin for service? If there is not to bring your lawsuit
good, timely service available, reconsider the
device, particularly if it's needed every day for "If your device has a written warranty and WdS
a lob. manufactured after July 4, 1975, you may want to
sue the company under the Warranty Act You
Solving intvface Problems "Find out wha. kind of should contact a lawyer lr consumer protection
technical support is avaik.ble for solving inter- office for information If you win, you can get
face problems. Interface problems are the most money damages or any other type of relief the
important issues in the effective use of braille courts choose to give you This includes the cost
and audio terminals Make sure that support is of bringing the lawsuit and your attornev's fees
available from the vendor, your company or an If your de nee was manufactured before July 4.
outside organitation 1975, you can only sue the company under state
law, in California, all assistive devices come
Proper Training "Finally, when considering a with a written warranty which enables you to sue
complex device, find out what training is avail- under state an-, federal law
alid how much it costs To purchase a device
like an electronic braille system, or an ..udio "Report violations of the la N to the Federal Trade
terminal, without training will usually prove Commission, Warranties, Washington, DC 20580
losappnting because of the struggles to learn The FTC cannot help you directly with a warranty
how to use it Reside's the vendor's technical problem, but it needs to know if companies are
support, if available, look t,; user groups, they obeying the warranty law Witte the FTC if a
can be a great source of help when problems arise company does not make warranty information avail-
or new applications are uncovered able, does not label the warranty as required, or
does not perform service as promised While the
from "Sensory Aids Technology Update", January, FTC does not handle Ind vidual cases, it does look
1984 Published b; the Sensory Aids Foundation, Into business practices which affect many con-
399 Shendee, Palo Alto, CA. sumers"
from "Warranties Can Save You Time and Money,' bw
Jacqueline Schmitt, Federal Trade Comrr melon
Reprinted with permission from the Spring. 1981
issue of Accent on Living
Disability and Rehabilitation Handbook, Robert M Aids to Make You Able Self-Help Devices and Ideas
Goldenson, edit. r. McGraw-Hill Bock Company 1221 for the Disabled, Wendy M Davis Beaufort
Brooks, 9 E 40th Street, New York, NY 100i6 81
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 846
pages $27 50 1978 The book rs organized in pages $895 1981 The occupational therapist
four parts Part I, Foundations of Rehabilita- who conpiled this book compares assistive devices
tion, explores the practical approaches to aiding to recipes "You learn a few basic ones, invent
the disabled, such as the role of the family, the
your own, and try those of other people" Her
development of social and sexual relationships, informative book presents self-care aids to help
arrangements for independent living, housing and disabled people resume activities of daily living
and encourages others to invent new equipment
transportation adaptations, employment possibili-
ties, educational and recreational programs, legal Illustrated with simple drawings, the aids are
rights, and financial assistance Part II, Dis- grouped into nine categories communication,
eating a id drinking, dressing, bathroom aids,
abling Disorders, covers all the major handicap-
pir,n diseases and defects Part 3 comprises household aids, transportation, leisure and plea-
III atrative Cases Part 4 is the Data Flank, an
sure, sexuality, and smoking A concluding sec-
tion contains sources for additional information
extensive compilation of statistics, mimes and
addresses of relevant national organizations on specific top -s, a bibliography, and addresses
of medical suppiiers
federal agecies and programs, periodicals and
directories, and major sources of information and
supplies Chapter 5, "Independent Living Ways The Best of Helpful Hints, Courage Center Auxi-
liary Courage Center, 3915 Golden Valley Road,
and Means," Describes the broad range of devices Golden Valley, MN 55422 86 pages $3 50
available, within the context of independent
living
An Easier Way Handbook for the Elderly and Handi-
capped, Jean Vieth Sargent Iowa State University
Disabled? Yes Defeated? No K Cruzic
Press, Ames, IA 50010 220 pages $1050 1981
Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NY 07632 211 Simple equipment that can be readily made or
pages 1992 Contains information resources for
bough" to help meet daily living needs
disabled persons, their families, and therapists
Chapters discuss daily living alas, clothing, Equipment for the Disabled National Fund for
housekeeping, and cooking, as well as educational Research Imo Crippling Diseases, 2 Foredown
programs, recreation. finances, careers, and com- Drive, Postslade, Brighton, England 1973-1980
munity services
10-booklet series which provides guidelines to
help in the selection of equipment "Personal
Resource Guide to Literature on Barrier-Free Envi-
ror- nts with Selected Annotations 1980 Prepared Care," "Home Management," "Disabled Mother,"
"Clothing and Dressing for Adults," "Housing and
by ArciutectJral and Transportation Barriers Com-
Furniture," "Hoists and Walking Aids" "Wheel-
pliance Board, Washington, DC 20202 (A&TBCBI
79-00004 Available from Superintendent of Docu- chairs," "Outdoor Transport," "Commun -.ation,"
ments, U S Government Printing Office, "Leisure and Gardening," and 'Disable- .;hild'
Washington, DC 20402 279 pages Lists access Pictures of commercially available and do-it-
yourself aids
information for schools, parks and recreation,
transr cation and housing Also contains a sec-
tion on Aids and Devices Functional Aids for the Multiply Handicappea i P
Robmault, Editor Harper & Row, Hagerstown, MD
Prepared under the auspices of the United Cerebral
The Source Book for the Disabled An Illustrated
Palsy Associations, Inc, this book discusses
Guide fo- Easier and More Independent Living for
wnere to buy or how to construct items that would
Physically Disabled People, Their Families, and
enable a multiply handit.eopcd per-on to function
Friends, Glorya Hale, Ed Paddington Press, 95
more independently Aids are classified according
Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 288 pages,
illustrations $15 95 cloth, $14 95 paper 1979 :o function transfer, travel and mobility, per-
sonal care, including feeding and eating equip-
Consumer - oriented, comprehensive guide to indepen-
dent living Includes discussions of equipment, ment, clotting and dressing aids, aril personal
hygiene communication and learning, and
accessibility, hor ti adaptations, personal care,
recreation Includes a list of resources for aids
leisure, recreatio 'Sexuality, and disabled
and information
parenting
A Handbook of Ideas for the Disabled Ideas and
Inventions for ler Living, Suzanne Lunt
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 'SPECIFICALLY ON TECHNOLOGY
Charles Scri:inere Sons, New York, NY 276 pages
$17 95 This handbook has hundreds of devices and
Aids to Independent Living Self-Help for toe
ideas to make life easier and more active You'll
Handicapped, Edward Lowman and Judith L Klinger
McGraw-Hill, 330 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 find directions for simple homemade aids as well
4
27 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING WURCEBOOK RESNA 11154 27
INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES
as information on Equipment available on the mar- Virginia Stern and Martha Reds en, editors Ameri-
ket; devices that help you sit up, get out of bed, can Association for the Advancement of Science,
dress, walk handle household chores, travel, ceelt 1776 Massachusetts Livarma NW Washingtnn nr:
do anything more easily than you thought pos- 20036 1983
sible. Written by a layperson for the general
reader, the book's aim is to tell you what is
available rather than persuade Eou to buy any- PRODUCT DIRECTORIES
thing. The final section of the nook helps you
deal with the cost of equipment and medical help Accent on Living Buyer's Guide, (1984 -85 ecil
You'll find suggestions and the rames of organiza- Accent Special Publications, P 0 Box 700,
tions that will help you obtain jobs, government Bloomington, IL 61701 1983 Manufacturers and
money, home care, tax breaks, and other assis- distributors of equipment listed by category, as
tance. The appendix, "Sources of Equipment and well as addresses of national organizations and
Information," provides a complete directory of the associations concerned with disabilities Pub-
suppliers mentioned throughout the book and help- lished annually
ful organizations. This book was inspired by the
needs of the author's terminally ill mother, who Catalog of Aids for the Disabled Nancy Kreisler
was nursed at home, and the information's practic- and Jack Kreisler McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1221
ality reflects that fact, Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 16020 246
pages $24 95 1982 Over 600 separate pieces
Helping the Handicapped A Guide to Aids Developed of equipment are cl,,:ribed in this text, listing
by the Telephone Pioneers of America Telephone the latest in equipment needs from the kitchen to
Pioneers of America, 195 Broadway, New York, NY your automobile, from children to adults, for all
For availability, ,our local phone company in manner of disabilities Each equipment entry
the U S or Canada for the r-,ame of the local includes a photograph if deemed necessary, a brief
chapter administrator. description, a price category, and the name of a
supplier, the appendix then lists the addresses of
This book probably represents only a small percen- all suppliers, addresses of helpful organizations,
tage of the devices that the Pioneer group has and periodicals that might be useful
developed These are the ones that were docu-
mented Design for Accessibility Equipment and A,ds Cata-
og (The 1979 edition was Barrier Free Design
Groups of Pioneer volunteers serve the people of Equipment and Aids Catalog ) Michigan Center for
their communities in innumerable ways, but this eflarrier Free Environment, West Blomfieid, MI
book is dedicated to the hundreds of Pioneers and 1981 Guide to equipment and aids available to
FL ore Pioneers who have used their ingenuity, help create a barrier-free environment Includes
their know-how, and countless hours of volunteer standing aids, aids for the blind, auto or van
time to develop and build aids to help their adaptations, building equipment, doors, floor
handicapped neighbors surfaces, kitchen and laundry, plumbing acces-
sories, windows, and other special equipment
This handbook is not a catalog of aids and devices This is not a commercial catalog, you can't buy
for sale In many cases the items described are things from it
available only in the area where the chapter
listed under "CONTACT" operates However, "how to Product Inventory of Hardware, Eq_uipment and Ap-
make it information forawings, diagrams, parts pliances for Barrier Free Housing Design
lists I is available from these chapters We National Handicap Housing Institute, Inc , 12 S
suggest that anyone who needs a particular device 6th Street, Suite 1216, Min' eapolis, MN 55402
shown in the book contact first the Admin.7trator $25 00 1979 Catalog with 418 pages provides
of the, local Pioneer chapter to inquire whetner descriptive ;.urrmaries, prices and pictures of
one can be made available locally A list of approximate'y 200 products It includes products
headquarters locations of each chapter, by state, in general use as well as those specifically de-
is included. The Mministrator can be reached by signed for disabled persons
calling the teler'none company headquarters in the
city indicated and asking for the chapter by name NOTE The Green Pages, and Rehabilitation
Purchasing Guide (RPG) which replaced it, are no
Wit,: a Iew exceptions, the amount shown under the longer being produced
"COST" heading is not a selling price It is the
approximate cost of the materials required to
build the device. Most aids built by Telephone
Pioneers are donated to local schools, hospitals
or agencies which serve handicapped people
The Comfortably Yours catalog isn't your typical "A few years ago my mother iscopped using fitted
rehab products catalog It distributes "Aids for sheets, even tho'jgh she preferred them, because
Easier Living" and does not specifically focus on her arthritic hands hurt whenever she pulled at
the handicapped/health care audience. It's a mass the tight corners We 'ound these cotton terry
market catalog for "just tolks." About half the sheets in Europe and tn_..ght them back for her
products are clever convenience products. The She was thrilled They have fitted elasticized
other half are the kinds of things we'd expect to corners and, because the terry material has a
see in a clinical catalog bathtub benches, tub natural stretch, there is no strain when putting
safety bars, reachers, an adult bib, eating aids, them on the bed These long wearing quality
etc. sheets absorb perspiration, feel comfortable year
round, and machine was and dry beautifully
What makes this catalog fun to read is how the Available in champagne and blue, please specify
products are described. It's hard to remembIr color P S Mom, who wastes nothing, now uses her
that there is a difference between the "rehab" old flat bottom sheets as top sheets
products. and all the other gadgets that their
copy writer has you so eager to buy (Is thore "Being able to take care of yourself by yourself
really a difference?) I personally find the cata- Is a wonderful thing especially when it comes
log somewhat dangerous I hsve to exort real to bathing and personal hygiene The new open-
self-control not to buy something from almost front design of this chair allows you to cleanse
every page. more effectively and independently. You can reach
more areas, even while seated The open design
We can all learn from the catalog's marketing also allows you to place your foot directly behind
approach. It could teach us how to talk about you as you get in and out of the bath, giving you
technology for people with physical limit,:tions in an extra measure of sa4ty The molded seat is
a way that doesn't intimidate or alienate the contoured for comfort and the legs adjust in
people who need them It provides a way for height easily by push button from 14 1/2" to 22"
people to think About their equipment as "aids for and have non-slip rubber tips The chair is cor-
easier living" rather than stigmatizing signs of rosive resistant and is also available without a
being "crippled" or weak back A special chair for special needs with
features well worth the cost
Comfortably Yours, Aids for Easier Living, 52 West
Hunter Avenue, Maywood, NJ 37607,201/368-0400 We received this good-looking eating smock in the
mail recently. The lady who sent it to us says
Some example4 of the Comfortably Your's product she designed it for her father who needs it to
descriptions. protect his clothing while eating but wouldn't
dream of wearing a bib. She chose this up-to-date
"How many times in the middle of the night do you blue denim fabric and styled it so that it goes on
have to put the light on? You fumble under the easily and stays on securely with ties in the
shade for the switch, hoping you won't knock some- back, He accepted it so readily that she felt
thing over, turn on the light and blind your- others might prefer it too The terry front has a
self! THis lamp dimmnr is actually for any room, wate 'proof backing and a generous pocket across
but I want you to put it by the hed It glows in the front to catch food crumbs It measures 21
the dark All you do is open one eye just a 1/2" across the front and is machine washable and
hide bit, push down on the glowing kn'b, z .d the dryable One size fits all
light is on as soft as you like This is
great, too, for a sick room, for children, for
anyone who has trouble moving about and can't turn
knobs UL listed 6 foot cord
Trade and consumer magazines offer one of the most Riehabilsitgtonn Tqchn.r_lingy
timely means for learning about new equipment "Left To Our Own Devices"
availability Scanning periodicals on a .egular Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North
basis can be an effective means to acquire product America
information and remain generally aware of equip- Suite 402
ment and service availability 4405 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
Each of the periodicals listed be ow regularly
features a section devoted to new products/ideas RX Home Care
Each item entry in the periodical generally in- "Product Gallery"
cludes a description and picture of the device "Equipment Spotlight"
Barrington Publications, Inc
Accent on Living 825 S Barrington Avenue
"New Products and Services" Los Angeles, LA 90049
Cheever Publishing Company
Gillum and High Drive Sports 'N' Spokes
P.O. Box 700 "Nifty New Stuff"
Bloomington, IL 61701 5201 N 19th Avenue, Suite ',11
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Communication Outlook
"News on Aids"
Artificial Language Laboratory These journals also periodically have technology-
Computer Science Department related information
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824 Bulletins on Science and Technology for the
Handicapped
The Coordinator American Association for the Advancement of
"New Products" Science
Coordinator Publications, Inc Office of Opportunities in Science
11417 Vanowen Street 1776 Massachusetts Avenue NW
North Hollywood, CA 91605 Washington, DC 20036
No subscription charge
Homecare/Rehab Product New Quarterly
Miramar Publishing Company
2048 Corner Avenue Journal of the Association of the Severely
Los Angeles, CA 90025 Handicapped
The Association for the Severer Handicapped
ICTA Inform 7010 Roosevelt Way, NE
"Technical Aids" Seattle, WA 98115
Swedish Institute for the Handicapped
Box s03 Rehab Brief
S-161 26 BROMMA National Institute of Handicapped Research
Sweden Office of Special Education and Rehab Services
Department of Education
Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Washington, DC 20201
"New Products"
Canon Communications, Inc Rehabilitation Gazette
2422 Wilshire Blvd Gazette Inte- "tunnel Networking institute
Santa Monica, CA 90403 4502 Maryland Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Paraplegia News Annual
"Innovations" Back issues, $8 each
5201 N. 19th Avg J8, Suite 111 Volume 25, $10
Phoenix, AZ 85015
Rehabikation Literature
Rehabilitation Digest Nation tl Easter Seal Society
"Let's Get Technical" 2023 W. Ogden Avenue
Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled Chicago, IL 60612
One Younge Street, Suite 2110 BI-monthly $21
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E5 Two of the six issues in 1983 were technology
Canada related "Technology & Disability," March-
April 1983 (44, 3 -4) and "Technology & Dis-
Rehabilitation Literature ability II," November-December 1983 (44, 11-
"New Products" 12)
National Faster Seal Society
2023 W. Ogden Avenue Rehabilitation World
Chicago, IL 60b12 Rehabilitation International USA
1123 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
Report and Access Information Bulletin illustrate how science is improving life for the
National Center for a Barrier Free Environment disabled
1140 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 1006
Washington, DC 20036 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Subscription $25.00/year
Bimonthly These groups can provide more information on tech-
nical aids, write for their publication lists
AUDIOVISUALS Muscular Dystrophy Association
810 Seventh Avenue
Approach to Independence Functional Adaptations, New York, NY 10019
James Mueller Available from Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center, The George Washing- Nation-I Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children
ton University, 2300 Eye Street NW, Suite 714, and Adults
Washington, DC 20037 3/4" color videocassette, 2023 W Ogden Avenue
33 minutes. 1978 Illustrates simple solutions Chicago, IL 60612
to functional problems of the severely disabled Easter Seals Produces several excellent pub-
that can be found through imaginative adaptations lication bibliographies on all phases of
of common materials and products rehabilitation
Assistive Devices for the Rehabilitation Patient United Cerebral Palsy Association
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Education and 66 E 34th Street
Training Center, 345 East Superior St, Chicago, New York, NY 10016
IL 60611 Videotape, 30 minutes Presentation 212/481-6300
discusses and demonstrates common adaptive equip-
ment used in dressing, feeding, grooming, avoca- Sister Kenny Institute
tion, and wheelchairs, as well as the carry-over Division of Abbott-Northwestern Hospital
of the use of adapted devices from a rehabilita- 800 E 28th at Chicago Avenue
tion setting to an acute setting Minneapolis, MN 55407
612/874-4149
Devices for Self-Help Performance Bureau of Publishes a variety of materials for the
Education for the Handicapped Available from disabled Books about aids and equipment
National Authovisual C_rosr, National Archives and include Communication Aids for the Brain
Records Service, General Services Administrat.on, Damaged Adult, Introduction to Bowel and
Order Section/RT, Washington, DC 20409 16mm Bladder Care, Living r.omfortably with Your
color film, 18 minutes Illustrates the prnblems Ileostomy, and Val- ,.nair Selection More
of persons w.tn multiple physical handicaps and Than Choosing a Chair with Wheels. "Equip-
demonstrates supportive devices fry 'ask per- ment" and "Some Adaptive Devices" are audio-
formance Includes moving from place to place, visuals available from the Institute.
sitting, standing, writing, turning pages, com-
m. icating and eating
Many books written about specific d.sabilities have chapters and/or exten-
sive references to technical aids Some examples include
Palsy Association, Inc, 66 East 34th Street, New Inexpensive Equipment for Activities of Daly
York. NY 10016 A revised second edition is to be Living Kathryn S. Cservenyansky, C O.T.A. Occu-
available soon. pational Therapy Department, Job Development
Laboratory, George Washington University Medical
Handling the Young Cerebral Palsied Child at Home Center, 2300 Eve Street NW Room 20 Washington,
N H Formes. E P Dutton, New York, NY $5 95 DC 20037 18 pages $1 00 1973 Manual of
1975. Equipment suggestions are made throughout easily made aids for feeding, dressing, hygiene
the book for commercially available ani do-it-
yourself devices. Also, a list of resources for Let Me Do-It-Yourself A Curriculum Guide for
equipment and accessories is included Teaching Daily Living Skills to Orthopedically
Handicapped Children Joan McCollom Available
Handicapped Children Strategies for improving from Albert Schweitzer School, 6991 Balboa Ave,
Services Gary Breuer and James Kakalik McGraw- San Diego, CA. Pub #1B785 1978 Includes sug-
Hill, 1221 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10020 gestion for assistive devices and a checklist for
1979
evaluation of daily living skills evaluation for
school age and preschool children
Handi-Sitters How to Sit for the Handicapped M
Cohn and K Caffey Available from' Melissa Cohn, Occupational Therapy for Mentally Retarded Child-
OTR, 1812 Mapleleaf Blvd, Oldsmar, Florida 33557 ren, M Copeland, L Ford, and N Solon Uni-
63 1389.3. 1979 Chapter 4 Special Equipment
versity Park Press, Baltimore, MD 226 pp 1976
Introduction to special apparatus a caregiver Chapter 6, Adapted Equipment Suggestions,
needs to understand, simple sketches and reasons sketches and construction details for low cost
for use. A companion teaching manual is also aids that can be constrtic..ed in the clinic, class-
available room or home
Helping the Severely Handicapped Child: A Guide Physically Handicapped Children A Medical Atlas
for Parents and Teachers P B Doyle, J F Good- for Teachers Eugene E Bleck, M D and Donald A
man, G.N. Jeffrey, and Lester Mann Thomas Y Nagel, M D Grune & Straton, Inc, 111 5th Ave,
Crowell, Publishers 10 East 53rd Street, New New York, NY 10003 2nd edition, 1982 Funda-
York, NY 10022 1979 This book will help mental medical facts are accompanied by practical
parents, teachers, and others responsible for the suggestions for teachers Assistive devices are
care of children with severe physical and mental included where appropriate
impairments to obtain the best public education
available and assist in solving specific problems, Please Help Us Help Ourselves. Inexpensive Adapted
including the handling of daily at-home activi- Equipment for the Handicapped. Carol Nathan, OTR
ties Chapter on Special Equipment, pp 93-108 Available from- 0 T Program, Indiana University
Medical Center, 1232 W Michigan Street, Indiana-
Home Care for the Chronically III or Disabled polis, IN 46202 $2 00 Illustrates the fabri-
Child A Manual and Sourcebook for Parents and cation of inexpensive adaptive equipment for
Professionals Monica Loose Jones. To be pub- disabled children
lished by Harper & Row, January 1985 Several
chapters focus on uses of assistive devices Posi- Project PROJIMO A Villager-run Reh-tbilitation
tioning Your Child Beds, V",eichairs and Ortho- Program for Disabled Children in Western Mexico
pedic Equipment, Exercises and Orthopedic The Hesperian Foundation, Box 1692, Palo Alto, CA
Appliances, Vision, Hearing, and Communication 94032.
Problems, Bathing, Toileting, and Personal
Hygiene; How and in What to Dress Your Child, How Products for People with Vision Problems Ameri-
and What to Fe...d Your Child can Foundation for the Blind, Consumer Products
Department, 15 W 16th St,eet, New York, NY 10011.
Homemade Battery Powered Toys and Educational Section on Preschool Products, as well as other
Devices for Severely Handicapped Children, Second devices used by children with vision problems.
Edition, and More Homemade Battery Devices for
Severely Handicapped Children with Suggested Acti- Raising Your Hearing-Im aired Child A Guide for
vities. Linda Burkhart, 8315 Potomac Avenue, Parents Shirley McArthur Alexander Graham Bell
College Park, MD 20740 50 pages $500 plus Association for the Deaf, 3417 Volta Place NW,
$1 00 postage and handling 1982 This book Washington, DC 20007 256 pages $10 95. 19R2
gives simple directions for constructing toys and
switches that can be easily operated by severely Special Technology for Special Children Paul
and profoundly handicapped children This book Goldberg University Park Press, 300 North
has a wide range of applications and should be Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201 1979 Com-
useful to parents, teachers, specialists of puters to SS'Ve communication and in education of
vision, hearing, speech, physical and occupational both cerebral palsy and hearing impaired children
therapists
Specially Adapted and Individually Made Hearing
How to Build Special Furniture and Equipment for Aids for Children International Commission on
Handicapped Children Futh B Hofman Charles C Technical Aids (ICTA) ICTA Informatior Center,
Thomas, Publisher, S First Street, Spring- Box 303, S-161-26, Bromma, Sweden. 1982
fielo, IL 62717. 100 pp. $1095 1974 Expli-
cit instructions including pictures, measuremerts Teaching Individuals with Physical and Multiple
and materials for making a standing board, a cut- Disabilities J L Bigge and P A O'Donnell
out table, a standing table, chair inserts, a Charles 2 Merrill, A Bell and Howell Company,
potty chair, etc. Columbus, OH 43216 279 pages Assistive devices
4
33 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 111114 33
INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES
are included, especially in the chapters on Aca- A Handbook of Assistive Devices for the Handi-
demics; Severe Communication Problems and Self capped Elderly New Help for Independent Living
Care. Sketches and photographs are used to show Joseph Breuer Haworth Press, 28 East 22nd
device applications; advantages and disadvantages Street, New York, NY 10010 212/228-2800 80
of equipment are listed. pages $2000. 1982 This illustrated book
describes a broad array of devices designed to
Technical Aids for Handicapped Children Rehabi- assist handicapped elderly persons A major em-
litation Centre for Children, Winnipeg, Canada. A phasis is given to devices to help the bedridden
resource book of both commercially available and elderly with limited strength and mobility in
custom made equipment. performing activities of daily living Devices
are classified under such topics as sitting, com-
municating, dressing, eating, toileting, and
Additional Sources of Information for Parents of walking Each chapter has an accompanying biblio-
Disabled Children graphy
eV)
The Ostomv Book: Living Comfortably with rnin.- Academic Library Facilities and Services t"r the
tomes, Ileostomies, and Urostornies Barbara Dorr Disabled J L. Thomas and C H Thomas Oryx
Mullen and Kerry Anne McGinn Bull Publishing Press, 2214 North Central at Encanto Phoenix, AZ
Company, P 0 Box 208, Palo Alto, CA 94302 236 85004 $70 00.
pages, il'ustrations $7 95 1980.
Access Problems with Computer-Based Services.
United Ostomy Association, lrc, 2001 W Beverly E.J Desautels. University of Wisconsin, Depart-
Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, 213/413-5510 The ment. of Computer Sciences Technical Report #516
Association provides a list of manufacturers and 16 pages. $1 70. October, 1983. Available from
suppliers of equipment for the ostomy patient Trace R&D Center, Reprint Service, 314 Weisman
Center, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
Automated library catalogs which students inter-
PARKINSON'S DISEASE rogate through computer terminals are becoming
commonplace. This report examines the situation
"Aids, Equipment, and Suggestions to Help the at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and
Patient with Parkinson's Disease in the Act.vities analyzes the general computer access problem in
of Daily Living" (pamphlet) American Parkinson libraries as it impacts upon severely han.ncapped
Disease Association, 147 East 50th Street, New students
York, NY 10022 212/421-5890
Information Services to Disabled Individuals
"Airs to Daily Living for the Patient with Parkin- Drexel Library Quarterly, Drexel University,
son's Disease." Alison Beattie British Occupa- Philadelphia, PA. April 1980, Volume 16, no. 2.
tional Therapy Journal, February, 1981 Available from !URIC, 4407 Eight Street NE,
Washington, DC 20017 $600
"Team Management of Parkinson's Disease" Ameri-
can Journal of Occupational Therapy, 31, 300-308 Library Aids. Gaylord Brothers, Inc, PO. Box
1977 4901, Syracuse, NY 13221, 800/44b-6160 Some
items include. study carrel, convenient height
revolving displays for newspapers, magazines,
STROKE paperbacks, records and cassettes. aids for par-
tially sighted individuals, including free-
Do It Yourself Again Self Help Devices for the standing desk and floor model high-intensity mag-
Stroke Patient American Heart Association, nifying lamps
National Center, 7320 Greenville Avenue, Dallas,
TX 75231 45 pages 1969 Practical aids for Library Services for the Handicapped Adult Carol
eating, dressing, reading, housework, using the H Thomas and James L Thomas, editors The Oryx
bathroom and walking are described and illus- Press, 2214 North Central at Encanto, Phoenix, AZ
trated Suggestions for selection of a wheelchair 85004. 152 pages $2500 Part I of this multi-
and rearrangement of the home are provided authored book presents a background overview and
discussion of needs and approaches to preparing
"Handy, Helpful Hints for independent Living after Librarians in serving handicapped people The
Stroke Julius D Lombardi, National Easter Seal bulk of the work is contained in Part II, which
Society, 2023 W Osckn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612 addresses programs and services to special popula-
15 pages 40 cents plus 25 cents postage & tions Part III reproduces a detailed resources
handling Rev ed, 1980 Practical solutions listing, subdivided in various categories, such as
to everyday problems eating, dressing. garden- books, articles, retrieval systems, equipment
ing, ant. other adaptive activities -- shared by sources, and nonprint media
the man who developed them
The Mainstreamed Library Barbara H Baskin and
Help Yourself A Handbook for Hemiplegics and Karen H. Harris, editors American Library Asso-
Their Families Butterworth, Inc., 3700 Pearl ciation, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611 293
Street, Washington, DC 20014 1972 pages $35 00 1983
"I'd Rather Do It Myseif N Wall Occupational Meeting the Needs of the Handicapped. A Res.Jurco
Therapy Department, Massachusetts Rehabilitation for Teachers and Librarians C Thomas and J.
Hospital, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114 Thomas, editors. Oryx Press, 1980, Phoenix,
Arizona
$2 00 A 12 -page booklet containing descriptions
and illustrations of devices and equipment That All May Read. Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped 518 pages Free.
Stroke Bibliography Available from National Available from Publication and Media Section,
Easter Seal Society, 2023 West Ogden Ave, Chicago, National Library Service for the Blind and
IL 60612 Has iformation on books, pamphlets, Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress
reprints to read, catalogs to order Washington DC 20542
r
Ou
tl )
THE EQUIPMENT SELECTION PROCESS 39
EVALUATION FORMATS . 42
SELECTS) PUBLICATIONS 53
several problem-solving session and an extensive reason for evaluation was not only to identify
search for outside equipment resources may be equipment needs in relation to one-handed use, but
necessary also to determine if behavior problems such is
confusion with memory loss would affect safety in
in any cese, the final outcome of the evaloat,c,n per formance
'e to determine recommendations Solutions to
problems may fall under any one of these cate- Dunne the interview, the client revealed that she
gorier: adaptive behavior, commercial equipment, had had little opportunity to attempt homemaking
custom equipment and training Solutions always activities since onset of her disability, but that
begin with the possibility of the client 'earning she was independent in her personal care It was
an alternate ,nique or edapting his behavior, noted that her speech was rambling and often tan-
such as learning to dress in lee wheelchair Se- gential, causing the case coordinator to queston
cond, commercially available equip ment that ould her organizational abilities
su,ve the -roblem is identified and hopefully
located fur trial use luent 'icatien of the After discussion in team meeting, a plan for
appropriate device may, in some rases, be made evaluation in the Model Home by an occupational
only after an exhaustive sear-'- utilizing the therapist was determined Emphasis was to be
resources mentioned earlier c,nly after these placed on task performance in cooking an actual
first two avenues are exhausted is custom design meal to detern..ne appropriateness of commercially
and fabrication of devices considered In these available devices and the client's ability to
cases, engineering personnel then become exten- adapt to new methods and use one-handed equipment
sively involved in the Whew process, from the Of particular concern was an assessment of her
point of evaluation to end product In addition judgement, problem solving and organization in the
to these three types of solutions, the need for kitchen, and safety with environmental distrac-
training, either in adaptive behavior or use of tions After the appropriate equipment was
the equipment once obtained, le dentified Ex- located, preparation was made for a cooking eva-
tensive training such as would be needed for one- luation, and staff and client were sch duled
handed typing is beyond the scope of Project Functional assessment showed Shirley to be ambula-
Threshold, and the client and referring pereens ton, for short distances, but that she sat fre-
are then prov d with appropriate community quently in the wheelchair to perform activ ' ^e
resources She was left-dominant with good dexterity, but
non-functional in the upper right extremity The
The next stet in the selection process is a writ- evaluation revealed that the client's task per-
ten report, two to four weeks following the last formance outweIghert her verbal skills, and that
session with the client The evaluation results she was organized, attentive, and safe in home
and recommendations are summarized, and details skills As she had no use of the right arm, she
given of the specific tasks evaluated When com- was an ideal candidate for commercial devices
mercially avatioole equipment is recommended, designed for one handed use, and learned quickly
exact model numbers, local sources, and approxi- how to utilize them in the equipment trial Over-
mate costs are given Every attempt is made to all problem-solving and planning skills were noted
justify equipment identified in functional terms as being adequate for independent living, despite
to provide clear documentation of need, assist the verbal distractability Adaptive behavior was
referring person with financial considerations, introduced to her in method:: of kitchen, organiza-
and make clear expectations of the results in tion and performing activities o,ice it was deter-
terms of the client's change in abilities with the mined she was capable of making changes Resource
device, and how that will affect his performance reading material ai,d commercially available equip-
at home, work, or school Arrangements for fabri- ment were recommended for her These -ecommenda-
cation of custom devices are clearly stated, Lnd eons were included in the written report to the
cost estimates given rehabilitation counselors, and local vendors for
specific pieces of equipment were listed
The last step in the process is follow-up with the
referring :erson and client to ensure that Project The report also included recommendations for fur-
Threshold recommencetions were relevant and easily ther professional input once Shirley obtained her
understandable The avenue is left open for fur- apart ient, as she would not have the adapted bath-
ther refinement of information and modification; o' room facilities of the board and care home After
custom devices when indicated Clients are some- several month;, she was re-referred to Project
times re-referred to the program if their situa- Threshold, and a home visit was made for c pment
tion changes and new goals are established, or recommendations for toileting and bathing She
problems arise had already obtaeed a frame for the toilet and a
small tub bench, Jut assessment reveal, she
needed additional equipment, including a raised
Case Example toilet meat and tub safety rail, for greater ease
and safety in these activerts An additional
This case is that of a 53-year-old woman, four report with description of rerformance and speci-
years p ^t- stroke with right hemiplegia Shirley fic equipment recommendations was sent, and the
was .,red to Project Threshold by her Depart- case was closed
ment of Rehabilitation counselor, and had a voca-
tional goal of homemaker She was residing in a This case is an example of a relatively simple
board and ca-e home, and evaluat on was needed, evaluation in terms of personnel, time, c .mplexity
particularly in the area of kitchen activities, to and cost of solutions Even so, use of the selec-
determine her potential to live ind.ipendently tion process was valuable in determining evalua-
Clarification of the referral revealed that Rile tion parameters early, assc ino a thorough rele-
Percentage
Service Categories of Cases
Problem identification
and/or adaptivt behavior 2"
recommendations
PROJECT THRESHOLD
Disability
Previous Rehabilitation
Other
House Apartment Other
Own Rent
Assistance Provided
Attendant Homemaker Chore Services
Other
Number of Hours per
II. Mobility
Ambulation Yes No
Devices used
Wheelchair Yes No
Manual Type
Method of Propulsion
Powered Type
Method of Control
Describe use
Transportation
Drive Yes No
Type of Vehicle
Equipment Used
Transfer
Other
Under Right
Left
Lower Right
Left
Devices used
Sensation
Upper Right
Left
Lower Right
Left
Endurance
Other
Sitting Balance
BO Supported Unsupported
Wheelchair Supported Unsupported
Roll from side to side Yes No
Come to sitting from supine Yes No
Stand from sitting position Yes No
Bed Transfers
Methods/equipment used
B Dressing
Methods/equipment used
C. Toileting
Bladder control Yes No
RA..tf."As/...quipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
L,,giene/Management of Clothing
Independent Assisted Unable
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
E Homemaking
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Current Activities/Plans
Skills
Writing Independent Assisted Unable
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Methods/equipment used
Other
VII. Leisure
f;()
Please check (X) the Always Can,but Abso- Want to Not ap- Where relevant,
appropriate box; if indepen- usually lutely change plicable please describe
equipment is used, dent don't can't the aid, either
mark the box (E if personal or mech-
personal assistance is anical, that you
used mark the box (P); use
if either (E) and/or
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
column
ACTION OR ACTIVITY
Dressing
Shoes, socks
Positioning yourself
in bed
Getting on toilet
Light Grooming
Washing hair
Brushing teeth
Toilet hygiene
I
FUN:TIONAL ABILITY nrcrRIPTVIN
I 1
Please check (X) the Always Can,but I Abso- Want to I Not ap- Where relevant,
appropriate box, if indepen- usually lutely change placable please describe
equipment is used, dent don't can't the aid, either
mark the box (E), if personal or mech-
personal assistar.:e is anical, that you
used mark the box (P); use
if either (E) and/or
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
column.
Nail care
Make-up
Ear care
Brushing hair
Shaving
Feminine hygiene
J
Feeding self
1
Cutting
Drinking
PROBLEMS (describe)
Controlling urination
(desc-'oe, day & night)
If catheter, reserve
set available? Yes No
Controlling defecation
(describe)
64;
Please che.k (X) the Always Can,but Abso- I Want to I Not ap- Where relevant,
appropria,e box, if indepen- usually lutely change I plicable please Iltscribe
equipment is used, dent don't can't the aid, either
mark the box (E), if personal or mech-
pJrsonal assistance is anical, that you
used mark the box (P), use
if either (E) and/or
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
column
Physical Mobility
1
Mobility aids
Up/Down Stairs
Escalators
Elevators
Curbs
J
Wneelchair
Manuel propelling
inside home
Manual propelling
outside home
Electric turns ons
in rain
Using Public
Transportation
Bus
Airplanes/trains
Using Private
Transportation !
Drive self
Own vehicle
Valid driver's
license 1
D P plates I
I
I
Please check (X) the Always Can,hut Abso- Want to Not ap- Where relevant,
appropriate box, if indepen- usually lutely change plicable please describe
equipment is used. dent don't can't the aid, either
mark the box (E), if personal or mech-
personal assistance is anical, that you
used mark the box (P), use
if either (E) and/or
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
column
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Writing signature
Speakinn
Reading
Listening
Signing
Typing
-_,
Wor4 board
Telephone
ADL TASKS
Cooking
J
Using range
Using oven
Using refrigerator
Using freezer
Transporting cookware,
ingredients, etc
Using can openers 1
Kitchen accessibility
(descrihe)
Safety precautions
(describe)
Please check (X) the Alway.- Can,but Abso- Want to Not ap- Where relevant,
appropriate box, if indepen- usually lutely change plicable please describe
equipment is used, dent can't the aid, either
mark the box (E), if personal or mech-
personal assistance is anical, that you
used mark the box (P), use
if either (E) and/or
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
Column
Cleaning
Washing dishes
Laundry
Housecleaning
Vacuuming
Dusting
Floors
Other
Opening/closing doors
Keys
Light switches
Pay phones
Money handling
Checking account
I
1
Please check (X) the Always I Can,but Abso- Want to I Not ap- Where relevant,
appropriate box, f indepen- 1 usually lutely change I plicable please describe
equipment is used, dent i don't can t the aid, either
mark the box IE), if personal or mech
personal assistance is anical that you
used mark the box (P), use
if either IE) andior
(P) is marked, please
describe in the last
column
ADL HEALTH
Taking medications
I
Diet/nutrition
(describe)
Range of Motion
Exercise (frequency)
On-going therapy
ADL EQUIPMENT
Wheelchair Maintenance
General
___J
Water in battery H
J
Air in tires
__J
Recharging battery on
electric chair J
Maintenance of
mobility aids _J
Maintenance of
assistive devices _J
6t
The following- resources have ifiCrie uiiorriiaiwn on Aids to Independent Citing Self-Help for the
assessment and the selection process Handicapped Edward Lowman, MD, Judith Klinger,
OTR McGraw Hill Book Company, Blakeston Divi-
Assistive Devices for Handicapped Students, A sion, New York The American compendium of assis-
Model and Guide for a Statewide Delivery System tive devices, also describes adaptive techniques
National Association of State Directors of Special and innovative ways to use devices (Out of
Education, Washington, D C 1980 27 pp $4 50 print, but available in most rehab dept lib-
raries, OT depts, etc ) 1969
Equipment for the Disabled National Fund for
Research into Crippling Diseases 2 Foredown Basic Rehabilitation Techniques A Self-Instruc-
Drive, Portslade, Brighton, England 10 booklet tional Guide Robert D Sine et al, editors
series which provides guidelines to help in the Aspen Systems Corporation, 1600 Research Blvd,
selection of equipment Pictures of commercially Rockville, MD 20850 1981 268 pages $20 95
available and do-it-yourself aids, 1973-1980 This book was written for nurses who work with
disabled persons Its goal is to prlvide the
Independence through Environmental Control Sys- nurse with the basic rehabilitation techniques to
tems David Symington, et al Canadian Rehabili- enable him/her to train disabled people in ordi-
tation Council for the Disabled, Toronto, On- nary functional activities This includes self-
tario, Canada 1980 64 pp $5 00 care activities, mobility, pressure relief pain,
etc The techniques described are simple and
Occupational Therapy Willard & Spackman's 5th utilize equipment that is readily available The
Edition Helen Hopkins and Helen Smith, Editors text is written in clear language E -,ellent
J B Lippincott Co, Philadelphia 1978 drawings and pictures add to comprehension of
details of the technique Because the techniques
Project TEACH Technical Education Aids for Child- include training in the use of assistive devices,
ren with Handicaps A Model and Demonstration this book is also useful to more than just nurses
Project Memphis City Schools, Division of Spe- as an introductory guide to the equipment most
cial Education, Department of Pupil Services, commonly used by the disabled It discusses
Memphis, Tennessee selection, use and training with the devices
Project Threshold A Model System for Delivery of Exercises and Selfcare Activities for Quadriplegic
Rehabilitation Engineering Services Rancho Los People Accent Special Publications, Box 700,
Amigos Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Downey, Bloomington, IL 61701
California April 1979
Handling the Young Cerebral Palsied Child at Home
Project Threshold A Model System for Delivery of N R Finnie, FCSP, A Sunrise Book, E P Dutton, 2
Rehabilitation Engineering Services Annual Re- Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 $5 95 1975
port 1980 Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, Rehabi-
litation Engineering Center, Downey, California Mealtime Manual for People with Disabilities and
the Aging Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine,
Rehabilitation Engineering Sourcebook Institute New York University Medical Center and Campbell
for Information Studies Falls Church, Virginia Soup Company, Box (MM) 56, Camden, NJ, 1978
1979, updated annually
Physical Management for the Quadriplegic Patient
"A Systematic Approach to Evaluating Physical J Ford and B Duckworth FA Davis Company,
Ability for Control of Assistive Devices" Pro- Philadelphia, PA (Out of print, look for it in
ceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference on Rehab- an OT or PT or a rehab dept I 1974 $16 95 This
ilitation Fngineering, 1981 Rehabilitation Engi- textbook on the physical management of quad-
neering Society of North America 4405 EastWest riplegic patients includes an appendix which de-
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 scribes do- it- yourself aids for these individuals
Team Assessment of Device Effectiveness Rehabi- Providing Early Mobility Intermed Communica-
litation Engineering Center Children's Hospital tions, Inc, 132 Welsh Road, Horsham, PA 19044
at Stanford, Palo Alto, California October 1980 1980 This book is part of a series of training
manuals for nurses It includes detailed instruc-
tion needed to use the following pieces of trans-
These publications offer information on selection, fer --d positioning equipment cradle bouts, hand
training and use of devices rolls, footboards, hand splints, transfer boards,
and mechanical I.fters In other sections of the
Aids Decision and provision A Systematic Ap- book concise captions and how-to-do-it photos
proach to the Selection of Assistive Devices for show you how to safely transfer a patient with
the Disabled Person (2nd ad I Community Occupa- halo traction, how to select the proper crutches,
tional Therapy Assoc, 1974 Wilson Avenue #201, cane, walker, or wheelchair for your patient, and
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5M 3A7 1982 $50 00 how to teach him to use the equipment correctly
List and comparison of commercially available It also includes step-oy-step procedures and
wheelchairs, communication aids, self-help de- photos for turning and positioning, range-of-
vices, and guidelines for environmental access moilon and isometric exercises, and transfer tech-
niques This is an excellent training manual for
anyone, for instance, a disabled parson could use
I a
TECHNOLOGY AT HOME 55
INTRODUCTION 57
HOSPITAL BEDS AT HOME 57
HOME MANAGEMENT 60
PERSONAL CARE 62
CLOTHING & SHOES 62
ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS 63
I0
It seems that once you open the door to (information about) the home, the
room gets very unorganized A great dc& has been virittan in 011 diet/
about assistive devices, adaptive techniques, Ideas, inventions, designs
Most bcoks have a little of everything in them An attempt to separate
publications by function e g, cooking, self-care -- is no more sut.cess-
ful than trying to categorize according to type of oid i`orniture, bathing
aid)
For the person who needs a hospital bed at home, Hospital Bed Options
the available outions make careful selection es-
sential Optional Features Characteristics & Indications
Thu list of HOSPITAL BEU OPTIONS and considera-
tions for selection is excerpted from the article Side Rails
"Hospital Beds Come Home" by Helen Cioschi, RN,
and Mary Pat Erdner, RN, which appeared in the 1 Full length o Ensure safety of neurologi-
May, 1984 issue of Rx home Care, Vol 6, No 6, cally impaired confused
pp 70-76 It is reprinted here with permission or sedated patients
of Barrington publv.ations, 825 Barrington Avenue, o Increase bed a,nfiiltty of
Los Angeles CA 90649 For more itiformation, patients when turn n,, side
please reer to the article to s.de
o May limit transfer
"Once the need ft- a hospital bed has been deter- mobility
mined, c thorough assessment of the patient's bed
and mattress requirements is necessary Equipment 2 Half length o Ensure safety of patients
is selected on the basis of its suitability to the with minimal neurologic
patient's level of function, home environment, and impairment by reminding
access to tundina them to seek assistance
o Increase bed mobility of
"Factors in Bed Choice
patients when turning side
to side
"Will the bed and mattress meet the medical and o Easier than full-length side
functional needs of the patient? Will they pro- rails for patients to put
vide safety and support? up and down for independent
transfer
"Can the patient use the equipment to maximize
independence? Are the beu controls accessible to 3 Half length o Rece,s under the bed when
the patient? Can the bed and ma:tress height be tucka way in down position
adjusted for a safe wheelchair-to-bed transfer? o Facilitate transfers by
Would it be helpful to the patient to have side allowing wheelchair to Le
rails that adjust up or down? Is the mattress moved closer to bed
durable, comfortable, and easy to maintain; Is it o Appear less conspicuous
more important for the patient to have functional than fixed side rails
mobility or pressure relief? o May be less secure than
fixed side rails when not
"What kind of repair and delivery service will the in locked positior
dealer provide? What kind of service is offered
after the warranty expires? 4 Home-style o Can to placeo on a non-
hospital bed
"Is it more cost-effective to rent or purchase o Cost-eft 'ctive for patients
this equipment?
who do not require a hospi-
tal bed but who need the
security of side rails
o Adju A to an vp or down
position
o Ensure safety of neurologi-
cally impaired, confused,
2 Environmental o Assists patients who lack 3 Air o Distribute weight and de-
ccntrol un.t finger or upper extremity crease skin pressure
strength to control both o Provide a poor base of
the bed and aid electrical support
elements such as lighting o May interfere with the
o High cost may be prohibi- function of patients
tive
o Sopnistication of unit may 4 Gel o Distribute weight and de-
result in complex repairs crease skin breakdown
in the event of breakdown o Useful for ,,atients with
skin breakdown or high risk
Bed Deck of skin breakdown
o Provide a firm base of
1 Link o I olds mattress adequately support for functional
o May puncture a water or gel mobility
mattress o Available in sections or as
o Time-consuming to clean a whole mattress
2 Pan o Flat surface will not punc-
'Lite a water or gel
mattrecc
o Easy to clean
Bed Site
Fcattress Surface%
"CONCLUSIONS
HOME MANAGEMENT
There are many devices on the market dosigred to Homemaking Manual A Reference Manual for Rehabi-
help able-bodied people perform household tast:s litation Teachers Western Michigan Unmet:Ay,
more efficiently 8e'ause of their design, some Kalamazoo, Michigan 1980 A reference ,nanual
require no adaptations for use by disabled people fo rehabilitation teachers of blind homemakers
Other commercially available products need only Chapters cover personal care techniques, identifi-
simple adaptations to be usable cation of personal and household items, cleaning,
laundering, cooking, and household record -keeping
There are also products made especially tc help
the disabled person to be more independent These Homemaking Unlimited Series A M Burton and V
available gadgets are too numerous to include Trotter Independent Living Rehabilitation, Dept
here Product information can be obtained from of Human Development and the Family, University of
ABLEDATA, or by paging through some of the books Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583 $0 10 each
in the publications list 1 Easy--to -Use Kitchen
2 No Stoop, No Stretch Kitchen Storage
Selected Publications 3 Easy-to-Use Sink Center
4 Easy-to-Use Cooking and Serving Center
These two free booklets about designing environ- 5 Easy-to-Use Mixing Center
ments for disabled people, "Aids to Independent 6 Streamlined Household Talks
Living" and "Designs for Independent Living," show 7 The Eathruom Made Safe and Usable
how everyday tools and household products can be 8 Cleaning Supplies Keep Them Handy
adapted for easier use by disable d people Avail- Brief descriptions of principles and applications
able free from Appliance Information Service, for persons with physical disabilities
Whirlpool Corp, Administrative Center, Benton
Harbor, MI 49022 Home Management (Equipment for the Disabled
Series) Oxford Regional Health Authority 2
Aids to Independent Living Suggestions for in- Foredown Drive, Postslade, Brighton 8N4 288, ENG-
stalling and operating home appliances for easier LAND Lists and describes, ,,,ith photogi aphs,
use by disabled persons In many instances, devices and equipment for the physically disabled
special tool, cortrol or installation may be homemaker Covers categories such as safety,
needed so someone with a disability can use an kitchen planning, storage, food preparation and
appliance most conieniently While most of these cooking, cleaning and refuse dispos,t1 Includes
modifications are made by the user. some manufac- reference and rescurv. lists
turers do offer special aids to helr owners adapt
their appliances to meet the need of a specific "Kitchen Aids Resources for the Visually Impaired
disability Such aids include soft adaptor knobs Cook " Mary Beth Caruso Aids and Appliances
for those with arthritic hands and Braille con- Review, Issue No 8, Spring 1983 The Carroll
trols and instructions for blind consumers Some Center for the Blind, 770 Centre Street, Newton,
manufacturers and appliance retailers o.fer these MA 02158 617/969-6200 This issue presents the
aids at no charge ..s at a very moderate cost most commonly used aids designed for the visually
impaired and some alternative uses for everyday
Designs for Independent Living This booklet cookware The text is divided into sections deal-
addresses the problems of selecting, positioning, ing with the various aspects of kitchen management
and installing major home appliances in a kitchen and food preparation A resource guide follows
or laundry room for most convenient use by home- 'ections where appropriate Each resource guide
makers with physical disabilities While it is is a sampling of the types of aids explained
designed primarily for those who must work from witoin the text For simplicity, many of the
wheelchairs, many of the designs and ideas can be corn ion use items have been selected from national
readily adapted to kitchens and laundries for use mail circler houses, however, most of these items
by those whole disabilities strokes, arthritis, are also commercially available in local retail
multiple sclerosis, heart disease, visual impair- stores The modified or adapted aids listed are
ment, and many others impose other limitations available from distributors, nationally and inter-
nationally, who specialize in aids and appliances
Adaptations and Techniques for the Disabled Home- for the usually impaired and blind individual
maker K. Hodgeman and A Lundberg Sister Kenny
Institute, dll E 27th Street, Minneapolis, MN The Kitchen Book Terence Conran Crown Pub-
55404 4th edition 30 pages lishers, New York $30 00 360 pages 1974
Small concise section on design ideas for the
Cooking Without Looking Food Pr.-ration Methods disabled and elderly
and Techniques for VisualliHandicapped Home
makers Esther Knudson Tipps American Printing A Manual for Training the Disabled Homemaker
House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky 1978 HA Rusk, E L Kristletter, J S Judson, G M
Hunt, and M E Zimmerman Institute of Rehabili-
Tho Disabled Homemaker Hoyt Anderson Charles
tation Medicine, New York, NY 1974 Reprint of
C Thomas Publisher, 2600 S First Street, Spring- a 1955 manual which described hints and devices
field, IL 60717 1981 Opening chapters focus on for disabled homemakers which are still useful
psychological need for independence, while i ealis- The emphasis is on low cost, easily made equipment
tically pointing out the risks involved in inde- rather than electronic gadgets
pendent living The following chapters provide
advice on personal care and homemaking tasks for ,-.
both ambulatory and nonambulatorN. individuals l -,
Also included are architectural considerations
Mealtime Manual for People with Disabilities and Modifying Major Home Appliances
the Aging Prepared by Institute of Hehabilita-
tion Medicine INew York University Medical Cen- At least three manufacturers now offer braille
ter) Available from Campbell Soup Company, Box overlays for control panels of their microwave
(MMl 56, Camden, NJ 08101 1978. Principles, ovens The overlays do not impeded the use of
techniques and equipment suggestions for meal controls by sighted users, and can be easily re-
preparation and homemaking Updated to include moved for cleanint.
information on food processors, etc This is a
highly recommended book Whirlpool provides a panel that fits over its
touch panel models along with a Braille use and
On Your Own Division of Continuing Education, care guide
University of Alabama Published month:y from
January, 1910 through Dezember, 1980 Produced as Amana offers an overlay far its control panel that
a special project of t6s Continuing Education in makes it easy to set the times and temperatures
Home Economics program at the University of Ala- and to check timing progress Included are seven
bama, this newsletter provided ir,rormation about audio cassette tapes :e indexed" for quick
methods of adapting the home environment for use reference The cassettes contain use and care
by disabled people Designed fo,. use by disabled information, general cooking guidelines, and
homemakers and professionals working with them recipes
Preprimer Cooking or Cooking Techni es for the GE will send braille panels for microwaves Send
Blind, 2 volumes Sally Jones Ameri.lais Printing model and serial number of the appliance and
House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky 1978 kitchen plan requests to GE Consumer Relations,
GE, Appliance Park, Louisville, KY 40225 In ,
Rehabilitation Medicine Howard Rusk, M addition, a service technician will put braille-
Fourth edition C V Mosby Company 1977 style knobs on GE Hotpoint -anges and home laundry
$2850 Note chapters on Principles of Homemaking equipment free of charge for visually-impaired
and Housing consumers
Audiovisuals
Clothes for Disabled People Maureen Goldsworthy Hill Brothers, 99 Ninth Stieet, Lynchburg, VA
B T Batsford, Ltd, North Pomfret, VT 05053 24504 Free catalog of hard-to-find ladies'
117 pages $1195 198' shoes Sizes 2 1/2 to 14, AAAA to EFE
Clothing and DRissing for Adults E R National Odd Shoe Exchange, 3100 Neilson Way, Apt
Editor Oxford Regional Health Authority, 2 Fore 220 Santa Monica, CA 90405 You send ycur name
down Drive, Posts lade, Brighton BN4 2BB ENGLAND in to seek a mismate with whom to exchange shoes
67 pages $11 05 1981 Booklet includes a Does not handle the shoes themse:ves, only names
variety of readily available clothes, a range of of people
patterns 'lowing different styles and features
which may provide ideas for the home seamstress, Jeanne L Sallman, Odd Shoe Exchange, RR4, Indian-
as well as various specially designed cloches and ola, IA 50125 $15 registration fee, plus annual
adaptations dues of $7 50
ARCHITECTURAL ADAPTATIONS
Access Information Bulletins, National Center for Board, Washington, DC 20202 Superintendent of
a Barrier Free Fnvironment, 1015 Fifteenth Street Documents, U S Government Printing Office Wash-
NW, Washing:ton, DC 20905 May, 1981 ington, DC 20202 1980
Accessibility Assistance A Directory of Consul- Tools for Accessibility A Selected List of
tants on Environments for Handicapped People Resources for Barrier Free Design National Center
National Center for a Barrier Free Environment, fur a Barrier Free Environment, 1015 Fifteenth
Washington, DC $3 25 1978 Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 May 1981
Barrier Free Design Equipment and Aids Catalog Wheelchair Bathrooms Paralized Veterans of Amer-
Michigan Center for a Barrier Free Environment, ica, Inc, 801 18th Street, Nv" Washer, -ion, DC
6879 Heather Heath, West Bloomfield Michigan 20006 1971
48033 1978 $5 00
Wheelchair House Designs Eastern Paralyzed
Design for Accessibility Robert James carenson, Veterans Association, 432 Park Avenue South, New
Architect McGraw Hill Book Company, New York York, NY 10016
NY 1979
Wheelchair Interiors Sharon Olson Diane Mere-
"Designing for the Handicapped" Better Homes and dith National Easter Seal Society, 2023 W Ogden
Gardens Budding Ideas Spring 1983 Issue Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 1973
$250 pp 97-111
Organizations
Design for Independent Living Raymond Lifchez
and Barbara Winslow Watson-Guptill Publications, Adaptive Environments Center
1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 1979 208 621 Huntington Avenue
pages $2500 (also available in softcover) Boston, MA
617/739-0088
Designing for the Disabled Selwyn Goldsmith
RIBA Publications, Ltd, 66 Portland Place, Lon- Architectural and Transportation Barriers
don, England 3rd tdition, 1976 525 pages, 478 Compliance Board (A&TBC81
diagrams $70 00 330 C Street SW
Room 1010 Switzer 3ullding
Home in a Wheelchair Joseph Chasm, Jules Salt- Washington, DC 20202
man, Editor Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 202/245-1591
18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
National Center for a Barrier tree Environment
The House Book, 1974, 448 pages Terence Conran INCBFE)
New York, NY $30 00 Small concise section or 1015 Fifteenth Street NW #700
design ideas for the disabled and elderly Washington, DC
202/466-6896
Housing and Furniture Equipment for the Disabled
Series Oxford Regional Health Authority, 2 Fore-
down Drive, Postslade, Brighton, BN4 2BB, ENGLAND
Lists and describes, with photographs, adaptive
furniture and housing accommodations for physi-
cal!, disabled persons Covers categories ;u': as
ramps, handrails, doe. stairs and lifts, win-
dows, electrical fittings, beds, chairs, and other
furniture adaptations and accessories
Access Lilly Bruck Consumers Unit Edition, Do It Yourself Again Self Help Crevices for the
Orangeburg, New York 10962 $550 Stroke Patient American Heart Association, 44 E
23ra Street, flow York, Ni 10010 iiei 47
Access The Guide to a Better Life for Disabled oases
Americans Lilly Bruck Random House, 201 East
50th Street, New York, New York 10022 1978 An Easier Way Handbook for the Elderly and Handi-
capped Jean V Sargent Iowa State University
Aids and Adaptations K P MacBain, editor The Press, Ames, Iowa 50011 1981 220 pages
Canadian Arthritis and Rheumatism Society, 45 $10 50
Charles Street East, Toronto M4Y 1S3, Ontario,
CANADA $200 1975 Describes items which have Functional Aids for the Multiply Handicapper
been used successfully by patients in an occupa- Isabel Robinault Harper & Row, Hagerstown, MD
tional therapy department f), 1 contains draw- 1973
ings and instructions for self-help aids, and Part
II covers environmental adaptations Bathing, Getting Organized, Part II, Storage Stephanie
toileting, homemaking and ambulation or transfer Winston V'r ner Books, Inc, New York, New *I o.sc
are emphasized 1978
Aids and Appliances American Foundation for the Handicapped at Home Sydney Foott Quick Fox
Blind, 15 W 16th Street, New fork, NY 10011 Press, 33 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023
21st ed, 1975-1976 34 pages, illustrations 1977 ?1 pages
$2 00 Various aids and home products (braille
globes, pressure cookers, etc) helpful to blind Help Yourselves A Handbook for Hemiplegics and
consumers are discuss j, and order information is Their Families Ian Henry Publications, 38 Park-
include° stone Avenue, Hornchurch, Essex, England 3rd
edition, 1979 161 pages
Aids Decision and Provision A Systematic Ap-
proach to the Selection of Assistive Devices for Helping the ./andtcapped A Guide to Aids Developed
the Disabled Person (2nd edition) Comr-iunity by the Telephone Pioneers of America Call Tele-
Occupational Therapy Association, 194 Wilson Ave- phone Company headquarters in your city and ask
nue #201, Toronto M5M 3A7 416/485-6384 $50 00 for the local chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of
1982 List and comparison of commercially avail- America Though many of the devices are for the
able wheelchairs, communication aids, self-help communication impaired, there are also sections on
devices, and guidelines for environmental access mobility aids, ADL equipment and toys
Aids to Independent Living Self-Help for the Home Security TimeLife Books Home Repair and
Handicapped Edward Lowman ane Juoith L Klinger Improvement Series Time-Life Books, Alexandria,
McGraw-HiK, New York, NY 10036 1969 796 Virginia 1979 136 pages $11 95 The section
pages $41 00 (Out of print) on accident-woofing a house includes 13 pages of
directions and sketches for diminishing the dan-
Aids to Make You Able Wendy Davis Fred Sam- gers of bathrooms and stairs Includes instal-
mons, Inc, Brookfield, IL 1979 114 pages lation of grab bars, creating a slip resistant
$6 95 surfa :e, adding a rail to a stairway wall, and
building an outdoor access ramp
Aids to Make You Ab,e Self Help Devices and
Ideas for the Disabled Beaufort Books, New York Housing and Home Services for the Disabled Guide-
1981 I.nes and Expenence3 in Independent Living Gin;
Laurie Harper & Row, 2350 Virginia Ave, Hagers-
Bathroom Facilities Accommodating the Physically town, MD 1977 434 pages $20 00
Disabled and the Aged Owens-Corning, c/o Fiber-
glas lower, Toledo, Ohio How To Create Interiors for the Disabled A guide-
book for family and friends Jane R Cary Ran-
The Bed and Bath Boos, 1973, 360 pag ,s dom House, 201 East 50th Street, New York, NY
The House Book. 1974, 448 pages 10022 1978 127 pages
The Kitchen Book, 1974, 360 pages
Terence Conran Crown Publishes, New York lb.dependent Living for the Handicapped and the
$30 00 each Small concise section in each book 'iderly Elizabeth May, Neva R Waggoner, and
on design ideas for the disabled and elderly Eleanor B Hotte Houghton Mifflin Company, 2
Park Street, Boston, Mass 02107 271 pages
Disabled" Yes Defeated' No Kathleen Crum $11 50 This book demonstrates ways in which work
Prentice-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 1982 simplificaton techniques used bv, industrial mana-
212 pages $6 95 Resource guide that includes gers may be applied to the home by handicapped
product information and do it yourself adapta- persons The care of young children by physically
tions Sections on ADL, housework, clothing limited parents and the design and adaptation of
clothing are covered It includes a bibliography
Devices for Visually Impaired Diabetics Alex H of over 400 citations classified by subject
Townsend Ament.an Foundation for the Blind, 15
West 16th St,eet, New York, NY 10011 1978 R Instructional Materials in Independent Living A
pages Bibliography B C Smith Materials Development
Center, Stout Vocational RehabditJtion Institute,
7,:;
64 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 64
TECHNOLOGY AT HOME
WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM? sure which is somewhat fragile and may crack when
dropped When used in an apartment nouse, it is
"As a result of severe physical impairment, many possible for a controller in one apartment to
people are unable to perform tasks normally suited affect the modules in an adjacent apartment A
to able bodied people When operation of electri- wireless intercom system may cause spurious opera-
cal devices is desired, frequently the device or tion of the modules The system may also be
the method of operation can he adapted to fit the affected by a "noisy" line resulting from the
capabilities of the physically handicapped operation of a refrigerator or other motor driven
devices For this reason remotely controlled
An environmental control s,stem oermits a physi- devices or appliances should be set up so that
cally dilabled person to co.itrol his or her imme- problem situation!: cannot occur, for example I;
diate surroundings without assistance The person an unused heater has clothing draped over it and
becomes able, independently, to turn lights, radio is then turned on by remote control, a fire may
and television on and off, to answer or 'r, 'late result
telephone calls and , unlock a door Virtually
any aspect of the en, snment can be controlled "It is not recommended that life supporting equip-
depending upon the complexity of the system used ment be controlled from these systems All ap-
A variety of switches ensures that the equipment pliances should be unplugged from their modules
can be operated easily regardless of the dis- when leaving for a vacation"
ability The objective is to use modern tech-
nology to enable physically disabled people to * Two of these systems are the System X-10, BSR
gain greater personal independence, a better qua- (USA) Ltd, Blauvc...t NY 10903, and the Home
lity of life and to add a new dimension to the Control System, Leviton Manufacturing Co, Inc,
rehabilitation process Consumer Products Division, 59-25 Little Neck
Parkway, Little Neck, New York 1:262
"The technical components of an environmental
control system are the switch, the control box, from A Know-How Manual on Electricity for the
thr feedback information display, and the ap- Severely_Disabled and their Families, pp 100-102
pliances to be controlled The complett environ-
mental control system also includes the disabled A Know-How Manual on Ele;tricity for the Severely
person and the environment over which he/she is Disabled and their Families A Auchincloss and
able to exe cise control" M Youdin nstitute of Rehabilitation M..tdicine,
New York Uni eersity Medical Center Rehabilita-
from Independence through Environmental Control tion Monograpi No 65 115 pages, $12 00
Systems, Canauian Rehabilitation Courcil for the
Uisabled, 1 Younge St Toronto M5E 1E8, CANADA "This book has been written to provide enough
information for she severely handicapped and their
For devices which assist a blind or deaf person to families so that sensible and economically sound
control his /her environment, see St.nsory Aids in choices can be made concerning the electrical
CONTROL, commutoc.4.n0N & SENSORY AIDS assishve systems that will give the greatest
independence and improved life style for the dis-
abled persons
HOME CONTROL SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN ADAPTED
TO THE NEEDS OF THE SEVERELY DISABLED "Severely disabled pe-sons may not have the physi-
cal function to perform the operations necessary
"New environmental control systems for the severe- to do minor electrical work in the home With
ly disabled which have become popular utilize a some knowledge about the electrical systems in
controller (energized from a 110 volt outlet) their house or apartment, they can ask and help
which transmits push-button commands over the instruct a family member to make simple repairs
house wiring to appliance modules which are also Or, they may decide that professional help is
plugged into 110 volt outlets The controller necessary
module systems* were originally developed for borne
use by the general public and requ re no special "This book atteir,!s to answer most usual questions
home installation or wiring These systems have that people ask about their electn :al systems It
now been adapted for use by sev' -ely disabled also describes various options that a disabled
persons through the use of rocker. 'puff' and person or his family may choose in order to make
'sip' switches, or other low form switches his home safer and more convenient And finally,
it describes some basic devices and resources that
"The controller-module systems have the advantage are particularly useful for those with disability
of low cost The following prices are all appro-
ximate and as of July 1982 Modules $17 00 to "This book also emphasizes safety regulations and
$2000 each, four-function controller $116 00, precautions both for patients and for those who
eight-function controller $136 00, rocker lever are making simple repairs Some of the informa-
switch $43 00, 'puff' and 'sip' pneumatic switch tion presented can be found in other "how-to'
$90 00 electrical books It is re-stated in laymen's
language to give the reader a sourca of informa-
"A few words of caution in the utilization of home tion that is directed specifically to the handi-
controller systems "Care must be taken in the capped and their families"
h.indling of the molded plastic controller enclo-
66
u
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 66
TECHNOLOGY AT HOME
Jim Tobias
Rehabilitation Engineering Volunteer (REV) Network
ENVIRONMENTAL BSR "X-10 Standard 1$50-$120 Available in several models 16-appliance master
CONTROL control or ultrasonic remote control with small.
push-buttons similar to a calculator, and mini-
controller for 4 appliances. larger and easier
buttons Both .ersions have bright and dim fun:-
bons for lights You need one master and as m any
modules as appliances as you want to control
(see Note 2) Modules to replace wall switches (for overhead
lights) are available Sold as "Plug n' Power"
"Home Controller"
BSR X-.; Modified $160- Can control four or eight devices (2 models)
$240 Good rocker-type switch, 4-device master, 3 nod-
ules, $190 With 8-device master, $210 .1:.6er
switches, such as sip-and-puff, can be u ied They
require a 5 -pin DIN plus Contact BSR or REV Net-
work or wiring information Available at some
medical houses, Prentke-Romich. or 8SR, Rt3 303.
Blauvelt, New York 109 13, phone (914)358-6060
Touchplate Switch $20/kit Available from Heath -Kit (see phone for local
store) or other electronics sources Relatively
easy to build with solder.sg iron, a few tools
Plug appliance into switch box, plug switch box
into wall Current limits are
Computer environ- $100- All brands of home computers now offer plug-in
mental controls $400 peripherals designed to work the BSR modules
described above IC you use a computer already,
this may be an inexpensive way to go Cap . -off
low-cost computers can also be found as donations
Some software is avaikbie to make these easy to
use See Trace Center's International Software/
Hardware Registry Contact REV Network for sugges-
tions and software help
TELEPHONE Various Dealers $40-$120 Aany electronic outlets offer automatic dialers,
which can store 5-40 commonly used phone numbers,
recalled and dialed automatically Some can repeat
dial if there is a busy signal, some are complete
with telephone handsets and touch-tone pads
41 Radio Shack sells ore for 16 numbers for $50 00
1
I FUNCTION DEVICE I COST I NOTES
1
I TELEPHONE, Suggestion Check all local stores and try them all
cont out, don't buy more storage than you really need
Cordless Telephones $50-$200 These are mobile phones with a stationary base
unit You can mount the portable part on your
wheelchair for hands-free private conversation (an
advantage over speaker phones) Find a model with
a hand-up/lift-up sw.ich you can use, or modify It
Prices of the models are indicative of reliability,
range, and resistance to snterference Beware of
the cheapest ones (See warning on cordless phones)
Visual Phone $20 Radio Shack offers a "Fo- Flasher' which lets you
you connect a lamp (or wl jtever) to your phone
line such that wh n your pho ie rings, the lamp
TELEVISION Mechanical Channel $17 This is a mechanical device that ,Itaches to the
Selector stem of the channel knob A long cable like the
one on a bicycle brake runs to a hand-held unit
that has a rotary lever To operate, you turn the
lever, it takes a good amount of force It would
be possible to extend the lever arm to rn.nimize
force required Aiiother disadvantage is having
the cable lying around and getting in the way No
permanent modificatiGo to the TV, and you can move
it from one set to another Available from Star-
crest of California, 3159 Reuhill Avenue, Costa
Mesa, California 92626 Get their catalog before
you order, or ccntact manufacture RAMCO, 7271 N
Cicero, Lincolnwood, Illinois 60646
ELEVISION, Electronic Channel $60-$120 Available in at least two models from Jerrold,
cont I Selector should be at your local TV repair or specialty
store Both models are remote-wired push-button
channel changers, one for standard broadcast, the
other for cable Easy to install You ca put the
box wherever you want it Buttons are relatively
stiff No commercially available keyguards
UNLOCKING Electric Door Lock Available through average lock shop Manufacturer
DOOR is Trine Company Many models ava'able
2 Transformer
12 VAC, 1 amp $10 I Should be enclosed it chassis box and equipped wit h
a 2 amp fuse (sit:, ,w)
UNLOCKING 3 Radio Control $40-S90 I Generally, the more expensive ones have more codes
I 006ri on the transmitter for more security sears
I cont I 9areff- door kits cost $75 00 for transmitter and
I receiver (See Note 11
fj
TECHNOLOGY FOR 'WEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEISOOK RESNA 1954 69
TECHNOLOGY AT HOME
A CONSUMER ALERT was reported by Judy Berke in the WARNING ON CORDLESS TEL
f.piil 1984 issue of The Coordinator Magazine
The following warning on cordless telephones, by
Congressman Henry A Waxman, appeared in The Co-
nONCUMFR ALERT ordinator, April 1984
"We havJ received communiques from some readers porohle telephones should
"Users of cordless
tering us about repair problems in electronic always make certain that the pho,le lb in the
protection systems These are the systems in 'Talk' position before bringing the ohone to their
which a device either part of a "terminal" nr
ear Shoulo the phone cog while still in the
worn as a pendant signals a self-dialer to 'Listen' position, the u.,er may be exposed to an
connect into a hospital, Police station or centre extremely loud ring
computerized 'ffice or worn as a pendai
signals a self-dialer to connect into a hospital, "Some cordless phone users have complained that
police station or central computerized office the ring was so loud as to be painful Some
(The d_. ices car oe either ore or two way ) Most docters speculate that the ring might result in
of these systems seem quite valuable to the elder- some hearing loss
ly or infirm who spend a lot of 'me alone
"To file complaints or obtain additional inform t-
"However, it now seems that many of the systems
non, consumers should call the Consumer Product
are sold by ir,dependene operators In some of Safety Commission toll-free hotline at 1 800 -63R-
these cases, neither the bales person nor the for the hearing
CPSC The teletypewriter numb
parent company is taking true responsibility for impaired is 1-800-638-8270"
repairs, service and replacements of the system
although some of them offer what looks like a good Reprinted with permission from The :-.00rdinator
warranty until the customer needs to use it Magazine, 11417 Vanowen :;rreet, North Hollywood,
Then the complications begin CA 91605, 818/765-1575
"If you or any of your patients are contemplating
the le'se or purchase of one of these systems, ask
the following questions
"Design Considerations for an Environment& Con- Natic.nal Handicap Housing Institute, Inc, 12 S
trol System for the Severely Handicapped R 6th Street, Suite 1216, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Block Proceedm.gs of the Seminar on Electronic 19d1 The section on Hardware (po 193-276)
Controls for the Severely Disabled, Vancouver, covers door levers, door and cabinet pulls,
BC, Canada, 1974 The Kinsmen Rehabilitation hinges, automatic doors, shelf brackets, grab
Foundation of British Columbia, 2256 W 12th Ave, bars
Vancouver, B C V6K 2N5, Canada
Environmental Control
Home Access
Bracl,,t and transmitter al:oyi independent home entry, using ge-i.ge door
opener modified for front door use
INTRODUCTION 75
TECHNOLOGY SERVICE DELIVERY 75
PROJECT TEACH A MODEL PROGRAM 75
ORGANIZATIONS 76
RE-JOURCE CENTEP 77
EDUCATIONAL AIDS INFO RESOURCES 78
MANUFACTURERS 78
ORGANIZATIONS 78
DATABASES 78
RESOURCES 79
VOCATIONml EDUCATION 82
INTRODUCTION 85
COSTS 85
WORKSTATION DESIGN 85
THREE CASE STUDIES 89
FARMING 90
A RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPING ACCESSIBLE JOBSITES 91
TECHNOLOGY FOR EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES 91
ORGANIZATIONS 91
GROUPS CONCERNED WITH COMPUTER EMPLOYMENT 92
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 99
PUBLICATIONS 99
PERI )DICALS 101
CATk'_OGS AND DIRECTORIES 102
INTRODUCTION
that they become available to those persons who
Technical aids can be beneficial to students at could benefit from them To accomplish this goal,
all levels of the education process, from kinder- it is essential that all related disciplines
garten to post-secondary In the ex:sting litera- researchers, engine ors, educators, manufacturers,
ture, the emphasis for the elementary school child therapists, and medical personnel land pa,entsl
s'ems to be on find.ng the most as aid coordinate their efforts on a statewide and
for communication, positioning, mobility id national basis"
self-care A good deal of the lite, ature focuses Assistive Devices for Handicapped Students A
on the most severely disabled children, and the Model and Guild for a Statewide Delivery System,
emphasis tends to be on personal aids for the 1980 National Association of State Directors of
individual child As the high schr o: years are Special Education, 1201 16th Street NW #610E,
reached, and it IF assumed that bziv.s needs are Washington. DC 20036
met, the approach changes to finding technology to
make the classroom useable for the disabled teen- ARE WE LOOKING FOR PROOLEMS7
ager This same orientation holds through :Le
college years, with increase emphasis on r. ,king Joseph J Stowitschek adds voice of concern ,n
the entire campus accessible the forward to that issue
This section cor Lams references to all three "As we develop technology, we must continue to ask
stages I' is hooeo that those seeking informa- ourselves Are we developing, testing, and using
tion about technoic 4y that can aid education will technology to solve problems? Or, heady with
look beyond their immediate target age range or enthusiasm, do we produce solutions fcr which we
disaoility There is benefit to be gained ir must the find problems? For instance, the
crossing disciplines You may find that you can growing interest in microcomputer assisted
readily apply much of this information to your own instruction may tend to foster the development of
Ilea of interest a solution for which a problem must then oe lo-
cated In this mood of enthusiasm over the 1E h-
There are some glaring gaps in the literature I nology itself, we t-nd to trea, each technologic
would like to find more information about adapting device as an entity in and of itself, ir. tead of
existing classrooms at the primary school level as part of a whole range of instructional options
and about approaches to meeting basic needs, such The questionable logic behind this tendency is as
as mobility and written communication, for the follows "The (microcomputer) is becoming popular
secondary school age group Additionally. there and can be used to teach We need assistance in
is a dearth of mormat,on about how devices could teaching ha..dicapped children, therefore, the
be better used by less severely disabled kids (microcomputer) should be used to teach
Attention to the benefit to be gained from ap- ) skills to ) children "
plying technology in all three areas relevant t Instructional alternatives should not be ignored"
education person, classroom, and campus
needs to occur throughout the education process, Technological Advances in Special Education. the
not one step at r time (editor) Winter 1984 ri;sue of Excei,i1,..nal Education Quar-
terly
University of Tennessee
Rehabilitation Engineering Center
682 Court Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38183
901/528-6445
ORGANIZATIONS
DATABASES AND INFORMATION NETWORKS
Council or Exceptional Children (CEC
1920 Association Drive These systems babe a strong educational focus
Reston, VA 22091 Fur mere information on these and other electronic
information exchanges, also see Information Re-
For more information on CEC, see the Microcomputer sources and on Microcomputer Applications
Applications section, page 243
The Assistive Device Database System (ADDS)
HEATH (Higher Education and the Handicapped) American International Data Search, Inc
Resource Center 2326 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite C
One Dupont Circle NW Sacramento, CA 941325
Washington, DC 20036 n16/925-4554
202/833-4707 (voice /TTY)
Handicapped Education Exchange (HEX)
The HEATH Resource Cen,,r is a national clearing- 11523 Charlton Drive
house on postsecondary education for disabled silver Spring, MD 20902
people A program of the American Council on 3e1/681-7372
Education it rs fuoded by the U S Department of
Education It publishes a regular newsle'ter HEX is a computerized bulletin board, available
through the public telephone network It is pri-
Natianal Association of State Directors of Special marily intended as a tree service to those in-
Erucation (NASDS7) volved in the education of, or communic-Itions
1201 16th Street NW, Suite 610E with, th.! handicapped HEX serves as a means of
Washington, DC 20036 exchanging ideas and information concerning appli-
cation of technology to aid the handicapped
Teci-nology and tOedia for 7.xceptional Individuals
Charles MacArthur, Membership Chair arson, TAM Handicapped Learner Materials Distribution Center
Institute ior the Study if Exceptional Children Audio-Visual Center, Indiana University
Department of Special Fcl ication Bloomington, IN 47405
University of Maryland 812/337-1511
College Park, MD 20742
The Handicapped Learner Materials Distribution
Technology and Media for Exceptional inaivrduals Center (HLMDC) is a part of the Special Materials
11 QM) is an international organization which faci- Project established by Indiana University HLMDC
lit tes closer relationships between educators and loans, free ,except for return postage) selected
or ers concerned with the application of techno- materials such as films, videotapes, k is. games
logy to meet the needs of gifted persons, senior and adaptive devices relevant to the general spe-
citizens and individuals experiencing handicaps cial education population Materials are divided
TAM, a division of the Council for Exceptional into three collections represented by separate
Children, will develop ne.v technologies and will catalogs 1) teacher training materials in special
disseminate this information th-ough professional education and media production (mostly of 16mm
meetings, training programs and publicatems the films), 2) handicapped learner collection (mostly
organization wi I uho cooperate with education classroom curricular materials, priniarily for
and goverrmen agencies as well as business and examination and evaluation), and 3) videotapes
industry in research, derminstration, review and that are duplicated into other formats at cost
validation, among other professional studies These services are avai'able to "one in the USA
involved with education a handicapped learner.
TAM will publish a journal and newsletter, conduct
training programs conferences and workshops SneaialNet
develop a new technology and media network II
also plans to evaluate and field test equipment ScecialNet, a special education communication
and software information network, is part ct a computer network
accessed by a terminal wit'i telephone communica-
The Association for the Severely Handicapped tion capability It provider; information on spe-
(TASH) cial education, improving programs and skills, and
1600 W Armory Way a network of er'iicators and organizations involved
Seattle, V.A 98119 in special education It also features personal
206/283-5055 corresponoence and information retrieval access to
major databases, as well as data collection and
Information and materials requests on all aspects n information management systems At least two of
of education and services for people who are sections of SpecialNet will be focused on tech-
nical aids EDUTECH and ASSISTIVE DEVICES
Aids for the Severely Handicapped K Copeland Environmental Design for Handicapped Children
Spector Publishing Co, Ltd, London, England J S Sandhu & H Hendricks-Jansen Gowar Pub-
1974 This book is often referred to, however, it lishing Co, Brookfield, VT Recommends improve-
is quite out of date ments in the environment of the child with severe
disability Discusses design criteria for archi-
Assistive Devices for Handicapped Students A tectural and environmental elements, and problems
Modal and Guide for a Statewide Delivery System of adapting existing facilities A separate sec-
,IASDE, 1201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 tion deals with "inflatable Appendices treat
2i pages $4.50 1980 design and construction o. worktables, mobiles,
cis Aplays. partitions, etc
Auxiliary Aids. A Resource Guide for Postsecondary
Schools, Rehabilitation Agencies, and Handicapped Fact Sheet Access to the Science Laboratory and
Individuals Office of Handicapped Concerns, Classroom M Zimmerman, M R Redden, S B
United States Education Department. Washington, DC Forman, Editors HEATH Resource Center, One
20202. Free 1980 Dupont Circle, Washington, DC 20036 Directed
tow trds disabled high school and college students
Bibliography of Children's Books About Disabili- science instructors, and college adrn.nistrators,
ties Pediatric Projects, Inc, PO Box 1399, this sheet provides advice and encouragement on
Santa Monica, CA 96406 No charge making the science lab and classroom acces,ble to
disabled students Includes examples of coping
Biology for the Blind Dorothy Tombaugh Avail- strategies, disability-related accommodations with
able from ERIC Document Reproduction Service, references, and selected resources
PO Box 190, Arlington, VA 22210 1973
Functional Aids for the Multiply Handicapped
Captioning Shared Perspectives Proceedings of a Isabel Robinault Medical Department, Harpe. &
National Captioning Conference, June. 1978 Row, Hagerstown, MD 1973
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Rochester Institu- of Technology, Rochester, NY A Guide to Developing a Classroom Curriculum for
Available from National Technical Information Visually Impaired M rItihandicapned Infants
Services, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield VA Stocking Publisher, 1350 South Kostrie, Avenue,
1981 Chicago IL 60023
Handicapped How Does It Feel Gregory La More the Human Resources School are presented To be
BL Winch & Assoc, 45 Hitching Post Dr, Rolling used in coord.iation with other volumes in the
Hills Estates, CA. 70 pp $595 1981 A program series on school design, transportation of dis-
for the classroom teacher to help able-bodied abled students, staffing, and curriculum and
students understand how it feels to be handl- instructional techniques Includes bibliography
cappad Written at second/third grade level in
large type with many pictures Section on how Modifying the Existing Campus Building for Access-
special equipment helps disabled children ibility Accessible Products Catalog, and
Construction Guidelines and specifications
Higher Education .ind the Handicapped Resource Stephen Richard Cotler Association of Physical
Directory HEATH Resource Center American Coun- Plant Administrators of Universities and Colleges
cil on Education, 0.16 Dupont Circle, Washington, (APPA), 11 Dupont Circle Washington, DC 20036
DC 20036 202/833-4707 (..on,-,'IDD) Free 1981
1982 Multi-Sensory Educational Aids from Scrap
Kendrick Coy Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 301-
Inexpensive Movement Materials Tom Hall Front 327 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, IL 62717
Row Experience, 540 Discovery Bay Blvd, Byron, CA 216 pages 1980 Describes learning tools for
95614 -9454 415/634-5710 $6 95 Follow-up to disabled children that can be developed by
Classroom-Made Movement Materials (listed above) parents, teachers, therapists and others at low
Includes all new movement materials that are nct cost from scrap or inexpensive materials Pat-
only inexpensive, but fun to use and easy to make terns and instructions arc included for language,
with simple illustrated instructions Guidebook mathematics, and science aids
is loaded with plenty of fun-filled illustrated
activities for Tilt-O-Board, Roll-O-Balance, Bat- Perceptual-Motor Development Equipment Inexpen-
ting Tees, Color Squares, Dexterity Rod, Flying sive Ideas and Activities Peter Howard Werner &
Foam Saucers, Isobands, and much, much more Lisa Rim John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 605 Third
Avenue, New York NY 10016 194 pages 1975
"How We Do It" Journal of College Science
Teaching National Science Teachers Associa, on Ready Willing and Disabled Norman Kunc
INSTAL 1742 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC Personal Library Publishers, Suite 439, 17 Queen
20009 Volume X No 6, May 1981 Street EEst, Toronto, Canada M5C 1F9 111 pages
$7 95 1981 Describes the process of inte-
Mainstreaming Practical Ideas for Educating grating a physically andicapped student into ie
Hearing-Impaired Students Milo E Bishop, Edi- regular school system Includes specific sugges-
tor Alexander Graham Bell Assn for the Deaf, tions for equipment and adaptations for classes in
Inc, 3417 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC 20007 math, social science, electives, etc Written by
$10 95 1979 a college youth with cerebral palsy who entered
mainstreamed programs at age 3
Management of Accessibility for Handicapped Stu-
dents in Higher Education David W Jacobson Rehabilitation Engineering Sourcebook Institute
National Association of College and University for Information Stud'es 400 N Washington Street,
Business Officers (NACUBO), One Dupont Circle, Falls Church, VA 22046
Washington, DC 20036 1981 Available from
U S Government Printing Office, Westin- 3ton, DC Science for the Handicapped An Annotated Biblio-
20402 graphy Ben T'nomoson, editor Science for the
Handicapped Ar-ociation Available from SMEAC
Materials and Aids for Special Education Danish Information Reference Center, Ohio State Univer-
Folk-School's Materials and Aids Research Centre, sity, 1200 Chambers Road, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH
Herning, Denmark Also available from NARIC 43212 $350 1980
1982 Catalog of teaching materials and aids for
disabled students, including aids and machinery Special Education in Transition (No 2), Education
for learning solo-perforn ance aids, furniture and Hard of Hearing Children Mark Ross and Linda W
related accessories, domesti sciencr aids, school Nober, editors Alexandu Graham Bell Assn for
subject materials and training materials the Deaf, 3417 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC
Includes drawings 20007 128 pages $9 50 1981
Meeting the Needs of the Handicapped A Resource Special Technology for Special Children Computers
for Teachers and Librarians C H Thomas and J L to Serve CommuniLation and Autonomy in the EdLca-
Thomas, editors Oryx Prev' phoeiiii., AZ 440 tion of Handicapped Children E Pr I Goldenburg,
pages 1981 Ed D University Park Press, 300 N Charles
The Modification of Educational Equipment and Street, Ealtimore, MD 21201 183 pages $12 95
Curriculum for Maximum Utilization by Physically 1979 Emphasis is on how the computer can become
Disabled Persons Educational and School Equipment the tool of the china instead of the to& of the
for Physically Disabled Students Human f-i !sources teacher Instead of the computer being used as a
StiJcly Number 9 Human Resources Center, medium for a program designed by the teacher to
Albertson, NY 1967 Discusses non-limiting lead the child through a sequence of steps to
school equipment and attempts to provide guide- learn some desired behavior, this author views it
lines for modifying and selecting equipment that es a prosthetic medium through which the child can
presents nt. barriers or removes barriers for dis- explore A discussion of the use or the computer
abled students Examples from the experiences of languaie LOGC for exploration by handicapped
children is a mamor focus of the book
4.1
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
"Since the first edition of this bibliography was tiveness" Physiology in the Schools, 17, January
comp.led in May of 1980, there has been an explo- 1560 pages 128-134
sion of printed material an the sub;ect of main-
streaming Thus, the above resources have again Hull M E & Eddy, W "Teaching Special Needs
been searched and the findings have been incorpor- Students Instructional Materials" Industrial
ated to form this second edition" Education, 66, November 1977, pages 21-22
The section on "Adaptive Equipment, Materials and Illinois State Board of Education Accessibility
Facilities" has the following references to Laboratories and Equipment for the Physically
Handicapped A Handbook for Vocational Education
B Places and Spaces Facility Planning Personnel Springfield, Illinois 1981
for Handicapped Children Council for Exceptional
Children, Reston, VA ERIC Document Reproduction Johnson, A B & Fiscus. E D "Media and Main-
Service No ED 123 838 1976 streaming Partners in Providing Apprc priate Edu-
cation for the Handicapped" Educational Tech-
Asher, J, & Asher, J "How to Accommodate Work- nology, 20, Decernte, 1980, pages ;5-17
ers in Wheelchairs" Job Safety and Health, 4,
October, 1976, pages 30-35 Kelley, C H The Deveiopment of Individualized
Supportive Services for Physically and Sensorially
"Barrier Free Site Design" Yearbook of Special Limited Adults at a Post-Secondary Area Vocational
Education, 3, 1977-1978, pages 301-333 School Final Report Department of Health.
Education & Welfare, Washington, DC ERIC Docu-
Birch, J W E. Johnstone, B K Designing Schools ment Reproduction Service No ED 146 345 1977
and Schooling for the Handicapped A Guide to the
Dynamic Interaction of Space, Instructional Kliment, S A Into the Mainstream A Syllabus for
Materials, Facilities, Educational Objectives and a Barrier -Free Environment U S Government
Teaching Methods C C Thomas, Springfield, IL Printing Office, Washington, DC 1976
1975
Lance, W D "Technology and Media for Exceptional
Bland, E, et al inability, Usability and Learners Looking Ahead Exceptional Children,
Desirability of Instruction Materials and Media 44, October 1977, pages 92-97
for Minority Handicapped Students" Journal of
Special Education, 13, Summer 1979, pages 157-167 Leo, R J "Access for Handicapped Students and
Employes" Journal of the College and University
Brown, R N Development of curriculum for a non- Personnel Association, 28, Spring 1977, pages 1-5
traditional machine tool technology program ac-
cessible to the physically handicapped Chabot "Living and Learping Aids High Technology and
College, South County Community College District, Home Remedies, Symposium" Exceptional Parent. 9,
Hayward, CA 1979 February 1979, pages Al -A17
"Building Vv tl-lut Barriers Occupational Center of Litton, F W & Kay, R S "Annotated Bibliography
Union County, Roselle, New Jersey" American of low Cost Vocationally Oriented Materials for
School and University, July, 1978, paves 22-23 Adolescent and Young Adult Mildly Handicapped and
Disadvantaged Individuals" Journal for Voca-
Cohen. U. et at Mainstreaming Handicapped tional Special Needs Education, 2(2), 1980, pages
Children Beyond Barrier-Free Design University 13-17
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Architecture and
Urban Planning, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ERIC Docu- Litton, F W. et al (Comps I "Materials for
ment Reproduction Service No ED 188 374 1979 Educating Nonhandicapped Students About Their
Handicapped Peers" Teaching Excep,ional
Cooper, N E. "Vocational Reintegration of Handi- Children, 13, Fall 1980, pages 39-43
capped Wqrkers with Assi:_five Devices" Inter-
national Labor Review, 115,1977, pages 343-352 Mainzer, R, et al A Resource Manual for Program
Developers Level 1 Maryland State Department
Corley, J "Breaking Down the Barriers" Florida of Education, Office of Special Education,
Vocational Journal, 3451,1978, pages 20-23 Baltimore, Maryland ERIC Document Reproduction
Service No ED 193 816 1980
Ersing, W F "Guicielines for Designing Barrier-
Free Facilities" Journal of Physical Education McCormack, J E "The Assessment Tool That Meets
and Recreation, 49, October 1978, pages 65-67 Your Needs The One You Construct" Teaching
Exceptional Children, 8,1976, pages 106-109
Franks, F L. & Butterfield, L H "Educational
Materials Development in Primary Scienc' Simple "Modifying Facilities at Minimum Cost to Meet the
Machines." Education of the Visually Handicapped, Needs of the Handicapped" College and Univer-
9, Summer 1977, pages 51-55 sity, 54, Summer 1979, pages 292-293
Goodman, L "Meeting Children's Needs Through Nuce, DE "Technology and Spe':ial Education"
Materials Modification" Teaching Exceptional Man /Society /Technology, 39, February 1980, pages
Children, 10, Spring 1978, pages 92-94 18-19
The person for whom the worksite is being designed 4 Payment System
is either a "new hire," nas not worked for that
employer before, or he is a "re-employ," has The workstation designer will not be paid up
worked for the employer before, but not neces- front, he must wait as much as several months
sarily at the same job If he is already know- after completion of the job In decreasing order
ledgeable about the job, he is your most important of promptness, payment will come most ouickly 'f
source of information If not. reserve his input from the employer, then the insuror, then the
for the trial-use stage mentioned later He will government agency If special adaptive equipment
be concerned with time and appearance, not costs is to be specified by the designer, then purchased
by the service-provider, expect to be delayed by
the procurement system
100
88 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCERCOK RESNA 1994 86
EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
These experienced observations are colored with cated in her lap or to one side An arthritic
cynicism, admittedly, but are offered as realistic client may not be able to tolerate upright seating
precautions. If the designer is aware of the fnr prolonged fNeriorts
pitfalls, he should be better prepared to plan and
schedule his design and creative services He 3 Interface
must access a capital base which will allow him to
survive until the backlog of work and receivables Assuming that the client has been accessed to and
becomes balarced to the point of being financially positioned at his workstation, we can now attempt
self-sustaining and evenly paced. to plug him into the work flow As stated pre-
viously, the workstation design should neither
modify the person nor the work to be done Both
D. DESIGN PROCESS should be considered inviolate The remainder is
the space between the worker and the work, the
To ensure that the client is successfully and interface We can attach to the worker and the
permanently adapted to his Intended work, the workpiece and we can design the linkage between
designer must consider the worker and workstation
as components of a steady work flow process It is appropriate at thi_ point to bring up and
There are two processes that must interact emphasize a common pitfall in adaptive workstation
smoothly, getting to and from the workstation and design When supplied with a limited array of
doing the work itself worker functions and a requirement for competitive
productivity, there is a tendency to automate, to
1. Access supplant worker function with machine function
The danger is that "supplant" can easily become
A worker is not a permanent attachment to his "replace" and the outcome of such an evolution is
worksite, he must move to it, away from it, and to eliminate the role of the worker Automation
around it charing the course of a work period If is a usefully ally in workstation design, but,
access is a time and energy-consuming struggle, it like alcohol, needs to be used in moderation and
not only reduces the efficiency of the work with a cautious appreciation for the effects of
period, but it also limits the freedom for occa- its abuse
sional stress-relieving breaks. The entire
employment environment should be surveyed for Attachments to the worker are nominally encom-
accessibility Not only the main entrance, rest- passed by the professions of occupational therapy,
rooms and water fountains (as is most common), but orthotics, and prosthetics If a mouthstick,
also the supervisor's office, the coffee urn, the head-pointer, hand splint, torso harness, or leg
lunchroom, and the emergency exits bracing are required for a workstation system
design, the professional should be consulted or
Access space requirements are three-dimensional retained
A common mistake in examining accessibility is to
focus on the floor plan Remember that barriers Attachments to the machinery or workpiece are
can include poor illumination, lac .)f tactile and sometimes better understood and produced by the
audible labels, ano overhanging obstacles for plant engineer or the machine manufacturer If a
visually handicapped workers, time period bells keygua.-d, a switch relocation, or a workbench
and safety alarms or sirens for hearing impaired alteration are needed, these specialists should be
workers; and door thresholds, heavy door closers, contacted Many times, a rough concept of the
and dirty or cluttered floors for mobility im- required modification is all the workstation
paired workers Of course, there are many other designer need to supply The machine technician
details to be considered for each client such as can often take it from there
intolerance to temperature extremes in the SCI
quad It is essential, however, to take time to The linkage between worker and workplace is the
thoroughly flush out potential barriers If pos- most fertile ground for the specialized equipment
sible, include the client in your evaluation at knowledge and creativity of t.le adaptive work-
the worksite If not, make a concerted effort to station designer In that arena, the designer can
play his role, complete with cane, wheelchair, or achieve a successful extension and augmentation of
whatever adaptive devices may be used by the pros- available function without changing the worker or
pective employee the machinery and furniture Switches, electronic
communicators, reaching aids. turntables, adaptive
2 Positioning telephones, environmental controls, and
specialized tools and material handling equipinent
Locating the worker relative to his work function are some of the specific linkages which are used
can be a key element in the efficiency and endur-
ance of his daily performance on the Job In many
cases, the disabling condition causes a signifi- E. SIMULATION
cant deviation from the norms used in the original
design of furniture and machinery used by non- There is no more reealing evaluation technique
handicapped employees Because of visual impair- than real, on-line trial work by the prospective
ment, a worker may need to be positioned so that employee If the employer will cooperate, the
his eyes are very near his work without accessing trial should be conducted on-site, at a conven-
an uncomfortable sitting, standing, or beading tional production worksite If not, in his
over position Necessary occasional supplies may training area If not that, then opt for remote
'lave been stored in overhead cabinets that are simulation, incorporating as mach detail as prac-
beyond the rea-h of a seated person A cerebral tical
palsied person may require that the work be lo-
10I
87 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCE1100K RESNA 1964 87
EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Since this :3 probably the most impectful opportu- The adaptive designer should develop a knack for
nity for the workstation designer, he should identifying common, commercially available tools,
attempt to simulate a completed adaptation, f materials and components to incr_srporre Into
possible To Jo so requires access to a broad supply houses, and industrial or r ice supply
array of commercially available adaptive. equipment catalogues are fertile resources for ideas and
and materials for fashioning crude m 'id'ficatioiis solutions The immediate shoe or office environ-
on site In our experience, there are a few ment may offer significant clues for adaptive
materials that will enable a broad sweep of adap- products
tations, namely duct tape, cardboard boxes, and
balsa wood. They can be formed into many shapes, 2 Equalizers
are reasonably durable and are readily available
at most neighbor:loot.. hardware stores There are products in daily use in modern industry
that are adaptive in nature, largely insensitive
Simulation is a powerful, non-threatening way to to a disabling condition They are familiar,
test a workstation design concept If it works, commercially available, and relatively inexpensive
it strengthens the resolve of all concerned, if it because of a broad market While examining a
doesn't, it is easy to change The margin between potential employer/worksite, look for and point
success and failure in adaptation is measured in out the adaptability of
fractions of an inch, best gaged by actual tria'
use, which simulation provides Until it has modular furniture
proven to be functional, a workstation should movable partitions
remain flexible Size, color, illumination, adjustable furniture (drafting tif:es I
height, angle, separation, and location of work- electric carts
station components must be tailored to the user intercoms and speaker phones
for optimum performance microcompt.ters
horizontal files
elevatoi s
F. TOOLS
G. PROCUREMENT
1 Supply Resources
The Rehabilitation Engineering Center at Wichita, II Casa Study Two Dei,elopment of adaptive hard-
Kansas provides vocational opportunities for ware to allow a quadriplegic spinal cord injured
severely handicapped people through the medium of person to ps.i sue a professional career in
engineering Toese case studies are a brief out- painting
line of the process used in the application of
rehabilitation engineering to vocational problems A Definition of the Problem
confronting severely handicapped people They
range rrom the simple to the complex, the rela- The handicapped person involved desired to pursue
tively inexpensive to the expensive They are an a career ir, professional painting He performed
example of how rehabilitation engineering can be painting activities through the use of a mouth
put to work effectively solving problems in hying stick since he was a high level quadriplegic be-
and independent vocational realm cause of an automobile accident
2 The job necessitated two good arms in order 2 A modiftcaticm was made in the table through
to open and close the jaws of the lathe the design of the bracket and the utilization
while, at the same time, handling materials of electric ectuator which allowed the table
to be tilted foie and aft
3 The simultaneous use of both hands was neces-
sary in order to perform the job as the 3 A lazy susan type carousel wa, designed to
machine was originally configured accommcdate 100 magic markers so that the
individual could obtain one magic marker from
B The Problem Solution the selection of 100
2 By interdicting the existing controls on the 2 The cost was approximately $4,000
machine, the head control switch could
be utilized by the hardicapped employee and 3 The adaptation was relatively simple and
still the machine coulo be operated by could be performed by local technical
the able-bodied employee in the normal man- personnel
ner
3 The cost of ',poi' an adaptation which allowed III Case Study Three The operation of a three-
the handicapped person to be productive axis crimper by a severely handicapped cerebral
on the jub was less than a total of $20 00 palsied individual
3 The VOlarlle of prntiurtInn wac cilrh tnat 1 8O Breaking New Ground, Bill Field. Ed Dept of
units per day was needed Agricultural Engineering, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, Indiana 47907 This quarterly news-
B The Problem Solution letter is published through the handiqapped Farmer
Project rt Purdue University The newsletter
A three axis crimper was designed in conjunction reports on developments and resources in the field
with a feeding mechanism to allow this severe/Iv and carries accounts of farmers who have success-
handicapped individual to perform the lob fully overcome their disabilities Although there
is no subscription fee, donations of $10 or more
1 The tube was crimped at three places simul- are requested for this client supported news-
taneously thus eliminating any insertion or letter
extraction process
"The Disabled Farmer" Paraplegia News, December,
2 A feeding mechanism was designed to feed the 1981 Paralyzed Veterans of America, Washington,
handicapped employee one tube at a time so DC
that he could place d in the feeding cradle
of the machine ".Jature and Proportion of Physical Impairments
Among Indiana's Farm Operators" Roger L
3 A feeding device was designed to insert the Tormoehlen and Bill Field Department of Agricul-
tube onto a crimping device and retract it tural Engineering, Purdue University, West
after the crimping operation took place Lafayette, Indiat a 47907 $1 00 A summary of a
study to determine the nature and proportion of
4 The handicapped person disposed of the tube physical impairments affecting Indiana farm opera-
after the operation was successfully tors Selected case histories are included
completed
"Working the Land Adapting Farming for Disabled
C They Outcome People" Disabled USA Volume 4, Nc 6,1981 The
President's Committee on Employment of the Handi-
The handicapped individual was assigned to the job capped, Washington, DC
and became productive after a relatively short
training period
Further information on adapted equipment used by
1 He easily met or exceeded the L800 unit per disabled farmers may be found by contacting
day criteria
Jiri J Vasa
2 After working on the job for approximately Rehabilitation Engineering Section
two years, his posturing and gene,-al Biomedical Engineering Unit
physical well being improved Queen's University
Kinston, K7L 3N6
3 This individual became a valued ernpioyee at CANADA
Center Industries Corporation and received
minimum wage or above and has a total fringe William E Field
1-enefit package including hospitalization, Extension Safety Specialist
life insurance, paid vacations, etc Department of Agricultural Engineering
Purdue University
The Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
publishes the quarterly Tech Brief Problem Sol- 314/494-1191
ving with Rehabilitation Engineering Some of the
articles in this series include
There have been a series of workshops for handi-
Pneumatically-Powered Wirebender capped farmers (Lansing, Michigan, March 1983,
Digital Readout Numerical Counter Grand Forks, North Dakota, July 1983) Field says
Morse Code Typing Aid that it is sometimes difficult to get the farmers
Reaction and Reach Timing Device to come to the workshops "because they don't see
Cylindrical Parts Selector Feeder themselves as handicapped" But these independent
Spindle Drilling Fixtures and self-reliant farmers have quickly come to
Floor Sweeping Collector realize the many benefits to be had from swapping
Work Station for a Quadriplegic CP Typist ideas and resources The workshops includes ex-
Intra- Individual Ability Fvaluation Using the amples of owner-built manlifts and controls for
Available Motions: Inventory tractors, combines, and other equipment, an over-
Power ,..awn Mower "Dead-Man Switch" view of agricultural equipmen' adaptations, and a
Water Hydrant Torque Assisting Tool review of resources available to the farmor/
grower or family member
10
ao TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 90
EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
"Paul and his prospective employer have reviewed WORKSITE 1 and 2 illustra-
tions on pages 5 and 7 to check for any major barriers in the general work
environment It is noted that the most serious barriers have already been
removed, but door knobs will have to be replaced with levers
"Handle assists can be placed at the desk to aid hi-n in sitting down and
rising from the chair The stool at the worksite can be replaced with one
having full arms and a backrest Quick access to the office directory is
done with a microfilm viewer and a microfilm version of the director The
viewer controls can be converted to push-button operation A headset
receiver will make use of the telephone easier Paul and his employer
agree that these modifications will be useful and cost-effective for this
job/client match In this situation, WORKSITE 1 was used However, had
the job required it, WORKSITE 2 illustrations might also have helped
The following six pages are reprinted here with the permission of the Job
Development Laboratory, George Washington University, Washington, DC
1n6
92 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 501164E1100K RESNA 1984 92
WALLS FLASHING VISUAL ALARM (less than 5 Hz)
USE SLIP RESISTANT, NON-GLARE SURFACES 8000 Hz AUDITORY ALARM (120 db max )
TELEPHONES
1914- 1219mm)
RECEIVER WITH VOLUME CONTROL
HANDSET CORD 36" 1914mm) MIN
36- 42 ROUNDED LEVER
LOCATE BULKIEST OBJECTS
(914- 1067inm) 42-48"
ON LEVEL WITH DESK 4242.1f,v.) (1067- 1219mm)
32 -36"
11313- 914mm)
WINDOW CONTROLS
KICKPLATE 12- 18"
20-54' (5OS- 1372mm)
MAX OPERATING FORCE TO I-- 29-30"
(305- 457mm)
18-48" 6 5" MIN 44' MAX
5 LB 122 2 NI 1737-762mm)
(457- 1219mm) 1419mm I (1118mm)
165" MIN adjustable
29- 38' DOORS
(419mnil 30-32' height pref
235 -35" 1737 965mm I 60" 11524mm) CLEAR SPACE ON BOTH SIDES OF DOOR
1762-813mm) 165 MIN
1508-889mm) SIDE- HUNG PREFERRED TO SLIDING TYPE
1419mml
DOOR SHOULD OPEN INTO LOWER TRAFFIC AREA
WORK STATION GLASS SHOULD HAVE DECALS AT FACE HEIGHT
AVOID CENTER DRAWERS 0 5 113mml MAX THRESHOLD
24" 1610mm) MIN KNEE WELL WIDTH
rvOID SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS
FLOORS NON GLARE LIGHTING TO MINIMIZE FATIGUE STORAGE CABINETS
NON-ABSORBENT MATERIALS IN WARM, DARK COLORS DRAWERS WITH ROLLERS FOR EASY OPERATION
AVOID COLOR CONTRAST EXCEPT TO DENOTE LEVEL CHANGE U SHAPEO HANDLES 4" x 1 5' 1102mm x 38mm)
AVOID SCULPTURED TEXTURES OR CHANGES IN DIRECTION OF GRAIN
DRAWERS SHOULD BE OPERABLE WITH ONE HAND
THIN, hEAVY- DUTY UNPADDED LOOP PILE CARPETING PREFERREO SEATING
CARPETING SHOULD BE FIRMLY FIXED TO FLOOR
ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT AND SUPPORT r'OR LOWER BACK
(FEET SHOULD REST ON FLOOR OR OTHER SUPPORT)
d
g
TELEPHONE AIDS:
CONTROLS:
331 SPEAKERPHONE
OPTIMUM OPERATING FORCE: 3/4 LB (3.2 N)
EASIER DOCUMENT ACCESS HEADSET RECEIVER
2 PROVIDE AUDITORY/VISUAL FEEDBACK
o USING sooKszara ADJUSTABLE ARM 7-*OR RECEIVER
AVOID SLICK, UNTEXTURED SURFACES
MICROFILM VIEWER, ENLARGED "TOUCHTON E" BUTTONS
1 AVOID NEED FOR TVVIST1NG MOTION
Z OR READING MACHINE
IIP PUSH BUTTON OR ROCKER PREF. TO LE /ER OR KNOB
(SEE "CONTROLS" AT RIGHT) 0 eaftigt7
R PEN /PENCIL
C
THROUGH RUBBER BALL OR ELECTRIC SELFCORRECTING,
< HARD FOAM FOR EASIER GRASP AUTORETURN TYPEWRITER
z0 WITH KEYOUARO FOR GREATER
HAND SUPPORT AND ACCURACY
sC AND PAPER ROLL
m
m AVOID DRAWERS DEEPER THAN 12" (305mm)
in
Z OPEN DESKTOP STORAGE PREFERABLE
...
BULKY OBJECTS SHOULD BE SLID RATHER THAN LIFTED
USE SLICK SURFACES FOR EASIER MOVEMENT OF MATERIALS
USE BOLTS. CLAMPS, OR NONSLIP MATS WHERE STABILITY IS NEEDED
111
.............-u-............. BEST r.nPv AliAll /1131 r
DIFFICULTY IN HANDLING AND FINGERING
Persons with this limitation experience decreased Aids suggested on the illustration below ha e heen
mobilility, range of motion, and/or strength in used by persons having this limitation No en-
their hands Approximately 1% of the U S popula- dorsement of specific products is intended The
tion is affected to some degree (National Academy reader is encouraged to obtain further information
of Sciences, 1976) from suppliers of
BOOKSTANDS
This limitation may be expe.ienced by persons CASSETTE TAPE RECORDERS
having any of the following disabilities MICROFILM VIEWERS
NON-SLIP MATS
Amputations OPEN DESK-TOP FILES AND STORAGE
Arthritis READING MACHINES
Bilateral Hemiparetic TELEPHONE AIDS
Cardiac Disorders TYPEWRITERS
Cerebral Palsy TYPEWRITER KEYGUARDS, PAPER ROLI S
Cerebrovascular Accidents (st.oke)
Congenital Deformities
Dupuytren's Contracture
Multiple Sclerosis Further modif,cations to WORKSITE 1 for persons
Muscular Dystlphy having this limitation are suggested on the
Myasthenia Gray's illustration Each one should be selected,
Parkinson's Disaase amended, or rejected according to the expressed
Polymyositis needs of the individual and the job
Severe Burns
Spinal Cord Injury
Syringomyelia
DOORS
SI1E-HUNG PREFERRED TO SLIDING TYPE
EQUIPMENT CONTROLS
60" 11524mm) CLEAR SPACE ON BOTH SIDES OF DOOR
TEMPORARY STORAGE SURFACE
LIGHTED PUSH-BUTTON SW'TCHES PREFERRED DOOR SHOULD OPEN INTO LOWER TRAFFIC AREA
FOR WORK MATERIALS IN
INDICATORS SHOULD BE VISUAL AND AUDITORY GLASS SHOULD HAVE DECALS AT FACE HEIGHT
CONVENIENT LOCATION
MIN CONTROL SPACING : 1" (25mm) 0 5" 113mm) MAX THRESHOLD
75" 119mm) DIA OR SQUARE CONTROL SHAPE
IIIIIIUCNIRAPHY
Chasin, Joseph Home in a Wheelchair, Washington, Sorenson, Robert James Design for Accessibility,
DC.. Paralyzed Veterans of America, 1978 New York McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1979
Chasm, Joseph and Jules Saltman Tha Wheelchair Steinfeld, Edward, Steven Schroeder, and Marilyn
in W.. Kitchen, Washington, D C Paralyzed Bishop Accessible Buildings for People with
Veterans of America, 1978. Walking and Reaching Limitations, Washington,
DC US Department of Housing and Urban
Decker, Roger W Mobile Homes Alternative Development, 1979
Housing for the Handicapped, Laurinburg St
Andrews Presbyterian College (funded by U S Steinfeld, Edward, Steven Schroeder, and Marilyn
Department of Housing and Urban Development), Bishop Adaptable Dwellings, Washington, ID C
1977 U S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment, 1979
Diffrient, Niels, Alvin R Tilley, and Joan C
Bardagjy Humanscale 1/2/3, Cambridge, Steinfeld, Edward, Steven Schroeder, James Duncan,
Massachusetts. The MIT Press, 1974. Rolf Faste, Deborah Chollet, Marilyn Bishop,
Peter Wirth, and Paul Cardell Access to the
Gerontological Society Barrier-Free Design for Built Environment- A Review of Literature,
the Elderly and the Disabled, Syracuse, New Washington, DC US Department of Housing
York: Syracuse University, 1975 and Urban Development, 1979.
Goldenson, Robert M, Jerome R. Dunham, and Suazo, Antonio C Job Redesign, Washington. DC
Charles S Dunham (eds). Disability and Goodwill Industries of America, 1974
Rehabilitation Handbook, New York McGraw-Hill
Book Company, 1978 Texas Tech University. Human Rehabilitation
Techniques, Vol II, Springfield, Virginia
Goldsmith, Selwyn Designing for the Disabled, National Technical Information System, 1977
London: RIBA Publications, Ltd., 1976
Trombly, Catherine Anne and Anna Deane Scott
Grandjean, Etienne Fitting the Task to the Man Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction,
London: Taylor and Francis, Ltd, 1969 Baltimore, Maryland The Williams and Wilkins
Comparci, 1977
Harkness. Sara P. and James W. Groom, Jr
Building without Barriers for the Disabled, New Veterans Administration Handbook for Design
York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1976 Specially Adapted Housing, Washington, D C
Veterans Administration. 1978
Lewis. Thord and Sven-Olaf Bratgard Functional
Anthropometry and Hand Grip Strength in Wheel- Reprinted with the permission of the Job Development Laborat
chair Subjects. University of Goteborg. 1969 George Washington University, Washington DC
99
1 ()
aGOOK
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING %OUR RESNA 1N4 99
EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Speaking of Employment A Symposium on Disabled Adapting Work Sites for People With Disabilities
People in the Workplace Mainstream, Inc, 1200 Ideas from Sweden Gerd Elmfeldt, Caroline Wise,
15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 1981 Hans Bergsten, Ake Olsson The Swedish Institute
$9 00 for the Handicapped, Box 303, S-161 26 Bromma,
Sweden Available in the USA from NARIC or from
Tools, Equipment and Machinery Adapted for the World Rehabilitation Fund, 400 East 34th Street,
Vocational Education and Employment of Handicapped New York. NY 10016 Free The sources for sup-
People. 787 pages $30 00 1981 Tools, pliers are all Swedish, but many of the devices
Equipment & Machinery A hew Catalog Supplement are available in the U S Many of the adapta-
671 pages $32 00 1983 Wisconsin Vocational tions, and the philosophy behind them, are readily
Studies Canter, 256 Education Sciences Building, applicable to the U S
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
53706.
PERIODICALS
" specific focus on applications for disability vnrk, NY ?nen? cubscno;on $12 00/yr to
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"Aids and Appliances Review The Carroll Center
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02158, 617/969-6200 Each issue of this quarterly Publishing Company, 1 West Olney Avenue, Phila-
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people with visual impairments Some are appli- Free to Controlled Circulation
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101
12 ti
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA IOU 101
EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
I')
1 9 ,,;
RECREATIONAL 11 LEISURE TECHNOLOGY 105
FPORT3 .
109
BOATING 113
SCUBA 114
WATERSKIING 114
SKIING 115
SKATING 116
BOWLING 117
GOLF 117
FLYING 117
HUN TING & FISHING 117
AUDIOVISUALS 118
GARDENING 122
MUSIC 122
NEEDLEWORK 123
FITNESS 124
TRAILS 124
PLAYGROUNDS 132
QUEST )N: "What are some of the technologicel teed for a lifetime Even on a very slight in-
adaptations made to wheelchairs for recreation or cline you just roll right down it, you don't push
competitive use' Also you don't have one wheel rolling better than
the other, they both roll a true straight line
ROY GASH: "The wheelchairs used in basketball
were the first to be modified to make the chair
more manageable This was done by adding axle QUESTION "Where can you get Phil Wood hubs'
plates to enable the user to change the center of
gravity Negative camber was created by using a ROY GASH "Go to a bike shop If they carry Phil
camber bracket to spread the frame wider at the Wood hubs, they'll string your wheels for $10 or
bottom than at the top Excess metal was also cut $15
from the frame These changes were standard if a
person wanted to be competitive while playing the
game QUESTION "We see many changes in the manual
chairs, but what about the power chairs?
"Today the majority of people playing wheelchair
basketball use lightweight alloy wheelchairs MARRI TAYLOR "I would like to see more tech-
These range from Quadra, Quickie or Stainless nology put into the design of power chairs I
basketball chairs to locally-made lightweight non- would like to see a chair that can be used in
foldable wheelchairs All of these newer chairs sand, mud, dirt, and any kind of situation I
have adjustable rear axle positions, quick release would like to see wider tires on both the front
rear wheels, adjustable front casters and adjust- and back I would also like to see chairs that
able back heights They also come in any width were not all chrome, so that they don't have tha
desired by the user These new chairs have im- "hospital look" If wheelchairs could be m; nufac-
proved bearings all around, as well as stronger, tured so that they could get across any kind of
improved hubs and front casters They are also terrain, that would be wonderful I'd like to
stronger than the old models help anyone who wants to design that
As a disabled person, I'm not asking for total would benefit from integration into the whole of
accessibility, that's impossible If I can't gre, society The responsible application of techno-
from here to there, well, that's too bad but if logy toward rioctOP development and the
there's something that can be done easily, I'm all establishment of downhill ski-sledding protocol
for it. I don't expect the whole world to bs will allow ski programs for the disabled to offer
ramped; it's just not possible integrative downhill skiing to just about every
one
1O;
SPORTS
"There is hardly any spa-t in which persons with Disabled Sportsmen of America
disabilities do not take part, nor any disability P 0 Box 26
for which there are no special organized games or Vinton, VA 24179
olympiads The opportunities range from local
sports (school, community center, etc) up to International Committee or Silent Sports
state, regional, national, and international com- Gallaudet College
petitions. 800 Florida Avenue, nE
Washington, DC 20002
"During and immediately following World War I, 202/651-5114 (voice or TDD)
interest developed in sports for those persons
with amputations and visual impairments Then, in International Games for the Disabled
1944, the Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke-Mande- Eisenhower Park
ville Hospital in Aylesbury, England, mutated East Meadow, NY 11554
wheelchair sports. In 1962, the British Common- 516/542-4493
wealth Paraplegic Games were founded and held in
Perth, Western Australia lne Pan-American Wheel- International Sports Organization for the Disabled
chair Games were held for the first time in 1967 International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation
in Winnipeg, Canada, and have continued success- StokeMandeville spinal Injury Center
fully in various countries every fourth year In Aylesbury, England
the 1970's the World Zone Games were initicned,
and in 1975, the first Far Eastern and South MoLlity International USA
Pacific Games for disabled persons were held in P 0 Box 3551
Oita, Japan. In 1976, the United States Associa- Eugene, OR 97403
tion of Blind Athletes was founded Also in 1976, 503/343-1284
the Olympiad for Disabled People was initiated and
almost 1,700 athletes with varied disabilities National Association of Sports for Ceiebral Palsy
competed The Annual International Cerebral Palsy United Cerebral Palsy Associations
Games were started in 1979 And the list of 66 E 34th Street
sporting events goes on New York, NY 10016
212/481-6359
"Sports programs enable disabled persons to deve-
lop physical skills and fitness, experience the National Handicapped Sports & Recreation
challenges of competition and the thrills of vic- Association
tory, and be provided with opportunities to help Capital Hill Station
organize and operate sophisticated national and P 0 Box 18664
international programs Denver, CO 80218
303/978-0564
"For disabled persons to participate fully in a
sport, however, equipment, performance technique, National Inconvenienced Sportsman's Association
._-nd game rules may need to be modified" 3738 Walnut Avenue
Carmichael, CA 95608
Sports for Disabled Individuals, Rehab Brief, 916/484-2153
Vol IV No 3, Jan 26,1981
National Inconvenienced Sportsman Association
2215 Allegheny Road
DISABILITY-RELATED SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS El Dorado Hills, CA 95630
These groups mry be able to provide information on National Wheelchair Athletic Association
useful applicatv s of technical aids 2107 Templeton Gap Road, Suite C
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
American Athletic Association of the Deaf 303/632-0698
3916 Lantern Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20902 Outdoor Experimental Education for the Hearing
Impaired
Amputee Sports Association National Technical Institute for the Deaf
George C Beckmann, Jr, President Rochester Institute of Technology
11705 Mercy Blvd 1 Lomb Memorial Drive
Savannah, GA 31406 Rochester, NY 14623
919/927-5408
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Blind Outdoor Leisure Development (BOLD) 801 18th Street NW
533 E Main Street Washington, DC 20006
Aspen, CO 81611 202/872-1300
Gs I Scouts the U S A
830 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
WHEELCHAIR !PORTS
1"6
t..
"A Look at Wheelchair Sports and What's Happening The Silver Wheels Wheelchair Football
in the Northwest" Stotts, Kathleen and Warren, G 109 Florence Avenue
Model Systems, Scieri,e Digest, Spring 1982 Buffalo, NY 14114
WATER SPORTS
"Although boat modifications and adaptations cover American Red Cross Methods in Adapted Aquatics
a wide range, handholds and handrails are the most A Manual for the Instructor American Red Crqss,
common additions. However many disabled people Washington, DC 1977
do not need to make any significant modifications
to their craft Camp Confidence Waterfront Program-Summer The
Camp, Box 349, Brainerd, Minnesota 56401 1973
"There is a risk involved in boating (as in all
sports), but safety regulations and procedures are John Chartres & Douglass Hurndall "They Said We
designed to minimize this risk, even if all of it Couldn't Do It RYA Seamanship Foundation, Vic-
cannot be eliminated However, since part of the toria Way, Working, Surrey, GU12 IEO England
challenge of boating is its risk, many of the 1981
benefits for the disabled persons would be lost if
all the challenges of the sport were removed Nancy Crase "Wheelchair Boating" Sports 'n
Even so, every boater should wear, or have imme- Spokes, 1 (4), 11-14, November-December 1975
diate access to, a properly fitted Personal Flota- Describes various types of boats suitable for
tion Device Aboard a small craft, the device people in wheelchairs
should be worn at all times"
Diane Duryea "Another Kind of Handicap
"Sports for 0 .ebled Individuals," Rehab Yachting, Oztober 1976, 86-87
Brief, Vol 14, No 3, January 26, 1981
Matthew Guidry "The Challenge Expanding Hori-
Disabled boaters have formed their own organiza- zons of Aquatic Programs for the Handicapped"
tion, the Handicapped Boaters Association, which Presentation at Protect Aquatics Workshop,
seeks to further the safa participation of dis- Seattle, WA, and Columbia, MO November, 1975
abled people in recreational boating and related
activities throughout the country The associa- Handicapped Boaters Association "Boating World,
tion publishes a bimonthly magazine, Boating World Unlimited" January-February 1981, Vol 1, No 1
Unlimited New York, NY
These programs have information on equipment Bob Hawkes "Sailing If One Paraplegic Sails
selection and adapting equipment for boating Others Surely Can Tool" Sports 'n Spokes, Nov-
Dec, 1977, 3 (4), 8-9
Handicapped Boaters Association
PO Box 1134 Harold Hayes "Sailing Blind" The New Beacon,
Ansonia Stition December, 1970 Royal National Institute for the
New York, NY 10023 61ind, London, England
National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children Water skiing can be a new and exciting recrea-
and Adults. Year-Round Recreation Programs for tional experience for many disabled people The
the Handicapped. National Easter Seal Society, American Water Ski Association has .dicated its
Chicago, IL. 1973 interest in working with groups to help introduce
the sport to people with disabilities
Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation Open
Boating. Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation, American Water Ski Association, Attention Bruce
Water Safety and Boating Program for the Disabled, !Custer, P 0 Box 191, Winter Haven, FL 33880
1520 Lakeside Drive. Oakland CA 94812 1982 A
handbook about Lake Merritt's Adapted Boating Waterskiing for the Physically Disabled Mission
Program for the Disabled. Chapter 4 has a de- Bay Aquatic Center, 1001 Santa Clara Point, San
scription of facilities, equipment considerations Diego, CA 92109 This manual is a guide for the
and categories, building and stocking a work summer camp, school, recreation department or any
space Chapter 5 describes a team approach to other group that wishes to institute a disabled
teach',ig, designing and making adaptive equipment waterski program It includes instructions for
ane devices An award-winning documentary, "Open adapting a monosku and one skiseat
Boating," is also available in either 18 mm film
or videotape formats Water Sports
David C Park "Recreation" The White House Water Sports for the Disabled Sterling
Publishing Co, 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY
Conference On Handicapped Individuals, Vol. I
Awareness Papers, pages 119-131 Washington, D C $1895 1983
May 1977
Scuba
WINTER SPORTS
"Many disabled people can now enjoy skiing and The ARROYA is a simple sled-like device with no
skating. In 1971, the Winter Park Handicap Re- moiing parts The skier learns to control the
creational Program IR Winter Park, Colorado, began direction and speed of the ARROYA by developing
to teach people with ..-.71putations how to ski Now, various downhill skiing skills The ARROYA con-
people with 29 different types of disabilities are sists of four stainless steel edges that face
also taught to eiow to ski At some winter re- inward benoath a composite shell The skier sits
sorts, a 1..!:ral skier may tako to the slopes in in a molded seating system that links the user to
tandem with a sighted companion who provides the slee, much like the traditional downhill skiers
directions by verbal command or by means of a foot is secured within a ski boot The ARROYA is
light harness One-i6ijtjed skiers are equipped currently being manufactLred by Beneficial De-
with two arm-braced outrigger skis to give them a signs, 5858 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 A
three-pronged balance list of skiing programs that use Arroya can be
obtained from Beneficial designs A cross-country
"Beginning ice skaters who lack muscle strength, sled is available from Mountain Smith, Inc, 12790
coordination, or who are overanxious may use a W 6th Place, Golden, CO 80401, (303) 238-5823
skate aid for support until they gain confidence
The collapsible aid is used much as a chair is For more information on training programs and
used for support, but the aid is more stable and events related to pulk skiing, sled skiing, ice
evenly balanced Although blind and deaf people sledding and dog sledding
need no special equipment for skating, blind
skaters would probably feel more secure with Alaska
sighted partners, and a source of music centrally
located may be helpful for orientation" Alpine Alternatives
1634 W 13th
From "Sports for Disabled Indwiduals," Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Rehab Brief (907) 276-7526
Vol IV. No 3, Jan 26, 1981 Marty Decker, Director
Arizona
Skiing
Handicapped Unbound. Inc
Arroya a downhill skiing system specially de- P 0 Box 1044
signed for persons with physical disabilities Prescott, AZ 86302
Arroya User/Instructor Manual available from:
Peter W Axelson, Rehabilitative Engineering Re- California
search & Development/153, 3801 Miranda Avenue.
Palo Alto, CA 94304, (415) 493-5000 x4473. Environmental Traveling Companions
Fort Mason, Bldg C
Colorado Outdoor Education Center, P 0 Box 897, Room 3B
Breckenridge, CO 80424, (303) 453-6422. San Francisco, CA 94123
Kick the Handicap, Learn to Ski. A Handbook of NHYSRA Lake Tahoe Chapter
Information for the Physically Handicapped Larry Young
Sbeler, William E. Marlette, Michigan Adapted Box 1636
Sports Association, 1977, 123 pp. Truckee, CA 95734
(Incline Village, Lake Tahoe)
National Amputee Ski Technique National Amputee (916) 587-3911
Skiers Association. Carmict.ael, CA 1970, 91 pp (Alpine)
Pulk Skiing. Sled skiing and ice sledding for Tahoe Handicapped Ski School
persons with mobility impairments 1 11 Larry P 0 Box 2633
Orr, Vinland National Center. PO Box 308, Olympic Valley, CA 95730
Loretto, Minnesota 55357 (916) 583-7584
Katherine Hayes, Director
The Winter Park Amputee Ski Teaching System,
O'Leary, H Available from Winter Park Ski Colorado
School, P O. Box 313, Winter Park, CO 80482,
(303) 726-5514 x179 Colorado Outdoor Education Center
P 0 Box 697
Breckenridge, CO 80424
INTEGRATED SKIING In an effort to facilitate (303) 453-6422
integrative recreational sporting activities, a Bruce Werber, Director
downhill skiing system called the ARROYA was in-
troduced in 1979 at the National Handicapped Ed Luchs
Skiing Championships Development of the ARROYA P 0 Box 5429
downhill skiing concept was funded by the Rehabi- Snowmass Village, CO 81675
litative Research and Development Center at the (303) 923-3294
Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center (Alpine)
1
115 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 1N14 115
RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TECHNOLOGY
Ski for Light HEALTHsports, Inc New Zealand Asscc for Disabled Skiers
1455 W Lake Street P 0 Box 241?
Minneapolis, MN 55408 Christchurch New Zea'ald
(612) 827-3611 Gillian Hall/Director
(Annual February week-long X-C Ski event
with blind/sighted/mobility impaired
also regional events) SKATING
Wilderness Inquiry II
2929 4'r Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612/827-4001
(Summer and winter travel programs)
New Hampshire
11 1....0
Western Amputee Golf Association "Powered Ultralignts and the Disabled Pilot",
Ed Bryant. Sec Treasurer Michael J Heinrich, R E, and Nigel Shapcott,
R E Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference
118 W Swain Road
Stockton, CA 95207 on Rehabilitation Engineering, San Diego Avail-
able from RESNA, Suite 402, 4405 East-West Hign-
way, Bethesda, MD 20814 1983
Horseback Riding
Flying has attracted increasing numbers of dis-
abled people with the availability of FAA-approved
portable hand controls Boarding seats and/or North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA)
door modifications are helpful in improving acces- Box 100
sibility for some types of aircraft There are
Ashburn, VA 22011
several wheelchair pilot groups around the country
that encourage and support private flying and help
steer disabled participants through the licensing National Foundation for Hap, Horsemanship for the
bureaucracy Handicapped
Box 462
Malvern, PA 19355
American Wheelchair Pilots Association
Dave Graham
P 0 Box 1181
Mesa, AZ 85201 Hunting & Fishing
(602) 831-4282
Disabled Sportsman of America
P 0 Box 26
Vinton, VA 24179
Access to Recrwatinn Archrtacturl And Tranc- the R!.n4 and Physically Hitrtritr.t.ppit,-1, Th+i, i .t-. :.y
portation Barriers Compliance Board Washington, of Congress, Washington, DC 1979
D.C. 1977, 70 PP
Sports and Recreational Programs for the Child and
Bibliography on Recreation, Play and Sports Young Adult with Physical ility Proceedings
Rehabilitation International Postfach 131 409, of the Witter Park Seminar, Winter Park, CO,
6900 Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany, 11-13, 1983, $10 prepaid from the American Academy
1975 of Orthopaedic Surgeons, PO Box 7195, Chicago, IL
60680 How to assess the orthopaedically disabled
Competitive Athletic Programs for Impaired, Dis- child's activity, possible adaptations for various
abled and Handicapped F _rsons American Alliance sports and recreational activities available
for Health, Physical Education and Recreation program resources, competition classifications,
Washington, DC, 1973 18 pp and bibliography
Directory of Renieation & Leisure Services For Sp_orts Centers and Swimming Pool Walter, Felix
the physically handicapped in the I., 3 Angeles Disabled Living Foundation, 346 Kensington high
area. 132 page directory $7 95 + tax & mailing Street, London W14, England, 39 pp, 200 pouinds
Christianson, Mickey A, 11066 Gonsalves Place, Pecommends design standards for sports facilities
Cerritos, CA 90701, 1213) 924-2159 Available and swimming pools, a id ancillary equipment for
from author use by disabled persons
Eg_uipment foi the Disabled, Vol 6, Leiure and "Teacher-made Adaptive Devices for Archery, Bad-
Gade.,s National Fund for Research into Crip- minton, and Table Tennis" J Cowart Practical
pling Disease 2 Foredn, ',iv- Yobtslade, Pointers, May 1978, (13), 1-16 Contains guide-
Brighton, BN4 2BB, E- lines for making a aptations of physical education
equipment for students with disabilities Adapta-
"Familier Sports and Ac Is Adapted for Multi- tions are suggested for archery, badminton, and
ply Impaired Persons" PAM Repeater, No 22, table tennis equipmeot Each idea is designed to
Februaiy, 1984 Published by the PAM Assistance compensate for a specific functional limitation
Centre, 601 Maple, Lansing, MI Construction steps are described and drawings are
provided
Games, Sports and Exercises for the Physically
Handicapped, 34d edition Adams, RC, Daniel, A Textbook of Sport for the Disabled Guttman, Sir
& Rulln L Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, PA Ludwig Alden Press, London, England, 1976, 184
1982 $2u 60, 400 pages pp
Outdoor Pursuits for Disabled Feople, Croucher, Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Educa-
Norman 1981, 11,0 p Woodhead-Faulkner Ltd, 8 tion within Rehabilitation Collingwood, Thomas
Market Passage, Cambridge C82 3PF, England, 4 75 R Hot Springs, Ark, Arkansas Rehabilitation
Ls Research and Training Center, 1971, 44 pp
Physical Activities for the Handicapped Vannier, Vin-Lines Quarterly newsletter from Vinland
Mary Helen Prentice Hail, Inc, Englewooc National Center, 3675 Ihduapi Road, P 0 Box 308,
Cliffs, NJ 01632, 1977, 338 pp Loretto, MN 55357
Recreation for Physically Handicapped Pomeroy, Crystal Productions Catalog, Box 12317, Aspen, CO
Janet. Ma-:millan Publishing Company, 866 3rd 81612, (303) 925-8160 List of sports & rehabili-
Avenue, Near York, NY 10022 (Out of print) tation films about amputee, C P & blind skiing,
spinal cord injuries
Sports and Games for the Handicapped, Reference
Circular No 79-1 Nations, Library Service for It's Abilift Am Counts Rehcbrilm/RFRL, 20 West
40th Street, New York, NY 10018 16 mm. color, All Seasons Riding Academy
32 minuter Sale $365 00, rental $25 00 Sir Therapeutic Riding Program
Ludwig Guttman introduces this V.hICh so ef- 43510 Osgood Road
fectively illustratss the results of his life Fremont, CA 94538
work, interspersing competition at the Stoke- 41E/651-7330
Mandeville Games with leisure activities
Amputees in Motion (AIM)
Not Just A Spectator Rehabfilm/RFRL, 2J West 1539 W 11th Avenue
40th Street, New York, NY 10018 16 rim, color, Escondido, CA 92025
35 minutes Sale $350 00, rental $25 00 Pam Stahl, President, San Diego
colorful and exciting film that covers a wide 717/747-6054
variety of leisure activities for tile disabled, Jerry Bahlquist, Coordinator
including spelunking, rock-climbing, sailing and 714/729-9403
water-skiing Lord chapters in San Diego and Los 1,ngeles,
social & sports get-togethers, hospital
Riding Towards Freedom Rehabfilm/RFRL, 20 West visitation program
40th Street, New York, NY 10018 16 mm, color,
32 minute' Sale $36500, rental $25 00 Horse- Berkeley Outreach Recreation Program
back riding for the disabled has come into its 605 Eshleman Hall
own, and Riding Towards Freedom shows 'II aspects University of California
of the activity from the organization of riding Berkeley, C.:. 94720
classes to mounting methods and games The great
value of the sport to all those involved is clear- California Wheelchair Athletic Association
ly 'xmonstrated P 0 Box 2648;
San Jose, CA 95159-6483
Water Free Rehabfilm/RFRL 20 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018 16 mm, color, 35 minutes Environme.itai .raveling Companions
Sale $35000, rental $2500 The first in a Fort Mason, Building C
series of specialized offshoots from Not Just A Ror,-.i 3B
Spectator, Water Free explores swim-training for an Francisco, CA 94123
all ages and levels of skill in detail It in-
cludes survival training and a swim in the English Indoor Sports, Inc
Channel 3445 l rumbell
San Diego, CA 92106
SOME LOCAL RECREATION "ROGRAMS Orange County Riding Center. Inc
Therpoeubc Riding Program
Arizona Stables
Lake Forest Riding Club
Handizapped Unbound, Inc 25201 Trab,jco Road
P 0 1044 El Toro, CA
Prescott. A/ 86302 Office
602/445-5076 23011 Moutlon Parkway, Suite C-6
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Ca:.. 714/837-8225 (office)
714/728-3669
Adaptive Physical Education
College of Mann Recreation Center for the Handicappt._
Sir Francis Drake Highway 207 Skyline Blvd
Kelitheld, CA 94904 San Francisco, CA
Laurie Lsnham, RPT 415/665-4100
415/4 -9654 Programs for children and adults
Disabled Student's Office
415/485-9406 Santa Barbara Community Golf Course
John Klein
Adaptive Recreation Program 3500 McCaw Avenue
Andy Fleming, Coordinator Santa Barbara, CA 93105
City of Santa Barbara
620 Laguna Street Colorado
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Scuba diving for paraplegics Colorado Outdoor Educatior Center fr the
Handicapp ,,
Adaptive Rehabit i.iion Physical Education PO Box 697
De Anza Junior '.-',ege Breckenridge, CO 80424
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014 Michigan
408/996-4873
Adapted Sports Association, Inc
Communications Center
6832 Marlette Road
Marlette, MI 48453
1 1:,
119 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING !i0tIRCIEBOOK RESNA 1954 119
RECREATIONAL AND LEKSURE TECHNOLOGY
Minnesota
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
612/588-0811
HEALTHsports, Inc
Louise Lana
1455 W. Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612/827-3611
Wilderness Inquiry II
2929 4th Avenue South, Suite 0
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612/827-4001
New Hampshire
Ohio
Canada
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
For information. see also. National Organizations oz. the Rake only 32 oz They are perfect tools
listed under SPORTS. for everyone, but are ideal for those who cannot
lift a heavier tool Whether young or old, or
simply disposed to the ease and convenience of a
GARDENING light tool, these will please ali"
One of my favorite equipment catalogs is Smith &
Hawken Catalog for Gardeners (25 Corte Madera, With this approach in mind, it becomes easier to
Mill Valley, California 94941, (415)383-4415) evaluate other products in regular gardening cata-
logs to determine if they will meet your special
It's always a joy to read beautiful photos needs (editor)
and/or drawings, lively text, and a strong empha-
sis on quality products. Until the Spring '84
issue, my catalog always stayed at home It now Equipment for the Disabled Leisure and Gardening
joins my "Technology for Independent Living" (Fifth Edition) Edited by E R Wilshere and G M
files, because Smith & Hawken has begun a section Cochrane 1983 109 pp Oxford Regional Health
called "Enabling Tools Authority. 2 Foredown Drive Postslade,
Brighton, 3N4 288, ENGLAND
"We are proud to offer a selection of tools we
call 'Enabling Tool: This covers a broad area, Leisure and Gardening has recently been updated
and includes implements for older and younger It is one in a series of volumes dedicated to
people, for those whose limbs and muscles are not presenting equipment related information to "those
as strong as they once were, for the hand,capped, professionally concerned with the care of physic-
or simply for people who want lighter and handier ally handicapped people of all ages (These
tools.... they include carts, kneelers, special
books) provide guidelines to help in the selection
grips and a wonderful selection of modular tools of equipment and suggest ways of overcoming dif-
from Gardena in Germany. Although Dave and I ferent problems." They can also be used directly
are still reasonably young and hearty, these tools by disabled people The materials are useful and
will certainly find a place in our toolshed as detailed, unfortunately, the fact that the volumes
they offer superior value and flexibility." are compiled in England can be a limiting factor'
in using some of the material p,esented
This integrated marketing approach is especially The section on gardening, however, is quite uni-
obvious in two of the entries versal Most of tbe equipment is avallaole for
export, or can be closely approximated in the U S
"CHILDREN'S TOOLS
There are tips on setting up an access.ble green-
"These are scaled down versions of our regular house,, pruning one's Zrces with ease, and laying
toola for those with less muscle, less space or out an accessible and easy upkeep patio garden
fewer years. They are built to the same quality that can be used by persons anywhere
specifications as all Smith & Hawken tools One
of the frustrations for children in beginning One reviewer's comment was "Where else in the
gardening is that no one has taken sem...Ay the world can one go to locate comparative information
making of children's tools. These down-scale on garden hoes for persons with disabilities?"
tools give the child an immediate sense of the
purpose and effect of a normal tool, and are Greenhouse Design for the Handicapped University
perfect teaching aids for classroom use The T- of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 18 pp 1967 Avail-
handles permit small hands a good two-handed grip able from NARIC NARIC Accession #EI 7701-002977
Their durability allows years of use and wear
All of these tools are suitable for senior citi-
zens or the handicapped, as well as for those who
garden on balconies, rooftops, or patios" MUSIC
A newsletter on music for persons with physical "Sewing Machines." The English Journal of the
limitations. The emphasis is on adapted musical Consumers' Association, Which, Joined with con-
instruments and methods which can be used by dis- sumer organizations in nine other countries in a
abled people report on "electronic" sewing machines As part
,+f this international test, thrt e sewing machines
The newsletter is written by Paige Finnerty, a emerged which can be specially adapted for use by
musician and vocational rehab counselor To re- disabled people These are Bernina 830H (Handi-
ceive the next issue, send a self-addressed cap), Switzerland; Husqvarna Viking 6270, Sweden,
stamped enveloped to NOTE-ABLE, c/o Rancho Los and the Husqvarna Viking 6690, Sweden The
Amigos Hospital, 7601 E Imperial Highway, 500 Bernina comes fitted with aids to make it more
Hut, Downey, CA 90242 suitable for people with physical and sight dis-
abilities The Husqvarna machines can be supplied
Clinically Adapted Instruments for the Multiply with kits, one for the physically handicapped and
Handicapped Cynthia Clark and Donna Chadwick. a second for the blind and partially sighted. In
Magnamusic-Baton, 10370 Page Industrial Blvd., St the report, the point was made that no sewing
Louis, Missouri 63132 Phone 314/427-5660 192 machine not even one specially adapted will
pages. 1980. This book describes adaptations suit everybody The is, try out a variety
which can be made to a variety of melody and of sewing machines before buying
rhythr instruments (some of original design) used
in music therapy. Photographs or dra vings are See also CLOTHING, page 62
included with each description
14;
FITNESS
TRAILS
Adams, Ronald, Alfred Daniel and Lee Rtillman
There is d national network of special recrea-
Games, Sports, and Exercises for the Physically tional facilities and "barrier-free" trails
Handicapped. 3rd ed. Lea and Febiger, Phila-
delphia, PA, 1975
designed especially for people with disabilities
For more information on barrier-free trails and
facilities in your area, contact the Forest Ser-
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education vice Field Office nearest you A complete list
and Recreation Testing for Impaired, Disabled and
can be obtained free of charge by writing to
Handicapped Individuals Washington, D C Recreational Staff, USDA Forest Service, PO Box
2417, Washington, DC 20013 Request Forest Ser-
Collingwood, Tom and Robert Carkhuff Get Fit for vice Publication No 13
Living. Human Resource:. Development Press, 22
Amherst Road, Amherst, MA 01002 1976
123 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPEI `rENT LIVING SOURnEBOOK RESNA 1184 123
RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TECHNOLOGY
124
lilt;
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCE111001( RESNA 1154 124
RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TECHNOLOGY
H & H Hagland & Hanses HB Toys and games for blind children are available
Borganasagen 20 from these sources
2-781 31
Borlange, Lweden American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Customer Service Division
Handicapped Children's Tech Services 15 W 16th Street
RFD 2, Box 60B New York, NY 10011
Foster, Rhode Island 02825
American "ranting House for the Blind Incorporated
The Handlers (AMPHBI)
P O. Box 13178 1839 Frankfort Avenue
Tucson, Arizona 85732 P 0 Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206
TOY LIBRARIES
The Adnel and Evelyn Harris Toy Library The film follows the real experiences of eight
for Handicapped Children children discovering their local Lekotek Two
United Cerebral Palsy of Westchester centers are features, one in Baerum, Norway, and
David G Osterer Cerebral Palsy Center the other, the first American Lekotek, in
King Street & Lincoln Avenue Evanston, Illinois
Town of Rye, NY
1914) 937-3300 The 28-minute film won the Blue Ribbon in Child
Development Films at the 1982 American Film Festi-
Ohio val, a Golden Eagle from CINE, and second place in
the Programs and Facilities category at the Sixth
Mentor Public Library International Rehabilitation Film Festival Dis-
8215 Mentor Avenue tributed by Filmedia Limited, the color film is
Mentor, OH 44060 available in 16mm or videocassette for sale or
rental For further information, contact Filmedia
Ms Helen L Orringer Limited, 1201 W Chase Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626
2151 Evansdale Avenue
Toledo, OH 43607 The address for the Lekotek in Evanston is
Lekotek, 613 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL 60201,
Toy Library for Special Children 312/328-0007
Cincinnati Center for Developmental
Disabilities Although it is not a lending library, The Able
Children's Hospital Medical Center Child (154 Chambers Street, New York NY 10007) has
Cincinnati, OH 45229 a wheelchair-accessible play area and professional
513/559-4626 advisors to select toys and play equipment TAC
is a resource center with aids for all ages Free
catalog
"Adapted Games and Developmental Motor Activities larger mu cle groups Games can be played with a
for Children" Michael Mersa llo, MA. and Dennis minimum of equipment Activities are grouped in
Vacante, MA, 4608 Exeter Street, Annandale, VA order of difficulty and include learning games
22003. $8 50
Excellent drawings supplement the text Extensive
bibliography
"Adapting Audio/Video Games for Handicapped
Learners" Teaching Exceptional Children Part The Good Toy Guide The Toy Library Association,
I V t 14, #2, November 1981.
Part II Vol 14, Potter's Bar, Herts, England ENG 2AB 1980
#3, December 1981 Single copy available from
Council for Exceptional Children, 1920 Association Guidelines for Adapting Battery Operated Toys
Drive, Reston, .'A 22091 $3 50 The material Revised 1982 Jayne Higgins The 25 page booklet
for these articles is excerpted from Audio/Visual includes procedures and materials for making a
Games for Severely Handicapped Learners Possibi- pillow switch, touch panel switch, and on-off
lities and Simple Adaptations by Karen Hughes, switch Toy to in-line jack procedures are also
produced by the National Media Materials Center given which permits easy and immediate interchange
for Severely Handicapped Persons Part II fea- of different switches to the toy
tures special adaptive equipment checklists for Step-by-step
illustrated instructions are included as well as
adaptations that need to be mado, suggestions for information on common pitfalls and problems In-
do-it-yourself projects, and more profiles of toys formation on where to obtain materials and toys
and games
through nation wide stores is included (i e Sears
catalog, Radio Shack catalog) All switches are
"Adapting Toys for Children with Disabilities" relatively inexpensive to make ($2 00-$5 00)
The Exceptional Parent Celia Schoeffler with Available from
Sandra Brooks Cal,fornia Avenue School, Jayne
August, 1982 Higgins, Speech Pathologist, 215 W California
Avenue. Vista. CA 92083 $3 00
"Adaptive Controllers for Video Games and Com-
puters." Ken S Yankelevitz Proceedings of the Homemade Innovative Play Equipment for Activities
Sixth Annual Conference on Rehabilitation Engi- in Physical Education and Recreation for Impaired,
neering, San Diego Available from RESNA. Suite Disabled and Handicapped Participants 1973
402, 4405 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814 Available from Council on Exceptional Children,
1983
1920 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia
Choosing Toys and Activities for Handicapped Guide to Mattel Toys for Parents of the Visually
Children Jill Norris Toy Libraries Associa-
Handicapped Child Write to Toys for Special
tion, Seabrook House, Wyllyotts Mancr, Darkes Children, Mattel Toys Division of Mattel, 5150
Lane, Potters Bar, Herts, England ENC 2AB 1974 Rosecrans Avenue MS504, Hawthorn, CA E 250
"Communication Outlook" Artificial Language Lab- Hear end Say .,ys for Children with Hearing,
oratory, Computer Science Department, Michigan Speech and Language Difficulties Susan Knowles
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 Noah's Ark Publication Available from Toy Lib-
Communication Outlook is a quarterly newsletter raries Association, Herts, England 1978
addressed to the community of individuals inter-
ested in the application of technology to the Homemade Battery Powered Toys and Educational
needs of persons who experience communication Devices for Severely Handicapped Children, Second
handicaps due to neurological or neuromuscular edition Linda Burkhart, 8315 Potomac Avenue,
conditions Communication Outlook is edited and
College Park, MD 20740 50 pages $5 00 plus
published jointly by the Artificial Language Lab- $1 00 postage and handling 1982 This book
oratory, Michigan State University and the TRACE gives simple directions for constructing toys and
Center for the Severely Communicatively Handi- switches that can be easily operated by severely
capped, University of Wisconsin It is the prin- and profoundly handicapped children No special
cipal publication of ISAAC Subscriptions are $10 skills are needed to make them All supplies can
($12 outside North Americal Subscriptions are be fount around the house or purchased inexpen-
for whole volumes (4 issues) Single copies are sively at local stores
available for $3 00
One example is a head
control switch The materials cost about $2 50
and takes about half an hour to construct The
"Instructions for Constructing a Large Area Flap switch is attached to the child's head with a
Switch (AFS) to Allow Disabled Children to Con- barrette and plugged into a toy or tape recorder
trol Battery Operated Toys" G Fraser Sham When the child lifts his or her head, the music or
Biofeedback Research Project, Rehabilitation Engi- toy turns on, thus giving the child a reason to
neering Department, Ontario Crippled Children's lift their head This book has a wide range of
Centre, 350 Rumsey Road, Toronto, Ontario M4G 1R8 applications and should be useful to parents,
Canada. November 1980 teachers, specialists of vision, hearing, speech,
physical and occupational therapists and other
Educational Games for Physicanv Handicapped friends of me 1,andicapped
Children Crotty and Breen Available from Fred
Sammons, Inc, Box 32, Brookfield , IL 60513 Makiny Toys for Handicapped Children Roy
Love Publishc,,g Company, 1777 South Bellaire McCorkey and Dorothy Jeffree Human Horizons
Street, Denver, CO 80222, $4 93 A 90-page Series, Souvenir Press Ltd, 43 Great Russell
booklet of recreational games which involve the 1 A Street, London, England ISM Provides parent
14V
129 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 1984 129
RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TECHNOLOGY
and teachers with simple instruction on ho,, to The book is divided into two sections The equip-
make toys especially designed to stimulate the ment section includes materials and instructions
development of mentally and phrtanally handicapped needed for roak.ng eq..uprnent The adaptat.olii
children Photographs and drawings illustrate the section tells how to make special measurements and
construction of each toy, and accompanying sugges- changes in design for a particular child's needs
tions show how to use each toy for maximum benefit The materials used to construct the equipment are
to the child This is an excellent book on making principally wood, cloth and plastic
and using low-cost toys
Toys for the Physically Handicapped Child
Let Me Play Dorothy Jeffree, Roy Mc Co, key and Margret Beesley Augmentative Communication Ser-
Simon Hewson Souvenir Press, London, England vice, Ontario, Canada 1982 Available from
1977 Toys for the Physically Handicapped Chid, 53
Fairmeadow Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario M2P 1W8,
Let's Play Gamest National Easter Seal Society CANADA
for Crippled Children and Adults, 2023 W Ogden
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60612 Toys Help A Guide To Choosing Toys For Handi-
capped Children Canadian Association Toy Lib-
"Making Toys Accessible" Communication Outlook, raries, 1207-50 Quebec Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Vol 2, No. 1, September, 1979 Barry Romich, Canada M6P 4B4 $7 00 1981 Toys Help is a
Prentke Romich Company, 8769 Township Road 513, five-part information kit which introduces the
Shreve, Ohio 44676 therapeutic and educational uses of toys and also
offers the basic information needed to set up a
Meeting the Needs of the Handicapped A Resource toy/play based therapeutic project The kit con-
for Teachers and Librarians C H Thomas and J L tains a rationale and model for conceptually
Thomas, editors. Oryx Press, Phoenix, AZ 440 understanding toy-based therapy (unit 1), criteria
pages. 1981 for selecting potentially beneficial toys (unit
More Homemade Battery Devices for Severely Handi- 21, a chart listing 100 toys and their uses (unit
3), administrative and practical suggestions for
capped Children with Suggested Activities Linda
Burkhart, 8315 Potomac Avenue, College Park, MD the storage and cataloging of toys, including
20740 $12 50 1982 A continuation of the
basic information for starting a toy library (unit
4), and a number of suggestions for modifying
first book. Includes a section on suggested acti-
vities for incorporating these devices into the commercially available toys (ur.'t 5) Also in-
child's program cluded are the titles of several books art-
icles, names and addresses of tov suppliers ai.:1
No Cost, Low Cost Playthings Toys for Fun and agencies or organizations involved with and in-
Learning Demonstration and Research Center for terested in helping children through the use of
Early Education, John F Kennedy Center for Re- toys
search on Human Development, George Peabody Col-
lege, Nashville, TN 37203 The Use of Current Technology in the Design and
Construction of Simple Inexpensive Teacher Made
PAM Repeater "Toys-Toys-Toys and Learning " Response-Contingent Educational Materials for the
Maurine Otos, State Coordinator of Deaf-Blind Severely and Profoundly Handicapped Population
Services, Oregon School for the Blind PAM Chris E Wethered 1978 Master's Thesis, Uni-
Repeater is published by the PAM Assistance versity of Miami Available from Chris
Centre, 601 Maple, Lansing, Michigan Wethered, c/o University of Tennessee, Rehabilita-
tion Engineering Center, 1248 La Palorna, Memphis,
TN
Title unknown, "A publication with directions for
making simple toys from scrap and recycled items
Touch Toys, Inc, 303 Ritchie Highway, Rockville, "The Value of Toys" Communication Outlook, April
MD 20862 $3 00 1981, Vol 3 Number 1 Howard C Shane, Ph 0,
The Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston,
MA
Toy Adaptation Chris Wethered Available from
Canadian Association of Toy Libraries, 50 Quebec
Avenue, Suite 1207, Toronto, Ontario M6P 4B4 Wobble Switch Toy Control Switch A Do It Yourself
Guide Ben Brown 1980 3 pages Available
Canada 14 pages June 1979 Basic information
'waded to adapt battery-operated toys for activa- from TRACE Center, University of Wisconsin,
tion by disabled children Madison, WI 53705
PLAYGROUNDS
150
131 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 19114 131
Technology for
Personal Mobility
151
TECMPP`LOGY FOli PERSONAL MOBILITY 135
INTRODUCTION 156
THE FUNCTION OF A WHEELCHAIR Cl!-HION 156
PRESSURE RELIEF 157
POSTURAL SEATING 159
A BRIEF GUIDE TO POSTURAL SEATING TECHNOLOGY 159
SEATING SERVICE PROGRAMS 164
COMMERCIAL SOURCES 166
SIDE -BY -SIDE TRIALS 170
PUBLICATIONS 172
BIBLIOGRAPHY 173
AUDIOVISUALS 178
INTRODUCTION 179
HINTS ON OPERATING A SUCCESSFUL DRIVER EDUCATION PRGGRAM '79
ASSOCIATION OF DRIVER EDUCATORS FOR THE DISABLED 180
DRIVING EVALUATION FORMS 181
EQUIPMAT RECOMMENDATION FORM 185
CAR SELECTION AND PURCHASE 185
GUIDE TO THE USE HAND CONTROLS AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES 186
OTHER RESOURCES PUBLICATIONS AND AUDIOVISUALS 187
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 189
15
General
Rating System
The rating system allows for comparing performance in certain areas such as
posture and mobility in a single product or comparing one area in many pro-
ducts in a quantitative manner The novice may have difficulty rating
certain items, such as maintenance or durability, but the form may be used
as a guide to obtaining systematic information from experienced users
In general, the comments section should explain why the rating was given,
what equipment features or modifications affect the functii, or conditions
required for the device to work
The instructions for the rating sheets explain each item and provide sug-
gestions for comments The user may choose to use or ignore these recom-
mendations However, the usefulness of the form depends on the quality of
the comments made on the form by the evaluator
) ,)
Clearfield, D Medical Devices and Equipment for (ration Prosthetics Center, Clinical Evaluation
the Disabled. ,An Examination Disability Rights Service, Castle Point, New York Undated copy
Center, Washington, D C 1976 This paper dis- This article reviewed the design six w!eel-
cussed the safety, cost and consumer satisfaction chairs with respect to weight, rontrols, trans-
of medical equipment A case study of the wheel- fers, and user reactions Pictures of all six
chair industry mentioned problems seen by users chin _ .a use are included
which includes durability, cost, fit, weight, and
repairs. Stout G "Sorne Aspects of High Performance In-
door/Outdoot Wheelchairs" Bull Prosth Res
Clinical, Engineering and Work Related Evaluation BPR-10-32 pp 135-175, Fall, 1979 This article
of Stationary Stand-up Frames and Stand- Jp Frames studied the performance of electric wheelchairs in
and Stand-Up Wheelchair for the Disabled terms of stability, speed, wheel size, brakes,
Research Project #R-115 New York University controls, height, end folding and reclining
Research and Training Center Annual Report, pp features
57-69, 1979-1980 This project examined the La
Berne Gearlift Stand-In Table and LZVO Stand-Up Team Assessment of Device Effectiveness A Retro-
Wheelchair in terms of the assistance needed to spective Study Children's Hospital at Stanford,
use, pressum exerted by straps or structures, Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Palo Alto, CA
tolerance, and user reaction Balance, stability, October 1980 This evaluation considered changes
mobility, and adjustability were also considered in life style, daily use, life span, effective-
ness, and cost of devices Functional, psycho-
Enders, S "Draft Proposal for Wheelchair Evalua- social and environmental need of the user are
tion for the Veterans Administration Prosthetic stressed. Fifteen aspects of good equipment are
Center, New York" Center for Independent Living, also included
Equipment Evaluation Program, Berkeley (his
draft provided a list of characteristics of equip- V PC Evaluations of Mobility Aids Past, Present
ment to be examined Points often overlooked in sncl Future Veterans Administration Prosthetics
other critiques included restraints, transfer Center, New York, July 1978 Pictures, short de-
access, disengagement of the po source and scriptions, and findings concerning safety and
drive, instructions provided, prescriptive indica- merits of further examination of some mobility
tions, comparison to previous equipment, and how aids are included iNiu explanations of "standards
it is secured for transport of acceptability" were given
Fenwick, D Wheelchairs and Then Users Her Vash, C L "Psychosocial and Learning Considera-
Majesty's Stationary Office, London, 1977 The tion in using Mobility Systems" Mobility for
National Health Service interviewed wheelchair Spinal Cord Impaired People, pp 136-145 (See
users in England and Wales to determine user demo- Hotchkiss) National Research Council, Washington,
graphics, disabilities, equipment use, and satis- D C 1975 This speaker addressed mobility about
faction with the equipment and service The the home, neighborhood, and beyond Issues of
interview questionnaire was included cost, versatility, cosmesis, safety, and private
and public transportation were considered
Grail, T B A Feasibility Study of Product Testing
and Reporting for Handicapped Consumers Con-
sumers Union of the United States Inc., Mount
Vernon, NY March 1979 The study was designed to
show the need and marketability of product evalua-
tions for handicapped consumers Some consumer
concerns often overlooked by designers included
durability, utility, ease of use, and repairs-
cost, part availability, and service agent compe-
tence Rehabilitation professionals also wanted
safety information
DESCRIPTION
DEVICE
Frame
Wheels, Front
Back
Rims
Brakes
Arm rests
Foot rests
Battery
Charger
Controls
Other equipment
Dimension In use
Weight Total
Heaviest piece
Cost
Special functions
DESCRIPTION
Introduction
The following suggestions are examples of the variety of styles and helpful
information that may be considered in the description of a wheelchair
This section will coTitain shat phrases to describe iim alit features such
as materials used, actions, and whether it is standarrt or optional The
addition of a photograph is very helpful and highly recommended
Seat and Back solid seat, sling seat, zippered back, detachable back,
vinyl, cloth, contoured, modular, one piece, include type of cushion used
Arm Rests part of frame, detachable, adjustable, flared, desk style, 11111
length, padded, skirt guards
Wheels front or back wheel drive, dimensions (width and diameter), solid
pneumatic, sernipnetimatic tires, type of tread free wheeling casters,
spokes
Other Equipment list may include straps, pads, head rest, trays, crutch
holders, other options
JEVICE.
Performance
Rating Comments
low high
MOBILITY
Indoors NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Outdcors NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Uneven terrain NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Ramps NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Curbs NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Distance NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Maneuverability NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
POSTURAL SUPPORT
Maintains posture NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Prevents deformities NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Changes position NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
DAILY USE
Access to other
equipment NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
ADAPTABILITY
Adjustable parts NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Different disabilitiec NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
I":- i ,
MOBILITY
Outdoors Concrete sidewalks, asphalt road, dirt, and grass are common
surfaces that need to be accessible
Uneven Terrain Consider uneven sidewalks, thick rugs, sand, gravel, hills,
and small obstacles
Distance Any limits and the limiting factor (user, battery, or terrain)
should be noted Example: goes from room to room, works on linoleum only
POSTURAL SUPPORT
Support Body and Its Parts Support should be neither inadequate nor too
restraining Indicate whether special pads, straps, or shaping is neces-
sary to achieve sufficient support
Maintains Posture The device should not give way under pressure or need
constant readjust ncnts
DAILY USE
Comfort This function implies a good fit is possible The device should
not cause pain or discomfort
Ease of Transfer Again, consider whether the user and/or any assistants
find the device easy to get in and out of
Access to Tables Tables should be within reach as the chair faces it
Special table height requirements should be noted
ADAPTABILITY
FUNCTION
DEVICE
Performance
Rating Comments
low high
TRANSPORT
Into van NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Distance NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
SAFETY
Stationary NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
In Motion NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Inclement Weather NA 0 1 2 3 45
Eleor.,:al System NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
DURABILITY
Expected lifetime NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Upholstery NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Frame NA 0 1 2 3 45
Attachmdnts NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Power system NA 0 1 2 3 45
MAINTENANCE
Washable NA 0 1 2 3 45
Repair frequency NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
Repair costs NA 0 1 2 3 45
Downtime NA 0 1 2 3 4 5
APPEARANCE I NA 0 1 2 3 45
SPECIAL FEATURES I NA 0 1 2 3 45
l
1
Evaluated by
I )v
141 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 141
MOBILITY DEVICES
TRANSPORT
Into Car Unassisted Higher score if a user can get the aid in and out
with no help quickly and Easily Indicate the smallest car that will
accommodate the user and device
Into Car with Assistance Ind,cate how much help is required and car size
Into Van Specify special tie-downs to secure device safely for transport
and whether the user remains in or gets out of the chair while traveling
The height of the user in the chair may influence the head room required
Use Public Transportation Will equipment fit on bus, train, plane, etc 7
What special equipment (e g, lifts) will be needed'?
Can Be Carried Upstairs This item is included tor devices which cannot
climb or descend stairs or where no ramps or elevators are available
Consider the number of assistants required and whether the user is in or
out of seat (This characteristic may be important for safety in emergencies
SAFETY
Stationary The device should not tip over, rock, or be easily pushed off
balance The brakes should hold well
Inclement Weather Consider safety in wind, rain, snow, ice, heat, cold
DURABILITY
Power System Consider which parts last throughout the life, how often
batteries need charging and replacement
MAINTENANCE
Repair Costs The expense will also be affected by who is performing the
repair user, friend, vendor, bicycle shop, distant manufacturer Item
which requires most repairs or most expensive repairs may be useful to
note Average annual costs may also be informative
Downtime This concept includes how long repairs take in which the aid is
unavailable, and how often this occurs
SPECIAL FEATURES Space is allowed for listing any significant feature not
previously mentioned Remember to specify what is being rated
1 J
142 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 142
MOBILITY DEVICES
SUMMARY
Device Date
Brief description
Overall impression
Advantages
Disadvantages
Appropriate users
Availability
Evaluated by
Date 16
143 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA W84 143
MOBILITY DEVICES
SUMMARY
TWs section condenses the information obtained from the rating sheets and
can be used for quick referencing of important features A brief descrip-
tion may cover appearance and function of the device, e g "battery
powered, contour customized wheelchair can mount most curbs" The overall
imprecsion should include whether the device works well or not and under
what circumstances The evaluator may find a listing of the device's
performance for each broad function on the rating sheets helpful Specific
pleasures or aggravations can be listed under advanta3es and disadvantages
The appropriate users section may list the types of disabilities or the
functional abilities of people who may use this device (Example For
users with good upper exf-emity and trunk strength and control)
The section for availability allows space for information concerning the
manufacturer, vendor, repair facilities, and the time for delivery
1 --
1 ft) J
For reasons of energy output and cost per unit lated area Once the battery is overcharged.
weight, the lead-acid battery remains the battery immediately fill the electrolyte level up to a
of choice According to David Bayer, at least 50% little over the plate tops using DISTILLED
of all problems with powered wheelchairs are bat- WATER ONLY
tery-related He g'ves the following "dos and
don'ts" of battery choice and care NOTE Overcharging in a small, unventilated room
may pose an explosion hazard
The Right Battery
Battery Connections
1 If possible, use a rechargeable lead-acid bat-
tery designed for deepcycling 1All battery connection should be inspected
monthly and maintained in a corrosion-free state
2. Avoid those batteries which arm advertised as
having these design features 2 Clean up all wet spots or spills around the
battery as they occur Wash liberally with water
"Improved cold-start performance" le g, DIE-HARD and dry
and similarly advertised units)
3 At least once every 6 months, remove the bat-
"Maintenance-free," which generally lack filler tery lug clamps and all connections at the battery
caps to permit inspection and replenishing of terminals, thoroughly clean, and reassemble
electrolyte levels
NOTE It useful to carefully document all con-
3 If you must use a gel-cell battery (because of nections before disconnecting them
air travel requirements) avoid continuous use on a
regular basis. Use a charger designed specifi- 4 If connection hardware is damaged due to cor-
cally for the gel-cell rosion or physical abuse, replace it
4 In the instance where deep-cycle batteries are Batteries -- Handling and Your Health
not available, use conventional automobile lead-
acid batteries which have filler caps and long 1 Lead-acid batteries contain sulfuric acid which
warranty periods (2-4 years) Even though It may has damaging effects on metals, cloth, skin,
not be honored, the longer warranty is indicative muscle, and fatty tissue When in contact with
of larger capacity, i.e, a longer operating skin, it may cause a burning sensation (if sensory
period before recharging is necessary, thus avoid nerves are intact) Thus, it should be washed off
deep cycling. skin and clothing immediately with liberal amounts
of water
5 If possible, avoid frequent or deep cycling of
your battery Deep cycling occurs when you use 2 After washing ;Iberally with water, then taste
most of your battery's capacity before recharging (lick) affected st'in or c.0th surfaces in order to
it assure yourself of complete removal of the sul-
furic acid Diluted sulfuric acid will have a
Charging the Battery vinegar taste and is harmless internally
1 Do not use automatic (so-called "smart") NOTE In the event of more than a minor burn
chargers for conventional auto-style or deep-cycle especially in the case of a disabled individual,
lead-acid batteries The "smart" charger ap- consult a doctor immediately
proach, though, is recommended in the case of gel-
cell batteries 3 Since individuals with spinal cord injuries rnay
not have the benefit of sensation of pain to warn
2. Make a regular habit of recharging your battery them of acid, take all necessary measures to keep
nightly it away from their presence, I e, skin and
clothing
3 A rechargeable duration in proportion to the
amount of driving during the day is appropriate 4 Baking coda is helpful in neutralizing acid in
A charger with a timer shut-oh is helpful Since cases where you cannot be assured of washing it
different chargers will charge at various rates away entirely However, do not use baking soda as
and wheelchairs consume power at differing rates, a substitute for a thorough withal washing with
there is not a specific "charge to use" ratio water
which can be recommended for all wheelchairs
from "Batteries on Powered Wheelchairs The Do's
4. Approximately once every 1-2 weeks, intention- and Don'ts of Battery Care" Reprinted from Cur-
ally overcharge your battery for 6-12 hours beyond rent Expressions, Vol 1, No 1, 1981, the news-
the normal charging time The actual overcharging letter of Prentke 7.ornsch Company, 8769 Township
begins when the ammeter on the battery charger Road 513, Shreve OH 44676 Mr Bayer can be
reads one-fourth (1/4) to one-tenth (1/10) of its contacted at Du -It Controls in Shreve, OH
initial charge rate, i.e. typically one ampere or
less. During this time many battery cells will
bublie vigorously and emit hydrogen and oxygen
Overcharging should take place in a well-venti-
Equipment for the Disabled Wheelchairs (Fifth "Audiovisual materials have been developed o
Edition) Edited by GM Cochrane and E R cover the inspection and maintenance aspects
Wilshere Oxfordshire Health Authority 2 Fore- wheelchair maintenance The material includes
down Drive, Pos:slade, Brighton, BN4 2BB, England tape cassettes, slide or videotape visuals, an
1983 103 pages, figure_ photos L7 50 The instructor', wide, and a participant's manual
book provides worthwhile guidelines on wheelchair Although the mateilai s for group presentation,
selection for anyone anywhere In focusing on it could also be helpfu' individual In
specific brands and listing wheelchair and acces- particular, the Participant's Manual summarizes
sory sources, the book becomes somewhat less use- information presented by the A/Vs, and s excel-
ful to these outside of Britain Lay-out is well lent for reziew The AiV material is titled
done and the pictures/drawings are often helpful Wheelchair Maintenance A Stitch in Time It is
also available from the Center for Occupational
Functional Wheels AG Gams Dept of Rehabi- Curriculum Development, Division of Continuing
litation, 830 K Street, :-.acramento, CA 95814 Education, Post Offii_e Box 7218, The University of
1980 73 pages Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712"
The Professional Wheelchair Contact Invacare, Street Wheeling Ma aal Metropolitan LIL, 1728
Inc Elyria Ohio 1980 University Avenue, ct Paul, MN 55104
A Stitch in Time Wheelchair Maintenance and Things to Consider When Buying or Renting a Wheel-
Repair Jere Gandolf Burns Center for Occupa- chair Pocket Catalog No 3 Everest & Jennings,
tional Curriculum Development, PO Box 7218,
Inc, 3233 East Mission Oaks Blvd, Camarillo, tion Robert Sine, MD, editor Aspen Systems
California 93010 805/987-8911 1976 Corporation, Rockville, MD 1981
Wheelchair Maintenance and Sim-r.- Repz.-.: Carol A wharilohair User's Manual for People with Spinal
Nordstrom, RPT Physical Therapy Department, Cord Injury Bruce Blasch, Mobility Training
Woodrow Wilson Rehabili^at.on Center, Fishers- Project, 1981 Available from the author, Weisman
ville, VA Center, University of W.sconsin-Madison, Madison,
WI 53705
Wheelchair Maintenance for the Non-mechanical
Consumer Allied Resources Ce ,er for Oil Handi- See also references in Mobility Device Evaluation
capped, Inc, Utica, NY 1980 Consumer-oriented Guide, and Sports Wheelchairs, SPORTS
publication with diagrams and descriptions of
preventive maintenance and repair procedures for
wheelchairs AUDIOVISUALS
"Wheelchair Management Developing a System for I've Got Wheels Brian Line and Nick Dance
Long Term Care Facilities" The J Long Term Care Available from Dance/Line Films, LeCourt, Liss,
Administration, Vol VIII #2, June, 1920 Hampshire, England 3/4" videocassette, color, 20
minutes 1979 illustrates how correct equipment
Wheelchair Management Guidelines C Epstein and a.wironment can provide access to a wheel-
Occupational Therapy Consultants, Inc, 19 South chair-bound person
Bridge Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 This 40-
page guide provides an overview and methodology A New Freedom Amigo Sales, li- q693 Dixie
for the systematic management of wheelchairs in an Highway, Bridgeport, MI 48722 ' color, 10-
institutional setting The author presents a 1/2 minutes 1979 Demonstrates now the A /11GO
rationale for developing the system, describes the wheelchair is helping several individual.; overcome
implementation and presents specific policies and their physical disabilities
procedures to set the system in place Forms and
coding key are included Power Wheelchairs When, How, Why Suzanne Elaine
Bennethum OTR, Dorothy Pezenik, OTR, Charlene
Wheelchair Prescriptions Everest & Jennings, Butler, Ed D , and Susan Harris, RPT, PhD
Inc, East Mission Oaks Blvd, Camarillo, CA Everest & J ,,, 3233 East Mission Oaks Blvd,
93010 WA/987-8911 1976 Booklet 1 Measur- Camarillo, CA 93010, 805/987-8911 1984 Call
ing the Patient, Booklet 2 Wheelchair Selection, your Everest & Jennings representative for a free
Booklet ? Safety and Handling, Booklet 4 Care screening at your facility Factity screenings
and Service 1,..:1,de information booklets
Instrament Components Co
7239 Industrial Park
Mentor, OH 44060
Invacare Corpc,ation
1200 Taylor Street
Elyria, OH 44035
Kimed Industries
11 Brt,zdwly 1
New York, NY 10004
NIHR-supported research
Rehabilitation R&D
Mail Stop 153
Veterans Administration Medical Center
3801 Miranda
Palo Alto, CA
415/493-5000, x 5465
Larry Leifer, Ph D, project director
Discussion
1 7,,
The result, in major problems like pressure sores, 'Feiodson-Pell has written that The primary
is that the mass of knowledge about pressure on function of a wheelchair cushion is to provide an
tissue grows and grows, and th. actual management effective platform from which the patient may
of the problem is almost unaffected, or may be operate It is remarkably difficult for a patient
getting worse, nationwide to work at a table or bench, or for him to propel
a wheelchair, if the slung seat normally supplied
"Because of the multitude of uncontrollable vari- is his only support In addition to providing a
ables in the life of a series of hospital pa- stable seat, the wheelchair cushion improves com-
tients, and because of the larger variety of fort, aids posture and reduces the transmission of
variables in the home environment, most clinical shock during propulsion over uneven surfaces
scientists shy away from any attempt to evaluate Wheelchair cushions are &so provided to aid the
total programs They know they will be dissatis- patient when transferricg to other support sur-
fied with the objectivity and validity of their faces, and, for a relatively small proportion of
findings and they know they will be torn to wheelchair users, the wheelchair cushion provides
pieces by pure scientists and reviewers a vital function by reducing local concentration
of stress in tissues to prevent tissue ulcera
we need to look straight at the goal of tion'
prevention of pressw e sores, and recognize that
some of the mnst important objectives on the cri- "Not all these functions apply to every wheelchair
tical path towards tliat goal have escaped serious user and not all cushions fulfill every function
study because of the difficulty of analyzing the Nevertheless, a sling seat would not normaily be
whole life of whole people in terms that fit the cnosen for prolonged sitting It is probable that
requirement of basic scientific research if all patieins were properly assessed, cushions
would be automatically prescribed with most wheel-
Paul W Brand, FRCS chairs unless the were definite contra-
in Journal of Rehabilitation R&D, Vol 20, indications
No 1, 1983, page 73
"People who sit for long periods of time may use
wheelchair cushions on other seats Elderly
It takes a certain amount of courage for a clini- People who spend much of the day in an armchair
cian to disseminate info,. tion about his /pier may benefit from a wheelchair cushion, both to add
reproaches to seating Nonetheless, publications to their comfort and to prevent tissue damage
of clinical usefulness are beginning to appear Cushions are used by people with gynecological
They will be noted in this section problems, prostate gland problems, post-
hemorrhoidectomies and Whoa lesions of this area
particularly during travel and in recreational
17
156 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOUNCE11001I PIMA 1104 156
MOBILITY DEVICES
They are used by people who are unduly sensitive "The most commonly cited causes of pressure. sores
to pressure in the region of the sciatic nerve and included
by people who are underweight or have gluteal
musule wasting who find sitting without a swami, P.01,,,,yud smut during ()any acted ties,
cushion too uncomfortable They are also used by activities such as card playpIg and video games
hemophiliacs to reduce the likelihood of duma
2 Use of old deteriorated wheelchair cushions
from Choosing Or; Best Wheelchair Cushion for your
needs, your chair, and your lifestyle Peggy Jay, 3 Activities that involve sitting on uncushtoned
Dip COT,SROY The Royal Association for Disabi- areas such as a bathtub or sitting on a floor to
lity and Rehabilitaton, 25 Mortimer Street, London play with ioung members of the family
W1N 8A8. Revised edition, 1984 Also available
from RESNA, Suite 402, 4405 East-West Highway, 4 Falls while transferring from a wheelchair or
Bethesda, MD 20814, 301/657-4142 bed
Choosing_ the best Whee!ch?ir Cus"non fri.r your and n considerable detail practical mit ;sures
needs, your c'eair and your lifestyle Peggy Jay which may be undertaken by rehabilitation workers
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabill- and disabled individuals to reduce the risk of
tatron (RADAR), 25 Mortimer Street, London WIN this complication to an absolute minimum The
8AB, England 203 pages L5 1984 monograph concludes with an analysis of the cli-
nical results of the prevention program advocated,
"Peggy Jay, a British occupational therapist, has drawing from the experience of Royal Perth Rehabi-
written an excellent book which brings some sense litation Hospital over the decade 1970-1979,
of organs tation to the irformation currently complete with a detailed estimate of its cost
available in the wheelchair cusnion area The effectiveness An attempt is made throughout to
book was prepared as part of the Aidt. Assessment base all discussion upon the pooled experience of
Programme which the English government finances ir many rehabilitation centers throughout the world
order to assess a range of aids in a practical through repeated reference io the published
way, as distinguished from the more scientific literatore, however, the practical and statistical
evaluation nece_ -y when undertaking a research aspects o' this work are essentially drawn from
project experiences in Western Australia Contents
incluoe basic data on pressure sores as a compli-
Information about wheelchair cushions was compiled cation of spinal cord injury, etiological factors
from four different sources associared with pressure sores, practical measures
for the prevention of pressure sores, the costs
1 Experts in this field, including bioengineers, and benefits of a clinical pressure management
therapists and doctors, were asked for information program, the need for research and service in
about wheelchair cushioning oressure sore prevention
2 Suppliers of t ushions were invited to the hos- Wheelchair Posture and Pressure Sores Dennis
pital to demonstrate their cushions Zacharkow, R P T Charles C Thomas, Publisher,
Springfield, II 1984 98 pages
3 Gel, water, air and the more comolicated foam
cushions were pui,:hased and tried out by a variety The author of this book explores wheelchair sit-
of wheelchair users ting posture as a major etiologic factor in pres-
sure sore formation Following an introduction on
4 A field study covering 45 people provided more the prealence and medical expense of pressure
information about cushion useage and spanned a sores amlng the spiral cora injured, chapters
longer cushion life than was possible on a cushion detail prr,er sitting posture for able-bodied
trial individuals, inherent proLlems with the wheelchair
as a seat, essential modifications for proper
This book does have some minor drawbacks for sitting posture, pelvic obliquity ar d pressure
North American readers Since she is writing from sores, wheelchair cushion selection, acute care
a British perspectw-:, price and availability considerations, and pressure sore recurrences
information refer to British prices and British The application of posturing principles to other
suppliers However, with the information that is pa.ient populations concludes the t.'xt"
provided about each cushion, however dimen
sions, composition, advantages and disadvantages
a North American reader would have little dif- PRGTECTIVE AIDS
ficulty in locating a particular cushion Even
relatively recent additions to the marketplace Assistive and Protective Devices for the Handi-
such as the VASIO-PARA cushion and the low profile capped M J Martin (editor) Georgia Retarrta-
Roho are included in this volume tion Center, 4770 North Peachtree Road, NE,
Atlanta GA 30338 July 1981 This manual pro-
The Prevention of Pressure Sores in Persons with vides eract cal information on a selection of
Solna! Cord Injuries Philip C Noble Monograph adaptive and protective devices such as helmets,
No 11 Available from Worlil Rehabilitation eye protectors, rnittss, protective gloy_s, elbow
Fund, Inc , International Exchango of Information restraints, pelvic supports, etc
in Rehabilitation Program 400 Ea 34th Strew
New Yark, NY 10016 A Resource Guide to Protective Aids J Frank, K
Mallik, W Chiu, arm Lowry Job Development Lab-
Although the subject o' pressure sores has been oratory, The George Washington University, 2300
welt canvassed in the nursing and rehabilitation Eye Street NW Suite 420, Washington, DC 20037
literature, in terms of techniques for management Protective aids are listed according to the part
and resolution of established ulceration, the of the body to lie protected and the type of pro-
theme of pressure sore prevention has general', tection required Includes helmets, restraints
been neglected This is particularly true in the and supports, slings and splints, pressure relief
case of the independent "rehabilitated" paraplegic and skin protection Lists manufacturers and
or quadriplegic for whom pressure sores are a suppliers
constant threat to continued independence in the
home, workplace, and on the sports field This
monograph explains, with a practical inclination, See also Beds, page 57
the magnitude of the "pressure sore problems," the
scientific basis of this form of skin ulceration,
POSTURAL SEATING
"Cper-iAlized °_eating and mobility services for Finelly, the plywood itself can give .,cc
children and adolescents has become a clinical splinters, absorb flnids, and add excess weight to
reality in increasing numbers of facilities during the seat
the past decade More and more professionals are
recognizing the positive contributions that can be 4 More Information A good brochure entitled
made to the lives of these individuals through the "Technical Aspects of Cerebral Palsy Seating and
Judicious provision of appropriate seating and Terms' was prepared by the Rehabilitation Engi
mobility technology Commercial suppliers are neer-mg Department, Ontario Crippled Children s
also responding to this awakening r arket Parti- Centre Toronto, Canada
cularly in the past five years the number of
commercial options available to families and cli- Commercial so ,rces of pre-fabricated plywood foam
nicians has drastrcally increased Current and vinyl inserts (or close variations) include
research efforts suggest that this trend will ERAC, Portland, OR, Raton Company, Rifton, NY,
continue, but with increased emphasis being Kaye Products Durham, NC, Canadian Wheelchair,
focused on the needs of the more severely handi- Ltd , Toronto, Canada, MSC Corporation Detroit
capped" MI, Luxury Liners Arcadia, CA, Mobility Plus
(formerly Mulholland Corporation), Santa Paula
from Preface, Seating for C'.Idren with Cerebral CA (they have a new wheelchair-bas insert
Palsy A Resource Manual E erne Tref ler, Editor system)
ent sizes These are selected by appropriate size The Pogon or MacLaren umbroller-style stroller
(and style, if applicable) and usually positioned should be familiar to most Another fold-up
in a wheelchair on mounting hardware that is also stroller offering less support than a transport
part of the system Thos a perenn117sari ructr.ro (-hair hut more than a en-n-In Ur`r-edq.ed stroller
insert is assembled from stock component , by care- is the Cruiser stroller, made by Convaid of Palos
ful selection and adjustment Verdes California
2 Advantages By utilizing the same modules in For children up to 100 lbs, the Britax car seat
assessment phase as in the final insert, one has a is said to meet British safety standards It is
fairly clear idea of the probable effect of the available through Abbey Medical, or Childsafe
insert Assessment is speeded and largely removed Company (new name Columbia Medical Manufacturing
from the realm of conjecture Prefabrication ed I in Pacific Palisades, California
should allow central production reducing price
per un t, and making the service more widely For automobile travel, infants could be seated in
available by avoiding the necessity of involving any number of safety-tested car seats Larger
very highly specialized people in the fabrication children might use a trunk harness and lapbelt
cf all inserts system offered by the Mothercare Company of
England Another system is manufactured by Safe
In addition to this theory, three reports have 'n' Sound Pty Ltd of Morphettvale (Box 421),
emerged (Tref ler, Tooms, and Hobson, 1978, Nolte, South Australia Strolee of California also manu-
1980, Seeger and Sutherland, 1981) stating the factures a booster seat, and a harness system
success and wide applicability of their systems
3 Non-Insert Trunk Supports The Rut-net( Body
3 Disadvantages If you have to wait for Support is a vest-like bag filled with polystyrene
parts, your p-ogram grinds to a halt The alter- beads When evacuated, the vest becomes nearly
native is to stockpile, which adds to your over rigid It can be molded to different shapes, and
itead is manufactured by Innoventico Products, Ltd of
fiushey, Hertsfordshtre, England They also pro-
This concept does not work for everyone Persons ouce a hand-operated pump for extracting the air
having moderate to severe disabilities are not
generally good candidates, nor are high t^ne, Several companies offer adjustable lateral trunk
profoundly involved individuals with spasticity supports which can be retrofitted to a wheelchair
The SYS pads are available through MED distribu-
The comments above in Section IB3 on durability of tos, who also carry the MED trunk supports Sc.-
plastics are germane medics Company of ,naheim, California produces its
own trunk pads Major catalog supply houses offer
4 More Information The Memphis Insert System different syies ,f adjustable lateral trunk pads
(MPI) is available through MED dealers For
informaton on the Winnipeg work, contact Mr
Michael Forbes, Director, Special Dev -.es Depart- II INDIREC1 CUSHION FABRICATION TECHNIQUES
ment, at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children in
Winnipeg You can correspond with Dr Barry This section will include special fabrication
Seeger at the Regency Park Centre for Physically techniques in which the insert component is not
Handicapped Children in Kilkenny South Australia made directly on the patient's body, but remotely
A modular plastic system for young children is the Nearly all techniques start with a casting, then
Achiever Seat, distributed by G E Miller of proceed to a plaster replica of the anatomy, on
Yonkers, New York Finally, the Gunnell Company which is produced the final insert This casting
of Vassar, Michigan, produces a series of dber- technique is a specialty unto itself, and will be
glas shells (and several other accessories) whi',h presented as such
can be padded and upholstered as needed
Generally, custom fabrication techniques are not
D More Commercial EquIpment invoked unless standard apploi. is have been tried
cr assessed and rejected, usually for reasons of
1 Adapted Wheelchairs There are a number of poor results, high cost, long delivery time, or
wheelchairs which are manufactured with postural all of the above Custom fabrication techniques,
support in mind Some have quite a few adapta direct or indirect, are thus a resource of last
bons, others almost none And, some manufactur- resort in many cases
ers will custom-make parts to your specifications
Adapted wheelchairs include those manufactured by A Plywood Foam, Vinyl Custom Insert
Gendron Archbi. of Ohio, the Avon DeLuxe by
Newton of England, the Postura by Everest and 1 Description Technique is applied as de-
Jennings of Camarillo, California, the Multi scribed in 2 lions IA arid IB, except that more
Position Chair (more of a bed, really), also be emphasis must be put on grinding out the foam to a
Everest & Jennings, the original Mulholland s.,hair, suitable shape
on its own base, and the Hogg Transportation Chair
and the wooden relaxation chair, available through 2 Advantages As before, this can be the
several catalog supply firms cheapest method, when it works This is my pre-
ferred method for making unusual seat components
2 Transport Chairs The original transport It is possible) to provide lateral bolsters to
chair by OrthoKinetics of Wsconsin has been stsbtleze a drifting palls, allow for a leg-
joir.ed by the Safety Travel Company chair, pro- length discrepancy, produce a wedged or stepped
duced in Elyria, Ohio, and several other brands anterior of seat for pelvic containment and hip
1 7 L,
160 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEVAIDENT LIVING SOURCESOOK NESNA 1164 160
MOBILITY DEVICES
flexion, or provide selecting padding build-up supports affixes to it The back provides a solid
under an oblique pelvis By upht..Isteril.g compo- place to anchor the side trunk pads, and must be
nents separately, and positioning them by bolting thermoformed to accommodate severe spinal de-
to a plastic external shell, one can remove, formities It is not neceFsary for the back to
replace, or adjust the components more easily and come fa- forward on the 'ides of tha tnp-.,, as the
less expensively than if a total seat replacement lateral pads will fulfill the support function
were needed 'here
3 Limitations It can quite difficult to 2Advantages The lateral trunk pads can be
make a cittap total cant- Jck sunoort for the moved, or replaced, without rejectir.; the entire
person wi h a significant toliosis, rotation, rib back Thus, an element of modification s avail-
hump, am so forth Bet, it could be considered able The lateral bolsters should allow the user
fir a oers an with a slight deformity of the back, bet.er natural ventilation by providing less cir-
especially if lateral trunk bolsters are used in cumfere I containment than some other tech-
conjunction (they allow you to provide a shallower niques
cutout by protruding forward to movide the sup-
port c . the sides) 3 Limitations The relative positions of seat
back and bolsters must be noted carefully The
B Trc.drtional Orthotics process is fairly time consuming
An orthosis can be effective in a systei fiJi a 4 Further Information Further information is
wheelchair-using person It can he combined with available from Rick Nolte at the Rehabilitation
a simple insert, where the orthosis prosiaes the Engineering Center Children's Hospital at Stan
structural support to the spine and the insert ford ,n Palo Alto California
supplements the person's balance and secures him
ni the chair An advantage of ortnoses is that E Vacuum FIKat101 (one piece)
they can continue to provide support after the
person he, left the wheelchair, even to the point 1 Description Chailey Heritage, Surrey
of being worn in bed or in the bath England, was one of a few institutions who
pioneered the vacuum-fixation (evacuated bean bag)
C The Gilette Seating Support Orthosis casting technique After producing a plaster
positive of the client from head tc toe if neces-
1Description The Gilette system borrows sary, a seat was thermoformed over the plaster
heavily from standard erthofics practice, and is model A trial fitting established trim and atti-
literally a wheelcna, based orthosis The tude lines A second sheet was ft frmoformed to
patient is cast while prone with hips flexed The produce a more regular exte, or and suitable base
insert is a combination seat-and-b. supoort for interfacing Variations on this large body
which 'ay have a front closing ap and;o: a head cast from bean bag impression method have been
support appended to it reparted t / the University of Vigmia, Tufts New
E igland Medic;.7! Center the Institute of Medit_al
2 AdvantagesBorrowing from orthotics prac- Jhysics in Utrecht, Moss Rehabilitation Center,
tice is a good idea, as this opens op a tremendous Derbyshire Royal Infirmary ad Dundee Limb
potential source of custom iserts Minor adjust- Fitting Center
ments for growth, etc, can be made simply by
heating and flariog the shell An integral seat/ 2 Advantages id Limitations As with many of
back shell made from the casting assures the rela- the 'mpression originated techniques one trades
tive positions are not lost The system is light off speed and low cost for nredictability and
in weight process control with this method As a one-piece
led insert it has the advantage of preserving
3 Limitations As with many custom-made toe relative seat/back ieritation but lacks
orthoses, this seat will have a limited lifespan, somewhat in adeistability Large ones will be
depending upon the growth pattern of the user awkward to naddle (and to make for that m 'tier)
Orthotists providing the insert should be experi- one-piece inserts of ier the hope of use in a non-
enced in seating as well ds orthotics The wheelchair bas which could he handy
casting methed is effective, but it NI II evoke
controversy in the NDT-therapy cammunity when used 3 More Information Consult the following
with cerebral palsied patient publications
4 More Information More information can be Prosthetics and Orthoti s International Cost
found in the article entitled "The Gilette Seating Effective Molded Seating for the Handicapped
Orthosis" by Martin Carlson and Robert Winter Child, NicOuilton and Johnson, 1981 Melded Sup-
Orthotics and Prosthetics December 1978, or you portive Seating f.a. the Disabled, Rona, Nelham,
can write to the cothors at Gilette Children's and Person, 1978, Vol 2
Hospital in St Paul, Minnesota A central fabri-
cation service is available through Symplex A Method for Custom Seating of the Disabled
Orthotics Systems of W. ter Park, Florida Pritham and per Orthotics and Prosthet
December, 1st,
D Thermoformed St-allow Back and Literal
Bois ars
Proceedings International Confe.ence on Rehabili-
tation, 1980, Toronto 'else at .-Reusable Casting
1 Descuption From a p' ster nositive, a
Tecbnigue for Customized lotal Contact Seating,
shAllow back 18 thermo',1rmed and lateral trunk O'Reagen and Law, Individually Customized Postural
Support System, May, at al pump and fairly small beam bags can be obtained
from innovention P-oducts, Ltd, 10 Coldharbour
F Foam -Box (FIB) Method Lane, Bushey, Hertsfordshire, United Kingdom PRA
Plastics and Developments, Ltd of 21A Kingsland
i Description A plaster positive of the sign Street, Daiston, London, United Kingdom, v II
client's back is prepared and placed into an ad custom make a set evacuable bags io your speci-
;Listable mold box Liquid foam components are fications
mixed, poured in the mold box, and react chemical-
ly to produce a flexible urethane foam 1 he
cushion is then molded around the plaster posi- III DIRECT CASTINC METHODS
tive Later, it is upholsteied and mounted in
shell fcr suopor/ A Foam-in-Placo (FIP) Method
2 Advantages Because a foam cushion is pro- 1Description The patient is placed aga nst a
duc-1, it will "forgive' areas of high point con- sheet of latex rubber draped over a closed box
tact detier th in a padded rigid shell A high Two-part liquid foam is mixed, poured into the
quality, custoin-forced cushion -.an be made with mold box, and reacts chemically to produce a
anterior "wrap" of the lateral portions paA the flexible polyurethane foam The foam fills the
thoracic midline cavity of the box, and forms an imoression or the
part of the patient pressed against and into the
3 Limitations Foam is an insulator, and in latex sneet The cushion thus formed is removed
hot climeti:s this could be a very uncomfortable from the mold box and installed in the wheelci air
in,e-t Because of the relative compressibility
cf the foam, firm auxiliary lateral trunk supports 2 Advantages The greatest advai,tage of FIP
should be added for someone with a collapsing over indirect methods is the imrr.,diacy of results
scoliosis Delays to the patient are minim zed The final
cushion is produced al, -.st immediately, so there
4 More Information See the 1980 Proceedings is no waiting to see if useful cushion is pro
of the International Conference on Rehabilitaticn duced from the castinb npression
Enyneering, Toronto, A Comparison of (hree Ctitnm
Seating Techniques, by Forbes, Holte and 3 Limitat ons Great -aution should be exer-
van Kampen John Rodgers, of Scimedics in cised in handling and using the foam components
Anaheim, California, may be able to provide tech- Misuse may result 'n ouite unpIeasant con-
nical and/or product assistance Pin Dct products sequences
of Not hbrook, Illinois, offers a central fabrica-
tion FIB service, calling it Contour-I' Their Supporting toe perser in the desired position can
product is slightly different than I h., described be difficult They should not be moved for three
above, and they can provide extra support for the to five minutes while the foam "sets up," cr it
trunk, head, feet and so on may ,:ollapse and one must start again
Evacuable Bean Bag Casting_Method The mold cannot be "packed" (overcharged) or the
patient's position will be compromised In the
1 Description The patient is pia ed against a Foam-in-Box method (Section this "packing"
polymeric or latex tag filled with small poly- produces a higher dense y, higher quality foam
styrene beads By drawing the air out of the bag,
the beads push close together, becoming nearly 4 Further Information FIP method has been
rigid with high vacuum Because the bag itself is de-cribed by Hobson, Driver, and Hanks in The
supple, it conforms to the person s surface Proceedings of the 5th Annual Conference on Sys-
anatomy tems and Devices for the Disabled (Houston, 1978)
under the title "Foam-in-Place Seating for the
Often, t'te beanbag is used to approximate the Severely Disabled Preliminary Results" Also
final insert cushion Modifications for improved worthy of rote are the reports on toxicity
patient comfort ano,',.. posture cal be made by (actually nontoxicity) and safe handling proce-
allowing a bit of 4 r L,,ck into the bag, working dures prepared by Mr Hobson, of the University of
the heads nto the new, designed position, then Tennessee, Memphis
reevacuatiog the air Using several bags (or a
ultiple compartmer' bag) allows a stment of B Solidified Beanbag
part of the cushion wile the rest ot the position
is retained 1 Description The patie,it is oIaccd against a
fie", blo bag partly filled with ,mall diameter
2 Advantages This method of casting permits a pol,ityreni needs The bag is evacuated, and the
well-controlleo evaluation and impression-taking beads form an impressioi of the occupant Next,
sessluit By u' ing the bean hag to mock-up the adhesive is infected into the bag It ac 'res the
final insert, the patient's reaction can be individual beads together, forming a cusiiion
viewed directly against the patient's body The patient
is removed, and the cushion is smoothed and
3 Limitations The major drawbacks are the mounted in the wheelchair
lengthy time required to produce an insert trom
the impression, and the ievestrnent in equipment 2 Advantages This is also a very rapid method
that is necessary of making an insert speed ot the FIB 's
cnclOoned with the control of positml afforded t ,
4 More Information A hand-oi irated vacuum the Lean bay; evacuation technique LI, plaster
1
162 TFCHNOLOGV FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCIEBOOK RE3NA IMM 162
MOBIUTY DEVn.ES
intermediary step is eliminated the UK design have been marketed in Europe USA
distribution is being undbrtaken by MED Contact
3Limitations Phis is one of the only ntethods Jeff Offner, REHAB Co, 2811 Zulette Avenue,
where the patient interface material is the same Bronx, NY 10461 The early work on this concept
as the structural body of the insert Clearly, is described in a paper by the MERU aroun that
one may have problems balancing these, either appeared to the 1980 Proceedings of the Interna-
producing an insert which is strong but too hard, tional Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering in
or soft but not durable The University of Toronto
Tennessee Rehabilitation Engineering Center is
considering this problem by investigating quick-
c. 'e flexible matrix materials Alternatively, Richard N iiolte MSc Rehabilitation Engineering
the insert could be ',upported in a rigid shell for Center, Children's Hosea at Stanford 520
strength and/or lined with a thin layer of com- Willow Road, Palo Alto, C" 94304
pliant foam and upholstered
The Orthopedic Research and Locomotion Assessment Complete references to papers cited can be found
Unit (ORLAU) at Oswestry, Shropsoire, United King- in the Portural Seating Bibliography, page 173
dom, seems to have lost some of their enthusiast
for this method Their 1981 report finds no
problem with durability, but leaves the impression
that smoothing the seats was prov A to be more
laborious than orepnally thought
C Shapable Matrix
The ibriliber listed represent those responding Case YYestern Reserve University
;:o a request for information in the University of Rehab,' ,'ion Engineering Program
Tennessee Rehabilitation Engineering Seating News- 3395 Scra-ton Road
leder. They are listed alphabetically by STATE Cleveland, OH 44123
216/359-3480
Centers who provide seating services, but who did
not have access to , 1 initial questionnaire, are Elizabethtown Hospital & Rehabilitation Center
welcome to send iniurmation about their programs Elizabethtown, PA 1702:
to University of Tennessee, Rehabilitation Engi- 717/367-1161
neering Program, 682 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN,
attn Elaine Tref ler, OT, for inclusicn in an Shriners Hospital for Crippled Ch.ldren
updated list Greenville Unit
2100 N Pleasantburg Drive
Alo endorsements are implied by inclusion on thiL Greenville, SC 29609
list If you have information to add to, change, 803/244-4530
or delete from this list, please send it to the
RrGNA Sourcebook editor University of Tennessee
Rehabilitation Engineering Program
682 Court Avenue
USA Memphis, TN 33163
Rehabilitation Engineering Center Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children
Children's Hospital at Stanford 2222 Welborn Avenue
520 Willow Road Dallas, TX 75219
Palo Alto, CA 94304 214/521-3168
415/327-4800
University of Virginia
Newington Children's Hospital Rehabilitation Ennineermg Center
181 E Cedar Street P 0 Box 3368
Newington, CT 061 i 1 University Station
203/667-5260 Charlottesville, VA 22903
104/977-6736
University Hospital School
University of Iowa Depart' lent of Rehabilitation Engineering
Iowa City, IA 52242 University Hospital & Clinics
Room E3 /711
Capper Fc.muation for Crippled Children 600 N Highland Avenue
3500 W 10th Street Madison, WI 53792
Topeka, KS 66604 608/263-8060
913/272-4060
1'
166 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK TIESNA 1984 166
MOBILITY DEVICES
CORAM-Paris
STROLLERS 209, rue de Saint-Maur
75010 Paris, FRANCE
Adaptive Therapeutic Sistems, Inc 205-48-46
965 Dixwell Avenue
Hamden, CT 06514 Freedom Designs, Inc
1884 Eastmar Avenue, Suite 11
The Bobby-Mac Co, Inc Ventura, CA 93003
P 0 Box 209
Scarsdale, NY 10583 Handicapped Educ Learning Products (HELP), Inc
914/723-3442 PO Box 9763
Sacramento, CA 95823
Childsafe (Britax) 916/421-1202
Bo. 833
Pacific Palls-171, CA 90272 Medical Equipment Distributors (MED)
1701 S First Avenue
Convaid Products, Inc Maywood, IL 60153
P 0 Box 2731 312'6R1-2828
Palos Verdes, CA 90274
213/377-0016 GE Miller, Inc
I:84 South Broadway
Credesign AB Yonkers, N" 10705
Bergsunds Strand 31 800/431-29.:4
S-11738
Stockholm, Sweden Modular Medical Co
1558 Hutchinson River
Equipment Shop Pakway, E
P 0 Box 33 Bronx, NV 10461
Bedford. MA 01730
617/275-7681 Ortho-Kinetics
PO Box 436
Handicapped Educ Learning Produc,s (HELP), Inc W220 N507 Springdale
PO Box 9763 Waukesha, WI 53187
Sacramento, CA 95823
916/421-1202 Palm :o Engineerir
12005 Rivera Road
LIC-REHAB Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Svetsarvagen 4 213/696-5235
S-17183 Solna
SWEDEN J A Preston Corp
Stockholm 98-10-60 71 Fifth Avenue
Telex 105-28-LICS New York, NY 10003
800/221-2425
o
168 ECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEDOOK RESNA 1984
MOBILITY DEVICES
Freedom Designs
1884 Eastmar Avenue, Suite 111
Ventura, CA 93003
At the 6th Annual Conferei _a on Rehabilitation "Negative Features Elbows can get caught between
Engineering, held i San Diego, California, in body and side structure of seat during activities
1983, this paper wzs presented by Susan P The harness system cuts into the user's shoulders
Schaezlem, OTR, an Richard N Ho lie, MSc, of Wheelchair wheels cannot be reached because of the
the Children's Hospital at Stanford Rehabilitation side structure Shell structure limits the user's
Engineering Center, Palo Alto, California visual field
These are some excerpts from the paper, which was Mulholland Adaptive Positioning System
written in January, 1983 The findings presented for Standard Wneelchairs
at the conference were essentially the same as the
preliminary findings noted in the report "This is an appropriate insert system for the
subject population It provided better postural
"Over the past five years a nu-iber of wheelchair control for the more s tverely involved subjects
based modular seating systems have been developed
and marketed to provide postural control for Ind:- "Positive Features Provides good postural con-
induals with cerebral palsy Thez,ries have been trol and has a wide ange of adjustability to meet
advanced to explain how seating systems should be user needs Functional activities were improved
configured for ,,n individual The characteristics with the exception of transfers
and components of these seating systems have been
designed to provide a,, orientatior in space, pro- "Negative Features Appearance is very contrap-
vide support or exert forces on the body to im- tion-like Technical knowledge a- d a variety of
prove anatomical alignment and stabil:7- non, and tools are needed to assemble and adjust the sys-
influence muscle tone to improve seatitg poste tem Shoulder pads lateral trunk supports and
A method of comparing the relative merits between pelvic stabilizers are not user operahle, pre-
these systems has not yet been formanzed venting independence in trarsfers Attaching the
assembled seat base and seat back onto the wheel-
"Side-by-Side Trial methodology was developed at chair frame is relatively difficult
the Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Children's
Hospital at Stanford, as a process to evaluate Winnipeg Modular System
functional and technicai featu es of four com-
mercially avai'able mooular wheelchair seating "The system is appropriate for this subject popu-
systems and to determine 1) the pecific features lation It can be easily managed by parents and
and components of a modular seating system which was fa. ored for its appearance
improve or decrease user furction 2) technical
modifications which could be made on existing "Positive Features Overall appearance is good
seating systems to better meet functional needs of Itis easily removed and inserted to wheelchair
users, and 3) necessity for the development of a base, functional activities were improved It
new modular seating system Using a side-by-side Provided good control for moderate,/ involved
evaluation methodology, child subjects with the ibjects
diagnosis of cerebral palsy are fitted in each of
the four seating systems and perform specific "Negative Features Tools, mi. finery and technical
functional activities Each seating system is knowledge ere needed to assemble the system it
rated on ability to provide postural control, is not available ch. the commercial market in the
effects on certain functional activities manage- United States
ability by a parent, ai,d technical charac-
teristics MPI
"At this put'ication, 4 out of 1G subjects have "This is appropriate seating for this subject
participated in the Sida-by -Side trials of modular group It provided postural control for the less
wheelchair insert systems Preliminary 'mores intolved subjects, 'ulit nct quite enough for mole
sions of the four systems under evaluation are severely involved subjects
CONCLUSIONS
"Adaptive Equipment for Positioning and Mobility Cerebral Palsy Bulletin Vol 1 No 8 1959
Guidelines for Select.on and Use" Adaptive Equip-
ment Services, Belchertown State School, Belcher- Bobath K The Normal Postural Riflpx Mee-lani,rn
town, NIA March, 1979 and Its Deviation in Children with Cerebral
Palsy Physiotherap_y pp 1-11 1974
Aitken, K M "Assessment of Handicapped Child for
Most Suitable Type of Chair" Occupational Bowker J H and Reed BA Vacuum-Formed Plas
Therapi October, 1973 tic Insert for Neurologically Impaired Wheelchair
Patients" Interchnic Information Bulletin
Anderson, BM, et al "The Sitting Posture An XII 10 pp 7-12 July, 1973
Electromyographic and Oiscome c Study" Ortho-
pedic C.mics of North America, Vol 6, No 1 Brubaker, C E et at 'Effect of Seat Position on
January, 1975 Wheelchair Performance Proceedings of Interna
tonal Conference on Rehabilitation Enlineering
Barbet°, V J "Hip and Back Stabilizing Unit for Canadian Medical arid Biological Engineering
Wheelchair Patients Phi/sir:al Therapy Review, Society, c/o National Research Council of Canada
Vol 38, No 5, pp 335-337 1958 Ottawa Canada 1980
Batchelor, KW, and Farmelo, GP "A Basic- De- Butler, C, and Okamoto, GA 'Motorized Wheel-
sign of a Chair for Hemiplegics with Special chair Driving Learning Patterns of Disabled
Reference to the Back Shape" Dept of Experimen Children' Paper presented at the American
tal Pc-thology, Rheumatism Research Wing Univer- Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
sity of Birmingham, ENGLAND Houston, Texas, June, 1983
Beesley, Margrit "The Role of the Occupational Butler, C, Okamoto GA, and McKay, TM
Therapist in Interfacing Communication Aids "Powered Mobility for Very Young Disabled
Proceedings of the Workshop on Communication Aids Children" Developmer tal Medicine and Child
for the Handicapped University of Ottawa, Ott,- Neurology, Vol 25 pp 472-474 1983
wa, Ontario Canada, June, 1977 pp 55-67
Cambell P H, Green K M and Carlson L M
Bergen, A F, and Colangelo, C Positioning the "Approximating the Norm Through Environmental and
Client with Central Nervous Systems Defects Child-Centered Prosthetics and Adaptive Equip-
Valhalla Rehabilitation Pub Ltd, Valhalla, NY ment Educational Programming for the Severely!
1982 191 pages Profoundly Handicapped Pros letics and Adaptive
E__quipment pp 300 320
Bergen, A F Selected Equipment for Pediatric
Rehabilitatum Blythedale Children's Hospital, "Car Safety Restraints for Children Consumer
Valhalla, NY 1974 Report pp 314-317 June 1977
Bergen, A F Supplement I for Selected equipment Carlo D 'A Char for the Child With Hypertonic
for Pediatric Rehabilitation Blythedale CNS Dysfunction Physical Therapy Vol 57 No
Child en's Hospital, Valhalla, NY 1975 10 October, 1977
Bergen, AF "A Special Stroller Insert Phy- Carlson J, and Winter R 'The Gillette Sitting
sical Therapy, Vol 59, No 3, p 301 1979 Support Orthosis Orthotics and Prosthetics
Vol 32, No 4 December 1978
Bergen, Adrienne "Table and Chair Seat for Spas
tic Children" Physical Therapy, Vol 51, pp Carlson, J and Winter, R The Gillette Sitting
1305-1306 1971 Support Orthosis for Non-Ambulatory Chddrei with
Severe Cerebral Palsy or Advanced Muscular Dys-
Bleck, E E 'Locomotor Prognosis in Cerebral trophy Minnesota Medicine, Vol 61, pp 469-
Palsy" Developmental Medicine and Child Neure- 473 August, 1978
iogy, Vol 17, pp 18-25 1975
Carrington, E G 'A Seating Position for a
Bleck, E E, MD "Severe Orthopedic Disability Cerebral Palsied Child" American Journal of
in Childhood Solution Provided by Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy, Vol 12 No 3 pp 179-181
Engineering" Orthopedic Clinics of North March, 1978
America, Vol 9, No 2, pp 509-528 April, 1978
Christopher, Robert P 'Recent Advances in Mecha-
Bleck, E E, and Nagel, D Physically Hand camped nical Aids in the Manr.g,ment of Children With
Children A Medical Atlas for Teachers Grune and Brain Damage Southern Medical Journal, Vol 67,
Stratton, New York, NY 1982 No 4, pp X99 -405 April, 1974
Bobath, Berta 'The Very Early Treatment of Conger C 'Modular Plastic Insert for Physically
Cerebral Palsy" Developmental Med.cine Child Disabled Children" Proceedings Fourth Annual
Neurology, Vol 9, pp 373 -390 19G7 Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering,
Washington DC, pp 30-32 1981
Bobath, K "The Neuropathology or Cerebral Palsy
and 'ts Importance in Treatment and Diagnosis Cooper. D, and Cousins, S "A Shapeable Matrix
173
19,
TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK PESNA 1984 173
MOBILITY DEVICES
for Seating Disabled Children" Proceedings 4th chairs" Physical Therapy Review, \ol 39, No 8,
Annual Conference on Rehabilitation Eng:neering, pp 515-529 August, 1959
Washington, DC, pp 27-29 1981
Fulford, and Brown, j K "Position as Cause of
Cousins, S, Acker ly, K E, Jores, K, and Deformity in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Rodwell Matrix Body Support System Bioengi- Developmental Medicine and Child Neuroloov Vol
neering Center, Koehampton, London 1983 18, pp 305-314 1976
Cristaralla, M C "Comparison of Straddling and Garee, B An Accent Guide Wheelchairs and Acces
Sitting Apparatus for the Eoastic Cerebral P. Issed sories Cheever Publishing, Inc 1981
Child American Journal of Occupational Therapy,
Vol 29, No 5, pp 273-276 May/June, 1975 Germans, et al "Vacuum Dilatency Casting for the
Construction of Individually Molded Seats
Curtis, G H et al "Myelomeninqoi-ele, Para- Progress Report No R R 4 (Des B van
plegia, Quadriplegia Other Spinal Cord In- Eiisnberger and F H Lopes da Silva), Med Fys
juries" The Child With an Orthopedic Disability Inst Tno, Utrecht, pp 23-29 1974
His Orthotic Needs and How to Meet Them National
Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC 173 Gilt -rt, C "Wheelchair Insert for Hip and Trunk
Support for Children with Cerebral Palsy" The
Daher R L et al "Progress Report A Complete Journal of the APTA, Vol 54, #3 March, 1974
System for Mecting the Seating Requirements of the
Mult,ply Handicapped" Proceedings, Fourth Annual Green, E A and Taylor, R H "A Purpose Designed
Conference on Syst2ms and Devices for the Dis- Chair for Severely Handicapped Children" Physio-
abled Sr:attle, Washington 1977 therapy Vol 55, No 9, op 367-377 1969
Dicuio, R, and Kugel, R Into the Lght Helping Green, i et al Furniture for Handicapped
People with Handicaps at Flower Hospital New Children A Repoli of a Preliminary Study School
York Medical Publishing Company New York, NY of Health Administration and Department of Indus-
1981 trial Arts, University of Nrr.w South Wales, Sydney,
Australia 1979
Donaghue, E G, et at 'Some Factors Affecting
Age of Walking in a Mentally Retarded Population Hardy, S "The Development of Balance in Sitting
De .elopmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Vol and the Influence of Abnormal Patterns of Movement
12, pp 781-792 1970 as Found in Cerebral Palsy Seating for Disabled
Children and Adults, Needs and Proposals for Ac-
Dorinson, S M, Markus M and McLaughlin, P 'A tion in Quebec, K Waksylk, et al , ed 1980
Support for Teaching Head Control in Cerebral c/o P Levy, School of Industrial Des. -in, Uni-
Palsy The Physical Therapy Review, Vol 34, No versity of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec
4, pp 168-170 1970
Harrington, P R "The Spire in the Handicapped
Drummon D S, Narechama, M S, and Breed, A L Child" American Journa: of 0-thopedics, June an
A Study of Pressure Distributions Measured During July, 1964 6, pp 156-164
Balanced and Unbalanced Sitting" Journal of EJne
end Joint Surgery, 64 pp 1034 1982 Hayes, D "The Human Body in thi. Design of Equip-
ment, Products, and Buildings A Model Course
Dunkel, Ruth and B S, and Trefler, Elaine, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference on
BOT Seeiiig fcr Cerebral Palsied Children Rehabilitation Engineering (pp 16) Houston, TX
The Sleek Seat Physical Therapy, Vol 57, No 1982
5, pp 524-526 May, 1977
High, E C A Resource Guide to Habilitatiye Tech-
Evachewski, P 'Review of Technical Aids for niques and Aids for Cerebral Palsied Persons of
Handicapped Children Provided by Shriner's Hospi- All Ages The Job Development Laboratory, Div of
tal, Winnipeg Proceedings Fourth Annual Con- Rehabilitation Medicine, The George Washington
ference on Systems and Devices for the Disabled, University, Washington, D C
Seattle, WA 1977
Hildreth, K, Horsman, AA, and Sturtevant, L
Farber, Shereen Sensorimotor Evaluation and Wheelchair Training Protocol Rhode Island Easter
Treatment Procedures for Allied Health Personnel, Seal Society, Inc, Meeting Street School, RI
Second edition Indiana University Purdue Uni- 1982
versity at Indianapolis Medical Center 1974
Hobson D A "Foam-In-Place Seating for the
Finnie, N R Handling the Youn_g Cerebral Palsied Severely Disabled" Proceedings of the Fifth
Child at Home E P Dutton New York, NY 1970 Annual Conference on Systems and Deuces for the
Disable'), Houston, Texas 1978
Forbes, M 1 et al "A Compars,an of Three Custom
Seating Techniques" Proceedings of International Hobson, D A"Special Devices as Aids in the
Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering, Canadian Management of Child Self-Mutilation in the Lesch-
Medical and Biological Engineerins Society, c/o Nyhan Syndrome" Pediatrics, Vol 55, No 6
National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, 1975
Canada 1980
Hobson, D,1 Spherical Thoracic Supports ISTS) A
Fowles B "Evaluation and Selection of Wheel- Brief Concept Description and Status Report
Rehabilitation Engineering Program, University of Related to Posture and Seating" The Journal of
Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Memphis, Bone and Joint Surgery Vo' 35A No 3 July
TN 1979 1953
Hobson, D et al "The Use of Thermal Plastics in Lee M, Peznich 0 and Dasso M Wheelchoir
the Design and Fabrication of ADL Devices for Prescription' Divis.on of Direct Health Ser
Chi Idr-I" Proceedings Fourth Annual Conference vices, US Department of Health Education and
o-- Systems and Devices for the Disabled Seattle, Welfare Public Health Services Publication
WA 1977 #1666 Supt of Documents, Washington DC
20402
Hobson, D A, Heinrich, M J , and Hanks S "Bead
Seat Insert Seating System" Proceedings of the Levy, R, and Waksvik K Handout accompanying
Sixth Annual Conference on Rehabilitation En_g_i- the presentation Workshop on Seating for the
neering (op 209-211) San Diego, CA 1983 Cerebral Palsied University of Tennessee Rehabi-
litation Engineering Center 683 Court, Memphi-,
Hobson, D A, Seaton, B J, and Shapcott, N G TN 38163 January and October 1'3'80
"Vinyl Vacuum Forming" Proceedings of the Sixth
Annual Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering 'Low-Cost Method of i"roducing Anatomically Shaped
(pp 145-147) San Diego, CA 1983 seating for Patients in Wheelchairs 1980 Annual
Report Orthopedic Research and Locomotion As
Hobson, D and Tooms, A "Foam-In-Place Seating sessment Unit ORLAU), Oswestry Shrepshire
System Results of Toxicity Studies" Proceedings, England
Fourth Annual Conference on Rehabilitation Engi-
neering RESNA, Bethesda, MD 1981 May, D et al "Indi 'dually Customized Postural
Support System Proceedings of International
Hofmann, Ruth B How to Build Special Furniture Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering Canadian
and Equipment for Handicapped Children Charles Medical and Biological Engineering Society c/o
C Thomas, Spring d, IL 1970 National Research Council of Canada Ottawa
Canada 1980
Hollings, E M ar icCay, G "Adaptations to
Wheelchairs" Physiotherapy, Vol 52, No 5, pp Mazzo, MJ, Baez, M B Therapeutic Positioning
151-154 1966 Equipment for the Multiply Handicapped Patricia
Burnett, OTR 18 S Landing Road Rochester NY
Holt, KS, Darcos, H and Lorna, B H 14610 144 pages This book contains the
"Children's Wheelchair Clinic" British Medical designs and rationale for the pieces of there
Journal, #4, December 16, pp 651-555 1972 peutic positioning equipment which the authors
have found to be most beneficial to their resident
Holt, KS "Deformity and Disability in Cerebral population It includes the individual s total
Palsy" Developmental Medicine and Child Neuro- needs and abilities in therapeutic programming
logy, # 5, p, 629-631, December, 1963 recognizing and considering every aspect of normal
growth and development
Hoke, R N "A Modular System for Seating the
Multiply Handicapped Child" Final Report McGray, P M "A Simple Headrest for Patients
Health and Welter-, Canada National Health Confined to a Wheelchair Journal of Prosthetic
Research and Development Program, Ottawa, Canada Development, 44(3), pp 347 9 September 1980
1980
McKenzie, Mary, W and Rogers John E Use of
Nolte, R N et al Seating Supplement From Tech- Trunk Supports for Severely Paralyzed People
nical Aids for Handicapped Children Rehabilita- The American Journal of Occupational Therapy
tion Centre for Children, Winnipeg Canada 1977 Vol 27, pp 147-148 April, 1973
and 1979
McQuilton, G and Johnson, G R 'Cost Fttrctive
Nolte, R The Simple Wheeichair Insert A Wheel- Moulded Seating for the Handicapped Child Pros-
chair Based Seating System for Mildly Involved thetics and Orthotics International, 5, pp 37-41
Cerebral Palsied Children" Proceedings of the 1981
Sixth Annual Conference or Rehabilitation Engi-
neering (pp 200-k07) San Diego, CA 1983 Montgomery P, and Gauger, J Dynamic Trunk
Stabilizer for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Hulme, J B, Poor, R Schulein, M, and Pezzino, Physical Therapy, Vol 58 No 4 1978
J "Perceived Behavior Changes Observed with
Adaptive Seating Devices and Training Program for Moore, Sandy et al The DESEMO Customized
Multihandicapped, Developmentally Disabled Indivi- Seating Support Custom Molded Support for
duals" Physical Therapy, Vol 63, No 2 1983 Severely Disabled persons" Journal of the Ameri-
can Physical Therapy Association pages 460 463
"The Joy of Sitting Adaptive Seat Helps Handi- April 1982
capped" Southern Research Institute Report
Spring 1981 Motloch, W M 'Seating and Pc,uttoning for the
Physically Impaired" T.:. urotics and Prosthetics,
Kamenentz, HL, MD The Wheelchair Book Vol 31, No 2, pp 1i -21 June 1977
Charles Thomas, Springfield, IL 1969
Nelham, R L Seating for Physically Handicapped
Keegan, J J "Alterations of the Lumbar Curve Children in North America Churchill Travelling
AUDIOVISUALS
1t''3
PERSONAL VEHICLES
"Much attention is now focused on mass transit for Try to know as much about the students and their
handicapped persons and on vaious para-transit functional capaboities as possible
and taxi transportation schemes However, these
alternatives only partially meet the transporta- Be consistent keep your commands simple and
tion needs of disabled people In addition, they consistent throughout the training period
need a convenient and economical means of getting
to work and performing the many functions asso- Keep in mind, to handicapped students driving is
ciated with daily living A practical solution is not a luxury, it is often a necessity
to have many of these disabled persons operate
motor vehicles independently Do not assume students can do something because
others with similar disabilities can Each stu-
"Some of the difficulty encountered by disabled dent is an individual
drivers can be overcome by providing information
on opportunities already available For example You, as the instructor, must be fully acquainted
with and able to operate all the assistive
Selecting the type of vehicle most devices It will make you a better teacher
appropriate for their functioning
capabilities, Always check all assistive devices before you
Purchasing the most appropriate options and begin a lesson
adaptive devices,
Arranging for installation of vnecial Learn how to handle a whee:chair
devices,
Locating training facilities, Be firm disable students must he able to con-
Evaluating driving tasks, trol the vehicle with the same efficiency and
Employing appropriate operating procedures, safety as able-bodied students
Assuring proper maintenance of equipment,
particu'arly adaptive equipment, and Try not to recommend more assistive devices than
Taking precautions against problems necessary
encountered outside the car
Encourage the students to be totally independent
Rehab Brief, June 25, 1980 they must do everything without your help
ADED members represent a cross-section of a Shanng research and innovations in UNIVERSITY Of MICHION
professionals from vanous parts of our country adaptive equipment. REHAB EN6INEERINS CENTER
Some of the groups interested in and directly b Sharing methods of evaluation 208 LAY AUTOMOTIVE LAB
1c:
14
MOBILITY DEVICES
Name: Date(s)
(Last) FirstI Total hours of instrut non Date of driving release
Address Phone
Special information (directions or equipment)
License /permit No State Expiration date
Restrictions__ Both date Instructor
Referred b) Reno! , to KEN
evaluated and socessfully completed * her point of evaluation
0 problem area texplanationi NA Not applicable/not evaluated
DRIVING SKILLS EVALUATION ll Light 1rafitr _ Cv Advanced driving
I Residential area A straight diving _ A Heavy traffic driving
A Entering Si exiting the vehicle Lane chat ging _ Mountain driving
B Miscellaneous controls operation ( Corners _C Night driving
C Physical limitations I) Defensive driving D Adverse weather driving
Attitude E Ohsen anon A fits
_E Perceptual skills A Areas of Discussion
F Equipment operation III Hix riming A Emergency driving situations
G Straight driving A b ntenng _B Medical considerations
_II Stopping _B Lane i ontrol C velaptive equipment failure
I Corners _C Speed control I) Vehicle maintenance
J Backing _D Passing E Licensing requirements
Parking E Exiting htduatto. F Insurance requirements
TRAINING RECOMMENDATION:
Proceed to licensing
Inde i odent ?...mg without daptisi i quipment Pelona result tutus recornr endattOns
aplam
Independent dnving with requ'red adaptive equipment (see equipm recommend trid
lermtnate it m driving pmgrarn
Further esaluation necessary
Reason
Time suggestion
Reason
GENERAL COMMENTS:
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATION
4 i)
181 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 1954 181
MOBILITY 'DEVICES
Limited Evaluation
Name: Date(s)
Address: Total Evaluation Time
Evaluator:
Referred By:
EVALUATION RECOMMENDATION:
Proceed to licensing firm n g restrictions recommendations
Independent dnvmg without adaptive equipment Explain
Independent driving with required adaptive equipment
(see equipment recommendations) Terminate from driving program
Further evaluation necessary Reason
Reason
Time suggestion
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATION
Driving a van (see attached sheet)
Driving a car
2 2
l
m
n
Name
Date of Birth
State Restrictions
Age License/Permit 4
Refered by
Evaluation Date
m Disability Caused by
2 Date of Onset
0 Present Dominance Pre-Onset Dominance
r- Past Driving Experience Driver Education Plan
4 Pre-Onset Driving Record
3
2 Need for Driving
IE
0 MOTOR STATUS II I ower extrema, functIon
M 1 1 pper extrenuty function b Reflex patterns
F Reflex patterns prescrit
2 present absent
M MOTOR STATUS absent 1 omments 1I tine of impairment 2 how affect t
2 1 Upper extremity function Comments II tpe of impairment 2 ho s affects function)
11 . ow er estretnits fun, non
1
NM l fl
alternatite tranapartabon a, ceealeil,et whit el, hair
right (Sp, ..( mods net e .in, for inde pctole ra eincIng full It 0 bra, e
fun, tional limo -01,11
left AN lila' ilett of monee ',equip!. ta and k I f111 It in, walking aid
right
functional lirrutstion ( otaments (comment completed, m can n anal shoed leg br et e
ea It ft
right otln r ofeescrilee I
W lame 1` ent II I N pe1.11111palrIllt to tetIIIIItlense pain
W left Konen nit those alb . i fun, bun)
too, h et, .2 he,w offec t s function/
I 0171171f MI (I tips of impairment po..t,011senne peon
tout h, etc 2 how affects fun, born
n 5.)
20;;
MOBILITY DEVICES
Reprmtvi pe".siQn of
Colorado Driving School
P.O. BOX 393
Englewood, Colorado 80151
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Driving A Van
Name
Date
Evaluator.
Original Vehicle Equipment: Power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission, air conditioning, large outside mirrors, 3/4
ton, heavy duty cooling, heavy duty alternator
Vehicle Modifications:
tiff z
Reproduced with permission from Teacning Driver 15) Rear Window Defroster mandatory on all
Education to the Physically Disabled Human cars since 1978
Resocrces Center, Albertson, New York
16) Cruise Control to reduce the fatigue when
driving for long distances on highways
General Requirements
17) Available Space to permit transfer of the
The automobile to be utilized by the disabled wheelchair into the back seat of the car
driver may include all or some of the following Available space for the wheelchair and the
factory equipment in addition to the hand controls height of the car floor irom the ground
and assistive devices that must be nstalled to should be measured to determine if the
compensate for functional limitatio .s disabled individual has sufficient strength
to pull the wheelchair into the car
1) 8 Cylinder Car to accommodate all the power
devices
Car Purchase
2) 2-Door Sedan to permit easier entry of
wF elchair to car Car purchase should be done with much atter tion to
ensure th it the disabled individual will hae the
3) Automatic Transmission to reduce vehicle functional capabilities to drive the particular
operation efforts car he or she wishes to buy Items that should be
investigated are cost, steering effort required,
4) Power Steering to fac ate one hand braking effort required, available space for
steering for individuals with upper extremity wheelchair, height of stepwell, visibility acces-
weakness sibility of dashboard controls, efficiency and
reliability of vehicle (as the disabled individual
5) Power Brakes to facilitate braking by use cannot afford a breakdown), and insurance rates
of hand controls for individuals wit- limited
ranges of motion and/or concurrent weakness Car purchase. is extremely difficult for indivi-
duals who utilize hand controls and assistive
6) Power Windows to permit individuals who devices because they cannot test-drive the vehicle
lack hand and wrist dexterity to pay tolls, LA,' rather must rely on the tudgment of others
ask directions, etc
Not all the vehicle requirements mentioned are
7) 6-way Power Seat to aid in transfer and necessary for all disabled drivers Decisions as
seating position adjustments, as well as to to what is needed depend on functional limitations
compensate for some functionai limitations and capabilities The driver educator must
impress upon the disabled trainee the importance
8) Air Conditioning to assist individuals with of regular car maintenance and checkups in order
low respiratory levels and those who have to minimize the chance of failure I any kind
skin problems Tires, engine, hand controls and assistive devices
should he maintained in as nea-ly perfect condi-
9) Bench Seat (Vinyl) to allow for ease and tions at-. possible
safety while transferring
After the proper vehicle hi. been selected, opti-
10) Tilt Steering Wheel to cilitate steering mal assistive devices should be installed to com-
for individuals utilizing a quad cuff and to pensate for (unctional limitations They should
allow for ease of transfer by the disabled be safe and provide the most efficient compensa-
individual A telescopic steering wheel can tion for functional limitations It is Important
also be helpful in certain disabilities that these assistive d 'vices be install( d so that
they do not interfere with the able-bodied driver
11) Power Door Locks to permit the disabled when operating the vr hide
individual to unlock an? lock the doors
independontly
For names and addresses of manufacturers of
12) Fold-down Arm hest to aid in hip stability adapted driving aids, contact the ABLEDATA system
for certain disabilities
Reprinted with permission from Hand Controls and Assistive Devices for the Physically Disabled Driver, Human Resources Center
Albertson, New York
8
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MOBILITY DEVICES
Driver Education for the Severely Physically Dis- The Handicapped Di wer's Mobility Guide, 3rd edi-
abled Equipment and Adapted Methodologies for tion Traffic Engineering and Safety Department
Teachinain a Fully Modified Van Human Resources American Automobile Association, Falls Church, VA
Center, Albertson, New York 11507 This instruc- 22047 1981 75 op Contact your local AAA club
tional manual describes the special equipment and regarding the availability of this publication
adapted methodologies used to teach severely dis- Information on equipment, selection, training, and
abled individuals to drive a van independently a national license plate blue curb law survey
The manual offers useful training techniques and Contains a 54 page state by state annotated list
illustrates many adapted devices for the severely of organizations providing services such as
physically disabled person driver training, evaluation, van modification
Driving for the Phy&callyhandicapped Pro- A Manual on the Driver Training Programme for the
ceeoings of a National Symposium 1981 Education Physically Handicapped Glenrose Hospital, 10230
and Training Center, Rehabilitation Institute of 11th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5G OB7 Canada
Chicago, 345 E Superior Street, Chicago, IL
60611 $'0 00 Outdoor Transport (4th edition) E R Wilshire
Equipment for the Disabled Series Oxford
"Driving Systems for Independent Mobility" ADL, Regional Health Authority, 2 Foredown Drive,
Inc, 6 Hurlow Court, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Postslade, Brighton, BN4 2BB, ENGLAND Lists and
Attn Elise Brown $2 50 describes, with photographs, transportation and
outdoor accessibility equipment for disabled
Evaluating Driving Potential of Persons with persons Covers categories such as children's
Physical Disabilities Menahem Less, Edward C mobility aids, outdoor wheelchairs, car, and car
Colverd, Gerald E DeMauro, and Judy Young Human accessories, van conversions, harnesses, garages
Resources Center, Albertson, New York 11507 and ramps Includes reference and resource lists
1978 36 pages Evaluation of potential must be Physician's Guide for C Driver
the starting point in any driver education program Limita tion American Pledical Association, 535
designed for the physically disabled The program N Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60610
must be adapted to the needs of each student This
manual brings together assessment expertise in the Perceptual Cognitive Skills and Driving Effect
areas of driver education and muscle testing of Brain Damage, University of Michigan, Rehab
presents contributions of experts and res urces in Engineering Center, Highway Safety Research Insti-
both these fields as welt as the experiences of tute, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 January 1980
the Human Resources Center adaptive driver
education program Particular attention is givtn "Physically Disabled Driver" Rehab Brief, Volume
to those muscle movements that are most directly III, No 9, June 25, 1980 National Institute of
involved in driving Handicapped Research, Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Educa-
The evaluation process, which is described here tion, Washington, DC 20201
is divided into two main a.eas functional and
in-car Both are concerned with strength, range Preliminary Testing of Techniques to Improve
of motion, coordination, reach, and speed and Driving Performance of Persons with Brain Damage
reaction time of those muscles involved in driv- via Perceptual/Cognitive Training Sivak, Hill,
ing The functional test is an in-depth evalua- Olsen, Henson University of Michigan, Rehab
tion of the general performance of the muscles Engineering Center, Highway Safety Research Insti-
while the in-car evaluation assesses muscle per- tute, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109
formanca spee.ific to driving The use of these
tess provides the basis for datermining whether Teaching Driver Education to the Disabled
the disabled individual can drive end for recom Teaching Driver Education to the Hearing Impaired
mending assistwe devices 9
iv
187 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 187
MOBILITY DEVICES
Memphis City School, 2687 Avery, Memphis, TN for Clinical Evaluation of Patients, Archives of
38112 Phys Med & Rehab Vol 59 May 1978
21)
188 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 1984 188
MOBILITY DEVICES
RESEARCH
21 ,
CONTROL. COMMUNICATION AND SENSORY AIDS 193
CONTROL 193
INTRODUCTION 191
CONTROLLER CHARACTERISTICS 194
GUIDELINES FOR SWITCHES 195
GUIDELINES FOR GOOD INTERFACES 195
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZED INTERCONNECTION PROJECT 196
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS CONTROL AND ASSESSMENT 197
SOME MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS OF CONTROLS 198
ALTERNATIVES TO PURCHASE DO IT YOURSELF 20'
R&D ORGANIZATIONS 202
COMMUNICATION 203
v..) 4
A.,
INTRODUCTION
Service Centers
91
CONTROLLER CHARACTERISTICS
r hap follovviciy table ItUtlift141111ZON what might be expected for various con-
troller approaches All but the last two entries are for proportional
controllers Any controller type can be implemented as a four switch
solution, but one should expect s reductior in rate of maneuverability
CHIN Push in corresponding good, large range of motion can be ettiched to large and bulky,
(normal directions proportions! of head needed wheelchair range of motion,
mystic-Id men frame *Opearanca, interferes
with face oriented tasks
CHIN Pugh in corresponding good, worn es collar require, very cosmetics, might
(*tort directions proPortion which should smell range of interfere with face
throw) be fitted motion, not oriented teaks
tiring
HEAD re opposite good, control for reverse good appearance during control 01111111M
REST Mee Proportional is not continuous slight interference the heed rest is not a
CONTROL =etre switch I with face oriented resting place
troves
JOYSTICK push in corresponding good, -functional" good appearance requires soot remaining
directions proportional hand or inn arm /hand function
ARM/ at,. for /beck fair to good, reasonably good appearance arm movement, must
ELBOW velocity, proportional Strang be able to resist perk
elbow in/out movements needed and other inertias inputs
turn
PNEUMATIC hitsg puff/sup slow to mad gr. -...1 breathing good appearance does not Provide
lour f /140 for /back maneuvering, capabilities may be among continuous
time weed good straighteways the few possible porportional contra,
soft puff/up turn rata solutions Saliva
SWITCH 1 ow forty slow and herd to can be lent demanding most tolerant to difficult to maneuver
SOLUTIONS is 2 an right maneuver, awkward on solution for the severe 'Politico
3 sw back straight ewers operator
an left
ti
"Switch Rules and Considerations for CommainicAtnr These guidel.nes for mass rnalet products appearec.1
Use" in Communication Outlook, Volume 5, No 3, in the April 1980 issue of High Technology maga-
Winter 1984, page 7, was written by William F zine They can and perhaps should be used by
Tracy and Debra Elevens, of the Department of people working with technology for special needs,
Psychology, Clover Bottom Developmental C.tnter, too (Editor)
275 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
37214 This article is applicable for people 1 The device should provide what the user wants,
putting switches on devices for severely motor needs, and expects If it requires the user to
impaired persons Besides listing the 10 factors adapt land every product will do this to some
(see below) which should be zonsidered, they also extent), the initial changes should be as small as
explain some safety procedures to be followed possible and in a direction that the user will
perceive in advance as positive
1) Any switch must be safe for the user
2 The user not the product should be in
2) The switch must be operated with a minimum of command Users should never feel that the product
user effort and maximum user comfort is arbitrarily dictating how they must interact
with it, but should feel that the product is
3) The switch must be reliable adapting to their individual requirements
4) Switches must be minimally noticeable and, if 3 The user should feel confident in the product
possible, cosmetically pleasing its usefulness and reliability right from
the start The new user should view the product
5) If possible, the switch should move with the as friendly and helpful, and a sophisticated user
user, who must be able to activate the switch should be able to operate it without unnecessary
without the need to "find" it constraint As the user progresses, he should be
able to speed up his interaction, increasingly
6) Switches must permit disassembly for cleaning viewing the device as an extension of himself
and maintenance
4 The product should provide unambiguous feedback
7) Switches should use standard components which to the user Alternatives should be clearly
are readily available and replaceable spel'ed out and easy to execute
whenever possible
5 Ideally, the product should require no instruc-
8) The switch should be the simplest to serve tion manual The user should feel that he and the
its purpose do not overdesign product are a self-sufficient whole If some
guidance must be provided, the simpler the better
9) The switch must be sturdy
215
There has been a very rapid increase in electronic matted on a single RS-232C serial channel simulta-
communication and control aids for individuals neously This standard is also used for sending
having severe and multiple physical disabilities position information from long range light pens,
within the last few years A large variety of and other devices thdt send X x Y coordinates
different aids, interfaces, and accessories has
been developed to meet the very diverse needs and Input Selection Array Compatibility_Standard (ISA)
capabilities of the different disabled indivi-
duals. As might be expected, nearly every re- The ISA Compatibility Standard is meant to cover
searcher and manufacturer chose a slightly separate Input Selection Array devices that can be
different connector, pin-out, voltage convention plugged into a communication aid or computer
or format for their aids, interfaces, and ac- These incLide touch panels, special keyboards
cessories The restrictions brought on by incom- (keyboards that are meant for one-at-a-time selec-
patibility of different systems has created severe tion by location), scanning panels that can output
(and unnecessary) problems The end result can be discrete selection after interacting with the
that the handicapped individual is fitted with an user through a simple switch, and other devices
aid, interface, and accessories which do not ade- that allow the user to make a single selection at
quately meet his/her needs a time from a displayed array of selections
A group of manufacturers, clinicians and re- Keyboard Emulator Input Compatibility Standard
searchers are working on the development of a set (KEI)
of proposed compatibility standards for electrical
communication aid devices for conversation, The KEI Compatibility Standard proposal is meant
writing, and computer access Developing a c.-mimois to cover the connection between a communication
format will allow easier identification of inter- aid and the keyboard emulato, for a computer run-
faces, aids, and accessories which can work to ning standard software Keyboard emulators are
gether, and will ensure that such aids can, in devices designed to accept electronic data input
fact, be connected This objectives of the pro- and to introduce that data into a computer running
ject are standard software in such a way that it is Ind's-
tinpuishable from data input on the keyboard The
1) to develop common technical formats/ for aids form of the data input to the keyboard emulator is
and interfaces This includes factors the focus of the KEI Compatibility Standard pro-
related to voltage, writing, etc posal (the output of the keyboard emulator will
2) the designation of an agreed-upon common always be specific to a particular computer and
connector/s therefore not standardizable)
3) to develop of a simple, straightforward
naming or labeling format which will enable Keyboard Emulator Input Morse Code Compatibility
non-technical people to mix and match aids, Standard (KEIMC)
interfaces, and accessories which ale
electronically and mechanically compatible to The KEIMC Compatibility Standard is a superset of
meet the needs of the handicapped individual international Morse code Using a three-state
sequential code, it will produce the complete
In trying to develop a single standard, the group ASCII character set, common non-ASCII keys such as
found that one standard wot Id be insufficient It arrow keys, and the special KEI functions such as
was determined that compatibility for communica- "HOLD" for emulating key combinations
tion aid mterconreutions would be facilitated by
the development of separate compatibility stan- Subsystem Bidirectional Ccrnmunication
dards for functicnally distinct situations This Compatibility Standard (SBC)
makes each separate standard simpler and easier to
implement, and will make it easier to get the The SBC Compatibility Standard is meant to cover
necessary concensus They are currently working bidirectional communications between communication
on the following compatibility standards pro- aid subsystems such as a portable main processor,
posals input display, output display, pr:nter, voice
output subsystem, environmental controller, modem,
Simple Electrical Transducer Compatibility and wheelchair controller
Standard (SET)
The International Standard Interconnection Project
The SET Compatibility Standard is meant to cover began with finding by the National Science Founda-
the connection between simple electrical trans- tion, and is currently being supported by the
ducers (switches, potentiometers, and rheostats) National Institute of Handicapped Research
and communication aids More sophisticated trans-
ducers such as EMG transducers can be used with For more information about the current status of
the SET Compatibility Standard if they emulate one the project, please contact The International
of the simple transducers Communication Aids Compatibility (ICAO) Standards,
c/o Trace Research and Development Center, 314
SET Serial Conversion Compatibility Standard Weisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI
(SETSC) 53706, 608/262-6966
"Interface Control Training for Persons with "A Systematic Approa h ro Evaluating Physical
Cerebral Palsy A Pilot Study," by G F Shein and Ability for Control of Assistive Devices.' by
M Chown, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Rehabi- Margaret R Barker and Albert M Cook, PhD, Pro-
litation Engineering Conference, Houston, Texas, ceedings of the Fourth Annual Rehabilitation Engi-
1982 RESNA, 4405 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD neering Conference, Washington, DC, 1981
20814
"Towards Standardization of Communication and
"Interfacing Computers for the Cisabled," by Alan Control Systems for Motor Impaired People," by I
Kirschenbaum, Zohar Edam, and Arm Melnik, Pro- Mo usso, P M Penso, G P Suetta, and V
ceedings of the Fifth Annual Rehabilitation Engi- Ta ',asco, Medical & Biological Engineering_&
neering Conference, Houston, Texas, 1982 Computing, 17 481-488, 1979
Trujillo Industries
5040 Firestone Boulevard
South Gate CA 90280
(213) 564-; 943
Distribute body contact switches Also,
devices and systems related to mobility aids
and vehicles
0
.4.... j
200 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPEMIDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RE:SNA 1984 200
CONTROL, COMMUNICATION AND SENSORY AIDS
There arc alternatives to purchas.ng special con Meanly Aids fu' Disabled Living. by Stuart
trols Be creative in shopping' Look for regular Grainger Accent Special Publications, Box 700,
mass market products, especially electronic games Bloomington, IL, 1931 88 pages
and convenience appliances
Rehabilitation Engineering Sourcebook Institute
You can also make adapted controls These publi- for Information Studies, 200 Little Falls Street,
cations have instructions for do-it-yourself pro- Suite 104, Falls Church, VA 22046, 1979
jects Most of them assume that you will not have
much previous experience with control fabrication Telephone Accessories You Can Build by Jules H
Gilder Hayden Book Company, Inc, Rochelle Park,
NY, 1976 84 pages $6 50
Guidelines for Adapting Battery Operated Toys,
revised 1982, by Jayne Higgins California Avenue "Therapeutic Devices 1956-1976," by J Bellman, et
School, Jayne Higgins, Speech Pathologist, 214 W al, American Journal of Occupational therapy
California Avenue, Vista, CA 92083. $3 00 This American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc,
25-pago booklet includes procedures and materials 6000 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852, 1977
for making a pillow switch, touch panel switch, 112 pages Do-it-yourself instructions for de-
and on-off switch Toy to in-line jack procedures vices which have appeared in AJOT, includes wheel-
are also given which permits easy and immediate chair trays, ADL devices, communication aids, etc
interchange of information on common pitfalls and
problems Information on where to obtain Toy Adaptation, by Chris Wethered Canadian Asso-
materials and toys through nation wide stores is ciation of Toy Libraries, 60n Quebec Avenue, Suite
included e Sears catalog, Radio Shack cata- 1207, Toronto, Ontario M6P 4B4, Canada, June 1979
log) All switches are relatively inexpensive to 14 pages Basic information needed to adapt
make ($2 00-$5 00) battery-operated toys for activation by disabled
children
Helping the Handicapped A Guide to Aids Deve-
loped by the Telephone Pioneers of America Call Toy Modification Note Build it Youself Battery
the Telephone Company Headquarters in your city Interrupter, by Gregg Vandertraiden Trace Center,
and ask for the local chapter of the Telephone University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 13 pages
Pioneers of America Though many of the devices
are for the communication impaired, there are Wobble Switch Toy Control Switch A Do-It-Your-
sections on mobility aids, ADL equipment, and self Guide, by Ben Brown TRACE Center, Univer-
toys sity of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1980 3 pages
Homemade Battery Powered Toys and Educational Local Radio Shack Stores are convenient places to
Devices for Severely Handicapped Children, second buy electrical sup 9S Electronics stores also
edition, by Linda Burkhart, 8315 Potomac Avenue, sell these parts, ti, are listed in the yellow
College Park, MD 20740, 1982 50 pages $5 00 pages under "Electronic Equipment and Supplies"
plus $1 00 postage and handling This book gives
simple directions for constructing toys and
switches that can be easily operated by seveely
and profoJndly handicapped children No special
skills are needed to make them All supplies can
be found around the the house or purchased inex-
pensively at local stores One example is a head
control ',witch The materials cost about $2 50
and takes about half an hour to construct The
switch is attached to the child's head with a
barrette and plugged into a toy or tape recorder
When the child lifts his or her head, the music or
toy turns on, thus giving the child a reason to
lift their head
The following organizations are currently dein Ontario Crippled Children Centre
research in the area or control Rehabilitation Engineering Dept
350 Rumsey Road
Artificial Language Laboratory Toronto, Ontario MTG 1R8
Department of Computer Science Canada
Michigan State University (416) 425-6220
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-6622 Palo Alto Veterans Administration
Contact John Eulenberg Medical Center
Reh,,bilitati(m Eng :near.ng R&D Service
Assistive Device Center 3801 Miranda, Bldg 51
California State University, Sacramento Palo Alto, CA 94304
6000 "J" Street (415) 493-5000
Sacramento, CA 95814 Contact David Jaffe
(916) 454-5422
The Trace Center
Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation University of Wisconsin
of Kansas, Inc 1500 Highland Avenue
Rehabilitation Engineering Center 314 Weisman Center
P 0 Box 8217 Madison, WI 53706
2021 N Old Manor (608) 262-6596
Wichita, KS 67208
(316) 688-1881 Tufts New England Medical Center
Rehabilitation Fngineering Center
Children's Hospital at Stanford 171 Harrison Avenue
Rehabilitation Engineering Center P 0 Box 1014
520 Willow Road Boston, MA 02111
Palo Alto, CA 94304 (617) 956-5625
(415) 327-4800, ext 345
University of Tennessee
Children's Hospital Medical Center Rehabilitation Engineering Center
Rehabilitation Engineering .;enter 682 Court Avenue
300 Longwood Aver,ue Memphis, TN 38163
Boston, MA 02115 (901) 528-6445
(617) 735-6594
University of Virginia
Institute of Rehabilitation biledictne Rehabilitation Engineering Center
Rehabilitation Engineering Center P 0 Box 3363, University Station
New York University Medical Center Charlottesville, VA 22903
400 East 34th Sheet (804) 977-6730
New York, NY 10016
1212) 340-6042
Contact Myron Yo, -fin "r;,e following commercial manufact:rers are also
doing focused research in the area of control
Massachusetts Institute of Technology They can also develop or adapt special one-of-a-
Rehabil,'ation Engineering Center Kind controls
Building 31, Room 63
Cambridge, MA 02139 11J-11 Control Systems Group, Inc
(617) 253-5333 8769 Township Road 513
Contact Michael Rosen Shreve, OH 44676
(216) 597-2906
Moss Rehabilitation Hospital
Rehabilitation Engineering Center Prentke Romich Company
12th Street and Tabor Road 8769 Twp Road 13
Philadelphia, PA 19141 Shreve, OH 44676
(215) 329-5715 (216) 567 ''906
Contact: Serge Minassian
Zygo Industries, Inc
Northwestern University P 0 Box 1008
Rehabilitation Engineering Center Portland, OR 47207
345 East Superior St , Room 1441 (5031 297-1724
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 649-8560
Contact. Dudley Childress
00
4 . .-,,,
202 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 202
CONTROL, COMMUNICATION AND SENSORY AIDS
COMMUNICATION
This response to a commonly asked question was conversation and interaction (since a second per-
written by the Trace Center, although focused on a son is there by definition in conversation), these
child, It is also relevant for adults who need aids can be very important for providing the indi-
communication assistance It is particularly vidual with a means of doing independent work and
interesting for its inclusion of WRITING as a writing
communication technique, an area is far too fre-
quently overlooked (editor) Writing
"Communication aids are also available These "This problem is compounded by the fact that there
aids are essentially automated versions of the are many therapy and tramina technique., which can
fundamental (non-technical) techniques described greatly enhance the physical abilities which a
above The primary advantage of aids is that they given child (or adult) is able to exhibit Some-
allow the individual to be able to assemble mes- one familiar with and trained in these specific
sages independently. While not as essential for 2itilitigies may well be able to mterface a child
-e0
203 TECHNO: 'ICY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 1111114 203
CONTROL COMMUNICATION AND SENSORY AIDS
to a r ich faster aid than a person less familiar Orthopedic, and Related Research) (15 pgs) A
with tnese strategies Because the field is so summary/overview presentation of 5augmentative
new, there is a severe shortage of these specially modes of communication for severely physically
trained individua.;s at the present time Efforts involved individuals This was prepared as an
are being made to document these specific strate- introduction for individuals not familiar with the
gies and to make them available to individuals field but interested in a short overview of '
through special training materials and programs Issues This paper includes SELECTING API-A0PRIATE
COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL AIDS A PARALLEL PRO-
Information Sources FILE APPROACH
"In the meantime, you may want to invest some time Initiating Communication Systems for Severely
learning about the various techniques and ap- Speech-Impaired Persons L Bottorf and 0
proaches yourself This will assist you in your De Pape. Published in Topics in Language Disor-
interactions with professional teams The. first ders, March, 1982. (16 pgs) Describes the goals
recommendation is that you subscribe to Communica- of an effective augmentative communication program
tion Outlook. This very application-oriented facilitating interaction between nonspeaking
newsletter gives you a window on all of the latest clients and their environments Diagnostic inter-
developments in this field Thi includes inform- vention techniques, assessment of present strate-
ation on new aids as well as new bookq and publi- gies, and standardized assessment tools are
cations which come out in this area In addition discussed
to subscribing to the newsletter, you may want to
also get copies of the back issues, since there Non-Vocal Communication Techniques and Aids for
are many things which have already occurred about the Severely Physically Handicapped Edited by
which you may want to be aware, but which would G C. Vanderheiden and K. Grilley Based upon
otherwise be very difficult to find transcriptions of the 1975 Trace Center National
Workshop Series on Non-Vocal Communication Tech-
"For general introduction information on the niques and Aids Designed for clinicians and
various techniques, you might look at Non-Vocal teachers, this book forms an introductory text and
Communication Techniques and Aids for the Severely sourcebook summarizing information on non-vocal
Physically Handicapped, by Vanderheiden and communication aids and techniques that have been
Gt.' Iley, and/or several chapters in Non Speech developed and applied around the world
Language Intervention Strategies by Richard
Schiefelbusch Both of these books contain over- The Rehabilitation Aids Resource Book Telecommu-
views of the basic approaches as well as specific nication, Monitoring, and Environmental Control
information on symbol systems and the design of Currently being prepared by the Trace Center, 314
fundamental communication boards. For a listing Weisman Center, University of Wisconsin, 1500
of all of the existing commercially available Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705
aids, the most comprehensive source available is
the Non-Vo al Communication Resource Book This
is a three-ring binder which contains a two-page These publications, and a lost of other Trace
description, including photograph, of each of the publications, can be obtained from the Trace
aids which is available in this area. There is Center Reprint Service, Weisman Center, 1500 High-
also an Update Subscription Service for the book, land Avenue, Madison WI 53705, 608/262-6966.
which prepares and sends out new entries so that
you can be apprised of all of ine latest develop- Writing & Typing
ments. (Also see The Comparative Chart of Com-
mercially Available Communication Aids, available Aids for Handicapped Learners Reference and
from Prentke Romich Company, 8769 Township Roac Information Section, Division for the Blind and
513, Shreve OH 446761" Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress,
Washington DC 20542. Devices and techniques for
hanciing books, writing, and typing. Free
PUBLICATIONS RELA.,(ED TO COMMUNICATION
AVAILABLE FROM THE TRACE CENTER IBM's Handicapped Purchasing Program offers re-
built, used typewriters at a low price to indivi-
1983 Revised Non-Vocal Communication Resource duals having a letter from their doctor indicating
Book. G. C Vanderheiden, L Krause, 1983 they are disabled and would receive therapeutic
This resource book provides a two-page description benefit from a typewriter Call your local IBM or
(including picture) of over 90 commercially avail- write to IBM, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite
able t: Kis for non-vocal communication Revised in 2100, Los Angeles, CA 90067, attn Dave Kelley
1983 to include all of the entries which have been
added in the three sets of updates since original "Wm-Conversational Communication Technology Needs
publication. 3-hole punched and bound in a 3-ring of Individuals with Handicaps G Vanderheiden
plastic binder NOTE. If you have the original Rehabilitation World, Vol 7, No 2, Summer 1983
book AND ALL THE UPDATES, you will not want to 6 60 Six basic areas of concern are described as
order this book, since it does not contain encompassing the full spectrum of communication
additional information Updates are made available needs for the severely physically handicapped
periodically to keep the Resource Book current person A review of current technology available
to meet address these needs, and a vision of
AUGMENTATIVE MODES OF COMMUNICATION FOR THE future developments, is presented
SEVERELY SPEECH A90 MOTOR IMPAIRED G C
Vanderheiden, 1979 (Prepared for Congenital Mal-
formation Its Clinical Managements: Clinical, A.. x
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
in the past 10 years, there has been a virtual Intervention Language Intervention Series
explosion of information and equipment available Volume IV Richard Schiefelbusch, Editor Uni-
for the development of nonverbal communication versity Park Press, 233 East Redwood Street,
systems for severely disabled individuals The Baltimore, MD 529 pages 1980 This book
field has grown from an isolated specialty area of examines a wide range of issues relating to
several disciplines into an integral multidisci- language and communication to find viable alterna-
plinary component of rehabilitation programs tives for children who cannot speak It takes a
Fortunately, several excellent texts on nonverbal broad look at communication functions and presents
system selection and implementation have been models and strategies for developing alternatives
recently published e g, Silverman (1980) and for impaired individuals
Musselwhite and St Louis (1982) In addition,
Communication Outlook, a publication focusing on Making the important point that communication
communication aids and techniques, has become an without speech is better than no communication at
effective vehicle for updating the rapid advance all, the chapter authors discuss the design of
of technology in this area" James Heller, Rehab other ways that will enable children to enjoy the
Literature, November, 1983, p 364 benefits of communication, enhance cognitive deve-
lopment, extend social participation, and streng-
then their eventual economic well-being
Books
For some individuals, an alternative symbol system
Communication for the Speechless F H Silverman will facilitate the attainment of far more complex
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Prentice-Hall, 1980 and more standard forms of communication,
including speech rot others, the alternative
Communication Programming for the Severely Handi- mode will provide a way into a subculture, into a
capped Vocal and Non-Voca! Strate_gies C P. learning environment, into human fellowship, or
Musselwhite and K.W St Louis College Hill, San into a new world of human dignity It offers
Diego, CA, 1982 specialists n communication a deeper under-
standing of symbolic processing, as well as speci-
Communication Systems for Severely Handicapped fic reviews of research into nonspeech communi-
Persons Brenda C Fairweather, Donna H Haun, cation
and Louis J Finkie Charles C Thomas, Spring-
field, IL 102 pp, figures 1982 Fair- The book is based on invited papers given at The
weather, Haun and Finkle present a his torically Nonspeech Language Conference held at Gulf Shor,s,
incomplete approach to non-verbal commu nication Alabama, in March, 1977, and is considered by many
system selection Although their description of to be a classic in the field
switches is clear and relatively current, their
evaluation of technical systems has already been See also Publications Aval:able from the Trace
dated by the rapid advance of techno logy This Center on page 204
text is best utilized as one of many resources for
nonverbal system selection" (James H Heller,
Rehabilitation Literature, November- December Periodicals
1983, Vol 44, No 11-12)
Communication Outlook Artificial Language Lab-
Directory of Telecommunication Aids for Disabled oratory, Computer Science Department, Michigan
People Prepared by Bell Canada. on behalf of the State University, East Lensing, MI 48824 Sub-
Canadian Telecommunication Carriers Assn, Ottawa, scriptions $10 00 ($12 00 outside North Amer cal
Ontario, Canada This directory of telecommunica- for whole volumes (4 issues), $3 00 for singly
tion aids is intended to be a quick reference for copies Communication Outlook is a quarterly
people who are concerned with the telecommunica- newsletter addressed to the community of indivi-
tions of hard-of-hearing, deaf, speech impaired, duals interested in the application of technology
visually-impaired and motion handicapped people to the needs of persons who experience communica-
An attempt has been made to compile the informa- tion handicaps due to neurological or neuromus-
tion which is availabio for various sources both cular conditions, edited and published Jointly by
in North America and abroad the Artificial Language Laboratory, Michigan State
University, and the Trace Center for the Severely
The devices are categorized by the function which Communicatively Handicapped, University of
they perform in relation to telecommunications, Wisconsin It is the principal publication cf the
especially with reference to the telephone Each International Society for Augmentative and Al-
aid is described briefly Its manufacturer, dis- ternative Communication (ISAAC)
tributor or contact is listed, and its approximate
price, when available, is recorded Research Medical World News The Newsmagazine of Medicine,
which is known to be currently underway for deve- Vol 23, No 13, June 21, 1982 211 E 43 Street,
loping more aids related to these functions is New York, NY 10017 This issue carried twit_
also briefly outlined Following this list of articles on technology for rehabilitation, "For
aids and research, some existing services relating the Disabled New Voices, New Freedom," and "Com-
to telecommunications for disabled people are puters May Let Two Quadriplegics Walk in This
discussed. Summer's Sunshine"
Rehabilitation World, Summer, 1983 Availatte Language Center in East Lansing, MI Under the
from Rehabilitation International USA 1123 Broad- supervision of the Center's Director, John
way, New York, NY 10010,212/620-4040 This Eulanbarg, appropriate technology for Mr Boyaeii
issue devoted to commt.nication aids for people and others is devices Second prize, 1982 Inter-
with speech impairments. In th ; special Issue, national Rehabilitation Film Festival in Technical
experts in a number of communication-related areas Aids
probe new technological possibilities, from key-
board-operated speaking systems to simple micro- Nonspeech Communication Augmentative Systems
phones. Many of the articles are supplemented Videotape, color, 330 minutes 1981 Presented
with photographs and other illustrations, and even by Macalyne Fristoe and Lyle L Lloyd, Purdue
some of the technically oriented advertisements University Produced and distributed by Purdue
may he found informative. University, Continuing Education Business, Rm 110
Stewart Center, Parole University, West Lafayette.
Articles include the following "Communication IN 47907 Presems information concerning the
Disabilities -- An Overview," Bruce Baker, pp 3- use of maaual signs and gestures, graphic repre-
7, "Non-Conversational Communication Technology sentations such as Rebuses, Blissymbols, and com-
Needs of Physically Handicapped Individuals," munication prostheses, ranging from picture arra
Gregg Vanderheiden, pp 8-13, "Impressions of to sophisticated electronic devices
Eulenberg," John F Moses, pp 14-19, "Unspoken
Barriers," Jeffrey J Moyer, pp 20-22, "Aids to To Say I Am' KOCE-TV, California Distributed
Communication A British Perspective," Robert by Lawren Productions, Inc, 12121 Pinewood Drive,
Fawcus, pp. 23-25; "V ,:lomacy's End," Michael B PO Rox 666, Merdocmo, CA 95460 Severely handi-
Williams, p. 26; "Communication for Access," Lucy capped children who are also without speech are
C. Spruill, p. 27, "Communication Outlook," Tamara shown using an array of electronic and mechanical
Redburn, pp. 28-31, "A Personal View," William L communication devices which erable them to learn
Rush, pp. 32-39; "Nonspeech Communication A Posi- and "talk" with friends
tion Statement, from the American Speech-Language-
Hearing Association," pp 40-43, "Talking Com-
puters Enhance Careers of Blind People," John M
Williams, pp 53-56
Audiovisuals
SERVICE CENTERS
These are some agencies that can provide assess- Northridge Hospital Medical Center
ment and other services in the area of communi- Innovative Communication Aids for
cation and control for people with physical the Non Verbal (ICAN)
disabilities No endorsements are implied by 183200 Rosco Blvd
inclusion on this list If you have information Northridge, CA 91328
to add to, change, or delete from this list, Contact Gail L Pickering
please send it to the RESNA Sourcebook editor Program Coordinator
Maryland Minnesota
Texas
Washington
Wisconsin
Canada
,, )0 0
Arkansas Nebraska
Bay Area Non-Oral Communication Group New Jersey Augmentative Communication Task Force
c/o Marywin Deegan c/o Joan Bruno
4802 Lawton Avenue Children's Sb .! shore House
Oakland, CA 94609 4100 Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08404
San Diego Non-Oral Advocacy Group 1609) 345-5191
c/o Nany Oro
United Cerebral Palsy center
7947 Birmingham Drive New York
San Diego, CA 92123
(619) 278-5429 Buffalo Augmentative Communication Group
c/o Cheryl Rogers, LSP/Speech Department
Southern California Communication Group United Cerebral Palsy Association
8114 West 83rd Street of Western New York
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 31 Rosslor Street
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
(716) 89'-1351
Idaho
METRO I CAN
Idaho Nonvocal Group c/o Roslyn Holliday Moore
Susan Lijegreen 116-39 167 Street
Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology Jamaica, NY 11434
Idaho State University
Box 8116 Non-Vocal Communication Group
Pocatello, ID 83209-0009 of Greater New York
(208) 236-3495 19-10 Parsons Boulevard
Whitestone, NY 11357
Contact Arlene Kraat
Massachusetts (212) 520-7358
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
Canada
4 ) 0 -.
14. /6
SENSORY AIDS
The next two will cover Reading Aids for the Partially Sighted A Sys-
tematic Classification and Procedure for Pre-
13 Aids for the Visually Summer 1984 scribing. Louise Sloan, Williams & Wilkins,
Impaired Elderly Baltimore, MD. 150 pages. $12 95 1977 Cri-
14 Tactile Maps Fall 1984 teria for selecting and evaluating optical and
non-optical reading aids. Illustrations accompany
These publications are a valuable source of in- many of the descripticne
for ,cation, as they are designed to be a consumer
report on aids and appliances for visually im Sensory Aids for Employment of Blind and Visually
paired people The Review is available in print Impaired Persons A Resource Guide American
for free, or on tape in the Library of Congress Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New
format For a taped copy, send one C-9P blank York, NY 10011 Available in large print and
cassette to the AAR Editorial Office at the ad- Braille editions $7 50 1978 Lists devices
dress below Contact the AAR Editorial Office and and equipment which provide on-the-job assistar ce
ask to be included on their mailing list Avail- to visually impaired people Each entry describes
able from Aids and Appliances Review, The Carroll the function of the device, employment applica-
Center for the Blind, 770 Centre Street, Newton, tion, vendor, availability, and, in some in-
MA 02158, 617/969-6200 stances, price Listings include hard copy and
paperless braille devices, braille readout, tone
Aids for the 80s What They Are and What They Do output or voice output calculators, computer
C Michael Mellor American Foundation for the terminals and accessories, labeling aids,
Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011 measuring aids, communication devices, etc In-
1981 Free dexed by employment area
Braille Research Newsletter is a periodic news- "Sensory Aids for Visually-Impaired Clients"
letter devoted to providing state-of-the-art in- Rehab Brief, November 1982, 5 11 Many of the
formation or the production and use of the Braille difficulties experienced by persons with visual
reading system throughout the world The News- disabilities are met by technology in the form of
letter reviews new equipment, discusses new or sensory aids. This issue looks at sensory
innovative programs described the results of devices, techniques, and systems, primarily within
Braille-related research projects. and provides the context of aids that will be of particular
resource listings of manufacturers of various help on the job Available from U S Department
Braille devices. Issue #14 contains such tech- or Education, Office of Special Education and
nology-related articles as "Cognitive Processes in Rehabilitative Services, Mail Stop 2305, Switzer
Braille Reading," "Telabraille The New Telecommu- Building, Washington, DC 20202
nivation System for Deaf-Blind People," "Tactile
Diagrams," "Braille Stereotypes and Duplicators"
and others. Each issue is $6 (specify print or
Rehabilitation Engineering Center See also PERSONAL MOBILITY "Mobility Aids for the
Smith-Kettlewell Institute of Visual Sciences Blind", MICROCOMPUTER API,' 'CATIONS, "Access for
2232 Webster Street Blind People", HOMEMAKr.., RECREATION
San Franc.sco, California 94115
415/563-2323
Development and evaluation of sensory aids for DO-IT-YOURSELF TECHNOLOGY FOR BLIND PEOPLE
blind an deaf individuals
Dr Arthur JampolskY "Known affectionately to its graduates as the
Dr John Brabyn 'little school,' the Smith-Kettlewell Institute of
Visual Sciences in San Francisco is offering a
free electronics assembly class Open to all
Research and Training Centers blind cr visually impaired people, positions are
?.vailable for three students on a first-come,
Pennsylvania Cc liege of Optometry first-served basis
Office of Academic Development
1200 W Godfrey Avenue "Unique in the United States, the 'little school'
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141 provides pre-vocational instruction in solder,ng,
215/424-5900, ext 252 parts layout and hardware mounting Twenty-five
Orientation and mobility research for persons with students have participated in th3 program since it
:ow vision began in 1980 There is no formal certification
Laura Edwards, project director upon completion of training Assistance is avail-
able to finding living accommodations For mo ;e
Mississippi State Universty information, contact the program director, Jay
PO Drawer LO Williams, at 2232 Webster Street, San Francisco,
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 California 94115, 415/561- 1677"
601/325-2001
Blindness and low vision rehabilitation from Sensory Aids Technology Upda.e, November,
William H Graves, PhD, project director 1983
9
Li
California Center
Home Setting
Helping the Handicapped A Guitie to Aids Developed S ecial Devices for Hard of Hearing, Deaf, and
by the Telephone Pioneers of America Telephone Deaf-Blind Persons J Hurvitz and R Carmen
Pioneers of America 195 Broadway_ New York NY l ,tee Rr^we, anal Pornpany, Boston, MA 1:18:
10007 Call your local phone company for the name
of your local area chapter administrator elephone Accessories You Can Build J H
Guilder Hayden Book Co, Inc, Rochelle Park,
1-earning Technology and the Hearing Impaired NJ 1976 Has information on building your own
Frank B Withrow, Ph D, editor A.G Bell Asso- signaling devices
ciation, 4317 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC
20007 106 pages. $4 95 1981 "What You Should Know About TDDs " Diane Castle,
PhD Public Information Office, National Tech-
New Trends for Instructing Deaf People Rochester nical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute
Institute of Technology, National Technical Insti- of Technology, One Lomb Memorial Drive, PO Box
tute for the Deaf, One Lomb Memorial Drive, PO 9887, Rochester, NY 14623 free
Box 9837, Rochester, New York 14623
Gallaudet College
800 Florida NE
Washington, DC
SHHH/AD
4848 Battery Lane
Suite 100
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDDs) are A Service for TDD Users
growing in popularity daily A TDD lets a deaf
parson make a telephone call directly to another Even if the other person doesn't have a TDD, you
parson having sirntlar equipment, without the need can still communicate using your TDD There are
for an interpreter, since the conversation is several new services around the country which help
typed through one machine to another machine make the connection TDD users call the service
instead of being spoken. which connects (on a second line) by voice to the
called party Both lines are kept open simulta-
Some Sources for TDDs neously, so that a complete two-way conversation
may take place quickly and easily The service
American Communication Corp operator reads the calling party's typing on a TDD
180 Roberts Street unit, the called party then hears the service
East Hartford, Connecticut 06108 operator's voice reading and responds in speech,
Vo;ce and TDD 203/289-3491 which the service operator hen types on a TDD for
the calling party to read The same service, in
C-Phone, Inc. reverse order, may also apply for persons calling
553 Wolfner Drive someone who uses a TDD device Most services are
Fenton, MI 63026 operated by voluntary organizations and do not
Voice 'Ind TDD 314/343-5883 charge a fee The only costs are the regular
telephone charges between the TDD user and the
CYBERTECH, Inc service, and between the service and called party
P 0 Box 543 However, in some areas, these services are run on
Thornhill, Ontario a monthly fee-for-service basis
CANADA L3T 4AZ
Canadian TDD
Assessment of TOD Technol
Krown Research, Inc
6300 Arizona Circle Applied Concepts Corporation has peen awarded a
Los Angeles, California 90045 research control by the U S Architectural and
Voice and TDD 213/641-4306 Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to help
the Board complete its minimum guidelines for TDD
Northern Telecom, Inc use in federal facilites One of the purposes of
Advanced Telephone Products Division the study is to provide the Board with an assess-
640 Massman Drive ment of present and future tecAnologies for use in
Nashville, Tennessee 37210 TDDs A report should be available in the fall of
Voice 615/883-9220 1984 For more information on the project, con-
TDD 615/889-1627 tact Sally Free, Office of Technical Services,
Architectural and Transp^-tation Barriers Compli-
Phona-TTY Incorporated ance Board, 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC
202 Lexington Avenue 20202,202/472-2700 (voice or TOD)
Hackensack. New Jersey 07410
Voice and TDD 201/489-7889
Also see COMMUNICATION and EDUCATION & VOCA-
Plantronics TIONAL TECHNOLOGY
345 Encinal Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
Voice and TDD 408/462-5606
Ultratec, Inc
P 0 Box 4062
Madison, WI
Voice and TOD 608/273-0707
INTRODUCTION 227
USING A COMPUTER WHEN YOU CAN'T USE ITS STANDARD KEYBOARD 233
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE 236
PUBLICATIONS 236
CLEARINGHOUSES & CATALOGS 237
NEWSLETTERS 238
MASS MARKET COMPUTER MAGAZINES .
238
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 239
INFORMATION EXCHANGE NETWORKS 241
RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 243
IN SPECIAL EDUCATION 243
IN COGNITIVE REHABILITATION 244
VOICE INPUT 245
VOICE OUTDUT 245
COMPUTER ACCESS FOR BLIND PEOPLE 246
"By improving the applications that exe:, today, "When trying to select a computer for a given
we can develop the personal computer into a more application, there are a number of considerations
powerful tool for everyone" Actual purchase of the computer is generally the
last rather than the first step in this process
From the Introduction to Personal Computers The recommended procedure is as follows
and the Disabled, A Resource Guide, Apple
Computer, Inc, Cupertino, CA 95014 1 What do you want the computer to do7
"Very carefully define exactly what it is that you
want the computer to achieve 'I want it to help
In the not too distant future, it will be strange hir with his schoolwork', 'I want it to help him
to look "e this section called Microcomputer write', 'I want it to help him communicate', are
Applications wonder why a separate section not sufficient definitions of need These are
was pulled out of the ether function-oriented general goals or wishes, but not specific func-
areas in this book It will probably look as tions that you wish the computer to achieve 'I
pet.uhar as if there had been a section on the use would like the co,, ''ter to provide him wo i some
of books, or applications of paper and pencil In anism for printing uut messages' would
1984, however, we are not yet ready to position like it to provide a mech,nism for him to write
information on computers so!:3Iy within their func- out his homework, making corrections, both at home
tional application areas, e g, environmental and at school', or 'I would like it to provide my
control, education, worksite The field is too blind son with the ability to write out work and
i.ew, the potentials not fully understood, and we be able to detect and correct his mistakes both at
are still 'earning how, when, whet e, why to home and at sciwui are better definitions of
use this new tool effectively These tools may needs In making your description of the needs,
even make our traditional functionally separate use as many paragraphs as necessary, and be as
categories obsolete (home, work, play, etc I absolutely explicit as possible
More likely, though, computers will slip into the
backgrcund and become like the motor vehicle, a 2 Is there a simpler alternatve'
part of every aspect of our lives "When exploring solutions to your problem, look at
both computer-based and non-computer-based tech-
We are all influenced by this new terhnology niques or approaches to the solution Also look
Whether we are enthusiastic, intimidated, or Just at technology- and non-technology-based solutions
confused, the computer is here to stay Often, a simple strategy or technique may be a
more powerful and more flexible solution than the
Even if you are diligently trying to ignore them, electronic or computer-based aid
it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the
references to computer applications for lust bout 3 Is appropriate software available?
veryone and everything "No computer is of any value without software
The next step should therefore be to identify
Disabled people, coal education and rehabilita- whether software exists, for any computer, which
tion are obvious areas which can benefit from will provide the functions desired Carefully
microcomputer applications There has been an examine any software packages available to see
4-.)
4., '4 U
227 TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 227
MICROCOMFUTER APPLICATIONS
whether they provide all of the functions re- able in the final selection Also, if you do not
quired, or whether tiley will need modification see .7 piece of hardware or software that really
Modification to software can be extremely expen- meets your needs, do not be afraid to hold off a.,d
sive. or impossible. depending upon the comole-ity watt for developments The field at this time is
of the program, the language it's written in, and expanding very, very rapidly New hardware and
the availability of the source code Writing a hew computers are constantly being announced New
program from scratch can be very expersive A programs and special modifications are also being
program which could be purchased for $50-$100 may developed in the area of rehabilitation Check
co_ $20,000-$200,000 to write Many of the more summary documents such as the Trace Center Inter-
expensive progra may have cost $500,000- ational Software/Hardware Registry of Programs
$1,000,000 to develop and perteN Written or Adapted for Handicapped Individuals to
see what programs/ modifications are available or
4 Mao,: the software really do what y e, want it to under development in your area A short note to
"Get hold of - re software parkeees for hardw ,re some of the principal developers in the area to
modifications) and try them Out Melly pieces of ask whether they are aware of any new research of
software sound good when describer', but fail to aids may also be helpful in identifying new soft-
deliver much when actually tried Also, it is ware packages or special hardware adaptations
very easy to have ever-optimistic expectations of which are still in 1 evelopment stages and not yet
the value of computers in carrying out various documented"
tasks A good demonstration of the software in
use can rec:uce many of these problems, and help to Excerpted from Comparison of apple, 2p-son,
identify truly useful software packages or hard- IBM Microcomputers for Applications in
ware modifications/modules Rehabilitation Systems for Persons with Phy-
sical Handicaps 1984, Trace Research &
5 Which hardware does it run one Development Center, University of Wisconsin-
"If the software is available for multiple com- Madison, $8 50
putera, c eluate the various computers to de-
termine which one would be the best for your The complete document also includes the following
particular applicat i The physical character's ir'ermation
tics of the comet , its specific features and an overview of considerations regarding t
capabilities, the likelihood that at:jitional soft- use of microcomputers with/by handicapped
ware in this area will be developed for each individuals
computer, and the availability and maintenance of b) a cross-comparison of computers and their
the computer locally are all factors which should features
be taken into account c) a cross-comparison of different sized system
configurations for each computer
6 How can I co:n^ere them? d) a discussion of the different computers in
"If several computers appear to be equally good, terms of the consk.arations discussed under
some type of a scoring cross-comparison may be (a) above
useful. The individual items discussed would be e) a comparison sheet for evaluation o! your own
listed, along with a notation as to whether they needs
were absolutely .equired, highly desirable, desir-
able, or optional The various computers can then
be compared Any computer which fails to provide
an absolutely required item would be automatically COMPUTER SHOPPING FOR THE BLIND CONSUMER
disqualified Points could then be scored for the
other items, and the systems compared ayamst each Know what you want to do
other in this manner What are your mteaded applications? There
are no universal solutions You choices in soft-
7 Is the solution adequate? ware, assistive aids, and the computer, all depend
"Check to be .uie that the solution is sufficient absolutely on the intended application Don't
Just because you have identified the best of the shop the computer first and then look for some-
computer/software packages available does not thing it can do
guarantee that you have a package which is good
enough to meet your particular needs or to Justify Talk to blind users
the expenditure In some cases, ,- wiser to "If you know what you want to do, talk to blind
wait for additional developments than to move users doing the same thing This is the hard
immediately and purchase something which in fact part Unless you have a blind friend who uses
ill not meet your needs computers, you'll arr.' bly need help To start,
call manufacturers anet distributors of software
8 Have I got all the pieces? and aids specifically designed for blind users and
when you have identified a package which ask for names of their customers Local and
is both optimal and sufficient, proceed to pur- national organizations that won 1.iith visually
chase all A the components required When com- impaired people, many VA hospitals, and even some
paring do` nt computers, be sure to compare the computer user groups can prove good resources
entire ;7]...age price Often, a computer will look
tc be less expensive, but its cost will rapidly "A number of newsletters regularly print detailed
rise as all of the various accessories ant+ modules product comparisons, evaluations, and reviews of
are secured to complete the system unusual computer application; for blind user.. In
addition to Update, some of the better ones are by
'Throughout the process, remember that a litt' David Holloday (7171523-6739, too Giovanelli
extra legwork on the front end can prove invaiu- (Blind Apple Users Group) (516).33-0171, Vito
First find the software "Protection of software le--elf does not usually
"Software is the brain of the machine, it makes cause this problem Protection is only one of 6
the computer do what you want After tai mg to or more possible causes for this, and is usually
other blind users, you should know what your soft- not the culprit This problem is just as common
ware choices are, as well as the available aids in unprotected high speed software Some causes
you .-nay need and the computers they interface are
with.
"1) Software bypass of operating system to yam
"Here are some dangers to be aware of Line- speed
oriented displays software that displays informa- 2) New patch needed for program wipes out your
tion left-to-right on a line as opposed to full patch
screen) often requires 1*^e-oriented computer aids 3) All memory is used leaving no room for your
(called sew') And sonietin.z.s software is pro- patch
tected* so it will only read directly to the 4) Software just assumes empty computer and
computer monitor, thus t,ipassing your voice output kills patch by accident
synthesizer or braille device So make sure your 5) Software clears out computer to make sure
software can be intelligibly read by your assis- other patches from old program any removed so
tive aids and computer In many cases you won't user won't have trouble using this program
he able to use commercial software such as Visi- 6) Software clears out other programs and
Calc, or wo: processing packages that have full patches to help protect this program from
screen editing features being copied
"Finally, equipment interfacing (connecting dif- Another somewhat longer article on computer selec-
ferent pieces of hardware to the computer) is an tion for blind people, entitled "How to Select a
onerous bogeyman that haunts all computer users Compute' by Harvey Lauer, appears in the COPH
A ain, as with software, make sure your assistive Bulletin Vol XIX, No 7, 1st Quarter 1984, Issue
aids and peripheral devices all connect to the 50
computer and each other
Try before you buy Also refer to the reference books in this section
"This will be difficult, but before buying, ar-
range a demonstration of the system you've chosen,
including all software and aids This may mean
traveling, but remember, you're considering an
investment of $3000 to perhaps more than $20,000
Some organizations (see the November Update) are
now, or will soon be, fering hands on demonstra-
tions of computer access aids Also contact ven-
dors of special equipment for blind users, they
can sometimes assembt a local demonstration not
only of their device but of the other hardware you
w..t 0 try
Watch where you buy-
"Stay with reputable, known dealers. At the same
time, of course, price is a very important consi-
deration Fortunately blind consumers today
breathe a much more bracing, competitive air ti an
in the past. There are many good software
packages, voice output devices, braille printers,
and modified computers offered bv healthy, young
firms that should be considered Blind consumers
are no longer hostages to a handful of high ?mad
AN ISSUE OF ACCESS
IN Cl1RISCUTS AND COMPUTERS. PROVIDING ACCESS TO computers Although these handicapped individuals
COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR DISABLED have the few special programs which have been
INDIVIDUALS written for them, and which they can operate with
their limited physical abilities, they are unable
Gregg Vanderheiden, Trace R&D Center, raises the to use the much larger (on thi, order of a hundred
disturbing issue of how computers could become the to a thousand times larger) body of standard soft-
greatest new handicap that disabled people will ware which is being used by the rest of their
ever face. class, since they are physically unable to operate
it As a result, half of the classwork (and the
He points out that computers have the very great educational system) is inaccessible to them
potential of creating new barriers and wider ng
the gap between disabled and able-bodied people, "Other individuals, moving into the Job market,
rather than helping the disabled individual over- in that companies are not interested in the fact
come these gaps that these herdic,. ped individuals can use their
own computes and their specially adapted programs
"How does a computer become a barrier' First, we The employer is only interested in whether the
have to realize that the computer was not invented disabled individual is able to operate the ac-
for the individual with a disability We get so counting program running on the company's com-
excite:: about all of the potential uses of the puter If not, then he can't carry out the Job,
computer to carry out special activities for indi- and is unemployable, despite the fact that he 'has
viduals who have disabilities that we forget that a computer and a program he can operate. Care
the reason computers were developed, and the must be to taken to distinguish between having the
reason the technology is racing ahead and the ability to do something or operate a computer and
p.ices are dropping, is that they are very rapidly the ability to operate the programs and computers
being applied and incorporated into the lives of that are required This is roughly akin to being
non-handicapped individuals They are extending able to easily access your bathroom at home, which
the capabilities of ab.e-bodied does you little or no good if you cannot use the
increasing their efficien -y and effectiveness, and facilities on the Job It's not enough that you
providing them with new capabilities Computers can access a bathroom you have to be able to
are showing up at an ever-increasing rate in our access the bathrooms that are in the environments
educational system Soon thlre will be computers where you heed to operate
in ail classrooms, and they will be used as
routinely as blackboards and pencils and paper are "Even in the home, however, this problem can
today Similarly, employers are making more and arise As we move toward telecommunication sys-
n ore extensive use of computers in all aspects of tems where ordering and bill-payinr.; is carried out
employment Even in daily life, we may soon be through specialized communication links, it will
doing most of our ordering and bill-paying using become necessary for the handicapped individuals
computer terminals and the 'Ike from ou homes In to operate the specific keypads or control panels
all of these cases, however, the software is being on these automatic home communication systems If
written to be operated by individuals who have use standard computer terminals were used, then a
of all senses and fingers As such, they are for specially adapted 'terminal foi the handicapped'
the most part unusable by individuals who have might be usable More likely, towever, due to
various types of physical disabilities Thus security and other consideratiJns, ,cry special-
while we are busy providing handicapped indivi- ized systems will be used 't hen, what could have
dual3 with ways of using a computer to act like a been a very powerful capzioility for handicapped
typewriter, .iencil and paper, or environment con- individuals (remote ordering and billpaying) will
trol system, to parallel the manual activities of instead be available only Zo non-disableo
non-handicapped individuals, the rest of society duals
is busy moving on to the next generation where
many of these activities will be carried out much "Thus, although custom software programs can oro-
more efficiently and effectively in totally off- vide a great number of very useful capabilities to
ferent ways using computer technology Moreover, handicapped individuals, custom software is not
these new ways are designed to make maximum use of enough Access must be provided to the world of
all of the senses and movement patterns of able- standard computers and, most importantly, to the
bodied individuals, and may thus exclude many world of standard software, if computers are in
her dicapped individuals fact to result in a net gain for handicapped
individuals
"So, while the computer is advancing handicapped
individuals two steps through the use of special "The first method that come o mind for providing
programs designed for handir,apped individuals, the access to standard software is to simply modify
computer is advancing everyone else in society the software so that it can also be used by 'Iamb-
five steps Moreover, the five steps are being capped individuals However, this is an extremely
designed in such a way that the handicapped indi- difficult proposition, even when support from the
videal often can not take advantage of them, original software develope s is available Again,
thereby leaving them actually three steps behind for security and commercial reasons, most standard
software is a carefully guarded and protected
"For example, we now find bright physically handi- commodit7, making modification almost impossible
capped individuals being placed in the classroom, Moreover, the software programs are continuously
where half of the clesswork is being done on updated and revised, making it imposs....4 to keep
94
handicapped users supplied with a modified ver- tents of the CRT screen corresponding to that
sion. It should be remembered that modifying a portion of the pad are read vocally to him This
single program can cast between $8,000 and system can therefore be used by individuals who
520,000, writing a program from scratch can cost are biinaed later in lite as well as those who are
anywhere from $5,000 to $2,000,000 and up congenitally blind, since it does not require any
learning of special skills, such ac er3lik, etc
Transparent Access
"The problem, however, is not solved yet W Pile
"The only real solution to the problem is there- we iira now coming up with solid solution strate-
fore the ability to provide transparent access to gies to deal with transparent access to keyboards,
computers Transparent access refers to the the computer designers are busy inv, ling non-
ability of the handicapped individual to access keyboard me thous for input to computers Most of
the computer in such a way that the computer these input methods take increased advantage of
program cannot tell in any way that the ...put is the many physical abilities of the non-handicapped
not coming to it in the standard fashion For individual, as a result, they are even more diffi-
example, if a program is written to accept input cult for handicapped individuals to operate than
from the keyboard, the modification must be made the keyboard These input techniques include
in such a way that it is impossible for the 'mice', voice inputs, and body tracking tech-
program to tell that the input is not coming from niques In addition, more complex wdeo displays
the keyboard are being used, with heavy use of graphics and
visual-spatial representation, which will make the
"One technique that can be used is a keyboard task of providing alternate displays for visually
emulator The keyboard emulator is a small module impaired individuals even more difficult The
which is installed inside a computer between its development of new strategies to deal with these
normal keyboard and the rest of the computer Once problems, as well as the raising of the awareness
installed, it does not affect the operation of the level of computer designers to these problems, is
computer in any way The keyboard operates in therefore very important, and needs to be one of
exactly the same fashion as it did before The our highest priorities
emulator, however, provides a small port or plug
point where individuals using specialized communi- o), where do the cu b cuts come in? Let's ima-
cation aids can connect. They can then use their gine for a moment a town where there are only
specialized communication syster- (which they may roads, and no sidewalks of any kind Individuals
operate using eye movements, heuu movements, or in wheelchairs are not allowed on the road, and
sip-and-puff, etc) to generate their 'keystrokes' are therefore trundling their chairs across the
which are then fed to the keyboard emulator The grass This of course is a very difficult acti-
keyboard emulator in turn feeds them into the vity, so they greet with great anticipation and
computer in such a way that it looks as if they Joy discussions about putting little concrete
were actually typed on the computer's keyboard runways along the side of all the roads, on which
With a keyboard emulator installed in a computer, people can walk Although it's clear that these
a wide range of individuals having very different walkways aren't being put in for toe specific
communication aids and input techniques would be benefit of handicapped individuals, it also ap-
able to use the computer and all of its software pears that it will be a tremendous boon to them
without requiring any modifications of any kind to In all the celebration, though, people don't
any software notice that along with the sidewalks come curbs
Thus, when the whole system is in tiled, the
"In a classroom, for example, there might be fif- handicapped individuals find that they are now
teen computers lined up along one wall on which able to move very swiftly around on their own
the students carry out their written assignments, block, but for the most part are unable to access
etc Two of the computers might have keyboard these nice pathways that have been laid throughout
emulators installed in them, and a small 'access' the society Moreover, putting in the paths in-
sticker similar to that found on restrooms placed creased everybody else's ability to get around,
on the computers' cases Any individuals who are thus making the difference bc yeen their mobility
unable to use the standard input keyboard could that much greater They could put ramps on the
then use these two computers and control them sidewalks near their homes, or in the places that
using their specialized communication or writing they go to a lot, but they really need to be ab'e
systems When not being used by handicapped indi- to access all of the little pathways if ,hey are
viduals, these twr computers could be used by to be able to get around and about
anyone else The situation would in fact look
very much like a bathr rem, where one or two stalls "Today, we find ourselves in exactly the same
have been modified for use by handicapped indivi- situation with regard to the area of computers and
duals The difference here would be that the non- information systems Very rapidly, our society is
handicapped individual would not able be to dis- moving toward electronic assisted everytning In
tinguish in any way (except, perhaps, by seeing the process, electronic pathways are being laid
the access sticker) that any type of modifications throughout our society pathways w:lich could
had been made to the system tremendously increase the functional mobility and
capabilities of individuals with physical and
"For visually impaired individuals who cannot use sensory disabilities All of these electronic
the CRT display, substitute displays using tactile information pathways will be of li.tle use, how
and voice output are under discussion and develop- ever, if unrestricted access is not available
ment One proposed system uses a pad about the Patching one or two access points is not suffi-
size of a pad of paper, which the blind indiiidual cient, in the same manner that providing curb
touches Wherever he touches the pad, the con- ramps or ,urb cuts for some of the sidewalks is
"It is certainly a bright, shiny and dynamic Considerations and Approaches to Modifying and
field The potentials are enormous But as it Designing Terminals to Allow Access by Handicapped
races ahead and continues to evolve it will Individuals to Data Processing Information Re-
be a continuing challenge to make sure that we trieval Systems. G C Vanderheirl..n 1981
maintain open channels of access -- unlimited $2 00 This paper discusses sor .f the poten-
unhandicapped access to these systems and all tials and problems involved in ,King computer
of their s .,"ware This applies not oust to com- terminals and data processing systems available to
puters, but *0 the information systems they are handicapped individuals.
going to generate As we go through our society
developing and creating these wonderful computer International Software/Hardware Registry G C
systems and information h ghways, let's make sure Vanderheiden and L. Walstead $15 00 Program
we don't forget to build the means to access them and adaptations for microcomputers to facilitate
at the same time" their use by handicapped individuals Section 1
of the registry and listing provides a one-page
Gregg C. Vanderheiden, Trace R&D Center on Commu- description and a cross-reference listing of pro-
nication, Control, and Computer Access for Handi- grams which have been written or adapted for use
capped Individuals, University of Wisconsin- by individuals with hand,caps. Each one-page
Madison entry includes a description of the program, the
computer used, memory required, language used,
Excerpted from a Keynote Speech at the Indiana accessories required, and current status and
Governor's Conference on the Handicapped, October availability Section 2 contains selected soft-
13, 1983 ware that is not written for use by handicapped
individuals, but which is particularly useful in
COMPUTER-RELATED INFORMATION FROM offsetting their special needs. Section 3 pro-
THE TRACE CENTER vides a one-page categorical listing of special
hardware modules and adaptors to facilitate use of
The Trace Center has a 10-page listing of publica- microcomputers by handicapped individuals. Section
tions related to communication and computer ac- 4 provides additional notes on adaptations and
cess These publications, available from the tips on the use of microcomputers by handicapped
Trace Center, are individuals. However, if you are looking for
information on controls, switches, mounting, ac-
Access Problems with Computer-Based Services cessible accessories, etc, you won't find them in
E J Desaut vLs October 1983 Published by the the Registry, please refer to the Non-Vocal Commu-
tlAiversity of Wisconsin, Department of Computer nication Rescurce Book from the Trace Center, the
Sciences, Technical Report #516 16 pages Auto- Rehab Sourcebook, or the Guide to Controls from
mated library services which students intqrrogate Children's Hospital at Stanford, and to the sec-
through computer terminals are becoming common- tions on CONTROLS, COMMUNICATION, and ENVIRON-
place This report examines the situation at the MENTAL CONTROL for references on these topics
University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and ana-
lyzes the general computer access problem in lib- Practical Application of Microcomputers to Aid the
raries as it impacts upon severely handicapped Handicapped G.0 Vanderheiden January 1981
students $1 00 Microcomputers are providing rehabilita-
tion engineers with powerful tools for designing
Blissapple Description $ 15 lone copy free) cost-effective assistive &wises Potentials,
This is a brief descriptive overview of the Bliss- approaches, and current shortcomings are dis-
apple program, including a listing of the hardware cussed
necessary to implement the program, the capabili
ties of the program, mid some applications These publications are (Available from Repont
Service, Trace Center, 314 Weisman Center. 1500
Blissapple Program $35 00 (Manual only Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 Prepaid,
$20.00) This program allows a standard Apple U S dollars only, payable to "University of Wis-
microcomputer to function as a Blissymbol writing consinMadison "
device The program is on a 5" floppy disk The
price includes the program, a special "fix" disk
to allow the program to be double-booted, and a
2 3-page manual
The Trace Center provided the answer to the fol- is if it is impossible through any software means
lowing question. If you are still a little naive to tell the difference between the handicapped
about computers and don't understand all the individual using the keyboard and using his spe-
jargon, please refer to the glossary in any of the cial interface To accomplish this, a keyboard
mass market "intro to computer" books emulator could be used This emulator would r:ug
into the computer between the keyboari and the
How can I use a computer if I can't use its stan- co- ^ .ter, and would look electrically identir,al to
dard keyt oard? the keyboard The handicapped individual would
use whatever communication aid or interfa "e was
At the present time, there are four basic ap- most appropriate The output of the aid would ue
proaches for using a microcomputer or large com- fed into the keyboard emul.-^or, which would then
puter, even if y.0 have difficulty with the feed it into the computer as if it had beeil typed
standard keyboard on the keyboard By using a keyboard emulator,
therefore, an individual on a scanning aid, for
1) Custom Software example, would be able to use any standard soft-
ware written to be operated by the keyboard of
There are a number Jf custom software programs that computer (Programs which used game paddles
which have been written or adapted fcr use by or push buttons would require game paddle or push
handicapped individuals Some of these programs button emulator capability as well I Because the
require as little as one switch to operate These individual would be able to do anything from his
programs generally run on the standard computer "keyboard" that anyone else could do from the
with little or no midification They allow the normal keyboard, he/she would be able to write
handicapped individual to use the computer for pr-grams for the computer as well as run existing
these programs, but, since the computer can only programs
run one program at a time, it is not possible to
use these programs to control other standard com- Use of a keyboard emulator does not affect the
puter programs normal uses of the computer in any way The
normal computer keyboard remains active and func-
Some of the new operating systenis, however, are tional at all times, whether the keyboard emulator
allowing options which allow you to specify you is being used or not Thus, installation of a
want the "keyboard" input to come from in such a keyboard emulator in a computer allows access to
way that it does not affect the operation of the the computer by handicapped individuals using
rest of the computer or the use of the computers special aids, but does not in any way degrade the
screen for the display If a serial input port is function of the computer fcr non-handicapped
specified as the "keyboard" in this fashion, it users
provides the equivalent of a "keyboard emulator",
ar described below (*his emulator, howt. Per, will Commercially Available Keyboard Emulators
only work with software designed to run on these
operating systems Several keyboard emulators are currently avail-
able ?rentko Romich Company (PRC) makes one
2) Modification to the System Software which is designed to work with their Express com-
munication aids This keyboard emulator uses a
This approach involves changing tne firmware two-wire serial ASCII input on a 1/4" phone lack
(fixed software) which other programs use to read Although designed to work with the Express aids,
the keyboard, etc One could modify the BIOS in a this e.-iulator can also be used by ot.ler serial
CP /M system, for example Any software used in output communication aids No "busy" line is
the CP/M system thereafter could end up getting provided, the sending aid must therefore be care-
its input from a special interface whenever it ful to not send characters faster than the com-
asked for the input from the keyboard This ap- puter expecting them, or they will be lost
proach would theoretically allow the handicapped This emulator has a switch which allows it to be
individual to use any standard software written used with aids having standard RS-232 output as
for the microcomputer and opeiating system well as with the Express aids PRC currently has
Unfortunately, there are many pieces of software keyboard emulators available for the ..pple II,
which use tricks of various kinds to increase Apple Ile, Atari, and IBM
their speed or flexibility These tricks often
rely on an unmodified operating system or circum- ZYGO also has an Apple keyboard emulator It can
vent the or crating system (or monitor routines) also be used on the Franklin Ace This emulator
As a result, these software system modifications works only with the ZYGO communication aids, and
provide only a partial solution, and work with has a special connector which interfaces directly
only an unpredictable subset of the software for to the connector on the side of the ZYGO aids
any given microcomputer At the present time, no Since the ZYGO is not normally able to put out
good patches or modified software systems have full words, the keyboard emulator has been de-
been identified As thL y are identified, tha, signed to handle or provide some full-word com-
will be listed in the Software/Hardware Res,stry mands in addition to sirgle characters le 9,
"CATALOG", "R,N", etc 1 ZYGO also has the TETRA-
3) Keyboard Emulators SCAN aid, which is a special scanning computer
Interface which includes its own keyboard emula-
About the only way to guarantee that a handicapiiier: tor Other related products are also in the
individual will be able to use standard software A"' A...1 works
The Trace Center is currently working on a series (for multi-switch encoding) The card plugs into
of keyboard emulators The e emulators are being slot 7 in the microcomputer, where it is the first
designed to allow access to a broad range of to be scanned at start-up The card has a key-
commonly used computers and terminals Wherevn board emulator built into It which allows it to
possible, these modules will support a "busy" line control standard software The card also has an
to allow communication aids to send out complex interface box which mcnints to the side of the
command strings to computers These emulators Apple and allows users to connect special key-
will then meter the commands to the computer as it boards, switches, etc, to the firmware card, and
is ready to receive each successive command or use them for input
keystroke
The firmware card has all of its programs stored
The interface card by Paul Schwejda (see below) in ROM on the card itself Thus, it uses no space
also has a keyboard emulating capability in addi- in the computer for its programs In addition, it
tion to us other input modes has sufficient RAM on-board to be able to run its
programs completely independently from the Apple
Johns Hopkins University has also developeJ a system RAM Because the card is almost completely
Morse code interface which has a built-in keyboard transparent (i e, cannot be "seen" by the com-
emulator This unit is now being marketed by puter), and does not use or alter the main memory,
Medical Equipment Distributors in Chicago It is the card can he used with most software without
designed to be used with the Apple II Plus modification to the software
computer
It does use some CPU time, however, and could
For further information on these and other key- throw off programs with critical timing loops
board emulators, see the International Soft- One interesting use of the ability to Interrupt
ware/Hardware Registry the CPU would be to slow the program down by
simply stealing a significant portion of the CPU
4) Parasitic, Transparent Systems with Integral time Through this mechanism, the firmware card
Keybcard Emulators allows users to slow programs down from their
ordinary speed, which is occasionally faster than
The previous section described the use of keyboard the handicapped individual would des:re
emulators with independent communication aids
They could also be independent interface systems PLEASE NOTE that there are two different versions
which are physically built into the same box as of the Paul Schwejda Adaptive Firmware Card, one
the computer, but which have their own intelli- for the Apple II Plus and one for the Apple He
gence, display, etc This is the most straight-
forward and fool-proof method to provide the han- Software Approach
dicapped individual with a means for controlling
the computer in a way that will still allow the The second example involves a purely software
use of stanaard, unmodified software approach to the problem, although a softwcre-
hardware implementation could evolve This work
There are ways of accomplishing the same basic involves the modification of the operating system
objective, however, without using fully indepen- to implement other input routines besides the key-
dent systems These techniques, however, in order board This pure software approach is possible
lc carry out their task of being compatible with due to the design and structure of the operating
all software, must exist within the computer with- system Unfortunately, many programs currently go
out a) taking up any memory space, without b) around the operat,ng system in the computers
altering the state of any portion of the con- : Ater, Thus, the modifications we make for computer ac-
and without c) using up any CPU time Sin:,- it is cess would be ignored, and many programs would not
impossible to do all three of thec things, none be accessible Also, frequent updates to the
of the techniques in this category will work with operating systems by the computer companies could
all software The amount of software w " Nhich make "patches" obsolete Work is continuing in
they will work is purely dependent upon ow this area in coordination with the software/
cleverly they are implemented In gener i, they comput - companies themselves to see if solutions
are not as good a solution as using a keyboard can be developed
emulator and having the second computes or a ci,m-
munication aid do the actual interfacing with tr.e Summary
handicapped individual Techniques in this cate-
gory can, however, be less expensive than having a There are several ways to interface Apples and
second independent computer/aid other computers to handicapped individuals Some
of these involve modification of the actual soft-
Two different efforts in this area should serve as ware Others involve modification of the hard-
examples One effort is the Adaptive Firmware ware The best approaches are the one which allow
Card by Paul Schwejda, in Seattle, Washington The the computer systems to use standard software
second is a project under development at the Trace These approaches open up a much wider spectrum of
Center materials and opportunity to the handicapped indi-
vidual They also allow the individual to actual-
Paul Schwejda's Adaptive Firmware Card is designed ly program the computer himself
to be used with the Apple microcomputer It pro-
vides several different input modalities, The best ovotiall approach to the problem is the
including 1) assisted keyboard (for one-finger or use of a well-designed keyboard emulator Such '.n
mouthstick operation), 2) various types of scan- emulator would in fact be transparent (invisible
ning (for single-switch input), and 3) marse code to the computer), and would allow the use of all
/
0.., ).J
234 TECHOOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCESOOK RESNA 11M4 234
MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Addresses of urganizatons cited in this article "Network News" is a newsletter published by the
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network
Medical Equipment Distributors Illinois Special Needs Population, Turner Hall
1701 South Is, Avenue 205, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
Maywood, IL 61761, Volume 6, #3, Special Edition 1984
312/681-2828
Paul Schweida
Adaptive Peripherals
4529 Bagley Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
ZYGO Industries
P 0 Box 1008
Portland, OR 97207
503/297-1724
Just because an information source has "computer" Computer Technology for the Handicapped in Special
and "a word related to disability" in the title Education and Rehabilitation. A Resource Guide
does not mean that it will meet your needs. Nave, G.. Browning, P, & Carter, J. Eugene,
Oregon University of Oregon, International Coun-
Computer applications for the disability field c.l for Computers i,i Education, 135 Education,
seem to fall into 12 major areas These are best 97403, January, 1(183 190 pages, $7 00 prepaid
represented in a generic model (below) of computer This manuscript provides a means for interested
applications for handicapped persons from Computer persons to become informed about the newly emer-
Applications for the Handicapped in Special Educa- ging computer technology and its potential for
tion and Rehabilitation. A Resource Guide improving the lives of physically and developmen-
tally disabled individuals It is a comprehensive
it has become increasingly important to understand bibliography comprised of 191 annotated references
the potential of computers in our lives. But on computers for handicapped persons The refer-
hefore investing your time and money in books or ences, over half of which have been published
courses Gil Computers and the Disabled, make sure since 1980, were drawn from more than 60 different
you are going to gain the type of knowledge you periodicals, books, monographs, reports, and con-
are seeking, e g, if you are looking for special ference proceedings A detailed descriptive nar-
hardware and software useful in the classroom for rative is provided for each reference As
a child with a high spinal cord injury, you are reflected in the subject index, the materials
unlikely to find it in a book that gives wonderful cover a wide range of topical areas, e g, Com-
references to computer assisted instruction (CAI) puter Assisted Instruction, Functional Aids,
materials for learnno disabled kids In your Microcomputer Application, Service Delivery,
enthusiasm to plt..y into the world of high tech, be Management, and Research. These and other major
advised to be more selective than this writer was content headings are further subdivided For
-- or you, too, will have a shelf of useful books example, subsumed under the Disability/Handicap
that are mostly useless to you (Editor) heading are the subcategories of autism, cerebral
palsy, deaf, developmentally disabled, emotionally
handicapped, learning disabled, minimally brain
The publications listed below could help guide you damaged, mentally retarded, nonvocal, physical/
through this wealth of information, and help point general, quadriplegic, and severely disabled
to the knowledge you seek
Consumer Reports has an excellent series of art-
An Annotated Bibagraphy Comps. -s and the icles on computer selection for the general pub-
Physically Handicapped, 1981-1983 Available from lic They are usually available at your local
ACM Special Interest Group on Computers and the library (The Library of Congress publishes Con-
Physically Handicapped, Association for Computing sumer Reports on sound sheets)
Machinery, 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
10036 Microcomputer Resource Book for Special Education
Dolores Hagen 1984 224 pp $15 95 Almost
A Beginner's Guide to Personal Computers for the one third of the book is devoted to a series of
Blind and Visually Impaired National Braille appendices which provide information about more
Press, 88 St Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115 than two hundred publishers of software products
100 pages $12 00 This book is written for Products are groups by disability area and de-
puople who don't know anything about computers taileu information is provided about each pro-
It offers guidelines for buying software, defini- gram's use Management programs, information on
tions of computer terminology and jargon, a review hardware including adaptive devices, and resources
of six talking microcomputers and a chapter list- on LOGO are also included Highly readable for
ing information on manufacturer-, compute- clubs parents and teachers
and other useful resources for personal computer
shoppers
Education Rehabilitation
instruction Management Functional Aids
Student/ TeacheriSerwe Cr wnrnurucation indcr'"i'
Chem Prowidei Liofq
Physical
Disability
Developmental
Disability
1 ,)
238 TECHNOLOGY MR INDEPENDENT UVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1914 236
MICROCOMPUTER APPUCATIONS
Personal Computers and the Disabled, A Resource HHDB Online Courseware Directory Handl-House
Guide. Apple Computer, Inc, has prepared this CAI, 69 Winchester Avenue, Spruce Grove, Alberta
document as a public service to stimulate research TOE 2CO3 Canada 403/962-3933 Nardi -House CAI
into personal computer applications for the dis- is a division of DSS Decision Support Systems
abled. "This guide brings together a range of Limited, and was formed in 1982 as a computer
ideas and information to help people use personal software clearing house for individuals experi-
computers in applications designed especially for encing handicaps The clearinghouse responds to a
the disabled In it you'll find feature articles need for centralized information, consulting,
on how the computer is helping the disabled to evaluation, and registration of suppliers of com-
overcome obstacles that once limited career oppor- puter-aided instruction programs matched to users
tunities and Job performance You'll also find
articles on how the computer is helping indivi- Nandi -House offers an inquiry answering service by
duals communicate even when motor and speech func- which clients are provided with a list of software
tions ale severely impaired Some are using per- and suppliers matched to individual needs and
sonal computers to tap then creativity in art, equipment Information requests are maintained
writing, and computer programming for one year, during which new updates will be
sent to clients as additional software becomes
"If you ar.: a software developer, original equip- available. Additionally, its software customizing
ment manufacturer, or computer dealer, this guide service includes the provisioning and modification
will introduce you to specific personal computer of software on a time and materials cost basis
products and applications for the disabled If
you're already workmy on applications for the Data sources include other clearing houses,
handicapped, this guide provides a way for you to authors, personal computer suppliers, Ibraries,
let others know what you are doing " data bases, government agencies, research centers
and educatois
This booklet has an excellent resource directory
listing people and organizations active in the The Handicapped's Source, A division of Computabi-
area of personal computers for the disabled A lity Corp J A Reston Corporation, 60 Page Road,
free copy of the Resource Guide is available from Clifton, NJ 07012, 800/631-7277, 201/777-2700
your local Apple computer dealer, or contact Apple This catalog offers descriptions of personal com-
Computer, 20525 Mariam Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014 puters, hardware, software, peripherals, and the
services available to the disabled individual and
Personal Computers and Special Needs Dr Frank those who assist them through rehabilitation and
Bowe In bookstores and computer stores, or care services
available from Sybex Computer Books, 2344 Sixth
Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, 8O0/277-2346 $9 95 The MECC Educational Computing Catalog Minnesota
June 1984 Educational Computing Consortium, 3490 Lexington
Avenue North, St Paul, MN 55112 612/638-0627
Personal Computers Serving People A Guide to Contains a complete listing of courseware deve-
Human Service Applications, by Robert Lavine loped by MECC for the Apple II personal computer
Hawkins and Associates, Inc, Washington, DC, and the Atari home computer Containing a wide
1980 Includes an overview of hardware and soft- range -f sections, it includes one on special
ware and chapters dealing with personal computers education which describes several programs parti-
in rehabilitation, :ducation, creative art, and cularly suited to handicapped students
recreation and leisure, selection of a personal
computer, recommended readings, other information Trace Center International Software/Hardware
sources, and a directory of manufacturers Registry, Gregg Vanderheiden & Lottie Walstead,
eds Trace R&D Center, University of Wisconsin-
Signs for Computing Technology National Associa- Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705
tion of the Deaf Book Store, 814 Thayer Avenue, 508/262-6966 $1500 plus $278 postage &
Silver Spring, MD 20910 $10 95 plus $1 50 for handling 1983 Updated second edition, July
postage and handling This book lists signs for 1984
more tir 600 computing terms The book will
assist deaf people working in the computer in-
dustry, as well as managers and co-workers who
want to facilitate technical communication with
their deaf peers The book will also be helpful
for data processing instructors teaching deaf
students
The Catalyst Western Center for Microcomputers Sensory Aids Technology Update is a monthly news-
in Special Education, 1259 El Camino Real, Suite letter on technology and employment issues con-
275, Menlo Park, CA 94025, 415/326-6997 Sub- cerning disabled people This new publication is
scriptions Organizations $20 00, Individuals a rich source of information on technology appli-
$12 00 cations It is particularly valuable to people
looking for information on sensors aids (hearing
Communication Outlook is an international publica- and vision), but is also useful for other types of
tion which provides a forum for individuals in- technology It has features on new products,
terested in the application of techniques and aids special employment, education and training pro-
for people who expbience communication handicaps grams, unusual applications of technology, and new
due to neurological or neuromuscular conditions developments in research New publications and
It is a cross-disciplinary information source and interesting audiovisual programs are regularly
regularly has articles related to microcomputer reviewed, and each month the product comparison
applications. Subscriptions cost $12 ($15 outs de section profiles similar devices It includes
North America), are available from Artificial news from overseas. The articles are concise, and
Language Laboratory, Michigan State University, include references to guide you to further infor-
East Lansing, MI 48824 mation A typical issue includes Accessing dedi-
cated word j rocessors, Financing adaptive aids,
Closing the Gap is a bimonthly newsletter aimed Project Partnership; Equipment demo centers for
specifically at the use of computers for handi- hearing impaired, Apple software customized for
capped persons The newsletter covers hardware, speech output (December, 1983) A one-year sub-
software reviews and articles on computers as they scription to Update is $30 00, available from
affect handicapped people in education, indepen- Sensory Aids Foundation, 399 Sherman Avenue, Suite
dent living and employment Subscriptions are 12, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
$15 00 per year in the U S, $22.00 per year
Canada and Mexico, and $33 00 per year in all SIGCAPH Newsletter A quarterly publication of
other countries Write to Closing the Gap, Route the ACM Special Interest Group on Computers and
2, Box 39, Henderson MN 56044 Phone (612)665- the Physically Handicapped, print and tape cas-
6573 sette versions Association for Computing Machi-
nery, 11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
Link and Go is published by the Committee on
Personal Computers and the Handicapped (COPH-2), a
part of the Illinois Congress of Organizations of MASS MARKET COMPUTER MAGAZINES
the Physically Handicapped (COPH) Its pu:pose is
to search out, evaluate, and share information BYTE, Volume 7, No 9, September, 1982 BYTE
about personal computer systems as relevant to the Publications, Inc, P 0 Box 328, Hancock, NH
person with disabilities in its membership A 03443 $3 70 The theme in the September 1982
major stance of its founders is that COPH-2 is a issue is "Computers and the Disabled" Gregg
mainstreaming effort which will enable persons Vanderheiden discusses how "Computers Can Play a
with disabilities to use the same computer tech- Dual Role for the Disabled," r_md with co-author
nologies with the same attitudes as The public-at- Paul Schwejda demonstrates how to make an "Adap-
large The newsletter is an excellent information five Firmware Card for ',ne Apple II", David
resource Quarterly, $8 00, which includes mem- Stoffel reviews talking terminals for the blind
bership dues Available from COPH-2, 2030 West ard William L Rush evaluates the Abilityphone, a
Irving Park Road, Chicago IL 60618 for nonvocal communication, Patrick Dernasco
and Richard Foulds show how the Panasonic Hand-
gamed Dot Computing Newsletter This monthly Held Co:nputer can be used as a communication de-
newsletter focires on personal computer applica- vice in "A New Horizon for Nonvocai Communication
tions !or the blind It includes information on Devices", Stove Ciarcia brings you his latest
the use of low-cost Braille devices, voice syn- speech-synthesis system in "Build the Microvox
thesizers, paperless Braille, and the use of mic- Text-to-Sper h Synthesizer Part 1 The Hard-
rocomputers in Braille translation In addition, ware", Dr William Murray reviews The Cognivox VI-
the newsletter supplies technical notes and infor- 1003, a speech-recognition system, Bruce Baker
mation on the use of software and hardware pro- discusses his highly original Minspeak associative
ducts that extend the performance of Braille-Edit, memory system for portable speech synthesis and
a product of Raised Dot Computing Print or cudio Alfred Fant, Jr shows you how to use a line
subscriptions are available from Raised Dot Com- printer to produce Braille In case you're
puting, attn David Kolladay, 310 S 7th Street, thinking of marketing your own computerized aid,
Lewisburg, PA 17837 717/523-6739 see BYTE' cdEripts, of the FDA's regulations con-
,
....., ) ,. ,
IZZIONilmoricsk
MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS
`,)
.... () 1
9
Aws _r_
INFORMATION ON COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN SPECIAL education, and 3) software which may be modified
EDUCATION frsr t:or: ..se
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) was Computer Search Reprints
founded in 1922 to serve those who serve the
educational needs of exceptional children It has Computer search reprints are bibliographies w th
989 local chapters, 46 student c sociations. 58 abstracts from the ERIC and ECER databases Top-
federations and 12 special education divisions ics that continue to be popular are upcl...ed twice
a year Computer search reprints are $10 00 each
The following publications and resources on Micro-
computers in Special Education are available from 506 Computer Assisted Instruction for Handocapped
CEC, Department 5512, 1926 Association Drive, Children and Youth (100 aostracts)
Reston. Virginia 22091-1584 509 Use of Computers in Regular and Special Fdu
cation Teacher Elucation (100 abstracts)
Microcomputer Resource Book for Special Education 528 Computers and Gifted Students (50 abstracts)
Dolores Hagen 1984 224 pp $15 95 This book 532 Computer Managed Instruction for Handicapped
provides an under Ianding of the microcomputer ac Students (50 abstracts)
a life competency tool The full spectrum of
software and adaptive devices are described
Material is supplied on learning disabled, hearing Technology and Media (TAM) A New CEC Division TAM
impaired, visually impaired, mentally retarded, was recently organized to be an international
and physically handicapped Computer needs of association of special education professionals
each disability group are examined The advan- interested in technology and media, and its impact
tages and disadvantages of each type of program upon the diagnosis, treatment and educational
are weighed D'scriptions of real children's habilitation of exceptional persons It works
experiences with computers are included Appen- toward promoting a closer professional relation-
dices provide information about more than two ship amora educators and others concerned with the
hundred publishers of software products Products uses of technology and media with exceptional
are grouped by disability area, detailed informa- children, er development and dissemina-
t'on is p. ovided about each program's use tion of new applications, technologies, and media,
Management programs, information on hardware in- initiating and working cooperatively w'th educa-
cluding adaptive devices, and resources on LOGO tion agencies, government, and ,justness and oodus-
are included Shows how computers can work for try in research demonstration, and validation
children at home aid in the classroom efforts, and advancing standards for technology
and media to be used with exceptional individuals
Microcomputers in Special Education Selection and For more details on TAM, contact membership com-
Decision Making Process, Florence M Taber 1983 mittee chairperson Dr Charles MacArthur, P 0 Box
112 pp $7 95 Provides the kind of information 4_7, Vienna, Virginia 22180, 301/454-5427
and guidance school administrators and other deci-
sion makers need before committing themselves to a Project RETOOL, CEC Trammo Project on Mrcrocom-
given microcomputer system Considerations re- puter Applications in Special Education for Teach-
lated to software evaluation, hardware, and in- er Educators, Elizabeth McClell3n, EdD Coordina-
service education are covered, including rating tor, 1920 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22901,
forms and questionnaires Includes chapters on 701'620-3660 The RETOOL Center is in the process
effective uses of the microcomputer for instric- of forming a network of reacher educators who are
tional and administrative perposes, elementary interested in microcomputers 1 he purpose of the
programming, and special educatico applications network is to provide a means of communication for
Useful to the individual engaged in the selection microcomputer users who want to request informa-
and decision making process Also appropriate as tion on a particular topic or to shale information
an ;riser-vice 3r supplementary text for regular and and resources The neto ork will be using the
special educators SpecialNet system of communication Airy TED mem-
bers who are interested on technology and who have
Microcomputers in Special E, 3tion Special access to SpecialNet are, encouraged to join A
issue of Exceptional C1- Idren, ,ctober, 1982 bibliography, "Microcor.iputers on Special Educa
tion," is available from the RETOOL Center
Proceediro2s of thy-. Na, conference on the Use
of Microcomputers .r. Education Harttord,
CT, March 1983 MM Berhmanr., Editor, L Lahm, To get more information on CEC's initiatives in
Assistant Editor 7.3 pp $2000 Description technology, write Future CEC Training ao,d Tech
listed in Conference Procatlaings section, p 240 [-tonal Assistance in Special Education Techno-
logy, CEC Depe.rtment of Field Ser ices, 703/620-
Special Ware Directory LINC Resources, Inc 3660
1983 97 pp $13 95 A resource on microo.om
outer software for special educator, It lists Division of Physically Handicapped (DPH) CEC has
and descriL a ...ommercially produced software which one division supporting the Interest/needs of
is useful in special aducatio.i programs included educators of physically handicapped children If
'n the directory are three categories of r oftware you are member of CEC and not DPH, please consider
(1) software designed spez.iftcally for spe .al joming this division
education use, (21 software applicable to special
The Catalyst S Sweezy, editor Western Center INFORMATION ON COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN r:/..iNmva
for Microcomputers in Special Education 1259 El REHABILITATION
Camino Real, Suite 275, Menlo Park, CA 94025
415/326-6997. Cognit:ve Rchab;;;atior.
Odie L Bracey, Editor
erg The future is here" Exceptional
13, June 1983, pages 7-43 Among the "This magazine is intendei for those therapists
in this issue, which is almost exclusive- doing the rtay-to-day therapy with brain injured
I 3n computers, are explanations of computer patients It publishes articles on special tech-
t s, discur-ions on properly matching th best niques used in tl arapy, observations on working in
suited systems with special needs of di- rehabilitation, information on how programs are
children, descriptions of available devic set up and what seems to work and what does not
sonal narratives about computer experie ,a, and At least one complete and hopefully useful compu-
resources for parents ter program will be listed in each issue These
programs will provide statistical routines, data
1984 Directory of Resources for Technology in Edu analysis programs, record keeping programs and
computerized data collection techniques In addi-
cation D Lloyd- Kolkin et al Available from
Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and tion, utility programs for drawing and designing
Development, 1855 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA
screen displays, graphing and plotting will be
provided This publication provides support for
94103 $1295 softbound, $1995 hardbound 1984
The references are for regular education, not sharing information about the Psychological Soft-
ware service (P55) cognitive rehabilitation com-
special education puter programs"
Special Technr'ogy for Special Children E Paul
P "blished lei-monthly by B&B Publishing Co, PO
Goldenberg University Park Press, Baltimore, MD
Box 29344, Indianapolis, IN 46229 Subscription
1979
rate 's $25 per volume
"Tehnological Advances in Special Education
Computer Treatment f Speech/Language/Cognition
Exceptional Education Quarterly, Winter 1984 Disorders
Available from PRO-ED, 5341 Industrial Oaks
Blvd, Austin, TY 78735
This workshop presents a system for microcomputer-
assisted eatment of patients with speech,
"'The Use of Itiliciu,..-omputers in the Cognitive language and cognitive impairments, and can accom-
Rehabilitation of Brain Ajured Persons" modate up to 5 participants at a time It is held
Kurlychek R T, and Glang, A E Using Computers at Beaumont Hospital, so participants can observe
in Clinical Practice Psychotherapy and Mental patients using clinical software programs as part
Health Applications M D Schwartz Editor of their treatment on Beaumont Hospital's Rehabi-
Haworth Press, New York, 1984 litation Unit, in the hospital's Outpatient
Aphasia Program and during Cognitive Rehabilita-
tion activiti...s and interact with staff members
using the microcomputer with brain-damaged pa-
Model Training Projects for Blind Children t, ;nts at various levels of communicative impair-
ment For more informaticn, contact Michael I
Twenty-two San Francisco Bay Area blind children. Rolnick, Ph D, Director, Speech and Language
ages eight to eleven, will be taught by Sensory Pathology, William Beaumont Hospital, 3601 W 13
Aids Foundation (SAE) to use educational software Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48072 313/288-8085
on Apple computers The new program, funded by a
$50,000 grant from the U S Department of Educa
tion, hopes to demonstrate the aractical and com-
mercial feasibility of modifying off-the-shelf
software for use by blind students For more
information, contact Susan Phillips, Sensory Aid...
Foundation, 399 Sherman Avenue, Suite 2, Palo
Alto, CA 94306 415/329-0430
SORT CODES
(see code explanation, next page)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
OTHER NOTES (or continuations from items above):
DEVELOPER
COMPUTER
mown,/ REQ'D
LANGUAGE: PHONE
ON DISK? TAPE?
VENDOR
COST:
MACHINE READABLE MANUAL AVAIL; (Y/N & FORM) PLANS FOR UPDATING? (Y/N)
HARDWARE ENTRY FORM OTHER NOTES (or continuations from items above):
HARDWARE NAME
GENERIC NAME
SORT CODES
(see code explanation below)
1ARDWARE DESCRIPTION
DEVELOPER
4EN )OR
COST OF ADAPTATION
SCRT COOE EXPLANATION
MANUAL SIZE (PAGES)
A Alarm, Alarm/Call, and monitoring systems
AVAIL W/O HARDWARE? (YIN) COST (including monttorng systems)
B Business Systems (other than writing/editino
REFUNDABLE WITH PURCHASE? (YIN) see W)
C Oontrol Aids (including phone, self-care,
MACHINE READABLE MANUAL AVAIL? (YIN & FORM) environment control)
O Drawing Aids
Evaluation /Testing
G Gan (for haiidicarsped i idividuals)
H Hearing Impaired
I -imputer Aided Instruction (CAI)
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS (Standard, modified, or J Vocational Placement
custom boards, accessories ) K ,eyboard Modifications, Alternate Keyboards,
and Non-Keyboard Input
M Mobility
P Portable Aids (battery operated, and less
than 25 lbs (12 kg) inclurling battery)
O Cognitive Disabilities & rie:ramong
SOFTWARE PROVIDED OR REQUIRED (DOS, operating R Robots & Manipulators
system, standard proy,n, etc ) S Speech Output (NOTE 2 - speech input/
recognition)
T Telephone Communication
Visually Impaircd
W Writing/Edith-1g
Z Speech Input/Recognition
FUNDING 251
Once the orness of seeking funding has been ini- The ASSISTIVE DEVICE bulletin board on SpecialNet
tiated, persevere and appeal den'als The appeal can be Used to list used assistive devices for
process is educational for the third-party payer, sale or purchase For information on SpecialNet,
and successful appeals are precedent-setting PIT see the Informatiaki Resources section
future requests They force review of general
policies by the third-party organization How- Other sources for this type of exchange are
ever, care must be taken in selection of the first
case to be presented and in specifying criteria ads in the local newspaper
for effective use of the device and other services bulletin boards at Independent Living Centers
that will be required as part of the process and Disabled Students Programs
(i e, additional therapy) ads in consumer publications such as Accent
on Living and Mainstream
If frustrations with the process inspire veJ to electronic bulletin boards such as WeilNet,
write long, impassioned reoorts, it would be more Cornpuserve, and The Source (See secf,,n on
effective to send them to people who an actually microcomputer applications fJr addresses)
change policy state ani fedora, .egislaturs
You are generally westing your kim3 targeting
pleas for policy change to bureaucrats who are
only following the rules they are p ed to follow
ti Z
Local chapters frequently loan hospits beds for Application and Construction Notes for Laptrays
in-home use, ar sometimes other equipment to and Adapt Pointers 31 pages, V. 00 A packet
people who have ,-ncbr containing application notes describing the con-
struction of various adaptive interfaces and t.3 m
mull! cateon charts Includes Wobble Stick Toy
Tax Deductions Control (for battery-operated toys), Adaptive
Pointers (for communication boards and keyboards),
Geneially, any expenses incurred for medical care Slide-Away and Swing-Away Laptrays (for wheelchair
or equipment are deductible on an individual tax mounting), and t'olding Communication Board (light-
return and can be included with other me:1:cal weight and highly portable)
expenses that woulo normally be deducted Refar Design and Construction of a Laotray G.C. Van-
to IRS publications 502, Medical and Dental ex- derheiden 30 pages; $3.00 1977 This report
penses, 503, Child and Disabled Dependent Care, provides basic information on the construction of
522, Disability and Payments, 552, Recordkeepino /I wheelchair laptray which may be used as a com-
Requirements and a List of Tax Publications, and munication board. Included in this report are all
907, Tax Information for Handicapped and Disabled of the drawings and directions needed to construct
Individuals These ate .available at no charge a laptray communication board using materials
from the Internal Revenue Office readily available from local hardware and depart-
ment stores Simple directions and guideline. are
"151 Tax Deductions You Can Take" is a simple tax provided
guide for the person with a disability, this mono-
graph provides a listing of what is and what is Easy to Make Aids for Your Handicapped Child D
not tax deductible It is primarily a medical Caston Souvenir Press, London 1981
expense deduction guide and is therefore of parti-
cular value to persons with disabilities and their equipment for the Disabled (series) Oxford
families It includes information on the types of Rogional Health Authority, 2 Foredown Drive,
assistive devices tiidt can be deductible Written Postslade, Brighton BN4 2BB, England 1984 Each
by Gregory Thomsen and Paul M Mclnery, t is volume in this series contains descriptions and
available from ACCENT Special Publications, PO illustrations of commercially available e.i.ipment
Box 700, Bloomington, IL 61701 (20 pages, 1982) for the disabled, as well as do-it- yourseif ideas
Titles include Communication, Clothing and Dres-
sing for Adults, Home Management, Outdoor Trans-
port, Wheelchairs, Leisure and Gardening, Disabled
Mother, Personal Care, Housing and Furniture,
Hoists and Walking Aids, Disabled Child
How to Build Special Furniture and Equipment for Periodicals Featuring DIY Information
the Handicapped Child R B Hoffman Charles C
Thomas Co, Springfield, IL. 1970 Accent on Living magazine has a regular feature
called HOW TO, which lists ideas on adapting your
How to Make It Cheap Manual Independence Fac- own eciciipment The Spring 1984 issue's HOW TO was
tory, PO Box 597, Middletown, OH 45042 entitled "Hanging In Th, and presented solu-
Volumes I and II, $1 donation plus postage, volume tions that two Accent :rs have worked out for
III, $2 75 Line drawings of aids you can make or themselves, an electric lift and a hydraulic lift
have made, plus list of aids that can be ordered Accent on Living is a quarterly magazine, their
from this non-profit volunteer group address is PO Box 700, Bloomington, IN
An Instructional Playground for the Handicapped Rehabilitation Gazette (Gazette International Net-
Using Tires as Inexpensive Playground Equipment working Institute, 4502 Maryland Avenue, St
Activity and Construction Manual University of Louis, MO) also has DIY ideas in its annual publi-
the State of New York, Staid Education Department, cation
Division for Handicapped Children, Special Educa-
tion Materials Center, Albany, NY 1975 Technical Aid to the Disabled Journal (Ryde New
South Wales, Australia) is published by Technical
Making Aids for Disabled Living SE Grainger Aid to the Disabled, an Australian voluntary or-
Batsford, North Pomfret, VT 1981 ganization dedicated to designing and making aids
for people with disabilities when such aids ire
Playgrounds for Free Tha Utiliza, n of Used and unavailable commercially The Journal con ains
surplus Materials in Playground Construction MIT articles about the design, construction and use of
Press, Cambridge, MA 1974 aids, organizational news, and an inform.: on
exchange
Please Help Us Help Ourselves C Nathan United
Cerebral Palsy of Central Indiana, Indianapolis,
Indiana 1970 Do-it-yourself devices can quickly move into the
realm of "fugitive literature" Some examnles of
Rehabilitation Equipment ant' Devices Constructed the kind of information available are
in Wood Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine,
Publication Office, New York University Medical it for Remote-Area Wheelchair An Australian
Center, 400 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016 biomedical engineer has designed an inexpensive
1969 102 pages $200 Illustrates complete wheelchair that may be made from a kit or ordered
directions for constructing many devices, assembled The construction booklet is free to
including kitchen cutting board, kitchen lapboard, disabled individuals who wish to build a chair for
and sewing and embroidery frame their own use, but the chair is protected by
patent from commercial production except where
Strategies for Helping Severely and Multiply Han- license to manufacture has been granted The kit
dicapped Citizens G Greer, Robert M Anderson, and chair are described in a free brochure from
and Sara J Odle (editors) University Park the designer Robert Bosshard, Biomedical Engi-
Press, Baltimore, Maryland 1982 neer, Spinal Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St
Leonards 2065, New South Wales, Australia
"Teacher-Made Adaptive Devices for Archery, Bad-
minton, and Table Tennis" J Cowart Practical Plans for Making Mobility Devices for Children
Pointers, May 1978, (13), 1-16 To obtain free blueprints of a child's wheelchair
and tricycle, write to R J Reynolds Tobacco Com
Therapeutic Devices, 1956-1975 J Bellman, et pany, Winston-Salem, NC 27102
al American Journal of Occupational Therapy,
American Occupational Therap% Association, Inc, Por able Rocking Bea Plans are r vai'able on loan
6000 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852 112 Jr n Rehabilitation Gazette, 4502 Maryland Avenue,
pages 1977 Do-it-yourself instructions to- t Louis, MO
devices which have appeared in AJOT, includes
wheelchair trays, ADL devices, communication aids
etc
This book does not halo you make devices, it helps
Toy Modification Note Built-it-yourself Battery you invall them It is gene, ally available at a
Insert. G C. Vanderheiden 18 pagez, $2 00 good bookstore
1982 Describes construction and operation of
battery inserts to allow control of battery- Home Security Time-Life Books, Alexandria, VA
operated devices by handicapped individuals with- 1979 This self -help 'look on home security
out requiring modification of the toys themselves includes a section on accident proofing a house,
Full diagrams and 1perating instructions included which has 13 pages of directions and sketches for
reducing dangerous conditions in ba:nrooms and on
Vocational and Educatioriel Aids L Brabyn stairs Features instructions for installing grab
Smith-Kettlewell Institute Rehabilitat.on Engi- bars, slip resistant surfaces, stair rails, and
neering Center, San Francisco, CA. 1982 outdoor access ramps
Publications with Information on Funding Devices Report on the Advanced Topical Discussion Funding
Strategies for the '80s, RESNA Suite 402, 4405
"Financing Adaptive Aids" Sensory Aids Techno- East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, August
logy Update, December 1983, pages 2-3 Available 1982
from Sensory Aids Foundation, 399 Sherman Avenue
#12, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Describes several Selected Funding Issues in Rehabilitation Engi-
programs that offer financial aid and/or low neering Service Delivery Rick N Holte, MSc-.
interest loans for the purchase of sensory aids Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference on
for the blind Rehabilitation Engineering, San Diego Available
from RESNA, Suite 402, 4405 East-West Highway.
Funding Book The Many Faces of Funding Anna Bethesda, MD 20814 198.3
Hoffman Available from Phonic Ear, Inc 250
Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941 $25 00
(includes the Monthly Newsletter, shipping and These periodicals regularly provide information
packaging) Although focused on funding strate- related to equipment funding strategies
gies for communication devices, the information is
also readily applicable to funding for other types Accent on Living
of equipment Cheever Publications
P 0 Box 700
The book, a three-ring looseleaf notebook, is Bloomington, IN 61701
divided into five sections the Overview provides
highlights of sources of funding on the federal, Bulletin on Science & Technology for the
state, educational, insurance and private levels. Handicapped
Method of Procedure informs on how to package AAAS
funding applications, Case Histories inspires 1776 Massachusetts Avenue
ideas through "how to" stories, Legislation in- Washington, DC 20036
forms on any chcnges in federal, state or local
laws, and the Monthly Newsletters provide the most Communication Outlook
current funding information, and keeps the book Artificial Language Laboratory
current and updated Computer science Department
Michigan State University
"Funding Challenges" Myra Williams In Seal ng East Lansing, MI 48824
for Children With Cerebral Palsy A Resource
Manual, Elaine Tref ler, editor Available from Senso Aids Technology Update
University of Tennessee, Rehabilitation Engi- Gensory Aids Foundation
neering Program, 632 Court Avenue. Memphis, TN 399 Sherman Avenue #12
38163 $2000 1984 Palo Alto. CA 94306
or countywide basis, which can be a., add tional Both are th,ailenie , m
and valuable resource in finding specific programs
on 3 local level Capitol Publica ons, Inc
1300 North 17tH Street
Infortntofion on now orogr4mc whirh root,' ha ocarl to Arlington VA 777na
pay for assist ve devices can be found in publica- 703/528-5400
tions such as Communication Outlook, and the
monthly updates the The Many Faces of Funding The Yc II notice that these are not inexpensive If
following :s from Communication Outlook, Winter, not available at your local library, you might see
1984, page 2. if the grants and contracts office of yo' r nearest
major university subscribers and would let "Ju
"Public Service Community Develocment Block Grant read them
Funds are awarded to cities tj the federal govern-
ment to both provide new ser..nces and increase the
public services already available to individuals A FINAL NOTE ON FUNDRAISING
experieuring handicaps Several ears ago, the
city of I ort Collins, Colorado began using these if you and/or your agency are working on obtaining
funds to provide nonverbal individuals with commu- funding for devices, it is important to avoid
nication aids The city carefully monitors the being overwhelmed by the magniturfe of the prob'em
acc,...sition of these aids and for fi e y s con- If you find more and more of your worktime (and
siders them the property of the city for aepi eci- after work time) being consumed by funaing prob-
anon purposes, although users maintain exclusive lems, it may be time to reassess the situation
use of the devices
IDENTIFY whose res-onsibility fundraising is
"T'' project has also encouraged clmmunity
advocacy, heightening pubic awareness of its EVALUATE the input needed it car, take consider-
citizens' needs Most importantly, the new aug- able eff rt io get the ball rolling
mentative system user is able to communicate with
city government and elected of'icials If you can't afford the time, DEVELOP a network of
people who can do it or help you
"Beginning in March 1984, Block Gant Funds will
be set aside in each receiing cry to operate a IDENTIFY the rewards what they a e, and who
needs assessment for individuals experiencing yets them
handicaps Funds will Le allocated based upon
proposals submitted to each city Those inter- If all else fails, you might tack a nuts e on the
ested should contact their city regard'ng the wall
Public Service Community Developm. Block Grain
Fund, Se tion 570 201, Circular A-10Z, Attachment "TAKE THE '0' OUT OF FUNDRAISING''
0"
and reapply the a'.,ove guidelines Good Wet,'
If you want to learn more about fund.- available
from the federal government, --for to
Service delivery agencies are listed throughout this resource guide Each
has its own approach to providing technology w disabled people For mcre
specific Iformation on their individual programs, please contact the
organizations directly
There are several frameworks for looking at service delivery Some are
listed in this section Information on others can be found in the Pros-
thetics/Orthotics literature The ma,,` Independent Living Programs (ILPs)
across the country can provide help in selecting, obtaining and using
assistive devices but most of them don't have a formal "equipment"
service, so it's easy to overlook their model as a service delivery ap-
proach Unfortunately, most of the ILP information relevant to this field
is not written up, you will have to .ontact the programs directly
A MODEL PROGRAM FOR SERVICE DELIVERY Follow-up with clients and counselors indicates
satisfaction witn the program Project Threshold
Pro,.ct Threshold is e model program for delivery has evolved into a modal program which is being
of rehabilitation engineering services in the explored by other agencies nationwide who are
State of California It was desig a to meet the interested in developing similar proorams for the
unique needs of severely disab:ed clients who severely disabled
require specialized assistance in performing tasks
of daily living, assistance with management (3' Project Threshold is an example of a su, cessful
attendant time and activities, and/or pertormanee cooperative relationship between a rehabs, tation
of school and job related tasks The client's engineering program and a state vocational rehabi-
needs are met by identifying prct,lem areas and litation agency
then working out solutions to the problems'-us
increasing the client's le ,e1 of independence For more information, contact Nancy Somerville,
For more informat,on on how this is done, see the Project Threshold, 500 1-1U-", Rancho Los Amigos
section on EQUIPMENT SELECTION by Kathy Bowman, Hospital, Downey, CA
Project Threshold, in this Sourcebook
PAM is a cervice tor M'chigan, although out-of In July, 1978, The Bureau of Education for the
state requests also may be honored A majority of Handicapped awarded a three-year demonstration
requests fur prnhigim-en!...ing a,e :r1,t,o.ted want to the Memphis City Gulluuls, Division of
phone All ages are eligible for service The Special Education One objective of this grant
special education population (ages 0-25), rehabi- was to demonstrate that severely physically handi-
litation clients, and older persons are included capped children could partiripate more meaning-
Physically handicapped, deaf, blind, or multiply fully in their educational program with the
handicapped individuals often find the Centre assistance of te- hnical aids in the areas of com-
helpful munication, seating, mobility, feeding, and
toileting Technical services were contracted
For more inform tion, contact PAM Centre, 601 from the University of Tennessee, Rehabilitation
Maple, Lansing, MI, 517/371-5897 Engineering Center to provide and modify appro-
priate aids The project develop.d a model for
the delivery of technical aids in an education
setting, and designed an instrument to aid in the
prescription of technical aids
awn}
PARENTS
MEDICAL THERAPY SCREENING EACHERS]
TREATVIENT
SEA WES ASSESSMENT
-T- IEP
TECHNICAL
COMIAIC L
SOLUTION
---
rACLITY
CUSTCM- ",
EVALUATE 1 DESIGNED
wriu SOLUTION
TRIAL Al)
APPROVAL]
PROVIDE
TRIAL Al)
PROM(
DEVICE APVAL
APPROVAL
CHILD, ST
ARENT TRAINING
L RE-EVALUATION
MAPRENANCE
AV
The Application of Technological Developments to These publications address the broader public
Physically Disabled People Joseph La Rorra an/1 policy issues related to disabled people Each of
Jerry S Turem Publications Office, Urban Insti- these references includes references to technology
tute, 210C M Street NW, Washington, .)C 20047 use by physic4lly disabled individuals
117 panes $3 50 1978
Handicapping A.-nerica Barriers to Disabled People
Application of Technology to Handicapped Indivi- Frank Bowe Harper & Row, 10 E 53rd Street, New
duals Process, Problems, and Progress U S York, NY 10022 254 pages $1495 Introduction
Government Printing Office, 60-3190, Washington, to disability, attituaes, architectural and trans-
DC 20402 April, 1980 A joint report for the portation barriers, and programs affecting handi-
Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology capped Americans
of the Committee on Science and Technology, U S
House of rlepresentatives, and the Subcommittee on "Physical Disability and Public Policy" Gerben
Labor and of the Committee on Human Resources, DeJong and Raymond Lifchez Scientific American,
U S Senate, 96th Congress Vol 248, No 6, pages 40-49, June, 1983 This
article examines U S policy with respect to citi-
Health Technology Case Study Report #26 Prepared zens with disabilities The authors summarize the
as a background paper to: Technology and Handi- existing knowledge of the dimensions of disability
capped People Office of Technology Assessment, and the growth patterns ov.-,r the past twenty
U S Congress 1982 One third of the report years, discuss the extent to which disability laws
covers the area of "Information ,nd Funding for have been implemented, and suggest necessary eco-
the Speech Impaired It provides an analysis of nomic ingredients for a working disability policy
funding issues related to communication a.ds in today's political and economic climate A
major focus of the article is the area of archi-
A Research Agenda on Science and Technology for tectural accessibility Complementing the article
the Handicapped Janrt Welsh Brown and Martha are charts and graphs illustrating the federal
Redden American Association for the Advancement disability law., and the demographic information
of Science, '776 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washing-
ton, DC 20035 54 pages 1979 Rehabilitating America Toward Independence f--
Disabled Americans Frank Bowe irper & Row, 10
Suggested Approach for Establishing a f ehabilita- E 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022 $12 95 Dis-
tion Engineering Information Service for the State cusses the economics of disability and age This
of California Lo F Chesty, Gail Kelton-Fogg, book has many useful statistics for demonstrating
Ruth Lizak and Cynthia Vahlkarnp SP1 Interna the effectiveness of rehabilitation
tional, Menlo Park, California 271 pages 1978
The White House Conference on Handicapped indivi-
Technology and Handicapped People U S Congress duals, Awareness Papers, Vol 1 George Washing-
Office of Technology Assessment 'OTA, 1982 ton Univer- ty, School of Medicine, Washington,
Summary available from OTA, Congress of the U S, DC 466 pages 1977
Washington, DC 20510 Full report available
rom S/N 052-003-00874, Superintendent of Docu- The Unexpected Minority Hand '-aoped Children in
ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC America John Gliedman and William Roth for the
20402 $700 This is an excellent analysis of Carnegie Council on Children Harcourt Brace
the entire field of applied technology for dis- Jovanovich, New York, NY 517 95 This fifth and
abled people final .eport from the Carnegie Council on Children
Lomes to a stunning conclusion no other minority
The Use of Technology in the Car, of the Elderly group has its social and political oppressio- so
and the Disabled Tools for Living Jean Bray arid thoroughly masked Is the 10 million handicapped
Sheila Wright, editors Greenwood Press, West- children and 30 mi!iion handicapped adults in
port Connecticut 1980 Based on oapers at two America Th.s book is the first comprehensive
symposia held in London and Berl.- in 1979 under study to apply a civil rights lens to the problems
the sponsorship of the Commission of the European of boll, handicapped children and adult.; As tne
Communities The main Focus of this book is on authors make clear in this analysis, it is the
ways and means of putting better pr "ducts at the social rather than the biological aspects of
service of the elderly and the disabled in pre- disability that aoom so many handicapped children
senting a collection of international papers by and adults to stunted and useless lives The
industrialists, government o!ficials, financiers, author- also propose a radically new approach to
experts from r,onsumer protection services and disability
charitable organizations, as well as those working
daily in the field, this study sets out to provide
a blueprint for understanding how the development
of new and adapted products can most construc-
tive y be translated into practical help f or the
elderly and the handicapded
Accommodation Can Be Reasonable A Study of Accom- "After headaches, back pain is man s most common
modations Provided to Handicapped Employees by and intractable complaint
Federal Contractors Berkeley Planning Asso-
ciates, in collaboration with its subcon,ractor, "80-90% of all Americans will suffer significant
Harold Russell Associates, produced th Jciv for back pain sometime in their lives
the Department of Labor IDOL) It is the fi
national survey concerning acrommo.'ation practices "In the United States, there are an estimated 75
for disabled employees of private sector employers million people with back problems
who contract with the Federal govern ment
"There are 7 million new victims of back pain each
Some of th,.. findings of this study it dude year Of these, million are partially or tem-
porarily disabled, and 2 million will be unable to
An overall conclusior of the analysis is that for work at all
firms which have made efforts to hire worker' with
disabilities, accommodation is "no big deal "Back pain ranks second only t_, Jpoer respirato'y
Rarely did an accommodation involve much cost, 51% infections in terms of work time lost due to
of those reported cost nothing, an additional 30% illness
cost less than $50C, and only 8% cost more than
$2,000 "There are 93 million wo,kdays lost each /ear due
to back pain and $5 million ,pent annually for
Accommodations for ir.lividual workers take many diagnostic and treatment procE dures
forms, including the following training and
transfers 114%), Job modification and restruc- "An estimated 200,000 Americans will have back
turing (23%1, oiientation of staff and supervisors surgery each year A third of these will have
111370L special eguloiner,*, acid assistance 115%), additional surgery, usu..11:y fusion
work environment and location changes 121%1, and
other (9%) No particular type of accommodation 'Disc disorders occu, more frec,,iently in the prime
dominates Most workers receive more than one of the worklife expectancy ages 30-40
'e id of accommodation
"Once an individual has had a back problem, he is
The most expensive and extensive accommodations 10 times more likely to suffer problems again
tended to be provided to the blind and those who
use wheelchairs Higher skilled workers wen more and ancther ai ocle, 'Disability Does Affect me
s-iften prcvided environmental adaptatiors of the Economy," states
work place or special equipment than lower skilled
workers Lower skilled workers were more 'ikels "Some of the causes of current high interest rates
to receive Job redesign accommodations, e can be directly attribu ed to disability costs
training, o selective placement In 1981, 40"/., of Social Security benefits went to
medical payments or disabilo, ',come In add'
Accommodation efforts are generally perce.ved as Lion, $150 billion or 8". of the GAP was spent on
succassfs I in allowing the Eorker to be effective transfer and medical payments This money spent
on the r313 Firms frequently reported that the by government and indust'y should go to capital
accommodation would bsnet t the ernploy3e if pro- roves ment, which in turn 'iould add to a health,,
rr,oted to a neEi job a,-id also stated that often econc, / Companies could reduce these staggering
other nondisabled workers also benefited from the figures by both improving ri-house disability
accommodation management programs are] employing qualified dis
aoled individuals'
Availability of the report is limited at this
time, but inquiries should be directed to In "Engineering Aids Reduce Barriers to Employ-
ment for Severely Handicapped Clients,' Rehab
Mr Thomas Hodges, Development and Research, Brief, Volume 1, No 8, August 1978 Available
Employment Star lards Administration, Dept of from National Institute of Handicapped Research,
Labor, Room C-3313, 200 Constitution Avenue NW Department of Education Washington, DC 20202
Washfigton, DC 20210, 202/523 9145
'Making low-cost changes in work environments
helped clients perform more job-related physical
Disability Management Today The hi- monthly publi- tasks As a result, productivity of many of these
cation coieriiig business issues of employment of clients equals or surpasses that of nondisabled
disabled persons Michael Zu llo, editor Avail- employees doing the same tasks State vocational
Ale from Mueller & Zullo Inc, 16 Hudsor rehabilitation agencies paid for purchased equip-
Street, New York, NY 100;1 212/732 5557 ment and materials for custom-designed aids The
average cost per client was $153, with the range
Succinct well- .-itten tides contain information from $0 tc $1,806 The average time -equired to
and statistics which ,Id be oseful .n docu fabricate devices or install purchased devices was
menting the need and cost effect.veness for 21 hours, with the minimum 6 and the maxim,Ern 30
var,ouS technology-related services For xample, hours
in VnlJme I, Issue 3, "The Cost! Back Ri hard
(2:
26k. TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK RESNA 1984 262
FUNDING, MODELS, POUCY, STATISTICS
INDEPENDENT LIVING TECHNOLOGY: FACTS AND FIGI'RES SEATING & POSITION G DEVICES. FACtS & FIGURES
Project Threshold has been described in other "Provision of Assistive Equipment for Handicapped
sections of this Resource Guide (EQUIPMENT SELEC- Persons" J Kohn. MO, S Enders, OTR, J
TION PROCESS, SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS) Preston, Jr MSW. W Moltoch. CO Arrhiyec of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 64,
It is significant to note that despite the fact August 1983, pages 378-381 Data from the
that all clients serve, by Project Threshold are National Health Survey (19771, US Vital and Health
severely disabled, in 77% of these cases the solu- Statistics, indicated that 645,000 persons require
tion involved adaptive behavior and/or commer- the use of a wheelchair At the 1977 median cost
cially available devices and resulted in lower of $700 per wheelchair, the total expenditures in
average costs per client Only when these more the United States totalled more than $550 million
conservative methods had been xhausted did they Data concerning costs, service delivery problems,
turn to custom modificatio and fabrication of and equipment life span were not available in the
equipment for problem solution This occurred in literature The evaluation of these factors ap-
23% of the cases After developing and refining pears to be a major gap in measuring the success
their systematized approach to service delivery, of rehabilitation engineering services and re-
they have noted growth and changes in the program search In this study, effectiveness and relative
Initially, the vast majority of solutions involved costs of mobility-postural seating were evaluated
custom de.tices, now the majority of solutions art in 196 clients Of the 196 to whom a question-
found in adaptive behavior and/or commercially naire was sent 138 (70%) responded and 49 (25%)
available equipment were selected for personal interview Demographic
data were comparable in the 3 groups Eighty-
eight percent were entirely nonambulatory, 540/s
received electric wheelchairs In the 49 clients
Percentage visited 79% of ti,? ::::vices were rated optimal or
Service Categories of Cases close to optimal in performance, 21% were rated
limited or unsatisfactory Fifty-two percent were
Problem identification being used currently 23°/0 had been outgrown and
and/or adaptive hehay.nr 20°/, eplacer!, and 35% were not being used for other
recommendations reasons Of the devices to use, the average dura-
tion time was 25 months and the average time in
Evaluation and recommenda- use per day was 9 hours For the devices which
tion of commercially 570/o had been outgrown, the life span of the device was
available equipment 309 montl,s and the cost per day was about $1 50
Implications of the findings are discussed and
Evaluation ar d modification recommendations are made for better assessment,
of commerci7lly avaliaole 9 "/o follow-up and evaluation of both the assistive
equipment devices and the service process
Evaluation and custom The full report of the study in this paper is
des.on and fabricatiar of 14'/". entitled Team Assesainent of Device Effectiveness
equipment A Retrospective Study, by J Kohn, MD, S Enders,
OTR, J Preston, Jr, MSW, W Moltoch, CO It is
avaoable from Children's '-lospital at Stanford,
Service Category Statistics tor Project o20 Willow Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Threshold 1982-82 ITotal=-80 clients)
LIFETIME COSTS
IS COST EFFECTIVENESS THE ..NSINS117
The following chart is reprinted with permission
from "How Much Is Your Disability Worth?: Accent Before we get too caught up in looking at ways to
on Levin, Summer 1981 The rhsr,meau th. produce evidence of cost effectiveness, it. is
use of a human fasters analyst to determine the important to look at the results of this OTA
cost of a disability study
"The following is the summary of the goods and The Implications of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of
services needed by a 23-year-old who lost one hand Medical Technology, Office of Technology Assess
and most of the other in a punch press machine ment Congress of the United States, Washingto,i,
accident The figures are based on an ergonomics DC 20510 August, 1980
study done in 1978 The figures cover costs for
him ovi is remaining life span to meet his "The rapid and continuing growth of expenditures
disabili related needs No amounts are allowed is a central issue in many policy decisions con-
for extra medical expense, insurance coverage, o- cerning the medical care system of the United
earning losses States Policymakers, health professionals, and
consumers are seeking ways to control this growth
while simultaneously improving the quality of
Total Life Span health care Increasingly, the use of cost
First -Year Costs (without effectiveness analysis/cost-benefit analysis
Major Categories Costs inflation) (CEA/CBA) is being advocated as a possible means
of making the medical care system more efficient
A Prosthetic Ads $7 Q12 $90,966 In particular, this technique is suggested for use
and Services in health care programs fc' example, by the
B Special Exercise .`0840 $8,820 medicare program in its reimbursement cc .eranc
Atos and Physical decisions Nevertheless, a great deal of confu-
Therapy sion er...1 disagreement surrounds the implications
C Dressing Aids and $4,031 $75,273 and feasibility of applying CEA/CBA in health
Clothing Modifications care To aid in their decisions concerning the
D Special Home Aids, $52,370
. tee use of CEA/CBA in Federal health pro-
$11,896
Furnishings, any yrarviS, the Senate Committees on Labor and Human
Modifications Resources and on Finance asked OTA to explore the
E Travel Aids and $36,679
applicability of CEA/CBA to medical technology
$4,833
Special Automobile
Features "The primary focus of the assessment is on the
F Special Vocational $34,773 application of CEA/CBA to medical technology,
$7,202
Aids and Counseling e, the drugs, devices, mer ical and surgical
G Special Recreative $6,270 procedures used in iiiedical care, and the organiza-
$2,03G
H .Assistance and Extra $185,803 tional and support systems within which such care
$4,321 is provided
Services The findings of this assessment,
TOTALS $490,954 though, might very well apply to health rare
$43,1
resource decisionmaking in general and with mud,-
ficaticn, to other policy areas s...ich as education,
the environment, and occupational safety and
health
"Application of Dimensional Analysis in Deter- "This OTA assessment finds toat CEA/CBA c. of
mining Cost/Benefit of Handicapped Devices serve as the sole or primary determinan of a
Brian R Drufke, P E, Selyn W Becke,, Ph D health care Jecis, n Decisionmaking could be
Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Conference on improved, however, by the process of identifying
Rehebilttation Engireering, Washington, DC and considering all the relevant costs and 'oene
Available from RESNA, Suite 402, 4405 Last-West fits of a decision At present, using the ap-
Highway, Bethesda, MD [0814 1981 This paper proach or process of CEA/CBA in decisionmaking may
presents a generalized method of performing cost/ ae rnore helpful than the rig ,d and formal applica-
benefit analysis on aids and devices for the han- tion of CEA/CBA study results in health care pro-
rlicappeJ using dimension& analysis The utility gram decisions It is unrealistic, moreover, to
of the method presented is that both objective and expect that CEA/CGA/ in itself, would be an of
subjective selection factors influencing the cost fective tool for reducing or controlling overall
benefit analysis can be considered simultaneously expenditures for medical care" from Summery
Additionally, this analysis method allows dissimi- and Pclic Options
lar devices or &ids designed to compensate for the
same loss of function to lot compared with each
other or against a chosen benchmark
Whether you need demogranhic statistics for acti- tics This publication provides a compenoium of
vities such as program planting, or for documenta- late describing the demography of the SCI cooula-
tion of needs and Impact r-iements in research tinn, the etiology of SCI, medical aspects of SCI
and funding prr po-a!3, the references can be hard management, SCI survival rates, and medical and
to find Here are some sources of data social outcomes associated with SCI model systems
care As context for this data, Dr J Paul
Statistics on Technology for Disabled People Thomas, director of medical and technical programs
at the National Institute of Handicapped Research,
Technolog.; and the Handicapped, Office of Tech- provides an excellent historical perspective on
nology Assessment, U S Congress, Washington, DC SO care
Analyzes the policies and problems related to
current disability statistics Regarding technological involvement in S'l, it is
noted in c general way, early in the book, that
Use of Special Aids in the United States in 1977, biomedical engineering is developing adaptive
Series 10, Number 135 DHHS Publication No (PHS) interfaces between "spinet man" and his environ-
81-1563 Available from U S Department of ment In the section on "Non-Medical Expenditure
Health and Human Services, Office of Health Re- costs of environmental modification as a function
sea-ch, Statistics and Technology, National Center ,.ars following injuri and level/extent of
for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD, 202/436- impatrment "Environmental modification" is de-
8500 October 1980 Statistics on the distribu- fined to include a major portion of the adaptive
tion and use of artificial limbs, braces, equipment which may be prescribed for the SCI
crutches, canes or w.-":ing sticks, special shoes, patient
wheelchairs, walkers, and other special aids fo,
getting around Based on data collectert in the National Survey of Stroke, 1980 The National
National Health Interview Survey in '9 '/ Head and Spinal Cord injury Survey, 1980. Avail-
able from the National institutes of Health,
Statistics About Disabled People Washington, DC The National Institute of Neuro-
logical and Communicative Disorders and Stroke has
The Physically Impaired Population of the United undertaken a series of surveys aimed at providing
States Finny & Associates, 4079C 24th Street, valid national statistics on incidence, preva-
San Francisco, CA 94114. $40 00 1978 Th is lence, and cost
report presents a statistical breakdown on the
handicapped oopulation of the U S Both published e California Disability Survey J M Shanks
and "mpublished st,rvey data from tie U S National (VC -B) and H E. Freeman (UCLA) Available from
Cente7 inf. Health Statistics serv.a as the basic Califenia 'epartment of Rehabilitation, 830 K
source of aures The report covers physical Street Mall, Sacramento, CA 1980
conditions only, as opposed to mental Six major
categories are detai'ed visual, heering, soeech, Digest of Data on Persons with Disabilities Pre-
paralysis partial or complete, absence of ex- pared under contract to the Cong,'essional Research
tremities, and orthopedic Each category is Service, Library of Congress by Rehab Grouo, Inc
broken down further by degree A unique feature Available from U S Government Printing Office,
of this report is a description of how the indivi- Wash.ngton, DC 20402 Stock Number 017 -090-
duals themselves view their characteristics as a 00050-0 May 19'9
limitation of their ability to carry on daily
living activities Labor Force Status and Other Characteristics of
Persons with a Work )isability 1982 U S Bureau
In addition and complementary to describing these of the Census, Currer t Population Reports, Series
conditions, several sections are devoted to demo- P-23, No 127, US Government Printing Office
graphic characteristics of the target population $4 50 1983
Noteworthy are statistics on family income, age
use of sc,e,.ted aids, .ind the costs of rehabilita- Characteristics of Special populations Implica-
tion programs to the ederal government tions for Recreation Participation and Planning
Carol Ann Petersen and Peg Connolly Hawkins &
Characteristics of the institutionalized popula- associates, Inc, 804 D Street NE Wash.lgton, DC
tion are described separately from those of the .01 2 1978
nonmstitutionalized population A final sect r
provides information on geographic disiribution,
including state-by-state breakdowns for all cate-
gories and for the total ,ocidence among the work-
ing age population
FEBRUARY, 1985
ADDRESS CHAt2C7S
RESNA EQUIPMENT vOR THE °MARI Frt Series Di:SABLE:: Lit NC FDUNDATRIN
1101 Connecticut Avenue NW Mary Marlborough Lodge 380-384 Harrow Road
Suite 700 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre London W9 2HU
Washington DC 20036 Headington ENGLAND
202/857-1199 Oxford 0X3 7L0
ENGLAND
LB per book