Archive for September, 2006

Kilimanjaro by Arm

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

On the 8th of June 2006, Jimmy Goddard began the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro using a specialist arm powered hand-bike. Out to set a new arm powered ascent record and to be the first paraplegic to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.

On June 16th 2006, after nine days, Jimmy ascended higher than any other paraplegic by reaching an elevation of 5,650 meters but failed to reach the summit of the mountain.

Undaunted, Jimmy Goddard intends to go it again and reach the top. You can follow this extreme endurance challenge and root for Jimmy and his team at PushingHigher.com.

Go get’em Jimmy!

Ask Patty.Com

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

If any of you ladies are feeling like you are trapped in a cliche when it comes to things automotive, or if you are just tired of the macho-talk-down-to-you answers, then you need to get over to ASKPATTY.COM.

The Ask Patty.com web site is a safe place for women to get advice on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive related topics. Their site and blog are loaded with good-to-knows and you can ask and post related questions. They also have a very cool “Female Friendly Certified Dealer Search”. Too cool!

Birds Of A Feather

Monday, September 25th, 2006

Like most people I have a soft spot for animals. Show me a picture of a cute puppy or kitten and I am done in. Get me near a bird and this big dude turns to mush.

Like humans, animals can also be faced with adjusting to life with a disability. They may need medical care and rehabilitation at first, a friendlier and more forgiving environment at second, and a bit more understanding from those around them at last. It is amazing, the similarities between the needs of so vastly different living things.

In either case, animal or human, the worth and the beauty of the individual is apparent if you only choose to see it.

The birds in these images all have disabilities of a permanent nature. Enjoy the pictures.

Peregrine falcon

Sail
Peregrine Falcon

Lost use of wing

Kirby
Barn Owl

*Imprinted

Barn Owl
   
Short Eared Owl Shortie
Short Eared Owl

Unable to fly
Annie
Alaskan Bald Eagle

Unable to lift off
Alaskan Bald Eagle
   
Turkey Vulture Lady Byron
Turkey Vulture

Struck by vehicle
Morgan
Harris Hawk

Imprinted
Harris Hawk
   
Gyrfalcon Fiona
Gyrfalcon

Lost an eye
Strix
Barred Owl

Struck by vehicle
Barred owel

Photographs by Kara Landsman    Courtesy of the Hudson Valley Raptor Center.

 
* Imprinted- A bird that has been exposed to humans and no longer has the skills to survive in its natural environment.

Getting A Grip On Disability Perspectives

Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

I sometimes get in the mood to do some extraneous thinking and creating of intellectual dilemmas for which to find answers. It’s less stressful than ranting and my intellectual side (when it surfaces) never fails to impress me.

Today was one of those mood days in which I found myself thinking about prehensility and disability. Prehensility? You know- the ability of a body part to grasp or hold things. Some monkeys not only have prehensile hands but also feet and tails. Giraffes have prehensile tongues. Elephants have prehensile trunks. I’m talking about native prehensility and not a skill that was relearned out of necessity.

Alas, humans have only hands for such purposes. Except of course for those very few people who still have some ability to use their feet for grasp. We all know people who can do amazing and useful things like picking up a dime with their toes or being able to play a hand of poker with their feet, or even being able to use a fork or spoon with their feet.

My dilemma is thus- Am I considered disabled because I can not multitask a hand of poker and a four course meal at the same time using hands and feet? Obviously my functional level is greatly diminished (by comparison) and I am unable to do what others can do naturally and without technical or human assistance. That was a quick and easy conclusion not worthy of stimulating any of my dormant brain cells.

For the sake of my own intellectual satisfaction, I offer a much more refined concept based on your own personal beliefs.

For those who believe in evolution-
A trade-up, from prehensile feet to the much more fully developed and advanced “ability” to stand upright, walk, and maintain balance. Having all of the latest evolutionary options I would rank as being super-abilized. Some of my critics might disagree with my high rating but none of them are named Darwin. My less evolved pal who is sitting there playing foot poker while knitting a sweater is actually the one with the disability.

For those with more conservative views-
I was created without prehensile feet for some purpose unknown to me. Others were created having this increased “ability” or advantage. Lacking full functional ability I would be considered disabled or at best disadvantaged. I guess you just have to take the hand or foot that was dealt you and make the best of it.

For those who suffer from self inflicted ignorance-
They don’t care what I am as long as I look and act like them and as long as I am not contagious.

Lack of a conclusion by way of raising more questions-
How real are perceptions on ability and disability? How much is based on misperception and misinformation. Might attitude and prejudice be the greatest disability?

Wheelchair Bowling- IKAN Bowling System

Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Bill Miller using the Ikan Bowler
Bill Miller, co-founder, using the IKAN Bowler.

Whether you are a pin banger or a gutter baller, the sport of bowling offers camaraderie, competition, and fun (also cold brews and pizzas) in quantities sufficient to attract millions of participants each year.

Wheelchair bowling has always had a large following among wheelchair users who either toss the ball from their wheelchairs or use an adapted wheelchair bowling ramp during play. Traditionally, the bowling ramp is a static system giving the user some control of ball delivery, but not quite enough for many players.

Well, IKAN Bowler from MGT Corporation is changing that. The IKAN Bowler allows wheelchair users with limited upper extremity function independent and dynamic ball control. The player can control the speed, direction, and timing of the bowling ball’s release. Wheelchair movement and the unique parabolic bowling arm generate the energy to propel the ball down the lane. Braking the wheelchair sends the ball in the direction the bowler wants.

The IKAN system attaches to any wheelchair by way of a universal mounting mechanism that works on conventional legrests and center mounted units. The bowler moves the wheelchair forward and upon stopping the ball is launched at those gnarly hard-to-hit (at least for me) pins.

What do I like about the IKAN Bowler? That one is easy. The increased independence and user control. Another good reason to get out there and do it.