Wheelchair Diffusion blog

It saddens me to hear of Tony’s passing on July 20, 2008. Tony Staros was a rehabilitation engineer, but more than that he was one of the people most responsible for moving assistive technology and orthotics and prosthetics into high gear on an international level.

He was director of the Veterans Administration Prosthetics Research Center since its inception shortly after WW2 and was the person most responsible for the innovative prosthetic and orthotic devices that were developed for the masses of disabled veterans of that era and forward. He was a key player in the field and continued to promote and advance assistive technology through his direct involvement and as one of the five founding members of RESNA.

“Staros was pivotal in the formation of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, Copenhagen, Denmark, and in writing its first constitution. He served as president of its second world congress and was the society’s third president. He later served as senior program consultant at the World Rehabilitation Fund, New York City, and was a frequent contributor of O&P research to scholarly journals.”
The O&P EDGE: www.oandp.com/edge/issues/articles/NEWS_2008-07-24_03.asp

Aside from his accomplishments and contributions, Tony Staros holds a very special place in my heart and mind. Way back in the early 1970’s he took a chance on a young street kid from The Bronx.

He gave me my first real job as an orthotist apprentice at the VA Prosthetic Center, throwing me into a fast strange world of patient care and R&D. I truly was a rowdy bonehead back then. He could have fired me dozens of times but he saw something in me that I didn’t know was there. He inspired me and helped bring out the best in me. My desire to accomplish, to be of service, to get in close on the tough cases and hammer away at them, to focus and to always appreciate the patient’s point of view. These things I owe to Anthony “Tony” Staros.

I will truly miss Tony Staros.

Transitioning to a wheelchair is often a must for some people with disabilities but it is sometimes met with resistance or denial. Polio survivor Kathy Galletly writes on her transition from getting around the hard way to using a wheelchair.

You can read it at Action Online.

Yet another TechGuide survey is sent to the archives to languish in anonymity. This one was on the ADA in general and struck a cord with 727 visitors. Prepared by our very small and insignificant team of self proclaimed public pollsters, it posed the following complex question to USA TechGuide visitors:

“The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?”
The results were as follows:

1- I’m up on it = 37.00 % (269)
These visitors are at the pointy end of the stick and obviously have been doing their ADA homework.

2- I’m familiar with it = 31.22 % (227)
Another group that made the effort somewhere along the way.

3- I have heard of it = 18.29 % (133)
Proof positive that some TechGuide visitors are alive and listening.

4- Never heard of it = 9.49 % (69)
This is my favorite group. They may rate low in ADA knowledge but they rate high on the honesty scale.

5- Can you dance to it? = 3.99 % (29)
Party on!

Conclusion
USA TechGuide visitors are an ADA knowledgeable group who may sometimes be distracted by an occasional desire to party. That sounds about right to me.

If you would like to take TechGuide’s latest insignificant poll just head over to USA TechGuide. You can find the poll on the left side of any page.

A new FREE publication from United Spinal. Being able to get around has a great impact on what an individual is able to do and where they are able to go. Making the right choices and knowing the options that will enhance independence and safety is what this publication is all about.

Check it out at: http://www.unitedspinal.org/2008/07/21/canes-to-wheelchairs-mobility-alternatives-a-free-publication/

The Renegade All Terrain Wheelchair was designed by John Rackley a Maine native who broke his neck 10 years ago in a trampoline accident. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and created the renegade to put him back in the woods where he loved to be.

The stand-out difference in this manual ground grabber from other manual all terrain wheelchairs is the propulsion system. Yep, it’s still the user, but Renegade helps things along with two geared push levers that are used for propelling the wheelchair. The levers are meshed to a 7 gear system (that’s six more gears than your shoulders have) that takes the pain out of handling rough terrain without touching the wheels.

Some of the Renegade specs:

• 1.25″ aluminum frame
• 7 speed internal sealed gears
• Internal drum brake
• Removable push bars that store under seat
• 24″ wheels with 2.25″ wide off-road Kenda tires
• 8″ front casters
• Adjustable footrest
• Accessory receivers

For more information visit the Renegade site at:
http://www.renegadewheelchairs.com/