Tag: Accessibility

Support the EMPOWER Care Act and Community Living

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.

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Support the EMPOWER Care Act and Community Living
Join Today’s National Call-In Day!

Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a Medicaid program that has helped over 75,000 people with disabilities and seniors move out of nursing homes or institutions and back into their communities. MFP restores the dignity and liberty of people with disabilities by promoting and supporting choice and community living.

Funding for the MFP program expired in 2016, and states have already scaled back their plans by approximately 40%. We need your help and advocacy to get the Senate and House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan EMPOWER Care Act (S.2227 and H.R.5306), which would extend and improve the MFP program. Last year was the first time that the number of people that transitioned to the community had declined.

By passing the EMPOWER Care Act and funding the Money Follows the Person program, Congress can help more people with disabilities transition out of institutions and nursing homes and back into the community. Without action NOW, more people will be trapped in institutions.

Help people living in nursing facilities and other institutional settings move back into their communities!

Take Action

Use the advocacy tool below to send an email, tweet, and Facebook post directly to your Senators and Representative to tell them to support the EMPOWER Care Act and fund the MFP program.

Click here to contact your Members of Congress

The letter is already written just a few clicks goes a long way!

A day in the life, Travel

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

| Charles Merritt

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know about Cruising As a Person with Disabilities

First off, I would like to thank Flying Dutchman Travel for providing my accommodations for this vacation. Also The Central Florida Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America who selected me to participate on this excursion. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know.

A little background about myself. I am a C-3 complete quadriplegic who travels with his fiancée, friends, and family.  Due to needing someone to take care of my particulars. This is my second cruise vacation and my first after becoming a quadriplegic. I am an avid traveler and have become an advocate for persons with disabilities. This was a five day country cruise on the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas with stops in Key West and Cozumel. Here’s a list of a few things I believe are necessary as you embark on any type of vacation as a person with disability. Using my cruise as an example.Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

    1. PROPER PREPARATION LEADS TO A GOOD TIME. I am lucky enough to have a tremendously smart and loyal fiancée. Who has gotten our preparation for travel down to a science. For the cruise we had to ensure that we were able to charge my power chair, bring along a manual chair in case of power chair failure, and a floor lift. We also tried out our new portable shower chair (not that great). Along with the equipment that allows me to scoot around we also brought a floor lift to get me in and out of bed. We also packed several suitcases full of other accouterments associated with my disability.
      1. Make a list
      2. Double Check Your List
      3. pack everything and double checked again
    2. FIND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS: The cruise lines are very accommodating when it comes to people’s disabilities specifically, wheelchair users. Our room was over-sized by about 150 ft.² with a very large role in shower and a space for a king-size bed and a couch. We double checked with our travel agency as well as the cruise line to ensure there was ample space under the bed for our lift to operate correctly as well as double checking that the shower area was accessible as well. *Even though the website says it is always call and double check.
    3. RECONNOITER YOUR DESTINATIONS:

      Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

      In the Marine Corps whenever we went to another country or training in certain environments we were given a detailed briefing and handouts courtesy of the CIA that described that specific area its demographics. Where to go and where not to go. Whenever traveling abroad make sure you have some understanding of the culture as well as any types of threats that may be applicable i.e. kidnapping. Also with Google maps most of the tourist destinations you can Street view. For people like me that like to run amok it may not be as simple.

    4. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know Always bring a buddy.
    5.  REMAIN PATIENT: Not only with the local populace but with your caregivers and the people with you who may not have a complete appreciation for your lack of mobility. I try to keep a big smile on my face and keep everyone moving because typically I’m the point man. Understand that the people around you specifically, the strangers don’t understand you or your disability but for the most part will do everything they can to accommodate you. Don’t be afraid to ask. 
    6. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ON VACATION: the main thing is to try to have as much fun as possible and not let your disability drag down. Don’t be let down by the things you cannot do (I didn’t get to see the Mayan ruins). But get excited about the things you can do (midnight party on the cruise ship). Believe it or not the person with a disability is usually the center of attention and whether positive or negative your vibe carries on to the people around you.

      They are all looking at you and how you are reacting to the situation. The more positive you can be the better time that will be had by everyone. Learn how to laugh off detours on the ship. Hallways are very small. But the good news is there isn’t much other issues with the boat besides small hallways.  the accessible rooms are close to the end of the hallway and near the elevators.

      So this alleviates the need to go down the hallway. As always if you have any specific questions feel free to contact me and I hope you find your next vacation and can use some of my insights to make it an enjoyable experience.

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should KnowDisabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Adapted technology, Gaming, Health, Opinion

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses  Quadriplegic Reviewed

| Charles Merritt

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses  Quadriplegic Reviewed

I use several types of adaptive computer mouse controllers depending on what type of computing I will be doing. I’ve learned over the past year that some controllers are better than others in certain circumstances. Here is my Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses Quadriplegic Reviewed.


Continuing with a brief overview of the two I use almost exclusively except when I have something break and I need to revert back to option three which I’ll explain at the end. Many thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs for helping me obtain these adaptive computer mouse controllers.



Quadriplegic Adaptive Computer Mouse Controllers & Gaming Controller (Can also use with Xbox and PlayStation) quadstick.com

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses  Quadriplegic Reviewed

Quadcapable in action with the Quadstick:

I have used one of these coReview of Three Adaptive Computer Mouse Controllers For Quadriplegicsntrollers for over six months they are very sensitive and very versatile piece of equipment, however, there is a steep learning curve programming the device for additional games. Plug-and-play does work well if you do wish to use this as a mouse. I found that its main weakness is prolonged use I typically would use the controller 16 hours in a day and that wears out the joint that holds the stem of the sip and puff to the base pretty regularly.
However, out of the two options, I will talk about this is my preferred because of the adaptability of the mouth stick itself for use with multiple types of software.  I would not consider it for everyday use only for specific programs and gaming when accuracy is a must.

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses  Quadriplegic Reviewed

Pros:

Accuracy

Adaptability

Can Program As Necessary

Sensitive Sip and Puff

Great Warranty and Customer Service (which I have had to use several times due to the stem breaking)

Cost around $400 but available through Medicaid and VA.

Cons:

Not for Prolonged Use

Stem Material Needs Redesign

Sip and Puff Mechanism Needs Adjustment from Time to Time

 

Quadriplegic Adaptive Computer Mouse Controllers Quadjoy.com

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses Quadriplegic ReviewedNext up we have the Quadjoy. Instead of being left without a mouse while my quadstick was being repaired requested the quad joy mouth stick from my VA adaptive occupational therapist. I’ve been using this for the last 30 days or so exclusively as my quadstick was broken and is offer repair. I use this device for 12 hours a day typically and in general, it is for web design, games kind of, Facebook, other social media, editing graphics and images. Amongst many other things that I use both of these devices for.

The Quadjoy adaptive computer mouse controller for a quadriplegic with no hand function works very well as a solution for normal computing needs I currently use the version 2.0 and the latest version 3.0 that I’ve not yet used which has been designed to accommodate some gaming.

Pros: QuadJoy version 2.0 Adaptive Computer Mouse Controllers:

Very Sturdy Design

Easy Set up

Works Well As an Everyday Mouse

Cons: QuadJoy Version 2.0 Adaptive Computer Mouse Controllers:

Around $1000 retail (I received mine from the VA)

Tends to Hold Debris inside the Mouth Stick

Limited Functionality

Unable to Program

Sip and Puff Sensitivity Should Be Increased

Conclusion

In conclusion, either of these controllers should be utilized situationally. If you are using the computer to check emails and surf the web than the Quadjoy may be the choice for you. If you want more control for gaming, precise mouse control, and key mapping than the quadstick is definitely the go to. With that being said there are alternatives that can be homemade. I used a trackball attached to a mount and literally facerolled while my quadstick was in the shop.

Top Two Assistive Technology Computer Mouses  Quadriplegic Reviewed.

Additional information Quadstick:

The QuadStick is a mouth-operated game controller for Quadriplegics.

The QuadStick has three models, the original QuadStick, the Singleton, and the QuadStick FPS. The primary difference between the two game controller models is the joystick module. The QuadStick FPS has a larger, more precise joystick with a stronger centering spring than the original model. Between the two models, the QuadStick FPS may not the best choice for some users with disabilities affecting muscle strength.

QuadSticks game controllers have four sip/puff sensors, a lip position sensor, all connected to a 32-bit ARM processor. This converts the sensor inputs into USB Bluetooth signals for games.

Compatibility

The QuadStick is directly compatible with the PS3, Android, and many PC games that use a joystick. Through the use of a 3rd party USB adapter, XBox 360, XBox One, PS4 consoles can be used.

The connections between the input sensors and the signals sent to the host are configurable by the user. Settings are pre-configured profiles while playing a game, to match different situations in the game. Specific configuration profiles can easily be created for games that require unique control inputs leading to.

Finally, the QuadStick comes with a one year warranty. qs has a thirty-day no-questions-asked return policy.