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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Date:         Thu, 27 Aug 1992 16:45:20 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2894
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2894

                          Thursday, August 27, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                      Medical Insurance Questions/Woes
                  Environmentally Challenged Aids for Sale
                    CAP Newsletter, June, 1992 available
                  Medical marijuana - list of organizations
                   Virtual Reality and Disabilities (CfP)
                               Reading systems
    FYI - Upcoming conference - Technology and Persons with DisABILITIES.
                               Re: Wheelchair
                              Re: epidural pump
                            Re: music composition


                                ******


To subscribe to the Handicap Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       uunet!bunker!wtm
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	    (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours)
Compuserve: 73170,1064

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



------



Subject: Medical Insurance Questions/Woes
From: slw@icd.ab.com (Shoshana Wodzisz)
Organization: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.

(I couldn't find an 'insurance' newsgroup - if there
is some newsgroup which is more appropriate than this,
please let me know.  This has been posted to misc.handicap
and sci.med)

My sister is having 'fun' with Community Mutual Blue Cross.
Her employer gave her 3 days notice before they switched
her insurance to this plan.

The problem is that her daughter (my niece) has Apert Syndrome
and has been getting specialized treatment, therapy, and
surgery at the Cleveland Clinic for ~2.5 years.
She will continue to have surgery etc. for many years to
come.  She has had 10 surgeries in 2.5 years and almost
went to heaven twice.

This plan (Community Mutual) will not authorize treatment at
the Cleveland Clinic even with a referral from my nieces
pediatrician.  They said flat out 'NO'.  They also said that she
can't appeal, because they don't have an appeal process for
authorizing treatment outside their list of facilities (only for bills
you think they should have paid).

Has anyone had any experience with Community Mutual Blue
Cross ?  Any advice ?

Thanks in advance.
--


------

---------
  Shoshana L. Wodzisz @ Allen-Bradley Company, Cleveland Ohio
  ... !{cwjcc, uunet}!icd.ab.com.slw




------



Subject: Environmentally Challenged Aids for Sale
From: drjohn%tokugowa@uunet.uu.net (Tokugowa's Main Wizard)
Organization: Djinni Software Development, Rochester  NY



A friend of mine whose husband had muscular dystrophy for years, is
recently widowed and about to move.  As a result she has lots of
things that would be useful for people with muscular dystrophy or
other disabling diseases that she would like to sell.  All items
are in excellent condition.  If you are interested, please call
Judy at (215) 265-4446.  She is not on the net, so please don't
respond via email.  Thank you.

          Items Available
               Ec\T Palmier wheelchair with leg lifters
               Seat lifter
               Canadian crutches
               Quad crutches
               3 part small hospital screen
               Wide commode (never used)
               Shower chair
               Removable toilet seat raisers
               Toilet Arms
               Wheelchair tables
               Tilt table
               Assorted scrubbers, knives and reachers
               2 Hi-profile ROHO cushions
               1 gel cushion
               wheel chair bag

If interested call Judy at (215) 265-4446 (in Philadelphia near
King of Prussia Mall)

            Thank you






------



Subject: CAP Newsletter, June, 1992 available
From: nff2355@dsacg2.dsac.dla.mil (Dale Pennington)
Organization: Defense Logistics Agency Systems Automation Center, Columbus


The FIRST newsletter from the Computer/Electronic Accommodations
Program of the Department of Defense is now available.  It contains
such topics as:

	Special Announcements
	CAP Status
	For Your Information
	Calendar of Events  and
	CAP Personnel Site Visits

Should you wish to receive a copy of this newsletter, please e-mail
me at Internet address:

	dpennington@dsac.dla.mil

Dale Pennington
	Don't be too proud to say "I don't know".







------



Subject: Medical marijuana - list of organizations
From: 34AEJ7D@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu (Bill Gorman)

The following is a *very* incomplete listing of groups and
organizations that support the legalization of cannabis FOR MEDICAL
PRUPOSES. This information may be of interest to L-HCAP subscribers
in light of the recent thread discussing medical/therapeutic uses
of cannabis/hemp (aka marijuana).

I have no connection, financial or otherwise (pun intended) with
any of these groups.


W. K. (Bill) Gorman <bj496@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu>

------------------------------ATTACHMENT--------------------------------



Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics
PO Box 21210
Kalorama Station
Washington, DC 20009
USA
Phone:  (202) 483 8595

American Civil Liberties Union
132 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
USA
Phone: (212) 944 9800

American Medical Marijuana Movement
(San Francisco Headquarters)
3745 Seventeenth Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
USA
Phone: (415) 864 1961

Drug Policy Foundation
4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016
USA
Phone: (202) 895 1634
Fax:   (202) 537 3007
Compuserve:  76546,215
Usenet: 76546.215@compuserve.com

Libertarian Party
1528 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003
USA
Phone: (202) 543 1988
US Toll Free: (800) 682 1776 - call for local branch info

Medical Marijuana Restoration Association
3745 17th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
USA
Phone: (415) 864 1961
(Dennis Peron)

Therapeutic & Ecological Applications of Cannabis Hemp (TEACH)
2833 Frankford Ave.
Panama City, FL 32405
USA
Phone: (904) 763 6812
Hemp Hotline: (213) 288 4152




------



Subject: Virtual Reality and Disabilities (CfP)
From: WOLTRING%HNYKUN53.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu (H.J. Woltring)

[Forwarded from the BIOMCH-L mailing list]


Article 4645 in sci.virtual-worlds (moderated):
from:        hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
subject:     CONF: 2nd Virtual Reality and Disabilities Conf.,
                   Los Angeles, March 1993
Date:        20 Aug 92 19:53:53 GMT
Organization: HIT Lab, Seattle WA.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN), announces its Second
Annual Virtual Reality and Persons with Disabilities Conference for
March 17-20, 1993, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel as a
part of its Eight Annual Conference on Technology and Persons with
Disabilities.  CSUN's 1992 conference drew 2,200 participants, 276
speakers, and 102 exhibitors, according to Dr. Harry J. Murphy,
Conference Director.

A single copy of the PROCEEDINGS from the first Virtual Reality and
Persons with Disabilities Conference is available at no cost from
CSUN.  It includes a dozen papers, including a Keynote Address by
Jaron Lanier, Founder and Chief Scientist of VPL Research, Inc.

Speakers applying virtual worlds technology to the problems of people
with disabilities are invited to be speakers at the next conference.

For more information, contact:

        Dr. Harry Murphy
        Conference Director
        Technology & Persons with Disabilities
        California State University, Northridge
        18111 Nordhoff Avenue, DVSS
        Northridge, CA 91330 USA
        vfoao073@vax.csun.edu (alias hmurphy@vax.csun.edu)
        +1-818-885-2578 phone
        +1-818-885-4929 fax




------



Subject: Reading systems
From: philipf@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (Philip Feldman)
Organization: University of Melbourne, Australia


I am helping some vision impaired students from The University
of Melbourne evaluate reading systems.

Among the criteria they consider important are:

1  Ease of use
2  Quality of character recognition
3  Speech clarity
4  Hardware and software support
5  Ability to interface with Eureka personal computer
    (I think this is an 8 bit machine)

They may later be interested in hooking it up to a braille printer.

These are not in any special order of priority. Different students
have different needs.

Three manufacturers are being considered - Robotron, Arkenstone and
Kurzweil but that does not close out other manufacturers so long as
there is local support in Melbourne, Australia.

I would be very grateful for any information, recommendation, warnings -
particularly from those that have been down the same track.

Thanks

Philipf@ariel.its.unimelb.edu.au





------



Subject: FYI - Upcoming conference - Technology and Persons with DisABILITIES.
From: USERMCQUEEN@UTOROISE.BITNET (William McQueen)




                     CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
            TECHNOLOGY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
        New Applications in Environmental Accommodations
                      A National Conference

                         April 5-7, 1993
         Pre-conference workshops/seminars April 4, 1993

                          Hyatt Regency
                      Milwaukee, Wisconsin

     Persons with disabilities deserve, and now are demanding,
greater independence, access to tools and systems that increase
productivity and an overall enhancement of their quality of life.
Their voices for independent access to public places have been
strengthened by legislation that has turned their access dreams
into accommodation rights.
     The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires
employers, merchants and service agencies of "Main Street"
America to accommodate the access needs of persons with
disabilities to jobs, marketplaces, leisure activities,
transportation and government services.  Fortunately, most
persons required to make accommodation modifications are able to
see the investment potential of their expenditures and seek
assistance to provide access.  But they need more than
information that will help them comply with the basic
requirements of the law.  For persons investing in accessibility,
the spirit of the legislation must also be pursued!
     The Conference will address this larger picture of
accommodation.  It will provide participants with more than a
review of accommodation issues and review of regulations.  It
will provide a forum for participants to obtain application
information to allow them to take the first steps toward
implementing state-of-the-art, proven, models and innovations for
adapting environments of all types.  These applications will
benefit all persons with functional limitations, regardless of
age or disability type.


CALL FOR THE PRESENTATION OF
  ISSUES FORUMS, MODELS AND INNOVATIONS
     The conference will provide participants with several
information sharing alternatives.  Keynote addresses will be made
by nationally recognized subject matter experts; issues forums
will challenge participants to analyze accommodation problems;
and nuts and bolts presentations of working models and
accommodation innovations will arm participants with tools to
implement accommodations in their sites/programs.

IMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;
:   Accommodations in the following fields will be showcased:   :
:                                                               :
:         *  Vocational            *  Medical                   :
:         *  Residential           *  Transportation            :
:         *  Educational           *  Architectural design      :
:         *  Recreational                                       :
:                                                               :
:  Exhibits of products and services that lead to environmental :
:  accommodations will be offered, as will networking           :
:  opportunities for product and service seekers and providers. :
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM<

     You are invited to share your accommodation experiences by
submitting a proposal for an issues forum or a nuts and bolts
presentation.  Your presentation should define and challenge an
accommodation issue, or describe and provide implementation
information about the model, product, or innovative application
strategy of environmental accommodation you know best.  If your
proposal is selected, you will be given $100 off the early
registration fee.

     Proposals that stress individualized accommodation processes
over those that discuss general accessibility issues will be
favored.  Issues that could be addressed include:

*  Problem solving approaches *  Uses of new technologies
*  Funding accommodations     *  Cooperative programming
*  Instructional techniques   *  Innovative architectural designs
*  Product innovations        *  Applications in acute care
*  Transitional resources     *  Legal issues

     Other topics that will strengthen a participant's ability to
make environmental accommodations will also be considered, though
presentations must relate to the conference theme.  You may use
nearly any format (i.e.: symposia, lectures, panel discussions,
workshops, media presentations.)  Innovative instructional
sessions and those which promote participation and interaction
are strongly encouraged.  Sessions will be one hour in length,
although requests for double sessions will be considered.  You
should allow 15-20 minutes for questions and group sharing.
Papers based on your presentation may be submitted for
publication in the conference proceedings.


HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
     Two copies of your Presentation Description and requested
Application Information should be sent to:

       Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference
            Office of Continuing Education/Extension
                  University of Wisconsin-Stout
                 Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751-0790

Presentation Description format
1.   One-line title for your presentation identifying scope and
     content
2.   30-word explanation of how presentation relates to
     conference theme
3.   30-word abstract to be used in advertising brochures and
     conference program
4.   30-word statement of presentation objectives
5.   50-word description of presentation content
6.   30-word description of presentation format and organization

     Please use complete sentences and avoid (or define)
acronyms.  Proposals should be typed, double spaced on standard
8.5" x 11" paper.  (Letter quality printer output is acceptable.)
Proposals not following the guidelines may not be considered.

Application format
A.   Title of Presentation
B.   Presenter Name(s)
C.   Presenter Title(s)
D.   Company/Institution
E.   Business Address (Street, City, State, and ZIP)
F.   Home Address (Street, City, State, and ZIP)
G.   Phone numbers (Business and Home)
H.   Would you be willing to present twice? (Yes or No)
I.   Topic Area of presentation:
     -    Problem solving approaches
     -    Uses of new technologies
     -    Funding accommodations
     -    Cooperative programming
     -    New instructional techniques
     -    Innovative architectural designs
     -    Product innovations
     -    Applications in acute care
     -    Transitional resources
     -    Legal issues
     -    Other; please explain: ______________________

PROPOSAL DEADLINE
     Proposals must be received by Friday, October 16, 1992.
They will be evaluated by a review committee for content and
pertinence.  Submitters will receive notification of acceptance
or rejection approximately one month after the submission
deadline.  Submitters selected to make presentations will then
receive directions for formatting their papers for the conference
proceedings.

IMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM;
:                                                               :
:    Pre-conference Workshop/Seminars                           :
:                                                               :
:         One or more pre-conference workshops or seminars      :
:    will be offered on Sunday, April 4, 1993.  It is expected  :
:    that they will be offered as half-day sessions in the      :
:    afternoon.  If you are interested in offering a pre-       :
:    conference program, submit a separate "Pre-conference      :
:    Proposal" including the same Presentation Description      :
:    and Application information required for conference        :
:    presentation proposals.                                    :
:                                                               :
:                                                               :
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM<

WHO SHOULD SUBMIT PROPOSALS AND/OR ATTEND?
     We seek proposals from, and expect the participation of,
persons who design, provide, or use environmental accommodation
models and innovations.  Thus the following people should submit
proposals and/or attend this conference:

Rehabilitation technologists        Special education teachers
Life skills instructors             Independent living counselors
Information and referral agents     Occupational therapists
Community option program providers  Physical therapists
Transportation service providers    Hospital discharge staff
Medical rehabilitation staff        Consumers of accommodations
Technology product vendors          Architects
Hospitality and tourism industry professionals        Employers
State, county, and municipal building inspectors      Merchants
Durable medical equipment providers

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
     Rick Bolin or Christopher Smith, Conference Coordinators
     Office of Continuing Education/Extension and Summer Session
     University of Wisconsin-Stout
     Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751-0790

          800-45-STOUT
          715-232-2693 (Voice)
          715-232-3300 (TDD)
          715-232-3385 (Fax)
          casmith@uwstout.edu (E-Mail)




------



Subject: Re: Wheelchair
From: d3a132@pnlg.pnl.gov (Carl Baker)
Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories

The president of our local community college recently spent the day
in a chair (he's a TAB, as am I).  I don't think that anyone with
a grain of sensitivity is going to be upset by a TAB running around
in a wheelchair (oops, that'll probably offend someone).

The episode in the store was very funny.  As long as you keep
your sense of humor you'll be all right.

I love it - TAB - Temporarily Able Bodied - that's me! :-)

-- carl

Carl P Baker
cp_baker@pnl.gov
509-375-2724

Disclaimer: I am not the official spokesperson for anyone.  For which
organizations that use spokespersons are profoundly grateful.





------



Subject: Re: epidural pump
From: gordon@ec.uwa.oz.au (Jennifer)
Organization: University of Western Australia

David.Venable@p0.f14.n105.z1.fidonet.org (David Venable) writes:

>Index Number: 23881

>Hi. My wife was injured on the job two years ago and has had hronic back
>pain since. After bone scans,MRI, Cat scans and nerve induction (EMG?)
>studies, they still can't find the cause.
> Two weeks ago they did an epidural with .03 mg. MS and she got some
>relief.
> Now they want to implant an epidural pump. My question is, Should she?
>anyone out there have one? what are the pros and cons?

Hello David,

greetings from Australia.

My name is Jennifer, I have been in chronic pain since a motor
vehicle accident in 1987. I sustained damage to two discs in the
cervical spine and nerve damage. Consequently I have to live with
substantial imobility and pain in the neck.

I have had four trial infusions of various pain killers, mainly
opiates and found substantial pain relief. Unfortunately I had a
hyper-sensitivity to opiates which resulted in large scale nausea.
Subsequently the decision to install the pump was reversed. The
procedure to put the pump and catheter was uncomfortable but
bearable. I have known a number of people who have had pumps
installed in the cervical and lumbar spine and most of them
experienced considerable relief and to date no substantial side
affects.

I have also tried a external TENS machine and a internal electrode
arrangement and found these to be ineffective. Nothing like the
relief supplied by the pump.

You may be interested to know that installation of these pumps is
now being performed on chronic pain patients in most major
Australian hospitals. One often observes articles that highlight
the benefits and success of such procedures.

If your wife has had the trial, found relief, could tolerate the
medication and the physical placement of the catheter, one would
have to be of the opinion that on the balance of probability relief
will be obtained and hopefully she will find restoration of her
previous quality of life.

Good luck and please let me know how your wife goes. I am not on
Internet, however I can be contacted via the account of my friend
on the bottom of this message.



------

---------
Gordon Turner						Network/Systems Officer
Division of Economics Commerce Education & Law, University of Western Australia
email: gordon@ecel.uwa.edu.au    Phone: (w)+61-9-380 1855   Fax: +61-9-380 1068
--




------



Subject: Re: music composition
From: janina@netcom.com (Janina Sajka)
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)
From: janina@netcom.com (Janina Sajka)

Unfortunately there's no good speech or braille access to software
that's used by sighted composers for preparing scores.  I can tell
you that Jay Williams of Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Institute is
very interested in pursuing this matter.  I know he has been in
contact with Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence facility
-- specificly Dr. Leland Smith -- to try and resolve this problem
in some manner.

From my perspective the issue is doomed.  Consider what a score
is.  It is intended as a graphical representation for conveying
directions for the replecation of specific (and only somewhat
specific) sound structures.  In other words, the task of preparing
a score is a task, eventualy, of preparing a graphic.  While it
certainly relies on conventional symbols, at least to some degree,
so do road maps and electrical schematics.

It may be more fruitful for those of us, and I am one such blind
composer, to do our best with the tools we DO have access to --
MIDI sequencers.  There are means of coverting MIDI data files into
printed scores.  These means are certainly not perfect.  But it may
be more productive to focus on the 95% (or more) that we can,
relatively easily, accomplish ourselves with MIDI based techniques,
and simply rely on sighted assistance for the remaining 5% in
cleaning up the score for printing.

After all, when we wish our music printed in scores, it is for the
benefit of our sighted, musician collegues.  So, if our best MIDI
efforts leave some notes hanging across bar lines, inappropriately,
why not let someone who can see a graphic representation on a
computer screen move those notes onto the bar line.  Indeed, if we
use regional quantization from within MIDI sequencers, we can
eliminate most such errors to begin with.

							Janina





------






                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2894 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU