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Date:         Mon, 31 Aug 1992 17:30:02 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2904
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                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2904

                           Monday, August 31, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                      Computers That Make Life Possible
                                  Re: HELP!
                          power wheelchair for sale
                                 Malpractice
                                Re: lightning
                            Re: Phantom Limb Pain
                      HR 5450 To repeal ADA, any info?


                                ******


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Subject: Computers That Make Life Possible
From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)


"Computers that Make Life Possible," by Jani Farlow Spede

"/Update" Volume 20, Number 5/6, 1992, the newsletter of the Northeast
Regional Data Center, University of Florida.
Contact: JSPEDE@NERVM.NERDC.UF1.EDU

Though we couldn't imagine life without them, for most of us,
computers are a convenience--they make life easier.  For the
physically challenged, however, computers make life possible.

A wide variety of software and hardware is available today that can
help shrink and/or eliminate the communication handicaps that persons
with disabilities suffer.  Henry F. Meudt, President of Special Needs
Services, Boca Raton, Florida, is trying to spread the word about the
various "special needs" software and hardware products currently on
the market.

Meudt, who retired from IBM in 1988 (after 30 years of service) and
started his own company, says he wants to accomplish two things.  One,
he wants to make people aware that the products exist.  Secondly, he
wants to provide information on how to buy the products.  He notes
that "to many, these products are obscure.  Most are recent
developments that have only become available since 1988."  As the
products become more affordable (due to dropping prices of both the
products and personal computers), many companies find they can't
afford to market them, which keeps the products obscure.

Meudt and Dr. Steven Ray, who also operates an independent company,
Adaptive Consulting Services in Merritt Island, Florida, travel
around the country giving seminars and  demonstrating several special
needs products..

"We are especially concerned with the university community," says Ray.
"Universities, by law, should also be concerned--not only as an
institution that enrolls disabled students, but as an employer of
disabled faculty and staff, as well."

Here's a look at some of the products on the market:

*   VoiceType. With this 7000 word speech recognition system for PC
applications, you do the talking and the computer does the typing.
This is especially helpful for mobility impaired individuals who don't
have use of their hands.

*   Screen Reader.  This device allows the blind to use a computer as
it, through the use of a voice synthesizer, speaks the words which
appear on a computer screen.

*   PhoneCommunicator.  This PC attachment enables a person who is
deaf and/or speech impaired to communicate over the telephone with a
person who can hear.  The person who can hear sends replies by
spelling words on a touch-tone telephone.  The impaired person can
then read the replies on the computer screen.  PhoneCommunicator can
also serve as a TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf).

*   AccessDOS.  This is a free program that allows individuals to
operate a keyboard effectively with one finger.  For example,
individuals with muscular dystrophy may press extra keys on the way to
a desired key, or they may have difficulty pressing more than one key
at a time.  Additionally, they may hold a key down too long, causing
extra letters.  AccessDOS eliminates most of these problems.  For
example, with AccessDOS, only the key that is held down for several
seconds appears on the screen.  This program is available free of
charge by calling 1-800-426-7282.

*   SpeechViewer and THINKable are two clinical products.
SpeechViewer is designed for use by speech pathologists and THINKable
helps persons with head injuries regain cognitive skills.

*   DAC.  Digital-voice Augmentative Communicator is a device which
allows spoken phrases to be recorded and stored.  By touching a
specific combination of keys, a person who is unable to speak can use
this portable unit to communicate.

*   Aurora.  This computer entry enhancement program for the
physically impaired allows one to produce typed words in a number of
different ways (small head movements, blink of the eye, etc.).  It
uses word completion and word prediction techniques to increase word
processing speed.

*   FreeWheel.  With only small head movements, a paralyzed person can
operate a computer while wearing a small passive reflector device.

Meudt and Ray are very enthusiastic about these products.  They find
it very rewarding to see how the devises can change and improve lives.

Meudt recalls a particular experience.  He was once asked to bring the
FreeWheel to an elementary school.  A boy there had been paralyzed in
a skate boarding accident, and the school didn't know how they were
going to handle the situation.  Meudt explained that he installed the
program and then attached the small mirror-like device (used to
control the cursor) to a baseball cap.  "I put that cap on the boy,
showed him how he could select text by moving his head, and the first
thing the boy did was write a poem.  It was a very moving experience."

Providing a means for people to communicate is the motivation behind
the design of the products.  Meudt says, "Disabled people have brains;
unfortunately, for years society has been treating them as if they
don't.  To me, it's a human rights issue.  Take, for example, hospital
situations where a patient with tubes everywhere is not able to speak.
This person may be in intense pain, but has no means of telling a
nurse or doctor 'just move my leg a little to the left.' Care givers
are forced to guess."

According to Meudt and Ray, it's a wonder why the simple, relatively
inexpensive (prices range from free to $3600) computers that can fix
problems of this nature aren't used more.  However, they hope to see
computers playing a large part in the future everyday lives of
disabled people.  "Increasingly, we are attaching many devices right
onto the wheel chairs of disabled individuals, particularly those with
cerebral palsy," says Ray, as he shows the mounting devices that Meudt
and Ray support.

No one likes to think about it, but any non-disabled person can become
disabled.  A head injury occurs every 15 seconds, and it usually
results in some kind of disability.  But, computers can make life
continue for these individuals.  And computers can make life begin for
those who have been confined to their home for years, unable to be a
member of the workforce simply because the workforce had no place for
them.  Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, say Meudt and
Ray, things are changing.

IBM supplies video tapes and brochures which you can request by
calling (407) 982-4207.

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------



Subject: Re: HELP!
From: cwm@Turing.ORG (Chris Morris)
Organization: The Turing Project, Charlottesville Virginia.

In article <24000@handicap.news> sspeigle@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
(Susan Speigle) writes:
>Wanted!
>Ideas on what kind of business my disabled husband can set up at
>home with a PC.
>Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome.
>Anyone out there done this?  PLEASE let us know what and how you
>are doing.

Just thought I would mention that you could set up a Desktop
Publishing business and/or Graphic Design firm. You may be able to
do some general typing for area businesses and perhaps students.

You may also be able to set up a non-profit business to do research
on various topics (inc. Medical Probs, etc.) Much of this
Information can be gathered from GOPHER services (like ERIC, etc.)
I'm sure that this type of information service would be well
received since most people don't have the connections or experience
find the information.

I'm sure there are MANY different types of businesses you can start
with just the computer system, it's up to your imagination. I hope
these humble suggestions are of some help. :)

Thanks for your time,
Chris W. Morris
cwm@Turing.ORG





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Subject: power wheelchair for sale
From: ldonovan@milton.u.washington.edu (Leslie Donovan)
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: na

POWER WHEELCHAIR FOR SALE

Used Everest & Jennings Marathon power wheelchair.  Excellent condition,
recently "tuned up." new upholstery, solid back and seat, almost new
batteries.  Would be great first power chair or backup chair.  Willing to
discuss delivery in Pacific Northwest.  New would cost around $6,000;
asking $2600 or best offer.  Must sell by Sept. 19 when I move out of
state.  If interested, e-mail ldonovan@u.washington.edu or phone
206-246-2986.





------



Subject: Malpractice
From: king@meaddata.com (Mike King)
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH

I just found out yesterday that my two year old daughter has brain
damage.  The damage seems to be located in the portion of the brain
that controls the gross motor skills.  Because of this she is having
extreme difficulty learning to walk and talk.  All her other abilities
seem to be O.K.  She crawls well, can feed herself, and has proven
that she is "smart".

We are reasonably convinced that this condition was caused by inoxia
(sp).  The obstitrition who delivered our daughter was not our normal
obstitrition.  It was either his first or second delivery ever.  My
daughter was born blue and required oxygen when she was born.  I am
not convinced that the obstitrition took the necessary precautions to
ensure my daughter would be born healthy.  I would GREATLY appreciate
it if anybody could help me find the answers to the following
questions:

1.  Do you know anybody who has this condition?  How are they doing
now?

2.  Are there any support groups located in or around the Dayton area
for the parents of handicapped children?

3.  What precautions could have/should have been taken by the
obstitrition to make sure my daughter was getting enough oxygen?

4.  Has anyone ever sued their obstitrition? If so, do you have any
advice/warnings?  How easy is it to prove malpractice?  Does anyone
know a good malpractice lawyer?

5.  Does anyone know of a good pediactric neurologist in the
Dayton/Cincinnati area?

Please respond via Post or email.  Much thanks in advance.

                                Mike

--
Michael W. King     |  "I'm going to graduate on  |     (513) 865-1395
Mead Data Central   |  time, no matter how long   |     CAPRR Conversion
P.O. Box 933        |  it takes"                  | mead!mwk@uccba.uc.edu
Dayton, Ohio  45401 |      -- Rod Brookin         |    ...!uccba!mead!mwk




------



Subject: Re: lightning
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

Any doctor that tells you that it's mind over matter once a person
has been hit by lightning should have their medical license
revoked!  Remember the whole body is an electrical system which is
powered at the brain by A.T.P. which you can read about in a good
biology textbook.

The throughput on power is less than house current and certainly
less than it takes to run a radio.  Lightning has more power in one
stroke than all of the atomic detonations set off so far.  Anybody
who has taken a lightning hit in the head isn't all right for at
least three years after that has happened.

In one case I read about the person who was struck about a year
after the strike wandered off from his family and wasn't found for
the next three years.  When they were found they were living under
a different name all the way across the country and couldn't
remember their previous life at all.

What I would suggest is to find a really good psychologist and a
really good acupuncture specialist.  When the acupuncture
specialist goes in to reverse polarities that should be a real
powerful experience.  We have polarities in our body and lightning
hit the polarities in your husband's head and really messed them
up.  I think it's only acupuncture that will be able to put them
back into order again.  Please though make sure the acupuncture
specialist is qualified since this one will be a tough case for
even the best of them.

Lee Trevino the golfer was hit by lightning and I think he wrote a
book about that experience.  The acupuncture will help with the
pain at first and may clear up some of the other problems too if
the brain isn't too badly damaged.  I hope your husband is keeping
up on his vitamins and minerals and I'm not referring to R.D.A.'s
either since lab monkeys have r.d.a.'s that are 75 times higher
than humans since the brain will need all the help it can get to
repair itself.  If your husband can do it hatha yoga may also be of
some help since hatha yoga uses the body to affect the brain in
positive ways.

It sounds to me like you've got some real medical sadists on the
case.  I'd look for better physicians than that and I hope you have
resources near you and wish you the best of luck since you're going
to need it.

<dashiell@nadc.navy.navy.mil>




------



Subject: Re: Phantom Limb Pain
From: sbill@informix.com (Bill Stackhouse)
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.


Are we sure that we are taking about phantom limb pain? This is a new
amputee who might be experencing pain in the end of the stump either in
the soft tissue or in the bone. I would rather see someone prescribe
some good (possibly narcotic) medications in sufficient amounts so that
the patient can keep enough in the system so that the pain is kept under
control until everything is healed and then evaluate the problems that
remain. What seems to happen is people have an amputation, pain develops,
the person get a few pain pills but so few that they have to wait until
the pain can't be tolerated and one pill will not knock the pain back
down. The pain develops a cycle and never goes away. For me, I had real
pain for about 2 months and was fortuniate to find a pain clinc that
was willing to help me with a drug therapy. The pain finally went away
and I stop the medication. Since then I have only had a few days of
discomfort. I was told that it take more medication if you wait for the
pain to build up than if you take the medication every few hours regardless
of the pain level. Also if you make the person beg for a new prescription
that just makes them wait even longer for help. Who cares if someone
gets addicted if that is the only way that the pain can be kept
under control. We lay such a guilt trip on people. Using a narcotic to
control pain is not the same as using a narcotic to escape life.

Bill
sbill@informix.com





------



Subject: HR 5450 To repeal ADA, any info?
From: spgreg@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Macrae)
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center

The latest issue of the Federal Acquisition report has one line of
information regarding House Resolution 5450.  It describes the
legislation "To repeal teh Americans with Disabilities Act."

Does anyone have further information on this resolution?  Who
introduced it?  What does it actually do?  To which committee
was it introduced?  Who chairs that committee?  Who is running
against the Representative who introduced the legislation so I
can donate to the contenders campain?

Greg MacRae


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     MacRae                  | Looking twice through the glass, I see
                             |           The bull watching
  spgreg@mars.lerc.nasa.gov  |             The torreador.
                             |                      -MacRae


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                  End of Issue # 2904 of the Handicap Digest

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