From: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com ((Bill McGarry))
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Subject: Handicap Digest # 2963
Date: 9 Oct 92 17:07:57 GMT
Reply-To: "(Bill McGarry)" <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
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Approved-By:  "(Bill McGarry)" <wtm@SHELDEV.SHEL.ISC-BR.COM>


                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2963

                          Friday, October 09, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                      Re: Another Hand Control Question
                           MDA Funds Distribution
                                 PC as TDD?
                               Re: Fast Chairs
                                 Fast Chairs
                           Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
                      Re: Airline Wheelchair Practices
                                 Wheelchairs
                               Spinal Centers
                                 Wheelchairs


                                ******


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------



Subject: Re: Another Hand Control Question
From: dlc@ais.org (David Claytor)
Organization: UMCC

In article <24629@handicap.news> jhs@druhi.ATT.COM (Jeffrey Shore) writes:
>Index Number: 24629
>
>in article <24545@handicap.news>, dnmiller@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
>(David Neal Miller) says:
>>
>> Index Number: 24545
>>
>> My wife would welcome any suggestions for automobile hand controls.
>>
>> She's currently using a sturdy but clunky twist-to-accellerate,
>> push-to-brake hand control by Wells-Engberg which has served her
>> well over the years. It's rugged and uncomplicated, both positives.
>> ...
>> Has anyone a hand control which he or she would especially
>> recommend? or a brand to avoid?  ...
>
>A follow-up to that for related advice needed:
>
>I currently have a Bronco II with manual shift and clutch. My
>difficulty is that my left leg (the clutch foot) is getting weaker,
>fatigues very easily, and I have a hard time controlling
>lateral/rotational movement of my foot notwithstanding the leg
>brace I wear for "drop foot syndrome" (all a result of MS). It
>continues to get worse and I have almost nailed other vehicles or
>pedestrians when my foot slips off the clutch.
>
[remainder of quote deleted]
>
>Jeff Shore


Jeff, when I was searching through various literature sources re: hand
controls, I do recall seeing something about direct-linkage clutch
mechanisms.  Call:
ABLEDATA
800-346-2742
They are a federal database service.  Tell'm your needs, and they'll send
you a print-out of vendors/product descriptions.  There might be a nominal
charge if the print-out is more than a couple pages.

__Dave





------



Subject: MDA Funds Distribution
From: spgreg@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Macrae)
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center

In article <24756@handicap.news>, Randy.Edwards@f105.n128.z1.fidonet.org
 writes...
>Index Number: 24756
>
>[This is from the AbleNews Conference]
>
> Via The N.Y. Transfer News Service 718-448-2358, 718-448-2683
> Title: We pity Jerry Lewis' attitude
>
> "We pity Jerry Lewis' attitude"
>  By Betsy Gimbel New York
>
..
>Telethon organizers and the Muscular Dystrophy Association claim
>that the money raised in the event goes toward research to find the
>cause and cure for this fatal disease. But this is not really true.
>Many of the phone-bank staffers agreed with the demonstrators,
>contention that the Lewis Telethon is actually more of a financial
>and publicity bonanza for big business. More than 80 percent of the
>funds raised will in fact go to pay for the telethon's staff and
>operating expenses. In other words, it's really a fund-raiser for
>the telethon, not for the disabled or research.

As someone who has endured the telethon for years, I can fully understand
objections to the pity appeals.  This, however, is irresponsible
journalism, and that bothers me far more.  There is absolutely no
way anyone can prove this 80% number.  The telethon organizers
claim 2% of the funds raised through the telethon support the telethon.
The Combined Federal Campaign which conducts an independent review every
year for compliance with their guidelines and analyzes administrative
costs versus funds raised claims about 42% of funds goes to administrative
costs.  This makes them one of the lowest cost _national_ charities
that meets the CFC requirements.  Furthermore, there have been repeated
complaints from charities that much of what the CFC considers administrative
costs, many charities consider services.  Disagreements on this level are
understandable because the CFC supports over 5000 charitalble agencies and
tries to apply the same standards to all of them.

>telethon. The way things stand now, this money keeps going for
>research year after year, but no cause or cure is ever found.

This claim is ridiculous.  Not only have gene sites been located for
more than 7 of the 40+ disorders grouped as muscular dystrophy, but
the methods developed to pinpoint the causes is transportable to
other disorders.  More than 30 different genetic disorders have been
identified by methods similar to or the same as the methods Hoffman et.
al. developed since the announcement of finding the location of the
Duchenne MD gene.  If anyone disputes the importance of the work MDA
funded, a quick look through the _Citation Index_ is bound to change
your mind.

Jerry's portrayal of disabled individuals as helpless and his continued
use of terms like crippled, wheelchair bound, stricken, etc. still irks
me.  There is no need for it.  You can still play to peoples emotions
without degrading me in the process.  However, let us be fair here.
A lot of the information I have seen distributed about Jerry and MDA
has been fabricated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
     MacRae                  |       Darting dragonfly...
                             | Pull off its shiny wings and look...
  spgreg@mars.lerc.nasa.gov  |      Bright red pepper pod!
                             |                      -Kikaku
--------------------------------------------------------------------
76.2% of all statistics are fabricated by the person quoting them...
	-quote I saw somewhere (I bet that number was fabricated too.)




------



Subject: PC as TDD?
From: WJM@utrc.utc.com (Bill)


Hello Everyone,

I have a TDD device which I used to communicate over the phone line
with some friends who are deaf.  Basically it is a small computer
terminal type device with a keyboard, single line flourescent
display, and an accoustic coupler for a phone's handset.

As I understand things, the TDD service for the deaf runs at some
non-standard (per today's modern computer equipment), settings.  I
think it is something like 75 baudot, which defines its binary
character set and transmission speed.  (Suppossedly this is still
used because the TDD service was originally set up by the phone
company using old mechanical teletype devices, and newer TDD unit
must adhere to the standard for compatibility.)

Now for my question:

Is there a product available (or plans for a kit), that would allow
me to use my PC as a TDD device?

Besides the luxury of a nice keyboard and monitor, it would be
convenient for storing messages or sending pre-written messages.
(With appropriate software.)  And a direct phone connection via my
modem would be nicer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,
+ ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> + ><> +
+   __          United Technologies Research Center         +
+  /__)  . / /  Silver Lane MS 74, East Hartford, CT 06108  +
+ /___/_/_/_/_  (203) 727-7484  Internet = WJM@UTRC.UTC.COM +
+   Mazeika                                                 +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ God's got an army, not afraid to fight.                   +
+ Soldiers of the cross, and children of the light.         +
+ Warriors of righteousness, with healing in their hands.   +
+ God's got an army, marchin through the land.     -Carman  +
+ <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< +





------



Subject: Re: Fast Chairs
From: John.Rougeau@p4.f184.n132.z1.fidonet.org (John Rougeau)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:132/184.4 - The Bulldog BBS !, Hudson NH


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

In a message of <Sep 02 11:40>, The Ranger (1:104/477) writes vaguely:

 >        Well my EJ chair with differant motors (To lazy to bend over and
 >try readin upside down right now.) does right at 15mph.  That's when the
 >front tires start to shimmy, if I put a stabaliser on them I would expect
 >20+mph speed.

Terry,

Aw, c'mon.... a stock E&J chair? I think not! My E&J with a 21st
Century conversion might do 10-12mph TOPS! I've blown most chairs
away with it. Even entered and won $100 at a 3K Breakaway road
race.... :-) I beat the E&J by 8 minutes....

>Not to terrably dangerous, except at night in a new
 >location and after a few beer's.  You can't see the pot holes before the
 >foot rests are in a twisted pile and your hanging on for dear life with a
 >suddenly very clear head. <grin>

Yeah, I installed a quarts halogen driving light under my seat!
Speed kills (at night!)....

-John

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!132!184.4!John.Rougeau
Internet: John.Rougeau@p4.f184.n132.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Fast Chairs
From: John.Lynch@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (John Lynch)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1000 - Nerve Center, Pikesville MD


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 AH> $2600?  That's cheap for an electric chair.  But it

Sorry about, add another 0, and make that $26,000.  But you are
right I would not want it.

Regards, John

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!John.Lynch
Internet: John.Lynch@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
From: John.Lynch@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (John Lynch)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1000 - Nerve Center, Pikesville MD


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

I have it, and as a para, I do not want an operation, so I wear a
leather splint on that hand to prevent wrist flection.

One of the first signs is the thumb sign of your hand getting numb
and sore.  If it is the small finger side of your hand, that coulc
be caused by the Ulner nerve, funny bone, having compression.
DON'T LEAN ON YOUR ELBOWS!

If it is carpel tunnel, wearing a canvis splint, with a metal peach
holding the wrist from flexing at night, and your hand does get
into weard flexes at night, is a good first preventive move.  You
can probable get them in a good drug store.  Talk to the pharamist
(?) there.

Take care of it early, and you will save your self lots of problems.
Regards, John

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!John.Lynch
Internet: John.Lynch@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Airline Wheelchair Practices
From: Keith.Jones@p13.f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Jones)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:114/15.13 - St Joes Hospital, Phoenix AZ


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 JK> Acouple of years ago I flew to Hawaii on American.  I flew
 JK> in first class so
 JK> transferring to the seat wasn't that big of a deal.  The flight there was
 JK> pretty eneventful but on the way home to Chicago, they lost my wheelchair!

 You are the second person I have heard about that lost a wheelchair
 during a flight to Hawaii. I will remember this if I ever go to Hawaii.

 JK>      I'm sitting there waiting in that crappy chair they
 JK> put you in to get you
 JK> off the plane because the aisles aren't wide enough for a wheelchair, when
 JK> someone comes up to me and says, "Your wheelchair went to Atlanta."  They
 JK> didn't even apologize.  When I asked them if I could take home an airport
 JK> chair, they said no.  I could have made a bigger stink
 JK> about it I guess but
 JK> that was just the last thing that happened on a whole
 JK> vacation of bad things.
 JK> Moral of the story: Drive instead.

 During my last trip on Continental from Phoenix to Cleveland, I raised
 hell because I had to wait in a passenger loading chair for my
 wheelchair. This was a first. Apparently I forgot to have the
 wheelchair gate checked so it is there when I leave. They shipped it
 with all the other baggage. I did not forget to tell them to gate check
 the chair when I returned to Phoenix and will not in the future.

 The other problem I had was that I blew a gizmo and wet my pants on the
 plane and had to do all my transfers with my laptray on to avoid
 detection. Also my guaranteed motel room was not ready which led me
 into another heated argument when I arrived to check in. I should also
 mention that I took the redeye and flew all night from midnight to 7:30
 AM and did not sleep. With wet pants and no sleep, I was ready to kill
 somebody.

 Anyone else have problems with external catheters on planes? This is
 the second time this happened to me and it has hardly ever happened
 before. Must have something to do with gravity or the seated position.
 Anyhow I did feel bad for the next person who sat in my seat, but I did
 not know what to do. I should have just swallowed my pride and told
 them I wet the seat but then it makes all of "us" look bad. Oh well.

                       -Keith-

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15.13!Keith.Jones
Internet: Keith.Jones@p13.f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Wheelchairs
From: Ed.Stahl@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Ed Stahl)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:150/140 - Black Bag BBS, Wilmington DE


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 On 09-12-92 Linda Cummings wrote to All...

 LC> Does anyone know the guidelines for requesting and getting
 LC> a wheelchair through Medicare?  About how much do they
 LC> cover?  Can something like a "Quickie" (very light) be
 LC> requested for someone like me and they'll cover it?  I
 LC> can't lift more than about 10 pounds, but I figure I can
 LC> get someone to help me with it in and out of the van.

        Linda, I'm not sure, but if you can get a Doctor to
        wrote you a prescription for the chair, being very
        specific as to it being a "lightweight" that will
        usually do the trick for most insurance co's. I have
        no experience with medicare.

                                Ed

... OFFLINE 1.36 * WHY STOP NOW, JUST WHEN I'M HATING IT?

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Ed.Stahl
Internet: Ed.Stahl@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Spinal Centers
From: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:150/175.1 - Busted Flush BBS, New Castle DE


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

In a message to Joe Chamberlain <09 Sep 92 09:29> John Lynch wrote:

 JL> I passed the list on to my brother.

I hope they choose wisely.  Just think of all the stuff we were
never told in rehab.

A good question for everyone:  What didn't they tell you in rehab?
If you were able to design an ducation program for the newly
injuried, what would you include?

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!175.1!Joe.Chamberlain
Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Wheelchairs
From: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:150/175.1 - Busted Flush BBS, New Castle DE


[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

In a message to All <12 Sep 92 15:23> Linda Cummings wrote:

 LC> Does anyone know the guidelines for requesting and getting a

Call and get a copy of the MEDICARE HANDBOOK.  Then contact at
least two local vendors for information on how the procedure
works.  I had to pay up front and then Medicare reimbursed me 80%
after months of delay.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!175.1!Joe.Chamberlain
Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2963 of the Handicap Digest

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