Disaboom ewilliams Blog

CNN Hero: Providing Wheelchairs to Kids with Disabilities

Erin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:19:00 GMT

This article was originally posted on CNN, but found it so special and heartwarming that I wanted to share it with everyone.

CNN is allowing readers to vote for CNN Hero of the Year and will award the winner with $100,000. Brad Blauser said if he wins, he will buy another 285 children wheelchairs. Vote Brad for CNN Hero of the Year.

Texas man brings hope to 'forgotten' disabled Iraqi kids

Brad Blauser lives in war-torn Baghdad, where he doesn't earn a paycheck and is thousands of miles from his family. But he has no intention of leaving anytime soon.

For the past four years, the Dallas, Texas, native has been providing hope to hundreds of disabled Iraqi children and their families through the distribution of pediatric wheelchairs.

"Disabled children -- they're really the forgotten ones in this war," said Blauser, 43. "They are often not seen in society."

Blauser arrived in Iraq as a civilian contractor in 2004, but quit that job last year to devote himself full time to his program, without compensation. Vote now for the CNN Hero of the Year

"There's no paycheck. It's not really safe here. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.

An estimated one in seven Iraqi children ages 2 to 14 lives with a disability, according to UNICEF. Illnesses such as Spina bifida, palsy and polio leave them unable to walk.

Some parents carry their children every day. For these children and their families, limited access to health care has taken a toll.

"A number of families don't know what's wrong with their kid. There's not a doctor available for help [and] there's no pediatric wheelchair source in this country," Blauser said.

Blauser first learned about this situation in 2005 through Maj. David Brown, a battalion surgeon. His friend shared heartbreaking accounts of helpless children pulling themselves along the ground, or living motionless in back rooms, too big to be moved long distances very often.

"So I asked him, 'What do you need?' " Blauser recalled. "And he surprised me by his answer: 'I need children's wheelchairs.' "

Blauser began researching and campaigning for help from friends and family in the United States. In 30 days, 31 pediatric and small adult wheelchairs arrived in Mosul for distribution to children in need. Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids was born.

"The experience for me in the first distribution was awesome," said Blauser. "To see the smile come across their face and [to] look over at the mothers and fathers -- they've definitely been changed."

That's the case for 3-year-old Ali Khaled Ibrahim and his family. At 8 months old, Ali was struck by a mysterious fever that left him partially paralyzed. He cannot speak and experiences increasingly frequent and violent convulsions.

"Ali's handicap affected the family a lot," said his father.

His mother said she couldn't carry out her daily chores and her "psychological state worsened."

"When I heard the news of the distribution of these advanced wheelchairs, I was very happy deep down," she said. "I thought maybe that will ease my work as a mother in the way I deal with my son." Watch Ali and other children receive their wheelchairs from Blauser's group »

Today, Ali smiles at home as he sits in his new wheelchair. His siblings giggle and sprinkle his face with kisses. The toddler's parents are thankful for the relief it has brought not only to Ali, but their entire family.

The boy is among hundreds of disabled Iraqi children to benefit from Blauser's generosity. Since 2005, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids has distributed nearly 650 pediatric wheelchairs.

To obtain the specialized chairs, Blauser partnered with Reach Out and Care Wheels, a nonprofit pediatric wheelchair organization in Montana. The organization provides wheelchairs designed for rough terrains in developing nations, making the devices "perfect for this environment," said Blauser.

Through sponsor donations, his group purchases the chairs from ROC Wheels for about $200 apiece, and USAID donates shipping. Members of the the U.S. and Iraqi armies, Iraqi police and border patrol work together to carry out the distributions.

Blauser and his group help adjust the children into their wheelchairs, which fit their bodies as they grow. Watch Blauser demonstrate the specialized wheelchair »

For Blauser, who provides part-time safety consulting in exchange for room and board, an initial plan to stay for one year has become a dream to get wheelchairs to every Iraqi child who wants one. And he's determined to see it through.

"By providing what they need, I'm hoping to start a movement to change the way people think about disabled children," said Blauser. "They are not a curse, they are a blessing and they deserve to have their needs met."

Want to get involved? Check out Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids and see how to help.

Story and photo courtesy of CNN

Disability News and Awareness – Nov. 1-7

Erin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:53:00 GMT

American Diabetes Month
According to the American Diabetes Association, 24 million children and adults in the U.S. are living with diabetes, with an additional 57 million Americans at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. So, in order to raise awareness about diabetes, a disease that may lead to life-threatening complications (stroke, kidney and heart disease, amputation or blindness), the American Diabetes Association is launching Stop Diabetes, a national movement to confront, fight and stop diabetes.

People living with or affected by diabetes can visit the Stop Diabetes site and share their stories and videos or connect with others with diabetes Visitors can also learn more about becoming an advocate for people with diabetes, bike, walk or volunteer at fundraising events, get information about diabetes screening, find lifestyle support for living with diabetes, or make a donation.

Check out more articles on living with Diabetes.

National Family Caregivers Month
The National Family Caregivers Association is celebrating National Family Caregivers Month during November to raise awareness about issues surrounding caregiving, health care, stress, aging, senior care and more.

Check out the events for National Family Caregivers Month and discover how you can participate, advocate and support caregivers and healthcare reform issues.

The Joint Commission, dedicated to helping health care organizations assist patients, is a resource for people interested in taking charge of their own health. Learn more about how to be an informed patient and receive the best care.

Check out more articles on Caregiving, dealing with Caregiver Stress or find more information about Caregiving Resources.

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
“A world without Alzheimer’s” is the vision of the Alzheimer’s Association, and with an estimated 10 million people caring for the 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, a prevention and treatment plan could not come sooner. Since November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is making it easier to get involved in the fight against this disease, including tips on becoming and advocate, a step-by-step guide to contact Congress, a link to make a donation, and an sign-up page to become a Champion against Alzheimer’s.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that lung cancer kills more people each year than prostate, breast, liver, colon, kidney and melanoma cancers combined? According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, there have been 219,440 cases of lung cancer and 159,390 deaths resulting from lung cancer in the U.S. for 2009 so far.

Check out the events for Lung Cancer Awareness Month during the month of November and join the fight against this devastating disease.

Read more articles about lung cancer, including nutrition information, book reviews, how to quit smoking, and more.

Disability News: Halloween, National Patient Accessibility Week

Erin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:03:00 GMT

Halloween

Each year millions of children dressed as their favorite cartoon character (SpongeBob), superhero (Spiderman), their desired profession (firefighter or ballerina) or favorite singer (Miley Cyrus) march through America’s streets, knocking on stranger’s doors and collecting candy.

Although this is a relatively safe tradition, Halloween can also be a time when parents should be a little more cautious about the holiday’s activities.

Safety
Since the tradition of trick-or-treating involves children wandering through the neighborhood (usually at dusk) and approaching houses of neighbors they may not know, parents (or another responsible adult) should always accompany little trick-or-treaters. Learn more about staying safe with the Halloween Safety Guide.

• Place reflective tape on costumes to allow drivers to spot small children easier.

• Adults should walk from house to house with kids, not wait at the end of a street or row of houses.

• Children should be warned to never enter a home of someone they’re not familiar with.

• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that have the front porch lights on; stay away from dark houses or unlit streets.

• Teenagers should travel in groups, since they’re more likely to trick-or-treat without an adult.

• Trick-or-treaters should be warned to never leave the neighborhood with a stranger, even though the stranger may be dressed in an approachable or fun costume that young children recognize.

Costumes
Since many families are operating on tight budgets this year, shopping at a local thrift store is a great way to pick up some Halloween gear at a reasonable price. Exchanging costumes or clothes with family, friends or neighbors is also a great way to get the most out of a costume without spending a lot of money. Need some costume ideas for children in wheelchairs? Check out Wheelchair Costumes for Halloween.

Candy Consumption
Adults should always check trick-or-treating candy before kids consume it. While the majority of candy may be safe, certain items may not be appropriate for young children (gum, small hard candies, etc.). If your child is diabetic, be sure to limit/monitor candy consumption.

Diabetics
The American Diabetes Association offers Halloween Tips for Parents and Kids. Be sure to visit DiabeticCandy.com if you’re interested in ordering Sugar-Free Candy for Diabetics.

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National Patient Accessibility Week, Nov. 1-7

Midmark, a company bringing efficient patient care to humans and animals worldwide through their medical, dental and veterinary equipment, is celebrating National Patient Accessibility Week by offering physician’s offices a rebate on accessible examination tables.

"The annual promotion is created to raise awareness of the changing patient demographic and how that change impacts the delivery of healthcare,” according to Midmark. “Currently, it is estimated that 1 in 5 people in the United States has some form of disability, one third of the population is considered obese and the number of people 65 years of age and older is expected to double by the year 2030."

Midmark recognizes the need for accessible examinations for patients with disabilities or physical impairments who may have a difficult time accessing the exam tables (or other common testing machines), which is why their new barrier-free exam tables measure 18 inches from the floor in the lowest position and 37 inches in the highest position – making transfers from wheelchairs safer and easier for patients and physicians.

For more information about Midmark and their accessible medical products, visit Midmark.com. Check out a video promoting National Patient Accessibility Week.

Disability News: Physical Therapy & Domestic Violence Awareness Month, FOCUS Film Festival

Erin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:37:00 GMT

National Physical Therapy Month
During October, the American Physical Therapy Association is celebrating National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness about physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and the importance of their jobs.

Since millions of people each year require the skills of physical therapists to help with rehabilitation, National Physical Therapy Month is a great time to honor these professionals and the work they do for all of us. Learn more about physical therapists or find a physical therapist in your area.

See Related Physical Therapy Articles
Aquatic Physical Therapy: Swimming with an SCI

Effects of Physical Therapy in Parkinson's disease Patients

Robotic Control Physical Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Walk

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) recognizes the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Physical or sexual assault or any abusive behavior that results in physical or psychological trauma (or death) by an intimate partner or someone in the household can be considered domestic violence.

While domestic violence can happen to anyone, 85 percent of domestic violence victims are women, according to NCADV. Learn more about domestic violence facts and resources available to help you or someone you know dealing with this issue.

See Related Relationship Articles
Ten Signs of a Healthy Relationship

Maintaining A Healthy Relationship

Disability Advocacy Group Memorializes Murder Victim with Cognitive Disabilities

FOCUS Film Festival

This year marks the 5th Anniversary of the FOCUS Film Festival, an event that explores feature and documentary films that spotlight films about disability, culture, lifestyles, relationships and more. The film festival is a project of the Far Northern Regional Center in California, a non-profit organization that provides services and supports to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Learn more about the FOCUS Film Festival and this year's festival events.

FOCUS Film Festival 2009 Movie Trailers
Where's Molly?

Crossing Tahoe: A Swimmer's Dream

Strong Love

Fragile X

Under Our Skin

Disability News – Oct. 11-17

Erin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:58:00 GMT

October = the month of awareness

Blindness Awareness Month
The Little Rock Foundation has a listing of events raising awareness for Blindness Awareness Month. This week, White Cane Safety Day on Oct. 15, celebrates the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane.

National Braille Press will host the Hands On Award Celebration on Oct. 16, which promotes the literacy of blind children through braille, and to provide access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.

Check out The Little Rock Foundation for more information on celebrating Blindness Awareness Month.

Disability Mentoring Day
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is a nationwide effort to promote career development for students with disabilities through hands-on career exploration, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Everyone from employers, educators and students, can participate in DMD on Oct. 21.

American Association of People with Disabilities celebrates DMD and provides information about how to participate in this year’s event. Check out their national listing of DMD coordinators to look for an event or DMD office near you.

See Related Articles for Students & Careers
Special Needs High Schoolers: Free Postsecondary Guide

Top Ten Tips to Jumpstart Your Career - While You're in College

San Diego Triathlon Challenge
The San Diego Triathlon Challenge will take place on Oct. 25 in La Jolla Cove, CA and is the primary fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. More than $21 million has been raised from the triathlon during the past 15 years to support the thousands of athletes with disabilities. Learn how you can participate in the San Diego Triathlon Challenge or make a donation.

Long Term Care Planning Month
October is also host to Longer Term Care Planning Month. In an effort to help plan the future of your health care, the Department of Health and Human Services created a guide called “Own Your Future” which provides resources for planning long-term care, tips for understanding long-term care insurance, financial information and more.

Ironman Competition Will Test Strength and Endurance, Oct. 10

Erin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:46:00 GMT

On October 10, the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii will test the strength and endurance of 1,800 athletes all wanting the same thing - bragging rights and permission to call themselves an ultimate athlete.

Ironman is a triathlon race - consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride followed by a 26.2 mile run. Each year, thousands of athletes attempt to qualify for this treacherous race, but only 1,800 are selected by a lottery system or have won their way to the Ironman starting line.

So, who are these people that sign up for a race like this?

Ironman Athletes and Profiles
Trish Downing (pictured above) is a T-4 paraplegic athlete who wanted a challenge. In 2005, she was the first female paraplegic to complete an Ironman-length triathlon. Check out her story in I'm a Woman--and an Ironman!

Robin Sayed is a life-long athlete, a wife, a mother of two, and trains for Ironman in her spare time. Learn more about her in Ironman Hero: Robin Sayed.

Greg Welch is one of those Ironman competitors that makes you ask, "Who is this guy?" Read more about him in Greg Welch: Alive and Well and discover what keeps him motivated as an athlete.

Resources
Check out the Ford Ironman World Championship to learn more about the race, view race maps, discover Ironman athletes, videos and more.

See Related Articles
Dreaming about a Hawaiin vacation? See Accessing Hawaii: Four Islands of Fun, Part 1: Maui to learn more the adventure one man had from his wheelchair.

This father and son team are taking on the world, one race at a time. Check out their story in Team Hoyt Races for Acceptance of People with Disabilities.

Disaboom: New and Improved!

Erin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:41:00 GMT

It’s here! Disaboom has launched step two of its three-phase redesign, building a network of sites all designed to deliver the absolute best experience for people with disabilities and those whose lives they touch.

Check out our new site, and let us know what you think – we’re looking forward to your feedback, and learning about other ways we can continue to improve your experience with Disaboom.com.

Phase One was the creation and launch of DisaboomJobs.com, our employment site for job-seekers with disabilities as well as companies wanting to employ them, in August. Here now? Phase Two…

The Media Site, Also Known as Disaboom.com
Just launched is the media site, which incorporates all the information, articles, and valuable resources you’ve come to count on in the Health, Lifestyles, Resources, and Marketplace sections (now “Products & Services”).

It will still be called “Disaboom.com,” but incorporates major changes that reflect the feedback you’ve been giving us, plus a lot of online “best practices” that reflect new technology-delivered capabilities.

New and Improved – and Way Cool!
The result? At this site you’ll find:

•   An improved navigation capability and increased site speed
•   An ability to find articles quick and easily
•   A search function that’s faster, more accurate, and targeted
•   A wider array of search results delivered, including video, organizations, scholarships, and products and services, in addition to articles
•   Easier access to the most popular topics, now “front and center” on the home page and also listed in the navigation bar that appears on every page
•   A more intuitive layout, resulting in an improved user experience
•   Quick access to content related to the topic you’re interested in
•   A richer media experience, with enhanced, easier-to-view videos and photos

And Disaboom.com continues to distinguish itself among other disability websites by its ongoing commitment to accessibility, as demonstrated by its use of the HTML best practices established by the Illinois Center for Information Technology and Web Accessibility (ICITA).

Phase Three: Community’s DisaboomLive.com
We’re now tackling the really big project, which is a complete redesign of our Community infrastructure. For a couple of months, as we create the new “platform” for the DisaboomLive community design, you’ll see the familiar Community layout and functionality we’ve had since our launch in January 2008; however, it will be a separate site titled DisaboomLive.com.

But in the background, we’re working hard to create a more robust, easy-to-use experience for you, one that lets us create more tools, more features, and more user options than we could provide by keeping our Community and media sites combined in one resource. We’ll be integrating many of the excellent suggestions we’ve received over the months from our user surveys, and adding other capabilities that disability organizations have requested to support their participation within the Disaboom community.

You’ll still be able to move easily between Disaboom.com and DisaboomLive.com, just as you do now – but you’ll be able to move around the Community a lot more easily than you do now!

So let us know what you think of the redesigned Disaboom.com site, and keep an eye out for the launch of DisaboomLive in about two months. We’ll give you a heads-up when things are about to go “live” so you’ll have plenty of notice when the site is about to change over. In the meantime – we hope you enjoy the new Disaboom.com!

The Redesigned Disaboom.com is Almost Here!

Erin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:59:00 GMT

Disaboom is about to undergo a major change, changing from one site that includes both the “media” and community features, into two sites. With the goal of improving the user experience for both, you will soon see a redesigned media site, Disaboom.com, and a newly-named Community site, DisaboomLive.com.

It’s heading your way! Disaboom will soon be launching step two of its three-phase redesign, building a network of sites all designed to deliver the absolute best experience for people with disabilities and those whose lives they touch.

Phase One was the creation and launch of DisaboomJobs.com, our employment site for job-seekers with disabilities as well as companies wanting to employ them, in August. Next up? Phase Two…

The Media Site, Also Known as Disaboom.com
Launching next week is the “media site,” which will incorporate all the information, articles, and valuable resources you’ve come to count on in the Health, Lifestyles, Resources, and Marketplace sections (now “Products & Services”).

It will still be called “Disaboom.com,” but will incorporate major changes that reflect the feedback you’ve been giving us, plus a lot of online “best practices” that reflect new technology-delivered capabilities.

New and Improved – and Way Cool!
The result? When you go to the redesigned site, you’ll find:
   An improved navigation capability and increased site speed

   An ability to find articles quick and easily

   A search function that’s faster, more accurate, and targeted

   A wider array of search results delivered, including video, organizations, scholarships, and products and services, in addition to articles

   Easier access to the most popular topics, now “front and center” on the home page and also listed in the navigation bar that appears on every page

   A more intuitive layout, resulting in an improved user experience

   Quick access to content related to the topic you’re interested in

   A richer media experience, with larger photos and more related videos

   A site that, meeting and/or exceeding accessibility requirements, is fully WCAG 2.0-compliant

After you’ve had a chance to check out the new site, let us know what you think – we’re looking forward to your feedback, and learning about other ways we can continue to improve your experience with Disaboom.com

Phase Three: Community’s DisaboomLive.com
Once we’ve launched the media site, we’ll be tackling the really big project, which is a complete redesign of our Community infrastructure. For a couple of months, as we create the new “platform” for the DisaboomLive community design, you’ll see the familiar Community layout and functionality we’ve had since our launch in January 2008; however, it will be a separate site titled DisaboomLive.com.

You’ll still be able to move easily between Disaboom.com and DisaboomLive.com, just as you do now – but you’ll be able to move around the Community a lot more easily than you do now!

So as soon as we’re up with our new look next week, let us know what you think of the redesigned Disaboom.com site, and keep an eye out for the launch of DisaboomLive in about two months. We’ll give you a heads-up when things are about to go “live” so you’ll have plenty of notice when the site is about to change over. In the meantime – we hope you enjoy the new Disaboom.com!

A Week of Disability News: Canes for Blind, Herbs/Vitamins, Flu Vaccine, Free Healthcare for Uninsured, Theater Auditions

Erin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:27:00 GMT

Students Develop Cane with E-tags to Guide Blind - According to Associated Press, an engineering professor and five students at Central Michigan University have created a "Smart Cane" to read electronic navigational tags installed between buildings to aid the blind in reaching their destinations more easily. (Photo credit, AP Photo/Robert Barclay)

During the spring term, Yelamarthi and five senior engineering students tested the cane, which is equipped with Radio Frequency Identification technology, similar to what retailers put on products to keep them from being stolen.

The Smart Cane contains an ultrasonic sensor that is paired with a miniature navigational system inside a messenger-style bag worn across the shoulder.

For the test, the students installed identification tags between two buildings on the campus in Mount Pleasant, Mich.. A speaker located on the bag strap gave audio alerts when the system detected an obstacle and told the user which direction to move.

Herbs, Vitamins that Can Hurt You - Caution - taking the following supplements may cause damage if not taken correctly: St. John's wort, Kava, Fish oil, Artemisinin, or various herbs when taken before surgery. Learn more about these common vitamins and supplements.

Company Hopeful on Flu Vaccine - A Chinese vaccine company said Tuesday that its swine flu vaccine produced a good immune response with only a single dose.Vaccine experts have said they expect most patients to need two shots of swine flu vaccine to produce antibody levels similar to those produced in adults by a seasonal flu shot.

One Revolution--The First Unassisted Paraplegic to Summit Mt Kilimanjaro - Christopher Waddell broke his back in a skiing accident 21 years ago. As a paralympic athlete, he now wants to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. It will also take approximately $528,000 to make the climb, donate 100 wheelchairs to disabled Tanzanians and then complete the film. Check out his project and help him make it to the top of Kilimanjaro!

Cancer Survivor Provides Free Health Care for Uninsured - Faith Coleman had no health insurance when she learned she had cancer, but she describes her battle with the illness as "one of the absolute greatest blessings" of her life. Realizing that her financial and health woes were not unique, Coleman -- now in remission -- became determined to help those in similar situations access medical treatment. (Photo credit, CNN.com)

PHAMALY Audition Notice - "Barefoot in the Park" - The Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League, Inc. will hold auditions for its winter 2010 production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" on Sept. 2, 2009 beginning at 5 p.m. Callbacks are Sept. 3, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. Auditions and callbacks will be held at the Mizel Center for Arts & Culture, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver, CO 80246. The show will be presented at the Aurora Fox Arts Center January 14 - 31, 2010.

Needed are six physically or cognitively challenged men & women age range 21 - 65. Actors need to prepare one comedic monologue up to one minute in length. Selections from "Barefoot in the Park" are discouraged. Resume and headshot are requested. All roles are currently available. Call the PHAMALY office to schedule your audition time 303-575-0005 or e-mail your request to info@phamaly.org. (Photo credit, PHAMALY.org)

Safe at Home Week - Protecting Yourself in Your Home

Erin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:56:00 GMT

The week of Aug. 24, 2009 is National Safe at Home Week. What exactly does this mean? Well, for the millions people who injure themselves in their homes each year, it's a week to slow down, become more aware of their surroundings and maybe fix a few danger zones around their homes.

Tripping while walking on the floor is the leading cause of injuries around the home, and more than 1.1 million people injure themselves doing it each year, according to the U.S. Cenus Bureau. I'm a tad confused how a million people are getting hurt by tripping over themselves in their own home, but it's a serious situation.

Now that I think of it, how many times have I stubbed toes on furniture, or almost fallen off chairs or counters trying to reach something stored in the top cabinet, or slipped in the shower? Plenty. I've also accidentally burned fingers in the oven, pinched hands in collapsable tables and slipped on icy front steps. If you're accident prone like me, you know how easy it is to find yourself nursing a silly wound, embarrased to tell your friends how you really got hurt.

For more information about National Safe at Home Week, check out the radio broadcast Profile America by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Check out Disaboom's Accessible Home section for tips on making your home more adaptable to your needs.

Accessible Home Modifications in Rental Housing

Access Features for People with Visual Impairments

Preparing Your Home for Visitors with Disabilities: Accessibility Issues

A Week of Disability News

Erin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:44:00 GMT

Heart Transplant Patients Push Physical Limits at Ironman
Kyle Garlett has already kicked cancer's ass and had a new heart transplanted into his chest, and now he's going to take on Ironman. Anyone want to join him for a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run? (Photo credit, CNN.com)

What's the appeal of Ironman, especially after all that his body has been through already? "It's kind of like the starving person who all of a sudden finds himself in front of a buffet. And now I've got the buffet. I've got my all-you-can-eat plate, and I'm just loading it up," Garlett said.

Eat up, my friend. Let me know when you're hitting the dessert bar. I'm a big fan of ice cream.

For the Overweight, Bad Advice by the Spoonful
Speaking of the dessert bar, recent studies say 66 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Check out the ongoing debate of whether we should exercise 30, 60 or 90 minutes a day to maintain a healthy weight.

Scientists also say if your momma smoked or ate very little while she was pregnant, you are more likely to be overweight. That's right, blame your mother. Then back away from the ice cream and get some exercise. (Photo credit, NYT.com)

Able Radio - is a new digital radio station with information, music and chat for people with disabilities and medical conditions. What exactly is Able Radio? Able Radio is the UK's (and possibly the world's) first radio station for people with disabilities or a limiting medical condition. Programs focus on disability and with all presentation by people with disabilities who bring real-life experience to the radio. Topics include arts and fashion, finance, health and sports, as well addressing the underepresentation of people with disabilities in the media. Check out their site - even if you're only doing it for the accent!

Weight Lifting Benefits Breast Cancer Survivors
Women who experienced lymphedema (a breast cancer-related swelling of the arm) as breast cancer patients were told they shouldn't lift weights.

Now the New England Journal of Medicine suggests these women start pumping iron. Why? Originally believed to increase lymphedema swelling, lifting weights or heavy items was strongly discouraged for breast cancer patients. Now studies show weight lifting not only increases muscle strength, but reduces lymphedema exacerbations and decreases the number and severity of arm and hand symptoms. (Photo credit, CNN.com)

Ladies - now we have an excuse for strutting our stuff in our gym's weight room. We have work to do!

CVS/pharmacy Enhancing Accessibility for the Visually Impaired
In order to be more accessible to their customers with low vision, CVS has installed tactile keypads in all their stores. This device allows customers privacy at the registers, especially when it comes to personal information such as PIN numbers for debit cards. CVS has plans to make their website more accessible for customers using screen readers or other adaptive technology.

Survey - Perspectives in Personal Health Records
AAPD is conducting a survey for people with disabilities on their experience with health information technology. Click here to take the survey. The survey is open until end of August, so please share your experience!

DisaboomJobs Got a Makeover to Make Your Employment Search Easier

Erin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:46:00 GMT

DisaboomJobs
Things over at DisaboomJobs have changed. The site has been completely overhauled to make your job search easier. We know it's frustrating looking for work, especially in the current economy. But trust us when we say we've created a comprehensive job site that allows employers and job seekers to connect.

There are more than 600,000 jobs posted from 400 different employers, articles in the Career Coaching section to help answer your employment questions, and other Disaboom Resources readily available on the site. Since DisaboomJobs is a separate site from Disaboom, you'll need to create a separate profile and log in information.

Win a Resume Makeover
Through August 15th, everyone who posts their resume to DisaboomJobs will have their resume entered into a drawing for a free, professional resume makeover.

Five resumes will be chosen at random to receive a professional review and “makeover,” including formatting, how to best organize and present your professional information, language to describe key accomplishments, etc.

Are you presenting your skills and expertise to the best advantage? Post your resume to DisaboomJobs no later than August 15th, and you may win the opportunity to get a career professional’s advice for free!

Want more information on the features and benefits of DisaboomJobs? Check out the blog post, Employers Are Looking for You on DisaboomJobs.

Disaboom's Weekly Newsletter

Erin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:57:00 GMT

Let's have a brief chat about how awesome the Disaboom Newsletter is, shall we?

Me: Disaboom has a weekly newsletter and if you aren't on the mailing list, you should definitely subscribe to it!

You: Why? I already recieve enough e-mails each week. It's hard to read everything!

Me: Totally understandable. But this newsletter is filled to the brim with new information each week. Consider it the best content from Disaboom that week - the stuff you need to read.

You: Are the article topics the same each week? What do they include?

Me: The articles, videos, forums and blogs vary each week. They like to spice it up! One week, there could be information on summer sports, new movie trailers, parenting and Stroke, and the next they could feature exercises for people with Multiple Sclerosis, book reviews, adaptive home modifications and SCI. Since there are more than 70 Health and Living topics and hundreds of blog and forums on the site, the content is endless!

You: If I write a blog, would it be featured in the newsletter?

Me: They do feature blogs and forums written by Disaboom members, so there's a pretty good chance you could be featured one week! Be sure to keep it PG - no offensive language or topics!

You: Whoa! It would be so exciting to have one of my blogs or forums featured!

Me: Start blogging about your hobbies, share a joke or a heart-warming story you heard. What did you do last weekend? Talk about the last great book you read, or share a recipe of your favorite dish. Have some crazy travel stories? Write about it...and post pictures from your trip! People write about anything and everything on this site!

You: Sweet! I already have a few ideas for a blog. How do I sign up for the newsletter? And can I read some previous issues?

Me: To sign up for the newsletter, click on one of the newsletter links below, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter and click "Subscribe" - then add your e-mail address. That's it! While you're in there, forward the newsletter to all of your friends!

Previous Disaboom Newsletter Issues:

DisaboomJobs: Jumpstart Your Career!

Disney's Accessibility

Amputees Across America

Employee Discriminated at Clothing Store

Employment During a Recession

A New Spin on the Disaboom Newsletter!

Staying Active with a Disability

Disaboom's Adaptive Summer Sports Guide

Disaboom's Summer Sports Guide is here!

Erin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:09:00 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The staff at Disaboom.com has been working long and hard on a complete guide to make your summer more accessible.

Check out the Disaboom Summer Sports Guide. It has adaptive sports resources for the following:

-Adaptive Cycling

-Water Sports

-Team and individual summer sports

-Extreme Adaptive Sports

-Summer camps and activities for kids

Go ahead - get your summer accessible sports activities in full-swing with Disaboom's Summer Sports Guide today!

We'd love to hear all about your summer activities - share your pictures and blogs about your accessible summer on Disaboom.com! Your story and pictures may end up in Disaboom's weekly newsletter, too!

Actors with Disabilities to Take Center Stage in “Man of la Mancha” for PHAMALY

Erin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:28:00 GMT

The Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League (PHAMALY) announced the cast of their new production, “Man of la Mancha” scheduled for July 25-Aug. 16, 2009.

WHAT: Man of la Mancha is a musical inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' book, Don Quixote. This production will highlight the misadventures of the mad Spaniard who imagines himself as the knight, Don Quixote, on a quest to attain the unattainable. According to PHAMALY, “The theme celebrates the journey of our lives as enhanced by the passionate gift of imagination with memorable musical numbers including “The Impossible Dream” and “Dulcinea”.

WHO: Cast includes: Leonard E. Barrett Jr. (Cervantes/ Don Quixote); Regan Linton (Aldonza/ Dulcinea); Lyndsay Linton; Daniel Traylo ( Anselmo); Tara Cowan; Ray Angel; Chaz Jacobson; Mark Dissette (Innkeeper); Jenna Bainbridge (Antonia); Amber Marsh (Housekeeper of Quixote); Don Mauck (Padre); Jason Dorwart (Dr. Carrasco); Nick Ortiz Trammell (Barber/Juan); Stephen Hahn (Pedro); Kevin Pettit (Tenorio), Laurice Quinn (Paco); Alex Marin (Jose/ Guitar Player); Muleteers; Devin Vogal Woodall; Leslie Rusher; Samantha Barrasso; Kevin Ahl; Jodi Hogle Maria (Innkeepers Wife); Briana Berthiaume (Fermina /Serving Girl at Inn); Edward Blackshere (Duke); Lyndsay Palmer (Ensemble/ Lead Gypsy Dancer); Michael Danahey (Ensemble/ Captain) and ensemble members Angie Aguilar, Donna Gunnison, Molly Nash and Esha Mehta, Genevieve Schlosser and Julius Gordon.

WHEN: Preview shows, July 23-24. Performances, July 25-Aug. 16 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; and Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Space Theater in the Denver Performing Arts Complex in Denver, CO.

TICKETS: Admissions are: $30 for adults; $28 for seniors, students and military; and $24 for the Aug. 3 show. Discounted tickets for $15 are available for the July 23-24 preview shows. Call Denver Center Ticketing at 303-893-4100, visit www.phamaly.org or visit the Denver Center Ticket Office at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tickets are available for $22 for groups of 10 or more by calling 303-931-7241.

PHAMALY is a Colorado-based theater company celebrating 20 years of providing acting/performing opportunities to actors with disabilities.

Take a Peek at These Awesome Articles:
Denver’s mayor weighs in on PHAMALY’s productions and performers in the video, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper on PHAMALY.

Check out It’s All in the PHAMALY to learn more about the theater company for actors with disabilities.