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Coping With Short Term Mobility Problems

Dealing with short-term mobility issues can be very taxing.  Those who have lived with disabilities have accepted the challenges they face and have found ways to overcome them as much as possible. But when the mobility problem occurs suddenly and is expected to last for a few weeks or months, the individual is caught between 2 worlds - there is no need to get used to the disability but at the same time movement and mobility is limited. Common Causes of Mobility Problems The most common causes of short-term mobility problems are broken bones and torn or damaged muscles and ligaments. These are often caused by falls or accidents. With proper care, these will normally heal and the patient is able to return to normal life. In the interim, however, mobility can be severely affected. For example, a broken leg can leave a person unable to walk, drive or get to the office. But that does not mean that the person cannot sit at a desk and work. Finding a short-term

Key Issues In Transporting Special Needs Students

The safe transportation of students to and from schools is one of the most important services a school district provides. In case of special needs children, the service is even more complex.  There are a number of federal requirements for the transport of special needs children that parents need to know. There are also state laws which vary across the country. For information on these laws parents should contact their school districts. Federal Laws The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that related service such as transportation be provided to those who fall under that act. The act specifies that this includes: Travel to and from school and between schools Travel in and around school buildings Specialized equipment (such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps), if required to provide special transportation for a child with a disability. In addition, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that a school district must

The Importance of Mobility for the Elderly

One of the biggest problems with aging is the effect it has on a person’s mobility. Travelling for important appointments or for social and other commitments is not something that can be stopped. But driving can become progressively more difficult with age and the risks to both the senior who is driving;the passengers and others on the road will increase. Among the many factors that contribute to this are: Vision weakens with age but it provides over 80% of the information needed to make the right driving decisions. A person over 60 needs 10 times more light to drive safely as compared to a 20 year old. The reaction time of older drivers can be twice as long as that of younger drivers. Deciding that one is too old to drive safely is difficult. Being told so by others is hard to hear and accept. But the need to stop driving will arrive sooner or later. So what are the alternatives? The Alternatives Staying at home and cutting oneself off from the outside world is neither hea

Five Situations When Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Becomes Indispensable

Non emergency medical transportation companies came up to with a unique purpose to help individuals who cannot drive due to a momentary illness or a permanent disability. These services can be further availed by those who don’t have access to transportation but need to make regular journeys. Generally NEMT companies provide their services at reasonable rates. However the comfort and safety that they assure are unmatched beyond doubt. The one thing to remember before contacting any NEMT agency is that they don’t cater to emergency situations. The article offers information about five circumstances when you can explore the non-emergency medical transport option. When You Need Regular Transport There are patients who visit their therapists or healthcare centers on a daily basis. Hiring a private taxi in such cases can prove to be expensive. On the other hand waiting for a public transport may mean difficulty in keeping the appointment time. The NEMT provider can come to your rescu

How does non-emergency medical transportation help?

Access to medical transportation has been an issue for many people. Especially if one needs to go to medical appointments. Patients who have to go for checkups get late or have to postpone appointments due to lack of adequate commutation. Keeping this in mind, many private and public providers have come up with non-emergency medical transportation. These vehicles take people to their designated hospitals, clinics or other appointments faster, safer and on time. 1. Caters to people with disabilities People with physical disabilities have a hard time using public transit. Having medical transportation helps in making their lives easier. Providing such a facility is also a great step towards acknowledging different sections of the society and making them feel valued. 2. Brings patient to the hospital and then back home Since public transports or private vehicles are not built to accommodate patients with all kinds of physical disabilities, it g

Why is safe transportation important during injuries?

Injuries such as fractures, serious bruises, ligament ruptures and the like, need time and effort to heal. However, many injured individuals travel for their doctor’s appointment and social commitments in unsafe modes of transport such as, taxis, unaware of the possible dangers to their injury. Travelling in private cars during the initial stages of injury can cause various complications. The vibrations and jolts of travel may lead to separation. When travelling in crowded public transport vehicles you may expose the injury to unwanted harm that may delay recovery, or worse, cause irreparable damage.  During such times, using a well-equipped non-medical transportation vehicle can ensure that you reach your destination scratch free and on time as well. The trained drivers make sure you are sitting in a safe position when travelling. Safe travel for injured individuals is vital for preventing health issues. Qualifications of non-medical transportation staff: Non-medical

How to Organize Transportation to and from the Hospital?

Non-Emergency Medical transportation services help thousands of people every year to move from their homes to hospitals and other important places. The service has been formed to ensure comfort and safety on road for people with disabilities, or serious injuries. So, how should you organize transport to and from the hospital? Your choice should depend on: Whether you require going to the hospital for an emergency Your situation and medical condition if it is not an emergency During an Emergency In case of an emergency, call 999 and request for an ambulance immediately. A problem is considered a medical emergency when someone is in a life-threatening or critical condition. You do not have to pay to be driven to hospital during such situations. Non-emergency visits to the Hospital In case you're going to the hospital for a non-emergency treatment or test, you will be expected to arrange your own transport. Try

Introducing iWheelchair: An Intelligent Wheelchair System

Scientists have come up with the most advanced and intelligent wheelchair system known as "iWheelchair." With just a tablet computer as the central operating platform, the system has integrated a range of functions such as safety, environment control, hygiene and health monitoring with automated alerts that cater to the requirements of users and decrease workload on the caregivers.  By giving simple touchscreen commands, users can easily control any home device that is connected to the system, such as TV, electric curtains, electric beds and motorized projector screens. Those suffering from hand impairments can use a fabric electronic switch to translate thumb movements into touchscreen commands. In addition, a sensor fixed to the wheelchair constantly evaluates vital health signals like heart rate, and saves the readings into a computer for future record, while the fall monitoring system can activate instant alarm when the wheelchair or the patien

Reanimate Paralyzed Limbs through Implantable Devices

Within the next decade, individuals suffering from stroke or spinal cord injury can have their mobility restored or improved with the help of a new technology- implantable device. These machines can send out signals between areas of the nervous system or brain that have been disconnected because of injury. The effort includes researchers from San Diego State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and several other partners. To encourage their efforts and to support development of this technology, the NSF or National Science Foundation has renewed funding for the center. Experts say there is a huge need for developing newer medical devices to assist people with traumatic or progressive neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury or stroke. The aim is to attain proof-of-concept demonstrations in the next five years. This should lay the foundation for eventual clinical devices that are approved by the government. CSNE was instituted i

Self-driving cars: A brighter future for people with physical disabilities

Imagine a scenario where anyone could drive around safely and easily, irrespective of their capability? A report released by the automobile sector claims that by 2020 there will be more than nine million driverless cars in the country. The cars will have an “autopilot” feature, which will work almost to the extent where the driver can completely take their hands off. This is definitely a boon for people with disabilities as self-driving cars will make them independent. The process of dehumanization of transportation The new transportation network, will know exactly how to get you wherever you want to go—cheaper, faster, and completely in control.  This may sound dystopian or amazing, depending on person to person, but it is definitely going to have a major impact on the transportation industry. The commotion in transportation began a few years ago with the surge of TNC’s Transportation Network Companies such as Lyft and Uber. They start

Increasing need for non-emergency medical transportation - How is the state handling it?

The increased need for non-emergency medical transportation has led the state to devise new strategies to handle the demand more effectively. The governments in different states are organizing medical trips with other transportation providers who aim at serving similar individuals. Several private and public agencies have been set up to administer or refer clients to human service transportation programs. They receive funds from different places; each resource comes with its own set of restrictions and rules. The accountability and eligibility standards, operating procedures, vehicle needs, routes and similar factors vary greatly across different organizations. The greatest challenge for the state is to curb improper utilization of resources, customer inconvenience, varying safety standards, and insufficient transportation service due to the big number, dispersion and diversity of coordinated transportation programs. Fortunately, development in coordination and mobility management

Transporting A Special Needs Child

Transporting a child with special needs is a labor of love that is willingly and happily undertaken. But doing things out of love and doing them correctly and safely are two different issues. When transporting a special needs child, there are a number of specific safety factors that must be kept in mind. One of them is the type of wheelchair van that should be used.  Not all vans are the same and being sure that the right type is being used will ensure the child’s comfort and safety during the journey. Here are a few of the key considerations. If a caregiver is required to be next to the child during the trip, or if the child and / or caregiver should be seated close to the driver, then a rear entry wheelchair van would be the better option. If special equipment is to be transported along with the child, a side entry wheelchair van will allow for easier entry and exit as well as making storing the equipment safely for the journey easier. All equipments must be saf