This powerful and encapsulating commercial from Liberty Mutual shows the challenges a young woman in a wheelchair experiences, while going out to vote. Nothing stops her, including a car that won’t run, rainy weather, or an inaccessible polling place. This inspirational commercial stars our friend and EasyStand Glider owner, Teal Sherer.
Teal is an L.A. based actor, writer, and activist for performers with disabilities. You can read more about Teal’s story and ambitions on her website at www.tealsherer.com
This commercial is a great reminder to get out and vote, and not let small obstacles stop you from doing big things.
Have you run into accessibility issues at the polls? DontBlockMyVote.org helps to engage people with disabilities and their supporters in the election process.
Karly is a young woman with Rett Syndrome. Since she is unable to speak, she uses her blog “Inspired By Love” as a way to communicate. Karly is a passionate writer, who has the ability to draw you into her world using only words. She says, “I love to write. I am entering some of my writings into an event in our community in December. It was so fun last year to enter my poems and music.”
Karly also uses facilitated communication (FC) to speak to those around her. FC is a process by which a facilitator supports the hand or arm of an individual who is unable to speak while using a keyboard, helping the individual to communicate. Karly shares her experience with FC, “When I was 9 years old, I started communicating with support using a keyboard. Prior to that I had no way to share my thoughts, fears, pain, or wishes. When I started to use this method, there was so much excitement for me and my family.” Read Karly blog post “Facilitated Communication Saved My Life.”
We first met Karly a couple years ago at her school. She uses her EasyStand stander as a way to experience things around her and to improve her quality of life. She talks about how she uses her EasyStand Evolv, “I love my EasyStand. I stand for at least an hour everyday. If I could, I would stand more. It helps so much to get pressure off my back and hips. Now that I am out of school I use it when I listen to books on tape, in the kitchen so I can be near the food and even on the deck.” Read Karly’s Story on our website.
What is your experience with facilitated communication or other assisted communication devices? Are there any disability related blogs that you would like to share?
One of my responsibilities at Altimate Medical, Inc. is to inform our staff about legislative issues that will either directly effect, or have a trickle down effect on our suppliers, clinicians, and ultimately the consumer. My main source for clear, concise legislative information and updates is from NCART (National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology).
NCART’s Mission:
NCART’s mission is to promote the interests of the Rehab and Assistive Technology industry, ensuring adequate consumer access to appropriate technology and services while creating a stable business environment for providers and manufacturers of rehab and assistive technology.
NCART’s Vision:
NCART’s vision is to have rehab and assistive technology recognized and accepted as a unique and separate health care delivery model from DME. Then, to use this differentiation to effect changes in coding, coverage and payment.
In upcoming blogs I will share appropriate legislative updates from NCART to provide access to this important information to our customers. I welcome any questions or comments!
After talking with newly injured clients and caregivers last Friday at the Abilities Expo in Minneapolis, I found a common theme arise. How do I get this item (stander, wheelchair, cushion, etc.) purchased for me? I was amazed at how many people recently (and not so recently) out of rehab had not been explained the procurement of Durable Medical Equipment (DME). I’m not sure if it’s because they had more important life issues on their minds when in rehab, and were inundated with information? Of if we, the DME team (manufacturers, suppliers, and clinicians) are trying to make the process invisible so as not to overburden the consumer during a difficult time of adjustment?
I’m guessing it’s a bit of both. Regardless, somewhere before leaving rehab there should be someone or some document that explains what DME is and the normal process for acquiring these life-necessary technologies.
There are many different payers who have different needs for funding DME, but generally speaking the ideal process is as follows:
Discuss with your physician the specific need you want to address with the item of DME. Ask for a referral to a clinician or OT/PT that can help with the evaluation process.
Pull together your DME Team (therapist, local DME supplier, caregivers, & self).
Set up time for evaluation /trial of the equipment or technology you think will work best for you.
The therapist will document the outcomes from this trial and write a Letter of Medical Justification or Necessity (LMN).
Once the LMN is signed by the medical team, therapist, and physician, it is sent to the DME Supplier for prior authorization with your funding source.
When approved by your funding source, the DME will be ordered, received, assembled, delivered and fit by the supplier.
If your funding source denies or pends your DME prior authorization, review your right to appeal in your benefits book from your funding source. Then decide your next step. Remember there are many on your team who are willing to help with this process, but you, the consumer hold the most weight in an appeal.
Why do you think consumers are not more educated on how to get the DME equipment that they need? Have you had any experiences getting DME that you would like to share with others? Am I missing any important steps of the DME equipment purchasing process?
Altimate Medical would like to invite clinicians and suppliers to attend this NRRTS teleseminar on standing. Earn CEU’s and learn about standing without leaving your home or office! Register today for next weeks seminar!
Standing: Advanced Principles, Practices and Clinical Applications
This exciting course moves expert rehab providers to the next level. Bone density, bowel, bladder, spasticity and range of motion benefits of passive and dynamic standing (including vibration) programs will be highlighted. This session will conclude with a rousing session on funding that will leave you shouting “show me the money.”
Ginny Paleg is a pediatric PT from Silver Spring, MD. She works in a 0-3 (Early Intervention) program for Montgomery County Public Schools. She serves children in their homes and daycare centers. She is the Reimbursement Chair and listserve monitor for the pediatric section of the APTA. She is on the editorial board of Rehab Management and PT Products Magazines, and is on the consumer advisory board of VTech toys.
When: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm EST
Registration: Register on-line at www.nrrts.org or by phone at (800) 976-7787.
Cost: NRRTS registrant $20, Friends of NRRTS $25, and anyone else is $35.
CEU’s: .2 CEU’s have been applied for.
Are you planning on attending Ginny’s NRRTS seminar? If you attended, what did you think? Did Ginny’s presentation provide information on standing therapy or standing equipment that you were not aware of?
This is a short MP3 audio file on funding resources for standers. It is one of six parts of an Evolv In-service Podcast that was created for suppliers, but we are sharing this section on funding with clinicians and consumers as well. Suppliers can download the entire in-service podcast under supplier log in on the EasyStand website, with just an account number and password.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Listen to this MP3 for an overview of the funding resources available in our Funding Guide to Standing Technology. The Funding Guide is Free 100+ page book that is available in print format as well as PDF.
Find topics and personal stories on life in a wheelchair and disability, healthy living, the benefits of standing, and what's happening with EasyStand.
