Random topics

With Christmas a little over a week away, everyone is scrambling to finish up their shopping (me included). So far, I’ve only bought two gifts. And I have about eight more gifts to buy. Not a crisis-amount, but it still seems a lot if A) You use a wheelchair, a B) Live in a freezing cold climate like I do (it’s -8 in Minneapolis right now). Not very conducive to leaving the house…I’m not new to this wheelchair-using existence though, and have over 15 seated-Christmas shopping experiences under my belt. Shopping while using a wheelchair can be both awesome and awful, and here’s why.

Why It’s Awesome

- Your feet never get tired and you can shop for hours on end. The bad thing about this, you could end up spending too much.

- If your chair has push handles (raises hand), you have the perfect place to hang all of your shopping bags. This is especially awesome if you’re mall shopping and slowly accumulate more and more bags as the day progresses. Drawback: You may end up looking like a bag lady.

Why It’s Awful

- Everything (and I mean everything) is crowded. Whether it’s the crowds of people crowding everything from handicapped parking spaces to the wheelchair-accessible bathroom stalls at the mall, to the crowds of merchandise placed awkwardly in stores, making it next to impossible to get through certain establishments, it’s enough to make you want to give up and go home.

- The condescending “Merry Christmas” chats you’ll get from random strangers while out shopping. A lot of able-bodied “do-gooders” will get in your face around the holidays because they feel sorry for you, thinking this is the perfect time of the year when they should be conducting random acts of kindness. While they’re generally well-meaning, for people like us, it can be very annoying (at least for me it is). It’d be nice to go through my holiday shopping experience unscathed one year.

Shopping Solutions

- Online shopping has been around as long as it has for one very good reason: Because it’s awesome. I’ve been online shopping since the mid-’90s and have loved every second of it (except for that time I bought a Tina Turner t-shirt on Ebay from a seller in Bangkok, only to have the shipment permanently delayed due to rioting at Thailand’s airports). Online shopping is like magic: You move your mouse around, click a little bit, then wait a few days, and voila! A package is delivered to your door. Online shopping is so perfect for people who use wheelchairs, it’s almost as if it was invented just for us.

Tiffiny doing some early Christmas shopping at a thrift store in Venice Beach this past summer.

- Be wary of where you place your purse/ money-holder on your person while you’re out shopping. I usually hang my purse on my right push handle, but when I’m shopping amongst throngs of holiday shoppers, I move my purse to my lap because the purse could be easily swiped. Beware! Just because you use a wheelchair doesn’t mean people won’t steal from you. Believe me, they will.

I’ll be fighting the massive crowds at the Mall of America later this week, and will be arriving freshly caffeinated with a hat on (that way I don’t have to worry about my hair throughout the day), and will also (most importantly) be determined and ready to get it all done in one singular day. Oh, and having a MP3 player helps too. It’s all about concentration. I’m like the Michael Phelps of shopping, people. Maybe I should put some Lil’ Wayne on my pink Zen Stone?

For the third year, Altimate Medical is making a donation to one of our favorite charities in lieu of a traditional Christmas card. For the 2008 holiday season, we have chosen United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). UCP is an advocate for people with cerebral palsy and all disabilities, and Altimate Medical is proud to contribute to their cause.

To help us reach our goal of $3000, simply goto www.easystand.com/holiday and take Santa’s EasyStand Challenge. In less then 30 seconds, you can answer 4 fun (and easy) questions, and if you answer them correctly, Altimate Medical will donate $1.00 to UCP, up to $3000.

So here is what to do to help us reach our goal of $3000 by December 31st, 2008:

1. Go to www.easystand.com/holiday and take Santa’s EasyStand Challenge
2. Forward the link to your friends, family and colleagues so they can do the same
3. If you would like, make your own tax-deductible donation to United Cerebral Palsy
4. Have a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends!

Merry Christmas from the staff at Altimate Medical!

Take Action & Be Heard!

As promised, I am sharing part of the latest legislative update from NCART:

The November 4 election marks a change in the executive branch of government and its effect on the HME industry and complex rehab is unknown. President-elect Obama has not addressed the issue of HME and his selection of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary and CMS administrator will be key. Health care reform is a top priority for President-elect Obama and Democrats in Congress have said they are committed to making a comprehensive effort to reform our health care system. Work is currently underway to lay for foundation for legislation next year.

Under President-elect Obama’s proposal, most individuals would continue to receive coverage through their employer. Individuals who are uninsured would have access to a new public plan – modeled on the current federal plan for federal workers, or to private coverage through a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” This Exchange would also reform the private insurance market, incorporating a ban on excluding coverage due to health status. The plan includes a “pay or play” mandate for employers to provide insurance or contribute a percentage of payroll toward the cost of the national plan. Small businesses would be exempt from this mandate and would receive tax benefits to help purchase coverage.

President-elect Obama’s proposal includes an array of health system changes to improve quality, reduce waste and drive down health care costs. Proposed system changes include the use of comparative effectiveness research, disease management and care coordination, preventing Medicare waste and fraud, and increasing competition in the insurance and drug industry. Many elements of these reforms have support from Democrats and some Republicans.

Medicare is likely to be a big part of the debate. Many Democrats believe coverage through a public program is part of the solution for the uninsured and many leading Democrats have sponsored legislation that would allow individuals to “buy-in” to Medicare. Congress could also turn to Medicare savings as a way to finance health reform. President-elect Obama and many Democrats have called for reductions in payments for Medicare Advantage and for Medicare prescription drugs, among others. Any of the proposals for Medicare savings debated by Congress in 2007 and 2008 could be on the table, including the elimination of the first month purchase option for power wheelchairs.

Sen. Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, expects to release this week his options for health care reform, and Sen. Kennedy (D-MA), chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee has been working on a proposal also. NCART will monitor these efforts at comprehensive health reform and advocate for more reasonable reimbursement of complex rehab and to avoid policies and programs that could potentially harm people with disabilities who need complex rehab technology.

Other health care legislation to be considered in 2009 includes the reauthorization of the SCHIP program which expires in March, and legislation to “fix” the current physician reimbursement reduction scheduled to go into effect in September. These two pieces of legislation, in addition to health reform legislation, are possible vehicles for attaching a proposal to eliminate the 9.5 percent reduction for complex power wheelchairs.

2009 is quickly approaching, now is not the time to sit back and wait to see what direction the new administration and Congress will take Complex Rehab and the HME industry. Now is the time to be vocal and let your Legislators know what you (either as providers of Complex Rehab, or consumers of these devices) need!

What actions are you taking to be proactive? How are you making your voice heard?

Popular Mechanics Magazine recently recognized a wheelchair invention as one of the Top 10 Innovations of 2008. The wheelchair was invented by some engineers from California who were brainstorming with students and professors from Guatemala. Utilizing wheels from mountain bikes, their wheelchairs are less expensive and more durable to withstand the potholed streets and rugged roads in Guatemala.

They have formed a nonprofit organization called Intelligent Mobility International, which designs, produces, and distributes affordable and durable wheelchairs to help people with disabilities find sustainable employment, and new hope in their lives. They have also partnered with Transitions, a Guatemalan charity, who employs mainly wheelchair-bound people to build the chairs.

What do you think of this wheelchair, created for the developing world?

Did you see this video on 60 Minutes? It features a guy with ALS and a lady with a stroke who are both completely paralyzed and nonverbal. Neuroscientists have found a way to tap into the thoughts in their brain, and make them into actions performed through a computer. The gentleman with ALS is able to communicate by choosing letters on the screen, and the woman was able to move a cursor around the screen and even operate a power wheelchair with just her brain power. They also showed a monkey who actually controlled a robotic arm with his brain.

The hope is that the technology can help people with disabilities to communicate and control mechanisms like a wheelchair. See for yourself!

Watch the 60 Minutes video “Brain Power” or read the text version of the story here.

Now, with the election behind us, and new President-Elect Barack Obama ready to take over the office in a couple months, the United States is bracing itself for change. Barack Obama plans to empower people with disabilities through these key positions:

1. Provide the educational opportunities that Americans with disabilities need to succeed
2. End workplace discrimination and promote equal opportunity
3. Increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities
4. Support independent, community-based living for Americans with disabilities

To watch Barack Obama’s video detailing his plan to Empower People with Disabilities, visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities/. You can also view the complete Disability Plan Fact Sheet in PDF format.

In Obama’s acceptance speech on November 4th, 2008, he specifically mentioned “people with disabilities”.

Barack Obama has a plan to empower people with disabilities.

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.We are, and always will be, the United States of America.” – President-Elect Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2008

What do you think of Barack’s plans to empower Americans with Disabilities?

Bill Fertig and I are proud to have raised $6596.00 for the NSCIA

As you know Bill Fertig and I raced in the Marine Corp Marathon on Sunday. I had my personal best of 4:03:48 but I know I could have gotten below 4 hours if all those people would of just gotten out of my way. This was Bill’s first time hand cycling a marathon and he did it in 3:04:45. Here is what he had to say about it, “It was big fun as you say! But I was humbled by the experience of competing next to so many combat injured solders who returned as single or double amputees. I haven’t been addressed as ‘sir’ so many times in my life as I was by the many hundreds of Marines who worked the MCM!”

Bill and I raised $6,596.00 for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, which was short of our goal of $10,000, but we are hopeful there are a few late supporters yet to sign up.

The most moving sight for me was a group of three runners with the US Marine Corp and MIA full size flags running ahead of me. Just as I was catching up to them they suddenly turned off from the race and stopped at the Vietnam Memorial to bow their heads in respect for about one minute, then continued running.

Many runners had pictures or messages on the backs of their shirts, stating they were running for brothers or sons killed or injured in the line of duty. This made me think about the reason I was running, for the many more people in civilian life that have also suffered, from SCI/D. This stopped me from whining about the pain and helped me get through the last six miles. It is an experience I will never forget.

I discovered GoodSearch after learning about it in an email newsletter for an organization I support. GoodSearch is a search engine like Google that is powered by Yahoo Search. Every time you run a search, GoodSearch donates to the organization of your choice. Over 67,000 organizations and schools are already listed in Goodsearch, including many disability-related organizations like the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), UCP- Wheels for Humanity, Miami Project, and many more. You can change your charity at any time, so it is easy to give to more than one. Plus new organizations are added daily, and you can even suggest new ones.

You can also shop though GoodSearch. At the GoodShop, shop your favorite stores like Amazon, Target and eBay, and a percent of your purchase cost will be donated to the charity that you select. I use this feature too because it allows me to use my shopping addiction for a good cause.

Goodsearch gives me the opportunity to support my favorite charity without shelling out the bucks. It’s user friendly, and I added it to my toolbar to make it even easier. Go ahead..try a new search engine! See what GoodSearch has to offer & start supporting your favorite charity now!

Have you tried GoodSearch? What charity do you support?

Hi there! This is Mark Haen, the media guy with Altimate Medical here today to show you my giant flowers. The picture shows the cannas (’Edulis Dark’) at 9′ 11″ but since then they stand well over 10′ tall. I have been planting cannas for over fifteen years. Dig them out in the fall, cover and store them in a cool basement then plant the bulbs in the spring. The giant cannas shown in the picture are fertilized, on a sprinkler system, and receive full sun to help them reach their full growth potential. My cannas are standing tall, and you might say, they got in made [not in the shade]. PS: The humming birds love them. If you would like to have some of these monster canna bulbs, send me an email.