Vehicle Production Group – MV-1

Headquartered in South Florida, The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) is proud to introduce the new 2011 MV-1. The MV-1 is the first mobility vehicle that was designed from the ground up for wheelchair accessibility and will be proudly built in America. The MV-1 comes equipped with a deployable integrated ramp for quick and easy passenger access and has a spacious interior that can accommodate up to six occupants. In fact, the MV-1 is the only factory-built vehicle that meets or exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) vehicle guidelines. The extremely versatile MV-1 will be built at the high quality assembly facility at AM General LLC in Mishawaka, Indiana. Vehicle production begins Q4 of 2010. Continue Reading »

Spina bifida a challenge, not a roadblock

Kim Sloop of Michigan City, a May graduate of Purdue University North Central, is ready to use her bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences in a career working with children with disabilities and their parents.

She’s been an advocate for people with spinal cord disabilities and injuries as a member of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group. She’s visited Washington, D.C., to speak with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Merrillville, about the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which has been signed into law. Continue Reading »

Parking Mobility

Parking Mobility was born from the need to ensure accessible parking for people with disabilities. While there are many disabled parking spots assigned close to shopping locations they are not always available or easy to find in other areas. These parking spots are also often used by people who do not have a disability placard. It seemed to us that there were some technology tools that we could use to engage with the community to help address these issues. Continue Reading »

Bridging Barriers Quality of Life Grant Opens Doors

I smile every day here when I learn about how Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grants tangibly change lives. A picture tells a thousand words, and we were so pleased that a recent $6,963 Quality of Life grant to the Sterling-Rock Family YMCA in Sterling, IL enabled the facility to install 3 low-energy automatic door openers. “These doors provide access to those with disabilities to provide life-changing health experiences,” wrote Michael Mohr in a letter of support for the project. Michael is a wheelchair user pictured here with 2-year old Emma Allison, who also helped make the project happen, and Executive Director Doug Vandersee, who is holding the actual Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grant check. Continue Reading »

Nonprofit builds dream homes for wounded service veterans

Standing watch at a post in Iraq, former Humble resident Anthony Thompson did not know that he and members of his crew were in trouble.

“During his second deployment to Iraq in 2007, he (Anthony) and others were injured when a suicide bomber drove up in a dump truck and detonated improvised explosive devices at the post,” Ivonne, his wife, said. “Two of the injured were able to stay in Iraq and six were carried back to stateside, including Anthony, who was the worst injured.”

Due to the incident, Anthony, who joined the U.S. Navy Corpsmen at 21 years old, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, a punctured right lung along with other scrapes and bruises. He was sent to the James A. Haley Veteran Hospital in Tampa, where he currently remains. Continue Reading »

Milwaukee VA Hospital Gains New Spinal Cord Treatment Center

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded a $26.9 million contract to design and build a free-standing spinal cord injury center at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

The contract was awarded to the C3T Construction Company of Milwaukee, a service-disabled, Veteran-owned small business. The 67,000-square-foot building will have a connecting tunnel, providing access to the hospital, and replace a smaller unit in the main hospital building. Continue Reading »

WheelchairNet

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Are disabled teachers getting a raw deal?

Riccardo Paffetti was left paralysed after a sledging accident but six months later he is teaching again. Other disabled teachers aren’t so fortunate.

It is the weekly PE lesson for years three and four at Cobden Primary School at Farnley in inner-city Leeds. But today’s session is special because, after a six-month absence, their class teacher, Riccardo Paffetti, is back with the eight- and nine-year-olds, organising a game of short cricket. Only last time he was able to run in and show them all how to bowl. Now he is doing it from a wheelchair. Continue Reading »

Suddenly disabled, D’Andrea invests his money in hope and ‘trust’

Stem cells, disabled access are paralyzed man’s focus

Dan D’Andrea is young enough and hopeful enough to believe that, yes, he might someday walk again.

And he’s betting a million dollars on his chances.

“I want my old quality of life back,” D’Andrea said. “I want to walk again.”

The former construction worker, paralyzed from the chest down in a 2004 construction accident, is starting the Daniel D’Andrea Charitable Trust with an eye toward the funding of promising new stem cell research into spinal cord injuries.

Of course, D’Andrea is hedging his bets a bit — and is the first to admit it –by targeting a second cause — better access for the disabled to parks and public buildings. Continue Reading »

Quadriplegic lawyer from Thunder Bay, Ont., reaches North Pole

A lawyer from the northern Ontario city of Thunder Bay has become the first known quadriplegic to reach the North Pole.

David Shannon, 46, who was paralyzed after a spinal-cord injury, reached the frosty destination on Saturday with his expedition partner Christopher Watkins, 40, who is also from Thunder Bay. Continue Reading »