Dan Buchanan. Photo courtesy of Dan Buchanan.

Friends and mentors are priceless. In 1985, while still coming to grips with my spinal cord injury in the rehab hospital, a fellow hang-glider pilot named, Dan Buchanan, who is also a T8 complete para came to visit me. Dan’s visit helped me a great deal, mainly because in between dolling out tidbits of SCI survival wisdom he kept looking out the window. Within a short period of time he said “Man, the weather is looking really good for flying, so I gotta go. I’ll catch you later.” This was the perfect thing to say! The light went on! Dan’s life revolves around flying hang gliders! Paralysis wasn’t even on the radar screen.

Dan helped show me the ropes of thriving with SCI, everything from advice in ordering equipment: “Order the smallest chair you can fit into, and tell your therapist you want a ROHO cushion,” to helping me rig my hang glider and get back in the air. Over time we’ve become close friends and shared many adventures.

As I said, Dan’s life revolves around in flying hang gliders, so much so that in 1989 he left a successful career in mechanical engineering to pursue a path as a professional airshow hang glider pilot.

Dan devoted years into honing his routines, methodically developing, refining, and marketing his airshow performances. These days he is one of the most sought after air-show acts in on the circuit!

One of the many cool things about Dan’s airshow act is that it enables the general public to see beyond a wheelchair. His chair has nothing to do with the act. That is, until the finale.

To get airborne, Dan launches from a moving trailer driving down the runway at 35 mph. Once he is in the air, a winch on the trailer pays out line as Dan steadily tow-climbs to altitude as the trailer is towed down the runway. He has long colorful streamers and smoke from canisters trailing his glider. He has crafted several different routines, from an opening act flying with an American flag while the Star Spangle Banner plays, to night routines complete with lights and bright pyrotechnics.

Dan’s day show is a comedy act where he “mistakenly” launches during the middle of another performers aerobatic routine. The announcer, the other performer and Dan all exchange banter on the PA and “pretend” it is a mistake, but Dan refuses to leave the sky. Soon a police car is on the ground chasing the tow trailer and the aerobatic airplane tries to chase Dan out of the sky by buzzing his hang glider. Dan tries to chase the plane away by shooting special effects rockets and pyrotechnics, his version of a “3^rd world warbird impression.” At this point Dan’s altitude is about 1,500 feet and he releases the tow rope and the announcer introduces him. He gently swoops, turns and glides down and rolls to a stop front of the audience.

An aerobatic airplane tries to "chase" Dan Buchanan out of the sky during airshow performance. Photo courtesy of Dan Buchanan.

This is when the announcer explains that Dan is a paraplegic, while overhead a helicopter delivers Dan’s wheelchair which is dangling from a cable. The aerobatic plane lands and tows Dan in his wheelchair over to the crowd where Dan shakes hands, answers questions and signs autographs.

Each year during the airshow season  —  April through October  —  Dan’s performances are seen by millions of people around the world as he travels to over 25 cities. To get from show to show requires driving more than 45,000 miles each summer. It is not uncommon for Dan to drive thousands of miles in a single week to get from one show to the next.

In addition to North America, Dan has performed in Australia, Japan, Thailand, El Salvador, The United Arab Emirates, Canada and Mexico  —  an exhausting travel schedule requiring lots of windshield time as well as sitting on very long commercial flights often across many time zones.

In December, Dan was honored by his peers on the airshow circuit when he received the Art Scholl Award for Showmanship at the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) convention banquet  —  one of the highest honors an airshow pilot can receive.

Last week I was fortunate enough to catch up with Dan via phone while he was doing a “short” 700-mile commute from North Carolina to Tennessee for his next show.

Bob Vogel (BV): Congratulations on the Art Scholl Award. Did you know it was coming?

Dan Buchanan (DB): No I didn’t. It was a complete surprise and a great honor  —  also a bit embarrassing. All the other pilots are flying planes, jets and helicopters that cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, and here I am flying a hang glider that cost around six-thousand dollars. But mainly it was a great honor.

BV: So I’m trying to do the math — how old are you and how many years have you been injured?

DB: I’m 56-years-old and this is my 31^st year as a para.

BV: Wow! I’m 52 and 27 years post injury. It seems to me having a SCI ages us in dog years, how do you manage to keep healthy, especially with all of the travel, days of driving and overseas flights?

DB: Part of it is I come from the old school rehab where they drummed into you the how to take care of myself. I manage to keep myself thin so I’m not stressing my shoulders. I also do a skin check with a mirror every day. So far, so good.

BV: What kind of cushion are you sitting on these days?

DB: I’m sitting on a ROHO^® QUADTRO SELECT^® LOW PROFILE^®. I love these things, I’ve been sitting on a ROHO ever since I was hurt. I wouldn’t sit on anything else. I’m not sponsored by them. I don’t even get a free cushion. In fact, I paid cash for my last cushion because I was about to head out of the country and didn’t have time to mess with prescriptions and insurance.

And I always make sure my ROHO is under me — on my car seat, on the seat on the airplane, you name it.

BV: So even with all of your travel, no pressure sores?

DB: Nope, I’ve never had a pressure sore. But I’ve dodged a pressure sore bullet. Years ago I got careless and was sitting on a seat without a cushion for a while and got the start of a pressure sore. Fortunately, I caught it during my mirror check the same day. I was on a ROHO HIGH PROFILE® Single Valve at the time…Sure enough it worked, and the area got a little better every day. Within two weeks it was gone.

I learned my lesson and always keep a cushion underneath me. And like I said, I check my skin with a mirror because I can’t afford to miss a show and I don’t ever want to end up on my stomach for a couple months trying to heal a pressure sore.

BV: Thanks Dan! Safe travels!

Thinking back to when Dan first visited me in rehab I remember asking him if he thought there would be a cure for SCI — something I secretly hoped for. He replied. “I don’t think so. But here is the deal, let’s say there is a cure in say 25-years. Project yourself 25-years in the future and think back on what you would have wanted to do. Live an amazing life full of adventure, or mope about waiting for a cure?” I took those words to heart. Here I am 27-adventure-filled-years later. Grateful for good advice from a good friend!

References:

• Dan Buchanan Airshows: www.danbuchananairshows.com

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at online.relations@therohogroup.com.

Save $10 Today Only!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by saving $10 off your entire purchase at The ROHO Store.

Save on specialty cushions, cushion covers and more! Use the code MAY05. Offer valid only on 5/5/12 until midnight US CST.

What are you waiting for? Start shopping now!

The ROHO Group has 4 positions available. They are:

• Domestic Marketing Intern
• Consumer Insights Research Strategy Intern (Marketing Research Intern)
• Senior Director of IT
• Independent Manufacturing Sales Representative, Europe — AIRHAWK

Internships

The ROHO Group has openings for 2 paid summer internships. They are:

• Domestic Marketing Intern
• Consumer Insights Research Strategy Intern (Marketing Research Intern)

The internships are part-time positions that average 32–34 hours per week and pays $10/hr (or higher for specialized positions.) The internships typically last 8-12 weeks, running from May through August. The positions will be at the company’s headquarters in Belleville, IL (St. Louis Metro Area).

Interested applicants should apply on the company website no later than Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Please contact Jody Rhodes with any questions at jodyr@therohogroup.com.

Domestic Marketing Intern

Location: The ROHO Group (100 N. Florida Ave., Belleville, IL 62221)

The Marketing Department is seeking an intern who will perform miscellaneous marketing activities involving graphics and desktop publishing, clerical support and marketing research. The candidate will gain insight and hands on experience in the field of Marketing. This position will report to Jackie Klotz, Marketing Services Manager.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Graphics/Desktop Publishing: Develop, edit, archive and layout company literature, marketing presentations, online Art Library, etc.
• Clerical Marketing/Miscellaneous Support: Filing, make and receive phone calls, prepare computer files, etc. Organize mailings and shipments for marketing and sales departments. Perform other miscellaneous duties such as local pick up of printing, photography, etc. Assist with local trade show product area; packing and unpacking
• Market Research: Research medical and consumer markets and product opportunities on the web. May assist with marketing surveys and field studies via telephone, mail, etc. Assist with updates to medical customer database

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate is a college student working on a bachelor’s degree in marketing, sales, communication or other related fields. The individual should be especially interested in marketing and technology and must possess the following skills/abilities:

• Computer skills: Microsoft Office
• Desktop publishing skills are very desirable – Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.
• Web navigation and research skills
• Mac skills desired
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to conduct themselves in a professional manner
• Can interface well with others via telephone or face to face

Interested applicants should apply online on The ROHO Group’s career website.

Insights Research Strategy Intern

Location: The ROHO Group (100 N. Florida Ave., Belleville, IL 62221)

The Insights Research Strategy Department is seeking a candidate to assist in building department infrastructure, product research, and marketing research. May perform quality control or data management. This position will report to Denise Arriaga, Insights Research Strategy Manager.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Conducts reviews and summarizes internet and library research and secondary research for assigned projects
• Assist with the preparation of project related preliminary research, reports and presentations.
• Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases; correct any errors
• Document protocols in departmental reference manuals
• Respond to panelists’ questions by email or phone within the parameters outlined by the Insights Team
• Other projects and duties as assigned

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate is a college student working on a bachelor’s degree in marketing research, marketing, business administration, social science, applied statistics or other related fields. The individual should be especially interested in marketing research and behavioral research and must possess the following skills/abilities:

• Database software experience – (i.e., Excel, Access, Qualtrics, or other equivalent), email programs, word processing and presentation software
• Clerical – Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Customer service focus/able to represent ROHO in a professional manner
• Strong organizational skills/exceptionally detail-oriented
• Can apply set procedures to similar situations and knows when to ask for help

Interested applicants should apply on The ROHO Group’s career website.

Full-Time Positions

Senior Director of IT

Location: The ROHO Group (100 N. Florida Ave., Belleville, IL 62221)

The ROHO Group seeks a Senior-Level IT Director with a strong, proven track record. This Director role will provide technology vision and leadership for the Company as a whole, based on priorities of the Senior Leadership Team, (SLT) including development and implementation of the technology initiatives. The incumbent will guide the organization in the selection, development and implementation of information technology strategies (use of automated systems and processes) that support, enable and enhance The ROHO Group’s overall business strategy and business functions. Provides company-wide direction in areas of policy and planning for data processing and related functions (communication, office systems, interplant connectivity, etc.). Understands technology trends and will advocate for technology driven solutions to benefit the organization.

This position will be responsible for a staff size of 4 individuals, and will report directly to the CFO/ Sr. VP of Administration for the Company.

Responsibilities:

• Based on the company’s strategic plan and discussions with the SLT and other management, develops strategies that keep information technology and related processes flexible and responsive to company and customer needs. Provides leadership to the company in the establishment, management and execution of these strategies.
• Identifies and articulates the proper long-term direction for the IT department, effectively communicating a highly technical and constantly changing subject into easily comprehensible business terminology to managers so that sound decisions can be made. Advocates and implements technology that drives efficiency, reduces costs, and improves responsiveness to customers’ needs.
• Establishes IT policies, standards, practices and security measures, subject to approval of the IT Steering Committee (as appropriate), to ensure effective and consistent information technology operations and to safeguard information resources.
• Serves as the liaison from the IT Department to the IT Steering Committee; communicates the current status of all IT projects to Committee members in advance of meetings and prepares agendas for IT Steering Committee meetings with the approval of the Committee chair.
• Provides solid project management, business analysis skills and knowledge of manufacturing to key project teams throughout the company.
• Directs the design, development, and maintenance of systems, programs, and systems software to meet management’s and company’s information needs.
• Partners with management personnel throughout the company to ensure they have the information processing and systems counseling, guidance and training needed to facilitate their efforts to meet or exceed their goals.
• Selects, develops, and motivates qualified staff to effectively carry out the department’s mission and provide for the continuity of managerial and specialized skills.
• Stays abreast of technology advancements in the areas of systems and hardware and pro-actively incorporates new developments into the future systems of the company.
• Establishes and implements a sound operational and organizational plan in direct support of the business plan within budgetary guidelines to contribute to cost-effective operation of the company.

Essential Skills:

• BS/BA in computer science, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of experience managing an information systems department in a medium or large sized firm.
• Demonstrated business acumen with a track record of advocating teamwork and building strong, collaborative working relationships.
• Advanced technical knowledge of networks, PC-based applications, and IS development and implementation.
• Strong strategic thinking, leadership, project management, analytical and communication skills. Strong customer orientation.

Beneficial Skills and Experience: MBA. IT leadership experience in a manufacturing environment. System-conversion experience.

Core Competencies:

• Strong evidence of strategic planning skills
• Demonstrated company and department leadership skills
• Well-developed project management and business analysis skills
• Solid understanding of manufacturing operations
• Well-developed interpersonal skills. Ability to get along well with diverse personalities – tactful – mature – flexible.
• Ability to establish credibility and be decisive – but able to recognize and support the organization’s preferences and priorities. Participative management style – advocates team concept.
• High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in a well-organized manner and in conjunction with normal activities.
• Strong analytical and reasoning abilities.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and motivate personnel in order to balance staffing strength with profitability and growth.
• Experience with social media and web development.

Apply with resume and cover letter, including salary history and requirements on The ROHO Group’s career website.

The ROHO Group is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and we take the responsibility of hiring a talented and diverse workforce. M/F/D/V

Please contact Jody Rhodes with any questions at jodyr@therohogroup.com.

Independent Manufacturing Sales Representative, Europe — AIRHAWK

The ROHO Group is seeking an Independent Manufacturer’s Sales Representative to direct the distribution or movement of AIRHAWK motorcycle seating products and services to customers in Europe. This person will be responsible for increasing sales and broadening our penetration in our market segment, helping to grow our product offerings, and increasing profitability.

Regular activities will include:

• Manage daily sales activities through a distributor network.
• Visit customers in the marketplace to solidify relationships and/or develop new business.
• Attend rallies and trade shows.
• Conduct sales meetings and training sessions with distributor and broker networks throughout Europe.
• Monitor and evaluate market pricing and competitive position; make recommendations as needed.
• Assist in coordinating marketing activities with major distributors, including marketing and local program negotiations and other promos.
• Perform customer service activities as needed.
• Monitor and coordinate inventory level and product placement at regional warehouses.
• Communicate business activities and needs to home office

Requirements include:

5+ years’ of Manufacturer’s Rep experience, preferably working with aftermarket motorcycle products such as wheels, handle bars, etc.; broad knowledge of such fields as advanced accounting, marketing, business administration, finance, etc. equivalent to four years of college; ability to speak multiple languages, including English, French, German, and either Italian or Spanish.

Frequent travel required.

Interested candidates should respond with cv or resume at:

http://www.therohogroup.com/corporate/careers.jsp view open jobs, Independent Manufacturing Sales Rep. Europe

Please contact Jody Rhodes with any questions at jodyr@therohogroup.com.

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

A handful of lawyers and people with disabilities are using well intentioned ADA (The Americans With Disabilities Act) accessibility laws in several states including California and Florida to rake in huge amounts of cash by filing hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of ADA-access lawsuits. In these states it is not uncommon to read about a single person filing more than two dozen ADA-access lawsuits a week, articles often refer to these lawyers as frequent filers.

Why are ADA-access lawsuits so common in California and Florida?

Federal ADA access law says places of public accommodation (businesses) must be accessible and can be sued for access violations (such as steps but no wheelchair ramp or lack of accessible parking spot). The person filing the lawsuit must have a disability that has been affected by the violation. Under federal ADA law the person suing is entitled to recover court costs and lawyer fees and that’s it. However, in an attempt to encourage better accessibility compliance, some states including California and Florida, allow for compensatory damages. For instance, in California a person can sue for at least $4,000 per violation, on top of court and lawyer fees.

The term “drive-by” lawsuits is often used to describe a person that files a great deal of ADA access lawsuits, the idea being that rather than sue a business when they run into an access problem, people filing these cases spend their time driving from town to town, business to business looking for any violation they can find to file a suit.

Armed with a list of businesses and violations from a new area, the lawyer cranks out lawsuits and sends notices to the businesses that they have been sued, usually offering to drop the lawsuit if the business settles by paying between $2,000 and $6,000, in some cases much more. Doing the math, if a lawyer files, say 12 lawsuits a week and settles on $4,000 per case, the money adds up quickly. Businesses claim this is extortion — plain and simple.

Lawyers that file these lawsuits claim they are crusaders for ADA access. The lawsuits may improve access, but at what cost to wheelchair users?

These type of drive-by lawsuits create animosity toward the ADA and leaves business owners with suspicion and mistrust of wheelchair users. I recently drove to a small industrial business park to get a car seat repaired. After I had transferred out of my car into my wheelchair my cell phone rang. As I was talking on the phone, people from surrounding businesses came out and were nervously staring at me. Weird. When I went into the seat-repair business, the owner also seemed nervous until I explained that I wanted a seat fixed— then he seemed relieved. After he fixed my seat, he apologized if he had seemed on edge when I first wheeled in and proceeded to explain that the business park owners had recently been sued because they didn’t have the proper striping and signage on their accessible parking. After consulting with an attorney, they found it was cheaper to pay a demand for something like $18,000 to drop the lawsuit than go to court. They said what really made them mad is nobody recalls the person that sued their businesses ever going to any of their businesses , in fact I was the first wheelchair user they recall seeing in the business park. They also thought it was odd that there was no follow-up to see if they had fixed the parking — which they had. To them, it felt like nothing more than extortion.

In a similar situation, I just heard from a friend that runs a spinal cord injury support group in Pollock Pines — a small, tight-knit community in the California foothills. She said a notorious ADA drive-by attorney had recently papered their town with ADA access lawsuits that ended up costing local businesses a huge sum of money to have dropped. It also forced three small businesses to close permanently. The lawsuits left an atmosphere of alienation toward wheelchair users. The support group has taken it upon themselves to organize a handcycle/bike ride for wheelchair users and non-disabled riders to create an opportunity for positive interaction to try and get back the community and understanding that was there before the lawsuits.

There are non-disabled lawyers that see the dollar signs in this area and recruit people with disabilities to file ADA lawsuits. A website for one such attorney reads “Confined to a wheelchair in California? You may be entitled to $4,000 each time you can’t use something at a business because of your disability.” One of the examples of access violation the site provides is,  a mirror in a restroom that is too high to use. If so, the site says, “You may be entitled to $4,0000!” The way the law is currently written, even if a business fixes the violation right away, the person filing the suit has already been harmed by the violation and can still sue and no warning is required.

Another area I find troubling is the way these lawsuits are worded for the court. The wording does as much perceptional damage to the image of wheelchair users as the worst telethon. Wheelchair users are described as “confined to a wheelchair,” and if you are suing because of an access violation — something like not being able to use a bathroom mirror, or lack of proper signage — the court documents describe things such as “Plaintiff [wheelchair user] suffers emotional and/or mental distress because of such discrimination…” Really? Lack of access sucks, but does somebody really suffer emotional and/or mental distress because they can’t use a mirror? While I understand legalese is a different language, but still, according, to these lawsuits, wheelchair users must be extremely emotionally fragile.

A good friend of mine argues that the ADA has been around since 1990 and businesses should know better, and should have changed by now.  She also argues that California and Florida have the highest level of accessibility, and perhaps this is because of the compensatory lawsuits, and I agree to a point. The problem with the argument is that when it comes to collecting money on ADA access grounds, everything is technically the same. If a business has stairs and refuses to put in a ramp or refuses to provide accessible parking, I’m all for a lawsuit if that is the only avenue. But let’s say a business has a van accessible parking spot out in front — well-marked crosshatch space for the lift, accessible levers on their doors, fully accessible bathroom, but they forget to put a sign on the bathroom that says it is accessible, or the access sign is the wrong color. The business is still liable for an ADA lawsuit and pursuant shakedown.

What do you think? Are these lawyers doing the dirty work for us? Is the access worth it? Or are these lawsuits doing more harm than good?

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at
online.relations@therohogroup.com.

I manage New Mobility Magazine’s Facebook page and I’ve found that few things elicit more anger and comments than a post about accessible parking space violations — usually a photo of an expensive vehicle and/or a non-disabled celebrity illegally parked. Reading the many comments to these posts has provided helpful insight on ways to handle parking violators, as well as improving my own parking etiquette.

Accessible Parking Etiquette

Photo from castanet.net

One of the parking etiquette rules I learned is, when possible, leave van accessible spaces open for vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts. Van accessible parking spots have eight foot wide lines on the passenger side of the parking space and are supposed to be marked with a van-accessible sign. As T10 para, I confess that I should have known this but didn’t until I read a comment from a powerchair user explaining on how frustrating it is to see the last van accessible spot taken by a car with a placard that is parked right next to an open standard accessible parking spot. DOH! I learned my lesson! Leave van accessible spots for vehicles with a side lift. If you have a placard it is still cool to park with the crosshatch marks on the drivers side of the vehicle.

The caveat to van-accessible parking is number of spaces in a lot — in a small parking lot, up to 25 cars, the ADA requires only one accessible spot, which must be van accessible. The bigger the lot, the more accessible spaces, and ADA regulations require one van accessible spot for every eight accessible parking places. When I park, I take a few extra moments to find a standard accessible spot, and leave van accessible spots open.

Parking etiquette also means not judging whether a person’s placard is legit based on how that person looks. I understand placard abuse is rampant, but there quite a few disabilities — like people with heart and lung, or orthopedic conditions  — where a person doesn’t appear to have a physical disability. If, however, I later see the person with the placard jogging up and down store aisles, I’m open to suggestions on how to bust them.

When it comes to accessible parking, here is another lesson I learned the hard way — when you get a new placard, be sure to get rid of your old one. If the old one is left on the floor of the car it is easy to grab the wrong placard, hang it on the mirror and end up with a ticket  — which is how I got one. Luckily, when I took my new placard along with the paperwork for the new one to the traffic court ticket counter, and politely explained my mistake and they cancelled the ticket.

Ideas for dealing with accessible parking abusers

When a car is parked in an accessible spot with no placard or accessible plates  — we get angry, and for good reason. It is hard enough to find a space with enough room to open the car door and get a wheelchair out  — even worse to come back and find there isn’t enough clearance to get back in. Worse yet, at wheelchair height in a parking lot we are invisible compared people that are walking  — I know of several wheelers that have been hit in parking lots by drivers that never saw them.

Although, it is tempting to think of ways to “get even” when I see a car with no placard, I also know it is a bad idea. I don’t know about you, but every now and then I forget to put my placard up.

Cities and states are starting to recognize that accessible parking enforcement is a source of revenue, and many states have significantly raised fines. In California, fines for parking in an accessible spot without a placard (or plate) range from $250 to $1000. Fraudulent use of disabled plates or placards is costing states parking meter revenue  — most state laws allow cars with placards to park in metered spots for free. Penalties for using a placard belonging to someone else or fraudulently obtaining one, vary from state to state. The fine in California recently increased from $100 to $1000, In Florida, it is a second-degree misdemeanor with a fine of $1000 or up to six months in jail!

I’m not into confrontation, when I see a car in an accessible spot with no placard, I will politely say, “Umm, you forgot your placard.” If I get the, “I’m just running into the store for a few moments” or, “I’m just waiting for somebody for a few moments,” line, I follow up with, “Wow, very uncool. The fines have gone up to $1000 and cops write a lot of tickets here but it’s up to you…”

If you have a smartphone, there are apps to bust accessible parking violators. An app called Parking Mobility http://www.parkingmobility.com by Coal Harbour Group sounds pretty cool. The site says you use your smartphone to take a photo of the rear of the vehicle (license plate, make/model), photo showing the vehicle, parking spot, and disabled parking signs, and a photo of the front windshield showing no placard. Hit submit and the company submits a report to issue a ticket. Unfortunately, reviews of this app on Care Cure Forums say that at the present time most cities are not following through on ticketing with this app—at least not yet. Austin, Texas, is looking at creating a program where people can use smartphones to write tickets after taking a 4-hour class and become sworn in, deputized meter maids and employ the program to write enforceable tickets.. If the smartphone ticket program catches on in Austin, it is likely that many more cities will adopt it as a way to stem parking violation and increase revenue.

Another way to make a difference in accessible parking violation is to become a Volunteer Disable Parking Enforcement Officer. A growing number of cities are offering 4–6-hour courses on Volunteer Disable Parking Enforcement. Graduates receive a police identification that allow them to write tickets. An example of one such program is the Disability Parking Enforcement Program in Denver, Colorado. If interested, contact your local police department to see if they have such a program.

Has anybody become a volunteer Parking Enforcement Officer or successfully used a smartphone app for parking violations? If so, please let us know.

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at
online.relations@therohogroup.com.

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

I have an adaptive parenting tip to add to my previous blog, “7 Adaptive Parenting Ideas and Tips.”

Get rid of the carpet and rugs in your home.

As a T10 para, I had never noticed the extra effort it takes to push a wheelchair over carpet, and our house had wall-to-wall carpeting. When our daughter, Sarah, entered our lives I immediately noticed how much more difficult it was to push my wheelchair across carpet! To move around with Sarah, I would gently cradle her in one arm and push my chair — switching from wheel to wheel with the same hand — with the other. A simple trip down the carpeted hall or across the living room seemed like pushing across a vast expanse of sand. Add the sleep deprivation that comes with raising an infant, and pushing across the carpet with Sarah became quite a chore.

When Sarah was about six weeks old we replaced all of our carpet with laminate flooring. The change was amazing! With Sarah in my arm — one or two quick flips on the push rim and I would easily glide to different parts of the house.

Getting rid of throw rugs was another adaptive parenting modification — or in my case, more of a negotiation. I quickly found out that when you have an infant in your lap, throw rugs have the same stopping power on front casters as a lip of concrete. Luckily, the throw rugs never sent Sarah and I flying, but after I explained their stopping power and potential to tip us forward to Joanna, my wife, I temporarily won my quest to remove them from the kitchen and bathrooms.

On to the moment I really knew I was a dad.

When I hear parents say that the first time they saw their infant they were filled with instant, unconditional love and everything seemed perfect from then on, I wonder, “Who are these people? Do they work for Hallmark?” They make the rest of us feel guilty! When I speak with new parents I tell the truth. When I first saw Sarah I was amazed, and devoted, I would do anything to keep her safe and healthy. And I was terrified! I was going to be responsible for another human life!

I explain to new parents that for me, the first few months of being a parent seemed to resemble TV episodes that show Navy SEAL Hell Week Training, where candidates have to do grueling tasks and are severely sleep deprived all the while getting screamed at by a drill instructor — in my case the drill instructor was my infant daughter Sarah. You want to earn the right to call yourself a dad? First, you’re going to have to get through me! Change my diaper, feed me!

For me, sleep deprivation was nothing compared to getting used to changing diapers and dealing with baby spit up. I explained to Joanna that I couldn’t do it or I would puke. That lasted about a day. I often hear the term “cowboy up” described for being tough and getting on with it. I quickly coined the term “dad up.” I had to “dad up” and deal with burping, spit-up and diaper changing. My friends and family knew my aversion to this and were impressed that I was choosing to “dad up” and pull my share of parenting.

Perhaps it was the sleep deprivation, but Joanna and I worked out a schedule where we would trade 72-hour shifts staying up with Sarah while the other parent could get a full nights sleep. I “dadded up” and pulled my shifts complete with diaper changing, and spit up. I really was earning the right to call myself a dad.

When Sarah was about two months old, about the time she started to really smile, chuckle and interact — not just what “appeared” to be a smile but was actually a burp or gas — was when the unconditional love of being parent took hold of me, but I didn’t know it yet, an incident months later would bring this to light for me.

One night, when Sarah was about 6 months old, Joanna and I had our families over for dinner and after dinner people were mulling about. I was laying on the couch holding Sarah over my chest at arm’s length, giving her an airplane ride. Sarah was smiling and giggling as I moved her back and forth saying, “Look at Sarah! She’s flying!” Joanna glanced at us and said, “Umm, I wouldn’t do that she just had a full bottle!” To which I replied, “Look how much she likes it! Besides Sarah would never spit up on her daddy!” But before I could finish my sentence, with everybody watching, Sarah smiled, her mouth opened and her entire meal came up from her stomach and flew out  in a perfect cylindrical stream right into my open mouth. I was so surprised that I swallowed the entire contents!

The room became totally quiet, people looked at me with panic was in their eyes — knowing my aversion to spit up. Would I puke? Would I drop Sarah? Nobody was more surprised than me when I kept holding her high, licked my lips and said “Hmm, kind of tangy!” To everyone’s amazement and uproarious laughter, I continued to give Sarah an airplane ride!

That is the moment I knew, I was a really a dad!

Further Reading: “7 Adaptive Parenting Tips”

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at
online.relations@therohogroup.com.

ADA Training Webinars
Puerto Rico Building Codes–March 23, 1pm-3pm EST (Click Here For Details)
Virgin Islands Building Codes–March 30, 1pm-3pm EST (Click Here For Details)

United Spinal Association’s Accessibility Services program is teaming up with Cornell University’s Northeast ADA Center to host free Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) training webinars.

In conjunction with the Northeast ADA Center, Accessibility Services will host four live, instructor-led on-line programs that will provide attendees with an overview of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

The webinars focus on the areas where accessibility requirements found in the 2010 Building Code of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands differ from federal accessibility requirements.

They will highlight the effective dates for the new regulations to ensure that design and building professionals are aware of their obligations under the law. The differences between the 1991 ADAAG and the newly release 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design will also be covered.

Domestic Violence and Disability
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT

This webinar will explore the intersection of domestic violence and disability. Information will be provided about programming and services available at Barrier Free Living, Inc. and the importance of specialized programming for survivors of domestic violence living with intellectual and developmental (IDD), physical and/or psychiatric disabilities.

Click here to register.

Eliminating Medicare Restrictions
Thursday, March 29, 2012 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM EDT

Medicare has undertaken many changes to therapy services, prescription drug coverage and medical equipment purchases critical to beneficiaries with disabilities. These changes have serious impacts on the accessibility, affordability and quality of needed care. This webinar describes those issues within the Medicare program that impact you.

Click here to register.

Financial Planning and Your Child
April 5, 3pm-4pm (EST)
Speaker: Chris Jones, CFP; Center for Wealth Preservation

This webinar will discuss the role of Special Needs Trusts, both first party and second party trusts and the various options on how they might be funded.

Click here to register.

What You Need to Know About SSDI and Medicare
Wednesday, April 18, 3pm-4pm (EST)
Speaker: Tai Venuti, MPH, Manager of Strategic Alliances–Allsup, Inc.

This presentation is designed for people who have questions about filing for Social Security Disability insurance SSDI benefits and subsequent Medicare eligibility. It includes a brief history of SSDI, explains the three main SSDI eligibility criteria and the five steps in the SSDI application process, and describes the full range of benefits that come with SSDI, including Medicare eligibility. Becoming eligible for Medicare means reliable access to healthcare, however, understanding how your options work and comparing all the plans available can be frustrating and confusing. This presentation will provide information on the steps you should take when deciding how to use your Medicare benefits. We’ll educate you on all the parts of Medicare – Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, plus Medigap – and what they mean to you. We’ll also let you know what you should think about when considering a Medicare plan.

Click here to register.

The Ins and Outs of Manual Wheelchairs–Matching the Wheelchair to Your Life
Thursday, April 26, 2pm-3:15pm (EST)
Speaker: Ann Eubank, LMSW, OTR/L, ATP; VP Community Initiatives–UsersFirst, a program of United Spinal Association

UsersFirst is hosting a webinar in the structure of radio show where a wheelchair expert will answer any and all of your manual wheelchair questions. We will get into the specifics of the manual wheelchair: the different types, sizes, weights, wheel sizes, backs, seats, wheel position, the best way to push a wheelchair, etc. You name it and we will talk about it.

If you want, tell us your questions or issues prior to the show and we will address them live on the air. Drop us an email at usersfirst@unitedspinal.org. Registration info coming soon!

Contact Ziggi Landsman at United Spinal for more information.

Ziggi Landsman
VP of Online Relations
United Spinal Association
zlandsman@unitedspinal.org

Note: The text used is directly from United Spinal Association email and website.

Chloe Jennings-White, a Ph.D., chemist living in Salt Lake City, Utah, lives her life as a paraplegic — and wheelchair users, she also wears long leg braces that lock at the knee to enable her to ambulate with crutches. She is comfortable and happy as a paraplegic. However, when she needs to use the flight of stairs in her house, she gets out of her chair and walks up and down the stairs, with the leg braces unlocked, enabling her legs to bend at the knee. She drives, but rather than the slow cumbersome task of taking her chair apart and transferring it into the car, she stands up and walks to the back of her car and puts the chair into the trunk. The car she drives doesn’t have hand controls.

Like many wheelchair users, Jennings-White enjoys outdoor activities. While most wheelchair users employ adaptive equipment and arm power to engage in these activities, Jennings-White simply removes her leg braces and goes on 12-hour hikes in the woods and climbs 11,000-foot mountain peaks.

When she wants to go snow skiing, Jennings-White stands up, clips into her ski bindings and spends the day on the slopes as non-disabled skier — at the top of a ski lift she will hike a considerable distance in order to get to the best snow on distant, very steep expert runs or chutes — runs with rocks or cliffs on each side.

If this sounds confusing — it is — because Chloe Jennings-White is only pretending to be a paraplegic. She chooses to live her life as a paraplegic because she has a rare condition known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) — characterized by, in her case, by an overwhelming desire to become a paraplegic. For her, using a wheelchair and pretending to be a paraplegic helps ease this desire.

As of late, Jennings-White has been making rounds on the media circuit, first in January, appearing in Taboo on the National Geographic Channel in the episode titled “Secret Lives,” then as a guest on the February 27^th episode of Anderson — the Anderson Cooper talk show. On the shows, Jennings-White explains that using a wheelchair helps her deal with her BIID.

Jennings-White says she appeared on these shows to bring attention to BIID and to help others with the condition to let them know that they are not alone. For that, I applaud her efforts. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it must be to have BIID. According to an article in Newsweek, MRI studies of people with BIID suggest the disorder stems from a problem with the right sphere in the brain’s parietal lobe, the part of he brain that constructs body image.

The term that people with BIID often use to describe themselves is transabled. In the Newsweek article, Dr. Michael First, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York, says there are parallels between BIID and gender identity disorder (GID) in which people feel that the gender they were physically born with is not their true gender.

As a side note, Jennings-White used to be a man — something she openly discusses in her blogs at transabled.org.

In Taboo “Secret Lives,” Jennings-White explains that she truly feels like she is a paraplegic and feels like she is faking it when she isn’t in her wheelchair. “It (using the wheelchair) is like a temporary stopgap,” she explains. She goes on to say, “in order to live a completely fulfilled self-actualized life is — for me — is to be paraplegic.” She explains she has a desire to have surgery to become a full-time paraplegic. “When I have an operation to become paraplegic I think the eventual outcome will be that I will feel like a complete authentic person and very happy.”

That’s a terrifying thought.

In a chilling clip on Anderson, Jennings-White explained that in a 2006 she inured her back and a doctor told her she needed to get rods to stabilize her spine. She refused to get the rods, and skis aggressively in hopes of having an accident and re-injuring her spine enough to become a complete paraplegic!

The TV audience’s reactions and the comments on the website toward Jennings-White are incredibly angry. Although I think of myself as open minded and empathetic, I felt angry, as well, and I couldn’t figure out why. She is a person with very real psychological and neurological disorder, and using a wheelchair makes her feel better. Why should this bother me? It’s not like she is using accessible parking spot or anything. There are others with the same disorder, and she is putting herself out there in the media to help them. This is a good thing. Yet, I couldn’t put my finger on why this upset me.

To try and find my answer, I carefully re-watched Taboo “Secret Lives,” pausing to take notes. Then I went on the web and spent some time reading Jenning’s-White’s blogs and her responses to comments. Upon re-watching the Taboo “Secret Lives” episode, the first thing that I noticed was Jennings-White IS parking in accessible parking spots, complete with a parking placard! WHAT?!? The segment says she has a slight limp, and shows clips of her walking up and down stairs, and shows her hiking in the woods with no leg braces. Jennings-White describes going on 12-hour hikes. From blog entries and the web it is clear that she scrambles over boulders, she hikes up mountain peaks, hikes to, and skis down very steep, expert only ski runs. Yet, she needs a parking placard?!

Jennings-White’s “portrayal” of a paraplegic also creates misconceptions and reinforces stereotypes of paralysis, including the idea that being paralyzed is all about the wheelchair and not being able to walk. Using a wheelchair and walking doesn’t even make the “top ten” list of difficulties that paralysis presents. A glaring example of this is her “paraplegic disguise” consisting of a wheelchair, leg braces and crutches, but NO CUSHION! Without a proper cushion, a real paraplegic would be hospitalized with a life threatening pressure ulcer within days!

Moreover, Jennings-White’s media portrayal of somebody that uses a wheelchair, but can walk when they “really need too” adds more confusion and misinformation about paralysis. The next time you or I need a wheelchair lift, or an aisle chair and we are asked “can’t you walk ‘just a little bit?,’” we can thank her.

I got further angered at Jennings-White because, for a person who insisting that she “feels like a fake” anytime she is out of her wheelchair, and feels like a paraplegic trapped in a non-disabled body, she sure manages to get over these “feelings” quickly when she wants to go hiking, skiing, go up and down the stairs or load her chair in the car. I believe her BIID is real — but using a wheelchair and leg braces only when it suits you isn’t “being a paraplegic,” it’s just playing dress up.

In terms of being paralyzed, using a wheelchair and not being able to walk is just the tip of the iceberg. I suggest Jennings-White try experiencing the full paraplegic experience. If she wants to go up and down stairs, she should drag herself up and down with her hands. No walking her chair to the trunk to load it into the car. No walking, hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, “when she feels like it.” Get a professionally fit wheelchair cushion, do mirror-skin checks twice a day to avoid pressure ulcers. It is good practice—she will need it. She should manage bladder with intermittent cathing, or use an indwelling Foley. She should have a bowel accident or two — preferably at work — and see how “self actualized” she feels.

But the most egregious part of the National Geographic Taboo segment — the one that got me furious — is the suggestion that letting children see a person in a wheelchair may cause BIID! In the segment — at around 20:20 — the narrator says, “At Cambridge University Chloe has a successful career developing antipsychotic drugs. She has over two dozen patents to her name. So how does such an intelligent and successful women end up leading such an extreme double life?” Then we hear Dr. Michael First say, “The most common experiences — and this applies to Chloe — is early childhood exposure to someone with that disability. It’s very common for children to identify with roll models of a family member or a relative.” While this is being said, viewers see a close-up of Jennings-White’s face on the left side of the screen and a close-up of Dr. First speaking right side of the screen. Next Jennings-White says, “My aunt was paraplegic and, um, I would always be fascinated by her leg braces. She would come in to me and say these are silly things aren’t they? And I, what I wanted to say is, ‘No, I think they are lovely. I want them, too.”

WHAT?! If kids see us in our wheelchairs it might cause BIID?! Does that also mean that if a little boy sees a woman, he will want a sex change?

I hold a bachelor’s degree in communications, so I understand that there is no way of knowing what Dr. First or Jennings-White meant, but the way the show is edited sends a clear message, “Keep your kids away from people in wheelchairs, especially friends and relatives. If a child sees a wheelchair, it might cause BIID!” This is a horrible and damaging message. Imagine being a wheelchair user trying to adopt a child and the adoption agency or mother of the child up for adoption sees this!

Speaking as a wheelchair user that became a T10 paraplegic at age 25, I think about all of hard work and time it took to learn to live and thrive with paralysis. — even more importantly, the time and work it took to accept it, and move beyond it. It is unfortunate that Jennings-White’s condition appears to make her to constantly focus on the wheelchair and on paralysis because she feels fake when she is out of her wheelchair.

Information Links:

• Anderson:http://www.andersoncooper.com/2012/02/24/why-chloe-needlessly-spends-her-life-in-a-wheelchair/
• Body Integrity Identity Disorder information:http://biid-info.org/Main_Page
• View the “Secret Lives” episode of Taboo at (Click continue as Free User button top center of page):http://www.putlocker.com/file/883A1F93ECA658B4#
• National Geographic’s Tahoo “Secret Lives” photo and information: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/taboo/secret-lives-pictures/#/taboo-secret-lives-biid-woman-standing_46114_600x450.jpg
• Transabled information and discussion site:http://transabled.org

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at
online.relations@therohogroup.com.

In honor of the unveiling of the ROHO® AGILITY™ Back System, The ROHO Group is offering a sale at The ROHO Store*. Take $10 off your total purchase at The ROHO Store, March 5–7, 2012, with the code AGILITY12. Start shopping now.

*The ROHO AGILITY Back System is not available for sale on The ROHO Store. The ROHO AGILITY Back System is expected to officially launch in the summer of 2012.

Don’t forget to tune in to The ROHO Group’s Facebook Page or Twitter account to see photos and video from the unveiling.

You can also sign up to receive information on the ROHO AGILITY Back System by visiting agility.therohogroup.com or by scanning the QR code.

This Friday, March 2, marks the 27th anniversary of my SCI (spinal cord injury)—T10 complete para—the result of a crash while performing aerial acrobatics on skis at age 25.

Each year when the anniversary rolls along, I honor it by taking a few moments to reflect on the amazing life and adventures I’ve had since my injury, as well as, odds and ends I’ve learned along the way. Here are a few random thoughts on life with SCI—things that have worked for me and things I wish I had known and/or would have done differently.

Random Thoughts—Things That Have Worked

1. The most important tool for healthy skin is a mirror-check twice a day.

An example of how a mirror check helped me avoid skin problems happened back in the mid 90s—a new cushion manufacturer offered me a demo of one of their cushions—a unique design that looked and sounded really cool and worked well for some people.

Before using the new cushion I had a pressure map reading (a system that displays areas of high and low pressure points—typical high pressure points are usually bony areas) done on it. From the pressure map reading, it looked good, so I gave it a try.

I did a mirror skin-check that evening and the skin on my butt was bright red—a serious warning sign. By the next morning the skin color had returned to normal so I figured I’d give it another try. While sitting on the cushion, I double-checked to make sure that I wasn’t bottoming out—and I wasn’t. After a few hours, I did a mirror check, and sure enough my skin was bright red and looked even worse than the previous night. I returned the cushion. If I hadn’t been in the habit of doing daily mirror checks, I wouldn’t have known the cushion wasn’t working for me. The first sign of trouble would have been a major pressure sore.

Another important reason to do a mirror check is because pressure sores usually occur with within the first years of the SCI, or 15 or more years after the SCI. The reason pressure sores often occur 15 years or more after SCI is that skin gets thinner and weakens as we age.

Too often I’ve heard of a friend that has gone years with healthy skin and no redness, and becomes complacent about checking. Without daily mirror-checks they don’t notice any areas of redness—a warning sign that skin, or posture has changed—and the red area continues to worsen. The first sign of trouble ends up being a major pressure sore and a hospital stay. Something that could easily be avoided by a simple mirror check.

2. Document medical issues for reimbursement purposes.

Often we wheelers become so adept at managing small SCI problems like minor pressure ulcers, or back or shoulder pain that we neglect to mention it our physicians. But we should. By making sure your physician documents—writes it down in your charts—any and all pressure ulcers, however minor, or back or shoulder pain, you have a written record in your medical charts, something that can make all the difference when it comes to time to request reimbursement for a specific cushion or wheelchair.

In my case, when I first got out of rehab I was sent home on a memory-foam cushion despite asking for a ROHO^® HIGH PROFILE^® Single Valve Cushion. Even though I was diligent about doing weight shifts, I got a small pressure sore within three months. Fortunately, I caught it during a mirror check and went to the doctor right away. After the pressure ulcer was documented, I was immediately approved for a ROHO and managed to heal it at home.

3. Connect with others with SCI.

Connecting and networking with other people with SCIs has been vital for me on many levels. It has helped me learn tricks and tips to living and thriving with an SCI. Being able to share thoughts and feelings, and get feedback from other people with SCIs helps put things into perspective.

Since I first attended SCI support groups in rehab, mentors with SCIs have had an important impact on my life. At the support groups, I was still trying to grapple with the idea that there is life after SCI, mentors would wheel into the support group and share their lives and what they were doing and show that life goes on after SCI. It is every bit as rich and exciting as ever.

When I first got of rehab, a hang glider pilot acquaintance, Dan Buchanan, who is also a T6 para, became a mentor to me and helped me with things from how to set up hand controls in my car and how to modify my hang glider with wheels, to suggesting foods and strategies to help avoid bowel accidents, and what to do when the inevitable accident did happen. Dan and I became lifelong friends and we still bounce thoughts and ideas off of each other.

Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate to form close friendships with others that have SCIs, to this day we often touch base to ask about or trade information on some type of SCI subject, or just check in to exchange thoughts and feelings. A perspective from a friend that has experienced similar feelings and or circumstances often makes all the difference.

Good places to meet friends and mentors with SCIs are at various adaptive sports and recreation programs in your area. Local Centers for Independant Living (CIL) often have this information, or simply do an online search for an adaptive activity you are interested and your location.

There are also plenty of online options and chat rooms share SCI thoughts, stories, ask questions and get mentoring advice and feedback from other folks with SCI. (See Resources)

A word of caution—just like anything else online, do not provide personal information for safety reasons.

Important Lessons Learned—Things That Didn’t Work

1. Get a second opinion for important medical issues

When it comes to important medical issues, it is very important to get a second and even third opinion. This is another area where networks of friends with SCIs can offer advice.

In 1989, I hurt my lower back while mono-skiing. A few days later it still hurt and I went to the ER. An X-ray confirmed that I had severely fractured my sacrum. I was advised to take it easy and the sacrum would heal on its own. Over the next few weeks my back got worse, I went back to the hospital to ask if I should be put in traction, I was advised it wouldn’t be necessary. I asked about getting a second opinion and was advised that wouldn’t be necessary that the doctor on my case was “the best in the business.”

Having a wide circle of friends with SCIs—like I do now—or the ability to bounce the question off an online group like CareCure Community or another chat room would have led me to seek a second opinion. Instead, I listened to the first doctor and didn’t pursue any further treatment.

It turns out I should have gotten a second opinion and should have been in traction—by not getting a second opinion, my spine fused in a crooked position. It’s something that could have been avoided by a second, or third medical opinion.

2. It’s important to ask a physical medicine and rehab (PM&R) physician to weigh on medical advice

In 2000, I fractured my right hip—the result of rolling over in bed with my feet caught in the corner of the covers, combined with osteoporosis—from 15 years using a wheelchair (see resources below)

I went to the ER and had surgery—four screws to secure my femur to the ball (trochanter into the ball). The surgery went perfect and I was released the next day. I asked the surgeon if I had any restrictions while healing. He said “Nope, it should be solid.” Unfortunately, he didn’t have any PM&R experience; he wasn’t thinking that with SCI the muscles surrounding my hip wouldn’t pull the hip together like they would in a non-disabled person.

Within a month, the screws pulled out and the hip came apart. My lesson—I should have asked a PM&R doctor to weigh in on the healing process. If I had, I wouldn’t have done transfers that pulled on the hip during the healing process and it would likely have healed just fine.

When the hip pulled apart, the surgeon said I could get an artificial hip. Not knowing anything about artificial hips I figured it would be a good option and scheduled surgery to remove the screws and put in an artificial hip the next week.

Luckily, I was learning my lesson about getting a second opinion. Two days before surgery I consulted with a PM&R doctor. He immediately referred me to surgeon versed in PM&R. The surgeon said that in my case an artificial hip would severely limit the mobility of my leg and cause a high probability of severe complications including hip dislocations and high potential for fracture in the middle of the femur. The artificial hip could have cost me the leg.

Instead I had a girdlestone procedure—the ball of the hip was removed. The procedure went well, and 12-years-later my leg is fine. Learning to get a 2nd opinion from a physician versed in PM&R saved my leg!

Resources:

Chatrooms/Forums/Message Boards

• CareCure Community: http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/index.php
• New Mobility Message Board: www.newmobility.com/bb/ubbthreads.php
• Osteoporosis Update: Avoiding the Breaks: www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11538&srch=Osteoporosis
• QUAD-LIST Discussion Group: www.makoa.org/quadlist.htm

___________________________________________

Bob Vogel, 51, is a freelance writer for the ROHO Community blog. He is a dedicated dad, adventure athlete and journalist. Bob is in his 26th year as a T10 complete para. For the past two decades he has written for New Mobility magazine and is now their Senior Correspondent. He often seeks insight and perspective from his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, and Schatzie, his 9-year-old German Shepherd service dog. The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Bob Vogel and do not necessarily reflect the views of The ROHO Group. You can contact Bob Vogel by email at
online.relations@therohogroup.com.

The ROHO Group will unveil the new ROHO^® AGILITY™ Back System at the 2012 International Seating Symposium in Vancouver, Canada.

With the unveiling, The ROHO Group will offer International Seating Symposium attendees a firsthand look at the new ROHO AGILITY Back System. The unveiling will take place on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at 10:40 a.m. at The ROHO Group Booths 65 and 66 in the exhibit hall located at the Westin Bayshore.

The unveiling will begin with an introduction by The ROHO Group’s President, Tom Borcherding, and followed with a presentation by The ROHO Group’s Sr. Director of Training and Education, Darren Hammond, MPT, CWS. Following the presentation, attendees and media will be able to have hands-on experience with the new product.

“The International Seating Symposium is rapidly becoming the premier global conference for professionals around the world with a focus on seating, positioning and mobility, making it the ideal event for the ROHO AGILITY Back System unveiling,” The ROHO Group’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development Pat Chelf said.

Don’t worry if you can’t attend the International Seating Symposium. You can still sign up to receive the latest scoop on the product at agility.therohogroup.com.

The ROHO Group will also be posting updates from the unveiling on their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/therohogroup and on their Twitter account at @TheROHOGroup.

The International Seating Symposium features the latest developments in the areas of seating, positioning and mobility. Topic areas include product development, research, outcomes and service delivery. More information about ISS can be found online at www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/iss.

For more information, contact:
Danielle Boenisch
eMarketing & Support Surface Product Coordinator
The ROHO Group
800-851-3449 ext. 2220
mediarelations@therohogroup.com
TheROHOGroup.com