Special Kids - Celebrating The Uniqueness of ALL Children

Thyssenkrupp Access Rise Elevator - Personal Accessibility to Any Home

Thyssenkrupp Access Rise Elevator - Personal Accessibility to Any Home

Author: Jai Gaitonde

The Rise elevator is one of the best selling models with excellent features incorporated for convenient daily usage. The Rise elevator allows convenient access to all levels of your home. Besides this, you can transport heavy items such as groceries, laundries or anything else between the floors.

Rise elevators are the perfect choice for all types of homes, whether they are new or existing ones. These elevators proffer quiet, smooth and dependable operation and easily transport people with limited mobility, ensuring them greater independence. Rise elevators can be used in multistoried buildings since they assist people to effortlessly access different floor levels.

Rise elevators from ThyssenKrupp Access are designed in such a way that they satisfy all safety requirements prescribed for residential use. Rise elevators are available in three different car sizes, and in eight different finishes in your choice of Melamine or wood veneer. The majority of the elevators require some kind of pit for the elevator hardware and conventional hardware. But a Rise elevator does not require one.

The main features of this elevator include:

• 2 to 5 stops
• Travels distances up to 50’
• Load carrying capacity of 950 pounds
• Counterweighted chain drive or hydraulic drive
• Brass or stainless steel accents
• Automatic gate operator

Rise elevators are provided with many additional features such as Accordion car gate(s), wood handrail, two recessed halogen car lights, emergency stop switch, and digital floor position indicator, car operating panel and hall stations, automatic car lighting and more. The elevator cab comes in a wide range of configurations and sizes to suit your requirement. You can avail of the best quality Rise elevators of your choice, ranging from standard to custom designs.

The installation procedure of Rise elevators is easy and economical. By installing these elevators you can provide your dear ones with a safe, stylish choice for floor to floor access. At the same time, you can substantially increase the value of your home. If you want to make better use of the available space in your home, installing ThyssenKrupp Access Rise elevators is a good idea.

About the Author:

ThyssenKrupp Access's Rise elevator is a pit less elevator form. DAY Elevator and Lift, leading mobility solutions provider offers excellent residential elevators for customers in the Tri-State area including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/disabilities-articles/thyssenkrupp-access-rise-elevator-personal-accessibility-to-any-home-641740.html

Spread the Word to End the Word on March 31, 2009

It is time to “Spread the Word to End the Word” and on 31 March 2009 Special Olympics is calling for anational day of awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not “recession,” but something more hurtful and painful – “retard.”   

Most people don’t think of this word as hate speech, but that’s exactly what it feels like to millions of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and friends. This word is just as cruel and offensive as any other slur.

Spread the Word to End the Word will raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using it.  America will be asked to declare their support for more respectful and inclusive language, specifically that referring to those with intellectual disabilities.

Created by young people with and without intellectual disabilities, Spread the Word to End the Word is one element of Special Olympics’ vision of a world where everyone matters, where everyone is accepted and, most importantly, where everyone is valued. Leading the way in promoting acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics opposes prejudice and discrimination, continuously working to dispel the negative stereotypes associated with this population — the use of the R-word being one such stereotype. In a world that has worked to eliminate pejorative racial and ethnic language such as the “N word,” among others, the R-word is gaining popularity.

On 31 March, young people across the country will lead local efforts to raise awareness and collect pledges on www.r-word.org from peers and the community to vow not to use the R-word. Actor and activist John C. McGinley, of the hit show “Scrubs,” is helping with this effort by making national media appearances on behalf of the campaign

A PSA produced by 16 year old Noah Gray for The Special Olympics' campaign to ban the "R" Word:

R-WORD Public Service Announcement

I also HIGHLY encourage you to watch the following: The Power of Words

USED WITH PERMISSION

Medical Costs for One Premature Baby Could Cover A Dozen Healthy Births

March of Dimes Releases New Report About the Cost of Preterm Birth at U.S. Chamber of Commerce

      WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 17, 2009 – The medical costs that businesses pay to care for one premature baby for a year could cover the costs for nearly a dozen healthy, full-term infants, according to new statistics from the March of Dimes.

      The average medical cost for healthy full-term babies from birth through their first birthday was $4,551 in 2007 dollars, of which more than $3,800 is paid for by health plans, according to the new data. For premature and/or low birthweight babies (less than 37 completed weeks gestation and/or less than 2500 grams), the average cost was nearly $50,000, of which more than $46,000 was borne by the health plan.

      “Preventing preterm birth is one way we can begin to rein in our nation’s skyrocketing health care costs and help businesses protect their bottom line,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.  “The best prevention of prematurity is good maternity care.”

Dr. Howse spoke today at a luncheon titled, “Healthy Babies, Healthy Business: Cutting Costs and Reducing Premature Birth Rates,” co-hosted by the March of Dimes with the National Chamber Foundation, a think-tank affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

      The March of Dimes offers businesses “Healthy Babies, Healthy Business®” a Web-based pregnancy and newborn health information portal that helps improve employee health as well as the health of the bottom line.   “HBHB” provides a secure and easy way for employers to deliver important accurate, up-to-date health information directly to their employees and dependents and reduce corporate health care costs. More information is available at: marchofdimes.com/hbhb.

      Preterm birth is a serious health problem that costs the nation more than $26 billion annually, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. Nearly 543,000 babies – one out of every eight – are born too soon each year in the United States and the rate has risen more than 36 percent since the early 1980s. Preterm birth is a leading cause of newborn death and babies who do survive face the risk of lifelong health conditions.

      Other speakers at the luncheon included the Acting U.S. Surgeon General, RADM Steven K. Galson, M.D., MPH, and:

      • Bruce Josten, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce;

      • Alan R. Fleischman, M.D., March of Dimes senior vice president and medical director;

      • Deborah Campbell, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine; American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Perinatal Pediatrics;

      • Hal C. Lawrence, III, MD, vice president of practice activities, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists;

      • Jeffrey Kang, MD, chief medical officer, CIGNA Corporation.

      • Anthony Wisniewski, executive director of healthcare policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

      "CIGNA has seen a savings of more than $6,000 per pregnancy for our employees enrolled in our Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies program," said Dr. Jeffrey Kang, CIGNA's chief medical officer. "Cost is a universal concern for all employers, big or small. Many small businesses today may not have the maternity care program that a company like CIGNA has, yet the financial impact to a small company is enormous when just one employee's baby is born too soon."

      The March of Dimes contracted with Thomson Reuters to estimate the cost of prematurity and complicated deliveries to large employer-based health plans for infants born in 2005.  Analyses of medical costs included inpatient and outpatient medical care and prescription drugs for infants from birth through the first year of life and for mothers including the delivery, prenatal services during the nine months prior, and three months postpartum. Costs have been adjusted to 2007 dollars.

     The analyses also found that premature infants spent on average more than 14 days hospitalized before their first birthday, compared to just over 2 days for healthy, full-term infants and that they averaged more than 21 outpatient medical visits compared to just 14 for full-term infants.

    When combined, infants and maternity costs for a premature infant were four times as high as those for an infant born without any complications, $64,713 and $15,047 respectively, with health plans paying over 90 percent of those costs.  

A separate analysis showed that maternity care costs for complicated deliveries, independent of the infant status and costs, were also significantly higher than the costs for uncomplicated deliveries -- $14,667 compared to $10,652.

     The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

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A Message about Newborn Screening from the March of Dimes

We have some very good news to share: After nine years of intensive advocacy efforts, nearly every baby born in this country now lives in a state that requires screening for most of the 29 serious but treatable disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics.

This is a remarkable public health advance essentially eliminating state-by-state screening gaps. And it was made possible by people like you — the volunteers, donors and staff of the March of Dimes — working in tandem with our partners and state officials. The clear beneficiaries are babies and their families.

Recently, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times Health Blog, San Francisco Chronicle, Health Day, Health News Digest, MedPage Today, CNN Radio and several NBC-affiliate stations shared this story following the release of our Newborn Screening Report Card.

Newborn screening involves a simple blood test taken before the baby is discharged from the hospital and is done to detect certain rare disorders before any symptoms begin. If diagnosed early, these disorders can be successfully managed or treated to prevent death, disability or other severe consequences such as mental retardation.

If you or someone you know is expecting, I encourage you to learn more about newborn screening.

Even while we are celebrating, we are continuing to work hard on this issue. Please join us either by signing up as an eAdvocate to help secure federal funding for the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (Public Law 110-204) or by working with your March of Dimes Chapter on this topic.

Together we are touching—and improving — the lives of our nation’s babies and families.

Thank you,

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse
President

BBC Kids Show Host With Disability Draws Criticism

A host of a children's show on the BBC who was born with one hand actually has people "up in arm."

Cerrie Burnell is host of the BBC-run CBeebies television network, which is aimed at children younger than 6. (See Burnell here)

Parents have actually complained that they must now confront the issue of disability with their young children (the horror!).

 

The BBC released a statement in January introducing Burnell and made no mention of her disability, but a publicity photo showed the right sleeve of her sweater pulled up, showing her arm stops just below her elbow.

'It can only be a good thing that parents are using me as a chance to talk disability with their children. It just goes to show how important it is to have positive, disabled role models on CBeebies and television in general," Burnell said.

I am thrilled that the BBC took the responsible position of hiring a talented young actress who happens to have a physical disability. The criticism against Ms. Burnell is typical of the ignorance of adults and their inability to deal with difference. Worse, parents who are offended by a hint of anything against the status quo in physical appearance or cognitive ability are the worst possible influence on our children.

As the UK's Daily Mail headline stated, "It's not Cerrie Burnell who's a threat to children - it's their bigoted parents"

BBC NEWS LINK: How do you explain a missing hand to a child?