Posts by Sydney Broussard
Right-to-Repair
What it Means for You By Alaina Leary Right-to-repair legislation is being considered in states across the country, aimed at allowing people to repair everything from electronics to tractors themselves without fear of voiding the warranty. Legislation recently passed in Colorado has extended the right-to-repair to include mobility equipment such as wheelchairs. “Recently, we spoke…
Read MoreA Better Customer Experience
THE NSM CONSUMER INSIGHTS COUNCIL IS HELPING NSM DRIVE INNOVATION WHILE CREATING A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE For Kaity Ellis, joining the National Seating & Mobility Consumer Insights Council was an important decision. “I hope what comes out of the council is society sees the people, not just the product,” Ellis says. “Everyone has a different…
Read MoreMake Way for the Mighty Pens
How the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center support adaptive sports. BY Mandy Crow When John Fitzgerald gets on the ice to play hockey, he feels unstoppable. “When I’m on the ice, I don’t think I have a disability at all,” says Fitzgerald, a member of the Mighty Pens sled hockey team…
Read MoreSocial Sensations
How disability advocates are changing the narrative on social media By Gabe Trujillo Vacation selfies, tortilla challenges and pink sauce. No, it’s not the beginning of a bad joke, it’s a list of just a few of the many things you can find on social media. But beyond all of the viral trends and media,…
Read MoreIn Short Supply
In today’s world, every day brings news of a new shortage or production delay. We’ve scoured the shelves for everything from baby formula to toilet paper and watched as manufacturing and shipping delays have stymied the car industry. The complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) industry hasn’t escaped these challenges. The CRT supply chain is a complicated,…
Read MoreRolling Along
How a proposed bill in Pennsylvania aims to keep wheelchair users moving through regular maintenance. Service and repair are vital components of the complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) industry. We recently chatted with Matt Berwick, president of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the United Spinal Association, about legislation he’s advocating for in Pennsylvania. The Wheelchair Quality…
Read MoreAchieving Your Dreams
“I was 4 years old the first time I got on a sled, and I hated it,” McCoy recalls. “My pusher had bent downto tie her skates or left to help someone else, and I just started crying because I wasn’t moving.” McCoy, who has spina bifida, soon learned to love the sport. He and…
Read MoreHeart to Heart
Personal stories that inform, inspire and empower 5 Things to Know About Ben Waites 1. Making music is his calling. Ben, who holds an interdisciplinary degree in music, communications and theater arts, regards his love for music as a calling. “At 10 years old, I had a salvation experience with God,” Waites says. “I felt…
Read MoreOn the Horizon
Both Apple and Microsoft recently announced accessibility tech updates designed to better meet the needs of the disability community These include: Door Detection, a navigation feature on iPhone and iPad for users who are blind or low vision. The tool helps users navigate the last few feet to their destination, providing detailed information about the…
Read MoreHeart to Heart
PERSONAL STORIES THAT INFORM, INSPIRE AND EMPOWER CREATING CHANGE At 16 years old, Alex Johnson is already working to make the world more accessible. The key, he says, is opening people’s eyes to what it’s really like to use a wheelchair, from navigating heavy doors and steep ramps to reaching the top shelf in the…
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