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Latest news and stories
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What I Would Tell You
By Julie Keon Julie is the mother of a child with disabilities and shares her wisdom and experience in this powerful essay. I sensed someone watching me as I comforted my daughter after a particularly traumatizing dentist appointment at the Children’s Hospital. I looked up and saw you staring at us from across the waiting…
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Is Your Unique Child Ready for Friendships?
By Karen Kain, Lorrin’s World I was at a block party with my new neighbors last week. It surprised me that every neighbor who attended was either a parent of a child with a disability or working in the field. As we stood in the street comparing our experiences, all completely different, one neighbor of…
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Respite is Essential for Everyone!
By Michelle Haney, Euro-Peds National Center for Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy Everyone needs some rest in their lives. In this day and age, we are all running around day to day filling every minute of every hour. This is true of the average person. Now add a child, or several, to the equation. Now add…
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When You Are the Parent of a Child Living a Unique Life
An interview with Karen Kain, CEO of Lorrin’s World, by Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Abilities Expo Education & Events Director In 1994 Karen Kain gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Lorrin. Two months later at her regular check-up, Lorrin received her first and only DPT (diphtheria pertussis tetanus) vaccination. Lorrin had a severe reaction to…
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Drastic Steps Taken to Combat Illegal Parking in Accessible Spaces
Claiming that a staggering 30% of Russian drivers ignore clearly marked disability parking signage, Russia-based not-for-profit organization Dislife concocted a bold plan to entice people to think twice. In partnership with ad agency Young & Rubicam, Dislife launched More Than A Sign, a social experiment which literally puts a face to the handicapped symbol. “Parking signs mean…
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Dancers with Disabilities Featured in New Documentary
A new documentary that showcases the amazing accomplishments of dancers with disabilities will delve into their individual, hard-fought journeys in A Passion for Dance. The film is a story of courage, passion and love that will embolden those with disabilities and simultaneously educate those that do not. The Abilities Expo team is making this movie to…
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New Children’s Book: Pawsibly The Best Medicine
By Amy Sherwood My name is Amy. I am a single mom to one persistent son and the proud human companion to Dolly Pawton, my wonderful service dog. As it happens, both saved my life, each in their own way. In my new children’s book, Pawsibly The Best Medicine, I tell the story of Dolly…
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Share a Selfie in the Wheels UP! Photo Contest
By Lisa Wells, Cure Medical The days are growing shorter and that can only mean one thing. Summer is coming to an end. But that doesn’t mean it’s quite over yet and we want to see how you spent the summer getting out and enjoying life. Yes, that’s right. It’s time for SPORTS `N SPOKES magazine’s annual photo…
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Pokémon GO or No-Go for the Community?
By Kristen Hart, Living Able Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm! It’s not uncommon for everyone to want the latest cellphone or to go see the latest movie. But I do not think I have ever seen a game or phone app be so popular to so many, especially this quickly! I do not…
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Post-Amputation Strategy: Be the Inspiration You Seek
By Lisa Wells, Wheel-Life.org By Lisa Wells, Wheel-Life.org As a recent amputee, Thomas Morris discovered a whole new world when he attended his first Abilities Expo three years ago. Today, he’s an ambassador and care advocate for a new educational program— www.SaveMyMedicalSupplies.org—that aims to help Medicare beneficiaries in receiving necessary medical equipment, supplies and repairs. “I began using a wheelchair…
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Post-Diagnosis of Autism: An Era of Engagement
By Patrick Paul, Anderson Center for Autism For the 1 in 59 diagnosed with Autism, there’s an entire family impacted as well. From the moment that the words “Autism Spectrum Disorder” are said by a developmental pediatrician who has taken a child through a host of tests and parents/caregivers through a journey of seemingly endless interview…
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Thinking Differently About Power Assist Devices
By Curtis Merring, Permobil The application of power assist should move more from a reactive approach to a proactive approach. For example, instead of thinking, “I will get a power assist when I need it in the future,” we should think, “I’m getting a power assist device now, so I won’t need it in the future.”…