This was especially true from one teenager in nearby Michigan. A junior at a local high school, his muscular dystrophy prevented him from performing even the most basic of school tasks like walking down the hallways or even opening his own locker. That's when the school's occupational therapist got an idea: why not give the student the tools necessary to do something on his own?
]]> The school's occupational therapist wanted to empower the disabled student by giving him the opportunity to do something on his own for a change. So with that thought, she went to the school's robotics department and challeneged them to come up with a mechanism that could help the wheelchair-bound teen open his locker on his own. The teacher quickly tasked his two most capable students; and after several weeks of design changes, the students had finally managed to build a mechanical device that robotically opened the locker with the use of a key fob attached to the student's wheelchair.As the school's occupational therapist explains, the device offers the disabled teen more independence and can easily be applied to other students in the school also with impairments. her hope is that the school will continue to provide these opportunities to other disabled students in the future.
Source: Today Tech, "Students build robotic locker opener for disabled classmate," Devin Coldewey, May 8, 2013
]]>In a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 13 percent of people 60 or older reported symptoms such as confusion occurring more often in their daily lives. Of those people, one-third explained that their confusion and memory loss was interfering with many aspects of their lives, including social activities, ability to do chores, and an interference with their work. But because nearly 45 percent of people age 60-64 complained of an interference with life and work, there is a growing concern now that many of these people may be considered disabled before retirement is an option.
]]> As many of our readers are already aware, qualifying for disability benefits starts with getting documentation from your doctor. But if your doctor is not fully aware of your medical history and current problems, they may not be able to accurately prove the extent of your impairments. According to the CDC's findings, here in lies the problem for at least 35 percent of those who reported memory loss as a factor for not being able to work. Of that percentile, none of them had discussed the memory loss with their healthcare provider. As some medical experts point out, this likely has a lot to do with the growing concern of Alzheimer's in aging people."No treatments will slow the advance of the disease, but a diagnosis can allow a patient to plan for future care," explains the senior director of public policy at the Alzheimer's Association. And part of planning for future care like disability benefits include keeping your healthcare provider well-informed about all changes in your health.
Source: NBC News, "1 in 8 boomers reports memory loss, large survey finds," Steve James, May 9, 2013
]]>Such is the case with most concussion victims who often times suffer from severe headaches are chronic pain as a result of their injury. But with continued success in nerve operations, doctors think they may have finally found a way to alleviate the pain and suffering these patients must endure on a daily basis.
]]> The surgery is often referred to as decompression surgery which involves shaving a small amount of muscle away from nerves in an effort to free them. "It's like unbuttoning your shirt and tie," explains Dr. Ivica Ducic, a plastic and peripheral nerve surgeon. Although the surgery is usually performed in cases of whiplash, it's success in concussion patients suggests that it could be benefitial to a larger audience then previously thought.While some doctors say that the chances of having any long-term incapacitating pain after a concussion is relatively rare, for those who do suffer from headaches, the pain can often times be so severe that it prevents them from functioning on a daily basis. Like with chronic pain sufferers, symptoms like this can be completely disabling and can be a real life-changer in the end.
While the doctors performing these surgeries are still trying to get their findings published, they point to the 50 successful surgeries that have already been performed as proof that the operations work. It's the hope now that continued acceptance of the procedure can help many more in need.
Source: ABC News, "Doctors Use Surgery To Relieve Lingering Concussion Pain," Lisa Stark, May 3, 2013
]]>Whether it's a recently aquired disability or one that the person has had their entire life, certain impairments can have a greater effect on what a person can and cannot do on a day to day basis. Take for example a person who is paralyzed from the neck down. While unable to move the majority of their body, science has been able to offer them mobility through computerized wheelchairs. But not, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology believe they may be able to give people like this something else: the sense of touch.
]]> A group of researchers in the department of biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech published a paper this month in the Internation Journal of Robotics Research, detailing their success in giving the sense of touch to a robot. In their experiments, the group wanted to see if they could program a robot to locate and extract a specific object from a collection area solely based on the sense of touch. After programming robotic arm with special software and equipping it with an artificial "skin" that could sense pressure and touch, the scientists were able to do just that.In a video produced by the team, the manueverable arm mimics human behavior as it wipes the mouth of a disabled man and adjusts his blanket. The research team is hoping that other scientists will look at this and expand on their experiment, developing more improved machines that can offer additional assistance in rehabilitation and patient care all over the country.
Source: The New York Times, "Researchers Put Sense of Touch in Reach of Robots," John Markoff, April 28, 2013
]]>The now 2 1/2-year-old girl was given a 99 percent chance of dying after she was born in a Korean hospital. She spent all of her time in an intensive care unit, her breathing assisted by a tube inserted through her mouth. If she survived, she would require respirator assistance her entire life, most likely qualifying for disability benefits as well. But doctors in Peoria wanted to see if they could give the girl a fighting chance by way of an experimental surgery that had only been attempted six times previously.
]]> In a first-of-its-kind surgery here in the United States, specialists in the field of regenerative medicine bioengineered a new trachea for the girl. And after a nine-hour operation, doctors say the girl is finally able to largely breathe on her own. Although she has had some complications since the procedure, doctors say she is doing well now and even smiling at visitors.While only a few relatively simple organs have been successfully created and implanted at this time, scientists in the field hope that one day, this new form of medicine could help many more people with disabilities such as this lead normal lives in the end.
Source: The New York Times, "Groundbreaking Surgery for Girl Born Without Windpipe," Henry Fountain, April 30, 2013
]]>The Social Security Disability Insurance program is for those who are unable to work due to a serious medical or psychological issue. Recipients pay into the system through tax withholdings (back when they were capable of working). Unfortunately, many beneficiaries of the system will push themselves and attempt to work, causing further issues to his or her health before seeking benefits.
]]> Those interested in the program must submit to medical evaluations and a very strict review process, which ensures that only the extremely disabled are receiving assistance. While recent media reports suggest that the system is akin to a handout, in reality, less than 45 percent of those who apply for the program actually receive assistance.Moreover, recipients do not receive an overwhelming amount of assistance. Recipients are among the most needy, and they usually receive somewhere around $13,000 per year, which is not very much.
These are only a few of the truths regarding the Social Security Disability system. The program spends time evaluating applicants, so that only the most in need can gain assistance. If you would like to learn more about the system, which is often misunderstood, you may want to contact a local Social Security Disability attorney in your area.
Source: The Plain Dealer, "Social Security Disability Insurance benefits our neighbors: Debra Shifrin," April 27, 2013
]]>But researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology believe they may be able to change that with a new wearable skin sensor that has been able to detect the onset of a seizure with 100 percent accuracy. It's something the researchers hope will be able to stretch beyond helping people with epilepsy and can be adapted to help people with other mental conditions as well.
]]> The new skin sensors are something of a break through, explains one of the professors currently working on the project. She says that, especially with seizure patients, it was difficult to get a readable signature of something that was going on in the brain unless there were depth electrodes in a patient's brain. Now, she says, scientists have a way of measuring the brain's activity through a non-intrusive method and with near accurate results.The sensors would be worn on something like a bracelet and would gather information on body changes through a person's skin. That information would then be sent to a computer via Bluetooth. With seizures, the professor says, being able to detect the minute changes in the surface of the skin could lead to advanced warning systems in the future. And because the sensors have been able to detect other changes in the body as well, the hope is to adapt them to help with detecting other serious conditions down the road.
Source: Innovation Trail, "Wearable tech full of potential for health care applications," Kate O'Connell, April 5, 2013
]]>Over the past decade, we've seen a huge improvement in the designs of prosthetics. With many manufacturers implementing lighter and more malleable materials, even disabling injuries such as the loss of limb won't feel like such a burden anymore. Some prosthetics are now introducing computer chips that adjust for terrain and activity, offering people a better chance at recovery both their mobility and their self-esteem.
]]> In an effort to improve a person's recovery time and help them adjust to new prosthetics, many therapists and doctors are now suggesting that athletic activities work best. Some specialists have discovered that athletic endeavors-whether they're competitive or recreational-help amputees recover emotionally as well as physically and psychologically, regardless of whether they were athletic before the disability or not.It's important to point out however that unless you're in the military, you may not be able to afford multiple artificial limbs that can allow you to do all of the activities you want to do. With costs running around $30,000 for one limb, some private insurers may have limits to what they'll cover. Having access to important disability benefits in situations such as this could not only ensure a person's continued recovery but help them return to a sense of normal as well.
Source: The New York Times, "War and Sports Shape Better Artificial Limbs," James Dao, April 17, 2013
]]>Though most common in elderly people, doctors here in Illinois, as well across the nation, see the disease develop in younger patients as well. For younger people, this debilitating disease often times leaves them unable to work and with very little financial stability. Despite the availability of drugs that mimic or replace the lost dopamine, many scientists say this doesn't get to the heart of the problem.
]]> That's where researchers at the Barbara Waszczack's lab at Northeastern University in Boston decided to start. Now, after months of research, they believe they may have found a non-invasive way to increase a person's dopamine levels and reduce the frequency of treatments as well.The new gene therapy treatment the scientists have been working on would replace the existing treatment in which the medication is injected directly into a patient's brain. This form of treatment requires invasive surgery that could lead to more serious complications down the road. With the new treatment, a protein that has shown to nourish dopamine neurons is administered intranasally.
Shown to be effective in clinical testing on rodents, scientists know this could be a huge leap forward towards finding an eventual cure. With the number of cases of Parkinson's disease on the rise worldwide, scientists are eager to begin offering human clinical testing as soon as possible. Only time will tell if it's successful enough to be offered as a full-fledged treatment in the future.
Source: The Business Standard, "New gene therapy to stop Parkinson's disease in its tracks," Press Trust of India, April 22, 2013
]]>The main concern at present time surrounds the recent announcement from GOP leaders who are now supporting Obama's proposal to trim Social Security benefits in order to save the program money. The current plan hinges on the new inflation measure called the chained consumer price index, also known as chained CPI. But what is this measure and how will it affect people currently receiving SSI and disability benefits?
]]> Chained CPI is a way the federal government indexes spending and taxes to the rate of inflation. Currently, Social Security benefits are calculated using CPI-W, or the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Like chained CPI, CPI-W also increases as the strength of the dollar increases. But because chained CPI relies on a pool of similar goods from which consumers can choose, this index ticks up slower. That's because, in theory, economists assume that consumers will use a form of substitution when it comes to more expensive products.In Obama's new plan, chained CPI could possibly be applied to SSI and disability benefits. But for a majority of people, these benefit programs may be the only forms of income. Substitution may not be an option for them.
Though economists would argue that income and the cost of living will increase at the same rate now, it also means that many people who are currently struggling to make ends meet will not benefit from the index either.
At present time, Obama has three proposed budget plans while democrats and republicans say they may present plans of their own. Let's hope that they all don't force beneficiaries in a financial crisis in the end.
Sources:
The Washington Post, "Republicans embrace Obama's offer to trim Social Security benefits," Lori Montgomery, April 15, 2013
Bloomberg BNA, "Chained CPI Would Unfairly Cut Social Security Benefits, Speakers Say," Kristen Ricaurte Knebel, Pension & Benefits Daily, March 12, 2013
]]>Such is the case for one little boy who was born with crippling cerebral palsy. At three years old, because of the uncontrollable tightening of his muscles, he is unable to straighten his legs without considerable pain. It's because of this too that he can't walk.
]]> For patients suffering from cerebral palsy, depending on how severe it is, walking may never be an option for them. They are often confined to a wheelchair and generally require around-the-clock care. This was something the 3-year-old boy's parents didn't want for their son.The parents decided to try a new treatment they had read about online. The treatment involved Botox injections administered directly into the affected muscles. The Botox, which is most commonly used as a wrinkle eraser, unblocks the nerve impulses that are causing the boy's muscles to tighten. After the muscles have relaxed, the boy is able to move without restriction. "The difference in his mobility is unbelievable," says his mother.
Because of the treatments, the boy's legs are growing straighter and he is now able to stand and walk with the help of a walking frame.
Although the boy is able to walk and move, the effects of the injections only last between four and six months. The family is hopeful however that with continued treatment their son will eventually qualify for a surgery that will offer a permanent cure.
Source: The New York Daily News, "Botox injections help 3-year-old boy with cerebral palsy walk for the first time," April 9, 2013
]]>We'd like to think that this scrutiny is isolated to just a few people, or maybe even to a single state, but the truth of the matter is that this mistrust has leached its way into the very fabric of our society. And a lot of people with seriously disabling mental health conditions, who need help, are suffering for it.
]]> In our first post this week we called attention to the problem many families were facing when it came to their insurance companies not covering certain mental health conditions under their plans. Similar to this, a recent class action in nearby Minnesota is highlighting another problem that people with mental conditions are facing when it comes to their insurance plans. According to the lawsuit, some insurance companies, including the specifically named UnitedHealth Group, are not offering the same healthcare services that would be offered to people who have physical impairments. This type of behavior is said to be in direct violation of a federal law that forbids insurance companies from treating mental health claims differently than medical or surgical claims.Most people in Illinois and beyond expect that insurance companies will enforce some type of scrutiny when it comes to medical claims, but we see this same skepticism when it comes to disability claims as well. Often times, people with mental health conditions feel that their claims are subject to more scrutiny and get denied far more often than someone with a physical or medical claim. It's because of this that many people with mental conditions feel like they are being treated like second-class citizens. And it's treatment like this that the lawsuit will hopefully end.
Source: The Star Tribune, "Suit against UnitedHealth tests mental health coverage rules," Jim Spencer, April 6, 2013
]]>In some cases, families whose insurance does not cover autism diagnoses or therapist visits may not even know that they could qualify for benefits from SSA. Although these benefits may not completely eliminate their financial hardship, it could help alleviate a little of the financial burden they are experiencing.
]]> For one family in Utah, their insurance company's refusal to cover their son's autism has forced them to claim bankruptcy twice and has completely drained their savings account. But they're not alone. Other families across the nation are finding that their insurance does not cover mental disabilities such as autism, leaving many to make the most difficult decision ever: giving up their parental rights to their child. Unable to afford the cost of caring for their children on their own, approximately two dozen families in the state of Utah alone have had to surrender their children to the state in the last three years. It's unclear how high that number could be if the remaining 49 states were included.Although the organization Autism Speaks is trying to talk Congress into making a law that would require insurance companies to cover autism under their plans in all 50 states, progress is slow and many families are already in desperate conditions. For these families, the only hope now may be that their claim for disability benefits is approved by SSA.
Source: ABC News, "Autism Bankrupts Families, Emotionally and Financially," Susan Donaldson James, April 2, 2013
]]>Thousands of people the world over, including many here in Illinois, suffer from some form of cancer, the most common thought to be prostate cancer. Certain types of cancer have even been known to cause serious disabilities in patients of all ages. But scientists involved in this study say this could be a thing of the past if clinical trials in humans show positive signs.
]]> Researchers began their study by looking at the presence of CD47, a protein emitted from tumors that tricks the body's immune system into not destroying the harmful cells. The team at Stanford then created a drug that blocks the protein's signal, thus allowing a person's immune system to do its job once more. Only tested in mice at this time, the results have been impressive; the team observed a shrinkage or complete death of a tumor in seven different types of common human cancers. And with the CD47 protein prominent in every type of cancer, scientists believe this new drug could be an effective drug treatment for all forms of cancer.With the help of a four-year, $20 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the team is eager to begin the first phase of human clinical trials. Although the drug may be a long way from approval, many people see it as a step in the right direction.
Source: The Huffington Post, "Cancer Drug That Shrinks All Tumors Set To Begin Human Clinical Trials," Sara Gates, April 2, 2013
]]>A North Carolina glue sprayer certainly didn't know and is now suffering from a serious neurological disability as a result. But she is not the only one, and now unable to work, she must endure the uncertainty her disability brings.
]]> Problems began for this 45-year-old mother of two when she started working as a glue prayer at Royal Comfort Seating Inc., where along with other workers, she would spray the chemical n-propyl bromide onto seat cushions. But after several months of breathing in the fumes, she started to notice that she couldn't move as quickly as she once could and there felt numbness in her legs as well. It wasn't until after speaking with a coworker that she realized what was happening.She was developing neurological damage from a chemical that OSHA had considered dangerous for a long time. But despite hazard warnings, workers at this furniture manufacturing plant where not provided with the appropriate respirator equipment nor was the area they worked properly ventilated at all times. Now she is unable to stand or sit for longer than 20 minutes before a sharp, shooting pain screams up and down her spine and legs.
Work-related injuries such as this can turn into serious disabilities in no time. What's worse, is disabilities such as this often times leave a person unable to work. And with mounting medical expenses, this can make a traumatic situation all that much more difficult.
Unless she is able to find a job that can accommodate her disability, this 45-year-old woman may not be able to support herself and her two children like she once did. It's a situation where worry could be greatly diminished if access to government assistance was available.
Source: The New York Times, "As OSHA Emphasizes Safety, Long-Term Health Risks Fester," Ian Urbina, March 30, 2013
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