Disability Tips » Misc

Shaving my head for St Baldricks children’s cancer charity

Tomasz Stasiuk — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:37:31 +0000

I will be getting shaved, shorn, polished, cue-balled, unleashing my solar panel, for St. Baldricks.

Join my team and you too can go all Yul Brenner, or Vin Diesel, or Mr. Clean, too! Or, Mrs. Clean!

Sponsor my shaved head and your donation helps fund children’s cancer research!

Come on! Click and go help out children in need! It’s even tax deductible!

Milo, Kinnect and the future of therapy

Tomasz Stasiuk — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:16:25 +0000

I previously wrote about the “Milo & Kate” demo for Kinect (at that time “Project Natal”) for the XBOX 360. The possibility of using a program like this for therapy seems obvious for teaching empathy or helping autistic individuals practice picking up on body language or facial cues.

Here is a recently released video from TED showing off the development in this software over the last year.

Frankly, the “gamey” elements are the most distracting part of the video. I don’t see the need for stars and points climbing up the screen when the draw is the interaction with a virtual character.

Video: No Barriers USA

Tomasz Stasiuk — Mon, 24 May 2010 04:50:06 +0000

I just came across this amazing organization on Twitter. No Barriers USA is doing some amazing things to help individuals overcome their disabilities.

H.264

Roger Ebert’s new voice

Tomasz Stasiuk — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:08:00 +0000

I just have to post this. I know many of you will probably have already seen this, either on Oprah, or around the web. But, as a huge fan of the way technology can make a difference in disabled* individual’s lives, I just think this is so cool and amazing.

*Of course, I am not trying to say that Roger Ebert is disabled. Even the loss of speech has not kept him down and he certainly has continued to be as prolific as ever.

What can we do for you in 2010?

Tomasz Stasiuk — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:29:41 +0000

We love our clients and want to make working with our office the best experience possible! So, we are sending out this letter to all of our clients asking what we can do better:

As the New Year arrives, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you. For 2010, I am resolving to serve you better. That is why I am asking you the following question:

If you could make one change in my office, what would it be?

Nothing is off the table. If you think we need to communicate differently, bill differently, stay open longer, use different technology, or even answer the phone faster, let me know. I am committed to making working with my office a better experience for you.

Send me a letter, email tomasz AT stasiukfirm.com, or leave a message at (719) 359-9311.

I will collect the answers, and post them in our office for everyone to see. On January 31, I will choose (at least) one to implement in 2010.

Of course, I may ask you for some help in getting everything “just right.”

Thank you again for choosing the Stasiuk Firm and for helping us to become the law firm you deserve!

We also love our readers on this site! If you have a suggestion, stories about good or bad experiences with lawyers, or anything else, make a comment, send me at email at tomasz AT stasiukfirm.com or call the message number (719-359-9311). We would love to hear from you!

This is your chance to say what you really want when working with a lawyer!

Thanks to Matt Homann for the idea!

Hardison & Associates Attorney Blair Biser Speaking about Social Security Benefits

Tomasz Stasiuk — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:55 +0000

Bionic hand commercially available

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:00:10 +0000

While it does not seem as useful as Dean Kamen’s Luke arm, this prosthetic arm is commercially available today.

Soldiers Get Virtual Reality Therapy for Burn Pain

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Vet success story – Dana Bowman

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:00:31 +0000

Video: Stroke Basics

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:00:06 +0000

“All About Hepatitis” video

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:47 +0000

iBot discontinued but motorized wheelchair technology marches on

Tomasz Stasiuk — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:29 +0000

I was surprised to read in Popular Science that Dean Kamen’s iBot (an electric, motorized wheelchair which goes from four wheels to two wheels lifting the rider in the process, and can climb stairs,) has been discontinued due to costs. Neither insurance companies, nor Medicaid, wanted to foot the bill for this expensive, although amazing, power chair.

If you are lucky enough to have an iBot, HiZook notes that service will continue on the iBot until 2013.

Here is a commercial for the now departed iBot:

How cool was that! Check out the SavetheIBot campaign to try to save this amazing assistive device!

HiZook also has a review of the Segway RMP 50 robotic platform, an omnidirectional powered platform that reminds me of something I read in comic books as a kid. Can you imagine using something like this as a base for a powered wheelchair?

Segway RMP Omni 50 from Cressel Anderson on Vimeo.

Video: Schizophrenia

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:09 +0000

Video: Rheumatology and Arthritis

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:59 +0000

Game or therapy?

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:00:22 +0000

Check out this demo for a Xbox Project Natal game called “Milo & Kate.”

Can you imagine the therapeutic value of this? From phobia therapies like the one below, to helping people with social phobias, to even more complex therapies such as helping individuals with Asperger’s syndrome pick up on social cues, vocal inflections and body language. The possibilities are amazing!

It also opens the possibility of long distance and even multiple provider therapies: the patient interacts with a single avatar which may be “driven” by different therapists at different times (allowing 24 hour care and a consistent “face”), or even running on auto-pilot as in the “Milo & Kate” demo above. I did not realize we were so close the the ‘ractors in Neal Stephenson’s Diamond Age.

Virtual Phobia Therapy:

Virtual therapies could be amazing, or they could be awful! What’s your opinion?

Middle school students taught disability awareness

Tomasz Stasiuk — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:21 +0000

via Middle school students taught disability awareness | Video | abc7chicago.com.

What to do for a person having a seizure (video)

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:03 +0000

One of my favorite shows on the web, ~~GeekBrief.tv~~, now GeekBrief with Cali Lewis, interviewed actor Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman on “Heroes”). Greg’s son, Jake, has epilepsy and Greg talks about what to do for someone during a seizure and what not to do (don’t put something into the person’s mouth!).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMZhu1m3uN8

It’s a great video! Greg talks about seizures starting at 3:50.

Twittering with your mind

Tomasz Stasiuk — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:49 +0000

We previously talked about brain control interfaces. Here is a new device that lets you twitter with your thoughts.

A new device developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison allows users to tell a computer what to do simply by concentrating on a letter or action on the screen.

via Twittering For Those Who Can’t Talk Or Type – Disability Scoop.

Creating opportunities for disabled individuals

Tomasz Stasiuk — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:00:30 +0000

CDC on Swine Flu

Tomasz Stasiuk — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:49:05 +0000

For up to date information go to http://cdc.gov/swineflu/

Ok, everyone. Keep calm. Wash your hands. If you get sick (fever, coughs, body aches, sore throat, headache, chills, fatigue, occasionally associated with vomiting or diarrhea), go see a doctor.