Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)

AT NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 1, NO. 5


Assistive Technology

Plain & Simple

News from the Arizona Technology Access Program

Volume 1, No. 5 * Spring/Fall

This edition of Plain & Simple is devoted to Assistive Technology in Recreation.

Assistive Technology and Recreation
All Work and No Play Makes Jack Rubin a Dull Boy

By Jill Sherman-Pleasant, AzTAP Project Director

This issue of our newsletter focuses on assistive technology for recreation. Since a number of readers told me that they enjoyed the story about my Dad in the last issue of AT Plain and Simple, I thought you might be amused by some of my dad’s leisure time escapades …

My dad – Rubin Zelenko - put in long hours to build up a very successful art supply company in New York, but he was not a workaholic. My father’s recreational interests kept him busy (and out of my mother’s hair). His leisure pursuits allowed him to be fulfilled, but several of his endeavors contributed to some serious kinks in my own emotional development.

In his younger days, Rubin was an avid hunter and fiPleasant. He has always had a penchant for taking leadership roles in organizations, so it was fitting that he became president of the Brookwood Hunters and Anglers Association. Ordinarily, this should not have had any impact on me, but he thought it would be a good idea for the family to participate in the association’s annual picnic in upstate New York. Nice idea, but it turned out to be very traumatic for me. One of the “fun” activities was a target practice contest for the youngsters. Of all the kids, I was the only one who managed to miss every shot – not even a tiny bullet hole on the entire piece of paper! Needless to say, my personal humiliation index was way off the chart. (I guess it matched my targeting ability.) As the president’s daughter, I felt I had disgraced the family honor. Of course, if I had had assistive technology back then, in the form of a pair of eyeglasses, I might have been able to redeem myself…

My father also had a serious interest in boating that almost got us killed. It was the summer of 1969 and his first boat was a 20-foot day cruiser with an inboard outboard motor. While refueling one day, the gas line separated from its housing and caught on fire. Fortunately, we were still tied to the dock, and the six of us on board managed to jump off before the entire boat became engulfed in flames. It was quite a sight watching the boat incinerate in the harbor. I suffered a slight burn on the back of my ankle, but the real injury occurred when I tripped and fell in the gravel on the way to telephone my mother. I wanted to tell her what happened, and to suggest that she get a ride and bring another set of car keys. The keys had been in my purse in the boat’s small cabin; by now were probably floating out into the Atlantic Ocean. Undaunted, my father handled this episode rather well: he bought a 30-foot cabin cruiser the next year. However, it took me years to get over the panic attacks associated with the loud sounds of a boat motor revving up…

Eventually Dad worked his way up to a 42-foot cruiser and tapered off with a 36-foot fishing boat. But the adventures continued: my mother lost the tips of several of her fingers while helping him dock the big boat (it’s really not a safe idea to wrap the rope around your hand while performing maritime maneuvers, but luckily a skilled plastic surgeon undid the damage.) More recently a young captain hired to help my father safely dock theboat in its slip, lost his balance and fell overboard. We had to fish him out of the water, so you could truly say that we had a successful catch that day. I guess the thrill is gone – Rubin no longer owns a boat.

Some people exercise for fitness and stress reduction. Although my dad plays golf four times a week (whether he needs it or not), he believes firmly in the restorative value of a good nap. To this day, he will get up and leave a room full of people to take a snooze. For me, this meant that I had to learn to speak fast in order to hold my father&38217;s attention. If I wasn’t quick enough, he would leave to enjoy one of his obligatory siestas. If asked to conjure up a visual image of my father engaged in something he likes to do, the picture that comes to mind is his taking a nap face down on the bed in a diagonal position.

So now you have the yin and yang of recreation and its effects on the Zelenko family dynamics and intra-personal ego development… My father is well rested and I continue to see a therapist on a regular basis…

This issue of AT Plain and Simple is devoted to exploring how assistive technology can play an important role in enhancing a person’s ability to partake in recreational activities. The ability to engage in recreation and leisure activities of one’s own choosing is a major life activity as defined in several pieces of disability-related statutes. Play is considered to be the “work” of children, but it is just as necessary for adults to have some form of “play” to balance out the other demands in our lives. While disabilities can challenge both the “what” and the “how” of recreation, they should not affect the need or the desire. An increased emphasis on recreation for persons with disabilities combined with an ever-expanding array of assistive technology choices had led to new opportunities for recreational pursuits.

The Web Geanious

(Written by Chris Geanious, Systems Analyst)

For this quarter’s issue on recreation I would like to focus on Sports. When I began researching AT and sports/recreation on the World Wide Web I quickly found that most of the sites were vendor sites for specialized mobility equipment. While these have merit, my interest was on the activities rather than the equipment. So, in this month’s column you will find reviews and links to sites which emphasize disability related sports and sports organizations. There is a wealth of information on the assistive technologies which enable these sports throughout these sites. Enjoy!

The National Sports Center for the Disabled – http://www.nscd.org/

Based in Winter Park, Colorado, the NSCD is a not for profit organization which sponsors sports and recreation programs which enabling over 3000 persons with disabilities to participate and/or compete in outdoor activities.

They have a comprehensive and professionally developed website which covers the following areas: recreation, competition, education and outreach, volunteer opportunities, media area, events, donations, and store.

Whether you are disabled and need resources, want to volunteer your time, or donate money to sponsor athletes; this site has something for everyone.

Disabled Sports USA - http://www.dsusa.org/

A national nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans to serve the war injured. DS/USA now offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent physical disability. Activities include winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events. Participants include those with visual impairments, amputations, spinal cord injury, dwarfism, multiple sclerosis, head injury, cerebral palsy, and other neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions.

The Recreation Access Project - http://www.pat.org/RAP/activity.html

The RAP is housed with in the Partnerships in Assistive Technology (PAT) website. PAT is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is “to increase knowledge about and access to Assistive Technology (AT) for North Carolinians with disabilities.” The highlight of this site is a comprehensive library of fact sheets on recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. These are in Adobe Acrobat PDF files and are free for downloading/printing. The areas covered are: Aquatics, Arts, Baseball, Basketball, Bingo, Bowling, Dancing, Gardening, Golf, Gymnastics, Library, Outdoors, Fitness, Playgrounds, Riding, Skiing, Soccer, Tennis, and Theatre. Again, something for everyone.

There are many organizations with websites geared toward athletics for people with specific disabilities. While offering information pertinent to a disability, they generally offer links and advice for other disabilities as well. I would like to conclude this month’s column with a list of these sites.

The United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association - http://www.uscpaa.org/main.htm  Main feature for me at this site was a comprehensive calendar of athletic competitions happening nation-wide for people with disabilities. Quite amazing.

UCPnet - http://www.ucpa.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/15/11500/11500-11500/639 Part of the United Cerebral Palsy website. Large library of fact sheets and information on AT, sports, nutrition, and more. An impressive resource.

WheelchairSport.nl - http://www.wheelchairsport.nl/index2.html Nice site covering aspects of: basketball, dancing, fencing, hockey, paralympics, sledge hockey, quadrugby, tennis. World wide events calendar.

USA Deaf Sports Federation - http://www.usadsf.org Comprehensive site covering: net sports, shooting, skiing, soccer, softball, volleyball, water sports. Events calendar, good links.

Please e-mail me with any comments or additions you might have. Chris.Geanious@nau.edu

What’s New to View at the RRC’s

Hunting Options for Hunters With Disabilities

By Janis Doneski-Nicol, M.S., CFY-SLP IHD Assistive Technology Center

I never thought, when I entered the field of assistive technology, that I would sit down to write an article about hunting in Arizona and the assistive technology tools available to persons with disabilities! However, there is a definite need for hunting-related assistive technology. For those of you interested in adaptations for hunting, there are two potential options: special hunting permits and adapted hunting equipment.

ARIZONA HUNTING REGULATIONS AND SPECIAL PERMITS

Hunting access in Arizona for an individual with a disability requires that the hunter apply for special hunting permits allowing a variety of optional hunting styles. Two types of permits are available: the Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permit (CHAMP) and a Crossbow Permit. These permits only allow for the alternative method of hunting. The hunter must also “comply with all legal requirements governing method of take and licensing” (Arizona Game and Fish Department R12-4-217-B). The CHAMP Permit requires an application process as well as medical documentation of a disability. Medical documentation must indicate that the applicant for the CHAMP Permit is permanently disabled in one of the following categories:

  • “Has a disability or combination of disabilities creating a minimum impairment of function of or equivalent to no less than 90% loss of function in 1 leg or no more than 10% maximal functional use in 1 leg regardless of the functional level of the other leg; or
  • Has a visual field of no more than 20% in the better eye; or
  • Has vision in the better eye of 20/200 or less after best correction.” (Arizona Game and Fish Department R12-4-217-C)

If a CHAMP Permit is granted to an individual the individual may discharge a firearm or other legal hunting device from a motor vehicle with the engine turned off or from a watercraft drifting only by current or wind action. Additionally, an assistant may be used to track, dispatch, or retrieve an animal. Individuals interested in applying for a CHAMP Permit should contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department for detailed information on the CHAMP Permit and an application. Information provided in this article does not provide detailed information on the regulations and hunters should read R12-4-217.

A second option is the Crossbow Permit, which may be issued, by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to a person who has a permanent 90% minimum impairment of function of one arm. The impairment must be medically certified and the hunter must apply for the permit. The Crossbow Permit allows the hunter to use a Crossbow during an archer-only season. In Arizona the Crossbow is not a legal hunting device and may only be used under this permit.

For further information on hunting in Arizona please contact the Arizona Department of Game and Fish at (602) 942-3000.

ADAPTED HUNTING EQUIPMENT*

In addition to adapting the method of the hunt, there are a wide variety of adapted tools for rifles, archery bows, and fishing poles. One of the best resources to refer to would be www.abledata.com. The Abledata site allows you to search for specific categories of assistive technology including hunting, archery, and fishing. Utilizing the AbleData site you will explore a wide variety of assistive technologies including the following:

RIFLE HUNTING

Sight-Impaired Scope Mount (Helluva hunt (307) 358-6580) The Sight-Impaired Scope Mount is a modified riflescope designed to allow an individual with a visual disability to aim a rifle with the assistance of another person.

Trigger Activator (Access to Recreation (800) 634-4351) The Trigger Activator is designed for use by individuals with upper extremity disabilities. This device is a simple crank, that when mounted inside the trigger guard of a rifle or pistol, enables the gun to be fired simply by pulling the handle.

Shooting Rest The Shooting Rest is a wheelchair rifle mount for quadriplegics. Motor driven adjustment or the rifle, both up/down and left/right, are made via mouthpiece. The sip activates the trigger.

Autofold Monopole Shooting Stick (Autofold Inc. (978) 827-3050) The Autofold Monopole Shooting Stick is a folding rifle support with Y-top designed to provide support to the user when shooting from a wheelchair.

ARCHERY HUNTING

Archery Stand (Achievable Concepts (613) 9873 -0182)

This is a stand which enables people with only the use of one hand to participate in archery. The stand can be used by people sitting or standing. It supports the bow while the archer pulls back the string and aims the arrow.

Crossbow Cocking Lever (Cabella’s (800) 237-4444)

This handy cocking device reduces the strength needed to cock a crossbow by half. Folds neatly away to fit in your pocket. Wrist straps allow use by those with very little hand strength or a disability.

FISHING

Angler’s Aid Rod Holder (Access to Recreation (800) 634-4351) The Angler’s Aid Rod Holder is designed to provide one-handed fishing for people with disabilities.

Van’s EZ Cast (Access to Recreation (800) 634-4351)

Van’s EZ Cast is a one hand fishing reel and rod holder with an automatic fishing line regulator designed to allow independent casting and reeling by persons with limited arm or hand movement because of paralysis, arthritis, or stroke.

TY-ALL (Access to Recreation (800) 634-4351) The Ty-All is a fishing device that ties knots in lures, and aids in threading hooks and cutting fishing line for people with limited dexterity or requiring one-handed fishing aids. Comes with mounting bolt and wing nut, line cutter and threader, and an instruction book.

For further information about items discussed in this article please feel free to contact the Institute for Human Development Assistive Technology Center at (928) 523-5878.

*This article is intended to provided information about resources which are available for individuals with disabilities. The author has not examined or tested any products or devices discussed and makes no endorsement, representation, or warranty expressed or implied as to any product, device, or information.

Assistive Technology Resource Centers in Arizona

AzTAP provides funding to five Regional Resource Centers (RRCs) in Arizona. These RRCs provide direct assistive technology services to persons with disabilities, and are available to help consumers select the most appropriate devices, and advocate for themselves in order to acquire funding for devices and services.

ASSIST! To Independence

Contact Person: Ann O’Connor
(928) 283-6261 Voice/TTY

HD Assistive Technology Center

Contact Person: Larry Gallagher
(928) 523-5083 Voice

Southwest Human Development

Contact Person: Cheryl Belitsky
(602) 266-5976 ext. 324 Voice/TTY

Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT)

Contact Person: Paula Feeney
(520) 519-1776 Voice

UCP of Central Arizona

Contact Person: Cindy Blair
(602) 943-5472 Voice

Dollar$ and $ense
Air Carrier Access Act
By Ed Myers, Policy and Funding Specialist

As more persons with disabilities integrate into American society in both business and play, their use of America’s public transportation system increases. Like the general public, persons with disabilities enjoy the convenience and speed of flying across the country. Personally, I fly as much as 6 or 7 times a year visiting family, going on vacation and traveling for business. Often I request and receive assistance to the gate, pre-boarding and assistance from the gate to baggage claim to a cab. Only a few years ago, these were not required services. In 1986, Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act, which requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop regulations to ensure that persons with disabilities will be treated in a non-discriminatory manner.

There are many rules relating to the Air Carrier Act which exceed the size of this article, however, there are some basic rules that persons should know prior to flying. The Air Carrier Access rules sweep aside many restrictions that formerly discriminated against passengers with disabilities:

  • A carrier may not refuse transportation to a passenger solely on the basis of a disability.
  • Air carriers may not limit the number of individuals with disabilities on a particular flight.
  • All trip information that is made available to other passengers also must be made available to passengers with disabilities.
  • Carriers must provide passage to an individual who has a disability that may affect his or her appearance or involuntary behavior, even if this disability may offend, annoy, or be an inconvenience to crew-members or other passengers.

There are a few exceptions:

  • The carrier may refuse transportation if the individual with a disability would endanger the health or safety of other passengers, or transporting the person would be a violation of FAA safety rules.
  • If the plane has fewer than 30 seats, the carrier may refuse transportation if there are no lifts, boarding chairs or other devices available which can be adapted to the limitations of such small aircraft by which to enplane the passenger. Airline personnel are not required to carry a mobility-impaired person onto the aircraft by hand.
  • There are special rules about persons with certain disabilities or communicable diseases. These rules are covered in the chapter entitled “At the Airport”.
  • The carrier may refuse transportation if it is unable to seat the passenger without violating the FAA Exit Row Seating rules.

Handling of Mobility Aids and Assistive Devices

Carriers are not required to provide the following services or equipment, but should they choose to provide them, they may require 48 hours advance notice and a one hour advance check-in:

  • Medical oxygen for use on board the aircraft;
  • Carriage of an incubator;
  • Hook-up for a respirator to the aircraft’s electrical supply;
  • Accommodations for a passenger who must travel on a stretcher.

Carriers may impose reasonable, nondiscriminatory charges for these optional services.

To the extent consistent with various FAA safety regulations, passengers may bring on board and use ventilators and respirators, powered by non-spillable batteries. Assistive devices brought into the cabin by an individual with a disability shall not count toward a limit on carry-on items.

Persons using canes and other assistive devices may stow these items on board the aircraft, consistent with safety regulations. Carriers shall permit passengers to stow wheelchairs or component parts of a mobility device under seats, or in overhead compartments.

Carriers must permit one folding wheelchair to be stowed in a cabin closet, or other approved priority storage area, if the aircraft has such areas and stowage can be accomplished in accordance with FAA safety regulations. If the passenger using it pre-boards, stowage of the wheelchair takes priority over the carry-on items brought on by other passengers enplaning at the same airport (including passengers in another cabin, such as First Class), but not over items of passengers who boarded at previous stops.

When stowed in the cargo compartment, wheelchairs and other assistive devices must be given priority over cargo and baggage, and must be among the first items unloaded. Mobility aids shall be returned to the owner as close as possible to the door of the aircraft (consistent with DOT hazardous materials regulations) or at the baggage claim area, in accordance with whatever request was made by the passenger before boarding.

If the priority storage accorded to mobility aids prevents another passenger’s baggage from being carried, the carrier shall make its best efforts to ensure the other baggage arrives within four hours.

On certain aircraft, some assistive devices will have to be disassembled in order to be transported (e.g., electric wheelchairs, other devices too large to fit in the cabin or in the cargo hold in one piece). When assistive devices are disassembled, carriers are obligated to return them to passengers in the condition that the carrier received them (e.g., assembled).

Carriers must transport battery-powered wheelchairs, except where cargo compartment size or aircraft airworthiness considerations do not permit doing so. Electric wheelchairs must be treated in accordance with both DOT regulations for handling hazardous materials.

Seat Assignments

An individual with a disability cannot be required to sit in a particular seat or be excluded from any seat, except as provided by FAA safety rules, such as the FAA Exit Row Seating rule. For safety reasons, that rule limits seating in exit rows to those persons with the most potential to be able to operate the emergency exit and help in an aircraft evacuation. The carrier cannot deny transport, but may deny specific seats to travelers who are less than age 15 or lack the capacity to act without an adult, or who lack sufficient mobility, strength, dexterity, vision, hearing, speech, reading or comprehension abilities to perform emergency evacuation functions. The carrier may also deny specific seats to persons with a condition or responsibilities, such as caring for small children, that might prevent the person from performing emergency evacuation functions, or cause harm to themselves in doing so.

A traveler with a disability may also be denied certain seats if:

  • The passenger’s involuntary behavior is such that it could compromise safety of the flight and the safety problem can be mitigated to an acceptable degree by assigning the passenger a specific seat rather than refusing service;
  • The seat desired cannot accommodate guide dogs or service animals.
  • In each instance, carriers are obligated to offer alternative seat locations.

Service Animals

Carriers must permit dog guides or other service animals with appropriate identification to accompany an individual with a disability on a flight. Identification may include cards or other documentation, presence of a harness or markings on a harness, tags, or the credible verbal assurance of the passenger using the animal.

If carriers provide special information to passengers concerning the transportation of animals outside the continental United States, they must provide such information to all passengers with animals on such flights, not simply to passengers with disabilities who are traveling with service animals.

Carriers must permit a service animal to accompany a traveler with a disability to any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain clear in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation, in which case the passenger will be assigned another seat.

Accommodations for Persons with Hearing Impairments.

Each carrier providing scheduled air service, or charter service under the Federal Aviation Act, and which makes available telephone reservation and information service available to the public will make available a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) service to enable persons with hearing impairments to make reservations and obtain information. The TDD service must be available during the same hours as the telephone service for the general public and the response time for answering calls will be equivalent. Users of the TDD service will not be subject to charges for a call that exceed those applicable to other users of the telephone information and reservation service.

In aircraft in which safety briefings are presented to passengers on video screens, the carrier will ensure that the video presentation is accessible to persons with hearing impairments. The carrier will implement this requirement by using open captioning or an inset for a sign language interpreter as part of the video presentation. A carrier may use an equivalent non-video alternative to this requirement only if neither open captioning nor a sign language interpreter inset could be placed in the video presentation without so interfering with it as to render it ineffective or would be large enough to be readable. Carriers will implement the requirements of this section by substituting captioned video materials for uncaptioned video materials as the uncaptioned materials are replaced in the normal course of the carrier’s operations.

Charges for Accommodations Prohibited

Carriers cannot impose charges for providing facilities, equipment, or services to an individual with a disability that are required by DOT’s Air Carrier Access regulations. They may charge for optional services, however, such as oxygen and accommodation of stretchers.

Security Screening

The events of 9/11 force all citizens of this country to deal with heightened security issues. An individual with a disability must undergo the same security screening as any other member of the traveling public.

If an individual with a disability is able to pass through the security system without activating it, the person shall not be subject to special screening procedures. Security personnel are free to examine an assistive device that they believe is capable of concealing a weapon or other prohibited item. If an individual with a disability is not able to pass through the system without activating it, the person will be subject to further screening in the same manner as any other passenger activating the system.

Security screening personnel at some airports may employ a hand-held device that will allow them to complete the screening without having to physically search the individual. If this method is still unable to clear the individual and a physical search becomes necessary, then at the passenger’s request, the search must be done in private.

If the passenger requests a private screening in a timely manner, the carrier must provide it in time for the passenger to board the aircraft. Such private screenings will not be required, however, to a greater extent or for any different reason than for other passengers.

Having rods in my back, and both femurs and tibia, my strategy is to announce to the security person that my body will set off the screening mechanism. A gender appropriate security personnel frisks me and then I am on my way. Others use a medical certificate signed by their physician as evidence that their condition may set off the screener.

Compliance Procedures

Each carrier must have at least one Complaints Resolution Official (CRO) available at each airport during times of scheduled carrier operations. The CRO can be made available by telephone.

Any passenger having a complaint of alleged violations of the Air Carrier Access rules is entitled to communicate with a CRO, who has authority to resolve complaints on behalf of the carrier.

If a CRO receives a complaint before the action of carrier personnel has resulted in violation of the Air Carrier Access rules, the CRO must take or direct other carrier personnel to take action to ensure compliance with the rule. The CRO, however, does not have authority to countermand a safety-based decision made by the pilot-in-command of an aircraft.

If the CRO agrees with the passenger that a violation of the rule occurred, he must provide the passenger a written statement summarizing the facts and what steps if any, the carrier proposes to take in response to the violation.

If the CRO determines that no violation has occurred, he must provide the passenger a written statement summarizing the facts and reasons for the decision or conclusion.

The written statement must inform the interested party of his or her right to pursue DOT enforcement action if the passenger is still not satisfied with the response. If possible, the written statement by the CRO must be given to the passenger at the airport; otherwise, it shall be sent to the passenger within 10 days of the incident.

Carriers shall establish a procedure for resolving written complaints alleging violations of any Air Carrier Access rule provision. If a passenger chooses to file a written complaint, the complaint should note whether the passenger contacted the CRO at the time of the alleged violation, including the CRO’s name and the date of contact, if available. It should include any written response received from the CRO. A carrier shall not be required to respond to a complaint postmarked more than 45 days after the date of an alleged violation.

A carrier must respond to a written complaint within 30 days after receiving it. The response must state the airline’s position on the alleged violation, and may also state whether and why no violation occurred, or what the airline plans to do about the problem. The carrier must also inform the passenger of his or her right to pursue DOT enforcement action.

Any person believing that a carrier has violated any provision of the rule may contact the following office for assistance:

Department of Transportation
Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

This article only touches on approximately half of the rules relating to the Air Carrier Act. For more information you can go to http://www.faa.gov/acr/dat.htm or contact Edward Myers at Edward.myers@nau.edu.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Disability Access Guide

Many travelers with disabilities who use Phoenix Sky Harbor airport don’t know it but Sky Harbor has a web page specifically for travelers with disabilities. On their internet site is Dial-A-Ride information, TTY numbers for rental car agencies and the phone numbers for lift equipped vehicles, the location of high profile vehicle parking, and information for people who are blind such as where and how to obtain Braille restaurant menus in the each Terminal. There is also detailed information for locating amplified phones and TTYs. This is a site worth visiting and bookmaking for future use. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport - http://www.phxskyharbor.com/travel_assist/needs.html

Reaching Out
Limitless Recreational Opportunities For People With Disabilities
By Randy Collins, Outreach/Training Coordinator

Americans love to compete and we love to play. Though many people may not realize it, recreational opportunities for people with disabilities are limitless and rewarding. From mountain climbing to embroidery, if a sport or recreational activity exists there is likely assistive technology to make it accessible for people with disabilities. In fact, there are so many types of recreational assisitve technology it would be next to impossible to list them all. But it is as diverse as one could imagine. For example, the Martin 16’ sailboat can be sailed with a Sip ’N’ Puff system for persons unable to use their arms and hands. Captioned video games enable persons with hearing impairments to understand the verbal prompts. Talking Global Positioning Systems can be very useful to hikers who are blind or visually impaired. A hand carved, one-piece bass fiddle was designed to allow a deaf person to sit and “hear” music. Then there are the Railriders – an organization of people with disabilities who have adapted hand and/or leg powered vehicles to ride on America’s 50,000 miles of abandoned railroad tracks. This program offers tremendous fun and freedom to everyone equally.

Rather than list the assistive technology related to specific recreational activities, I’ve listed only a fraction of the activities that can be accomplished through the use of accommodations and assistive technology including:

  • Camping
  • Golf
  • Horseback Riding
  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Hunting and Fishing
  • Skydiving
  • Judo
  • Rock Climbing
  • Bowling
  • Skating
  • Scuba Diving
  • Skiing

For those less inclined toward sky diving, rail riding or skiing there are also almost limitless recreational opportunities made possible through assistive technology. There are adaptive gardening tools, chess pieces and boards, card holders and card shufflers, crochet aids, needle threaders, reading machines, talking maps, free captioned movies, TV programs with audio description, adaptive software. Disability travel opportunities abound in Arizona and in many countries around the world. There are travel agencies that specialize in disability travel and can arrange everything from oxygen, dialysis cruises to interpreters or scooter and van rentals.

For Internet resources, I like:

What’s Happening
On the A.T. Calendar?

9/18-20/02  Brave New World - A Journey throgh Transition Services

        Prescott Resort

        Contact:  Jeanette Zemeida (602) 542-3855

        Web Site:  ade.az.gov/ess/transitionservices

The conference is geared for transition age students with disabilities, their parents, schools and service providers.

10/05/02  Traveling the Special Ed Highway

        Garcia’s Embassy Suites

        4400 S. Rural Road

        Tempe, AZ

        (602) 542-3852

        E-Mail: avillar@ade.az.gov

Sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), Parent Information Network Specialists (PINS), and Parents Are Liaisons to Schools (PALS)

10/15-19/02  Closing the Gap

        Radisson South Hotel

        7800 Normandale Vlvd

        Bloomington, MN

        Contact:  Closing the Gap, Inc.

        PO Box 68

        526 Main Street

        Henderson, MN 56044

        Voice:  (507) 248-3294

        Fax:  (507) 248-3810

        E-Mail:  info@closingthegap.com

        Web Site:  www.closingthe gap.com

10/24-26/02  Rocky Mountain Collaborative Conference: Achieving New Heights with Assistive Technology

        Radisson Hotel Denver South

        3200 South Parker Road

        Aurora, CO 80014

        (800) 962-7672

The goal of the conference is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through the appropriate selection and use of assisitve technology. Breakout sessions will focus on funding issues and legislation, education, empliyment, handson assistive technology training and the design and development of low tech adaptive devices.

        For more information call Assistive Technology partners

        Voice:  (303) 315-1280

        TTY:  (303) 837-8964

11/08/02  Vision Rehabilitation and Technology Expo 2002

        Phoenix Civic Plaza

        111 N. 3rd Street

        Phoenix, Arizona

        9:00 - 5:00 PM

The expo will provide educational lectures and exhibits that feature services, products and technogy currently available who are blind or visually impaired. Speakers included visually impaired painter Lisa Fittipaldi, blind sculptor Michael Naranjo, and retinal specialist Dr. Anthony DeBeaus.

11/14-16/02  Spinal Cord Injury Educational Conference

        “Exploring the Possibilities”

        Sheraton Mesa Hotel & Convention Center

        2002 N. Centennial Way

        Mesa, Arizona

        (623) 322-8279

        E-mail:  azsciaconf@cox.net

        Website:  www.azspinal.org

In the Spotlight
The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Adaptive Recreation Services program offers several recreational opportunites for people with disabilities, ages six and up. The four major programs offered are Daring Adventures, River Rampage, Mainstream Expeditions and Special Olympics.

Daring Adventures is a grant-funded program offering six new outdoor recreation activities for teens and adults with disabilities to keep active year-round! These include adaptive cycling, adaptive kayaking, sled ice hockey, cross-country skiing, hiking and backpacking, and wilderness camping.

River Rampage is a white water rafting program that offers three seven-day river trips each summer down the San Juan River in Southern Utah for teens with disabilities and their at-risk peers. There is no cost to the teens; instead, each participant fulfills 40 hours of volunteer service in lieu of program fees.

Mainstream Expeditions, a white water rafting program started in 1991, is geared for adults with disabilities, and “Independence is Priceless. We Make it Affordable.”

Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology (AzLAT)

The Arizona Technology Access Program is pleased to announce the availability of our new, affordable financial loan program - Arizona Loans for Assistive Technology (AzLAT). Arizona now joins more than 30 other states with similar projects designed to provide alternative funding of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. AzLAT represents a consumer-responsive partnership whose members also include Arizona MultiBank, the Arizona Community Foundation and a consortium of ten other disability-related organizations.

Loans to qualified applicants will be for amounts ranging from $500 - $3,000. To qualify, an applicant must:

  • Be an Arizona resident
  • Be a person with a disability or a family member/significant other on behalf of a person with a disability, and legally able to enter into a contract for a loan
  • Assure that the loan will be used to purchase assistive technology devices and/or services
  • Demonstrate sufficient credit worthiness and ability to repay the loan

For more information, please contact Pamela Alcala at 602-776-4670 or by email at Pamela.Alcala@nau.edu. Feel free to visit our website at www.azlat.org. This year, Mainstream Expeditions is offering a nine-day trip on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon by oar boat. Dates for the trip are September 16-24, 2002. Contact Adaptive Recreation Services for trip cost and scholarship information.

For details on these, and other programs, please contact Adaptive Recreation Services at 602-262-4543 (Voice), 602-534-2491 (TTY) or adaptiverec.prl@phoenix.gov (E-mail). We look forward to seeing you at one of these exciting programs!

A Simple Thought

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”

- Plato

Assistive Technology Plain & Simple is published quarterly by the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP). This document was developed by the Arizona Technology Access Program. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Grant #H224A40002. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of NIDRR, or the U.S. Department of Education, and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Arizona Technology Access Program

Institute for Human Development

Northern Arizona University

2715 N. 3rd Street, Suite 104

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Phone: (602) 728-9534 or (800) 477-9921;

TTY: (602) 728-9536; FAX: (602) 728-9535

Website: www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap

Jill Sherman-Pleasant, Director (602) 728-9532

Randy Collins, Outreach/Training Coordinator (602) 728-9533

Edward Myers, Funding and Policy Coordinator (602) 728-4699

Chris Geanious, Systems Analyst (520) 523-7050

Pamela Alcala, Administrative Assistant (520) 523-5879

Zaida Lopez, Secretary (602) 728-9534

Melvin Selestewa, Administrative Clerk (520) 523-5282

NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.  This document is available in alternative formats by calling (602) 728-9534, and on the world wide web at www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap.

This document is available in alternative formats by calling (602) 728-9534, and on the World Wide Web at www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap.

NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.

For more Newletters