Michigan's Assistive Technology Program
assistive
Technology Connections
Volume 8, Issue 3, March 2007
In This Issue:
- Calendar
- Medication Reminder Systems
- Used Assistive Technology Web Site
- Resources Available for Community Groups
- Subscription Information
Calendar:
- March 24 Universal Design Expo Home Builders Association of Greater
Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Call 1-800-305-2021 for more information.
- March 19-24, 2007 California State University at Northridge (CSUN) Center on Disabilities' 22nd Annual International Conference: Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Los Angeles, CA Contact: Center on Disabilities, CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Building 11, Suite 103, Northridge, CA 91330; phone: 818-677-2578; e-mail: conference@csun.edu; web site: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm.
- March 22- 23, 2007 Assistive Technology Across the Lifespan Conference Where: The Holiday Inn Convention Center Stevens Point, WI. For general information contact: Mary Chapin mchapin@cesa6.k12.wi.us Phone: (800) 991-5576 or (920) 424-2247
- March 28 - 30, 2007 Bridges to Better Advocacy Co-sponsored by: Advocacy,
Inc., Austin, Texas National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project,
A Project of Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn (An
affiliate of Hilton Hotels, formerly The Capitol Place Hotel) 500 North
IH 35
Austin, Texas http://www.nls.org/2007%20AT%20Conference.htm - June 15-19, 2007 RESNA 2007 Annual Conference Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php.
- October 18-20, 2007 Closing the Gap 25th Annual Conference & Preconference Workshops - October 16-17, 2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.closingthegap.com
Medication Reminder Systems
For people with memory or confusion issues, remembering to take medication
or taking too much medication can be a problem. There are many systems
on
the market to assist with this task. Larry Shusterman, DO, an internal
medicine
and geriatrics physician and a former pharmacist, has created a way to
stop
medication mismanagement through the Medi-Sure Medication Dispensing
System, an automated device programmed by a pharmacist and used in the
patient's home. "This was a device I made out of a desperate attempt
to assist
patients who ended up requiring emergency room treatment because of
medication issues," says Shusterman, a client in the Rutgers-Camden
business incubator. "I saw a lot of people who were in nursing homes
because of medication issues. The usual methods of medicine reminders,
like calendars, or pill boxes, just weren't working." Patients who
use the
Medi-Sure system take their medication at the right time and as instructed
95
percent of the time. Research shows that, in general, medication compliance
can be as low as 30 percent. To read more: http://tinyurl.com/3bc9xl.
You can also visit Assistivetech.net to learn about a variety of other
medication
reminder systems at http://tinyurl.com/2uploz and pill organizers at
http://tinyurl.com/2sfw92.
Used Assistive Technology: AT Xchange
http://www.atxchange.org is a
new Michigan-based website where people
can buy, sell or give away assistive technology (AT). Do you have a used
AT item in storage that could really help someone who has a disability?
It could be anything from a wheelchair, stair lift, Braille reader, or
reacher! If so, just post a classified ad AT Xchange.org. Include a
digital photo. ATxchange is open to vendors who have used equipment for
sale also. And don't worry about cost, ATXchange is a free service!
Maybe you or someone you know is looking for AT? If you can't find what
you are looking for, you can post it as an item wanted and receive an
email message telling you if and when someone posts the item you are
looking for. You may find the AT you are seeking for a bargain price
-
even for free!
Resources Available for Community Groups
Michigan's Assistive Technology Program has copies of the DVD "Freedom
Machines" available to community groups to show to the public in
order to
increase awareness of assistive technology. This documentary is a
public television program and national outreach campaign, looks at our
beliefs about disability through the lens of assistive technology. The
program
explores how human experience and technological innovations are outpacing
social policies-and the perceptions that have guided them. The DVD includes:
captioning, descriptive video, Spanish, lesson plans and community group
presentation advice, other resources.
More information about "Freedom Machines" is available at http://www.freedommachines.com/. For information about how to obtain a copy Freedom Machines DVD for your community group, please contact Kathryn Wyeth at kdwyeth@prosynergy.org or (517)333-2477 ext 335.
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