The end of 2021 is almost upon us, and hopefully for many of you the end of year rush is slowing down and everyone is looking forward to some time off with friends and family over the holiday season. I think it is fair to say that 2021 was not the year we were expecting…
Read MoreOver the past 100 years, attitudes towards people with disabilities and inclusion have drastically improved. However, people with disabilities continue to experience marginalisation and disproportionate disadvantages. There have been multiple movements that have precipitated these changes including deinstitutionalisation, which began in the 1950s, the Paralympic movement, and increased advocacy and rights supported by various acts…
Read MoreThursday 18th November is World-Wide STOP Pressure Injury Day, a day designated to increase awareness about pressure injury prevention – for both health professionals and the general public. Word-Wide STOP Pressure Injury Day started in 2012 following a meeting of Spanish speaking wound care organisations, with the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel later joining and…
Read MoreOctober is Spina Bifida Awareness Month, and like all awareness months it is a good opportunity to learn something new. For me, it has been some time since I explored the research for Spina Bifida, so it was a good prompt to pause and take a look on PubMed to see what research I could find. The incidence of babies born with Spina Bifida has decreased since…
Read MoreAs technology has evolved, so too has the technology, materials and electronics that go into powered mobility base designs. Most complex rehabilitation bases are now modular in nature, meaning multiple components can be combined to provide a solution that is unique to an individual. Some of these components are essential to the build of the…
Read MoreFunding systems vary around the world. In our corner of the world, both Australia and New Zealand have funding systems that are very function-based. Both funding systems require a person to have been diagnosed with a disability to access the system. However, what equipment is provided is based on what a person needs to be able to do and is not related to the person’s underlying…
Read MoreMy most influential mentor once told me that the only pre-requisite for independent mobility is the motivation to move, a statement I have often reflected on and referred to throughout my career. There may be learning or training requirements to reach successful outcomes and specialised set up and inputs may be required but often the…
Read MoreLast week marked the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, giving us another chance to cheer on athletes from our own country and celebrate the achievements of athletes from around the world. Last week also saw the launch of the WeThe15 campaign, a campaign striving to end the discrimination against persons with disabilities. The number 15 relates to the reported percentage who live with a disability…
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