Disability News Disability Newsletter

Disability Community News April 2009 Episode 1

Disabled World Community Newsletter for April 1st, 2009.

Workplace Disability Management Programme a First
By Otago Polytech

Otago Polytechnic is about to become the first New Zealand-based institution to offer a specialised training and professional certification programme in workplace disability management, designed to plan for better management of valuable 'people resources.'

The online Disability Management in the Workplace programme prepares professionals to facilitate a successful return to work for those living with a disability either through illness or injury. It includes disability management theory and practice, the New Zealand service delivery environment and interpersonal skills for those involved in the return-to-work process.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/news/australia-nz/workplace-disability-management.php

Where Does Consciousness Come From?
By Public Library of Science

Consciousness arises as an emergent property of the human mind. Yet basic questions about the precise timing, location and dynamics of the neural event(s) allowing conscious access to information are not clearly and unequivocally determined. Some neuroscientists have even argued that consciousness may arise from a single "seat" in the brain, though the prevailing idea attributes a more global network property.

Do the neural correlates of consciousness correspond to late or early brain events following perception? Do they necessarily involve coherent activity across different regions of the brain, or can they be restricted to local patterns of reverberating activity? A new paper, published in this week's PLoS Biology, suggests that four specific, separate processes combine as a "signature" of conscious activity. By studying the neural activity of people who are presented with two different types of stimuli – one which could be perceived consciously, and one which could not – Dr. Gaillard of INSERM and colleagues, show that these four processes occur only in the former, conscious perception task.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/health/neurology/consciousness.php

PHAMALY - Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actor's League
By Disabled World

Twenty years ago, disabled students Teri Westerman, Kathleen Traylor, Gregg Vigil, and Kevin Ahl were told by their teacher to give up on their acting dreams. No director would want to hire a disabled performer, the teacher said.

Fueled by their teacher's lack of confidence, the group decided to create their own theater company where disabilities were not a factor. They called their group PHAMALY (pronounced family), which stands for Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actor's League.

PHAMALY went out onto the streets to recruit both physically and developmentally disabled people to get involved in their new theater company. Since then, they have recruited more than 40 actors which a range of physical, mental, emotional, and learning disabilities.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/phamaly.php

Cleft Lip Defect in Infants
By Jacob Mabille

On the average, one in every one thousand babies are born with a defect known as cleft lip and/or palate.

A cleft lip is a split that runs through the center of the lip and may extend into the nostril. A cleft palate may separate the soft and hard muscular tissues and /or the entire roof of the mouth. A child may be born with either defect or a combination.

The cause is not completely understood although it is believed that certain chemicals or medications may be a factor. There seems to be an increased likelihood that a child may be born with the condition if a family member was also born with such a defect. The deformity occurs early on in the pregnancy during the first trimester.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/health/pediatric/cleft-lip.php

2010 Paralympics and Olympic Games Volunteers Needed
By VANOC

With less than two months to go before the start of auditions on May 1, 2009, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is looking for 7,500 applications to create a strong pool from which to select the successful performers in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

In the two weeks since the call for volunteers was issued, close to 3,200 applications have already been received.

“The sooner interested candidates apply online by filling out an application at www.vancouver2010.com/ceremonies, the sooner they can find out if they have been successful in landing an audition,” explained David Atkins, executive producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. “We need performers to bring our mass choreography to life on the floor of BC Place. But, just as importantly, we need performance volunteers to act as athlete marshals, placard bearers to lead countries into the stadium and audience leaders who’ll help spectators participate in the show.”

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/sports/paralympics/2010/volunteers-needed.php

NHS Worries Pushing People to Private Care
By Ruth J

British people have stated that they are greatly concerned about the level of cleanliness and hygiene in UK NHS hospitals according to a study by Saga Private Medical Insurance, noting it as their main reason for opting to go for private medical care. These factors along with the waiting times patients have to put up with are among the top concerns.

NHS hygiene

Around 68 per cent of people - just over two thirds of those involved in the study - mentioned that the present level of hygiene and cleanliness in NHS facilities, the second most common worry was about catching the MRSA virus, where 66 per cent, of those involved said that they were worried about this. Moreover the waiting time that patients faced was a major concern that affected 57 per cent of those questioned.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/healthcare/uk-healthcare/nhs-concerns.php


Meet Disabled World Community Member Butterflydream!

Butterflydream enjoys working with children, arts and crafts, helping people to smile and laugh, watching dancing - especially ballet, and figure skating and gymnastics. She enjoys writing poetry and likes animals including horses, dolphins, butterflies, labrador and golden retreivers and seals. She likes to be outside when the weather permits, particularly during the Spring, Summer and Fall. You can find out more about Butterflydream at:

http://community.disabled-world.com/Butterflydream


Meet Disabled World Community Member DWX471!

DWX471 is a 45 year old high-tech professional who leads an active life. He is a very positive and upbeat person and is both caring and loyal. He has a strong personality and posesses and equally sensitive side. He believes in being supportive; seeing his friends through not only the good times, but the bad times as well. DWX471 is seeking friends who have a positive outlook on life, are easy-going, and who enjoy simple pleasures in life with the belief that friendship has no boundaries. You can view his profile at:

http://community.disabled-world.com/DWX471


Medical ID Bracelets and Keyrings
By Noah Lam

It is important to communicate during a medical emergency, and when you are not able speak for yourself. How will your doctor know your medical history in order to properly treat you.

You need a convenient way to carry your emergency medical information with you at all times.

"In a medical emergency, you might be unconscious or unable to speak for yourself," said Alfred Sacchetti, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). "That's why it's so important to make sure that medical personnel have access to your medical history, as well as relevant contact information. For example, knowing what medications you are taking could prevent severe drug interactions, and knowing what allergies you have could prevent serious reactions."

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/medical/monitors/medical-id-bracelets.php

Shellfish and Inkjet Printers May Hold Key to Faster Healing
By North Carolina State University

Using the natural glue that marine mussels use to stick to rocks, and a variation on the inkjet printer, a team of researchers led by North Carolina State University has devised a new way of making medical adhesives that could replace traditional sutures and result in less scarring, faster recovery times and increased precision for exacting operations such as eye surgery.

Traditionally, there have been two ways to join tissue together in the wake of a surgery: sutures and synthetic adhesives. Sutures work well, but require enormous skill and longer operating times. Additionally, the use of sutures is associated with a number of surgical complications, including discomfort, infection and inflammation. Synthetic adhesives are also widely used, but they are the source of increasing concerns over their toxicological and environmental effects. One such concern with some synthetic medical adhesives is that – because they are not biodegradable – they do not break down in the body and therefore may cause inflammation, tissue damage, or other problems.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/news/research/shellfish-healing.php

Does Medicare Pay for Home Care?
By Jesse Slome

It's increasingly likely that you are going to live a long life, into your 80s, your 90s and quite possibly even into your 100s. When you live a long life, the chances are you'll need some long-term care. And, when you need that care, you'll want to receive it in your own home surrounded by familiar things and the people you know and love.

That's what most people want. Problem is, when that time comes, many people discover that Medicare has very specific rules about what home care is covered and what isn't. The care that isn't covered forces many people to deplete a lifetime of savings or force loved ones to become unpaid caregivers. Long-term care insurance is an option worth considering as an alternative and it's best to start looking into this protection in your 50s and early 60s while you are still healthy enough to qualify. It's certainly worthwhile if you are concerned about Medicare's ability to pay in the distant future.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/healthcare/us-medicare/home-care.php

Trimming the Monthly Household Budget
By John T Jones, Ph.D.

These are tough times. But we old folks have been there before. The first thing I can remember was when I was just under three years old and my brother was born in my parents bedroom where I was sleeping in one of those iron cribs.

A lady in a white dress woke me and the incandescent light bulb in the ceiling blinded me for a second. Then I saw that the bedroom was full of people. The lady in white was Sister Perry (we Mormon types call each other brother and sister). She said, "You've got a new brother." I was not impressed. I was wet and I already had a brother and four sisters.

Sister Perry lifted me out of the bed and walked me over the cold floor to the kitchen. There was a fire but the kitchen was still cool. Sister Perry put a bowl of lukewarm oatmeal in front of me (which I hated) and I thought: I Am Poor!

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/finance/trimming-budget.php

The Human Immune System Part 2
By Thomas C. Weiss

The immune system works twenty-four hours a day in thousands of ways, working largely unnoticed. One of the things that may cause us to notice our immune system is when it fails. We may also notice our immune system when it presents a side-effect that we can either see or feel. There are several things you may notice that are related to your immune system

When you experience a cut, various forms of viruses and bacteria enter your body through the cut in your skin. Your immune system responds by eliminating the bacteria and viruses and while the skin heals. On rare occasion, the immune system may miss something and the cut could become infected, becoming inflamed and filling with pus. Both the inflammation and pus are side-effects of the immune system at work.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/health/autoimmunediseases/human-immune-system.php

Fiber Rich Diet for Weight Loss
By C. Davis

A healthy diet is a balance of good nutrition, calories, vitamins, and fiber. Fiber by definition is the part of plant foods that is not digestible but necessary for us because it moves foods through our digestive system. Our daily fiber requirement is 25-30 grams. An average person gets only 5-8 dietary grams of fiber in a day. This article will show you how easy it is to add fiber to your diet.

Low fiber diets increase the risk of disease including colon cancer, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Other health issues you may experience are hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, high cholesterol, weight gain, and constipation. Just by making a few changes in your diet you can help to eliminate the possibility of these problems.

READ MORE...http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/diets/high-fiber-diet.php

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