Fall 2004
Volume XIII, Issue 2
A.T. Life Reporter
A Newsletter about Assistive Technology for People with
Disabilities
Sitting Pretty: NMTAP Sponsors Wheelchair Evaluation Trainings
for OT’s and PT’s
After assisting with the new Medicaid regulation which requires all customized
wheelchairs or seating systems purchased with Medicaid dollars after July
1, 2004 be accompanied by Seating and Positioning Evaluations by a qualified
Physical or Occupational Therapist (PT or OT), NMTAP conducted a survey
of all the Occupational and Physical therapists licensed in New Mexico.
The purpose of the survey was to understand therapists’ training
needs and preferences. The survey also determined the number of therapists
who currently perform wheelchair evaluations, the number of therapists
who are interested in providing wheelchair evaluations in the future,
the number of therapists who would like to receive additional training,
and finally, feedback on the best locations for wheelchair seating evaluation
trainings to occur.
The survey was sent to 1,912 therapists and 412 persons responded, a
response rate of over 22%. Results of the survey were as follows:
- Of the 412 respondents, 56% or 230 people, currently provide wheelchair
and/or seating assessments.
- 244 therapists are Medicaid healthcare providers (59%).
- 329 work for Medicaid healthcare providers (80%).
- Eighty-nine percent (89%) are interested in providing wheelchair and/or
seating assessments (368 people).
- 133 are interested in training others in wheelchair and/or seating
assessments (32%).
- Ninety-five percent (95%) are interested in receiving additional training
(390 people).
- The top two choices for training sites were: Albuquerque (273 people)
and Las Cruces (82 people).
In response to the results of this survey, NMTAP will be providing four
Seating and Positioning Workshops this fall in Albuquerque and Las Cruces
to licensed Physical and Occupational Therapists. Michelle Lange, OTR,
ABDA, ATP, Clinical Director at The Children’s Hospital in Denver,
Colorado will be conducting the wheelchair evaluation workshops, which
are limited each to 50 people a session because of the intense hands-on
nature of the workshops. The first half of the day will be devoted specifically
to seating issues with the second half of the day devoted to mobility
issues including switch assessment, chairs, programming, and products.
In order to make sure this is a “hands-on” event, Michelle
will coordinate with wheel-chair and other equipment vendors to make available
enough equipment for each workshop attendee to use during the day. All
Occupational and Physical Therapists are invited to attend the free workshops,
and if there is room, COTAs and CPTAs can join as well. CEUs will be offered.
Interested parties should register early as workshop is limited to 50
participants each. Register on line at NMTAP website www.nmtap.com or
call Connie DeHerrera at 505- 954-8533.
In addition to these upcoming wheelchair evaluation trainings, workshops
focused on Medicaid rules and procedures, along with additional information
on wheelchair evaluations for consumers and their families will be part
of this year’s Technology Access to the Future (TAF) training. See
page 5 for the TAF announcement.
Un buen asiento: NMTAP Patrocina Capacitación para evaluación
de silla de ruedas para terapeutas Nuevo Mexicanos
Después de haber ayudado con la nueva directriz de Medicaid que
dicta que toda silla de ruedas personalizada así como sistemas
de asiento comprados con dinero de Medicaid después del 1º
de julio del 2004 reciba el servicio de ajuste por un terapeuta ya sea
físico u ocasional capacitado (PT 0 OT), NMTAP desarrolló
una encuesta de todo terapeuta ya sea físico u ocasional autorizado
en Nuevo México. El propósito de la encuesta fue para hacernos
saber sobre las preferencias y necesidades de los terapeutas. La encuesta
también determino el número de terapeutas quienes desarrollan
evaluaciones de cillas de ruedas en esta fecha, el número de terapeutas
con interés de desarrollar evaluaciones de cillas de ruedas en
el futuro, El número de terapeutas interesados en más capacitación,
y finalmente, retroalimentación sobre la mejor ubicación
para desempeñar la capacitación de evaluaciones de cillas
de ruedas.
La encuesta fue enviada a 1,912 terapeutas y 412 personas respondieron,
una tasa de 22%. Los resultados de la encuesta son los siguientes:
- De los 412 quienes respondieron, 56% o 230 personas, proveen ajustes
a asientos o cillas de ruedas en esta fecha.
- 244 terapeutas son suministradores de cuidado de salud por Medicaid
(59%).
- 329 trabajan para suministradores de cuidado de salud por Medicaid
(80%).
- Al ochenta y nueve porciento (89%) les interesa ofrecer ajustes de
asientos o sillas de ruedas (368 personas).
- A 133 les interesa ofrecer capacitación a otras personas de
ajustes de asiento o sillas de ruedas (32%).
- Noventa y cinco porciento (95%) les interesa recibir capacitación
adicional (390 personas).
- Los dos sitios preferidos para capacitación son: Albuquerque
(273 personas) y Las Cruces (82 personas).
Como resultado de las respuestas de la encuesta, NMTAP proveerá
cuatro talleres de ajuste de asiento o elevación este otoño
en Albuquerque y Las Cruces a terapeutas ya sea físico u ocasional
autorizado. Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP, Director de Clínica
con el Hospital “The Children’s Hospital” en Denver, Colorado
realizara los talleres de ajuste de cillas de ruedas, cuya limitación
es de 50 personas pos sesión por la naturaleza práctica
de los talleres. La primera parte del día se dedicará a
los problemas de asiento y la segunda parte del día se dedicará
a problemas de movilidad incluyendo asesoramiento de palancas, sillas,
programación, y productos.
Para asegurar que este evento sea práctico, Michelle coordinará
con los vendedores de sillas de ruedas y otro equipo para hacer accesible
suficiente equipo para cada participante para su uso durante ese día.
Todo terapeuta ya sea físico u ocasional queda invitado a participar
en este taller sin costo, y habiendo cupo, COTAs y CPTAs pueden atender
también. Se ofrecerán crédito educacional para aquellos
quienes beneficien de estos. Personas interesadas deben de registrarse
sin demora dado el limitado cupo de 50 participantes. Favor de registrarse
por la red electrónica en la página cibernética de
NMTAP www.nmtap.com o llame a Connie DeHerrera al 505- 954-8533.
Además de estos próximos talleres de ajuste de sillas,
talleres con enfoque sobre política de Medicaid, así como
más información sobre ajustes de sillas para el consumidor
y sus familias serán parte de el taller (TAF) Acceso a Tecnología
y el Futuro este año. Revise la página 5 para el anuncio
de TAF.
Seating and Positioning: Why Is It So Important?
 Larry
Maestas, an employee with DVR’s Project Neon as a Navigator, is a
perfect example of a seating and positioning success story- but only after
having run into some difficulties of his own.
“The simplest things – such as the position of the foot pedal
on my wheelchair – can make a huge difference to those of us with
mobility impairments,” said Larry in a telephone interview recently
as he explained that seating and positioning evaluations are just vital
to the health and comfort of someone in a wheelchair. “Boom! It can
take less than one day for a pressure sore to arise if my body isn’t
positioned correctly, yet it can take a month or two for a sore like that
to heal.” The first person to perform a seating and positioning evaluation
for Larry was William Loufty, MD, a plastic surgeon who five years ago
performed an operation on his pressure sores. Dr. Loufty was the first
to work with Larry to discover what positions were best for his body to
be in while he was immobile in a wheelchair all day.
Clearly the new Medicaid regulation requiring seating and positioning
evaluations by a PT or OT will make a big difference in the lives of many
New Mexicans with disabilities.
“When my most recent evaluation was done a few months ago, Mrs. English,
a physical therapist at Rehab Hospital of New Mexico, tested all sorts
of things to make sure she found the best fit for me. Everything from
how much my legs can bend, to making sure that the tilting wheelchair
was resting at the perfect angle so that the correct amount of pressure
was off my body. She looked at the range of motion in my legs, knees and
back, and recommended that the wheelchair be set at certain degrees of
angle. It’s been a big help.”
Accessible Technology Demonstration Project Underway In Animas Public
Schools
Our CASA program has been working with Animas Public School personnel
to implement a system of accessible electronic and information technology.
“The results are impressive,” says Karen Peterson, project director.
“So far, the school’s website has been re-developed in a format
accessible to screen reader software. Teachers and students have been
trained and have developed their own accessible websites.”
Animas School Superintendent Paul Benoit conveyed one of his main goals
for the district, “I would like students and staff who do not have
disabilities to learn and be aware of accommodations for those who have
disabilities. I am pleased how this project has brought that awareness
to the forefront.”
Behind The Wheel and Loving It!
 Most
people can remember the thrill of independence when they first had their
driver’s license and were able to “cruise” on their own
for the first time.
NMTAP’s Financial Assistance Program has given 17 year-old Patricio
Pacheco the chance to do the same—with the hand controls that he
needs to drive his Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Pat was 16 years old when a June 2003 summer weekend outing to the Santa
Cruz Dam led to an accident that caused a spinal cord injury and left
him a paraplegic and in a wheelchair.
But Pat is a determined young man who has a very special support system
of family and friends. Along with his parents, Santos and Loretta Pacheco,
Pat’s caregiver, friend and godfather Marshall McClees, has helped
him progress greatly in his recovery and to return to his previous teenage
routine as much as possible. Pat is a junior at Pojoaque High School,
and has been nominated as a candidate for this year’s Homecoming
King. But being able to drive was something that had still eluded Pat.
Mr. McClees contacted Caroll Cadena at NMTAP after having learned of
the Financial Assistance program through the BabyNet hotline. After attending
the Adaptability School of Driving in June 2004, Patricio and Mr. McClees
applied for and received in late July over $1,100 in funding for hand
controls for the family’s 1995 Cutlass.
 After
being installed by Horizon Vans, the car was ready to be taken for a spin
by Patricio, who’s just thrilled. “Being out and driving is
a great feeling! I love the freedom of being able to drive myself to school
and to see friends.” He drove himself on summer vacation this year
to the Southwest Four Corners area.
According to Mr. McClees, “It’s been a big boost in morale
for Pat and has helped him get to be more independent.”
ABLE and the AG’s Office
 Joel
Jacobsen, an attorney with the New Mexico Attorney General’s (AG)
office developed tenosynovitis, the inflammation of tendon sheaths, in
both wrists last year. This painful condition made the requirements of
his job as an appellate specialist in the Criminal Appeals Division of
the AG’s office virtually impossible on a standard keyboard and computer
system.
“Clicking the mouse exacerbated my condition,” said Mr. Jacobsen,
“And keeping my hand in the horizontal position over a normal mouse
was also painful.” Mr. Jacobsen borrowed a Voice Recognition Software
System from NMTAP’s ABLE Loan Bank so he could test out software
which would enable him to bypass the keyboard and mouse, allowing the
tendon inflammation to dissipate.
After finding Dragon Naturally Speaking a good match for his needs, Mr.
Jacobsen had the AG’s office purchase the software for him. He also
found a special mouse that allows him to keep his hand in the “karate
chop” position which makes a huge difference for him.
By avoiding the repetitive use stress disorders caused by a traditional
mouse and keyboard, Mr. Jacobsen has been able to reduce the inflammation,
and subsequently the pain. “I recently spent a day without needing
to take ibuprofen for pain relief for the first time in several months,”
said Mr. Jacobsen. “It took about three months of training and trial-and-error
before I could write as fast with the voice recognition software as I
could with keyboarding. So that was frustrating. But the effort was worth
it,” Mr. Jacobsen added. “It’s not quite to the level of
Scotty talking to the computer on the old Star Trek, but it’s amazingly
close.”
NMTAP, A Friend When Help is Needed, Works With Friends In Time
Adelante consultant and former NMTAP staffer Bill Newroe is helping the
Friends in Time organization provide assistive technology devices and
computers to clients who can no longer get out and about as a means of
keeping in touch with the world. Friends in Time is a non profit agency
that is part of Adelante and provides services and support to consumers
with Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is also
known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS.
Bill asked Connie DeHerrera, NMTAP’s Community and Social Services
Specialist who is also an Ergonomist, to provide ergonomic assessments
to ensure that the assistive technology devices are set up in the most
ergonomically correct way possible so that the clients can avoid additional
problems such as repetitive use syndrome and stress disorders.
 So
far NMTAP and Friends in Time have worked together with about five clients.
One of those clients is Kathy Tafoya who had an old computer and desk
that did not meet her needs. After several visits during which Bill and
Connie evaluated Ms. Tafoya’s needs, she now has a new computer,
an Intellikeys keyboard, and a new table that makes it easier for her
to access her computer and keyboard. All of these items were donated by
Friends in Time. In addition, Kathy’s husband modified her wheelchair
so that she can fit under the table, and the lowered the keyboard for
easier access.
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