101 Mobility Introduces Bruno’s new Chariot (ASL-700)

With the Bruno Chariot (ASL-700), 101 Mobility will help you keep your small, fuel efficient vehicle and still be able to transport a scooter or wheelchair. And, you can easily equip multiple vehicles as long as they have a Class I or II trailer hitch.

Empower  yourself to take your wheelchair, power chair or scooter wherever you travel. The Chariot backs up without effort using 360 degree caster wheels. It has its own suspension and follows the car precisely and there is no extra weight or force on the car. When attached to many cars, It is often no longer than a minivan thus allowing easy parking in most garages.

Put a trailer hitch on multiple vehicles and get the ultimate in flexibility. You decide which car to take when. With a hitch, the Chariot ASL-700 can be part of your travel plans wherever you go.

The new Chariot ASL-700  from Bruno takes transporting a wheelchair or scooter to a whole new level. It gives users the flexibility to go where they want and drive what they want.

A few highlights of the Bruno ASL-700 Chariot include:

• The Bruno ASL-700 Chariot is specially designed to meet the needs of those who wish to transport their scooters or power chairs behind a small or mid-sized car.
• When used in conjunction with a smaller car, together they are shorter than a full-sized pickup truck.
• Together a car and Bruno Chariot will fit in most garages.
• The Bruno ASL-700 Chariot can be used with three and four wheel scooters, mid-wheel drive power chairs, front- and rear-wheel drive power chairs, and manual wheelchairs with seating systems.
• Swivel wheels and independent suspension means you don’t have to worry about ‘jackknifing’. The Chariot goes where you go!
• The easy fold, self-leveling, drive on/off platform is designed for your safety.
• The ASL-700 Chariot’s self-tensioning retractable  belts can easily be connected with just one hand.
• Running/brake lights and turn signals make night driving safe.
• Comes with one button operation with on/off key and manual backup for easy operation.
• All Bruno car lifts are eligible for reimbursement under the terms of the Mobility Programs offered by most major vehicle manufacturers.

101 Mobility is a proud Bruno dealer and looks forward to offering this new, innovative product to clients across the Country.

Where the heart is: how to pay for home modifications

By Michelle Seitzer

Aging in place (AIP) costs considerably less than assisted living care, but it’s not free.

Though funds are dwindling for many senior-related programs (Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security have all spent ample time on the chopping block lately), there are still a number of federal, state, local and private organizations that offer financial support to seniors who want to stay where the heart is.

To begin – because first you might need to sell the idea to skeptical family members, or just figure out what modifications are needed before getting the capital to do it – get to know what services and resources are offered in your home state via these helpful sites:

• Search for home repair and modification resources in your region at Eldercare.gov.
• HomeMods.org is a national information clearinghouse on all things related to home modifications. Professionals and consumers alike can peruse an extensive resource directory on the site.
• Not sure if your own home or a senior loved one’s residence is adaptable for AIP? Most are, but the WellCome Home site helps you clearly see the potential and know where to direct your energies and efforts when it’s time to transform the home.
• Download this Home Safety Checklist from Rebuilding Together, Inc. to remove fall hazards and resolve accessibility issues, many of which may be implemented without spending a dime.

Should the need arise for assistive equipment (such as power chairs or stair lifts) or home modifications (like wheelchair ramps or door-opening systems), here are a few ways to ease the burden of purchasing or installing these costly components.

Claim a deduction. Russell Glickman, a DC-based home design and remodeling expert, recommends conferring with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to find out whether you or a loved one is eligible to deduct the cost of home modifications on your federal income tax. You need a written recommendation from your doctor as proof that the modifications are medically necessary. Glickman also states that you can claim a deduction for the costs of operating and maintaining the modifications, whether or not the stair lift, ramp, or other equipment qualified as a medical expense. Home improvements (or capital expenses) that may be deducted per the IRS.gov are as follows:

• Constructing entrance or exit ramps for your home.
• Widening doorways at entrances or exits to your home.
• Widening or otherwise modifying hallways and interior doorways.
• Installing railings, support bars, or other modifications to bathrooms.
• Lowering or modifying kitchen cabinets and equipment.
• Moving or modifying electrical outlets and fixtures.
• Installing porch lifts and other forms of lifts (but elevators generally add value to the house).
• Modifying fire alarms, smoke detectors, and other warning systems.
• Modifying stairways.
• Adding handrails or grab bars anywhere (whether or not in bathrooms).
• Modifying hardware on doors.
• Modifying areas in front of entrance and exit doorways.
• Grading the ground to provide access to the residence.

Note: You can only itemize these deductions if the main purpose of installation is medical care for you, a spouse or dependent (modifications made for aesthetic, architectural or other personal reasons do not qualify). Permanent improvements that boost your property’s value may be partially included as a deduction; in this case, the cost of the home modification is reduced by the amount of the property value increase (whatever the difference is what your qualified medical expense to deduct will be). If the home modification does not increase your property value, you can deduct the whole cost as a medical expense.

Visit the Area Agency on Aging. Every state offers different incentives, programs, and benefits to their senior residents. The best way to learn about them all, in addition to any tax credits or federal monies available through Medicare, Medicaid (in some states, you may be able to qualify for funding via the Medicaid HCBS – home and community-based services – waiver), HUD, the VA, or the USDA that would be disbursed through the state, is at your local Area Agency on Aging. The AAA is a one-stop-shop neighborhood branch of your state’s department that handles senior care (i.e. Department of Aging, Department of Public Welfare, etc.). Go to Eldercare.gov or N4A.org to find your AAA by zip code, city or county.

Apply for grants or take advantage of state assistive technology projects to make your home wheelchair accessible. According to HomeMods.org, funding is available for this specific modification through the Department of Veteran Affairs (call 800-827-1000 or your local VA for more details) and via the United Cerebral Palsy Association (call 800-872-5827). The IRS also permits those with disabilities to claim some of these expenses as a tax deduction. Check in with the National Council on Independent Living Center (call 703-525-3406) to get local funding information and referral services.

Get a loan to add a room. If Mom is moving in and she has health needs or disabilities, you may be eligible for government funding. FannieMae offers the HomeChoice program, Home Keeper program, and the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (get more details at eFanniemae, or visit the local office). In Texas, New Mexico, California and Illinois, residents can apply for a Home Modifications Loan for Homeowners (with fixed interest rates and low minimum loan amounts) via Bank of America, under the “Access Loans” category. For more information, call 800-843-2632 (in CA, IL) or 800-900-9000 (in TX, NM).

Contact local foundations and non-profit organizations. Some may offer financial assistance or services referrals for those providing care for someone with disabilities or diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Easter Seals and Rebuilding Together both offer low- or no-cost community-based home modification and repair programs.

Take out a second/reverse mortgage. If you have the equity, this is a good way to secure a loan for a home modification, which, if done well, should add value to the home as more people will be seeking homes where aging in place is possible. You must be over 62 to secure funding via a reverse mortgage. (Learn more about reverse mortgages here.)

Check your insurance policies. The National Association of Home Builders says that some programs (auto insurance, worker’s compensation, long term care policies, state catastrophic accident insurance plans, and medical trust funds) might cover the costs of a home modification.

Move your parents in. If you have decided it’s best for Mom and Dad to just move in with you so you can provide care more readily, Glickman says you may be able to use proceeds from the sale of their home to make an accessible suite at your residence. He adds that adult children can avail themselves of the space in the future too, as their own care needs change.

Ready to consider a home modification for a family member’s residence, or your own? 101 Mobility has a full line of products (stairlifts, auto lifts, ramps, and more) and a team of highly-trained professional installers standing by to get AIP construction underway. Learn more about our services and find the local office serving you at http://101mobility.com/locator/.

Additional Sources:

• HomeMods.org
• National Association of Home Builders 

A Young Woman’s Struggle

With all of the advances in equality in accessibility, it seems the airline industry may have some catching up to do. Read a young woman’s plea in her own words, and find out how you can join in on the effort:

I am writing this because I believe the airline industry should have to comply with the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. I have cerebral palsy. That means although I have a normal mind, I still have uncontrollable spastic limb movement. I cannot talk or hold my own body upright. I need my wheelchair to keep me in the right posture, and to restrain my arms and legs. The problem is the airline companies make all disabled people check their wheelchair with other baggage. I have visited my grandparents in Ohio and Florida many times. My parents have spent up to 7 hours trying to keep me seated between them. I don’t have the motor function to sit upright on my own. The airplane chairs are not big enough for a seat insert and do not support my upper body. When my shoulders are not in front of my hips, I go into an extension pattern. Due to my spastic limb movement, my parents have to physically restrain my arms and legs. I have strong tone, so this is not easy. None of us can eat, drink, read, or make ourselves comfortable in any other way. As I get older and bigger, each flight gets more difficult.

If you want to get involved, here is Sally’s Petition:

We petition the airline industry to better accommodate travelers who use wheelchairs. We propose that the first seat in the first row of the airplane be removable with the capability to have tie downs inserted when needed to accommodate a wheelchair, or that the airlines develop a solution to this urgent need.

For more information, or to sign the petition, please visit the following website: www.acommunityforeveryone.org.Contact:Susan BlanchardFamily Support DirectorUnited Cerebral Palsy of Oregon& SW Washington11731 NE Glenn Widing DrivePortland, OR  972201-503-777-4166 x232

Meet the Indestructible Andy Campbell

His motto is, “Broken, not Beaten”; and just browsing through his online journal of adventures at www.TheAndyCampbell.com can be exhausting for those of us whose idea of adventure is a weekend Star Wars marathon on Spike TV. Oh yeah, did I mention Andy is confined to a wheelchair?

“Confined” is probably a word best not used in the presence of Andy Campbell. He’s anything but confined – whether he’s scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef; skiing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; or paragliding over the French countryside.  The story of Andy’s disability goes back to 2004, when he was serving as a Sergeant in the Armed Forces of his home country, Great Britain. A dedicated soldier and Iraq veteran, Andy was rock climbing in the English Peak District, when the belay holding him snapped, sending him plunging into the rocks some 50 feet below. Andy suffered breaks to his legs, hips, pelvis, and spinal column – instantly paralyzing him from the waist down. “Even so, I began the fight to reclaim my sense of adventure from a hospital bed”, says Andy. “Lying immobile flat on my back for almost 5 months while bones healed and re-joined, I dreamt of new ways to explore the world and seek out adventure.

“Seek out adventure he has indeed. Just three months out of the hospital, Andy was on the ski slopes in Sweden, on a specially designed  skiing device called a “SitSki” with the phrase “Die Living” boldly emblazoned on the back. Only 16 months after being resuscitated during surgery after his accident, Andy became the first wheelchair user ever to paraglide from the 6000 ft. Babadag Mountain in southern Turkey; and that’s only the beginning.

In an effort to try and give back to the Edale Mountain Rescue Team that saved his life on the fateful day of his accident, Andy mounted an all-terrain Hand-Cycle, and rode in a fundraiser for the Team, that took him across the entire U.K. – almost 1,000 miles. Andy himself calls the excursion “arm shattering”; and I’m sure that most of us would have a hard time hand pedaling ourselves to the mailbox – much less the length of an entire country!

Andy has shown an unbreakable iron will in the face of all adversity. He has traveled all over the planet exploring, adventuring, and daring himself for the next challenge ahead of him. Some of his excursions include: paragliding over Turkey, swimming with sting-rays in Australia, diving with Great White Sharks in Africa, and Heli-Skiing down the peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In Andy’s words, the allure of all of this is simply “being outdoors”, which “brings a sense of freedom and peace”. Currently, Andy is training for the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games as a member of the British Adaptive Ski Team. Training is a year-round effort with the Spring and Summer months being spent in the Northern hemisphere in Canada; and in the Southern hemisphere – Australia and New Zealand in the Winter.

Andy’s broader vision is not simply to appease the adventurer within himself. “I’m trying to find new ways to reclaim the wilderness for people in wheelchairs”, says Andy, “I hope to put my experiences together to help other people with disabilities get outdoors and push the limits of accessibility to enjoy places and experiences normally out of bounds to wheelchairs.”

A company in Colorado called Access Anything specializes in exactly that: travel and adventure for people with physical disabilities. For more information, see: www.AccessAnything.net.

When life hands you lemons, you can make lemonade; or you can do what Andy Campbell has done – set up lemonade stands all over the world, as a testament to defeating adversity. There’s a Star Wars marathon on TV this weekend, but I think I’m going to spend it outdoors instead.-Ben McCoy

Follow Andy around the world on his website: www.TheAndyCampbell.com; or on Twitter @Andy_Campbell