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Congressional Briefing on Rehabilitation

Don Clayback, Executive Director of NCART reported today on the Congressional Briefing held last Thursday, June 23rd, in Washington, D. C. on "The Importance of Rehabilitation in America's Healthcare System". The purpose was to educate Congressional staff on the importance of rehabilitation services and rehabilitation devices (CRT, DME, and O&P) in the health care system. It was purposefully broad in scope and focused on the needs of people with disabilities.

This is particularly important as the Affordable Care Act includes a provision that all health insurers must provide an "essential benefits package". While the legislation specifies an essential benefits... Read More

Making a Case for a Standing Wheelchair

Rod G. is a 54 year-old male with a C5-6-7 spinal cord injury that resulted in quadriplegia in 1988. He has been wheelchair dependent since his injury. His neurologist reported he is developing glenohumeral osteoarthritis — causing pain which limits his overhead work, has lower extremity spasticity decreased range of motion despite daily self-ranging, dependent edema in his feet and ankles, and has required repeated steroid injections over the last several years to minimize shoulder pain. Rod reported history of right shoulder fracture and dislocation in 2005, requiring surgical repair with a subsequent nursing home stay due to his inability to self-transfer... Read More

Transportation Brackets for Children's Wheelchairs on a School Bus: Proactive Steps to Avoid Liability

The purpose of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") is, in part, to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services.

A "child with a disability" is defined, in part, as a child (i) with orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; and (ii) who needs special education and related services. "Related services" includes transportation. "Transportation" is defined by the IDEA regulations as "travel to and from school and between schools, travel in and around school buildings... Read More