February 2013 - NMEDA
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Flying The Friendly Skies in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Airport Travel Tips for Wheelchair Users Architectural designers have made access to airports far easier these days for those using wheelchair accessible vehicles. Traveling can be stressful for any individual, but the airport crowds and airplane accessibility can be even more challenging for travelers with disabilities. While the process will never be completely hassle-free for anyone, we have compiled a list of pointers that we feel may alleviate some of the stress involved in air travel.
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Good News for Those Using Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Labor Department Shows Employment Gain for Americans with Disabilities More Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are flooding the highways these days. While the jobless rate for the general population seems to have hit a plateau, the employment landscape for Americans with disabilities shows that "promise" is the word for 2013. Experts tout systems like the Ticket to Work program, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the Americans with Disabilities Act for the rise in opportunities being given to individuals with disabilities in the workplace today.
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Meet Emily Kiecher – A First for Mobility Equipment

Star of Parents Magazine’s February Cover The decision to feature a child using mobility equipment on this month's cover is a huge first. Three year-old Emily has spina bifida and in a history-making moment in publishing, is on the cover of Parents magazine’s February issue. “They asked what she wanted to listen to, and she said, ‘Lady Gaga,’ so that’s what they played. She was dancing around and pointing to anyone who wasn’t dancing!” That’s how Emily Kiecher’s mom, Liz, described their recent photo shoot at Parents magazine.
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Nike’s Slam Dunk With Accessible Shoes

When you think of shoes, you may not consider them as wheelchair accessible vehicles, but in a very big way, they are. In August of 2012, Matthew Walzer, a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy from Parkland, Florida, wrote an impassioned letter to Nike CEO, Mark Parker, asking for accessible shoes designed for people with disabilities. Little did he know, the letter would soon turn his dream of accessible shoes into a reality.
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Flu Shot Time! Is Your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Ready to Take You There?

Don't Believe the Myths, They're Just That. Flu season arrives every year with variations of intensity. This year, the Type A, H3 influenza strain is impacting people of all ages, and specifically in Boston, where 700 cases have been reported compared to 70 at the same time last year. Fortunately, this season’s flu vaccine does cover the H3 strain, so officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to urge people to get their flu shot. Have you received a flu shot yet?
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Helping First Time Disabled Drivers with Mobility Equipment Master the Road

First time disabled drivers with mobility equipment face unique milestones and considerations when preparing for the road. Parents and caregivers must seriously consider if they feel their child or loved one with a disability is adequately prepared for driver education. While that is a decision for each party to make individually, we offer advice for those who would like to begin preparing for the day their loved one takes the wheel.
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Best Cities for the Physically Disabled

Great care and consideration is taken to ensure that your home, automobile and other areas under your control are accessible for physical disabilities, especially if they require and use mobility equipment. Is the same consideration taken in your urban dwelling area? The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation recently looked at 100 of America’s largest cities and ranked them based on wheelchair access and quality of life for people using wheelchairs.