MEYRA GmbH
MEYRA presents the world's first folding wheelchair NANO S
22/03/2023
The company MEYRA has produced the first folding wheelchair named NANO S. It is a folding wheelchair with open frame and removable leg supports, which stands out with its lightness and stability.
European Disability Forum
Web Accessibility Directive: better feedback mechanism, more expertise needed
20/03/2023
An evaluation report by the European Commission reported on the first three years of application of the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD). The period of the review overlaps with the accelerated digital transformation brought on by the pandemic.
Ottobock
Ottobock: a new lease of life with an app-controlled leg orthosis
15/03/2023
Denise was 29 years old when she underwent disc surgery – a seemingly harmless procedure. However, the surgery didn't go as smoothly as planned and when she woke up from anaesthesia, she could no longer feel her right thigh. The diagnosis: incomplete paraplegia. The world's first smart leg orthosis, the C-Brace® has given the mother of two new mobility and improved her quality of life.
ReWalk Robotics Ltd.
ReWalk Exoskeleton receives FDA clearance for stairs and curbs
13/03/2023
ReWalk, a leading provider of innovative technologies that enable mobility and wellness in rehabilitation and daily life for individuals with neurological conditions, announced that its innovative ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton technology has received clearance from the FDA for use on stairs and curbs in the US, making it the only personal exoskeleton to receive FDA clearance for this indication.
privat
Frank Lackner – That's how he rolls
08/03/2023
Frank Lackner fights for more accessibility in public spaces. In 1991, he and a friend founded the International Citizens' Initiative for Wheelchair Users' Interests, or INTERROLLI in short. What improvements he would like to see in disabled toilets and how else he rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Showerbuddy
5 Ways to make a home easier for elderly people
08/03/2023
The transition from elderly people being fully independent to needing a bit of help is often gradual. Sometimes the signs aren’t obvious nor are these people actively seeking out help. But in order to keep them safe in their own home, we need to proactively take some steps to make daily tasks easier.
MikaVolkmann
Talent days 2023: Introducing children and young people with prostheses to sports
06/03/2023
World record holder Johannes Floors has made it his mission to introduce children and young people with prostheses to the world of sport. That's why he is devoting three days of his time to the youngest at the “Talent Days” in order to work with Ottobock technicians to fit and extensively test sports prostheses.
DC_Studio
Neural prosthesis uses brain activity to decode speech
06/03/2023
Researchers from HSE University and the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry have developed a machine learning model that can predict the word about to be uttered by a subject based on their neural activity recorded with a small set of minimally invasive electrodes.
Showerbuddy
Benefits of working closely with an Occupational Therapist
01/03/2023
The occupational therapist is an important piece of the puzzle for anyone who experiences a significant mobility impairment. Their job is to assess and plan ways to help their client conduct daily activities and maintain the lifestyle they want with as little stress as possible.
PARAVAN
"Mobile tailor-made suit" by PARAVAN: flexible operating devices for vehicles
27/02/2023
Lukas drives his new Ford Tourneo Connect with the Space Drive driving and steering system and two joysticks – one for accelerator/brake and one for steering. But every now and then, someone else sits behind the steering wheel who doesn't need these input devices. Thanks to a resourceful solution from PARAVAN's technicians, this can be realized within a minute.
Flexo-Handlaufsysteme GmbH
Tangible safety: self-determination thanks to Flexo handrail systems
23/02/2023
Code-compliant handrail systems provide safety and make stairs accessible and usable for more people. They help reduce fall risk, facilitate more mobility, and allow people to gain access to all rooms. Thanks to its work with older adults and people with disabilities, Flexo-Handlaufsysteme GmbH knows about potential barriers and has made it its mission to promote the self-determination of people.
Sandra Lange
Annika Schröder – That's how she rolls
22/02/2023
Accessibility plays a key role for Annika Schröder. She sees a need to catch up in many areas – from public transport to bureaucracy. The 25-year-old competitive athlete has the support of her friends and family. Why she would like to see more determination from politicians and how she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
PARAVAN
Reintegration into working life: Operating a wheel loader via joystick
15/02/2023
Alexander Klems has been driving wheel loaders for 21 years. In 2019, everything was going to be different. He got injured. He could no longer operate the accelerator pedal of his Hitachi ZW 330 wheel loader, which he almost always has to step on when loading construction materials. Another solution was needed, which was found at PARAVAN thanks to the Space Drive drive-by-wire system.
private
Sebastian Stabler – That's how he rolls
08/02/2023
Not just stand, but dance – that's what Sebastian Stabler would like to do. He is still waiting for the right assistive equipment. But the paraplegic 37-year-old already shows himself to be a sporty and active person. Why he would like to meet a certain bodybuilder and how he rolls otherwise, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
private
Karina Sturm – That's how she rolls
25/01/2023
Writing a book – a dream for many people. For Karina Sturm, it was a chance to accept her diagnosis. By giving advice, she wants to enable other people to do what she has managed to do herself: to become an active part of their own disease management and to live a self-determined life. How she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
private
Sascha Scholz – That's how he rolls
11/01/2023
Nowadays, mobility for many people with disabilities means being able to be self-determined in their own car. One prerequisite for this is a driver's license. Which detours and obstacles Sascha Scholz had to overcome to get his license, where he went on his subsequent European tour, and how he rolls otherwise, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
icho systems GmbH
ichó: The smart therapy ball for home use
16/12/2022
Building communication, strengthening skills, and responding to individual needs – that is the goal of icho systems GmbH. To realize their vision, the team has developed the ichó therapy ball. It brings therapeutic measures and individual support to people's homes and can be used to promote cognition and motor activity.
Patrick Estebar
Kae Tran – That's how she rolls
14/12/2022
Self-determined mobility is possible in Kae Tran's everyday life mainly through her walking stick. The aid has become her most important companion. What changes she would like to see in rollators and in society, what role mental health plays for her and how she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
REHACARE 2022: Innovations and the latest news from the PRODUCTS & NEWS @REHACARE Expert Forum
12/12/2022
Humans have always been resourceful when it came to creating solutions to compensate for physical disabilities. In ancient Egypt, prosthetic devices for the big toe provided suppor. It’s anyone’s guess how well or badly their respective users could walk or eat with these tools. We know that they could not visit the REHACARE trade fair back in those days.
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
Review of the forum presentations at REHACARE
12/12/2022
Exciting products and many presentations could be experienced at the expert forum PRODUCTS & NEWS @REHACARE and at the TREFFPUNKT REHACARE 2022. We have summarized what there was to discover in a review of the forums.
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
TREFFPUNKT REHACARE 2022: Highlight topics from the expert forum
12/12/2022
TREFFPUNKT REHACARE is your central platform for lectures, panel discussions, and the exchange of information and experience. Topics included the digitization of the workplace and recreational environment, technical assistance and vocational rehabilitation with a focus on exoskeletons, job coaching, and rehabilitation for people living with long or post-COVID conditions.
privat
Victoria H. – That's how she rolls
30/11/2022
Victoria H. sees the world with more mindful eyes since she had to get to know herself and her body anew. However, she has retained her enthusiasm for sports and has found many new ways to practice it. What kind of role REHACARE plays in this, why straws are an important assistive device in her everyday life and what how she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Ottobock
Assistive technology for children with disabilities: Product variety promotes participation
30/11/2022
Children need room to roam, explore, and learn how to set and respect boundaries. Unfortunately, children with disabilities may encounter barriers when it comes to these life activities. Luckily, there is a myriad of assistive technology devices to face any obstacle: REHACARE 2022 showcased tools that ran the gamut from car seats, rehab buggies to standing mobility and movement devices.
Wolturnus
Assistive technology for children with disabilities: Wheelchairs promote mobility
30/11/2022
Mobility is key for overall child development. That is why children who have limited movement depend on getting the right wheelchair at an early stage to compensate for their disability and encourage participation. Manufacturers of pediatric wheelchairs are acutely aware of the important role they play in this setting. They showcased a wide variety of wheelchairs for children at REHACARE 2022.
private
Ricky – That's how he rolls
16/11/2022
His relationships with his family, friends and God not only make Ricky's day, but are also his most important tools in everyday life. And with his modified bus, wheelchair and walker, he is able to compensate well for his limitations. Which positive experiences he has already had, how the supply of aids could be optimized and how he rolls otherwise, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Saskia Melches
Saskia Melches – That's how she rolls
02/11/2022
Various assistive devices and a team of assistants help Saskia Melches to manage her active everyday life. Whether in or out of her home, she wants to lead as self-determined a life as possible. How society and the assistive technology industry could support her, what the jungle of Peru is all about and how she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Rebecca Brunner
Rebecca Brunner – That's how she rolls
19/10/2022
Rebecca Brunner likes to take her life into her own hands and gives every day the chance to be the best. Her prosthetic leg helps her to always try out new things and overcome new challenges. What she wants from her fellow human beings, what is particularly important to her in the assistive technology industry and how she rolls otherwise, the social media manager tells us on REHACARE.com.
Svenjas Welt
Svenja – That's how she rolls
05/10/2022
Getting used to an assistive device is not always easy. That's how Svenja felt about her wheelchair at first. But now she appreciates how much freedom and flexibility it gives her in everyday life. Which other aid she thinks should be invented and which special wheelchair she once discovered at REHACARE, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Antonio Hoempler
Antonio Hoempler – That's how she rolls
21/09/2022
Whether it's festivals or downhill skateboarding – Antonio Hoempler loves action and adaptive sports. He also enjoys riding his handbike. With the support of friends and assistive devices, he can pursue his many interests. How he rolls otherwise, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
Isabelle Sievers
Isabelle Sievers – That's how she rolls
07/09/2022
A prosthetic arm has given Isabelle Sievers a lot of quality of life and self-confidence. In just three years, she has overcome many lows and continued her self development. Her strong will and perseverance have helped her to achieve even the seemingly impossible. In our interview, she emphasizes that everyone has their own strengths and can achieve anything.
Veigel GmbH + Co. KG
Electromobility: technology support for people with disabilities
29/08/2022
For persons with reduced mobility, participation in social and civic life is often only an option if the conditions are right: Wheelchair users need accessible designs to train stations or bus stops to use these modes of transportation. Unfortunately, many places still lack accessible accommodations, which is why many people rely on cars to ensure their mobility and transportation.
Katja Tefiki
Katja Tefiki – That's how she rolls
24/08/2022
Katja Tefiki had to completely reorganize her everyday life after she became paraplegic. She got her driver's license and today her car and wheelchair are her indispensable companions. She loves long car rides and paragliding is also one of her passions. How she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Tahina Andale
Tahina Andale – That's how she rolls
10/08/2022
Whether it's a cane or a walker, walking aids can make a significant contribution to greater mobility and a more self-determined life. Tahina Andale has also made this experience. Why the path to this realization was not always easy and what else has helped her to cope better with her chronic illness, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Alain Zanchetta
Alain Zanchetta – That's how he rolls
27/07/2022
Alain Zanchetta is a fighter. He would have to overcome difficulties early on, but he has gained a lot of strength and confidence as a result. As a designer, he develops inclusive design products himself to help other people. At the same time, his job offers him the security and perspective he craves. At REHACARE.com he tells us how he rolls otherwise.
Leben mit PEG
Bastian K. – That's how he rolls
13/07/2022
Bastian K. is a summer person at heart. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. In doing so, the lack of accessibility often causes him more difficulties than the progressive muscle weakness he has been living with for many years. When he is not on the road, he writes about his "life with PEG" on his own blog. On REHACARE.com he tells us how he rolls otherwise.
privat
Ann-Kathrin Ulbrich – That's how she rolls
29/06/2022
Ann-Kathrin Ulbrich was heavily pregnant when paralysis suddenly appeared in her right leg. As a mother of three, she was then suddenly dependent on a wheelchair. But she rose to the challenge and is proud of it. How she manages her everyday life, which aid is indispensable for this and how she rolls otherwise, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
privat
Vanessa Lehnert – That's how she rolls
15/06/2022
Vanessa Lehnert has been severely disabled since a traffic accident in her childhood. But even with her limitations, she is not dependent on help – and for that very reason often has to fight for acceptance. She would like to see more understanding in dealing with disabilities of all kinds. How else she rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Dot Incorporation
People with vision impairments: The Dot Pad bridges the information gap
21/04/2022
The new Dot Pad is not only smaller and lighter, but also much cheaper than conventional tactile displays – making them more affordable and accessible for people with vision impairments. Dot Inc makes the online world of images more accessible and aims to improve other areas as well. In our interview the Senior Manager Mergel Takam talks about the advantages and technology behind the Dot Pad.
privat
Christian S. – That's how he rolls
26/01/2022
When talking about disabilities, many people first think of a person in a wheelchair. However, there are numerous physical and mental disabilities that are not visible at first glance. On REHACARE.com Christian S. tells us how he deals with his invisible disability and what he expects from society when it comes to dealing with disabilities.
Michel Arriens | www.michelarriens.de / visitBerlin; Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Assistive devices for people with sensory disabilities
28/10/2021
In the end, a good assistive device always means: more participation. People with sensory disabilities experience a different form of barriers every day – especially frequently in the area of communication. In our Topic of the Month, you can read about the aids that can help them use their smartphones without barriers, for example, or about the development of hearing systems.
Stiftung Pfennigparade
World Cerebral Palsy Day – for inclusion and social participation
06/10/2021
I am here, we are here, and the world should know it – with this message, the World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6 should not only draw more attention to the disease. It is also intended to raise awareness of the fact that there is still a lot of catching up to do in terms of the participation of people with cerebral palsy in many areas of society.
PARAVAN GmbH
Electromobility and autonomous driving: Where are we heading?
28/09/2021
After some initial hesitation, electromobility now seems to be picking up speed. We asked the German experts at AMF-Bruns and Sodermanns about the challenges of vehicle conversion. Aside from different drivetrain systems, PARAVAN continues to push the boundaries of automobility. REHACARE.com took a look behind the scenes.
AMF-Bruns GmbH & Co. KG
Mobile – thanks to car conversions
28/09/2021
Electric cars, e-scooters, and electric bikes – will our future be shaped by electromobility? Does this spell the end of the internal combustion engine? Or will we embrace alternative fuel vehicles that use hydrogen fuel for private transport? How will these new modes of travel impact the way we work? REHACARE.com addresses these questions in our current Topic of the Month.
privat
Claudia Staudt – That's how she rolls
28/07/2021
Love is the most important thing, everything else is secondary – Claudia Staudt realised this when she adopted her daughter. Lenas disability was not the focus of attention at any time. She wishes that her fellow human beings would see it in exactly the same way. How she copes with difficult situations, what she is particularly grateful and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
privat
Janine Kolbig – That's how she rolls
14/07/2021
Living a self-determined life is a matter of the heart for Janine Kolbig. She is the founder of the Centre for Self-Determined Living Northern Germany, which advises people with disabilities and represents their interests. What self-determination means to her, who the origin of this movement is for her and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
VITA e.V. Assistenzhunde
Assistance Dogs: four paws are the key to active participation
29/06/2021
Society lacks education and awareness when it comes to assistance dogs. There are also no official uniform training standards and not even the term "assistance dog" (known as a service dog in the United States) is protected. REHACARE.com took a closer look at the obstacles people must overcome when it comes to the training and financing of this precious resource.
WZ Hundezentrum
Service dogs: priceless four-legged helpers
29/06/2021
REHACARE.com spoke with two dog training centers and learned how much people with disabilities benefit from a canine companion in everyday life and discovered the type of training assistance dogs complete before they are matched with a person.
Lukas Kapfer | www.th-10.de
From puppy to assistance dog: the multifaceted work with animal helpers
29/06/2021
Assistance dogs are cute, no question. But they have many more advantages: they relieve their owners of work, support them and open doors – in the real and figurative sense. But how do affected people get an assistance dog, what can four-legged helpers do and who finances their training? Living and working with animal helpers is multifaceted, but must be better protected by the law.
iuvas medical GmbH
Better swallowing and understanding: Sophisticated aids from the field of speech therapy
15/06/2021
Some aids may play a minor role in life, but they make everyday life much easier. These include products from iuvas medical: on the one hand, the transparent mask miama, which makes communication in the pandemic clearer. On the other hand, the sippa drinking aid, in which the contents are kept constantly at the top by a membrane so that people with dysphagia can swallow more easily.
Lukas Kapfer | www.th-10.de
Full participation: paving the way to an inclusive society
31/05/2021
Whether it affects cultural, political, economic, or social life – people with disabilities have a right to participation. This was recognized and stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. But how is society as a whole implementing this directive? How are inclusion and participation put into practice and what role do companies play in promoting diversity?
opta data Abrechnungs GmbH
Corporate social responsibility: diversity is an asset
31/05/2021
Accessibility, participation, and inclusion are buzzwords associated with people with disabilities. The notion that we should focus on people’s abilities, not their disabilities is a lesson that is not yet fully understood by most - especially when it comes to labor force participation. We took a closer look at the role companies and their social responsibility play in spurring social changes.
Visit Frankfurt, Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Making society more inclusive: with social commitment to greater participation
31/05/2021
Inclusion and participation – keywords that can evoke very different emotions. The fact is that much more needs to be done for an inclusive society. But there is no one right way. Because participation must be implemented in many different areas. Companies also play an important role in this context – and are already taking decisive steps in the right direction.
Lego-Oma-Team
Rita Ebel – That's how she rolls
19/05/2021
Rita Ebel has become known as the "Lego granny": Since accessibility is still a scarce commodity, she designs ramps made of interlocking plastic bricks. Boxes of the colourful bricks are stored in her house and are transformed into ramps with creative patterns. Why she herself is dependent on accessibility, why she never loses her smile and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
LIFEtool
Computer-aided communication: assistive technology promotes participation
29/04/2021
Whether it is voice recognition with or without eye tracking technology, educational or speech recognition software – assistive technology builds bridges that allow people to get in touch with their surroundings.
Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Building bridges - communication software in focus
26/04/2021
Communication is an important cornerstone for social participation. It is therefore all the more important that the communication aids that are available are adapted to the people who need them. In our Topic of the Month, you can find out who is responsible for this and what difficulties still exist today, but also what is encouraging.
Andi Weiland | Boehringer Ingelheim, Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Assistive devices in the workplace: Making communication accessible
26/04/2021
Especially for blind and visually impaired people, the lack of or non-working augmentative communication devices frequently means that they have no prospect of participating in the workplace. We discussed with Bruno Behrendt from Papenmeier why screen readers are sometimes nothing more than pretty tools and learned why technical support is THE perennial issue when it comes to customer service.
Sheffield Hallam Universität
Head support system HeadUp Collar: Communication at eye level
22/04/2021
Head support systems for ALS patients are often not sophisticated and resemble neck braces. The University of Sheffield developed the HeadUp Collar, which can be individually adapted to the needs of the patient. REHACARE.com asked Anita Ogale, Product Manager at ProWalk, what makes the new head support system so special.
Exero Technologies
Functionality meets design: the new adaptive sport equipment Spike
29/10/2020
Activities aiming at occupational therapy and rehabilitation are boring? Not necessarily! A new assistive exercise and sports equipment named Spike is not only designed to be fun, but also suitable for everybody who wants to get and stay fit. How this works for whom and what kind of history connects Spike with REHACARE? We asked!
Brio Photography / Pro Walk GmbH
Pro Walk: Overcoming foot drop one step at a time
24/09/2020
Safe walking without tripping or falling is challenging for people with foot drop. Luckily there are technologies that provide active support by using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Pro Walk GmbH delivers these types of foot drop systems. How do these devices allow users to complete everyday tasks? REHACARE.com asked Nico Riedl, Product Manager and Physiotherapist at Pro Walk GmbH.
PantherMedia/mavoimages
REHADAT Gute Praxis: "Labor force participation requires targeted and personalized measures"
31/08/2020
What are strategies for successful inclusion in the primary labor market? Many employers only have a vague idea of what this entails, revealing the importance of comprehensive and practical information. The new REHADAT Gute Praxis (English: Best Practice) portal aims to be their go-to resource – and includes 900 practical examples. Why are they especially useful? We asked...
Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Why inclusion is more important than ever amid the coronavirus crisis
25/06/2020
How are families of children with disabilities coping during the coronavirus crisis? A recent online survey asked this question, prompting over 1,600 participants to respond in just two weeks. What do the survey results reveal about the current state of society in terms of social participation and inclusion? We asked Dorothea Kugelmeier and Dr. Raimund Schmolze-Krahn, who launched the study.
Pro Walk GmbH
Adaptive eating utensils with a Twist: How Bravo Twist by ProWalk outsmarts Parkinson’s tremors
17/10/2019
We all know that food intake is essential for the survival of every living organism. Yet for humans, food can also be a great source of pleasure or even love. At any rate, it is an important part of our social life. But what happens if our own body throws a monkey wrench into our food intake by having a stroke or neurological disorder?
Zahout-Heil
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
fuelService
fuelService app helps drivers with disabilities to refuel their car
18/04/2019
Your car ran out of petrol and you need support refuelling it? The new app fuelService is about to help you find a petrol station where you get the help you need. The app is for free and globally available. App founder Niall El-Assaad told REHACARE.com how it works.
myAbility/Stefan Ebersberger
"The DisAbility Talent Program connects employers and prospective employees with disabilities"
07/02/2019
Professional success with a disability or chronic illness – the DisAbility Talent Program aims to also support respective German students and new graduates in the near future. How is it planning to do that? REHACARE.com asked Daniel Schörghofer, who has been in charge of the program in Austria for several years as a DisAbility talent manager at myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH.
Carina Hettwer
Self-determined living: careunities creates flat sharing for people with physical disabilities
24/01/2019
For many people, living in a shared accommodation is a matter of course. But how well does this work if you have a physical disability and require assistance? This is where careunities comes in. The online platform matches people up with future roommates and also plans to retrofit buildings for accessibility, thus creating more shared living spaces.
M-Enabling Summit
M-Enabling Forum: "The best assistive technologies cannot be useful if our digital environment is not accessible"
21/06/2018
Self-determined living needs accessibility. This does not only apply to step-free entrance for wheelchair users, but also for the digital environment. For example, when blind people surf the internet with a screen reader, they need web sites that are accessible. But reality often looks different. Reason enough for the M-Enabling Forum to focus on this topic at this year's REHACARE.
panthermedia.net/Valeriy_Al
TTC Wheel-Trans: Accessible transport for people with disabilities in Toronto
17/05/2018
In Canada, the North Americans are far ahead of us Germans when it comes to accessibility. If you are a guest in Toronto, you not only have the possibility to travel with the usual public transport, but you can also opt for the 100 percent accessible alternative and use Wheel-Trans.
Johannes Franke
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.