Few would dispute the countless benefits of exercise, but for
persons with complex medical conditions, standard exercise
programs are often not the right solution. Organizations such as NCPAD offer excellent education on modified  exercise programs specific to each health condition. The take-away guideline of this New York Times article is to engage in as much exercise as your body will tolerate. With medical  supervision, a variety of ways exist to adapt exercises to  provide challenge and accommodate limitations. Keep searching for the right type of exercise for your body. Movement creates momentum and health.

The gentle, meditative, paced movements of Tai Chi hold promise as a path of restorative exercise for those struggling with mobility challenges. A widely practiced Chinese martial art, Tai Chi improves balance, aids in stress relief, and promotes circulation of the "chi" (energy) - a therapeutic effect common in eastern healing modalities yielding balance in the body. The Arthritis Foundation sponsors a unique Tai Chi program, Sun Style,  created by Dr. Paul Lam. This program is composed of a series of movements tailored to the needs of persons diagnosed with arthritis.

The outpouring of emotion for the recent passing of tech genius, Steve Jobs, is validation of how much the magic of digital devices has become a central part of our daily lives. Phones and tablets are lifestyle managers, offering apps that help with organization, planning for dinner or checking one's budget. Jobs will be remembered as a central inspiration for the digital age, but how people continue to make creative use of digital technologies is the post-Jobs story.  

Bridging Apps is a innovative web community of parents and professionals who seek to share information on ways to use educational/therapy apps on the latest technology devices—iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android and others—to support developmental learning goals for people with disabilities.

The world of hand control driving technology for persons with disabilities is not a widely known area of accessibility. Three years ago, when I transitioned to hand controls, I embarked on a new learning curve that I had  little familiarity with. I reached out to my former teacher, Beth Rolland, an  occupational therapist, driver rehabilitation specialist, and tri-athlete at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, to gather advice for  people who may be thinking of taking this step. 

How people cope and subsequently learn to live well while  dealing with a  progressive medical condition is a central theme in my health
advocacy writing. Later this year, I will be interviewing Deshae Lott, PhD, a prolific writer and health care advocate.  She has written  widely on subjects related to ventilator dependent living, spirituality, and health care access for persons with disabilities. 

In the following essay, "No Way Out But In: Responding to Chaos Positively with  Forgiveness and Grief", Deshae walks the reader through the challenges of a week in her life of living with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. In this piece,  Deshae shares her own acquired model of coping, “Whether much is going awry or  right, I restore my inner serenity and well-being each day by using prayer and  meditation, and processing grief and forgiving.

No day seems to pass without my  using these mental resources,” she states. Her mission is to offer encouragement  to those who struggle with the emotional stresses of complex health concerns. 

Today is the 20th Anniversary of the (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act. Read what advocates are saying about this significant milestone: AAPD, NYT, Center for Disability Rights, ADA National Network.

On May 21-23, the Abilities Expo - New York Metro division - will be showcasing an impressive range of options in disability technology,  expanding the scope of accessibility for persons with disabilities. Thirty-one  years ago, the Abilities Expo began with the humble efforts of Dick and Pat  Wooten. Dick, a polio survivor and wheelchair user since his teens, wanted to  establish a forum to share the resources that enabled him live a better life.  Today, the Abilities Expo has grown exponentially, providing direct learning to  attendees on the latest in assistive devices, home furnishings, and daily living aids across disabilities.