Lance Blair was 18 when a truck blew a red light and removed his lower leg. “There was about a pinky-width of meat holding it on.” So Lance did the obvious thing: He built a diesel-powered wheelchair-accessible 4×4 adventure truck.

Granted, it took Lance a couple of decades to put together the “Wheelchair Accessible Van for Expeditions” – the “WAVE”. After his motorcycle accident in 1988 he wasn’t sure he’d even walk again.

It’s a unicycle of sorts that works a bit like a Segway. Although I approached the machine with the utmost care and followed Honda’s explicit instructions to wear pants — no skirts, they warned, and I can see why — the engineers were just a wee bit antsy.

Researchers at the University of Michigan say they’ve developed a new type of artificial foot that nearly halves the amount of extra effort amputees need to exert with every step. The device uses a microcontroller to capture what would otherwise be lost energy, then releases that energy at just the right moment to boost ankle push-off.

I was walking on my crutches in a shopping centre in the heart of Sydney when I observed an elderly gentleman on a mobility scooter stuck and unable to get up a step and into a shop.

a handful of people phoned the Manukau Courier offering transport and one cafe owner has offered to hold a fundraising dinner to help Mrs Hayward buy a new car.

Searching around the net today I came across this vehicle and I thought I would share it with you.
I figured a fun way to intro our non-profit would be to let you guys follow along with the W.A.V.E. build. What is it, well how about the Wheelchair Accessible Van for …

AN 89-YEAR-OLD cyclist who had to have his leg amputated is encouraging others to get active with the help of a special tricycle.
Franklin Medhurst, of Carlton, near Stockton, uses a Lepus semirecumbent tricycle to get about, often cycling up to ten miles a day.
The unusual cycle …

There has been a lot of talk about this story,
Mainly because of the joke involved in some of the titles.

“Unarmed amputee Tasered twice”

Well I guess if he was armed, he won’t have a leg to stand on
The Merced Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating a complaint alleging that an officer twice used a Taser against an unarmed man with no legs in a wheelchair

Gerald Babao – USA Canoe/Kayak August 18, 2009

Photo: Bennett Wetch
2009 Team USA PaddleAbility at 2009 ICF Sprint World Championships
History was made when athletes from around the world, with physical disabilities, were able to compete for the first time at the 2009 ICF Sprint World Championships in …

By Alex on Jul 4, 2009 in China, Finance and Business, General, Iceland, MBL, Science & Technology, Society
Ossur hf., the Icelandic prosthetics company, this week signed a deal with the Chinese charity Stand Tall to help victims of the Sichuan earthquake which shook China …

Friday, May 29, 2009
May 29, 2009
Found this letter today to the Chairman and ranking member at Enzi, thought was worth sharing you.
RE: Health Disparities and People with Limb Loss
Dear Chairman Kennedy and Ranking Member Enzi:
 
FREE Health Insurance Price Comparisons for Individuals and Families
Almost two million Americans are living with …

By Jon Gunnells • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • May 31, 2009
When Ron Bachman speaks, it’s a little bit inspiration, a little bit attitude and a little bit intestinal fortitude.
del.icio.us Tags: Amputee,dual amputee,motivational speaker,mobility,rehabilitation
The former Livingston County resident, who became a dual amputee at age 4, will speak …

When it became apparent that amputation could possibly save lives.The success ratios weren’t quite as high as they are today.
I’m not going to get into statistics on this as I have seen many different results.
Fact is through experimentation and documentation surgery techniques have been improved Prosthetic limbs have been improved …

Written by Alexis on May 25th, 2009 — Leave a Comment
Meet Coal and Storm.  Both dogs lost their lower front legs to amputations, done to remove cancerous tumors and save their lives.  Their fate ten years ago would’ve been to join the ranks of the tripod dogs that balance and …

Image via Wikipedia

Written by Dale Woodard
Thursday, 14 May 2009
For the second straight year a clinic for disabled golfers will be hitting the links.
On May 30 at the Lethbridge Country Club a three-hour clinic will delve into all aspects of the game as another …

Image by Franco Folini via Flickr

By Joe Gromelski, Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes online edition, Thursday, May 14, 2009
ARLINGTON, Va. — Thirty-nine more Segways were given to wounded warriors Thursday during a ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial, bringing to 340 the number of the  …

 
By Cher Thornhill Last updated at 6:26 PM on 09th April 2009

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Amputees and people with difficulty standing could soon move using a ‘wearable transportation device’ that gives the effect of walking. 
Exmovere Holdings has unveiled a self-balancing, hands-free concept vehicle called the Chariot, …

Image by only alice via Flickr

Seeing poverty in Africa is not surprising.
Even seeing young men begging on the street for the equivalent of 10 cents is not a shock (it happens in U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand as well).
The title was taken from the caption on this photo …

Image via Wikipedia

By Elspeth McLean
When the lively Mary Campbell obliges the photographer by striding up and down the footpath outside her Mosgiel home with her walking frame, it is hard to believe she is 80 and a double amputee.
Marvel at her learning to walk again after losing both legs …

Image by boreritos via Flickr

 
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation and The First Tee of Nashville are presenting a free First Swing Adaptive Golf Clinic. The clinic will be at Moccasin Bend Golf Club in Chattanooga on Friday. The First Swing Adaptive Golf Clinics are …