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Reeve's Passing Shocks, Saddens
New Mobility was saddened to learn that actor and director Christopher Reeve, whose 1995 spinal cord injury changed the face of disability, died Oct. 10 from complications of a pressure sore. He was 52. Read more
Terri's Law Struck Down
In the first of three related news items that occurred during the same week, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously struck down Terri's Law, the hastily-crafted legislation that allowed Gov. Jeb Bush to order severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo's feeding tube to be reinserted. The rationale for the Sept. 23 ruling is that Terri's Law violates the separation of powers between the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. Schiavo's husband, Michael, has won numerous court rulings allowing him to remove her feeding tube. The law was written to circumvent those rulings.
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DOJ Promotes Improved Access
Under its Civic Access project, the Department of Justice recently signed agreements with Gallup, N.M., Suffolk, Va., and Bend, Ore., to increase access to public buildings and services. "Project Civic Access empowers persons with disabilities to participate fully in key aspects of American life," said R. Alexander Acosta, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "We commend these cities for taking steps to improve their ability to serve all of their citizens." The DOJ has reached over 100 agreements under the initiative, 37 of which were concluded this year alone.
"Rolling" Director Named MacArthur Fellow
Gretchen Berland, M.D., an assistant professor in Yale's Department of Internal Medicine, has been named a 2004 MacArthur Fellow by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for her documentary film, "Rolling" [see NM's June 2004 issue]. Berland and 22 other fellows will receive $500,000 in support over the next five years. Read more
Lack of Paralympics Coverage May Cost NYC its Olympic Bid
The U.S. media's snubbing of the Athens Paralympics may cost New York City its 2012 bid to host the Olympics. There were 3,500 representatives from the U.S. media at the Athens Olympic games, and none stayed for the Athens Paralympics. There has been a legally binding agreement between the Olympics and the Paralympics that any city bidding to host the Olympics must also agree to host the Paralympics with the same value and status. The lack of U.S. media covering the Athens Paralympics raises legitimate doubts that a U.S. city can abide by this agreement.
EPVA Changes Name, Refines Mission
The Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association is now the United Spinal Association. Well-known for its work on policy and legislative issues that affect all people with physical disabilities, the organization began in 1946 to assist World War II veterans in the New York City area to lead independent lives. Read more
Frank Mobility Systems to Distribute LifeStand
Frank Mobility Systems is now the distributor for LifeStand IDC products, which are manufactured in France. "This is great news for rehab technology suppliers because of our distribution network covering the entire country," says Werner Frank, president of Frank Mobility Systems. The previous distributor did not have the ability to reach every dealer in the United States.
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