by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Fern Cohen is a freelancer who makes multiple efforts to help others facing debilitating symptoms, such as the ones she faces with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). She is also working on writing a book and she does this, not letting her ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, diagnosis interfere.

"Up to age 12, I lived with my family in a NYC housing project in Brooklyn. Then, my parents followed the 'American Dream,' bought a home, and moved us out to Long Beach, Long Island," she said. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in both French and Spanish and became certified to teach both.

Fulfilling the job of a teacher would come later. First, she would pursue a life-long dream to be a "woman of the world." "I wanted to travel, and I had heard that if you worked for an airline, you could get free or discount travel," Fern said. In 1977, she began what would become an 11-year career in the airline industry. Fern enjoyed the many positions of this career, which took her all over the world. Eventually, she would end up earning a master's in travel and tourism.

"In 1997, I decided to return to my roots and give back to society," she said. This is when she made use of her teaching degree, teaching at a public high school in East Harlem, N.Y. She taught French as well as Spanish here, until 2004, when she left fully tenured. During this same time, she also studied collage and mixed media art in NYC. She was thoroughly enjoying managing and living her life.

At the beginning of 2003, she felt the first symptoms. Experiencing extreme fatigue after normal activities, like bicycle riding and exercising, came first. Next came a loss of balance, causing her to trip and fall regularly. As a foreign language teacher, the symptom of slurred speech was one of the hardest. Then came the breathing difficulties, which were shrugged off as a symptom of her asthma and allergies. It was January of 2004, after going through numerous doctors and a long period of tests, that Fern got the devastating diagnosis of ALS. The symptoms she had been living with finally had a name.

Cohen continued to teach for the remainder of the school year. However, when she put in a request to teach at a school without steps, due to the fact that steps were nearly impossible for her to endure, the request was not fulfilled. She was told by the Department of Education that her needs could not be accommodated. It was then that she was forced to resign and collect disability.

Not being used to staying at home, Fern had a hard time managing this new life. ALS did not change who she was on the inside. She still had the intellect that would have allowed her to continue teaching. However, it wasn't seen that way by others. In Fern's words, "I find that they see the wheelchair and don't see that there is a person sitting there."


For Fern, isolation is the most devastating of ALS symptoms. Many of her friends have disappeared since her diagnosis with ALS and she says that even family members can be uncomfortable in her presence. However, the friendships she lacks in that area are greatly outnumbered by the ones she has acquired through the Internet. Most of the positive impact she has had on others has come from her outreach efforts in meeting people on social sites for those with disabilities, as well as through her blog.

While having ALS has forced Fern to use a communication device for speaking and to make use of aides for various tasks, it has not stopped her from looking at positive aspects of life. On this she said, "ALS has forced me to slow down, mentally and physically and see things I never stopped to look at before... Always fiercely self-sufficient and independent, I have had to learn to ask for and accept help. And with all the medications I take, there is no room for carelessness. If I could communicate with every ALS patient, I would say: Don't wait to die; live in a way that allows you to realize a dream. And don't dwell on what you can't do, but rather make the best of what you can still do."

She definitely lives up to that statement every second of every day.

*I originally published this on the former Disaboom via the former Yahoo Contributor Network.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

More and more companies are noticing the need for accessible and universal design in a wide variety of products and projects. Consumers can now find options for accessible homes and even accessible tree houses. One organization making a difference in the arena of universal living is the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA). Located in Buffalo, New York, this company is involved in some innovative ideas and projects.

What is IDeA?

IDeA is an organization dedicated to design improvements on products and environments. The goal with these ideas is to create a universal design that is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

What is the Purpose of IDeA?

IDeA strives to create new and innovative ideas on accessible design through universal accessibility options. These ideas can be implemented in accessible products and structural designs for the home, as well as the entire living environment and even entire cities. IDeA also seeks to inform as many individuals as possible about these ideas in the hopes of creating a more accessible environment for all.

How Does IDeA Help People With Disabilities?

The goals and solutions developed by IDEA can help those with disabilities by promoting designs that are accessible to everyone. Universal accessibility is very important to those with certain disabilities. A universal design in a structure or project creates an accessible design for those who have limited access to similar products and structures, making these projects easier to use for those with disabilities.

What are Some of the Projects and Products IDeA is Involved in?

Home Modification is one program IDeA has developed. In this program, consultation services are offered to families, social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations. Through the Home Modification program, there is an extensive amount of information available on accessible solutions through universal design.

Universal Design Education Online is a Web site available to teachers and students interested in learning more about accessible living through universal design. The Web site can be found at udeducation.org. Another program developed by IDeA is called Universal Design Identity Project. Through this program, IDeA seeks to learn more about the general public's perception of accessible and universal design.

Universal Cities is a program that makes resources easily accessible to builders, public officials, the general public and designers. This is done in an effort to eventually design entire cities around universal design. IDeA has developed plans to make New York City a universally accessible city.

The Passport Kitchen Cabinet Line, made by KraftMaid, is an example of an accessible kitchen product with a universal design. This line features a raised dishwasher for extra toe or wheel space underneath, lower cabinets , lowered upper cabinets and much more. The universal design is easy to access from a wheelchair.

The Soft Bathtub is an accessible bathtub with a universal design that is comfortable for anyone to use. Its soft covering helps provide fall protection, and the non-slip design helps prevent slipping. The Soft Bathtub has even been featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. These are just some of the many projects, products and programs associated with IDeA and its dedication to accessibility through universal design.


*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Wheelchair sports are growing more and more popular as those with disabilities realize that they can do anything anyone else can. Sometimes it may require creative thinking and some adaptive technology, but it's definitely possible. Adaptive sports can be found all over the United States. One only has to look. Accessible bowling is one of the adaptive sports that has grown in popularity and may continue.

There are accessible bowling alleys and even leagues especially for those with a disability. Some could feel more comfortable in a league that specializes in wheelchair and adaptive sports. Although a good number of traditional bowling alleys do have accessible lanes. Either way, this is an adaptive sport that can be easily enjoyed by people with disabilities.

Bowling is naturally a very accessible sport. However, some people with disabilities who require the use of a wheelchair may still enjoy an even more authentic way to enjoy adaptive sports. That's when they can use adaptive technology, such as the IKAN Bowler. The IKAN Bowler actually allows the bowler to release the bowling ball much in the same way as a person who stands to bowl, rather than one who is seated in a wheelchair.

There are many other types of equipment and accessories that are approved for, and can be used to, make bowling even more of an adaptive sport. Some of those include special ball ramps that attach to a wheelchair or walker, as well as the front of the bowling lane. There are also special ball pushers for getting the bowling ball to roll down the lane while seated in a wheelchair.

Accessible bowling exists both for adults and kids. It even exists in the Special Olympics International, or SOI. SOI allows people with varied disabilities to participate in a variety of adaptive sports. Bowling is actually an official activity of not only the SOI, but also the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF), the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), and the American Wheelchair Bowling Association (AWBA).

Getting involved in accessible bowling sports is as simple as finding a bowling alley or league that you want to participate in, which is not very hard at all, considering how accessible bowling truly is. Many bowling alleys are accessible, even if they do not advertise themselves that way. In addition to bowling, there are many other accessible and adaptive sports available to those with disabilities.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network