As its name suggests, Ms. Wheelchair America is an annual pageant for woman who use wheelchairs. However, unlike traditional beauty pageants the winner is not chosen for being the most attractive, but for being “the most accomplished and articulate spokeswoman for persons with disabilities.”
Learning to use a wheelchair takes time. Though the basic mechanics are simple, if you’re new to wheelchair use you’ll probably run into some issues you’d never thought of before.
From August 12 - 17th, Philadelphia will host the 34th National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG). The NVWG brings in over 500 athletes every year, making it the world’s largest wheelchair sporting event.
The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has a long history of involvement in adaptive sports. In 1974, the school started its first wheelchair basketball team, the Movin’ Mavs, who went on to win seven national titles.
For years, lab-based data has shown that cognitive function declines significantly with age. However, applied research (which gathers data from the real world) has shown that many seniors function very well in their everyday lives. Seeing a discrepancy in the data, psychologists investigated and found that even though some cognitive skills decline with age, the brain has natural strategies for keeping everyday function going strong.
Regular wheelchairs provide a great way for those with mobility disabilities to get around and remain independent. But they do have some limitations. For example, it’s hard to wheel yourself through the woods, across a stream, or in the snow. This is especially problematic if you love to hunt and fish, like Josh Hotaling does.
Want an excuse to sleep in this weekend? Check out this study from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore that says sleeping less may speed up the aging of the brain. The study took place over several years and looked at the structural MRI brain scans of 66 Chinese seniors.
Aging in Place, a preferred option for many seniors, means continuing to live in your own home safely and independently as you get older. This sometimes requires assistive technology like walkers and rollators, or support from programs and services for elderly people. According to experts like Rebecca Johnson, it may also help if you have a pet.
When Aaron Fotheringham was born with spina bifida, a spinal cord disorder that left him without the use of his legs, his parents probably wouldn’t have guessed that 22 years later he’d be an extreme athlete doing spins, hand-plants, and even double backflips all from his wheelchair.
A new study from the University of Edinburgh’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology suggests that knowing two or more languages may slow down the cognitive decline that normally comes with old age.
