Zac Vawter Controls a Prosthetic Leg with Nothing More than His Thoughts!

Check out this video of Zac Vawter controlling a prosthetic leg with his thoughts! In the related WSJ article, “Man Controls Artificial Leg Using only His Brain,” Zac describes his experience with this awesome technology. Comparing his usual prosthetic leg and this new thought-controlled bionic one, the difference is “night and day.” “Going upstairs with my normal prosthetic, my sound leg goes up first for every step…With this I go foot-over-foot up the stairs and down the stairs,” says Zac. This is the first time a person has been able to control a prosthetic limb with his thoughts.

How does it work? According to Dr. Hargrove, one of the lead researchers, his team developed complex electrodes that attach to the skin of the limb and a software algorithm that can read the electric messages from the brain. The algorithm translates the signals into movements of the prosthetic ankle and knee.

Pretty impressive stuff! As Daniel Ferris, a biomedical engineering expert at the University of Michigan, agrees, this accomplishment “takes us closer to the point where we’re going to have robust commercial products that use signals from a person’s brain to let them walk.”

Attention All Bostonians!! The Abilities Expo Will be in Boston Sept. 20th - 22nd!

This weekend, the Abilities Expo will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Hall C! 

If you missed today, no need to worry, the Expo will be featured tomorrow (11AM - 5PM) and Sunday (11AM - 4PM) as well. Admission is free so if you're in the area, come check it out!

What is the Abilities Expo? As described on their website:

“Imagine everything you need, all under one roof! For more than 30 years, Abilities Expo has been the go-to source for the Community of people with disabilities, their families, seniors, veterans and healthcare professionals. Every event opens your eyes to new technologies, new possibilities, new solutions and new opportunities to change your life. Where else can you discover ability-enhancing products and services, play a few adaptive sports, learn new dance moves, attend informative workshops and only scratch the surface of what Abilities Expo has to offer?”

Click here to visit the Expo's website and see what will be available this year. Also, for a taste of what you'll see, check out the below video of Auti Angel "Dancebassador" and fellow Expo go-ers in action!

Meet Marlon Jackson, a Man who Refuses to Let Paralysis Slow Him Down

Marlon Jackson (Photo courtesy of ZacharyToday.com)Marlon Jackson of Zachary, Louisiana refuses to be limited by his paralysis. “I never dwell on the few things that my disability doesn’t allow me to do, but instead concentrate on the many things that I can do!” he says. Through the injury he sustained 24 years ago in a severe car accident, Marlon learned that “nothing can hold me back and failure is not an option.” Marlon’s response to his injury has proved what he’s made of. 

Marlon says he “feels the need to help my community, especially other people with disabilities and the elderly,” and he has done just that. He has severed as the Inclusive Education Coordinator for Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge where he helped disabled children and their families access much-needed accommodations. While keeping busy helping his community, he also finds the time to play for the New Orleans Pelicans Wheelchair Basketball team and has even served on the Louisiana State Board of Council for Independent Living.

Marlon is currently a second-year law student at the Southern University Law Center. He chose to purse a career in law “…to become a stronger leader within my community.” With his degree, he plans to use his expertise in the fields of international human rights and disability rights.

Click the below link to read more about this inspiring individual…

ZacharyToday.com: “Law School Prepares Zachary Paraplegic to be Stronger Community Leader.”

BrainLine: Traumatic Brain Injury Defined by the People who are Living with It...

Click the Picture to Visit BrainLine.org for More!While those living with traumatic brain injuries feel similar symptoms and effects, the particular challenges they experience are their own. BrainLine.org recently asked those recovering from TBI in its online community to define the experience in their own words. Here are some of the responses… 

“Brain fog, confusion, difficulty learning new things, being able to be “high-functioning” but being very slow at it.” -Mary

“A puzzle…all the pieces are there but in the wrong order.” -Barbara

“An invisible thief” -Lisa 

“Devastating. Exhausting. Widely misunderstood.” -Jules

“Thinking with speed bumps.” -John 

“Like an earthquake in my brain that knocked down bridges and damaged highways and knocked out some – but not all – lines of communication. Some of these things get rebuilt more quickly than others, and some are easily re-damaged.” -Alison

“Unpredictable and extremely misunderstood” -Ronda

“Trying to catch clouds in a windstorm.” -Mary

Do you have your own definition of TBI you’d like to share? Click here to visit BrainLine.org and post your definition in the comment section. Follow BrainLine on Twitter for more articles like this one...

“Ten Ways to Stay Financially Afloat after TBI,” by Rosemary Rawlins

After Rosemary Rawlins’ husband, Hugh, sustained a traumatic brain injury, her family faced a financial crunch. Hugh’s previously solid corporate salary was cut to 60% on disability pay and Rosemary found little time to work while being his main caregiver. On top of $800 a month to keep Hugh’s medical insurance, there was a growing pile of co-pays for rehab, perscriptions, and doctor office visits.

As Rosemary writes, “When TBI strikes a family, causing income to disappear and expenses to soar, a plan is needed to ensure financial stability. It’s hard enough to deal with the crushing emotional burden of TBI without worrying about going broke.” In her blog post, “Ten Ways to Stay Financially Afloat After TBI,” she recommends strategies she found useful in staying financially afloat…

1.     If you are not good at managing finances, look to your network of family and friends for solid advice.

2.     Take a close look at your monthly expenses and figure out what can be cut and what must be spent to maintain a reasonable standard of living.

3.     Can any bills you pay now be renegotiated?

4.     Enlist the help of any friends with special talents, we benefited from a friend that was a physical therapist.

5.     Make use of social services.

6.     If recommended, apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible if your loved one may not return to work.

7.     Use generic prescriptions when possible.

8.     Start clipping coupons and planning meals.

9.     Encourage your kids to earn some money of their own.

10. Be open and honest without whining.

11. Keep a family fun jar for change.

As she concludes with her most important note, try to avoid incurring debt if all possible.

Click here to read Rosemary’s post on BrainLine.org where she includes more details with each recommendation…