No Barriers USA - Time is ticking down for signup!

We've been waiting two years for the return of NoBarriers since Miami in 2009, and we're so extremely excited to have this event coming to our neighbors in Winter Park.  The dilemma of whether to volunteer or just sign up as a participant is our biggest task now, we volunteered for the prior two and had an absolute blast, helping participants register, taking tons of photos, and adapting the sports we know and love!  Many of our community buddies will be at this event; of course the NSCD will be hosting many sports as the local adaptive program, our long time partners Adaptive Adventures will be hosting some of the cycling, No Limits Tahoe and Paradox Sports will be hosting the rock climbing wall and free climb (one of Craig's favorite activities at NB!), and our longtime friend Kevin Carr at Chosen Valley Creating Ability will be hosting the canoeing with his awesome inventions (it's hard to keep up with Kevins' inventions)!

If you're not on their list, go to No Barriers website now to sign up and get the news first hand. Here's their latest email: (since it doesn't fit in our template, view the page here)

Summit 2011 Innovation Village Brings Amazing Inventions to the Forefront! No Barriers USA  May 9 2011 Innovation meets Adventure: Inventions that rock at Innovation Village! As some of you know, No Barriers Summit 2011 in Winter Park, Colorado is approaching quickly June 30-July 3. The Summit will bring together some of the hottest technologies, equipment and ideas that are helping people to shatter barriers. Whether you participate in one of the many Adventure Clinics, listen to one of our fabulous University speakers, or meander through Innovation Village, you'll come away with new tools to transform your life.     This year Innovation Village will host a group of inventors that have stepped out of the box in order to make the great outdoors more accessible for all. On Friday afternoon, Summit attendees will enjoy getting to know some of the adaptive equipment being used in many of the adventure clinics. Several presenters will be showcasing their equipment that is allowing people with disabilities to be more adventurous. From new adaptive kayak seats to unique hiking crutches to cool all terrain handcycles, there is something for everyone. Here are just a few of the people and technologies that will be at Innovation Village:  Brad Zdanivsky has been a rock climber all his life, and breaking his neck didn't change that. After becoming a quadriplegic, he spent ten challenging years developing a device that would allow him to get back on the rock after his accident. After watching No Barriers co-founder Mark Wellman scale El Capitan in Yosemite, Brad reached a personal goal in 2005 when he summitted The Stawamus, a 2,297-foot face in British Columbia.       In 2009 during our last Summit, world-class athlete Carlos Moleda lead our open-water swimming clinic with fantastic results for participants. This year Carlos will be bringing the Explorer II handcycle, known as "the beast", an innovative off-road handcycle from a Polish company Sport-On.    SideStix is taking mountains by storm with their new "sport crutch." Sarah Doherty from SideStix Ventures will be talking about the different uses and models of this new adaptive technology that is perfect for activities during all seasons. SideStix is revolutionizing the ability to get outdoors for people with mobility and balance restraints. First-time inventor Cindy Dillenschneider, a Professor at Northland College, will be presenting the One-Arm Freedom Paddle, a new technology for amputees who want to be more active in boating.    Kevin Carr, co-founder of Chosen Valley Creating Ability, will showcase his company's adaptive kayaking innovations; including the Universal Paddling Seat and a variety of paddle grips. Kevin has created this extraordinary yet simple technology to open the sport of kayaking to everyone. Go to our Summit 2011 Innovation Village page to learn more. Registration for Summit 2011 is Open The Summit has SOLD OUT early in years past - so make your reservations now! (Rates go up after May 30th) Remember to also book your lodging directly with Winter Park Resorts through our website to get the special lodging rates. Register Now!  Summit 2011 Sponsors Current as of May 9, 2011                                Board of Directors                                                       Staff Erik Weihenmayer, Chair                                               Nicole Deters Spader  Mike Savicki                                                                   Executive Director Hugh Herr, Ph.D. Mark Wellman Bill Barkeley Alexander Rabchevsky, Ph.D. Jim Goldsmith, Director Emeritus No Barriers USA is a powerful community of modern day pioneers who use the experience of nature to promote innovation, education and assistive technologies that create transformative life experiences and inspire people with challenges to live full and active lives. Learn more at www.NoBarriersUSA.org No Barriers USA is a not-for-profit funded by donations and sponsorships. Please make you contributions payable to: No Barriers USA No Barriers USA PO Box 27 Mound, MN 55364 Ph: 952.472.2400 info@NoBarriersUSA.org www.NoBarriersUSA.org

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BLM Enters Into Memorandum of Understanding with Disabled Sports USA

To enhance the recreational use of public lands by the disabled, the Bureau of Land Management today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Disabled Sports USA. Recognizing the enormous value of promoting public-private partnerships that encourage people with disabilities to use public lands, the MOU creates a cooperative framework for programs and activities designed to increase the recreational use of public lands by disabled veterans and others with permanent disabilities.

“The Department of the Interior and the BLM are committed to ensuring equal access to outdoor recreation on public lands—particularly those activities that require specialized equipment or instruction,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes. “This MOU advances that important effort.”

BLM Director Bob Abbey added, “The long-term relationship the BLM and Disabled Sports USA established today will cultivate dialogue, generate ideas, and enhance access for persons with disabilities to outdoor activities on BLM-managed lands.” The MOU will remain in effect for five years, at which point the BLM and Disabled Sports USA can renew the agreement.

The demand for outdoor adventure and recreation activities for persons with disabilities continues to grow, and new equipment and access innovations are constantly expanding the possibilities for enjoyable, healthy, active, outdoor experiences. Additionally, veterans wounded and disabled in recent wars are increasingly seeking challenging outdoor activities to aid in their recovery and improve their quality of life. With this in mind, the BLM and Disabled Sports USA will use the MOU to jointly pursue projects and activities on public lands that are appropriate for persons with disabilities.

Moving beyond outdoor recreation, the MOU also aims to increase the participation of America’s wounded and disabled veterans and others with disabilities in the BLM’s public land-use planning process. This open process provides opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage in land management planning activities including access-enhancement projects and safety and environmental education programs.

Through this involvement, along with shared information, networking, and partnerships generated by the MOU, the BLM can incorporate ideas and innovation into policies, land-use plans, and permitting allocations while better accommodating and expanding opportunities for all—especially America’s disabled veterans and persons with disabilities.

“We at Disabled Sports USA welcome the MOU with the Bureau of Land Management as a way to promote recreation on our public lands for our nation’s disabled veterans and others with disabilities. Because of innovations in adaptive equipment and an increase in trained instructors, those of us with disabilities are  experiencing greater accessibility to public lands,” said Kirk Bauer, executive director of Disabled Sports  USA and a disabled Vietnam veteran. “This represents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy healthy, outdoor  activities on public lands.”

Disabled Sports USA is a national, non-profit organization established in 1967 by disabled Vietnam veterans  to serve the war injured. Through its national network of more than 100 chapters in 38 states, Disabled  Sports USA offers sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability, including targeted  programs for disabled veterans. In serving those with disabilities – from visual impairments and spinal cord injuries to multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and amputations – Disabled Sports USA facilitates recreational activities on both public and private lands. 

Under the MOU, the BLM and Disabled Sports USA will work together to promote outdoor recreation participation on public lands and foster health and fitness, independence, and social integration for veterans and other persons with disabilities. The benefits of participating in recreational activities – such as skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, sailing, and whitewater rafting – are proven to enhance individuals’ self-confidence, physical and mental well-being, and their quality of life.

To read the MOU, go to http://blm.gov/qv5c.

To visit the BLM National Recreation Accessibility page, go to http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/recreation_national/accessibility.html.

To visit the BLM page dedicated to accessibility for disabled veterans, go to http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/recreation_national/accessibility/disabled_vets.html.

To visit Disabled Sports USA, go to http://www.dsusa.org

Accessible Lodging in Paris

Great results from several years of surveying Parisian hotels; scroll down past the introduction and terminology of the survey to find the actual listings... condos, hotels, and even what we call "do-able" hotels!

http://www.globalaccessnews.com/chabner%20paris_hotel_wheelchair_access_2010.htm

Hats off to Howard Chabner and Michele DeShafor for compiling this!!

Must be time to visit Paris!?  Well guess what, we are!  September this year we'll be in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris!  Any tips you can send us, send to ask@accessanything.net!

United Airlines, taking baby steps

Thanks to United and Continental Airlines' ongoing merger, the latter has been dedicated to influencing the former to take baby steps in bringing access for all to the forefront of their customer service.

The latest update in this process is United's choice to add Continental's wheelchair information card to their website for customers who use wheelchairs and scooters to download, fill out, and attach to their mobility device to help protect its fragile areas.

http://www.united.com/ual/asset/Wheelchair_form_v3.pdf

Good job team!

Delta slapped with largest DOT382 (access) fine in history

Proving the government means to take DOT382 seriously, a fairly recent amendment to the Air Carrier Access Act (ADA of the skies), Delta was served a $2million fine this week for violations to this act.  View the official Press Release here.

Some of the fine will be allotted back into improvements to Delta's system for travelers with disabilities, such as improvements to jetway- and terminal-level access, enhancing booking specifics, and technology with their local vendors.