The 17th annual People In Motion consumer trade show for the disabled was held on June 2 & 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at the CNE in Toronto. People In Motion is a place where the disabled and their families can look at products and services for the disabled all in one place. All the wheelchair vendors and van outfitters were there. If you had to go shopping for them individually, you'd have to go all over the place. And the show is free. In fact, one of my friends and fellow coop members is in the market for a van. We travelled to the show together on Wheeltrans. She met her parents at the show and they chose a van from a company in Waterloo. She could never have been able to do that without the one stop shopping at People In Motion.
I spoke to show owner Ian Meelor and he said there were 115 exhibitors this year and the attendance for the two days is usually at 5,000. One thing is for sure. You'll never see as many wheelchairs in one place. Ian is very proud of the show and says he gets great feedback from exhibitors and attendees. He feels the show is greatly appreciated by the disabled community and will continue as long as possible. One misconception is that People In Motion is only worthwhile if one is shopping for a wheelchair or a van. But there are always new products and services available and it is very important to keep up to date on these things. I'm going every year just to get my annual supply of free pens. But seriously, I did find some new products and updates to government services and other things. Here are a few examples.
NEW PRODUCTS
MAGIC WHEELS
Magic Wheels is the first ever two gear wheelchair drive designed for manual wheelchairs. They are designed to replace the existing wheels. Many manual wheelchair users have difficulty climbing grades and also get severe shoulder pain too. Switching into the 2:1 drive allows the user to climb that same grade with very little effort. The gear mechanism is inside the wheel and the switch is on the wheel hub. The wheel is made out of carbon fibre & aluminum so it's durable and lightweight. Because Magic Wheels is a new product, it is cost prohibitive at $5,000 but Magic Wheels and their Canadian rep are applying for government funding approval. But the main goal is to get wheelchair manufacturers to use Magic Wheels as part of the manufacturing process. In time the cost could be absorbed. The product is a major innovation. Magic Wheels is based in Seattle and their website is http://www.magicwheels.com/ The Canadian agent for Magic Wheels is Theracare Marketing Network Inc. Their local rep in Toronto is Jeff Fishbein at 905-764-3033 or their toll free number is 1-800-440-0615. the website is http://www.theracaremni.com/
SMARTGYM
We've all used arm pulleys either in the gym or rehab hospital. Wouldn't you like to do that at home? Smartgym Portable Fitness & Rehab Studio will allow you to do that at a very reasonable cost. Smartgym will attach to any door by two nylon cinching straps that go over the top and underneath the door and they meet behind the door. You pull downward on the straps, attach them with velcro and they're attached to the door securely. And you can release the Smartgym easily, fold it up and and put it in the carrying case that comes with it. And the best part is Smartgym costs only $199. It's a small price to pay for a professional quality workout. I'll probably buy this myself. Smartgym is available in Canada from Gwen Rose at Wheels of Fitness. You can call Gwen at 416-391-4646 or toll free at 1-877-963-9637. The website is http://www.wheelsoffitness.com/
SKYLINK SWING DOOR OPENER
The most innovative thing about the Skylink Swing Door Opener is the price. In the past, electric door openers have cost $2,500. The Skylink costs less than $500 installed. It comes with a remote control keychain and is easily installed with a screwdriver and pliers. Skylink's Canadian office is in Brampton at 905-456-8883. The website is http://www.skylinkhome.com/
HANDYBAR
Here's a great product that offers improved safety at a very reasonable cost. Many people have difficulty getting in and out of cars and into a wheelchair. You can easily slip and fall. Handybar is a device that hooks onto the U-shaped striker on the car door frame. This will fit any car and gives you a second handle to hold on to. This offers increased support and safety. And Handybar retails at only $55. That's a small price to pay for what this product delivers. To find a dealer near you, contact the Canadian distributor AER Solutions in Oakville at 905-901-3180 or toll free at 1-866-818-0190. Their website is http://www.aersolutions.ca/
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
CPP DISABILITY
One of the problems with receiving Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits is if one gets a job and discontinues CPP benefits, it's very difficult to get those benefits back. So CPP has instituted automatic reinstatement. The basic concept is that if you start work, you have a two year period where if your disability recurrs, you fill out a form, your doctor fills out a form and you can get back on CPP Disability. For more info contact CPP at 1-800-277-9914. The website is http://www.sdc.gc.ca/
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
This law is being implemented with the goal of making Ontario completely accessible by the year 2025. We all know how important this is and the best thing to do is get your own copy of the proposed act by calling 416-326-0207 in Toronto or call toll free at 1-888-520-5828. the website is http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/accessibility/index.html
ODSP EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS
On November 1, 2006, the Ontario Disability Support Program will impement improvements designed to help clients find work and keep more of what they earn. This will include employment startup benefits and increased child care support. The requirements are a little complicated and difficult to explain. The best thing is to contact the ODSP at 416-325-0693 or toll free at 1-888-789-4199 and get your own copy of the changes.
ADVOCACY
CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES - ONTARIO
Jerry Ford is a parapelegic from Orillia who has started Citizens With Disabilities-Ontario so the disabled in Ontario can tell their stories and speak for themselves. Membership is free for the disabled and is available from Jerry at jerry.ford@rogers.com He also wants to create an inclusive and accessible Canada. He has created the website http://www.endexclusion.ca/ so you can tell your story and sign an online declaration which will be presented at a special forum at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on November 2, 2006.
This is just a small sampling of the products and services I found at this year's People In Motion show. Next year's show is on June 1 & 2 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at the CNE in Toronto. The show website is http://www.people-in-motion.com/ Make plans now to attend and I'll see you there next year.
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