People In Motion 2007

The 2007 People In Motion show was on June 1 & 2 at the Queen Elizabeth Center at the CNE in Toronto. Once again, the show was a one stop shop for the disabled. Many of the booths were regulars at the show and for the most part were not offering anything I haven't seen before. However, I'm always on the lookout for new products & services. So here are a few that you can check out.



New Products

The Chillow

If you're anything like me, it can get very hot and sweaty especially when sleeping. That's exactly why I bought an air conditioner last year. Now there's a low cost solution called The Chillow. This is a cooling insert that you place inside your pillowcase and it keeps you cool. I can't explain how it does that, only that it does. There are various ways to use this but the bottom line is it works and retails for only $39.95. The manufacturer is called Katoby. They are in Quebec. They also produce a similar product for dogs called Canine Cooler along with wheelchair cushions. For more info, you can call them at 1-888-996-2665 or go to their website at http://www.katoby.com/



Portable Scooter

Folks see me in my power chair and they're always asking me about wheelchairs and scooters. If you can walk a bit, chances are pretty good you're going to need a scooter. But you're still going to need a van equipped for wheelchairs. Most scooters aren't very compact. Travel Scoot is the world's only compact folding scooter. It only weighs 49lbs. and it folds up and fits in the trunk of a car. I've seen other attempts at this type of product but putting the scooter back together can be an issue. The product is manufactured in Florida and the Canadian sales office is in Kitchener. Check out their website at http://www.travelscootcanada.com/



Modular Accessible Homes

The biggest issue with building an accessible home is the length of time it takes for the average contractor to build it. We're talking about months, maybe even years. Quality Engineered Homes in Kenilworth, ON is offering a breakthrough in the design and construction of accessible homes. Instead of building the home on site, Quality manufactures the home in modular form and assembles it on site. The main benefit of this is it only takes a month to construct the home. Of course it's still a custom built home. To learn about the many features available, you can contact Quality at 1-800-265-2648 or visit their website at http://www.qualityhomes.ca/ and visit their showroom.



New Services

Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center

Of course we all know the story of the late Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana. It was their misson to find a cure for spinal cord injuries in their lifetime. They're both gone but their legacy continues with the Paralysis Resource Center. Not only is this designed to assist in spinal cord injury research but aims to help ordinary people deal with paralysis. They will also help fund special projects. At the show, they were giving out a 319 page Paralysis Resource Guide. To get your copy, you can call them at 1-800-539-7309 or visit their website at http://www.paralysis.org/



Media Access

There was a booth at the show that had two seperate but connected organizations with similar goals of making employment in the media accessible to the disabled. As a trained broadcaster and writer, I'm interested in that. Lights, Camera, Access is run by Leesa Levinson. She is an actress who is also in a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis. She has a lot of experience in the entertainment industry and is trying to break down barriers in that industry. Her website is http://www.lightscameraaccess.ca/ The Media Access And Participation Initiative is attempting to break down similar barriers in the broadcasting industry. The goal is to make all media organizations accessible to the disabled. They can be contacted at 416-410-2491.



The People In Motion show continues to be a valuable resource for the disabled. And I get plenty of free pens. The only problem with the show was waiting for Wheeltrans afterwards. Next year the show will be on June 6 & 7 at the Queen Elizabeth Center at the CNE. Be sure to attend and I'll see you there. I can be contacted at frankp316@rogers.com