People with disability are not even on the radar as far as video game developers are concerned, right? Wrong!

There’s an exciting new company, still in its infancy but with all the right components, poised to knock the industry on its tush. And you can help it succeed.

Blue Marble is a lot more than just another start-up. The company is headed by Sheryl Flynn and Belinda Lange, each with a PhD (and more) to her credit.

These women, along with their team of designers, are passionate about developing video games that will become favorite tools in the arsenal of resources used by rehabilitation clinicians who work with the disability community.

Read more - posted directly from: http://www.disaboomlive.com/Blogs/dmarsh/archive/2009/11/10/support-disability-take-free-disability-gaming-survey.aspx

If you're looking for an easy way into the popular music rhythm game genre then Lego Rock Band is the only option to take. Featuring a totally unique Lego art style, Lego Rock Band for the Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii and DS combines the accessible nature of the Rock Band franchise with the adorable and charming Lego characters. This kid-friendly entry features the same slapstick humour the Lego video games are renowned for and coupled with the fun mechanics of playing a rhythm-action music game, Lego Rock Band is a wonderful choice for all aspiring (Lego) Rock stars.

Posted Directly from: http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/buying_360_legorockband.htm

Every morning at 10 a.m. sharp, Juanita Wood, 87, taps "okay" on a screen to start up a device that takes her blood pressure and transmits the information to her medical clinic. At 10:30 a.m., her husband, Arthur, 91, touch-starts his own device, neatly lined up next to hers. The machine calculates his blood pressure and weight and sends them off, along with a blood sugar count that he enters by hand.

Posted Directly from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602900.html?referrer=facebook

. . .“I didn’t just want my clothes to be ‘adapted,’” Summerfield says. “There are companies out there who really do make me cringe; it’s as if our lives are just about being practical without sex appeal and style. My collection focused on style first and then all the ways we could adapt them in terms of comfort and fastenings. The body shape is different when sitting and this had to be a starting point for the collection.”

Posted Directly from: http://www.disaboomjobs.com/career-resources/disability-employment-general/wheelchair-women-find-great-fashion-with-wheeliechix-chic

All the cool kids are getting iPhones it seems, even wheelchair-users. I have quite a number of tech-savvy friends who use wheelchairs and they’re certifiably in love with their phones. It’s crazy. And all the while I’m feeling pretty silly with my pre-paid Nokia. But whatevs. I’m not threatened by their phones (really!).

Posted from Disaboom:  http://www.disaboomlive.com/Blogs/tiffiny/archive/2009/11/21/iphone-app-for-wheelchair-users-to-debut.aspx

Information posted here is collected from electronic medical records and analyzed by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center in cooperation with the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. Numbers for the current year will be updated on a quarterly basis. Other data will be updated annually. At this time, the MHS is unable to provide information regarding cause of injury or location because that information is not available in most medical records.

Posted Directly from US Department of Health - http://www.health.mil/Pages/Page.aspx?ID=49

“On November 11-12, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), working with the Monitor Institute, will welcome a small group of researchers, academics, physicians and industry leaders in the fields of neurotechnology, neurodevelopment and behavior change for a “Forum on the Future Impact of Neuroscience and Behavior Change.”

Posted Directly from SharpBrains.com Facebook Notes: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=578270334#/note.php?note_id=164073620921&id=129961036462&ref=mf

Video games have been blamed for everything from contributing to obesity to making people aggressive, but research is revealing that some games may actually be good for your health.

Posted directly from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/27/gaming.health.senses/index.html

When Chris Waddell began his ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro he expected to become the first paraplegic to climb the 19,340-foot mountain unassisted. He planned to summit on his 41st birthday and to gather footage to create a documentary film of his adventure to help break down the barriers between able-bodied and people with disabilities and show what is possible.

Posted from: http://www.disaboom.com/handcycling/paraplegic-chris-waddell-handcycles-up-mt-kilimanjaro

Realistic Hope: Aspirations for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury is a concise, helpful book for survivors of TBI—or any life-threatening trauma or illness—and their family members, friends, and healthcare practitioners. Written by a TBI survivor and coach, the book cautions against expectations of a “return to normal” in favor of a more realistic hope: start where you are and strive to be a little better every day. Moving personal stories and practical tips help survivors and their families weather the acute crisis and understand the lifelong journey ahead.

To purchase the book follow the link - http://www.mobipocket.com/EN/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=182957

NPR had an interesting discussion on use of the Internet to address the dissimination of information regarding medical issues.

"When Americans go looking for information on health, they turn to the Internet as one of their first sources. According to a recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 61 percent of adults say they look online for health information. There's a term for them: e-patients."

Please go to NPR for more info - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120381580