Disability Running Update

Here is a list of upcoming road races in the month of May raising money to support disability causes: (many thanks to Run Ohio for the information...

May 5

Race for A Cure, Charleston, WV, 5km, 9am, Chris Lambert (304) 343-1950

Hospicecare 10K, Lewisburg, WV, 10km, Lee Scruggs (304) 872- 1481

May 6

Susan Muncy Breast Cancer 5K, Napoleon, 5km, 9am, Lisa Thompson (419) 599-0620

May 12

Lions 5K, Austiontown, 5km, 9:30am, Larry Jensen, 4205 Staatz, Youngstown, OH 44511 (330) 793-4046

Rotary 5K, Canal Fulton, 5km, 8:30am, Matt Blind, Northwest H.S., 8590 Erie Ave NW, Canal Fulton, OH 44614 (330) 854-4511

Run Wild for a Cure, Cleveland Zoo, 5km, 8:30am, Hermes Sports & Events, 1624 St. Clair Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 623-9933

Susan Muncy Breast Cancer 5K, Napoleon, 5km, 9am, Lisa Thompson (419) 599-0620

Adventure for Wish 5K, Cincinnati, 5km, 8:30am, Steve Prescott, PO Box 454, Mason, OH 45040 (513) 777-1080

May 19

Susan G. Komen Race for A Cure, Columbus, Hermes Sports & Events, 1624 St. Clair Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 623- 9933

Head for a Cure, Carmel, IN, 5km, 9:30am, Fort Wayne Track Club, 6433 S. Harrison, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 (260) 745-9724

May 20

End Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 5K, Centerville, 5km, 1:30pm, Key Sports, 8902 Slagle Road, Centerville, Ohio 45458 (937) 435-2633

May 26

5K For Cancer, Lancaster, KY, 5km, (859) 792-3091

Deters Says It Is Time To Give Marcus A Proper Burial

Joe Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, has notified the birth mother of Marcus Fiesel urging her to claim Marcus' remains and give the child a proper burial.

Apparently, Hamilton county has agreed to pay for Marcus' funeral, an offer that Donna Trevino has not accepted.

"I certainly understand your decision to not accept our offer to provide the remains of Marcus Fiesel a proper burial," Deters wrote to Trevino. "What I cannot understand is your failure to claim Marcus' remains and put him to rest."

An attorney for Ms. Trevino said the reason that she has not claimed the remains is that she was told that she could not have them until the legal process was exhausted, which includes appeals. Not so, says Deters.

"What is left of Marcus is sitting in the Hamilton County Coroner's Office," Deters wrote to Trevino. "There is no legal impediment to you in claiming his remains. Please have the decency to make arrangements to have him put to rest. He deserves no less."

Strickland to Sign Bill Eliminating Outdated, Offensive Language from Ohio Laws

The Ohio House has passed HB 53, a measure that would remove terms such as insane, imbecile, lunatic and idiot from the Revised Code. It is expected to be signed into law by Ohio's Governor, Ted Strickland.

Sen. Robert Spada (R-N. Royalton) won support for the measure on a 32-0 vote, noting that the change would further state efforts to remove a stigma that is often attached to people with mental illness.

The senator also added that the bill is the same as another measure (SB 41) that the chamber approved earlier this spring.

Congratulations to Doug DeVoe of Ohio Advocates for Mental Health whose organization was instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

Unfortunately, this legislation does not address the outdated, offensive language that will remain in the Ohio Constitution.

Specifically, Section 5.06 which reads:

No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.

The joke would be too easy, and I'm not touching it.

Paralympian Swimmer First To Win Prestigious Sullivan Award

Jessica Long, a competitive swimmer and double amputee below the knee, was the winner last week of the prestigious Sullivan award. The award, given in a ceremony in New York City last Wednesday, is given annually to the nation's top amateur athlete.

"It's so cool to be the first paralympian to win," said Long, who because of lower leg anomalies had her legs amputated below the knee when she was 18 months old. "It's a huge honor. I just like to swim."

Long, 15, won nine gold medals at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Durban, South Africa, last year. She had 18 world record-breaking performances on the year and holds the record in 12 events.

It's not like she had much competition. She only beat out the likes of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, World-record holder and Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, among others.

Past winners include Joan Benoit, Mary Decker, Eric Heiden, Bruce Jenner, Michelle Kwan, Carl Lewis, Wilma Rudolph, and track and field great Parry O'Brien, (who passed away just yesterday).

Ms. Long is the first paralympian to win the award. She was not - I would argue - the first athlete with a disability to win it. Jim Abbott, a baseball pitcher who made it all the way to the major leagues and once threw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees, was born with only one hand.

Norwalk Teen Needs $$$ for Service Dog

A Norwalk teen with multiple disabilities needs a service dog, and is hoping the community can pitch in to help him raise the money for it.

James Griggs, 16, has been diagnosed with autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He needs to raise $12,000 to pay for a service dog that will be trained by 4 Paws for Ability.

"We can train the dog to do about anything," Shirk said. "Probably the greatest thing is the companionship. The most important part for the child is that emotional bond that forms between the child and the dog. It's incredible."

Dogs are particularly adept at calming children who have autism and suffer from sensory overload leading to meltdowns.

"It's amazing what a dog can do. Dogs always seem to know what to do to diffuse a situation," Shirk said.

There is a fundraiser May 12th at the Norwalk Eagles Club featuring a silent auction and other activities.

The family is requesting gift cards and certificates along with merchandise that will be raffled and used in the auction.

Dover Man Sent To Prison For "Fondling" MR/DD Client

Scott Ganyard, a former traffic engineer, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition of a 20-year old woman who was a client of the mental retardation and developmental disabilities board in Stark county. Mr. Ganyard, 46, was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

Mr. Ganyard knew the victim as she often was hired to clean the offices where he worked.

Ganyard, 46, went to the woman’s Canton residence on Nov. 16. In an interview with police, he admitted to fondling her breasts, according to court papers.

Due to her mental disability, the woman was legally unable to consent to Ganyard’s actions, Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Chryssa Hartnett said.

“She’s a bright, bubbly, wonderful individual, but definitely and obviously dealing with a mental handicap,” Hartnett said.

Jan Mitchell of Canton is Ms. Wheelchair Ohio

Congratulations to Jan Mitchell of Canton for being named Ms. Wheelchair Ohio. Jan is currently a member of the Governor's Council on People with Disabilities.

Mitchell, who has arachnoiditis, a rare form of meningitis, will compete in July in the national pageant for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2008, to be held in Bethesda, Md.

If you would like to have Mitchell speak at your event, or participate in your civic festivities, send your request to Mswheelchairohio@aol.com or call 419-884-2697.

"Big House" Not Big On People With Disabilities

First Lloyd Carr wants to fire an referee with a disability. Now we learn the Michigan Football program may be taking steps to avoid making their football stadium accessible for people in wheelchairs.

As a diehard Buckeye Fan, there is no place I hate more on this earth than Michigan Stadium.

I was there for:

Michigan 28, Ohio State 0 (1993)

Michigan 31, Ohio State 23 (1995)

Michigan 20, Ohio State 14 (1997)

Michigan 24, Ohio State 17 (1999)

Each of those losses ruined our season and made for a painful ride home to Columbus. You hear "Hail to the Victors" in your ears and your nightmares for the next 10 months.

The place is loud, it's tough to win there. And to top it off, I am certain the fire marshall in Ann Arbor must have died around 1958 and nobody noticed, because Michigan Stadium is the biggest firetrap in the world.

It takes 45 minutes to get to your seat around game time and if something were to happen which necessitated a quick exit, trust me: you're not getting out. Your best shot would be to head for the field and run for the Michigan locker room, beacause the stampede would be on, and it would not be pretty. There are 110,000 people and about 20 exits the size of my front door. You do the math.

To top it off, according to a new lawsuit, the University of Michigan is taking steps to avoid making the renovated Michigan Stadium accessible to people in wheelchairs.

In papers filed in U.S. District Court in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America want a judge to ban construction at the football stadium until U-M revamps the plan to include more than 700 additional wheelchair seats dispersed throughout the Big House -- a requirement under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the veterans say.

The lawsuit also claims U-M officials are aware of such federal accessibility laws that dictate the number and location of wheelchair seating but have "intentionally" avoided compliance.

The litigants say there are not enough accessible seats in the new plans, and they aren't spread throughout the stadium to cover various locations and price ranges.

Michigan says the renovations are covered under "maintenance" and therefore they are not required to make the accessibility changes. The litigants argue the changes are a "major renovation" and therefore require a stricter compliance with the ADA. The litigants feel that Michigan is staggering the renovations in an effort to avoid compliance.

The article also includes this zinger:

Currently, 52 season ticket holders request wheelchair seating, according to U-M.

One such patron, Clark Shuler, is not returning after 15 years because U-M won't add wheelchair seating throughout the stadium.

If Notre Dame and Ohio State can comply, U-M can, too, said Shuler, treasurer of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Ouch.

Disability Housing Complaints On The Rise

Complaints regarding housing discrimination against Ohioans with disabilities made up 38% of all cases between 2002 and 2006, according to a study conducted by the Housing Research & Advocacy Center in Cleveland.

Overall, complaints have risen 70% from the year 1990.

Diane Citrino, a former regional director in Akron of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, said another case involves a builder whose new residential complex is not accessible to people with disabilities, a violation of a law in effect since 1991.

She said many of her clients come to her with the disbelief about the way they have been treated.

"They say: 'I can't believe it is 2007, and this is still happening,' " Citrino said.

My guess is that this is more reflective of an increased awareness on behalf of people with disabilities of their housing rights. I believe housing discrimination continues to exist - I've seen it in my work. I don't necessarily believe that there is more housing discrimination against people with disabilities now than 17 years ago. I just think that the awareness of housing rights is causing more people to assert them.

Prayers Go Out To Virginia Tech

Prayers go out to the families and friends affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech.

Botox for Cerebral Palsy?

I guess it's not just for Cher and Joan Rivers anymore.

An article from Canada gives the story of Jenna Fournier, a 5 year old girl with spastic cerebral palsy who has received great benefit from a series of Botox injections combined with physical therapy.

"If it wasn't for the Botox, she'd probably be in a wheelchair right now," says Collin. "She would not be independent the way she is.

And she's walking with canes now, too. In the past two years, she went from not walking with a walker, to running with a walker, to walking."

The injections apparently allow the patient to better perform in therapy that leads to lasting results.

(Children's Treatment Centre clinic manager Sally) Spence says Botox helps relax the muscle fibres, which reduces spasticity. After the injections, Jenna goes through casting to get the range of motion back, and then her parents and physiotherapists do exercises with her.

"She may only need one in her lifetime now instead of four," says Spence. "It's not a cure - cerebral palsy is not curable per se - but it is another approach. It's a less invasive approach and less scary for the families."

One benefit of the treatment is that it will likely reduce the number of surgeries a child may have to undergo. And it's a far greater use of the product than watching a 50 year old actor try to hold on to the last vestiges of his youthful appearance.

American Surgeon Develops Treatment for Foot Deformity

An orthepedic surgeon at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a treatment protocol that has had early success in treating Congenital vertical talus (CVT), or "rocker-bottom flat foot."

CVT occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 births.

Left untreated, the patient would walk on the inside of the ankle rather than the bottom of the foot, resulting in pain and disability. CVT afflicts both healthy children and those with genetic birth defects and neuromuscular disorders.

Matthew B. Dobbs, M.D., (right) who performs surgeries at St. Louis Children's Hospital, developed a treatment for CVT that involves gently manipulating the foot and applying long leg casts weekly for four to six weeks to gradually correct the deformity.

"In the cases where we are not able to reach full correction with casting, we reach the rest of the correction with a minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery is very small compared to the extensive release surgery that has been done in the past."

Just a little trivia: My father, Donald R. Darling, M.D., Wash U Med School Class of 1958.

Lifeway Suing State for $1M in Fiesel Case

Now the agency that oversaw the placement of Marcus Fiesel in the home of Liz and David Carroll is suing the state of Ohio for $1 million. The state is currently trying to revoke Lifeway's license.

In the suit filed in the Ohio Court of Claims, New Carlisle-based Lifeway for Youth alleges the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services engaged in a deliberate public campaign to make Lifeway the scapegoat in the August death of the 3-year-old developmentally disabled Middletown boy. The public statements were made before the state began investigating the case, according to Lifeway.

The nonprofit agency believes the ODJFS "made regular negative and disparaging statements about Lifeway, in effect ruining its business before Lifeway had an opportunity to defend itself," said the nonprofit's attorney, Melissa Mitchell, of Vorys, Seymour, Sater & Pease in Columbus.

The organization said that the state's "political" handling of their case has hurt their business, causing referrals to drop by nearly 50%.

Vanguard II Helping West Chester Student With Cerebral Palsy Chase His Dreams

Gregory Nelson is a student with cerebral palsy who attends Hopewell Junior School in southwest Ohio. Like most kids his age, he dreams big..

Gregory Nelson dreams of going off to The Ohio State University and becoming a sports reporter. Since he was a little boy, he has watched ESPN, soaking up the latest scores, players and teams.

The article in the Hamilton Journal News does an excellent job explaining why Gregory needs assistive technology and how it helps him bring out his abilities...

With a form of cerebral palsy that attacks the speech center of his brain, Nelson can't communicate with words. He can't control his hand and arm movements and when he gets excited, it is hard to maintain head control.

"People think he isn't smart," Harvey said.

The opposite is true.

With the help of technology and good old-fashioned signaling, the straight-A student has been able to attend Lakota schools and take accelerated courses. While he is able to communicate with his aide and teachers through eye movements and by looking in certain directions, the school has also provided him with a Vanguard II machine.

The computer has words, jokes, phrases and even sports reports programmed into its data base. Each day Nelson, or "Scoop Nelson" as his classmates call him, leads the Pledge of Allegiance and gives sports updates on the morning announcements.

"This is Gregory Nelson. Are you ready for some football?"

Stark Co. MR/DD To Cut 28 Jobs

The Stark County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is cutting 28 positions in a move that is both financial and legal.

The positions cut are from the Adult Services Program.

Superintendent H. Michael Miller said Wednesday the job elimination is necessary due to the financial impact created by state rules and funding changes. But it's also a way to cater to MRDD clients' need for services during an entire day, not just the work day, which the W.E.T. unit oversees.

Liz Carroll Ordered To Pay Back $84,000

Liz Carroll has been ordered to pay Hamilton County $84,000 for her role in the "hoax" of pretending that Marcus Fiesel was missing.

Carroll was convicted of killing the three-year old child with autism and was sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole for 54 years. She initially brought forth a story of him being missing from a public park after she had allegedly passed out.

The overall cost of to the community for the two-week search was $1 million. The agreement represents the costs of only one day of that search.

Carroll will be able to work in prison, where she can earn up to $24 per month. The state can take all of her earnings (minus $10 per month) to make restitution.

So, quick math. How long would it take her to pay $84,000 at a rate of $14 per month?

500 years.

Robber with Disabilities Caught When Prosthetic Limb Falls Off

In Pomona, California, two men drove up to an ATM, ripped it out of the ground with a chain and a pickup truck, and tried to make a dramatic getaway with the cash.

The police chased them into a residential area where they eventually drove down a dead-end street-- never a wise move in a getaway dash.

Both men tried to flee the scene, but only one was caught. Significantly contributing to the capture of Gregory Daniels, aged 48, was the fact that his prosthetic leg came off in the chase.

People with disabilities want the opportunity to make their own choices. Unfortunately, this freedom also covers the stupid decision whether to rob a bank and try to outrun the police on with a prosthetic limb.

"On My Own" Merges with Goodwill Columbus

On My Own is a seven-employee non-profit that is dedicated toward helping central Ohioans with mental retardation live independently.

Recently the organization, with an annual budget of $700,000, merged with Goodwill Columbus to help solidy their position and allow them to continue to provide services for years to come.

The move reflects a trend locally and nationally, as small nonprofit groups -- the local hardware stores of the charitable sector -- struggle in the competition for money. Many are sliding under the wings of larger, like-minded organizations to save on overhead and administrative costs. In return, the bigger agencies gain specialized, ready-for-prime-time programs without having to develop them from scratch.

Some, however, are concerned that small non-profits will "lose touch" with their constituents if they are blended with larger, corporate-minded, organizations.

(Doug Rossiter, whose 31-year-old son, Ben, has been a client with the organization for 12 years) said he and other parents hope that the smaller organization doesn't lose its "family feel."

"The small guys can be closer to the ground, and identify the need," (Audrey Alvarado, executive director of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations) said. "Big is not necessarily the best thing."

Sandusky City Manager Doesn't Want Pier To Be Wheelchair Accessible

The City Manager of Sandusky fought- unsuccessfully - against a proposal to make the Jackson Street Pier accessible for people with wheelchairs.

According to City Manager Mike Will, the city shouldn't build a ramp for the northern end of the pier because building it would make it easier for people to get up to the pier, which would be dangerous for people in wheelchairs as the pier "slopes slightly toward Sandusky Bay." (pictured at right).

The Mayor, Dan Kaman, has been for building a ramp for over a year. He said people in wheechairs go up there already, but are forced to "pop a wheelie and jump a curb” in order to get up to the Pier.

So the issue becomes trying to protect people with disabilities from themselves, while you are allowing everyone else to go up to the pier and enjoy the sunset.

Solution: Put up a sign that cautions people that the pier slopes toward the bay, and let people in wheelchairs make up their own mind. The pier is for the public at large, including people with disabilities.

Build the ramp.

Cleveland Invention Brings New Hope to Patients with Breathing Problems

There is a new device, developed by researchers at Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals in Cleveland, that may bring independence and hope to people with disabilities who have breathing problems.

There are many paralysis patients that require the use of a ventilator to help them breathe. A ventilator forces air into the lungs, causing them to inflate.

This new device works much the same way as a pacemaker does, except that it stimulates the diapragm instead of the heart. The device causes the muscle to expand and contract, creating the breathing motion of drawing air in and exhaling it out.

It even has the added benefit of improving the sense of taste and smell, senses that are often damaged in ventilator patients by not having air go through the nose and mouth.

The device now costs about $20,000 to install and replacement batteries should cost less than $1000 per month. A cost analysis had it saving Medicaid over $13,000 per month over having someone on a ventilator.

Darryl Stingley, Rest in Peace

Before Christopher Reeve, there was Darryl Stingley.

And if you ever want to view the life of a real football hero, don't look to the star that scores the most touchdowns. Look to a star that went on to live a productive, valuable and meaningful life after going from being a world class athlete to beign paralyzed in the blink of an eye.

Nearly 30 years after suffering a vicious hit that left him a quadriplegic, Darryl Stingley died today. The causes of death were listed as bronchial pneumonia and coronary atherosclerosis.

Darryl Stingley was a star football player at Purdue University who went on to play for the New England Patriots. In an exhibition pre-season game, he was hit coming across the middle by the Oakland Raiders' Jack Tatum, a hit that rendered him paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Jack Tatum, a former Ohio State Buckeye, has always embraced the unfortunate nickname, "The Assassin." In light of what happened to Darryl Stingley, Mr. Tatum should have shed that name forever. Instead, he wrote a biographies with that name in the headline.

Darryl Stingley went on to have a very productive life.

Stingley served as executive director of player personnel for the Patriots and often visited paralyzed patients. He wrote a book about his experiences entitled "Happy to Be Alive," published in 1983, and 10 years later started a nonprofit foundation in Chicago designed to help inner-city youth.

"I have relived that moment over and over again," Stingley said. "I was 26 years old at the time and I remember thinking, 'What's going to happen to me? If I live, what am I going to be like?' And then there were all those whys, whys, whys?"

"It was only after I stopped asking why, that I was able to regroup and go on my with my life," he said.

Rest in peace.

Man Convicted Of Killing Person With Disability Claiming Disability To Avoid Death Penalty

James P. Frazier was convicted of the brutal murder of Mary Lou Stevenson in 2004. His attorneys argued before the Ohio Supreme Court that he should be spared the death penalty because he has mental retardation.

He was in special education classes in high school and once had his IQ tested in the mid-70s, just above a common standard for mental retardation.

This is a common defense tactic, as states are (more) hesitant to execute people perceived as having mental retardation. There is one twist in this case: the person he murdered was also a person with a disability.

Mary Lou Stevenson had cerebral palsy. Frazier strangled her and slit her throat with a knife, and there was reference in his trial to a sexual assault. He then stole her money to buy more crack cocaine.

When a person claims mental retardation to avoid the death penalty, he often receives support from the disability community. In this instance, the disability community is likely to reflect just as long - if not longer - on the victim as they do on the accused.

By the way, according to her obituary, Mary Lou Stevenson "was born August 27, 1954, in Toledo to Mr. and Mrs. Glen (Irene Bryant) Stevenson. She was a graduate of Start High School and enjoyed attending the Northgate Apartments Bible Study each week and also enjoyed reading, playing bunco, cards, and dice games."

State Revokes License of Fairfield Center

John Martin, the new director of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, announced that the state was pulling the license of an Intermediate Care Facility that was the site of a resident death last year.

"The licensee has demonstrated a pattern of serious noncompliance over a number of years," Ohio MRDD Department Director John L. Martin said. "We cannot continue to risk the health and safety of the residents by allowing this culture of poor care and lax oversight to continue."

On Feb. 21, 2006, six days after arriving at center, Edward "Teddy" Shuman was accused of strangling roommate Joseph "JoJo" Beaudoin. Shuman was found incompetent to stand trial. He's been committed to the Columbus Developmental Center since March 2006 and will likely stay there until at least July 2008 when his case is set for mandatory review, according to his attorney, Mark Hardig.

The Future of Voice Activated Car Systems

This is a video that shows what is possible with a product called VoiceBox. It is programmed to go with the XM radio system in the car. It allows the driver to have a "converstational" interaction with the device and retrieve such information as stock prices, sports scores, and the weather. Check it out.

"I Don't Want People Like That In My Building"

For this story we go to New York, New York, with thanks to "Wheelie Catholic" blog...

In Manhattan there is a condominium building called "The Bennett", where there were recently two units for sale. Asking price: $1.3 million for the two.

A disability organization known as the Young Adult Institute / National Institute for People with Disabilities (YAI/NIPD), put in a bid. Now the group is suing for housing discrimination against people with disabilities.

The plan was to purchase the units, which are located next to each other on the same floor, and create housing and supports for five people. These five adults "have a dire need for a place to live" and either live an a group home "that is not appropriate for their needs" or are living with aging parents, (Thomas) Dern (Associate Executive Director) told Inclusion Daily Express in a telephone interview.

The condominium board then exercised their "Right of First Refusal," which is a legal and financial move to block a potential buyer from purchasing the space. The space has subsequently been rented to other (non-disabled) clients.

"While a tenant can exercise the right of first refusal, they cannot discriminate," Dern explained.

"Clearly all along what had happened was that this condo board had said discriminatory things regarding the behavior the people might exhibit like, 'Would they use the common space -- like the gym?', 'What would I do if I met one of these people in an elevator?' and, 'I don't want people like that in my building.'"

Dern then questioned how Right of First Refusal was any different than blatant discrimination, and it isn't clear to me the difference. This is first time in the 50 year history of the organization they have filed suit for housing discrimination.

Should A Surgeon With Bipolar Disorder Be Allowed To Operate?

There is an interesting case out of the state of Pennsylvania, where an orthopaedic surgeon is suing under the ADA to be allowed back into the operating room.

Dr. Jonathan Haas is a talented surgeon who has received treatment for bipolar disorder. There was an incident back in 2001 where he started acting strangely in the operating room while performing a total knee replacement.

The surgery went off without a hitch, but he did acknowledge that his behavior was strange. He voluntarily sought treatment for his disorder, and then sought to be re-instated at the hospital to perform surgeries.

The hospital agreed to allow him to perform surgeries, but placed such strenuous conditions on it that made it virtually impossible for it to occur. Namely, an orthopaedic surgeon (a group that tends to be fairly busy) must agree to be there to supervise all surgeries. Not surprisingly, no one has agreed to do it.

Haas obtained treatment and in November 2002 he was cleared to return to work without any restrictions by his treating psychiatrist. But the hospital continued to insist he be supervised, even though there was no medical evidence to support its contention that Haas was a danger.

The hospital, obviously, sees things differently.

“This case can be summed up in two words: patient safety,” Kircher said. “The hospital did not want to expose a patient to a physician who ‘melted down,’ quite frankly, in the operating room.”

Kircher acknowledged the patient in that case was not harmed, but said it was a “miracle.”
Five witnesses will testify that Haas became disoriented during the surgery, forgot the names of certain instruments and at one point appeared to be talking to the wall, he said.

Haas was only able to complete the surgery with the help of two others in the room, who “walked” him through it, step by step, Kircher said.

This one seems pretty simple to me. If a team of psychiatrists agree he is able, he should be allowed to operate. The problem (vocationally) for people with bipolar disorder usually has more to do with behavior than with the ability to perform the job. There has to be a way to monitor his behavior to see if he is fit to do the job. If he is, they should let him do it.

Blind Minister Preaches Using Faith, Hands

Since this is Holy Week, I decided to put in a story about someone who uses assistive technology to bring his message of hope to the congregation.

Revered Barry Stirbens is the minister at the Grace United Church of Christ in Massillon.

Blind from birth, Stirbens uses his hands to read the Bible in Braille or refer to sermon notes from the pulpit. Those hands have served him well in 33 years of ministry, whether typing a sermon or shaking a hand or comforting someone in a time of grief.

Stirbens uses public transportation to get to work, but he relies on congregants to take him on hospital calls and shut-in visits. He also defers to lay leaders for tasks such as communion and the collection.
Because of his dependence on others, Stirbens sees his blindness as a blessing in disguise. It prompts others in the church to help out, he said.

"I believe the blindness helps to contribute to a ministry where a lot of people get involved," he said. "I can't tell you the number of times people have told me, 'I never knew Mrs. Jones (or some other shut-in) before.' It turns into a whole additional ministry for them."

Like many others who are blind, Rev. Stirbens benefits greatly from the use of assistive technology...

He uses a machine called a Braille 'n' Speak to type notes and have them either printed or read to him later. He also uses adaptive screen-reading technology to read the computer, prepare sermons and develop the order of worship services.

People ask him whether he is angry at God about his disability. Stirbens has a ready answer.
"I'm not angry at God. I think that God has been able to use me in the capacity that I am in a positive way," he said.

"God can take any disability and use it for his glory."

"Wheelin' Sportsmen" fishing Event Set for April 19th in Ironton

There is a great event scheduled for April 19th in the Ironton area. Lake Vesuvius is the host site for the Wheelin' Sportsmen Fishing Day.

The Wheelin’ Sportsmen is an outreach program established by the National Wild Turkey Federation to provide physically challenged individuals with opportunities to participate in outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting and bird watching.

“There are a lot of people who would like to fish, but haven’t been able to do so for many years because age or disabilities have kept them from getting out and enjoying the lake…all of that has changed now since the boardwalk has been built,” said Robert Burcham, vice president of the NWTF Ohio State Chapter.

In 2003, the Forest Service completed construction of a one-third-mile long boardwalk over the water between the boat dock and the dam.

“It was built with a gentle grade, has safety railings and has benches for resting,” said Ironton District Ranger, Gloria Chrismer. “The boardwalk makes it possible for persons young and old and of varying abilities to fish at the lake, or to just get out and enjoy the view it provides.”

Interested participants should contact the Wayne National Forest’s Ironton Ranger District at (740) 534-6500.The event is free and open to the public.

Lowery To Stay At Southern Illinois

Chris Lowery has signed a new 7-year contract with Southern Illinois University that will pay him over $700,000 per year.

That's a lot of money, especially at a place the size of SIU.

Congrats to Mr. Lowery and his family.