Motion To Delay McCarron Trial Denied

British politician William Gladstone once said, “Justice delayed, is justice denied. Apparently Judge Steven A. Kouri of Illinois agrees

Kouri presides over the case of Karen McCarron, the former physician from central Ohio accused of killing her 3-year old daughter with autism, Katie.

Ms. McCarron’s attorney, Marc Wolfe, attempted to have a delay granted from the judge, presumably to continue to compile more medical evidence in the case.

Kouri, who was clearly irritated with the motion, said “So Mr. Wolfe is going to decide when we try this case. Is that what's happening here?”

(hint to lawyers: if you hear something like the above sentence from the judge, you are going to lose your motion…).

The state is ready to move forward.

In high profile cases where there is a huge public outcry and widespread anger, it is often the strategy of the defense to delay as long as possible to give the public time to simmer down and move on to other topics.

Katie died in May of 2006. Apparently the judge thought that was enough time.

Woman in Wheelchair Tasered To Death

A Florida woman in a wheelchair is dead after being tasered by local police at least 10 times.

Emily Delafield (right) was not well. She was 56 years old, used a wheelchair and was mentally ill.

In April of 2006, Ms. Delafield called 911 because, she asserted, her sister was on the front lawn and wished to do her harm.

When the police arrived to investigate, they found not her sister, but Ms. Delafield, waiving two knives and a hammer at family members and the police.

The police, dealing with a middle aged woman in a wheelchair who did not have a firearm, went for their Taser.

One officer, according to the official report, tasered Ms. Delafield 9 times for a total of 160 seconds. That is 2 minutes and 40 seconds of at least 50,000 volts into a 56-year old female who uses a wheelchair.

A medical examiner found Delafield died from hypertensive heart disease and cited the Taser gun shock as a contributing factor, the report said. On her death certificate, the medical examiner ruled Delafield's death a homicide.

The Delafield family is filing a lawsuit.

Buckeye Disability Golf Update

I found an interesting video about a golf course in Pennsylvania that is set up exclusively for kids with disabilities. It's called "No Handicap" Golf Club. It seems like a worthwhile program.

There are lots of good programs that focus on golf for people with disabilities. One of the best is Fore Hope!, a program here in Columbus affiliated with Ohio State. But Fore Hope, like most other programs, uses existing courses. "No Handicap" is the first I've heard of that built a course for children with disabilities.

New Knox Couty MR/DD Superintendent Welcomed

I don’t think any other paper in Ohio does a better job of covering issues in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities than the Mount Vernon News.

The regularly cover the Knox County Board of MR/DD, much like other local papers cover the school board. This is to their immense credit.

The latest articles was on the welcoming of Steven Oster, the new superintendent for the Knox County Board.

“We want to get a good perception back in the community again,” Oster said. “We want everyone to understand what MRDD does, that our funding helps support the community through its early intervention, its providers; that it’s people living in housing, it’s all the things people don’t realize that we do.

Buffalo Miracle: Everett Unexpectedly Moving Arms and Legs

"It's totally spectacular, totally unexpected.”

Those are the words of Barth Green, M.D. chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, describing the recovery of NFL player Kevin Everett.

Everett suffered a catastrophic neck injury on Sunday, prompting concern and widespread acceptance that he would be paralyzed and never walk again.

On Tuesday, Everett was able to voluntarily move his arms and legs, a turn of events which has stunned his treating physicians.

"Based on our experience, the fact that he's moving so well, so early after such a catastrophic injury means he will walk again," Green said.It’s possible that the quick actions of the team doctor within minutes of the injury may be the key element in the positive prognosis.

Current research shows that running a ice-cold saline solution through the system of an injured person can significantly reduce the negative effects caused by swelling in the spinal cord. This is the first time on record, however, that the treatment was administered within minutes. If his condition continues to improve, the Everett case could prove to be a groundbreaking case in the area of spinal cord injury.

"I don't know if I would call it a miracle. I would call it a spectacular example of what people can do," Green said. "To me, it's like putting the first man on the moon or splitting the atom. We've shown that if the right treatment is given to people who have a catastrophic injury that they could walk away from it."

I would call it a miracle. And hopefully it will lead to a lot of them.

Van Wert Bus Driver Accused of Leaving Person With Disabilities In Bus All Day

A bus driver for the Van Wert County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is alleged to have forgotten to remove a female passenger with disabilities from his bus upon arriving at the school. He then tried to use her disabilities to help him get away with it.

The woman is reported to be 36 years old, a wheelchair user, and someone who is non-verbal. It is likely the chair was secured, so there was no way for her to get out or alert anyone to the situation.

According to The Weather Channel, there was a high temperature of 85° in Van Wert on September 4^th, the date of this occurrence.

The driver reported to her classroom at the end of the day and was told she had never come to school. At this point he realized his terrible mistake, went back to the bus that was parked at the school, and found her still in her wheelchair.

The bus driver then, it is alleged, took her home without notifying her family or anyone at the school of his mistake, hoping that her inability to speak would be his parachute.

Unfortunately for him, the woman had her medicine with her that was to be administered each day. When the family saw that she had not taken it, they called the school to find out why, and the incident became exposed.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, treated and released.

The bus driver was later found in a distraught condition at a Logan County, Ohio, home by police after his family expressed concern about him, police said.

The driver is being charged with patient endangerment, a first-degree misdemeanor. According to the Cleveland Law Library Association, a first degree misdemeanor can result in up to six months in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.

NFLs Kevin Everett Suffers Serious Neck Injury

Ever since I was 12 years old, neck injuries in football have always had an unsettling effect on me. They happen every year – and yesterday it happened to Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills.

When I was 12 I saw a young man named Mark Hemphill break his neck playing in a college football game. Mark played for Southern Illinois University, and he laid motionless on the hard Astroturf of McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. The homecoming crowd – which couldn’t have numbered more than a few thousands – grew solemnly quiet.

They brought the ambulance out on the field, taped young Mr. Hemphill to the stretcher, and drove off so they could continue the game. Mr. Hemphill died a few years later in a tragic accident caused in great part by the lack of the system to meet his care needs. He has stayed with me always, and every time I see a player lying motionless on the ground, I think of Mark Hemphill.

I pray that Kevin Everett will recover completely from this injury and will go on to live life as he sees fit.

The power of Assistive Technology

Here is an interesting video about the ways that assistive technology can keep even those with severe disabilities connected with the outside world and vocationally productive. This video was put together by a gentleman from New York along with the company AssistiveWare.

Can You Get a DUI on a Segway?

There is an article in The Other Paper (Columbus’ alternative paper) that asks the question whether a person who gets around on a Segway could be charged with DUI.

Interesting question.

The DUI laws in Ohio offer exceptions for “motorized wheelchairs” and “electric personal assistive mobility devices.” Meaning, if you are hammered, and are going down the sidewalk to get home in your wheelchair, it’s not Driving Under the Influence.

But Segways are a different breed altogether. Segways can travel at a pretty high rate of speed, and if you weren’t careful, you could do some damage if you ran into a pedestrian.

As with many disability products, the manufacturer looks for ways to market it to the public at large. I’m sure a large percentage of Segway users are not people with disabilities.

My take would be this. If you are using the Segway for ambulation assistance, it’s not DUI. If you are using a Segway for transportation, it’s DUI. I don’t know how you codify that into law, but I think it makes sense.

Maybe someone from Segway could weigh in.

Appalachian State Renders Disability Group Lawsuit Pointless

A disability rights organization is suing the University of Michigan for the right to have adequate wheelchair seating and other disability accommodations at Michigan Stadium. The impetus behind the suit is that people with disabilities, just like all Wolverine faithful, deserve the chance to sit in the Big House and watch the Maize and Blue make a run at the 2007 national championship.

Appalachian State 34
Michigan 32

Never mind.