Sunday, September 21, 2008 has been set as the date for this years Spinal Cord Injury Walk.  Last year more than 180 people attended the walk and it was a huge success. This year should be even better. It is a great way to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries, exercise, and spend time with family and friends. There will be live music, a silent auction, door prizes, food, and a 5k-fitness walk. The proceeds will benefit spinal cord injury research, advocacy groups and the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group.

Volunteers and sponsors are needed for this event also. Please contact nwiscig@gmail for more information.

The Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group is bringing three spinal cord injury documentaries to Northwest Indiana for free showings at 6550 US Highway 6 in Portage, IN 46368.  Donations will be accepted at the door. 

July 20th at 2 pm

Christopher Reeve: Hope in Motion…

This intimate portrait focuses on Chris’s remarkable recovery of movement and his constant fight to fully regain his mobility. Following Chris closely over many months of treatment and public campaigning for funds for stem cell research, this film was completed shortly before his death and shows his struggle to keep his hope alive. Sadly, Chris died before his most fervent wish could come to pass. What emerges through this film is a portrait of an intelligent, determined, candid and outspoken man who was able to maintain his sense of humor in the face of adversity. His inspiring personality will shine through as you follow his unpredictable, emotional journey.

August 3rd at 2 pm 

MAPPING STEM CELL RESEARCH : Terra Incognita

This film puts a human face on this controversial subject. When neurologist Dr. Jack Kessler’s daughter injured her spine in a skiing accident, he turned his energies toward finding a method to repair damaged spinal cords, re-focusing his research on developing a therapy using embryonic stem cells to regenerate the damaged parts of the nervous system. His research has taken him into a politically very sensitive area in which Catholic and fundamentalist Christian views about the beginning of life exert a powerful influence.

August 17th at 2 pm

MURDERBALL… 

Murderball is an intimate and personal look at life in a wheelchair. The story chronicles the journey of the United States Para Olympic Quad Rugby Team from 2002 to 2004 ending in Athens, Greece with a championship game against their rivals from Canada.

The USA Disabled Hockey Section has instituted a new program, called the  One Kid . . .One Sled . . .One Shot . . .A Hockey Player for Life!  It’s a program that is  designed to help bring new players into the sport of sled hockey by initiating a loaner sled program for rinks and organizations who want to conduct “Learn to Play Sled Hockey” clinics but were prevented from doing so due to the lack of sleds and sticks needed to conduct such introductory clinics. 

In traditional hockey programs, rinks and organizations conduct various types of  “Learn to Skate” programs utilizing existing skates from rink operated skate rental shops and/or from donations of used skates. For new players wishing to try sled hockey for the first time this was all but impossible as most rinks and/or organizations  do not have the sleds needed to make this feasible. 

Through a grant from the USA Hockey Foundation, the USA Disabled Hockey Section through the One Kid . . .One Sled . . .One Shot . . .A Hockey Player for Life!  Program has purchased 25 sleds of various sizes to be loaned out to rinks and organizations to be used to conduct “Learn to Play Sled Hockey” clinics.  

As posted by: JOYCE RUSSELL 

At first glance, as you travel the winding road entering the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk site of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, it appears the pavilion is rising from the waves of Lake Michigan.  The 1,200-square-foot facility’s roof mimics the waves of the lake or a hull of the boat, slanted and curling upward at the corners.This week, workers continued construction on the brick-and-wood building, which will house an exhibition area, classroom and concession kitchen. The drywall is nearly completed and the smell of fresh paint wafted through the yet unfinished windows of the glass-surrounded classroom.  Outside work, including the construction of a porch and outside dining areas, are yet to be completed.  

Outside, fresh concrete had been poured on top of the refurbished breakwall. When completed, it will serve as a handicapped-accessible fishing pier. Beginnings of an asphalt walkway from the beach around the Burns Waterway are evident. On the other side of the new entrance road, a bike/walking path winds on the edge of the dunes.  The site will be served by two parking lots, totaling 125 parking spaces.The 60-acre former brownfield site has been nearly 30 years in the making and is expected to be completed this fall in time for an Oct. 16 grand opening, said Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Public and Outreach Programs Manager Bruce Rowe…Rowe said a unique quality of the park will be its accessibility. West Beach and Porter Beach now are the only handicapped-accessible National Lakeshore properties. The new site will provide wheelchair access to the fishing pier and beach, and along the riverwalk…

Sled Hockey is available Saturday July 19th, as well as August 2nd and 16th, from 8:00-8:55 am at The MAC (3901 Abbott St. Fort Wayne, IN 46806).  This is a drop in program.  Sleds and protective equipment are provided for each session.  

The cost is $5/session.

July 11-13, 2008 the Northwest YMCA, located at 3500 N Chadam Ln in Muncie, IN will hold the McCann Memorial Wheelchair Open for tennis enthusiasts.  The tournament will be played indoors at the Northwest YMCA. Best 2 of 3 sets with a 10 point match tie-breaker for the third set. First match times available July 7th after 3 p.m. on TennisLink or by calling the Northwest YMCA. Check in Friday, July 11th, 6-8 p.m. or before your first match on Saturday. $50 Visa gift cards for winners, $25 Visa gift cards for finalists in all events. Friday night pizza, and lunch & dinner on Saturday provided. Mixed doubles on Sunday. Tournament t-shirt and player gift bag. Free YMCA staffed childcare provided during matches. Please contact tournament director to indicate your need for childcare service

The Tournament is named after Aly (Ferguson) McCann who died on June 30, 2005 following a car crash on June 29, 2005. She was an innocent victim when her car was struck by a driver fleeing from police. Aly was a stand-out tennis player for Delta High School and Indiana Wesleyan University where she graduated with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Aly was 26 years old when she died and had been working for Normal Life of Indiana, an organization that delivers services to people with disabilities, youth with special needs, and adults with barriers to employment. The McCann Memorial Wheelchair Open seeks to preserve the memory of Aly because of her love for people with disabilities and her love for tennis.

For more information please call (765) 286-0818

As posted By Cliff Peale  • June 30, 2008

Local doctors who treat Medicare patients were scheduled to see a 10.6 percent cut in their Medicare reimbursements Tuesday, but the Bush administration on Monday delayed implementation of the cuts for two more weeks.  While congressional negotiators will wrangle over details during their Independence Day recess, doctors warned that the cuts could force some to quit accepting patients using Medicare, particularly if they have enough insured patients.  “If you’re a large primary-care practice and you have a large commercial payor source, there’s no reason to continue to take Medicare if you’re going to see these kinds of cuts,” said Stephen Blatt, an infectious disease specialist and the incoming president of the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati.

The cuts have been scheduled to take effect if Medicare spending exceeds goals. Congress has found ways to restore the Medicare reimbursements before. Monday, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicare program, said it would not process claims from July 1 to July 15 to allow Congress another chance to find a solution.  If the cuts go through, it could be a financial disaster for doctors, since Medicare funds the largest percentage of their patients. Blatt said about 40 percent of the patients at his practice, Infectious Disease Consultants of Cincinnati, are Medicare patients.  He said the practice comes close to breaking even on each additional Medicare patient and would lose money with the proposed cuts.  

Medicare’s importance to doctors goes beyond direct payments, because private insurers base their payments on Medicare.“When Medicare goes down, everything else goes down,” he said.  The cuts are only one of several Medicare programs scheduled to take effect Tuesday. In another, Medicare plans to institute a competitive bidding program to beneficiaries in 10 markets, including about 43,000 in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.Medicare beneficiaries will pay an average of 26 percent less on their co-payments of 20 percent.

The agency says competitive bidding will lower costs of wheelchairs, oxygen tanks and other medical equipment, increase sales for the vendors and keep Medicare more viable. But others say it could result in less service.“They wanted lower price so that’s the way we bid it,” said Tom Mullaney, owner of Mullaney Medical Inc, which operates a pharmacy and medical equipment business with locations in West Chester, Pleasant Ridge and Blue Ash and was a successful bidder. Mullaney said under the new program, oxygen won’t automatically include service from a respiratory therapist.CMS Deputy Administrator Herb Kuhn said the program could save $1 billion a year once it’s operating fully.  That provoked several protests from vendors, but Kuhn said late Monday the program was scheduled to proceed Tuesday. 

The McMillen Ice Arena (MAC) is offering two new sports this year—sled hockey and speed skating. The sled hockey program is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 8:55 a.m., July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug 6. The speed skating program is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 8:55 a.m., July 12, July 26, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23. Sled hockey is similar to wheelchair basketball and is a great sport for youth and adults. People with mobility disabilities who enjoy or want to learn the sport of hockey are welcome. Admission is $5 per session. There is no pre-registration for this dropin program and all equipment will be provided. Don’t miss your chance to become a living roller coaster as speed skaters can achieve speeds as fast as 60 miles per hour at short distances. Speed skating sessions are open to all skaters, whether you compete or just skate for fun. Instructors will be available to help beginners get started. Admission is $12 per session. There is no pre-registration for this program and rental skates are available. For more information, call (260) 427-6730 or visit www.mcmillenicearena.org.

This past weekend (June 27-29, 2008) at the 24th Annual TWAA Music City Classic local wheelchair tennis athlete James Ezell defeated Shane Coldwell from Georgia 6-1; 6-2 however in the Quarterfinals (C Singles) James lost to USTA #2 ranked Mark La Rotonda 6-0; 6-0. 

In Men’s C Doubles James and teammate Bruce Fairbanks lost 6-2; 6-1 to Matthew Clements/Scott Cole. 

Upcoming wheelchair tennis: James Ezell, Kevin Hughes, and Noah Yablong (all from Fort Wayne, IN) are all registered to play in the July 11-13, 2008 McCann Memorial Wheelchair open and July 18-20 Midwest Wheelchair Championships. 

Josh Swoverland plays wheelchair basketball for the Turnstone Flyers varsity team and is involved with different adaptive sports through RHI. 

Last Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon at the Olympic Trials Josh competed in the 1500m exhibition with the top Junior Track athletes in the USA where he finished 2nd. Check it out the close finish on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bnJpGFhMmc 

Through invitation from the Paralympic Academy Beijing Josh will attend this year’s 2008 Paralympic Games from September 4-11, 2008. Josh is one of 25 student-athletes selected to attend.  Josh was chosen based on an essay that focused on how sports have affected their lives. 

June 12-15, 2008 Josh was in Tempe/Mesa, AZ for Track & Field Team Trails. Josh finished with his best times in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1200 and 5000. Final results can be found at http://www.2008paralympictracktrials.com/fullresults.html 

July 14 - 16, 2008 Josh will be at University of Illinois Track camp 

July 19-27, 2008 Josh was selected to represent the USA in the 2008 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Junior World Championships (over 20 countries involved) held at Rutgers University (New Jersey). He was selected to compete in both Track and Swimming, but decided to compete only in track. During this same time, Josh will also be racing on the National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) track team. He’ll complete for both the IWAS and the NJDC in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 & 5000 and will also be on 2 relay teams. During Josh’s spare time he’ll participate in a 3-on-3 basketball exhibition game. 

Saturday, May 10, 2008 Josh was invited (along with the top 6 Juniors) to compete in the Glenn D. Loucks Games (White Plains, NY) as he finished 1st in 800, 1,500 & 5k road race and 2nd in the 100m. 

On Friday, May 16, 2008 Josh was at Ohio Wheelchair Regional Games (OWG) where he competed in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500, 5,000m event.   

Below is a picture of Josh competing during  Paralympic team trials http://paralympics.usoc.org/multimedia/photo_gallery/69?photo=960 

Speaking of the Paralympics below is a link to a video that has been passed around recently: 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5322187989214265548