Moving efficiently through a less-than-accessible world requires more than just an optimally fit wheelchair. Wheelchair riders also need the skills to use their mobility devices in a number of situations, from curbs to ramps, small spaces and thresholds. The latest series added to the Wheelchair Skills Program is a free-to-learn collection of self-directed, web-based manual…
Manual Wheelchair Skills Courses Now Available for Clients, Caregivers, Professionals
ISS Opens Registration, Announces Lineup for 2026 Virtual Professional Summit
The ISS:VPS will take place on Jan. 28 and Feb. 25, 2026.
The University of Pittsburgh’s International Seating Symposium (ISS) team has opened registration for its 2026 Virtual Professional Summit (VPS), a two-day program in February and March. The ISS:VPS “will feature presentations by rising stars and industry veterans alike, sharing their expertise in seating and mobility,” the University of Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Science and Technology Continuing Education…
Study Challenges Belief that the Brain Rewires Itself After Limb Loss
New research could help support clients living with limb loss or using prosthetics with brain-computer interfaces.
Results of a new study are challenging the long-held belief that the human brain significantly changes itself following the loss of a limb — and this new information could help clinicians to better support patients before and after amputation. The study — Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation — was published Aug.…
Briefly: Colours’ Soft Opening Continues; Rory Cooper Named Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Featuring Colours Wheelchair, Rory Cooper, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Colours Wheelchair Update: Now Processing Dealer Quotes, Orders Colours Wheelchair, which paused production in February, continues to expand the “soft opening” it announced on May 14 via social media. A social media post on May 27 said, “We are now scheduling appointments. Dealers, we are now providing quotes and processing orders. When ordering parts, expect…
University of Pittsburgh Study Seeks Input from Military Members, Veterans with SCI
Researchers are testing out a smartphone app to help veterans and caregivers manage medical issues.
The University of Pittsburgh is conducting a research study involving military members and veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). In a social media post, Brad Dicianno, M.D., a professor in the university’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, school of medicine, said, “We are looking for veterans with spinal cord injury and their caregivers to…
ISWP Calls for Support Following USAID Funding Cuts
The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals is asking stakeholders to renew memberships and make donations to sustain its programs.
The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) is calling for support following a USAID funding freeze by the Trump administration. “We need your support,” an ISWP LinkedIn post said on April 15. “Due to changes in U.S. foreign aid funding, our major source of revenue from a grant has been unexpectedly terminated, putting our mission…
Briefly: CRT Update Webinar Rescheduled for March 27; ISS to Partner with the Abilities Expo
Featuring the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology, U.S. Rehab, the International Seating Symposium, and the Abilities Expo.
CRT Update Webinar Planned for March 27 The rescheduled Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) industry update webinar sponsored by U.S. Rehab and the National Coalition for Assistive & Rehab Technology (NCART) will take place on Thursday, March 27, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Future-Proofing Complex Rehab Technology: Strategies for Growth and Protection in 2025 will…
Briefly: ISS 2025 App Now Available; New ALS Navigator Helps Patients, Families with Insurance Denials
Featuring the International Seating Symposium and the ALS Association.
ISS 2025 App Now Available If you’re heading to Pittsburgh next week, download the International Seating Symposium’s (ISS) app to keep track of your educational sessions, meetings, and conference events. The cvent events app is free to download and is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Scan the QR code to…
Editor’s Notebook: Focusing on CRT Education
‘Tis the season to start planning for professional learning opportunities in 2025.
It’s planning season, the time of year to take stock of what we’ve achieved and to make new plans for 2025. Specifically for Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) professionals — clinicians, providers, repair technicians, etc. — might be looking for upcoming (and current) educational opportunities. — The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America…
New Research Examines Mobility Devices, Patient Characteristics of People Reporting Falls
The study used information from the Functional Mobility Assessment and Uniform Dataset Registry.
New research by clinical investigators at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Carolina reports on characteristics of people with limited mobility who experienced falls. An Aug. 19 news announcement from U.S. Rehab said the study — Falls in People with Mobility Limitations: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a U.S. Registry of Assistive Device…