The Abilities International Accessibility Conference — the professional conference arm of the Abilities Expo show series — has announced 2027 dates and venues. Next year, the conference will be at the Long Beach (California) Convention Center on Jan. 13-14, and at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center on April 29-30. Both educational conferences will…
Abilities International Accessibility Conference Announces 2027 Dates
Advocacy Organizations Decry DOJ Notice Calling Olmstead Decision ‘Not Enforceable’
The 1999 Supreme Court ruling is the foundation of providing healthcare at home to people with disabilities.
Organizations that support people living with disabilities are denouncing a Department of Justice (DOJ) notice that called the landmark Supreme Court Olmstead v. L.C. decision “unenforceable” — while also expressing concern over an erosion of inclusion-related rights. The DOJ published the notice in the Federal Register on July 20, saying it “is issuing this document…
ISS 2027 Opens Call for Abstracts
The 40th International Seating Symposium takes place March 30-April 2, 2027.
The International Seating Symposium (ISS) has opened its call for abstracts for the 2027 conference taking place March 31-April 2 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Pre-ISS workshops take place March 30. In its July 22 announcement, the ISS said the deadline for paper presentations (15 minutes), short course presentations (30 minutes)…
House Passes Ultralightweight Frame Upgrade Bill; Focus Moves to Senate
The Choices for Increased Mobility Act passed the U.S. House by voice vote on July 20.
Now that H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the Complex Rehab Technology industry’s focus shifts to the Senate, which has its own version of the bill (S. 247). The bills, which are both budget neutral, expand access to titanium and carbon fiber ultralightweight wheelchair frames by…
Rescued by a Wheelchair Rider: How Aquila Revived Its Custom Cushion Business
Brothers Jarom and Jacob Hlebasko are now taking orders for the SofTech wheelchair seat cushion.
Jarom Hlebasko is a master of maps. By day he’s a geographic information systems manager who leads his team in mapping projects in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. His specialties include mapping for utilities, transportation systems and cemeteries, as well as facility management. But in 2025, Jarom and his brother, Jacob, took on…
The history of the mobility industry, from Judy Rowley of Raz Design
In the mobility and seating industry, education is essential. Providers and manufacturers must listen to end users, and to each other. That’s why Raz Design hired industry lifer Judy Rowley, who joined the company in July of 2026 with this title: Vice President – Business Development and Education. In this new episode of the…
Pride Mobility Introduces Revamped Sitting Pretty Lift Chair
The lineup now includes a petite wide size.
Pride Mobility has redesigned its Sitting Pretty Evolution lift chair line, first launched in 2024. As part of the June 29 Evolution introduction, which the manufacturer noted “represents superior comfort for exceptional value,” Pride also added a size: petite wide. The lineup also includes small, medium large, XL and XXL sizes. “The hallmarks of Sitting…
Kalogon Launches Verro Custom Seat Cushion in Two Configurations
The Verro Lattice and Verro Foam cushions are HCPCS coded E2609.
Kalogon has launched the Verro wheelchair seat cushion for wheelchair riders with complex seating and positioning needs, including windswept posture, pelvic obliquity or asymmetrical posture. The custom cushion (HCPCS coded E2609) is available in two models: the Verro Lattice and the Verro Foam. In a July 20 news announcement, Kalogon said the Verro Lattice features…
Rehab Medical Announces Leadership Promotions
President Kevin Gearheart said the three new vice presidents “embody the values that define our culture.”
Rehab Medical has announced three promotions within its leadership team. “These newly created leadership roles are part of 33 promotions that have occurred across the company in the first half of 2026, reflecting Rehab Medical’s ongoing commitment to developing internal talent while supporting continued growth and innovation,” the company said. In a July 16 news…
Industry Veteran Bret Tracy Rejoins Merits Health Products as VP of Sales and Marketing
Tracy started at his new position on July 6.
Merits Health Products has appointed industry veteran Bret Tracy, ATP, its new vice president of sales and marketing. The manufacturer of power mobility and Complex Rehab Technology welcomed Tracy back in a July 13 news announcement. Tracy’s previous tenure at Merits began in 2017. He served as Merits’ vice president of sales in 2023 and…