September 1999

Product Reviews

• How to Choose a College: Guide for the Student with a Disability
• Frog Legs Tires
• Color Test
• Disability Book of the Month:
  Living and Growing with Children Who Have Special Needs

How to Choose a College: Guide for the Student with a Disability

16-page booklet with pictures and text. Single copies are free.
Heath Publications
(1-800-544-3284 V/TTY)
E-mail: heath@ace.nche.edu

Frog Legs Tires

www.froglegsinc.com

Click here: Wheel chair leg supports from Frog Legs Inc.

Letter from the Inventor - Mark Chelgren

HISTORY

Through a common acquaintance, I have had the fortunate opportunity to develop relationships with several members of the San Antonio quadriplegic rugby team. During dinner with these friends one evening, conversation turned to the topic of what were the most common frustrations of "Wheelers" (persons confined to wheelchairs). We narrowed the issues down to two primary problems:

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED:

Many Wheelers experience excessive pain and spasms caused by vibration from the frame of the chair. Most public areas contain cracks, rubble, and other forms of terrain rough enough to inhibit mobility and often cause accidents. In fact, although this group is comprised of outstanding athletes capable of maneuvering their chairs in ways beyond the capability of an everyday Wheeler, being thrown or pitched from the chair was not an uncommon event for any of these individuals.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEMS:

Being an avid bicyclist with extensive background in cycling equipment, I became interested in products available within the wheelchair arena. There are three contributing components on a wheelchair to be considered: the large rear driving wheels, the seat, and the front caster wheels.

There has been much innovation and technology invested in large wheel and seating systems. Because of their size and dimensionality, large wheels are inherently able to absorb more vibration, overcome larger obstacles and break without creating a torsional force beyond the center of gravity (pitching). Given the advancements made in these areas combined with the conclusion that the large wheels and seat are minor contributors to the above-mentioned problems, I continued my assessment.

The front caster wheel is the most significant contributor to vibration and pitching. The front caster is attached directly to the chair frame whereas the large rear wheels attach to an axle suspension system. The small diameter of the front caster will overcome only smaller obstacles. Because this wheel is leading the center of gravity, it is likely to throw the chair occupant if it is not able to overcome an obstacle or terrain. The situation is similar to that of a bicycle. If the rear wheel locks up, it will slide. If the front wheel locks up, it will pitch.

The front caster is also the component that has experienced the least technological attention. Sports n Spokes magazine summarized this situation best in their 1997 Annual Survey of Lightweight Chairs when they stated, "The only difference you'll find in.(front caster forks).is the size of the arcs under the chairs". Some companies have tried placing a larger wheel in the front. This significantly reduces the chairs turning radius making it less responsive, less mobile, and unattractive to the purchaser.

The Frog Legs suspension caster wheel system is completely unique. The Med Group, "TechTALK" November 1997 newsletter reviewed suspension systems and stated; "The manual wheelchair market was virtually ignored until recently. Now a few companies offer suspension systems on their wheelchairs. Unfortunately, these systems are usually found only on the higher priced wheelchairs. There were no methods to retrofit a quality suspension system to either a manual or power wheelchair." Most products currently available utilize a spring surrounding the stem bolt above the front caster. Although innovative, the spring concept causes oscillation due to impact (creates a rebound or reflex of energy), is noisy, and is severely limited in travel distance to overcome obstacles.

I set out to design a front caster system that would meet the following criteria:

Suspension system that dampens impact without releasing excessive reflex or rebound.

Allow front caster wheel to independently travel up and out of the way of obstacles.

Provide front caster with maximum lateral displacement in order to overcome large obstacles without touching the chair frame.

The resulting product and its success were also reviewed in the "TechTALK" newsletter; "The design is similar to the "knee" action used on some high-performance aircraft's nose-gear. Instead of simply going up and down, the knee action allows the front caster to move back while traveling up.the manager of the MED Group National Repair Center, was skeptical about the Frog Legs when he first saw them. He has used them on his wheelchair for a few months and loves them." I am convinced your customers will love them also!

We at Frog Legs are excited to offer this new product to the medical industry and look forward to assisting wheelchair users with a new dimension of comfort and mobility.

TECHNICAL INFO

Frog Legs use an innovative design, which places a polyurethane shock absorber inside the fork. This method separates the small caster wheel from the frame of the chair and greatly reduces the effect of vibration on the wheel chair user. A second feature of the Frog Legs fork is the forward front pivot point. When striking an object, the Frog Legs Suspension design will provide the leverage necessary to allow each caster wheel to independently travel up and over obstacles with over an inch of vertical pivot.

Frog Legs are extremely lightweight - each fork weighing less than a pound. Frog Legs are crafted from 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum to be lightweight and durable.

Frog Legs Suspension Caster forks replace the current rigid forks on most chairs within minutes. They come equipped with industry standard half-inch stem bolts that utilize the chair's existing attachment housing. Each fork has multiple axle placement positions to allow customization of the ride angle. Frog Legs forks are designed to fit 3 inch, 5 inch or a 6-inch wheel diameter.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION:

Each fork weighs less than 1 pound.

Each 5-inch fork is 1.75 inch in width. Each 6-inch fork is 2.00 inch in width.

Will accommodate wheel sizes up to 5.125-inch diameter and 1.30 inch width for the 5-inch system and 6.125 inch diameter by 1.55-inch width for the 6-inch system.

8-mm (5/16-in.) dia. axle and pivot bolt. (low profile and corrosion resistant)

Polymer shock absorbers measure 1-inch diameter by 2 inches in height. The shock absorber is available in three different durometers to allow customization based upon weight and athletic ability. Lightweight 40-150 pounds (50A)
Medium weight 120-220 pounds (60A)

Heavy weight 200-300 (70A)

* Please note that these recommendations are for the average rider and may be altered for aggressive riding positions.

Frog Legs will be delivered fully assembled with a standard half-inch retrofit stem bolt included. The stem bolt can be removed if the purchaser would prefer to use an existing bolt. Alternate length stem bolts may be provided upon request.
*Wheels not included.

For additional information contact Frog Legs at 800-922-2129, by fax at 319-472-5008, e-mail at froglegs@froglegsinc.com or write us at:

Frog Legs
P.O. Box 465
Vinton, IA 52349

Color Test

From Business Week Color Test

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY by John M. Williams

COMPUTER, WHAT COLOR IS MY TIE?

You hit 40 years old and suddenly, it seems you're straining to read the fine print on a restaurant tab in low light, or squinting to read faraway signs on the highway. I know. My vision is declining, and vision loss can reduce productivity in the workplace.

Many unfortunate employees are blind, color-blind, or have difficulty distinguishing between different hues. If an employee can't distinguish colors, how can that person compete in the workforce?
The American Printing House for the Blind has an answer -- ColorTest.

ColorTest is a handheld device that, when placed in contact with any object, will announce the color of that object in a clear computer-generated human voice. It can sense up to 150 different color nuances and even detects patterns, brightness, and contrast. Using ColorTest, blind and visually impaired individuals can sort colored folders, forms, or floppy disks. They can select their wardrobe in the morning, even differentiate between ripe and unripened fruit at lunch.

The technology is pretty basic: ColorTest has an artificial eye that senses color using a small lamp and several sensors. The lamp emits a light beam when a button is pressed. The reflected light reaches The sensors, which report the general tendency of a color -- dark blue with tones of gray, for example -- to a computer chip, which then articulates the hues in human voice. The color analysis can be Quite detailed -- including specific degrees of brightness and contrast, right down to whether the light is natural or artificial.

After five seconds, the device shuts itself off automatically with a deep-tone signal. You can check the status of the rechargeable battery with a touch of a button, and adjust the speaker volume to four levels estimates of the number of people who can benefit from ColorTest run from 5 million to 8 million.

ColorTest costs $695 and comes with a 90-day guarantee on parts. On the market since early 1998, several hundred have been sold, all to individual buyers. While most are adults, about 20 have been teenagers. Nearly all of the purchasers, according to the American Printing House of the Blind, are employed and use it for work and other activities requiring sight. More women than men are buying it so far.

Dorothy Myers is one ColorTest user whose experience has been very positive. After using it for six months, she says, "It has definitely altered my life. Being partially blind and always colorblind, I have never been able to distinguish colors. In fact, I can not distinguish between red or pink, blue or brown. ColorTest tells me the color.

Now I don't dress in different colors, and so I look better." For years, Myers remembers receiving strange looks from people when she was out. She knew it was because her colors clashed. A programmer for the Transportation Dept. in South Florida, Myers uses the product at work when assembling documents or books. She enthusiastically says: "I can color-code different sections now. I was never able to do that myself. I always had to have someone help me."

Terry Lawrence purchased ColorTest in June. He uses it when getting dressed, when preparing reports, when buying food, and for other activities. "ColorTest has made a difference in my life. I am more independent. I feel better about myself. It's true, technology can be a great equalizer for disabled people." Lawrence is colorblind and has a 40% vision loss. He's a 40-year-old accountant living in Atlanta. He adds: "ColorTest has become an extension of my arms. Being ambidextrous, I easily switch arms when the other one gets tired of holding it."

Both Myers and Lawrence learned of ColorTest from friends who are familiar with the activities of the American Printing House for the Blind. For more information, you can call that organization at (502) 895-2405.

Living and Growing with Children Who Have Special Needs

     by N.B. Miller, Ph.D., M.S.W., et al (1994)

Sensitively written, affirming chapters guide you through your range of emotions and provide practical strategies to help you create harmony and understanding in numerous aspects of your life.

0139BP retail price $21.00
our price $18.90

Call (800) 686-6049 to order any time, open 24hrs. This is one of the hundreds of titles available through http://www.disabilityresource.comThe Disability Resource Library where all our books and videos are 10% off, all the time. Check out the other titles at our online book store at http://www.disabilityresource.com

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