Disabilities

Craniosacral therapy is an alternative method of treatment for a number of conditions such as headaches; back, neck and tooth pain; nervousness and hyperactivity. It is generally practiced by...

The United Spinal Association advises that before you buy a wheelchair alternative, you consider how it will affect your lifestyle. If you enjoy being outdoors, will you be able to navigate on...

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 22 percent of Americans are considered disabled. Government programs are available to help assist the disabled with...

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a condition that affects approximately 6.8 million adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

A person who has a physical disability contends with many physical limitations that may involve feelings of pain and numbness. The key for those with disabilities is to cater exercises to physical...

Dementia is a disease associated with old age. People with dementia suffer with loss of memory. Families of demented people need to be very patient, thoughtful and relaxed. These qualities can...

Maybe you've seen an episode happen, know somebody that has it, or have it yourself and just don't know it. Epilepsy is a condition that takes some getting used to. There are a couple of different...

Hydraulic wheelchair lifts use a combination of electricity and hydraulics to create a smooth, powerful force that can raise or lower a wheelchair. You can operate a hydraulic wheelchair lift from...

Filing for Social Security Disability can be quite a challenge. You must prove to the Social Security Administration not only that you have a disability but also that you are eligible under...

Down syndrome is a disease caused by a chromosomal abnormality; instead of two copies of the 21st chromosome, a person with Down syndrome has three. Behaviors associated with Down syndrome are...

Disability is a term used to indicate a person's limited ability. There is no single encompassing medical definition. The medical definition is determined by the guidelines of the entity making...

Technology is continually evolving to provide practical solutions for people with a wide range of disabilities. People with disabilities are using computers for business, graphic design, emailing,...

Disability benefits can either be permanent or temporary. They generally apply for people who have worked and have become sick, disabled, or have been injured that will keep them from...

Parkinson's disease was diagnosed by and named after James Parkinson in 1817, who initially wrote about a condition he called "the shaking palsy." Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive...

There is a wide variety of transfer boards available. Transfer boards can be useful for moving a patient from a stretcher to a bed, from bed to a wheelchair, or from a wheelchair to a car. Some...

Social Security Administration (SSA) has programs and policies that encourage disabled individuals to attempt to return to work. If you currently receive benefits and want to return to work,...

A walking cane is a walking aid that can improve the user's mobility and balance. Walking canes come in a number of shapes, sizes and weights. Some have ornamental flourishes, and others fold up...

Aquatic therapy can be beneficial for those with Parkinson's disease. The person administering the therapy should have an assistant for each person in the group.

Many balance and neurological disorders cause vertigo. Dizziness, swaying and spinning are symptoms of vertigo. Visual aids can be used to ease symptoms of vertigo. Repeated sensations of vertigo...

Talking to your doctor about fibromyalgia is the first step in getting the proper treatment. Physicians are beginning to treat this illness as a justifiable disease. However, before going to your...

If you've been disabled, even partially, as a result of military service, you should be able to file a disability claim with the Veterans' Administration (VA). The VA has precise rules about what...

A calcaneal spur or heel spur is a painful condition resulting from a growth of calcium deposits on the bottom of the heel. This pointed spur, in contact with the sensitive tissues of the plantar...

Support stockings are prescribed by doctors for conditions that affect the legs and feet, such as varicose veins, edema and lymphedema, according to the Support Hose Store (Ref. 1.) Support...

One can find a number of reading aids for the blind and visually impaired. Reading aids are often mechanical devices in some form, such as Braille, or audiocassettes or discs. The sources to...

Exercise is an important part of living a healthy and well-balanced life, no matter what ability level or skill set you have. Using your functional body parts to improve your muscle strength and...

Experts project that jobs for home health providers will grow 51 percent between now and 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth stems from the projected increase of the...

Hip problems can literally cripple you if the pain gets too heavy and the movement too restricted. These ailments can come about from a number of different causes, most of which can be treated...

A few years ago, doctors did not know much about Fibromyalgia. Today, after years of studying this condition, doctors are starting to understand it better. I don't have FMS myself but I live...

It starts with a little tingle under the skin that itches and irritates you as the tiny bump begins to emerge. Whether brought on by fever, sickness or weather, getting rid of cold sores can be a...

An electric wheelchair is a costly purchase, but it will keep you mobile and active. Maintaining your power wheelchair is important, not only because of its cost, but in order to avoid dangerous...

The blind and visually impaired can apply and possibly qualify for two United States government programs that will provide financial benefits if the visual disability inhibits or creates the...

During the 1980s federal and state statutes were enacted with the promise of "deinstitutionalizing" disabled individuals, including teens. Community-based treatment and support became the...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides many services for retired and disabled individuals, including disability and retirement income and health insurance through Medicare.

Persons with disabilities face a myriad of challenges as they maneuver through a world designed for an able-bodied population. Through the use of special devices, however, the disabled can enjoy...

Occupational therapy (OT) is function-orientated therapy. Several types of people can benefit from occupational therapy, from children with mental and/or physical disabilities to elderly people...

Social Security benefits are typically not subject to garnishments. But in certain cases, garnishment of benefits can occur.

Deciding whether to apply for disability benefits is a difficult decision. The process can be lengthy, and many people are denied the first time they file. Utilizing the following steps will...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developmental disabilities affect 17 percent of American children. The number of children diagnosed each year is increasing, though it...

Anyone who uses crutches in walking, either due to a permanent or temporary leg injury, can testify how hard it is to climb upstairs on crutches. As a crutches user my whole life, I can tell how...

Neuropathy is a condition that causes numbness throughout the body. The effects are often first noticed in the hands and feet and also include tingling, burning and pain. Neuropathy may become...

Service dogs allow people with disabilities to carry on daily tasks. The animals can be identified by the basic services they provide, but many dogs are trained with the needs of an individual in...

According to Wemove.com, injections of botulinum toxin type A, or Botox Type A, have been used for Dystonia since the late 1980s. Botox is injected into several sites on the dystonic muscle. It is...

Assistive technology refers to any device which helps a person perform a task. The "task" may be communication, work, daily living, recreation, or any other activity. Assistive technology can fall...

Assistive technology is technology that people with disabilities use for functions that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform. The advance of technology arguably triggered the need...

Down syndrome is a set of mental and physical characteristics that occur before birth due to an extra gene. Down syndrome occurs when you have an extra copy of Chromosome 21. A normal baby will...

Night writing was originally conceived in the early 1800s so soldiers could read dispatches without light. Louis Braille refined the system and delivered a way to read and write to the blind....

Cerebral palsy can impair a patient's ability to communicate, get around in society and complete household tasks. Technology aids can assist these patients in their daily lives, giving them more...

Developmental delay disorders, such as autism, include delays in one or more areas of child development. Parents are normally the first to identify these disorders. Early, well-designed and...

Although they cannot exercise and train using traditional methods, quadriplegics can still improve their cardiovascular health by using regimented breathing exercises. The exercises are simple to...

Whether a person loses his leg from an accident, medical condition or other reason, a prosthetic or artificial leg can help that individual live a somewhat normal life. There are two basic types...