Wheelchair Ramps: Amramp Provides Access in any Situation

2018 Winter Olympics Commercials Represent Diverse Abilities

Posted on Mon, Feb 12, 2018

For the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games, it is clear that brands are sending a new message to viewers by highlighting individuals of all abilities

 

Although several advertisers have reportedly cut back their ad spending for the winter olympics, the companies that will air creative advertising campaigns during the 2018 PyeongChang winter games are ready to show a new narrative of what it means to have "ability."

 

Here is an overview of commercials that feature athletes and individuals succeeding in today's world:

 

Microsoft AI Commericial featuring Common

 

Narrated by American hip hop recording artist Common, viewers can see how the power of AI makes an impact on today's world and the way in which the technology sets a new precedent for new generations. 

 

"Today, right now, you have more power at your fingertips than entire generations that came before you."

 

 

 

Samsung "Do What You Can't" Campaign

The commercial begins showing the difference between what it feels like to be encouraged and what it means to be or to feel discouraged. Even though the situation may be challenging, it does not mean that it's insurmountable. 

 

"We're born to do what can't be done. Do what you can't."

 

 

Apple's "Dear Apple" Campaign

 

The AppleWatch is more than an electronic vanity piece. Apple shares the stories of several customers who have benefited from the technology that has the ability to help achieve fitness goals, monitor blood sugar levels and even save lives. 

 

 

 

Toyota's "Mobility for All" Campaign

 

Adweek reports that Toyota has made great efforts to launch its global campaign. The seven creative pieces of the campaign demonstrate how the company plans to move forward with new innovations for people of all abilities. 

 

 

 

Visa Spotlights Paralympian Oksana Masters

 

The first ever global sponsor for the Olympics and Paralympicsfeatures Olympian athlete Oksana Masters. Masters has overcome a number of obstacles throughout her life, but she sees her athletic ability and persistence as important facets that keep her going. 

 

“Sport is what really helped me break through that mold of what people perceive as beautiful,” Masters told Visa.

 

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Meet some of the U.S. paralympic athletes expected to rock the 2018 Paralympics at PyeongChang!

 

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Keep up with all of the opportunities and achievements available for wheelchair athletes.

 

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

 

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598

 

Amramp to showcase at the American Fence Association (AFA) FENCETECH-METALfab

Posted on Mon, Jan 22, 2018

Join North America’s leading wheelchair ramp manufacturer-installer Amramp at the American Fence Association (AFA) 2018 FENCETECH-METALfab event in Phoenix alongside building and materials experts.

 

The American Fence Association (AFA) will host its 2018 FENCETECH-METALfab event from February 6 - 9, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ, to reach 4,800 fencing, ornamental, and miscellaneous metals professionals. For the second year, AFA joins its FENCETECH event with METALfab to create a more dynamic event for attendees, combining complementary building industries under one roof.

 

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The keynote address will be given by Barry Willingham, president of Ameristar Perimeter Security USA Inc., an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. He’ll draw on his experience in the fence, door, ornamental, and miscellaneous metals industries to bring insights on the synergies that can be achieved by related industries and their associations.

 

In addition to informative, career-enhancing sessions, attendees will also have a range of educational opportunities provided to them, including:

 

  • Certified automated gate operator installer (CAGOI)
  • Certified automated gate systems installer (CAGSD)
  • Certified fence professional (CFP)
  • As well as sessions for Automated Gate Systems Design, Sales Training or Fence Installation School

 

FENCETECH-METALfab attendees will also have the chance to connect with 300+ exhibitors, showcasing the latest innovations, techniques, tools, and materials.

 

Amramp is thrilled to be on-site demonstrating the best of our 100% recyclable steel wheelchair ramps featuring gripping texture that prevents skidding.

 

Enjoy beautiful Phoenix, and be sure to stop by our expo booth and say hi.

 

When it comes to safety, there's no room to be on the fence

 

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

 

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598

Amramp to participate in Case Managers’ Symposium 2018 in Nashville

Posted on Mon, Jan 08, 2018

With a growing emphasis on the importance of professional certifications in the eyes of employers, patients, and workers alike, the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC) will host its New World Symposium 2018 on January 18 - 20, 2018.

 

CCMC's New World Symposium will also offer case managers the opportunity to earn credits toward licenses and certifications while learning alongside industry-leading professionals. Called "Future Dimensions of Case Management," the conference will focus on developing a well-prepared case management workforce. The event will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

 

The Commission for Case Manager Certification has accredited more than 60,000 case workers since 1992.

 

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Of dozens of sessions, workshops, and opportunities offered by renowned speakers, featured plenary sessions include:

 

 

General sessions will address professional challenges and include such topics as:

 

  • An Underrecognized Key to Improving Transitional Care: Feedback Loops
  • Double Shot for Health: Motivating Patient Behavior Change 
  • Hurdle Training: Overcoming Barriers and Problem Solving
  • Bridging the Gap: Clinical Care Meets Population Health

CCMC's New World Symposium 2018 is set to inspire and empower case management workers. Attendees will have the chance to develop their skills while earning CEs towards their CCM certification – or licenses and certifications in the areas of nursing, social work, and related fields.

 

Amramp will be on-site in the Exhibitor Hall, showcasing breakthrough products for patients to transition home safely with accessibility solutions like modular wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, pool lifts, and more advancing the patient experience and supporting the work of case managers across the county. Enjoy this cutting-edge conference, and stop by our exhibitor booth, and see how we can help you and your patients.

 

Making a case for advances in case management

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598

Stay Safe This Winter

Posted on Thu, Dec 14, 2017

A wheelchair ramp is an EMERGENCY MEANS OF EGRESS to provide a life-saving exit for someone with limited mobility, in the event of FIRE or other emergency situations.

 

Most people think that a ramp only provides a pathway for wheelchair users to access and exit the home. A safe exit in case of fire or other emergency is important for everyone and especially for those with mobility concerns.

 

If you have a client or a family member with mobility issues – whether they use a wheelchair, walker, cane or scooter or just struggle with stairs - make sure they have a reliable, functional emergency exit plan. A sturdy, fireproof ramp with safety rails should be part of that plan.

 

Winter ice and snow conditions effect everyone in the home, consider an Amramp ADA compliant walkway with rails as a safe path to get all family members from the driveway to the front stair rails – you can even rent a ramp or walkway just for the winter!

 

For more about Amramp's safe fireproof ramps and other aging-in-place products and services CALL 1-888-715-7598 or visit www.amramp.com.

 

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/12/13/brockton-firefighter-saves-woman-fire/

 

http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20171213/brockton-firefighters-rescue-paralyzed-woman-from-burning-home

Five Accessibility Apps for Wheelchair Users

Posted on Thu, Nov 16, 2017

Download these apps to find wheelchair accessible destinations in your neighborhood and all over the world

 

Wheelmate

 

WheelMate lets wheelchair users around the world locate wheelchair-accessible toilets and parking spaces. The WheelMate app currently has more than 30,000 locations across 45 countries – and more are being added every day. Learn more

 

Wheelmap

 

Wheelmap is based on OpenStreetMap and works similar to Wikipedia - everyone can contribute to improving the accumulated data. The app draws its information directly from the net. All data is always up to date. Learn more

 

Access Earth

 

According to an interview with the Huffington Post, Access Earth founder and creator Matt McCann started working on the app after he booked a stay at a hotel that had advertised itself as wheelchair accessible, only to find that it was not. Access Earth members “give each other the specific information they need to try new restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions without worrying about accessibility.” Learn more

 

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Wheely NYC 

 

With stairways to the subway and lack of signage, those are only a few of the many accessibility challenges wheelchair users can face while in New York City. Wheely features accessible subway maps licensed by the MTA®, specific directions and maps to subway elevators and reviews based on local accessible places. Wheely is founded by Anthony Driscoll, a Parsons New School MFA Design and Technology candidate, who was inspired to create this app through his travels with his father who is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Learn more

 

 

AXS Map

 

AXS Map pulls destinations—restaurants, attractions—from Google Maps for users to rate how accessible they are. The app encourages hands-on engagement with the "Mapathon" functionality. The concept of Mapathon is to host a community event to go out and rate accessibility in your neighborhod. If users prefer not to start their own Mapathon, they are also able to join Mapathons with the guidance of AXS maps. Learn more 

 

Freewheel (in development)

 

Although the app is still in development, the world’s first fitness tracker for wheelchair users will take accessibility to the next level for. There is a mounted mechanism attached to the wheelchair that works via Bluetooth that calculates four key factors of wheelchair movement, as well as collects data to map navigable routes for other parties with accessibility needs. Freewheel is being developed by Chaotic Moon Studios in partnership with Accenture. Learn more 

 

 

 

 

Amramp and HaveHealth Provide Family Caregiver Guide

Posted on Thu, Nov 09, 2017

A sudden medical crisis can drastically alter your life.

Your everyday routine now focuses on how to help your loved one get better, making frequent hospital visits and often making critical decisions with little preparation or resources.

 

Through this difficult process, you have become a family caregiver — an unpaid family member who helps a loved one with a health condition. There is no formal announcement of your new position, nothing to prepare you for what’s ahead or help you manage your shock and anxiety.

 

Your role as family caregiver includes a number of responsibilities, such as

 

  • Advocating for your loved one to make sure the care team treats the whole person, not just the condition, by communicating what’s important about your loved one and what’s important to your loved one.
  • Alerting the care team to circumstances that may not be readily apparent — such as dementia, substance abuse, medication noncompliance, depression, or hearing loss. These can significantly affect your loved one’s ability or willingness to give hospital staff accurate information.
  • Navigating complex healthcare and insurance systems and coordinate care delivered by multiple medical specialists and nursing shifts.
  • Monitoring changes in medications, especially during transitions between different departments and at discharge, and also report side effects that your loved one may not recognize.

 

Your new role isn’t easy—even physicians and nurses working in hospitals report that being a family caregiver for a hospitalized loved one is much more challenging than they ever realized.

 

caregiver tips

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

 

A free, easy-to-read guide from HaveHealth — How to help your loved one in the hospital: You can make a difference — can help you manage your caregiver responsibilities. It tells you:

  • The three most important things you can do as a family caregiver
  • Three great ways to help manage your loved one’s health in the hospital
  • Three great ways to help prevent common mistakes made in the hospital
  • Three great ways to keep your loved one from having to go back to the hospital

 

Before discharge from the hospital, preparations must be made for taking your loved one home. You may need to make physical adjustments to the living space to accommodate mobility challenges, such as getting up stairs. When you make changes, you’ll want to comply with local zoning laws and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) who’s been trained by the National Association of Home Builders can assist you. This specialist has been instructed in home remodeling that helps individuals recover — and grow old — at home.

 

Amramp has the installation process down to a science with factory-trained professional wheelchair ramp installers, not temporary subcontractors. Amramp delivers and installs Amramp wheelchair ramps in as little as one day from each of its 45 locally owned and operated locations across the United States and Canada.

 

Amramp carries a selection of accessibility home essentials, including:

 

View the full selection of Amramp accessibility options at www.amramp.com, call 1-888-715-7598, or contact info@amramp.com.

 

A family medical crisis is overwhelming, but Amramp’s free home visit to evaluate your loved one’s needs and the free HaveHealth guide to managing the hospital stay can help reduce your stress and help you give your loved one the best care possible.

 

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Beth Suereth is the Founder and Managing Partner of HaveHealth. As a Certified Caregiving Consultant and End-of-Life Doula, she teaches family caregivers how to manage the hospital stay. Beth was previously the National Director of Marketing for BioScrip, a home infusion and home care company. Follow her on Twitter at @BethSuereth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s no place like home, set it up to meet your needs

 

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

 

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598

4 Facts about U.S. Veteran Population [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted on Fri, Nov 03, 2017

 

Amramp Veterans Day infographic

 

18.5 million

The approximate number of total veterans living in the United States—comprised of 16.9 million men and 1.6 million women

4 million

The number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating in 2016. A “service-connected” disability is one that was a result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

398,493

The number of all U.S. employer firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised 7.2 percent of the nation's 5.5 million employer businesses.

19.5

Percentage of veterans who report experiencing a traumatic brain injury during deployment who returned from Afghanistan and Iraq; approximately 18.5 percent of U.S. servicemembers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Sources:

  1. Statista, Number of Veterans in the United States in 2016
  2. Veteran Owned Businesses and Their Owners Report, SBA, 2017 
  3. 2015 Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs, U.S. Census
  4. Tanielian, Terri, Lisa H. Jaycox, Terry Schell, Grant N. Marshall, M. Audrey Burnam, Christine Eibner, Benjamin Karney, Lisa S. Meredith, Jeanne Ringel and Mary E. Vaiana. Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive CareNeedsof America's Returning Veterans. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2008. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9336.html

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Increasing mobility for everyone

 

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

 

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598

 

How You Can Help U.S. Veterans

Posted on Wed, Nov 01, 2017

"The veterans of our military service have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment" - Judd Gregg, former Governor of New Hampshire and former U.S. Senator

Veterans Day honors the brave men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who have fought and sacrificed for our country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 18.5 million military veterans in the United States as of 2016.

 

It is important to note that there are 4 million veterans who have a service-related disability that occurred during their time of military service and/or continues to interfere with their daily life after their military service. 

 

Amramp is proud to join the nation in giving thanks to all of those who made the sacrifice to protect the United States at home and abroad.

 

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Here are some resources to learn more about how you can help veterans in need:

 

9 Simple Ways You Can Help Veterans

CNN has put together a quick list of ways you can help veterans in your community or throughout the country at-large through small or large acts of kindness. There is a comprehensive list of organizations cited throughout the article dedicated to helping U.S. veterans.

 

Volunteer Locally to Help Veterans with Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a nonprofit organization that serves veterans in a variety of ways, including providing local volunteer opportunities for individuals to help at VA medical centers or completing everyday chores and home projects such as grocery shopping or yardwork. 

 

6 Ways to Give Back to Veterans

Military.com provides additional veterans-related organizations to connect with, like nonprofits that benefit military service dogs or offer prepaid phone cards to help those in service to call home. 

 

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Amramp welcomes the National PACE Association to our home city of Boston for their annual conference

Posted on Mon, Oct 02, 2017

National PACE Association (NPA) will hold its annual conference right in Amramp headquarters' home city of Boston, Massachusetts, which means we don't have to travel very far to showcase patented wheelchair ramps and home accessibility solutions.

PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is an organization Amramp has partnered with and supported for many years in our shared goal of making life easier and more comfortable for aging people —particularly in terms of mobility. Losing physical functionality with age can be disheartening, but many quality Amramp-installed products, like vertical lifts and stair lifts, enable elderly homeowners and renters to live the fullest lives possible in their golden years.

 

2017's NPA Annual Conference takes place at the stunning Westin Boston Waterfront hotel in the popular Seaport district. Close to 700 professionals will gather this year to share experiences and learn from one another through educational sessions, networking events, poster presentations, and more.

 

Some will opt to arrive early for pre-conference training in subjects like

PACE Basics,

Intake/Marketing Workshop, and

Primary Care symposia, Nursing symposia, and

Quality symposia.

 

On October 16th, the conference enters full swing with a Networking PACE Professionals Luncheon, a PACE keynote speech from Dr. BJ Miller, who gave the renowned TED Talk “What Really Matters at the End of Life,” and a conference-wide Opening Night Reception with fun historical interactive programming.

 

 

 

Education is the heart of PACE conference and encompasses Special NPA Workgroup Sessions as well as more innovative sessions:

 

  • Promoting Resilience and Empowerment in PACE: An Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care,
  • Supporting Communication in the Day Health Center for Participants with Hearing Loss and Dementia,
  • An Enhanced Ethics Culture Can Improve Clinical Outcomes and Minimize Moral Distress,
  • Sometimes You Want to Go Where Everyone Knows Your Name and They're Always Glad You Came: How to Successfully Open a Designated Memory Support Area, and
  • Current Public Policy Developments Impacting PACE.

 

Boston's own Neighborhood PA is host program for the conference; attendees can join offsite visits to their wellness center as well as the Elder Service Plan of Harbor Health PACE Center, the Elder Service Plan of Cambridge Health Alliance PACE Center, and Upham's Corner Elder Service Plan PACE Center.

 

If you plan to attend, make sure to install the NPA Annual Conference mobile app through Whova to make conference navigation easier and more streamlined. You won't want to miss this year's fitness event, an exciting 6K walk/run through the South End of the city—Boston is known as “America's Walking City,” and we certainly hope you'll walk on over to the Amramp exhibitor booth and say hello!

 

Your home should be welcoming you, not worrying you

Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate

Please contact Amramp’s National Customer Service Center 888-715-7598





Amramp Salutes Parents Who Rock Halloween

Posted on Sun, Oct 01, 2017

Every year, Amramp loves seeing how families put together incredible wheelchair Halloween costumes for their children!

Although having limited mobility can be especially frustrating for young children on an average day, we admire parents who make Halloween a special day for their sons and daughters to have the best costumes among their peers. It's hard to miss all of the creativity, love and care that is put into the wheelchair Halloween costumes.

 

Amramp Wheelchair Costume Star Wars Family

 

Amramp Wheelchair Costume Ice Cream Truck

 

Amramp Wheelchair Costume Frosted Flakes x Lucky Charms

 

Amramp Wheelchair Costume Hello Kitty

 

Amramp Wheelchair Costume Carl x Russell Up Movie

 

If you want more wheelchair costume ideas for Halloween, check out our ultimate wheelchair Halloween costume guide!

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