In a promising new area of cell regeneration study, researchers have discovered that brain cells called astrocytes.

Developmentally and motor impaired children can discover the joy of coloring with these specially designed crayons. As an added bonus, they’re environmentally friendly!

A monkey has learned to operate a robotic arm to feed itself, using only brain power. Researchers are confident that this technology will help paralyzed and disabled people to create a more autonomous lifestyle in the not-too-distant future. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine issued a press release detailing the accomplishment.

May 27, 2008 (Nice, France) — In the largest European stroke research program ever undertaken, countries in the European Union are joining forces in a unique effort to structure, integrate, and advance stroke research.

Announced at the recently held 17th European Stroke Conference, the initiative, which is known as the European Stroke Network (ESN), will receive €21 million over the next 5 years — funding that is over and above research initiatives supported at the national level individually by each of the 14 participating European Union member states.

CNN reports: Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill lost both his legs above the knees when a bomb exploded under his Humvee while on patrol in Iraq on October 15, 2006. He has 32 pins in his hip and a 6-inch screw holding his pelvis together.

Now, he’s starting to walk again with the help of prosthetic legs outfitted with Bluetooth technology more commonly associated with hands-free cell phones.

Bleill, 30, is one of two Iraq war veterans, both double leg amputees, to use the Bluetooth prosthetics. Computer chips in each leg send signals to motors in the artificial joints so the knees and ankles move in a coordinated fashion.

Bleill’s set of prosthetics have Bluetooth receivers strapped to the ankle area. The Bluetooth device on each leg tells the other leg what it’s doing, how it’s moving, whether walking, standing or climbing steps, for example.

“They mimic each other, so for stride length, for amount of force coming up, going uphill, downhill and such, they can vary speed and then to stop them again,” Bleill told CNN from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he’s undergoing rehab.

The Free Wheelchair Mission is an organization which sends wheelchairs to the poor in countries where other help is unavailable to disabled citizens. Recently, a shipment was sent to Uganda, India, and Ecuador. If you would like to donate or help in any way, please visit their site at: http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/ The joy of the recipients is uncontained, and unrestrained.

Music and pets have long been known to provide solace and inspiration to those facing daily challenges in living. Chamber Music Today has posted an article about assistive technologies available to elderly and disabled people which aid them to continue their musical inclinations and activities.

Scientists and researches have long recognized that the bond between human and animal can provide a much needed psychological assistance to people with disabling diseases and injuries.

A specialized lift meant to help physically challenged children experience the joy of horse riding is being developed by helpful students of engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Wired.com’s Geekdad reports!

Despite claims that his prostheses provide an unfair mechanical advantage, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has declared Oscar Pistorius eligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics. He is still required to qualify, but can now be added to the South African Team.

No commentary. The quote speaks for itself.

In testimony before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) will urge Congress to suspend a controversial, flawed Medicare bidding program for home medical equipment, calling it “a train wreck.”

The congressionally mandated “competitive bidding” program was designed to reduce the number of homecare providers and reduce reimbursement rates for oxygen therapy, hospital beds, wheelchairs, and other types of home-based equipment and care in Medicare.