EXETER, Pa.—With an eye on education, Pride Mobility
Products has launched two programs, one geared to educating the
public about living with disabilities and the other toward
providing educational tools to end-users.
Quantum Rehab, the complex rehab division of Exeter, Pa.-based
Pride, has put in motion a new outreach program, Quantum Speak Out,
to increase disability awareness through community
involvement.
The new program sends Quantum Rehab representatives with
disabilities into schools, civic group meetings and organization
gatherings, as well as fund-raising events, to discuss living
successfully with mobility challenges. Each presentation includes
an in-depth explanation of the speaker’s own disability and
background, how they meet daily challenges, the mobility equipment
they use, a brief discussion of various disabilities and a
question-and-answer period.
“We recognize that mobility products are only part of the
disability equation,” said Mark E. Smith, consumer research
manager, who was born with cerebral palsy. “So much of
disability experience is tied to how we feel about ourselves as
those with disabilities and the ways that others react to us.
It’s important to Quantum to help bridge remaining gaps, both
educating and inspiring others when it comes to living with
disability.”
Smith, who in addition to his responsibilities with Quantum,
administers a highly active disability Web site and is a published
author and a speaker, is one of the Quantum Speak Out presenters.
Others include Madonna Long, who was paralyzed as the result of a
school bus accident and went on to raise a family, serve as a
national advocate for disability rights and obtain a degree in
Homeland security; and Bryan Anderson, spokesperson for Quantum
Rehab and various veterans' organizations, and a veteran of Iraq
who was injured in 2005 when his military Humvee encountered an
explosive device, resulting in the loss of both legs and one
hand.
For more information on booking a Quantum Speak Out speaker,
call 800/800-8586, ext. 1249, or visit www.pridemobility.com.
In addition to Quantum Speak Out, Pride has also updated its
Pride and Quantum Rehab Owner’s Club online social networking
site (ownersclub.pridemobility.com).
The 10-year-old site includes a variety of new features and
resources, such as easier navigational tools so users can more
easily share pictures, videos, information and blog entries and an
updated version of Pride Web Talk message boards with
condition-specific forums and a “Groups” feature that
helps like-minded members share common interests.
Dick McLane, general manager, product marketing, for Pride, said
the new features were the product of discussions with site users
and others.
“We solicited the feedback of current members and product
owners we had the opportunity to meet at the Abilities Expos across
the country,” he said.
To check out the revamped site, visit http://ownersclub.pridemobility.com.