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Hoppestad B.S.,Grace Inc
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology | Year: 2013

Purpose: This article was written to summarize current efforts in the research community in regards to assisting adults with severe developmental and intellectual disabilities to access a computer. Method: A literature search was conducted to determine contemporary research that has been conducted to enable computer use in persons with significant developmental disabilities utilizing databases such as ERIC or PubMed. Results: Although various assistive technology devices and interventions have been developed for persons with all types of disabilities, a lack of research into methods to help persons with severe developmental disabilities access a computer is evident. This perpetuates the underutilization of computers in this population such as those attending day programs or residing in residential facilities. Conclusions: Persons with developmental disabilities, particularly adults, are often overlooked and are not thought to be capable of using a personal computer. Though communities have endeavored to further enhance participation by persons with disabilities in many aspects of mainstream society, there is a scarcity of research pertaining to how adults with intellectual disabilities can access a computer, especially those with severe impairments. Once formal schooling is over, there appears to be scant interest in supporting adults using computers. Implications for Rehabilitation Helping a person to access a computer use should be considered to be within the purview of rehabilitation professionals, even when an individual has an intellectual disability. Research into methods to enable access to computer technology should incorporate persons with severe intellectual disabilities, including adults. Assistive technology devices, including those associated with computer technology should be developed with persons with severe developmental disabilities in mind to facilitate access. Rehabilitation professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists should work in concert to develop guidelines and protocols founded on research to aid persons with severe and multiple disabilities who want to access a computer. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd. Source

Grace Inc | Date: 2013-10-03

A portable speaker system is described. The portable speaker system includes: a waterproof enclosure; a wireless communication element; and a set of speakers. A device adapted to provide multimedia content includes: a communication module adapted to be able to be communicatively coupled to a mobile device via a communication link; a processor adapted to receive multimedia data over the communication link; and a set of output elements adapted to generate user-sensible outputs based at least partly on the received multimedia data. A multimedia playback device includes: a waterproof enclosure; a set of user interface (UI) features; a set of audio output elements; a set of audio input elements; at least one connection port; a wireless communication element; and a rechargeable battery.

Grace Inc and ACE Inc | Date: 2013-03-14

User-manipulated exercise equipment of the type utilizing a weight-plate stack comprises a stack of weight plates, of which a user-selected portion moves as a unit along a pair of guide rods in response to an exercise movement by the user. The selected portion of the stack moves with virtually no cross-wise (i.e., lateral) shifting among the plates and virtually no friction between the moving portion of the stack and the guide rods because (1) a keystone bushing below the weight plate stack provides virtually error free alignment with the guide rods by setting the non-selected portion of the stack at a highly accurate home position that resets the moving stack if it has shifted laterally during movement, even if that shift is very slight, and (2) the guide rod holed in the weight plates carry bushings which align with the bushings of the adjacent weight plates to prevent the plates within the moving portion of the stack from shifting laterally with respect to each other and thereby contacting a guide rod. Preferably, the topmost weight plate in the moving portion of the stack carries bushings forming a smaller gap with the guide rods than the bushings of the remaining weight plates so that, at worst, only the topmost plate will contact a guide rod resulting in negligible friction.

Grace Inc and ACE Inc | Date: 2014-03-17

A dumbbell comprises a pair of frame members, each having a lower plate-like portion and an upper stem portion. The frame members are coupled together via spacer bars. An upper spacer bar is coupled to the frames members at the stem portions, and a handle is mounted for rotation about the upper spacer bar. Two lower spacer bars positioned near the front and back of the plate-like portions of the frame members. The frame members may provide the desired weight, either through choice of material, plate thickness or both, or the frame members may be provide a basic master weight plate for the dumbbell, with additional weight being provided by the addition of one or more weight plates to each frame member. Pads are mounted about the lower spacer bars, and are positioned to contact the wrist area of a user during exercise movements. A gap is defined between the pads through which the hand of a user may inserted to grasp the dumbbell in an upside-down orientation for secure control and comfort for certain exercise movements. The dumbbell may also be manipulated by the handle or stems for certain kettlebell exercises.

Grace Inc | Date: 2013-04-25

One embodiment of an aspect of the present invention is a method for lessening the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective quantity of a cholinergic M1 receptor antagonist and a therapeutically effective quantity of one or more cholinomimetic agents to lessen the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Typically, the cholinergic M1 receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of telenzepine, amytriptyline, biperiden, trihexyphenidyl, darifenacin, dicyclomine, and tiotropium. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to methods and compositions employing other therapeutic agents and combinations of therapeutic agents for emulating the theoretical pharmacological effects of the non-selective mAChR antagonist scopolamine. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions incorporating one or more therapeutic agents and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

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