NEWS YOU CAN USE
These items were brought to our attention by our members:
Animals prescribed by doctors for elderly may trump bans by resident associations
- When a companion animal is prescribed by a doctor as a medical necessity, the ADA says that resident association bylaws may have to take a backseat. The companion animal is likely to be seen as a “reasonable accommodation” for an elderly resident inasmuch as it will allow him or her to have a better quality of life than would be the case without the accommodation. More than 20 years ago HUD recognized the value of companion animals for its elderly public housing tenants and changed its regulations to allow them.
Aventura mayor synchronizes lights and adds timers for crossing walks.
- Susan Gottlieb, the mayor of Aventura, Florida, has instituted a system of synchronized crossing lights to make it easier for pedestrians to safely cross the street. This innovation has been especially helpful for those whose disabilities make it more difficult to navigate crossing lights.
SmartNAV
- This is from one of our members who suffers from severe MS: The SmartNAV by NaturalPoint (a company founded in 1997 to develop computer control devices for people with disabilities) is a hands free ergonomic mouse for people with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injury and other special needs. Users can Increase productivity by simply moving their heads to control their computers with this ergonomic mouse alternative. Find out more at http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav.