Fitness machine optimized for the disabled draws $525k investment

Fitness machine optimized for the disabled draws $525k investment


A company developing a fitness machine designed specifically for use by the disabled has received a $525,000 investment.

The funding to Columbus, Ohio-based IncludeFitness comes in the form of debt and was sourced from four investors, according to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company’s “Access” exercise machine comes with several features intended to make it easier to use for people who are disabled, such as enhanced wheelchair stability. The Access also offers improved usability features that help users grip the machine’s bar, and a push-button system that makes it easier to select weight loads.

IncludeFitness’ website consists of little more than a video (see below) that shows mock-ups of the Access machine. J. Ryan Eder, a company official listed on the regulatory document, didn’t return a call.

“We are pushing hard to raise the capital & launch the product. It’s still a while away,” Eder wrote on the company’s YouTube page last year in response to an inquiry about The Access.

Roll-a-Ramp - Elevators, Ramps, Lifts - AIP Business Pages

Roll-a-Ramp - Elevators, Ramps, Lifts - AIP Business Pages

Strength, flexibility, portability and affordability come together in a Roll-A-Ramp portable ramp.

Wheelchair ramps are easy to use, simple to set up and take down. The Van Ramp is the affordable option instead of expensive van conversions. Use as a Boat Ramp for your passengers and pets. Portable Ramps roll up and stow away in your trunk, your truck-anywhere you want to increase accessibility. Roll-A-Ramp ATV ramps and motorcycle ramps are used to load those vehicles into pickups with ease. Removable aluminum ramp handrails can be added to your Roll-A-Ramp for extra safety. Modular Ramp Systems help you create accessibility to your home, RV, business; use it anywhere access is limited.

Roll-A-Ramp® is the the most portable, versatile ramp available. Made from an aircraft-grade aluminum with a T-6 hardness rating, the ramps are very sturdy let light enough to carry by hand.

NEVER PERMANENT — No matter how the system is configured; short portable ramp to extensive modular ramp, to vehicle-mounted application, your Roll-A-Ramp ALWAYS remains portable.For our US customers - We have a Veteran Benefits Coordinator on staff who will work to help disabled vets get the benefits they are entitled to and help solve accessibility challenges through HISA and other grants. 

Federal rules to make pools more accessible for disabled swimmers

Federal rules to make pools more accessible for disabled swimmers

By Aaron Haleahale@gainesvilletimes.com POSTED: April 30, 2012 12:05 a.m.

For many children and adults alike, pool time is the highlight of the summer.

Federal rules scheduled to take effect next month are supposed to increase pool usability for people with disabilities.

Changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2010 say public pools — including those at hotels, recreation centers and public parks — must be upgraded to provide accessibility for disabled swimmers. The law doesn’t affect private clubs or pools owned by neighborhood associations that aren’t open to the public.

For most of those affected pools, the upgrades required are mechanical lifts that help people with disabilities get into the water.

The initial deadline for the ADA regulations was March 16, but confusion over the details and pool owners’ insistence for more time caused the Justice Department to give them until May 21.

Some are now scrambling to meet the deadline.

For swimmers with disabilities the changes are overdue.

Gainesville resident Justin Pressley, president of Access to a Better Tomorrow, is quadriplegic.

In the past, Pressley said, going on vacation with family has sometimes been frustrating with few hotels offering pool accessibility.

“Over the years, I’ve found that hardly any have a lift,” he said. “I live an active lifestyle, and when I go on vacations, I like to use the same amenities as my family.”

But it’s not just hotel pools that Pressley wants to access. He also has given input to both the city of Gainesville and the Northeast Georgia YMCA on providing accessibility for local pools.

A few years ago, when Gainesville was planning the Frances Meadows Aquatic and Community Center, Pressley offered insight on what kinds of lifts would work for the greatest number of people.

Now the center provides several access options for disabled swimmers.

In one pool, there is a railed ramp entryway into the heated water. The ramp can be used with an aquatic wheelchair that goes into the water. Erika Woods, an 83-year-old Gainesville resident and Frances Meadows regular, prefers to walk down the ramp while clinging to the rails.

Woods, who is not very steady on her feet these days, said the pool’s accessibility is her best chance to stay active.

“Swimming,” she said, “is the only exercise I can do.”

In addition to the ramp, there are several portable lifts the center uses at its multiple pools.

While Frances Meadows was built with accessibility in mind, many existing hotels and resorts are finding the new standards somewhat difficult and expensive.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort has the equipment for a pool lift on site, waiting for installation, said resort CEO Grier Todd.

While Todd stopped short of giving the cost of new equipment, he did offer that “it’s not cheap, but it is the law.”

According to The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, research shows that between 235,000 and 310,000 pools require the upgrade. Manufacturers estimate the lifts run $3,500 to $6,500, and installation can double those costs. Altogether, owners could face combined costs exceeding $1 billion.

Still, whatever hurdles pool operators face will ensure fewer obstacles for thousands of
disabled swimmers.

“You have to look at two sides of the coin,” Todd said. “There are obvious advantages for people with disabilities to have access.”

Once the requirements take effect, the Justice Department will investigate complaints and can fine businesses up to $55,000 for the first offense and double that for further violations. Pools operated by local governments don’t face monetary penalties but are subject to federal oversight.

However, some pool owners are just becoming aware of the rules, even though they were passed in 2010 with a 2012 deadline.

Management at Lanier Inn and Suites in Gainesville only learned of the regulations through a trade magazine article in recent weeks, said hotel supervisor Marisol Leal.

The hotel is still looking at the steps it needs to take to get in compliance by the deadline, she said.

The government can give pools more time if they show financial hardship and have a plan to save up for the equipment.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Accessible Gardening

Boy Scout’s work helps make gardening accessible to those in wheelchairs

By David Sharos For The Sun April 19, 2012 11:08PM

Residents bound to wheelchairs living at the Tabor Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation facility in Naperville would still like to enjoy the green thumb activities that were once part of their lives.

Now, thanks to a local Boy Scout looking to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, those garden-loving residents will be getting back to the earth this spring.

Michael Brancato, 14, who attends Hill Middle School in Naperville, is, by all accounts, a special kid. Beyond being a solid student who is active in music as well as sports, Brancato joined the Boy Scout program a few years ago with the goal of achieving Eagle rank, something only 5 percent of those in Scouting complete annually.

While volunteering at Tabor Hills to fulfill requirements for his community merit badge, a need arose and Brancato has answered the call.

“We have been looking to start a garden club here at Tabor Hills, but for the patients in wheelchairs, working with plants in the traditional way was impossible,” said Dee McHale, marketing director. “Michael wanted to take on this project, and he was able to raise the money and build one permanent raised planting bed to be located in the Tabor Hills Therapeutic Garden, plus six moveable raised planting beds along with two moveable gardening work tables. The idea was to make gardening accessible to those that are in wheelchairs.”

Brancato raised about $1,500 to buy materials for the project and designed and drew up plans virtually by himself.

“I was really touched by the staff there at Tabor Hills and wanted to do something to support them and the facility,” Brancato said. “I went on the Internet and looked at some plans and was able to draw them up on a computer so others could see them. After the plans were done, I’d show them to either my Eagle coach or my dad and got some feedback on them, but I pretty much did all of this myself.”

Tabor Hills director of environmental services John Lawler said he oversaw the project and reviewed details with Brancato “whose plans were well thought out.”

“Michael secured the lumber and organized and worked out all the details of this project virtually by himself,” Lawler said. “We made a few suggestions to keep things simple. He had a crew of his friends over here the week before Easter and they were able to finish the project working over a period of three days. It was pretty impressive.”

Michael’s mother, Janet Brancato, said her son’s goal one day is to become a doctor and that volunteering to work at Tabor Hills “was a way to work in a medical care area.”

“When Michael volunteered here, he got to work with the activity director and they talked about this garden club and Michael really wanted to take this on despite all the other commitments he has with school and athletics and music,” she said. “He’s been very dedicated about his goal to make Eagle from the start, and he’s enjoyed doing something where he could give back to the community.”

Michael’s father Tom Brancato said the local 84 Lumber company deserved a shout out for helping defray some of the cost of the materials even though his son still secured donations during a two-month period.

“We also had kids who were willing to give up a part of their spring break to come out and help with the project,” he said. “One day, we had at least 20 kids over here at our house helping make the mobile beds. We’re not gardeners or woodworkers here and yet Michael saw a unique need and wanted to fill that need.”

Brancato said he plans to go on with Scouting once he starts high school and that he’s not worried about his peers suggesting that being a Boy Scout isn’t cool.

“When I needed my friends to help, all I had to do was ask them once and they all came out,” he said. “They respect the goal I had. The most difficult part of this project was the plans. Tabor Hills is a unique place and I wanted to do this for them.”

ORIGINAL STORY: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/11985972-418/boy-scouts-work-helps-make-gardening-accessible-to-those-in-wheelchairs.html

Ben Stein Acknowledges North Dakota Businesses Going Global

North Dakota Businesses Go Global

KVLY-TV

updated 4/11/2012 11:47:36 PM ET 2012-04-12T03:47:36

Popular economics expert Ben Stein adds himself to the list of those pointing out north Dakota's homegrown work ethic.

And other nations are taking note as well, as local businesses report a boom in the international market for homegrown goods. North Dakota's agricultural reputation is well-known internationally, but the North Dakota trade office is pushing products to international consumers local folks might not even realize are here.

Among them is West Fargo-based Roll-A-Ramp -- a manufacturer of lightweight, roll-up wheelchair ramps that can boast business all the way from Buckingham Palace, to the Hermitage, to the appearance of Sir Stephen Hawking at a university in Israel -- not to mention backyards across North Dakota.

Sales manager Greg Moll says theirs is one of a thousand different North Dakota products the Trade Office helps connect with international buyers.

At fifty-one countries and counting, Molls says the majority of Roll-A-Ramp's business is international, like most of the companies represented at the Trade Office's global conference. He says as more countries start to acknowledge their responsibility to make all buildings equally accessible to people with disabilities, it makes their product more marketable. However, he finds the work of the Trade Office invaluable. Trade missions like the one late last month to China help local businesses open doors overseas.

"When you fly in, they've done a lot of it for you, you have a lot of info. It eliminates chasing rabbits," says Moll.

The Trade Office estimates the increase in North Dakota exports over 2010 to 2011 at about thirty percent. They plan to follow up their China mission with trips to Kazahkstan and the Ukraine in the coming months.

Greg Moll, Global Business Manager at Roll-A-Ramp visits with Ben Stein about world economics. Stein was in Fargo, North Dakota April 12, 2012,  for a Global Business conference.

Roll-A-Ramp Installed at Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain

Roll-A-Ramp was recently installed at the elegant Marriott Chateau Champlain located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

ALUMINUM RAMPS

Aluminum ramps have become more popular as an alternative for wood ramps since it has been phased out in 2002. They are more cost-effective and more environment-friendly for they are non-toxic. Aluminum ramps are lightweight but very durable and sturdy, making it ideal to be used to access barriers for dollies, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and even the heavy forklift.

Aluminum ramps are very flexible; they can be fixed or can be portable. They are easy to install because they do not require a lot of installation equipment. They are also ideal to be used as floating docks because they stay intact and don`t rust even when submerged with water.

Advantages of having our aluminum ramps

• Easy Storage
• Multiple uses
• Strong: Supports 1,000 lbs
• Durable Aircraft Quality Aluminum
• 10 Year Unconditional Warranty
• Versatile: Add length or separate into shorter sections for easier handling
• Lightweight ramps

Congratulations to our Quebec dealer on a job well done!

http://portablewheelchairramps.ca/ 

Contact us

1250 Romaine #201 Brossard, Quebec J4X 2X7 (514) 949-2147 1-866-416-1024

7200 Hutchison # 105 Montreal, Quebec H3N 1Z2 (514) 585-0531 1-866-416-1024

sales@portablewheelchairramps.ca

Motorcycle loading system - Roll-A-Ramp

Roll-A-Ramp installed at Hermitage Museum

Roll-A-Ramp was recently installed at the beautiful Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The ramp allows for smooth disability access up the stairs and into the building.
 https://picasaweb.google.com/103815058606359136630/HermitageMuseumStPetersburgRussia#

About the Hermitage

Official names
Federal Cultural Institution "The State Hermitage"
The State Hermitage

Legal address
Dvortsovaya Naberezhnaya, 34
190000 St Petersburg, Russia

Director
Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky

About the collection
The collection contains 2,967,334 items, including:
paintings 16,842
works of graphic art 622,049
sculptures 12,620
works of applied art 300,981
archejlogical objects 737,772
numismatics  1,131,606
other exhibit items 145,464
6,816 items enlarged the State Hermitage collection in 2009 as donations, acquisitions via the New Acquisition Department, receipts from archeological expeditions.

Creation of the museum
The museum was founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great purchased a collection of Flemish and Dutch paintings (225) from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernest Gotzkowski.

Museum Complex
The museum's storerooms, exhibitions, departments and services are housed in 10 buildings, 7 of which are monuments of 18th- and 19th-century Russian culture.

Online Photo Albums

We are in the process of creating more online photo albums. Check out these pictures of a modular system installed at a home in New York!
https://picasaweb.google.com/rollaramp/RollARampModularHomeRampSystem?authuser=0&feat=directlink

TopMobility.com Announces Addition of Roll-a-Ramp to Storefront

	NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Hudson, FL, United States, 06/27/2011 - One can never rely on public places to have the access they need to get in and out of buildings. However, the easy to use Roll a Ramp is a convenient and lighter ramp to assist mobility users regardless of where they are.

Top Mobility, leading online retailers of ramps and other wheelchair accessories, proudly announces the addition of the simple to use Roll-a-Ramp. There are various types of ramps, but they are lighter and convenient to carry around so users can take it with them while on vacation or whether they are going to a public venue. The convenient thing about the Roll-a-Ramp is that the track is designed and shaped big enough for any sized wheelchair to go on. Instead of spending copious amounts of money on a bigger ramp, users can take advantage of the Roll-a-Ramp where literally, one size fits all.

With size, users can choose from different ramps that fit the needs of their wheelchair better than others. The plenteous varieties ensure wheelchair users of all kinds will have their needs met wherever they go. For smaller-sized wheelchairs the 12-inch pair ramp is available. This ramp easily and safely grabs onto the wheels and secures it in place as the user makes their way up the ramp. There is no fear of slide backs. Slide backs are not only dangerous, they can be deadly.

For wider wheelchairs there is the 26-inch wide ramp. This ramp is designed to move users along with ease and has a weight limit of up to 1000 pounds, including the chair. Surely this ramp is designed for heavy duty use and it is simple to set up and break down.

The 30- and 36-inch ramps are both good to have, too. With a bigger weight limit to take advantage of, users can roll this ramp to the angle that’s most comfortable to them. There is no bending or breaking when the ramp is set in place, giving the user a safer opportunity to traverse the ramp. Ramps are important to have regardless of the wheelchair type. Not every public venue will be wheelchair friendly or accessible.

The Power AutoFold is an effective ramp because it can attach to the back of the van so users can get on and off with no issues. They also come with an optional wireless remote control system. No modifications are necessary for this ramp. Modification to vans can be very costly, but with the AutoFold, users will not have to worry about it.

Users have to assume that not every place will have a ramp to handle this. Having a mobile ramp has several benefits from being able to help users get on and off vehicles with ease to giving users the ability to get onto platforms and higher ground wherever they are. The importance of the Roll-a-Ramp can not be understated. Because it is so easily broken down and rolled to fit into virtually any vehicle it is wise to have one for any wheelchair user.

Top Mobility is proud to sell this product to wheelchair users. They also sell wheelchairs, mobility devices and mobility accessories. Their team of professionals know and understand the industry. When considering buying a Roll-a-Ramp or other wheelchair and scooter accessories, consider Top Mobility.