HIGH TECH

able persons with severe disabilities
to drive; and conducting studies on
hearing aid and alternative technol-
ogies for individuals with hearing
impairments.
To order a copy of the NIDRR Pro-
gram Director, write National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research, U.S. Department of Edu-
cation, 330 C St., SW, Washington,
D.C. 20202-2572.

The Right Product

DINING or CONFERENCE TABLES

For home or office, tables and
desks by ALCO GLASS and MIR-
ROR add a unique exquisite
touch of beauty and practicality.

SOFA TABLES

High and dramatic sofa tables
provide a practical, aesthetic
display piece for your home or
office.

COCKTAIL TABLES

Convenient with design for
grace and strength, an elegant
accent for any decor.

SHOWER DOORS

Custom designed shower doors,
The European Influence.

Visit our showroom in
Farmington Hills

"We're Here To Serve You
With All Your
Glass & Mirror Needs"

626-9007

32671 Northwestern Hwy.
Farmington Hills
Two locations to serve you
547-1214 • Berkley Store

62

HOME

Sue Robosan, assistant director of
occupational therapy at Beaumont
Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., is one of
a long line of people in a handicapped
person's network. Based on their doc-
tor's prescriptions, occupational
therapists work with patients to
evaluate their skills and how well they
are able to handle the activities of
daily living.
"I look at what they can do and
then recommend ways in which they
can change their environment
home, office, car — so that they may
maintain their lifestyle," Robosan
says. "This might mean widening
doorways for a wheelchair, adapting
the kitchen or locating small equip-
ment, such as a desk chair, that's
easy to get in and out of. Or it might
mean acquiring one of the many high
tech products that can be adapted
to their line of work, or make life more
comfortable, or enhance their ability
to cope with their handicap."
One of the problems, especially for
the elderly, is that few people know
anything about these devices. Most
of the devices that could help them
have been marketed for the handi-
capped, with little information avail-
able to the general public.
There are two major sources for
most devices — medical and hospital
supply stores and catalogs. These
stores sell walkers, canes, wheel-
chairs, bathroom grab bars and other
devices as well as reacher sticks and
dress handling aids. The stores usu-
ally have catalogs from individual
manufacturers to help customers find
what they need. Mail-order catalogs
such as Comfortably Yours or Miles-
Kimbel also contain home aids.
The LS&S Group, for example, has
a catalog specializing in products
for the visually impaired. Among the
products are talking watches and
clocks that tell the time; a portable