DMS Demo: Wheelchair Accessible Truck

Demo of our DMS Pickup Truck Wheelchair Entry System, 2009 winner of the Adaptive Driving Alliance New Technology Award for Innovation in Engineering and Technology for the physically challenged.

Music courtesy of Saam Gabbay (www.saamgabbay.com).
Thank you Saam!

Further OPTIONS DMS Demo: Wheelchair Accessible SUV

Music courtesy of Kruder and Dorfmeister; thank you!

Travel Report: Greenville, Illinois, to MGA Research Corp., Burlington, Wisconsin

Driver: Scott Darnell, C-5/6 Quad
Vehicle: 2008 1500 2WD Chevrolet Silverado equipped with award-winning Further OPTIONS DMS mobility system.
Date: Jan. 19, 2011
Distance: 664 miles round trip ("count 'em - 3 tanks of gas!")

When my colleague Cristy Willman and I got on the road from Greenville at 4:00 A.M., it was 20 degrees and the roads were a little slippery.

The GPS - or "mouth" as we lovingly refer to her – took us much closer to Rockford, Illinois, but did steer us clear of Chicago.

It was a quiet drive, my co-pilot only needed one stop and we arrived at MGA Research Corporation, Burlington, Wisconson, at 9:40 A.M.


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NDAs were signed and into the facility we went... I was very impressed! After some visiting we were placed behind the safe barriers – with the crash-test dummies (a dozen or so... I swear they were moving, just managing to stop/freeze each time I looked over). Equipped with MGA Research safety glasses, we all witnessed a brand new vehicle smash head long into an unmoving wall at 35 miles per hour!

It only took a minute and we all gathered around to weigh the damage. I was impressed when the front doors opened just as intended... I'll just say, I'm sure it performed exactly as the manufactuer hoped it would. The data came out and was explained to us, all of the marks they needed to ascertain were met easily!

Then the different elements of crash testing were explained, like what we would need to do to surpass predefined safety marks... what we would have to do to get our pick-up truck and SUV to pass current legislation.

For anyone interested, our current truck application needs just one relatively simple tweak to bypass the need for crash testing. That's right - our structural modifications are so minimal that our trusted authorities inform us that, after making that one adjustment, we will not have to crash test!

Do please note that for anyone interested in having the factory seat put back into a position so that able-bodied people can drive the vehicle from it, we will have to crash test. At the end of the day, the information showed that all our homework has been fruitful, warranted and appreciated.

After exhausting everyone with my questions, we made our escape. We had not eaten anything all day, so we were both hoping for a little something up the food chain for a late lunch. Much to our joy, we found someplace I have long wanted to visit, having seen it on TLC as a stop on CBS's the Amazing Race. We chose to dine at Gino's East!

We filled up with gasoline first. You do know that if you pull up to a gas station at the pump and honk your horn, attendants will come out and pump your gas? It's a wonderful thing in our country, each time I've experienced it. I am most grateful to everyone who works at any store where gas is served, and where this duty falls to you. You are extremely appreciated!

After refueling, we wound our way through Lake Geneva, Wisconsin... a beautiful town with incredible architecture and a lake you can drive your truck out on! Seriously, we pulled down to the lakeside and there were little fishing houses, just like in the movie, "Grumpy Old Men" out on the lake. Some had pickup trucks parked right next to them!

Gino’s sits looking out over the park, where in the summer you can rent rowboats, and the small bay comes right up and kisses the town.

What I can also report is, deep dish Chicago style pizza at its very best! The bruschetta was fantastic... the pizza, well worth the wait!


Gino's East, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
We got back in the truck and headed back for home. We drove past many signs that are currently difficult to ignore – Antiques - Flea Markets - places I was oblivious to prior to my injury.

The ability to get out and go is certainly a priceless commodity. Thank goodness there are those who have fought the fight to establish this as a legitimate right for us all thus far.

I cannot wait for you all to have experiences like these... to once again look out over the hood of the vehicle you choose... as the scenery gently waves you on...

Home at 8:02 P.M.... another great day! Big thanks also to Cristy, her husband Mike, and all our friends, familymembers and partners that make these adventures possible. The efforts are already helping us get more new people back on the road in style!

Honor military veterans

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day here in America, and it's a day of honor and celebration that has its roots in "the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918, when Germany signed the Armistice to end World War I. I have written before about what this day means to me personally, and since America's businesses are made up of its citizens, it's natural that our esteem for our military veterans is the inspiration for the explosion of related cause-marketing campaigns detailed this week by Stuart Elliott of The New York Times.

Although my military service was during the relatively peaceful era of 1985 to 1990, it still was not all that easy. I know firsthand about the dread of boot camp, and the difficulty of enduring even basic training... but to me, my motivation was clear: I wanted to serve my country. Through those experiences and others, I came to have ultimate respect for those who have gone far beyond "basic training" to become the Marines, the SEALS, and other elite members of our special forces... whose bravery and daily commitments are seemingly made of granite. It is nearly impossible to duly honor them and express the appreciation they deserve.

Below, I am very proud to share the touching personal message I received from my cousin, whose son will graduate today as a Navy SEAL. Throughout the ordeal of her son, we received updates of the harrowing experiences -- one after the other -- that this young man, and others like him, were willingly facing in order to serve our country. He was literally knocked back time and again, and each time, he stepped back up with even more determination; he never gave up, and today, his dream of being one of America's finest and best trained specialists is a reality. And like everyone who wears a military uniform, ultimately, he did all of this to serve us.

As you read this and otherwise participate in Veterans Day in your chosen ways, please think of those young people who have dedicated their lives to the military, and consider reaching out somehow to let them know you appreciate them. Also, I invite you to learn more about the Wounded Warriors Project, and consider making a donation. Thank you!

To all the prayer supporters:

Matthew left for boot camp Feb 11, 2010... and came out of there with the biggest stack of mail. Thank you to all his family and friends that sent him mail... I remember him telling me that he felt so bad for his bunk mate that he let him read some of his mail. On June 23, I stood in the parking lot of Great Lakes and hugged him goodbye. I think that was the hardest thing I have done so far, just knowing that he would begin his induction into the Navy SEAL program, known as INDOC (remember that was 3 weeks), but he made it and then the journey of Phase 1, 2 and 3 of BUD/s began. When I talked to him the other day and expressed how proud I was that he had made it, he said "Oh, mom it really wasn't that hard." He was kidding of course. I think he has forgotten, the cold and wet, the log PT, all the timed runs and O-course, the night time evolutions with the boat hitting the rocks, not to mention having to carry that boat on his head everywhere he went.... The inspections, and failing the inspections, and having to get wet and sandy. Not to mention HW, drown proofing, untying knots at the bottom of the pool, the 50-meter swim, supergluing the cracks on his hands from doing push-ups with all his gear on the hot pavement, getting rolled back in Phase 2, and then to have the trouble he did with shooting in Phase 3, but thanks to all the prayers that went up, he passed with high marks, only to have the instructor say, "What got into you? Did the light bulb finally go on?" I think he had failed that test 4 times prior. His swim buddy losing the swim board they used to dive deep, and he had to stand in the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night with his shorts on and was told to dive in every time his arms dropped. He said he has never been so cold as then, only to face Kodiac, Alaska, in SQT. He graduated from BUD/s Feb 2011, and then on to SQT training. The desert runs to Jump School, and getting rolled back for the second time. He certainly has gone through a lot... but one week from tomorrow, we will be there to watch him graduate and receive his Trident Pin as a Navy SEAL! Along the sides of the ceremony will be guys from Phase 1 standing, and who will have to get wet and sandy after his class graduates. I remember Matthew telling me how he had to stand there and get wet and sandy after watching a class graduate, and he could picture Greg and I sitting there to watch him graduate some day... and November 10th is that day! Language school will follow the graduation and I believe that is about 3 months and then he will be stationed with the East Coast SEAL team. Matthew does have one more thing before graduating and that is this weekend.. He will have SERE training...otherwise thought of as the mock POW camp... he didn't seem worried about it... just wants to 'get er done' I guess. Matthew from the start has wanted to serve his country as a Navy SEAL. I pray for all of our service men and women that serve us in the military. As Veterans Day approaches, may we all be reminded of those that have and are serving, and fly our flags proudly.

Our vehicle modification partner: Jimmy Lefler

Jimmy Lefler is the owner of Lefler Collision and Glass Repair Center, a one-stop shop for automotive collision repair, glass replacement and auto mechanical repair first established in Evansville, Indiana, in 1952 by Jimmy's grandfather, Leroy Lefler. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father James, Jimmy is very proud to be the third generation of his family providing superior automotive collision repair and extraordinary customer service to area residents for over half a century. Across four area locations, Jimmy has grown Lefler’s sales to $8 million annually by focusing on "good repairs and good deeds." Among the community efforts he's most proud of are the Support Our Troops campaign, which provides free car maintenance and discounted repairs to local military spouses, as well as automotive maintenance classes for women, child safety seat fitting classes, and classes for teens, all for free.

"We are in the people business," he says. "Repairing vehicles is just a part of what we do."

In November 2010, Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN) Magazine named Leflers its Top Shop in the U.S., and the shop is also honored among the Country's Finest in Collision Repair 2010 by FenderBender Magazine, the leading national resource for the collision repair industry.

This year, Lefler also joined forces with Uncharted International to help build an orphanage and provide other aid, benefits and services to the inhabitants of a village in Myanmar.

Please click here to visit Lefler Collision and Glass Repair Center online.

Partner news: D&R Energy Services Making Positive Environmental Impact

Last year, Further OPTIONS' Co-Founder David Gotter and his wife and business partner Rene' Gotter launched D&R Energy Services, a privately held St. Louis-area company providing full-service turnkey clean energy solutions.

D&R learned the process firsthand by installing solar panels at its manufacturing headquarters, installing the 30-kilowatt field of solar panels on the building's roof, and taking full advantage of utility incentives to install energy-efficient lighting throughout its plant. Today, the facility generates 23 percent of its own power as a result of these panels, which is an average savings of $450 per month. With this success, D&R began assisting other businesses in designing and implementing their own renewable energy solutions.

"We offer a turnkey solution – from planning and design, to production, installation and consultation for green energy solutions through our Clean Power Plans," says David.

More information on D&R Energy is available from this article from The Alton Telegraph, and online here.

Wheelchair Superman: Rich Jeckstadt

Everybody has their "Superman" when it comes to their wheelchair.

We all know the situations; backed into something and pinched the power cable, home health aide takes off armrest, unplugs cable so male and female ends don't mesh; cable coming out of joystick box gets frayed by swing-away action; any of dozens of scenarios can occur, leaving you freaking out because your powerchair will not move!

I've had each of these happen to me and have sat in various friends' and family members' garages doing everything possible to get my chair going. Several times we've tried to mend those teensy tiny wires inside those cables and it's almost impossible to get a good connection across the board!

So I've been pushed into my vehicle and locked into the driver's position, or had my vehicle brought to me when I was broken down on the sidewalks of my town, and scrambled to get to Fox Medical in Collinsville, Illinois, before my trusted superhero Rich Jackstact heads home for the day. Yes indeed, when it comes to my wheelchair, Rich is my Superman!

I can't tell you how many times I've shown up wigging out because my Quickie powerchair has been completely dead. Every time, Rich eases himself down onto a knee, moves a battery this way or that, checks the tightness of a handle here or there, perhaps walks to the back of the shop to grab something from his box of spare parts. Every time, I triumphantly buzz back out to the parking lot.

After withstanding my exaggerated raining down of compliments as to his genius, he always comes back with something like, "Ah man, it's cool... I'm just glad I could help."

Then he'll ask me about what's going on with Further OPTIONS. He listens intently as I excitedly throw out the best of what's shaped up lately, and when I talk about some of the other products I hope to bring to market eventually. I gather that Rich has seen a lot in his days. He is of the Vietnam era. He has an appreciation for life and things good... I certainly see those qualities when he talks about his grandchild, or pats me on the back for all the hard work we're putting into trying to make a difference for people in wheelchairs.

To this everyday superhero...my words cannot do justice, but I'll try.

"Thank you Rich... you are truly a treasure."

From ReeveFoundation: Power Wheelchair Comparison

Many thanks to everyone at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for so many things -- including this new video series on the foundation's YouTube channel. This episode compares 8 top power wheelchairs from seven major manufacturers.