What's New?

August 2006

This "What's New Page" lists recent updates and additions to the RRTC-Stroke Website. If you've visited our site before and just want to look at what we've added, follow the links below.

State of the Science Conference

Strategic Development of Products and Environments for People with Stroke: Designing for a Unique Market

Design shapes the world in which we live, and therefore, should serve everyone. The concept of good design for people with disabilities often is based on the principles of universal design, an inclusive process that focuses on the needs of all users. Experience has shown that the adoption of an inclusive design approach can lead to innovation and value in the development of effective products, services, and physical environments for all people.

While this process recognizes the importance of aesthetics, it simultaneously acknowledges the cost constraints under which both consumers and producers have to live. These considerations often make a difference in the successful introduction of a product into the marketplace. The objective of this one-day conference is to bring together leaders from the field of rehabilitation, experts in the fields of design and engineering, members of the disability community, and other key stakeholders, to discuss the current state of design for people with disabilities in general and stroke in particular. The conference will feature discussions of the design process, marketing of new products for the disabled, and a series of stories chronicling the successful development of new products and services for people with disabilities.

Target Audience:	Product Designers, Manufacturers, Architects, Engineers, Rehabilitation Clinicians
Date:	October 6, 2006
Location:	Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Course Description:	PDF
Contact Information & Registration:	RIC Education Registration

Personal Narratives - Send Us Your Comments

Please send us your comments about the Personal Narratives from the research project on, The Use of Emotionally Expressive and Narrative Writing to Facilitate Coping and Adaptation after Stroke.

All 27 essays from this research project, The Use of Emotionally Expressive and Narrative Writing to Facilitate Coping and Adaptation after Stroke, have been published. We would appreciate your thoughts and comments about the essays. We have placed a comment box at the end of the page with the essays for you to send us your comments.

Nüberwalker Wins da Vinci Award

We are pleased to announce that the Nüberwalker has won the da Vinci Award. The da Vinci Award honors innovative developments and research in adaptive and assistive technology that embrace the Universal Design Principle.

Developed in part by this RRTC, the Nüberwalker is a Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT) system intended for stroke and spinal cord injury patients to practice regaining a normal gait pattern.

For more information about the Nüberwalker and the da Vinci Awards go to .

Healthy Living after Stroke Video Now Available for Free Viewing

"Healthy Living after Stroke" is an educational video produced for patients with recurrent stroke and their families for the purpose of health promotion and the prevention of secondary stroke. The video presents the following basic information about stroke in clear language with graphic illustrations.

-The Nature of a Stroke

-The Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

-Guidelines for Reducing Risk for Another Stroke

-Guidelines for Enhancing Health and Function for the Stroke Survivor

To view the video for free or to purchase a copy of the video, click on the link below.

Healthy Living after Stroke

2005 News

Answers to recent questions from "Ask the Stroke Doc"

Personal Narratives from the research project on, The Use of Emotionally Expressive and Narrative Writing to Facilitate Coping and Adaptation after Stroke

Photographs of products created by engineering students as part of the Institute for Design Engineering Application (IDEA).