Welcome Friends and Family! Take a look around, and if you have any suggestions or find broken links, send them to me!!! Latest News: (archive) updated April 27, 2008
Check out the Photos/Video Album!
Halloween, 09: With my birthday on Halloween night, I particularly enjoy this holiday. I have noticed over the years many haunted houses and other Halloween themed events such as The Haunted Basement at The Soap Factory in Minneapolis are completely inaccessible and remain so after I contacted them a number of years ago and they were "working on it" then. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear back that all attractions (400 houses) at Frightmares at Buck Hill in Burnsville, Minnesota are completely wheelchair accessible! Of course I encouraged them to share the following information on their website So I am posting so hopefully those searching can find through Google! "All of our attractions are designed to be accessible. We maintain an accessible width throughout the haunted houses. The grounds are covered in mulch, so depending on the wheelchair, it may be a bit hard to get around on the flats. There is a gravel access road that runs between the haunted houses, so that will help. Also, the Haunted Hollow is a downhill walk through the woods. It is accessible, but may be more difficult than the 3 haunted houses."
Oct 2, 2009: Mark interviewed on 'No Free Rides' with Tiffiny Carlson - An xAble.com Lifestyle Show for WomenFor Show #59, Tiffiny has Mark E. Felling of Broadened Horizons on the show, a C5 quad from her native Minnesota who's created an extensive line of adapted technology from modified Wii-motes to voice-activated cell phone technology. Tiffiny also shares her latest finds on tall women's clothing that's available (online) at a plethora of mainstream stores, plus gives her latest opinions on adapted clothing and if it's worth the money.
Access Is Everything. Interesting article on universal design in mainstream media. At the end of talks about the president of very large national architectural firm becoming disabled and having to use a wheelchair and his change in perspective.
 Sundays, 8/7c on ABC
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Episode #612 Jan. 11,09
2nd Episode date announced soon
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Coming Oct 18, 09: Broadened Horizons solutions for independent living will once again be appearing on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in the Marshall Family's new home. Carlton Marshall became a quadriplegic losing most of his mobility and all of his hearing 2 years ago after being shot in the neck while leading a Dallas Police Department SWAT team serving a narcotics search warrant. Broadened Horizons provided power door opener and controls for the front and interior doors, a Mount'N Mover wheelchair laptop mount, and a PowerCheq Mobile Power Kit so the laptop (among other things) is able to run off of a power wheelchair's batteries.
Oct 18, 09: Broadened Horizons solutions for independent living will once again be appearing on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in the Marshall Family's new home. Carlton Marshall became a quadriplegic losing most of his mobility and all of his hearing 2 years ago after being shot in the neck while leading a Dallas Police Department SWAT team serving a narcotics search warrant. Broadened Horizons provided power door opener and controls for the front and interior doors, a Mount'N Mover wheelchair laptop mount, and a PowerCheq Mobile Power Kit so the laptop (among other things) is able to run off of a power wheelchair's batteries.
August 24-30th, 2009: Mark went to Honduras for Scott and Carolina Eggert's wedding. Unfortunately wheelchair transportation is nonexistent in Honduras as well asor almost any other kind of accessibility such as curb cuts! But with the Comfort Carrier, patience, and lots of willing help we managed. Full Report link will be here when published.
August 4-10, 2009: Mark Felling spoke about Inclusive Travel, The Use of Assistive Technology in Employment, and in Independent Living at the Midnight Sun Assistive Technology Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Over the weekend after the conference, with lots of phone calls to find the best, most accommodating services, and a bit of negotiation when transportation was lacking, Mark was able to enjoy a Glacier Cruise and go on a Glacier Flight Seeing Tour. Full Report link will be here when published.
June, 09: Governor Appoints Four to Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council - Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has appointed Peter Morton to serve as a public member of the Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council. Mr. Morton is a Minneapolis resident and a consultant with Lighthouse Management Consulting, Inc. He will serve a three year term. In addition, Governor Pawlenty also reappointed the following council members to serve a three-year term: Jennifer Delisi (Eagan), Mark Felling (Maple Grove), and Heidi Johnson (Bemidji). The Minnesota Assistive Technology Advisory Council provides consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice to the State for planning, implementation, and evaluation of the activities carried out through the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended (P.L. 108-364).
Went kayaking again on Memorial day
March 28 - April 3, 2009: Mark Felling spent a week a week experiencing and evaluating wheelchair accessible inclusive travel opportunities around the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Mark, accompanied by his father Earl, flew direct flights from Minneapolis into Cancún, visited the Mayan Archaeological Site at Chichen Itza, spent a number of days relaxing at Freedom Shores, a completely wheelchair accessible resort and RV Park in Isla Aguada, Campeche, Mexico. in addition to chatting with local fishermen, going dolphin watching on the bay, Mark setup an accessible Nintendo Wii gaming system in Freedom Shore's bar [video] and delivered a wireless intercom system newly adapted for the purpose so individuals can request assistance anytime day or night. A Comfort Carrier Travel, Recreation, and Emergency Preparedness Transfer Sling is also on hand to expand guests opportunities and comfort such as transfers into the also available beach wheelchair, possible kayaking in the future, arrivals and departures on commercial aircraft, etc. In Campeche, Campeche Mexico Mark met with the coordinator of the POETA program (Partnership for Opportunities in Employment through Technology in the Americas) housed in a room at a local public university. Before leaving, Mark also met with Judith of Cancun Accesible, an organization providing inclusive transportation and rental equipment in and around Cancún. Full Report link will be here when published.
Going Nowhere: My Life in a Wheelchair is an interesting articlein which a British fellow, David Sandison, finds himself spending 90 days in a wheelchair from the pelvis cracked in three places, and how his perspectives about accessibility quickly changed!April 14, 09: Local TV news interview with Mark Felling and Joan Breslin Larson after the 2009 Minnesota STAR Awards for Excellence in Assistive Technology at the State of Minnesota Capitol Rotunda. The awards are organized and presented by the Minnesota STAR program which is guided by the Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities. Joan Breslin Larson is a supervisor in the Special Education Policy Division with the Minnesota Department of Education, a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities, and was also recognized for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Mark Felling is Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities and President of Broadened Horizons Inc., designing unique adaptive technologies for individuals with upper extremity limitations.
January 11, 09: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Episode #612 Aired Sunday, Jan. 11th at 8 / 7 central on ABCWatch to see if you can spot Jake's VoiceIR voice controlled bedroom and unique door & elevator access provided by Broadened Horizons! Jake, an ambassador for Easter Seals, was born with dwarfism caused by osteogenesis imperfecta (a.k.a. Brittle Bone Disease). "Jake's greatest desire is to be able to do things independently." So Extreme Makeover: Home Edition contacted Broadened Horizons for help on this project self-described as one of their most challenging builds yet! Jake's petition to be on the show. With a heartwarming video!
December 28, 08: Play Magazine January 2009 edition includes 2 articles about Broadened Horizons unique new Modular Videogame Control System. "Taking Control - How final fantasy became a life-changing inspiration" is about Kit Windsor, a die-hard gaming fan limited by muscular dystrophy who is able to get back in the game using the new GimpGear Versatility Controller. Versatility is designed specifically for the most physically limited of individuals offering ability switch access to all 25 functions on a standard Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, or any other video game controller including analog joysticks. "Gaming enabled - Play talks to Mark Felling, the creator of Kit's amazing controller" is a short interview with Mark Felling, Quadriplegic President of Broadened Horizons.
November 21, 08: With Christmas coming Broadened Horizons new accessible video game controllers designed by Mark have been catching people's attention. Kit, the prototype Versatility 100% Ability Switch Adapted & Chin Controller's first user who is limited by muscular dystrophy, has generated lots of awareness for disabled gamers, capturing the attention of non-disabled gamers around the world with a post of photos and video on the Sony PlayStation forums which has risen to the top 7 of all time in terms of popularity. The Broadened Horizons News page has more photos, videos, and links to more interesting forum posts regarding the Versatility controller.
I saw this great ad from the Miami Project and had to scan it in and share it! The Miami Project does a lot of work towards real research resulting in real possibilities for treatments. They are completely self-funded with lots of good ties to the rich and famous. They are currently working on doing the first completely privately funded human trials in the United States of any kind of treatment for spinal cord injuries.
October 1, 08: The October issue of New Mobility Magazine has an article, "Expand Your Wii Addiction" on page 14 about Broadened Horizons' Accessible Nintendo Wii controls for forearm or head control. Options include a Switch Adapted Wiimote kit, Switch Adapted Nunchucks, Gimpgear Wiimote Hat for head control, Switch Adapted Classic Controller Expansion, and variety of ability switches."It’s already well-known among the disability community that Nintendo’s award winning Wii console has been a boon to mobility-impaired crips everywhere. But did you know a gadget exists that will allow you to play all of Wii’s addicting games (even Zelda!)? Mark Felling of Broadened Horizons has created the world’s only adapted Wii remote (Wiimote). It costs a pretty penny at $329, but what it can do to enable you to use both the A and the B
button — by “switch adapting” them — may be worth it for any serious quad gamers out there. For all the details, go to www.broadenedhorizons.com/videogaming.htm."
September 12-14, 08: Mark's company, Broadened Horizons' 20' x 20' display at the 2008 Minneapolis Abilities Expo featured a Videogaming Play Area where individuals of all abilities could, and try experimenting with some of the new accessible video game controls for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Besides all of the other unique adaptive technologies, also on display was Mark's kayak modified with a supportive wheelchair seat back rest and paddle support/holder with specially modified paddle grips allowing even a C5 quadriplegic like Mark, whom lacks sufficient strength to push a manual wheelchair to be able to paddle independently or tandem (as well as people with other widely varying disabilities). Mark's Comfort Carrier was demonstrated to transfer disabled individuals in and out of the kayak ergonomically, comfortably, and efficiently.
May 6, 08: I'm going back out to Cleveland for some update programming on my left-handed neuroprosthetic implant system and annual research follow-up. I'm hoping my older nerve will have fully recovered since I had the update surgery a year ago in February to move a sensor on to one of my neck muscles. But during the recovery my older nerve in my elbow got pinched from resting my arm on the bed in the cast and all of the muscles in my hand operated from that nerve quit functioning. Check out this related video: Fox 8 Ohio news coverage regarding the research neuroprosthetic implant in my left hand.
April 23, 08: I have a new Freedom Trike handcycle on its way with help from a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (Thank You!). This has been a project in the works for over a year and a half! I'm hoping the fellow who makes it will get it finished sometime in the next few weeks because I still need to replace the wheels with narrow racing style ones for less rolling resistance, make tripin handgrips, add a disc brake and lever style gear changing system. My brother Jim said he would help with a few of the modifications. When it's done it should be all set up for a quad! you propel it by pulling and pushing on the lever arms which should work better with the muscles I have available, he steered by tilting the arms a few inches to the left or right, and the seat raises and lowers to make transfers easier!
April 17, 08: I posted an ad on Craig's List and someone from Anoka County side and tipped me off about a new lime green Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL at Sportsman's Warehouse in Coon Rapids on clearance for $400 (normally $800). My buddies Scott and Matt who has a truck and live nearby picked it up for me. I also received a supportive seat back and paddling rig designed by Mark whose website is Disabled Adventurers. I traded him a couple of Comfort Carrier's for the adaptive kayaking programs he's involved in in 
Southern California to make me up a package since I knew I'd never get the time to recruit help to do it myself! Now I'm just trying to figure out how to get it all setup and mounted, and I suppose we'll have to get some sort of rack system for the top of my Van. I also ordered a pair of RoRows to help with pulling on the paddle. I hope to eventually productize this design since nothing like it is available to make it available for the accessible tourism industry, kayak rental providers such as those that do jungle kayaking in Mexico, etc. So who wants to go kayaking?! I need partners because I can't go by myself!
April 15, 08: Mark Felling, will be presenting the Minnesota Awards for Excellence for Assistive Technology in the Rotunda of the Minnesota Capitol at 1 p.m. as Master of Ceremony with other members of the Minnesota Governor's Adaptive Technology Advisory Council. Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau and the Commissioner of Administration, Dana Badgerow, will be making introductory remarks. There will be a reception in the great hall following the ceremony. 
April 5, 08: GimpGear Comfort Carriers will be utilized for wheelchair transfers at kayaking event for disabled on calm West Beach, north of the pier in Santa Barbara, California.March 13, 08 USA Today - "Airlines tackle wheelchair need" (or not!) For passenger service workers, those who assist with wheelchair transfers, "the average pay is less than $19,000 a year. Some 60% said they had not been formally trained in how to lift an immobile passenger." Save yourself and get a Comfort Carrier TODAY!
Feb 21, 08: Broadened Horizons introduces the GimpGear Switch Adapted, Accessible Wiimote. The configuration can be strapped to the gamers forearm and the buttons operated with remote adaptive switches. Also introduced simultaneously is a package to also use the Wiimote motion and position sensing capabilities as a unique mouse controller. Used as a rehabilitation tool, it provides a new, fun strengthening and positioning therapy possibilities for professionals!Jan 24, 08: Mark Felling, President of Broadened Horizons on request participated in Minnesota Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Workshop as a disabled entrepreneur. The objective was to explore methods by which Minnesota Voc Rehab might expand the percentage of individuals starting small business from 1% which represents very little to no effort in this regard, to the state average of closer to 11% over the next 10 years. While Minnesota does an exceptional job in many regards in services for the disabled, this disparagement and resulting improvement is partially being driven by the federal government through whom a portion of funding is derived. Read the focus group results from the highly successful Disability Venture Pilot Project.
Jan 15, 08: Mark Felling, President of Broadened Horizons was elected Chairman of the Minnesota Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities.
Jan 1, 08: Broadened Horizons introduces the new QuadMouse offering very disabled individuals efficient, cost effective use of a computer utilizing only slight movements of their chin, lips, or even tongue. Priced at only $499 including the rigid, snakelike 3rd Hand Mount, is a very attractive alternative to other control technologies often costing thousands of dollars, yet more effective. Since the user is not connected to the computer by any wires, they are free to pull up to and away from the computer at will independently.The Disability Resources Recreation section has been updated with lots of new links. More coming soon.
A Christmas Legend - The Man Behind the Magic
The real St. Nicholas was born in 280 A.D. in Patara, a city in Asia Minor. He was a Christian priest who later became a bishop. He came from a wealthy family and traveled the country helping people, giving gifts of money and other presents. His gifts were given late at night because he did not like to be seen when he gave them away.
A famous story about St. Nicholas involves a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day. St. Nicholas dropped bags of gold into the stockings which the girls had left to dry by the fire. The sisters found the gold, and ever since, children have hung stockings on Christmas Eve, hoping St. Nicholas would fill them with presents by Christmas morning. Children were also told to go to sleep quickly, or he would not come! Not much has changed since then. Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) still won't arrive with Christmas gifts unless the children go to sleep early!
11-24-07: I went flying in a small four-person aircraft for the first time since my accident with my dad, a friend of his who was piloting, and my brother Greg. Since it was a low wing Bonanza with a side entry door I thought it was going to be really hard to get in and out of but it actually turned out to be much easier than we had all expected thanks in part to my Comfort Carrier. Watch the video of transferring out of the airplane with the Comfort Carrier.
11-08-07: Broadened Horizons' new VoiceIR Infrared Environmental Control System and VoiceBT featured in the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Holiday Gift Guide 2007
October 25th, 07: Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota State Governor, appointed Mark Felling, President of Broadened Horizons, to the Governors Advisory Council On Technology for People with Disabilities for a 2 year term. [Appointment & Press Release PDF] The Governors Advisory Council on Technology for People with Disabilities administers the Minnesota System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) program. The STAR Program is federally funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration in accordance with the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Council consists of 16 members including 11 public members appointed by the governor and five members of designated state agencies. Disability Minnesota - Gateway for Disability Information in MinnesotaOctober 16, 07: Broadened Horizons President, Mark Felling, will be speaking at the United Cerebral Palsy Central Minnesota annual dinner meeting at the Kelly Inn in St. Cloud, Minnesota. On request he will be sharing the multimedia story of surviving his 2003 airplane crash into the Minnesota River Valley and how his resulting rehabilitation experience as a C5 quadriplegic led him to start Broadened Horizons. A brief demonstration of a few latest GimpGear products will follow.
September 7-9, 07: Broadened Horizons exhibited at the 1st annual Minneapolis Abilities Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center along with 100 other organizations providing products and services to the disabled community. Be sure to visit us at booth 507 across from Microsoft! A variety of special event's will be going on each day. The Abilities Expo is a large national conference held annually in New York, Southern California, San Antonio Texas, and now Minneapolis, Minnesota. On-site admission to Abilities Expo is $5; children under 12 are free or print the ticket info page from the Abilities Expo website for FREE admission!
August 30, 07: Mark Felling, Quadriplegic Engineer, Inventor, MBA and President of Broadened Horizons will be speaking at the Minnesota State Fair DNR Bandshell. Mr. Felling will be discussing the impact having access to appropriate tools can have on anyone's life, and more specifically the absolute life-changing, society sweeping significance such tools mekn to the life of a mobility impaired person. By request, he will be introducing some of the "GimpGear" Broadened Horizons offers to demonstrate specifically how it impacts not only their customers lives, but everyone's! More information concerning Broadened Horizons can be found at www.GimpGear.US or for Capable Partners at www.CapablePartners.org.June 3, 07: My brother Jim, and a family friend, Nathan just posted their pictures after recently returning from a cross-country bike trip! They biked from Vancouver, Canada to Tiuana, Mexico passing through Washington, Oregon, and all of California in one month! Check out their photos! Those of you who know me and my past travel adventures can only imagine how jealous I am!
June 2, 07: It's been a while since I've published any updates on here! I've been very busy the first part of this year. In January I started a project to finish off my basement with two bedrooms, and office/assembly room for my business, Broadened Horizons, kitchenette/bar, bathroom, and family/rec room.
Then spring arrived before we were finished, and I finally got the landscaping project started that never happened last year. Figured I couldn't wait anymore after there were 3' weeds growing around my whole house! Should look much nicer this year with 90 new plants wrapping around basically all four sides of my house and the wheelchair accessible patio I designed and installed about a year and a half ago. Since I'm on a corner lot with the backyard looking at a city park, it required lots of landscaping! Family & friends should come check it out the afternoon off June 23 at 1 p.m. for my Patio on the Park family-friendly summer barbecue party! E-mail me if you can join us for details!
I've of course been working hard introducing new solutions for the mobility impaired such as getting the Comfort Carrier patented and introducing the Vocalize Voice Controlled Cell Phone system just before Christmas. It is wheelchair integrated, and provides complete independence to use a cell phone for individuals with limited dexterity or even unable to move anything. With an upgrade I integrated, it can also function as a completely voice controlled digital media player for listening to music, audio books, or even full-length DVD movies (like an iPod)! As you can imagine, this has been a very popular feature for individuals who are otherwise left behind by the mass manufacturers. Products of my own design targeted to the end-user consumer I market under the brand GimpGear which I've received rave reviews regarding.
It's rewarding to get glowing reviews and feedback from customers telling me about doing things they never did before such as a train ride through the very inaccessible Copper Canyon in Mexico or one man who was over 60 years old and had never before been able to place a phone call by himself! Now my challenge is actually getting the word out to people to sell enough volume so I can pay myself a few dollars once in awhile! The Vocalize system will be featured on page 1 of the soon to be mailed Access to Recreation catalog which goes out to about 80,000 people, rehab clinics, hospitals, etc. After almost a year and a half its gotten quite old working so hard for nothing, but it's looking like it might pay off sometime soon!
Nov 13, 06: Met with lawyers from Faegre and Benson downtown to discuss and finalize language for the patent application for my Comfort Carrier Travel, Recreation, & Evacuation Transfer Sling which should be completed before the end of the year. They were gracious enough to assist in the effort Pro Bono.
Nov 8, 06: It's about time! A taxi type vehicle built from the factory for accessibility also making it cost effective for companies to operate and obtain! Every time I've tried to hire a taxi, even though the law mandates companies operate wheelchair accessible vehicles (with too many loopholes), they are never "available" or require someone to book them days in advance! Not exactly a taxicab service! It sounds like a fleet of these may go into operation in New York very soon. More Info & Videos Nov 1, 06: Note: I just added lots of new content down below from this summer that I hadn't posted so be sure to scroll down even if you think you've seen it already!
Nov 1, 06: Introducing my wheelchair desk. This is something I had in mind for quite some time but finally finished the design and got built with the gracious assistance of the WoodShop of Avon who did Oak surfaces and my dad who welded plates on the stainless steel legs. Thank You! It maximizes space, providing ample room for a wheelchair users feet in the corner even with the wheelchair tilted back and maximizes workspace around a user while seated especially with limited reach. Let me know what you think? I'm debating if I should make this available through my company, Broadened Horizons if there's sufficient demand and can be done so economically.
Oct 31, 06: Halloween night was my birthday! I turmed 30 and transitioned into dreaded middle-age. I dressed up as Chief Wiggium from The Simpsons complete with police car cut outs on the sides of my wheelchair! A few friends and I made Kebabs and appetizers at my house while we got into our costumes for another big Halloween costume party! Next year, October 27th I will be having a large Halloween costume party at my house to celebrate my golden birthday. E-mail me if you think you deserve to be on my guest list! [wink]
Oct 29, 06: Thanks to my Mom for finishing sewing a heavier winter wheelchair poncho that just pulls over my head! She gave it to me for my birthday. She had been trying to get it done since early last winter! Chuckle... I designed it to maximize function tapering it in the right places so it doesn't get caught in wheelchair wheels and can be worn while driving my Van.
Sep 27, 06: (Click the pictures to watch the CAN video & inspirational story video) Team Hoyt - Strongest Dad in the World [From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]. He pushed his son, Rick, disabled from Cerabral Palsy 26.2 miles in 85 marathons, 3770 miles across the USA, and through 8 Ironmans he not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day. Find out more about this amazing team at http://www.teamhoyt.com
Sep 29, 06: Big disappointment. After spending two days and nights with me, Patti, almost my helper monkey, is going back to Helping Hands. The trainers came this morning and told me after a discussion last night they decided it would not be a good fit for me. I was surprised by being told that I am simply too independent as a quadriplegic of my level and have adapted my environment too well that the monkey would not be able to help me enough. I had expressed this concern of upfront a year and a half ago during the application process, but as they explained that they didn't understand that fully until they had worked with me a bit. They felt I would probably end up finding her more of an irritationand the "monkey proofing" required would end up limiting my independence rather than enhancing it. I respect their decision and intellectually understand though I also said I have to respectfully disagree in that I had prepared myself and planned to make changesand accommodations for the monkey. That my same ability to come up with solutions and adapt would allow me to do so very effectively with the monkey. They had a number of other concerns, which led to making assumptions about my priorities, though I wish they were simply brought them up or discussed them with me. They suggested a helping dog might be a better fit, and they may be right, but if I wanted aog instead of a monkey, I could've gotten one over 2.5 years ago. I wanted help with tasks that require dexterity such as opening a cover on a container or pulling on a stocking cap before running an errand.so if anyone wants to taste monkey chow, it is completely edible and probably quite healthy for humans! [Chuckle]
Sep 27, 06: My Monkey, Patti will be coming today and I will be spending the next week receiving training in my home from Helping Hands on the various commands and techniques for communicating with Patty. She is a smaller Capuchin monkey, a breed native to Central America. She is in her late teens and highly trained to be able to help with things such as picking up something off the floor or grabbing something off a shelf that I indicate to with a laser pointer. She can even help me get a Tupperware container out of the fridge, take the cover off, and put it in the microwave to warm it up for dinner! News coverage videos & related articles about "Helping HandsMonkey Helpers for the Disabled" -- CLICK HERE to see her video introduction.
Sep 13, 06: Played pool. Much improvement over past attempts with some tips and tricks from another experienced pool playing quad using an o-ring on the thumb and index finger tied together with a short piece of string.
Sep 8, 06: This sign was just too peculiar not to share! I'm not sure what it signifies, "Caution: Crocs Hungry for Gimps", I need don't nondisabled people need to worry about these crocodiles? Or maybe there's been problems with crazy wheelchair users rolling downhill uncontrollably and a crocodile got one of them so the sign had to be put up for liability!?Aug 23, 06: People ask me why in the world I would ever want to fly again (the Sky Chairiot project). Check out this beautiful photo log, it is self-explanatory!
Aug 20, 06: An incredible wheelchair accessible home with elevator, and lists current pool, & hot tub is for sale in Savage, MN - one of the southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. I'm posting this as I know personally how hard these type of homes are to find! The homeowner, Mary Skie can be contacted at 952-440-3307or612-790-8010
Aug 17, 06: You have got to see Aaron Fotheringham's Video and his wild wheelchair stunts including the world's first backflip in a wheelchair! He won 1st place in Oct., 05 and 2nd place in the BMX Intermediate class against able-bodied bikers at the Las Vegas Am Jam July 22, 2006! Here is a whole collection of wheelchair sports videos. 
August 13, 06: Went down to Lacross, WI with 2 buddies, Scott and Ryan. Went out partying all night with my little brother Greg who lives in goes to school there and his girlfriend. While everyone else stumbled, I weaved the 8 blocks from downtown back to his his tiny apartment where we crashed. The next day we went fishing out on Lake Onalaska which is just a wide spot in the Mississippi on a wheelchair accessible pontoon boat I had reserved from "nasa" (The North American Squirrel Association), a great local sportsmen's group located in the area I had met when I was down there earlier this spring.
July 29-30, 06: Went to Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with my little brother, Greg, who's also a pilot. I was supposed to present a forum on flying in a wheelchair and introducing the Sky Chairiot project but we unfortunately arrived about 30 minutes too late. we did get to see a C-130 do stuff like a two-seat airplane might and spend some time in the ultralight and small helicopter section. As usual we didn't have time to see nearly enough! I had booked a room in a private since hotels are very hard to come by "Wheelchair Accessible Home" only to find out when we got there about 10:30 p.m. that there was two steps to get up inside the door and I had taken my ramps out of my Van to have more room for all of our stuff! Luckily I was able to find a hotel room since it was the last day of the show that someone had canceled a reservation for.
July 20, 06: Tried kayaking for the first time with Wilderness Inquery. I showed them my Comfort Carrier, which they were thrilled at how easy it was to lift and carry me from my wheelchair down into the kayak on the edge of the water. I also helped found by testing out a new supportive backrest for kayaking and canoeing although I canimagine a number of other applications and have talked to the developer.July 19, 06: RE: Bush veto of HR 810 - The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
Thank you Mr. Bush for knowing what is best for me and 100 million Americans, over one third of the US population, that would all have the potential to benefit immediately from this research! It's a good thing you know more than your advisers, all of the most intelligent, knowledgeable scientists and doctors, and have a more tuned ethical compass than many of our nation's wisest spiritual leaders! And as you said to the fellow in Florida at your Medicare rally, I'm so damn "comfortable in my wheelchair" I wouldn't know what to do without it!
Since you think wheelchairs look so comfortable [comments to disabled wheelchair user at Florida Medicare rally], you'd be surprised what a power wheelchair can do running into your knees do when it's parked on your feet. Thank you Mr. Bush, if you had signed this legislation I might be able to someday get out of my wheelchair and I wouldn't know what to do without it I'm so comfortable! I hope you think twice before you come down from your high and mighty purge next time to lean over for a photo op next to someone in a wheelchair!
Since you think other unproven theoretical technologies are perfectly valid substitute, I hope if you ever need a heart transplant you won't mind if they replace it with the horses ass! I'm sure the constrictions of the horses colon can pump your blood just as well as a heart!
-Mark Felling
"With his veto the president has now reaffirmed a policy that never made any sense, garnered no scientific support to speak of, was abandoned by both houses of Congress and the leaders of his own party and, most importantly, got no traction with those most in need of the benefits of the research - patients and their families.
The President has now told doctors, researchers and patients to [literally] drop dead. Science policy in the Bush administration is best made in the White House, not by scientists and not by Congress."
Read full commentary by Arthur Caplan, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Medical Ethics and Director of Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
July 17, 06: Senator Harkin spent several moments today talking in front of U.S. Senate about letter signed and sent by Broadened Horizons and more than 591 advocacy, health, research, scientific, & religious organizations in support of HR 810 - The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. (read it)
July 11, 06: TV Alert: Josh Blue on “Last Comic Standing”On Tuesday, July 11, Josh Blue continues his stint on NBC’s reality show Last Comic Standing. The 27-year-old Minnesotan with cerebral palsy has become a fan favorite during the first six episodes in which the participants compete in comedic challenges and elimination rounds. At the end of the season, viewers choose which comic will end up with a contract and a comedy special on Bravo. For more information on Josh Blue, visit www.joshbluefans.com. To watch him in action, tune in to NBC on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST.
June 25, 06: Went sailing on Lake Calhoun with the Calhoun Yacht Club, which graciously partners with Courage Center's recreation department to take disabled wheelchair users sailing a few times each summer here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I brought my Comfort Carrier and the guys from the club who helped lift me into one of the sailboats absolutely loved it! After years of struggling to lift people from a floating dock into a moving sailboat, they told at courage center sailing program to be a sure they had a Comfort Carrier for the next sailing outing. 
June 23-24, 06: Drove the farthest I have yet down to La Crosse WI to visit Greg. He says he can make it 2.5 hours, but it took me more like 3.5 with another pit stop in Pine Island, MN to see Jim's dairy dealership shop. We went to a movie & bummed around downtown in the evening. I crashed at his little apartment, and then we went to trump the loo national wildlife reserve near Winona, MN for an event they were having to showcase products for the disabled. They gave me a table and I setup to show the Comfort Carrier and a few of my other solutions I had available at the time. Met lots of great people and made some good contacts. In the picture on talking to some folks about my solutions.June 13, 06: Check out this article about me just that appeared this month in the Access Press, an excellent disability oriented monthly newspaper. "A Fall from the Sky - Plane Crash Leads Local Man to Successful Career As Innovator/Entrepreneur". I agreed with the editor to write a few articles in the future on adaptive technologies and solutions, possibly some advocacy issues. So I guess this begins my journalism career! Chuckle... A shorter article about me also appeared in the June edition of the In Home Personal Care newsletter.
June 11, 06: Took Dad to a Twins game. Had seats right down in front of the opposing team's bullpen! Dad was thrilled since they threw him a ball at the end of the game.
June 7, 06: Tried Handcycling for the first time. Had troubles steering this lower recumbinant but was able to peddle in the flat areas so I'm going to try another style where I sit more upright. Update: in July I tried a Quickie were I sat higher and more up right. This work much better especially on a relatively flat trail along a formal railroad route. 
May 22, 06: What Would You Say to President Bush?Before a speech in South Florida encouraging Medicare recipients to sign up for the new prescription drug benefit, According to the Associated Press, President Bush greeted a man in a wheelchair with, “You look mighty comfortable.” What do you say to the most powerful man in the world after such a comment? Are you kidding me? The man has got to be dumber than even his policy decisions and poor leadership imply!
May 27, 06: Dad, and my brothers Greg & Ben threw me into Dad's Ranger using my Comfort Carrier so he could take me for a ride out in the fields around the farm. I wasn't so sure it was worth the hassle at first, but it was fun to be cruising out through the fields with the wind in my face again!
May 13, 06: Check out these new 1st revision 3D renderings of the Sky Chairiot - the world's first wheelchair accessible airplane! May 8-11, 06: I spent a few days out in Cleveland at the FES Center for the 6-month follow-up on my Neuro-prosthetic implant. the research part was uneventful, just trying out a few new programming possibilities, but first the rubber popped off the rim of my rear caster wheel on Sunday before I left but I was able to fix with a spare from a different type of wheelchair and a few spacers. Then on Monday night when I went out to the Great Lakes Brewery for dinner and drinks with a friend after arriving into town, the back caster we all broke off completely at the bolt causing me to "limp" around in my wheelchair for 2 days literally "dragging my ass end"until the part arrived overnighted. Then the wheelchair repair company and insurance kept arguing about opposing policies...who should fax who and who needs to be call first, etc. And when they finally did fix it they only didn't half-ass job because they didn't bring the proper tools and insisted on charging my credit card so I doubt they will ever bother trying to actually bill insurance now! And this is commonplace in the mobility industry! How ridiculous!
May 5, 06: Was involved in an accident with my Van coming home from Cinco de Mayo in West St. Paul on the narrow Highway 52 bridge over the Mississippi River (no I wasn't drinking but the other driver's license was revoked). Thankfully the damage wasn't as bad as the impact originally felt and I should get it back from the shop by the 16th or 17th.
April 22, 06: I went to the Geek Prom, an interesting and different time indeed! Check out the video, I have a spot in the Spazz Dancing contest
April 16, 06: Dad, Jim, & Greg discovered a new application for my Comfort Carrier as a human riding harness while helping me take some marketing shots. I think it took my brothers back to a time when they were much younger and a lot smaller! [Grin]April 16, 06: My brother Greg who is also a private pilot and myself are planning to attend and camp overnight at Airventure in Oshkosh Wisconsin on July 29 & 30th. You should join us! Here is a video sample of extreme aerobatic maneuvers by Kirby Chambliss at Oshkosh in the past! The most incredible airshow in the world goes on all afternoon every day!
April 16, 06: Check out the new Paralympicsport.tv free!
March 16, 06: Tried out a manual wheelchair with push knobs. Was able to push it but with quite a bit of effort. Will be looking into a few of the alternative push systems a bit more.
Added March 7, 06: Looks like someone had a similar idea to my own for a wheelchair accessible three wheeled motorcycle -and thankfully made it reality! read more about the Martin Conquest.March 3, 06: I completed my Masters of Business Administration (MBA) through Regis University, turning in the final paper of the capstone class. I found out on the 6th I got an A to round out the program with a 4.0 GPA! Much better than my GPA that just seemed to continue dwindling in undergrad as I was more interested in my computer consulting business than school at the time! [Chuckle!]
Added Feb 14, 06: News coverage videos & related article about disabled Quadriplegics & Paraplegic's scuba diving in the Cayman Islands of the Caribbean.
Added Jan 30, 06: News coverage videos & related articles about "Helping HandsMonkey Helpers for the Disabled", the organization I'm working with to get a little highly trained Capuchin monkey which can assist with tasks such as picking up or retrieving things indicated with a laser pointer and even get a Tupperware out of the refrigerator, open it, and help put it in the microwave, etc.Check out the very interesting "Disability Market Demographics" I added to the Disability Resources page.
Jan 9, 06: Started the last and final capstone class for my MBA (Masters in Business Administration) program through Regis University. I will be finished at the end of Februarywhich should give me some more time to finally focus on my business! What does the future hold? Who knows... but I can imagine I will have to start looking into some Ph.D. programs in a year or two - the big question will be what field exactly. [Grin]
Jan 8-19, 06: I am in Cleveland, Ohio for 11 days again for reprogramming and improvement on the controller of the Nueroprosthetic implant for functional use of my hand. I've been both a participant and contributor to this research project. This week we managed to greatly enhance the controls, making them much more user customizable and user-friendly. I've also managed to find one or two bugs that were deeply embedded in the software, one of which we are still working on determining the cause. Next week I have an in-service scheduled with the occupational therapists of the rehab department here at West Health in Cleveland, Ohio to show them some of my latest adaptive technology designs which I will be introducing in the coming months at www.BroadenedHorizons.com. I may also be meeting with someone next week involved in financing and stimulating investment for startups in the medical device type industry. The head of the program offered to introduce me.
Oct 30, 05: It's that time of year again for my 5th Annual Halloween Costume Birthday Party! It will be Sunday evening, Oct. 30 from 4 to 11 p.m., the night before Halloween, the thought being more people would be able to attend then on Monday, Halloween night. This year I'm currently working on completing a new backyard patio complete with a fire ring which I'm hoping to break in!family and friends should have gotten their invite already, but if you were missed and would like to attend, complete details and to RSVP can be found here, or have a question, send me an e-mail.
Oct 28, 05: Major portion of the patio is finished! The pillars still need capstones and lights, electrical wired up, gas lines for fire pit connected. I designed the fire pit so it can be a gas or wood-burning. Michael Spanier did a beautiful job!Oct 23, 05: Will be finishing up "Managing Change", the third to last class in my Regis University MBA program. If I can keep hammering away at the last two classes, I will be finished by the end of February. Update 10-27: Received my grade. I pulled off an A, and though this professor and I disagreed on a few points I had to share his glaringly positive feedback. "Mark, I'll bet great things happen with your business. You are very intelligent and determined which is a dynamic combination. Look for strategic alliances and licensing. From what I have seen on your website you have some incredible innovations and I think there will be a lot more of them to come."
Oct 10-14, 05: I will be returning to Cleveland to have final setup programming done on my Nueroprosthetic implant for functional use of my hand. On Friday, the 14th they have asked me to meet with Dean Kamen, "The Pied Piper of Technology" before he gives his presentation at Case Western Reserve University. He is the inventor of the Segway™ HT 2 wheeled scooter everyone has seen, INDEPENDENCET iBOT™ wheelchair that climbs stairs, and the Baxter HomeChoice™ peritoneal dialysis machine. I sincerely look forward to the opportunity - he also pilots his own helicopters to work each day and CitationJet! Update: read my post trip comments here in my log of the experience.
Oct 5, 05: Driving my Van, the first week or so I mostly practiced around the neighborhood, and got maybe a mile or two into Maple Grove at only 30 miles per our or less to get my haircut. This last week, (first week of October) after getting a few of the controls repositioned slightly, I ventured about 10 miles on some 50 mile-per-hour backroads and even took it on the interstate for about a mile at 60 mph. I found a few buttons that I need to have positioned to be easier to reach such as for On Star, especially in an emergency, or the heat control which I really noticed in the cool weather the other day! I also have to visit Cummings Mobility another time to have a few more tweaks done to get the seat belt positioned so I can get drive my wheelchair in and out of it better without having to disconnect and reconnect. I picked up some large, heavy duty plastic mats meant for office chairs at Office Depot to put over the floor of my Van. It should make maneuvering the wheelchairand keeping things halfway clean much easier. Now I just need someone to help me cut them to fit into place.
Oct 4, 05: The basement waterproofing was completed about the middle of last month and now we are working on the backyard patio & landscaping. Unfortunately progress has been progressing more slowly than I would like. But then what doesn't?!Here's a reminder for everyone - The future is rarely what we envision of it, and even less so of what large corporations envision for it.
Picture from 1954 Popular Mechanics Magazine.... read the caption and marvel.
The Guys' Rules
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We always hear " the rules" From the female perspective .
Now here are the rules from the male perspective .
Men are NOT mind readers.
Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down.
You don 't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
Crying is blackmail.
Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one :
Subtle hints do not work ! Strong hints do not work ! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.
Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact , all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
If you won 't dress like the Victoria 's Secret girls, don 't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.
If you think you're fat, you probably are . Don't ask us.
If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one .
You can either ask us to do something, Or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
If you ask a question you don 't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don 't want to hear .
When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
Don 't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf .
You have enough clothes.
You have too many shoes.
I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don 't mind that? It's like camping.
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