At sixteen, life was good for Logan Olson. A young, beautiful high school student with lots of friends and a bright future in fashion to look forward to, Logan had it all.
Now 25, Logan is still a beautiful young woman who is creating amazing opportunities for herself as the editor and publisher of Logan, a magazine for young women with disabilities. Sounds almost like a fairytale, doesn’t it? While Logan’s story is far from over, a happy ending is a foregone conclusion. Still, her journey has been a testament of true grit.
Logan was born with congenital heart disease, and on Halloween 2001, she’d been walking through a haunted house with her dad and two brothers when she suffered a sudden heart attack and collapsed. She survived the heart attack, but fell into a coma that left her with a brain injury.

It took seven months of intense rehab and physical therapy for Logan to regain her speech and mobility with the help of a walker. In that time, her friends and life seemed to have moved on without her.

Feeling hopeless about reaching her long-time dream of working in the fashion industry, Logan fell into a depression. “I thought my life was over,” says Logan. “But my parents gave me the strength and encouragement I needed to get out of my mental funk and start to create my own opportunity. That’s how Logan magazine was born.”

Returning to high school, Logan took a mock fashion magazine she’d pieced together in her spare time. The mental leap from mock to actual magazine was huge, but critical, says Laurie Olson, Logan’s mom. “There’s a black hole for kids with disabilities after high school. I could see Logan slipping into that if we didn’t have a plan.”

The family’s work paid off. Logan Magazine debuted in November 2006. She has been nominated for a governor’s award, featured on Washington State Library posters, and honored with marketing awards. Schools and libraries also subscribe to the magazine, which attracts readers as far away as Peru and Switzerland.

We talked to Logan about the long-term affects of her brain injury, which include impairments to her balance, speech, and short term memory. Logan says she has learned much about the publishing industry and her devoted fans.
“Our readers have a desire to live life to the fullest, says Logan. “Like our mission, our readers want to look great while experiencing all life has to offer. It makes me proud to hear that my magazine makes teens with disabilities feel like they’re not alone.”
We asked Logan for her best piece of advice and inspiration for teens who are struggling with their disability. “I had to speak out with determination when sharing my goals for my life. People are busy, sometime’s too busy to listen. Be persistent! Keep sharing with others around you what your goals are. People want to help, they just need YOU to tell them how.”
Logan and her mom and partner, Laurie, have more to do and they’re determined to do it. “On our list of priorities is an entrepreneur camp for young people with disabilities. We’re calling it The Logan Project!” Stay tuned, and visit Logan Magazine at LoganMagazine.com.

Michael Janger is a business consultant who advises companies in the technology and accessibility markets. Profoundly deaf since birth, Michael imparts his personal experiences and business training to product and service providers interested in filling market gaps for the special needs community.  He has a passionate interest in technologies that enable people with disabilities to strive for equal access in their workspace and lifespace.

“There are many companies whose products provide a benefit to people with disabilities,” says Janger.   “As a deaf person, I have benefited from these products, some of which have made a major difference in my life.  I can relate to other people with disabilities when they describe some of the technologies that improve their quality of life and enable them to be functionally equivalent to their non-disabled peers.  Like them, I am always seeking out new technologies that have the potential to further improve my quality of life and help me communicate better with hearing people.  I derive much satisfaction out of working with companies that develop and market assistive technologies — knowing that I can help them improve their competitive position and ultimately, improve consumer choice for people with disabilities.”

We asked Michael about the Internet and social media and how these growing forms of interaction and network building have influenced his life. “The Internet made possible the existence of video relay services — which has made the most significant impact in my quality-of-life, by enabling me to carry on normal conversations with anyone around the world over the telephone.  I have always liked to socialize and keep in touch with people, professionally and personally. Not being able to use the telephone independently has always been a source of frustration for me.”

“I don’t know if social media itself has made an impact on my life in the context of my deafness. However, that said, it has certainly reconnected me with childhood friends that I have not heard from in 30 years; it has also helped me stay in closer contact with my current friends and associates.”

“Since my disability tends to have its greatest impact on communication, my deaf friends and I have always been very industrious in utilizing technologies and devices that improve communication, not only with hearing people, but also between deaf and hard-of-hearing people.  Before Facebook came along, we always kept in touch via pagers and text messaging.  Facebook is just another layer of communication above all the other devices that we have been using to communicate.  We already had a social network before Facebook.”

When we asked Michael about staying focused and motivated on professional goals, particularly when the economy is rough and opportunities are scarce, he advises others with disabilities not to lose sight of the goal that they have set for themselves.  ”It may sound simple and cliched, but in my experience it always helps.  When you feel discouraged or frustrated, it can be easy to forget about the goals you have worked hard for, and focus on what you cannot do.  That can be debilitating.  Only when you regain focus on the goals you work passionately for, then you can visualize solutions to help navigate the barriers that keep you from achieving those objectives.  When you shift from thinking about what you cannot do, to thinking about what you CAN do to deal with an obstacle, that makes a real difference in how you can achieve success.”

As the principal and founder of the DisabilityResourceExchange.com (DRE), Rudy Sims used his own disability as an impetus for advocacy. Dyslexic and born with Cerebral Palsy, Rudy’s mission is to create support, education and community for people with disabilities, particularly those who are living in isolation.

Rudy created the DRE social network as a place to discuss disability issues and exchange resources, ideas and support. The network seeks to bring together all those interested in disability issues to foster a spirit of cooperation and education. Active since 2009, the group has already helped close to 1,000 people.
We talked to Rudy about the milestones that led up to his creation of the DisabilityResourceExchange.com.

“As a child with physical and learning disabilities, I started my education in a special school for disabled children and then fought to stay in my local public school system,” said Rudy. “I think my greatest accomplishment was fighting to attend Teaneck public high school as its first disabled student, which made it more accessible to future generations of kids with special needs.”

According to Rudy, the creation of the DisabilityResourceExchange.com web site and his blog, www.copingwithdisability.com, was driven by his own chronic pain and isolation. “Running these web sites gives me a sense of purpose. And aiding others in dealing with disabilities helps me to cope with my own disability,” says Rudy. He says, when coping with disability, he feels it’s important to keep your situation in perspective. “Social networking allows you to see that you aren’t alone — other people deal with it, too.”

With more than 4,000 followers on Twitter, Rudy has learned to effectively leverage social media to raise awareness for disability issues. He is ranked among the top five Tweeters on Disability issues on Listorious.com.

“I come from a technological background. My father worked for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and taught me about computers and technology from a very early age. My goal has always been to use technology to raise disability awareness and connect people in the disabled community. I feel this is a new field to be explored and a new way for advances in disability advocacy.”

Rudy’s advice for others with Cerebral Palsy or similar special needs is to ask for help when you need it and to establish a good support system – be it family, a support group or a psychologist. “I think it is important to be open to new ideas about coping with a disability effectively. I would also want to tell others to try and be positive and smile, because smiling rubs off on the people around you.”

For parents, caregivers and teachers of kids with physical disabilities, having a proper chair or desk in which to eat, learn or play can be an incredible challenge.  In the world of  special needs, Alex Truesdell will tell you from experience that one size definitely does not fit all.

Alex is the visionary behind the Adaptive Design Association AdaptiveDesign.org, a non-profit group that she founded in 1998. Based on a successful program model she developed for the Perkins School for the Blind, the Adaptive Design Association ensures that children with disabilities obtain the customized equipment they need to thrive in home, school, and community life. To this end, Adaptive Design offers training in adaptive design, builds customized equipment, and promotes a broad-based expansion of adaptive design services and education in schools, hospitals, and communities.

“When I was asked to take on this initiative, the challenge was tremendous,” said Alex.  “Sustaining a non-profit is difficult in New York, but children everywhere need customized adaptive solutions — and this agency is all about inspiring people to take notice.”

When asked about her organization’s most noteworthy achievements, Alex lists many, including:
• Adaptive Design has created customized equipment for hundreds of children with unique positioning, health, and/or developmental needs
• The association has provided hands-on classes for teachers and therapists working in public and private schools throughout New York City
• They maintain a “Never Say No” policy, so children get equipment, as soon as the Adaptive Design Association can make and deliver it, or teachers can take classes, even when reimbursement is doubtful or impossible
• 126 women in transition have completed work-readiness internships, gaining transferable workplace skills
• They have introduced undergraduate and graduate students in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy to adaptive-design technologies through internships and fieldwork experiences
• The Adaptive Design Association uses eco-responsible materials – one of their favorites is three-layered corrugated cardboard and wooden nails.

“The children we create equipment for and their families are obvious beneficiaries, but the people who design, build, and decorate the equipment, as well as the classmates, and the wider community, also benefit immeasurably,” added Alex.

For more information on the Adaptive Design Association, please visit their website at: www.adaptivedesign.org.

Among The Giants from Adaptive Design on Vimeo.

For our inaugural “PossAbilities All-Star” feature, we’ve set high standards. In keeping with the spirit and focus of this regular column, RDAA is celebrating the achievements and acknowledging the contributions of Richard Ellenson to the special needs community.

PossAbilities All-Star: Richard Ellenson, Creator of the Tango and Chief Vision Officer, Dynavox & Mayer-Johnson

Richard Ellenson’s innovative work and continued dedication to the special needs community is fueled by his son, Thomas Ellenson. Tom, now 12 years old, was born with Cerebral Palsy. Intellectually and emotionally on par with his peers, Tom is limited in his ability to verbally communicate, and cannot get around without his wheelchair.

As a former ad executive, Ellenson’s perspective of the world is hyper-oriented around communications. From his viewpoint, everything from breakfast cereals to people, carry their own brand identity. And, as the father of a child with special needs, he is acutely aware of the differences in how people react to and perceive individuals with disabilities versus the mainstream population.

“When I created Tango for my son, it was not only about creating a simple mode of communication, it was to help Tom build relationships,” said Ellenson. “I wanted him to have a device that would work even before a conversation started…when he identified a person he was interested in knowing, he could ‘initiate’ contact by ‘saying’ something cool – without initially sounding robotic. Of course synthetic voices have gotten better over the years, but to really get emotional juice into a first impression, it makes sense to work toward the common ground – not start off with something that sounds unfamiliar.”

Richard’s unique way of thinking resulted in an Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) device called the Tango. Introduced in 2006, the Tango has changed the lives of thousands of children and teens around the world. Now merged with AAC leader, Dynavox, the Tango continues to enable multiple modes of communication, so kids can interact more like their peers in diverse social situations – whoopee cushion sound effects included.

Now the chief vision officer of Dynavox, Richard’s mission is two-fold: The first is to help cast aside negative branding associated with disabilities and open eyes to the amazing spirits shared by so many with disabilities. Ellenson seeks to plant the seed of understanding that people with disabilities are different, just different, nothing more. The second piece is to increase awareness of and access to AAC devices and the innovations going on at DynaVox.

“Today only one in 20 people who need an augmentative communication device receive one. We believe that every individual should have a device the day they need it. Equally important, in our view, is getting the right device for the right person for the right reason, and we’re creating new products that honor not only the right of people to communicate, but the need for others to find this sort of interaction less challenging, added Ellenson.”

To learn more about the Tango, or other DynaVox communication products, check out dynavoxtech.com

This video introduces viewers to the concept of augmentative and alternative communication and how speech communication devices can help those challenged by significant speech disabilities to speak their minds.

When it comes to beating the odds of physical and cognitive impairment, particularly in young people, RDAA believes that the spirit of hope, love and courage can sometimes wield more power than all the world’s high technology and medical science innovation, combined.

This is where we’ll be sharing what’s on our mind and yours. We’ll be discussing current events, legislation, and breakthroughs that affect the special needs community. Please subscribe to our RSS feed, and keep in touch!