Guitar Hero Adapted for Persons with Disabililites

Enabling Devices Adapts Guitar Hero

Hawthorne, NY – August 24, 2010 – Enabling Devices today announced that it has adapted the bestselling music video game, Guitar Hero.

According to Steven Kanor, Ph.D., President of Enabling Devices: “One of the goals of our company is to adapt bestselling games and toys so that people with disabilities can enjoy them along with their family and friends. We are thrilled that we have been able to adapt the electronics of Guitar Hero and create an easy to use tabletop control center.

Gail Cocciardi, Director of Product Development, says: “Our development team at Enabling Devices wanted to create a device that would allow our customers to have easy access to this popular game. Now there is no need to strum a guitar to join in on the fun. What makes it even more exciting is that the user can play at different levels of difficulty from beginner to expert – all with our tabletop controller. We’ve put together a great package which includes the tabletop control center, two software packages, and a guitar, all at a very reasonable price.”

Guitar Hero #4065

Guitar Hero Controller

Features:

Our brand new unique state-of-the-art tabletop control center allows you to play five colored buttons in sync with the musical notes.

• Control has select button, an up arrow to select the song and a start/stop button
• Easy beginner level allows the user to hit any colored button to go to the beat of the music without having to follow a pattern
• The guitar is fully functional so others can join in the fun
• Package includes: Control Center, Les Paul Guitar, and Two Playstation 3 software packages: Guitar Hero World Tour (with beginner level) and Hero Legends of Rock
• The control center can also be used with your Playstation 2 and Playstation 2 software

About Enabling Devices

Enabling Devices is a company dedicated to developing affordable learning and assistive technology devices to help people of all ages with disabling conditions. The company specializes in creating custom devices for individuals with severe disabilities. Founded by Steven E. Kanor, Ph.D. and originally known as Toys for Special Children, the company has been creating innovative communicators, toys, switches, and sensory devices for the physically challenged for more than 35 years.

For Information: www.enablingdevices.com or

Thank you from the cast of Peter Pan

A special Thank You to Community Foundation Summertime Kids program, Cyberonics, Asheville Community Theater, Makeup at the Grove Arcade, Dave Bortle, Starr Hogan. A GREAT Big thank you to Debbie Lombard of Exceptional Theatre Company, Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Dept, TR Program and F.I.R.S.T.

GREAT job to all the actors and shadows.

Participate in One of the Listening Sessions Being Held Across the State -- We Want to Hear from You!

Over the next three months, Disability Rights North Carolina will host public Listening Sessions across the State. At these sessions, Executive Director Vicki Smith will lead conversations that will help define our organization's issue targets for the next three years.

This is a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts with Disability Rights NC. Don't miss these Listening Sessions if . . .

• You are curious about how Disability Rights NC selects the cases it accepts;
• You want to have input into the types of cases Disability Rights NC accepts;
• You want to share critical information with Disability Rights NC about the violation of the rights of people with disabilities in our State.

All Listening Sessions are open to the public. Pass this email along to other people you know who want to ensure that all people with disabilities in North Carolina are treated equally and fairly, and have full access to the community.

If you plan to attend and need an ASL interpreter, please contact Janice Willmott at janice.willmott@disabilityrightsnc.org to request assistance.

Thur., October 14

Asheville

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Public Works Building

Room A11

161 S. Charlotte Street

other sites available across the state. Check their website disabilityrightsnc.org

“Recognizing and Treating Children Whose Minds Play Tricks on Them”

Family Support Network of WNC

Will present

“Recognizing and Treating Children Whose Minds Play Tricks on Them”

Children normally experience flights of fancy, including imaginary friends and conversations with stuffed animals. However, some of them are also having hallucinations and delusions which may included unprovoked aggression and nonsensical “lies”. These might be the early signs of psychosis. This family-oriented workshop will provide an informal discussion to learn more about ways that childhood psychosis presents itself, possible methods to manage and appropriate services to pursue. Discussion will cover some of the benefits and controversy of antipsychotic medications and the impact on individual well-being, social and educational function.

Linmarie, Sikich, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. The majority of her work is focused on evaluating and developing treatments for severe neurodevelopment disorders such as autism and schizophrenia using standard efficacy measures, effectiveness measures that also consider the tolerability and acceptability of treatments, and neurocognitive outcomes.