Monday, March 23, 2009

Welcome to Accessibility Northwest

Accessibility Northwest (ANW) became a business in 1993. In the beginning, the company sold and installed patient transfer lift systems. Over time, it expanded and sold a variety of lines of durable medical equipment. By the third year it became a resource of information and products for many clients. Some clients were directed to ANW through L&I, medicaid, and medicare. Medicaid and Medicare were very difficult to work with as many of the products ANW carried were not covered by either agency. Some products were deemed "luxury" and therefore were not covered. While working with L&I, ANW was requested to give a safety and need report for a local client's home. In that process, ANW came to the conclussion that for the client's safety, an exterior exit was needed from the client's bedroom since there was no other way to escape safely if there were a fire. ANW was informed that it would be too costly and the claim was rejected. Unfortunately, ANW was correct in it's safety inspection, and the house did burn to the ground several months later. The client did not survive the fire. For this reason as well as a few other reasons, Accessibility Northwest closed for reorganization. Many years have passed and now technology provides a new opportunity. It's time for ANW to reawaken - not as a sales company but as a resource firm.
In the coming months, this blog will provide articles, product recommendations, travel tips, and a critique, just to name a few subjects. Please feel free to leave comments, stories, product suggestions, or questions. The first topic will be about the quality of life. Please do let us hear from you so that we all can learn more about persons with disabilities and the challenges faced each day. How can we all help to insure the quality of life for our loved ones, the elderly, the veterans, the children with disabilities if we don't get the word out? It's time for the world to hear the voices of millions.

3 comments:

  1. Very well said! So much more needs to be done for the elderly, veterans, children and anyone with disabilities of any kind. I'm looking forward to reading more.

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  2. What a brilliant thing you are doing here.
    Thanks also for your kind comment on my background at my blog. If you want to forward pictures to share please feel free to email me at june.macfarlane@gmail.com

    thanks again, have a lovely weekend and keep up the good work here
    June :)

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  3. Hi Joan,

    I wish you good luck for your new blog. :)

    Big hugs,
    Birgit

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