Page 24 - Mobility Management, May 2018

ATP Series
Tech Perspectives: MS
similarly challenging. Jay Doherty, OTR, ATP/SMS, Director, Clinical Education, Quantum Rehab, gives his perspectives on how complex rehab technology can support active, independent and healthy living for people with MS. — Editor
Q: What symptoms of MS most often impact a client’s seating and mobility?
Jay Doherty: With MS, there is an extensive list of symptoms
that may be seen. When it comes to mobility equipment, we are likely to see more motor and coordination involvement. The symptoms can range from changes in muscle tone to coordina- tion and/or balance challenges, general or very specific muscle weakness, and endurance limitations. Changes in sensation and vision can also occur.
MS affects the body a great deal and it is very difficult to predict what senses or motoric involvement the team may see.
Sweet, Sweet Sounds:
Sip-&-Puff Technology Now Being Used to Make Music
Using sip and puff to operate a power wheel- chair? That’s old hat. Sipping and puffing to play musical instruments, even at a professional level? That’s an entirely different tune.
A 30-Year Player
In an April news announce- ment, Jamboxx — manu- facturer of a “hands-free, breath-powered instru- ment” — said professional percussionist Jackie
Bertone had signed on as the company’s new ambassador. Bertone is a veteran musician, having played with The Beach
Boys and also with Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson when Wilson launched his solo career.
to play what I can’t play. I’ve been a 30-year player in the industry. MS has taken some of it away. This brought it back.”
Breath-Powered Playing
Bertone added that he plans to use Jamboxx in studio sessions: “You can loop through this. You can you can play drum patterns on this. You can become
a full orchestra with this because I even played marimba. I don’t play marimba! But the sound was legitimate. It really is.”
Jamboxx’s manufac-
turer describes it as “an
electronic, USB-powered,
breath-controlled instru-
ment styled after a harmonica that plays digital MIDI notes when connected to a compatible Windows computer/tablet or MAC OS device. Notes are played by sipping or puffing via the mouth- piece. Moving the mouthpiece left or right determines which note is played.”
Jamboxx was founded in 2007 by David Whalen and musician Mike DiCesare. Whalen was paralyzed in a skiing accident when he was 18. The Albany, N.Y.-based company said Jamboxx is now commercially available in multiple versions, including a Classroom version for beginners, and Jamboxx Pro for more advanced students and professional musicians. Jamboxx uses Jamboxx Pro Suite software to “configure key, scale, chord and octave.”
The company says Jamboxx is for all musicians, though musi- cians with disabilities could find it particularly useful.
For more info, visit the Web site: www.jamboxx.com. m
Veteran musician Jackie Bertone is Jamboxx’s new ambassador.
and sisters that can’t play anymore. Or didn’t think they could play anymore.
“To be asked to be their international ambassador... I mean, this is an honor, man. I’m promoting this because of the times when my right hand doesn’t want to work. It gives me the ability
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1996, Bertone no longer tours, but still works as
a session musician and hosts his own radio show.
In a video in which he unboxes his Jamboxx, Bertone said, “I just think it’s pretty amazing. I’m fighting back tears, because this gives the ability to the brothers
Musician Shamar Persaud with Jamboxx at a performance.
24 MAY 2018 | MOBILITY MANAGEMENT MobilityMgmt.com
SIDEBAR PHOTOS COURTESY JAMBOXX