Wheelchair Vans, Mobility Equipment, Ramps, Stair Lifts, : Oregon : Salem, Portland, Eugene, Oregon Coast

Entry and Exit Options for Drivers with Disabilities

rjmobility — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:40:49 +0000

Depending on their ability, drivers with disabilities who use a wheelchair have a big decision: Picking an option for getting into and out of the drivers seat of a wheelchair accessible vehicle that best suits their needs.

With a little help from a friend

With help from a caregiver, family member or friend, many wheelchair users can get from their wheelchair into the driver seat. The helper can stow the wheelchair and retrieve it when getting out.

Other people with disabilities use a motorized transfer seat or a swivel seat. A transfer seat rotates inside the vehicle and a swivel seat will rotate outside of the vehicle. With or without assistance, the driver moves from the wheelchair to a transfer or swivel seat. Activate the motorized seat to return it to the driving position. Reverse the procedure when getting out.

Both of those solutions can require help. For maximum independence, a lift or ramp is required to first get you into the vehicle.

Lifts:

Without aid, a motorized platform raises the user and wheelchair to an entry level. A transfer seat base then provides the ability to transfer from the chair in the center section of a van to the driver position.

They come in platform styles as well as boom lifts, telescoping, light duty lifts and more.

Ramps:

When a ramp is combined with interior adjustments and power sliding doors, you can enter and drive the van without aid. A button stows the ramp and closes the door.
With removable front seats, the driver stays in the wheelchair and rolls into the driver position. Or you can transfer to a factory seat with the addition of a 6-way power transfer seat that slides back, turns sideways and raises or lowers you to the optimum transfer height.

To find the entry/exit style that is best suited to your needs, talk to a mobility expert.

This blog post was written by NMEDA. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is an advocate for mobility and accessibility for drivers with disabilities.

Help Us Plan Our Customer Appreciation Day & Open House!

rjmobility — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:17:12 +0000

We are planning our 1st Annual Customer Appreciation Day & Open House. Please take a moment to complete this brief survey that will help us plan our special day!

BraunAbility at 40: Keeping the Pioneer Spirit Alive

rjmobility — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:16:38 +0000

In 1972, when The Braun Corp. was born, Richard Nixon was president. It was a year of Watergate break-ins, Bobby Fischer becoming a world chess champion, swimmer Mark Spitz winning seven Olympic gold medals in Munich, and women competing in the Boston Marathon for the first time.Ten years earlier, Ralph Braun, diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child, had designed and built a three-wheeled scooter, then launched a part-time business called Save-A-Step. By 1972, the company had been renamed The Braun Corp. This year, the automotive access manufacturer — a.k.a., BraunAbility — celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Because of the company’s long history, we gave BraunAbility’s president, Nick Gutwein, an assignment: Tell us how the industry has evolved in four decades, name some major milestones, and give us a peek at BraunAbility’s plans for the future. Here’s what Nick said.

— Ed.

It’s a great time to be in this industry, and I think it all started with people like Ralph Braun.

Ralph is a great icon and pioneer in the industry, and — to use the cliché that necessity is the mother of invention — there’s absolutely no question that necessity drove adaptation in transportation mobility.

If you look back 40 years ago — from the decade of 1960 to 1970, and then at the 1970s — these were people fighting for freedom. They had a desire to participate fully in life, not to let their disabilities get in the way of doing everything that God gave them the ability to do. I would say that is unique to our industry: People fighting for freedom not only for themselves, but for others with disabilities to participate fully in life.

That really defined our industry for 20 years, and still today, there are very strong remnants of that.

A Civil Rights Movement

Forty years ago, people with disabilities didn’t go to school, because schools weren’t accessible. The industry was a cottage industry, meaning there was really no standardization, no organization. It was people trying to get by and customizing products for their mobility needs. There was a lot of creativity. They never would have won beauty contests with what they created, but they got by. They solved the problems.

It was a society generally ignorant about the capability of people with disabilities, and there is still a lot of ignorance out there. The infrastructure was really pathetic; there were significant barriers for people with disabilities not only to get to work, but just to function in life the way they needed to to experience it in full. So these individuals we call pioneers, it’s their spirit that drove this industry to change. There’s no question in my mind that it’s that same spirit today that continues to drive that change.

Until you actually get involved with people with disabilities and see just a glimpse of what their lives are like, you can’t understand it. I don’t fully understand it, but I do look at it as a civil rights issue.

40 Years of Progress

What’s different now? We have standardization. We have products and services making it possible for all people with disabilities to participate in everything, including the workforce.

Technology has advanced greatly in terms of functionality. Products are available through professionals, and the mobility dealers and individuals who are servicing this customer base are a key difference from 40 years ago. They provide consultations, support, understanding, and customization of products to fit the unique needs of the individual with the disability.

We have a $1 billion transportation industry alone, just in transportation mobility, and there have been reports of products for people with disabilities being in the $250 billion range. Th at is amazing.

Societal awareness and understanding have increased significantly, though I think there’s a long way to go. So we have an industry now, we have standardization, we have safety standards that go along with regulation, we have infrastructure that’s in place that helps support this, we have advocacy groups that are helping to drive this.

I’d say it’s significant progress.

If people had waited for regulation and standardization, we would never be here. It takes the people who say, “I’m not going to wait for someone to tell me it’s OK. I’m going to make these products because I need to get to work. I need to be mobile.” And then that drives the regulating body to say, “Th is is important. We should make sure we support this.”

A lot of people think regulation is a bad thing, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s been a very good thing for this industry. Some of the most important milestones have to do with regulation.

Interestingly, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), established in 1990, is squarely in the middle of this 40 years we’re talking about, and it has had a very profound impact on this industry. We have NHTSA that regulates highway safety standards, and then there is what many of the ADA actions did to make things accessible for people…because if you don’t have buildings and sidewalks that are accessible, transportation is nice, but where are you going to go when you get there?

A New Generation of Expectations

From people who were involved early in the industry, I often hear that people with disabilities were at first so happy to go somewhere that actual product functionality in terms of aesthetics and ease of operation were far down the list of importance. They were just delighted to have an option to go somewhere.

Today, expectations are much greater of our products in the industry…as they should be. Are the locations for switches in the vehicles ergonomically correct for someone in a wheelchair? Is there good maneuverability and space inside, so it’s easy for someone to get around? Is the securement system simple, or does it take three people to get a tie-down in place? And the look: Is it something that screams “different,” or is it integrated into the normal product mix that you’re going to see?

Same thing in terms of our service. We talk a lot about our dealer network, and I’d say that’s a really important diff erence today versus 20 or 30 years ago. The product needs to work; our reliability needs to be just like you would expect when you buy a brand-new Toyota, Honda, Chrysler or Chevy. It needs to work every time. Th at’s our job.

When there is an issue of service, when there is a maintenance issue, somebody needs to be there in the neighborhood with our customers. Today, that network isn’t fully developed, but it’s really made advances in terms of service and support for our customer base.

Years ago, dealers weren’t that plentiful, and maybe their quality was widespread. Th at’s totally unacceptable. Wherever you live, you need to have the same kind of service.

Expectations are totally different now. Years ago, you used to wait weeks to get your car; you had to order it. Today, we would never accept that. It’s the same with information exchange and technology: We expect to get things quickly. If I order something today, I want to get it tomorrow. Th ose are just societal changes, and you can’t expect people with disabilities to sit on the sidelines and say, “Well, I’ll wait till I can experience the same kinds of benefits.”

One other milestone I think is really interesting — and I’m giving the credit to Lee Iacocca for it — is the advent of the minivan. The minivan has stood the test of time. I think it was 1984 when Chrysler came out with the minivan, and here we are nearly 30 years later. The minivan is definitely different than when it first came out. Back then, there were definitely certain perceptions about minivans. But it’s one of the more functional vehicles out there, and it’s OK for a man to drive a minivan, where it used to be a soccer-mom thing.

It really is an ideal platform for wheelchair accessibility because of its height and the ability to take the floor down and configure it in a way that makes it work. That’s a key milestone, and it dramatically changed the personal-use transportation accessibility. Prior to that, we had to buy a full-size van and equip it with a lift . It was more expensive, it was difficult, less easy to park, not as efficient. So that changed things dramatically. That was a big milestone.

Many Needs, One Voice

One thing that’s been extremely important to this industry — prior to the ADA and I think even more so since the ADA — is the number of advocacy groups fighting for increased awareness, increased access to products and improvement in infrastructure. There are many, and I wouldn’t want to leave anybody out, but I can give you one example: United Spinal Association and the role they’re playing in New York City with respect to people in wheelchairs getting full access to taxis. There are many, many different groups that are fighting out there, and that has made a huge difference in regulation and awareness. They will be even more important going forward.

As much progress as we’ve made, there’s so much more ground to cover. If you’re not involved in our industry, how aware are you about the need for opportunities in the workplace, improved infrastructure and improved transportation for people with disabilities? I’m not sure that society outside of our industry and outside of families and people with disabilities really understand the depth of need and also the progress that’s been made.

Until someone is exposed to the life of people with disabilities, they really don’t understand it. So if the portion of society with that opportunity is fairly small, how do you get them to understand? To me, that’s critical.

20 Years from Now…

I’d love to be able to say in the next 20 years that people with disabilities have the same opportunity for employment. Today, we talk about the unemployment rate for people with disabilities being double the overall rate. That’s just unacceptable. The mindset of employers regarding barriers and issues to hire people with disabilities is not good. There’s a lot of ignorance out there: It costs too much money, where would we put them, what can they contribute? Somebody who has been through overcoming a disability can contribute in problem-solving, in adding value to a business, and in pursuing this great market opportunity for products and services for people with disabilities.

I see transportation — what we do — playing a key role in getting people to and from work and being able to function in the workplace the way they should be able to.

The other thing I would love to be able to say in 20 years is that we’ve made it more affordable for all people with disabilities. That spans public transportation and personal transportation. The busing systems have done a great job of including accessibility for all; taxis have a long way to go.

I would like to see aff ordable transportation access for all.

On the personal-use side, our products in general are still too expensive. We need to find solutions for people that allow them to acquire a vehicle for less than $30,000. Product design and costs are going to have to be worked on, as well as financing sources for people with disabilities.

There are already options for under $30,000, but I think we need to increase those. In this whole idea of access, there is an equation of affordability that we have to be addressing.

Another thing that’s very important is access around the world.

There’s still tremendous opportunity around the U.S. and Canada, and that’s where our priority is. However, we will continue to grow outside the U.S. and have put a lot of eff ort into that in the last few years.

If you look outside the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Germany and Australia, the rest of the world has a long way to go with standardization and regulation and doing the kind of stuff that’s been going on here the last 20 years. There’s a lot to do to make it a global industry with standards like we talked about.

The Next Decades for BraunAbility

We still have a lot of room to improve, and we do a significant amount of research with customers. We have a great customer in house in Ralph Braun, and in addition we go out and talk to our customers about what they would really like to see improved.

We have as full of a new product pipeline as we’ve ever had. I would say that in the next couple of years, you will see advancements in electronics systems and in the environment inside the cabin of our vehicles. The room and space, inside the cabin, the ergonomic setup — we’ll take a significant look at all of that, and while they will still have the same appeal in melding into the original vehicle, they will probably be much more responsive to the unique needs of our customer base. We’re excited by that. We’ve been investing a lot in technology that we believe will address some of the needs of that environment and the ergonomic setup of the vehicle.

In addition, we’ll be participating in many more commercial or public transportation markets and products.

We are proud of what Ralph has built over the past 40 years, and this alone is motivation to drive change over the next 40 for all people with disabilities.

By Nick Gutwein
Feb 01, 2012

About the Author

Nick Gutwein is president of BraunAbility, manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles and other adaptive automotive products.

NMEDA Plans for National Mobility Awareness Month

rjmobility — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:05:45 +0000

How much impact could an industry niche have if it combined stakeholders’ resources and created a month-long, high-energy, national campaign? The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), automotive OEMs, adaptive equipment manufacturers, dealers and clinicians are getting ready to find out.

May 2012 will be the first-ever National Mobility Awareness Month, and NMEDA (nmeda.com) and its partners will be using those 31 days to teach the public about adaptive automotive equipment and the professionals who make up the industry. The awareness month project is far ranging and ambitious in scope, one that seeks to turn a national spotlight on an industry and a segment of technology that can do so much to bolster consumers’ independence, but remains unknown to the general public.

The idea began, says NMEDA’s Executive Director Dave Hubbard, with the organization’s cooperative awareness program, which has been pooling participants’ contributions and spending the funds to generate awareness for mobility products. “We ran that program for about a year doing some traditional advertising,” Hubbard says. “And what we found from our research is because of the amount of money we were able to generate, we were having very little impact in traditional media.”

Deciding it needed a way to get more bang for the group’s bucks, NMEDA members began brainstorming. One member suggested the industry needed an awareness week. “A week didn’t seem like long enough,” Hubbard says, “so it ended up being a month.” During that month, NMEDA is urging everyone in the industry to get involved in educating the public. “We want our dealers to participate, to send out press releases to the local papers and local media, radio, television,” Hubbard says. NMEDA, meanwhile, will be making those same marketing efforts on a national level.

The awareness month’s biggest splash will be a contest to award adapted vehicles to consumers who submit their life stories. “The contest really becomes the center point,” Hubbard says. “It focuses on encouraging people to deal with their disability, and it promotes life.” Contestants will be able to upload videos on Facebook, then encourage friends to vote. Winners will receive vehicles built and fitted by NMEDA members to the required specifications. And since potential voters need to visit a mobility dealer’s Web site or store to receive a code in order to cast a ballot, NMEDA hopes people will learn more about the adaptive automotive specialty.

Toyota, Hubbard says, has already donated a vehicle to give away, and other manufacturers are considering similar donations. NMEDA’s goal is to give the vehicles away on national TV shows, such as Good Morning America or Ellen.

The National Mobility Awareness Month will be a big topic at NMEDA’s national conference, Feb. 22-24 in Phoenix. “We will be having a press conference there,” Hubbard says, “and are devoting an entire workshop to explain this to the dealers. When they leave the conference, there will be dealer kits waiting for them.”

While the vehicle contest is likely to draw the big national headlines, ultimately the hope is that NMEDA members can also make lasting impressions in their own backyards. “We want the dealers to have open houses, media days and that kind of thing,” Hubbard says. “Open it up to the public and put a display out there. Have a weekend to do something special and invite people that wouldn’t have normally been invited.”

Much effort has already been invested in National Mobility Awareness Month, and stakeholders are looking forward to what comes next.“It’s a lot of work,” Hubbard says. “But it’s really exciting.”

Source: http://mobilitymgmt.com/articles/2012/01/04/natl-mobility-awareness.aspx?s=emob_050112&admgarea=emob

Travel Often? Consider an Accessible RV!

rjmobility — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:17:59 +0000

We read a lot about handicap minivans and full-size vans, but how about an accessible RV? If you travel often and find accessible hotels not so wheelchair friendly or you have a distaste of flying, an accessible motorhome could be a solution. Finances permitting, you could buy a new or used RV and have the conversion equipment you need installed.

A mobility equipment dealer can modify your new or used RV with whatever you require. The most common type of customization involves installing a wheelchair lift and widening the vehicle’s entrance and interior aisles to accommodate the wheelchair’s width.

Other common adaptations might include lowering the bed and toilet, installing hand control systems, wheelchair tie downs and handrails in strategic positions or modifying the shower and/or tub.

RVs carry their own water and waste management system. All you need is an electrical hookup at an RV campsite, state or national park or, if necessary, a generator.

Google “accessible RV parks” or “accessible RV campgrounds” for locations along your route. Access varies with each camping location, so check out the website or call beforehand. Be sure it has hard-surface cement or asphalt sites, not gravel or sand.

Think about it, you wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel or motel again, as RVs are totally self-contained living quarters on wheels. They have open floor plans with kitchens; barrier-free, roll-in showers with grab bars; extra-wide interior doors; and whatever bells and whistles you desire.

For a list of accessible RV parks in the U.S., visit HandicappedTravelClub.com.

If you don’t travel often enough to justify purchasing an RV, search for a place that rents accessible RVs. Start looking well in advance of your trip.

If you need help with converting or buying a handicap accessible car, truck or van, please contact us today.

This blog post provided by NMEDA. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is an advocate for mobility and accessibility for drivers with disabilities.

2012 Toyota Sienna XLE w/ BraunAbility Rampvan XT Conversion

rjmobility — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:40:23 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

The Toyota Sienna with the Rampvan conversion offers the same accessibility and convenience of all BraunAbility vehicles in a sporty, streamlined package. The bold, new attitude of this popular vehicle is a refreshing take on the traditional minivan. With more visibility, maneuverability and a gentler ramp slope, the latest Rampvan is an impressive upgrade of an already first-class van.

Standard Features:

OEM Keychain Remote Control
Kneeling Rear Suspension
Removable Passenger Seat
Removable Driver Seat
OEM Automatic Passenger Sliding Door
Automatic Foldout Ramp
Lowered Floor
Wheelchair/Occupant Securement System
Interior OEM Control Switches
Custom Ground Effects

View the BraunAbility Rampvan XT eBrochure

View the BraunAbility Rampvan XT eSummary

Price:	Please call for price
VIN:	5TDYK3DC3CS206742
Mileage:	8

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2011 Honda Odyssey EX-L RES w/ VMI Northstar Conversion

rjmobility — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:47:10 +0000

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To satisfy their customers’ needs for additional interior space and a clean, obstruction-free accessible vehicle interior, VMI pioneered the development of the Northstar in-floor wheelchair ramp system for the Honda Odyssey minivan. After almost two decades of refinement, the Northstar remains the most technologically advanced handicap ramp system on the market. Instead of taking up space inside the handicap vehicle, the Northstar wheelchair ramp simply rolls out from beneath the floor. When one considers the advantages of the Northstar in-floor wheelchair ramp system, there is no question why the Northstar is far and away VMI’s best-selling product.

Maximum interior space for wheelchair maneuverability
Obstruction-free doorway allows easy entry/exit for able-bodied passengers
Reduced accessible van conversion wear (no need to deploy mobility ramp for able-bodied passengers)
Clean, uncluttered handicapped vehicle interior
Less dirt and debris from ramp into handicap accessible vehicle interior
Wider usable accessible ramp surface
Easy access to all interior buttons, handles, and switches
Full use of front passenger seat
No squeaking or rattling from wheelchair ramp
Handicap Ramp stowed safely under floor in the event of a collision
Deployable on curbs up to 10” in height

Standard in every Honda Odyssey with the VMI Northstar Minivan Conversion:

Ultra-low 8.0° accessible ramp angle
750lb. wheelchair ramp capacity
Sure Deploy backup system allows users to stow or deploy the mobility ramp van conversion even in the event of complete power failure
Manual secondary backup system for additional peace of mind
Full-power ramp and conversion
12.75” drop FLEX Floor maximizes headroom and interior space for wheelchair maneuverability
Patented independent rear suspension designed to preserve Honda ride quality and performance
E-coated floor for maximum corrosion resistance
NEW, ultra-reliable hydraulic PowerKneel system lowers the minivan to reduce ramp angle
Seamless integration with Honda Odyssey electronics prevents damage to vehicle/conversion
Conversion control through HondaÂ keyfob and interior sliding-door switches
Halo-lit, one-touch interior conversion button
Ramp ON/OFF switch allows users to disable all conversion features for guest drivers, valets, car wash attendants, etc., andÂ open sliding doors for able-bodied passengers without deploying the ramp
NEW lightweight, removable front seats are easier to install or remove
NEW quick-release straps allow users to remove front seats in seconds without removing plastic covers or searching for handles/pedals beneath the seat
Non-skid handicapped ramp surface
Fully crash-tested and compliant with all government safety standards
3-year/36,000-mile warranty

View the VMI Honda Brochure here

View the Honda Warranty Disclaimer

Price:	Please call for price
VIN:	5FNRL5H62BB099445
Mileage:	Under 20 miles!

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2011 Toyota Sienna XLE w/ FMI Auto-Entry Kneelvan Conversion

rjmobility — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:18:36 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

This is the wheelchair accessible minivan you have been waiting for. The Toyota Sienna with the FMI Kneelvan conversion is the marriage of the most reliable minivan with the most reliable wheelchair van and handicapped accessible van conversion. But it doesn’t end there. The engineers have also created the best wheelchair van conversion ever. You will travel in hushed silence and marvel at the amazing suspension as it soaks up road irregularities. It sets a new benchmark in wheelchair vans and sets a new precedent in handicap vans.

Kneelvan’s Auto-Entry system brings you the ultimate in wheelchair and handicapped accessible van and vehicle convenience. Simply press the button and the vans rear hatch opens, the wheelchair ramp folds down, and the entire van “kneels” to the ground. This decreases the incline of the ramp, and is the key to the Kneelvan’s lowered-floor design – since the van raises back up when you’re ready to go, you don’t lose any of the vans ground clearance.

Price:	Please call for price
VIN:	5TDYK3DC5BS169658
Mileage:	249

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2011 Ford E-150 w/ VMI Classic Full Size Van Conversion

rjmobility — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:46:47 +0000

[Show as slideshow]

Classic Interior

VMI full-size handicap accessible vans with the Classic interior package represent a high-level means of disability travel. Every detail has been meticulously crafted to ensure amazing luxury in Classic full-size mobility vans.

Echelon style leather seating leads the way with the luxurious interior. High gloss dark cherry wood panels, infinity lighted wood panels, and leather tu-tone window valences complete the effect for Classic interior wheelchair accessible vans from Vantage Mobility International.

Platform Wheelchair Lift:
- Ricon Slide Away
Structural Modifications
- Raised Roof
- Raised Doors
- 6″ Full Cut Lowered Floor

Price:

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Disability Organizations React To Misleading Statements On Vehicle Conversions In National Media

rjmobility — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:16:20 +0000

TAMPA, Fla., January 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Recent unfounded statements surrounding the safety of wheelchair accessible vehicle conversions has caused industry organizations to rally in an effort to set the record straight. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and several of its manufacturing members announced today their position on the recent allegations.

“The claims against converted vehicles are completely ill-informed and unsubstantiated,” said NMEDA Executive Director/CEO Dave Hubbard. “Our members adhere to strict guidelines designed to enhance and promote dependable mobility products. It appears that the new-entry to the industry is taking liberties when it comes to deciphering fact from fiction.”

Contrary to recent claims, OEM vehicles have been proven to maintain their structural integrity throughout the conversion process. All structural modifications to the vehicles are proven safe through extensive durability and impact testing and are required to pass the same crash testing as the original equipment manufacturer.

“We are not a start-up company, and this is not a start-up industry,” said Nick Gutwein, President of The Braun Corporation. “Our products set the standard for reliability and safety in accessible vehicles, and our proof comes from hundreds of independently verified test results, thousands of satisfied customers and four decades of industry experience.”

In regard to safety, all new modified accessible vehicles manufactured and sold in the U.S. and Canada are required to comply with Federal and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. They must pass extensive front, rear, and side crash tests to ensure that the Original Equipment Manufacturer safety certifications remain intact after any modifications are made.

“It’s important that all members of the mobility industry, particularly customers, make certain all information provided to them is factual,” said Sheldon Walle, President, ElDorado National Kansas, Inc. “For over three decades we have assured customer safety and quality, and to suggest otherwise not only impugns our company but our industry as well.”

“Our safety record proves that we build vehicles that are dependable and well-engineered,” said Doug Eaton, CEO of Vantage Mobility International. “We’re confident that our vehicles feature superior handling, ergonomics and design including innovative ramps that are designed after painstaking research and careful study.”

Wheelchair van conversions also offer options, including the ability to drive the vehicle or ride as a passenger, the choice of a side-entry or rear-entry ramp and the ability to choose a vehicle with dimensions that best fit the individual customer’s needs.

“My wheelchair van has never let me down,” said Steven Ray, of Dallas, who recently purchased his second retrofitted vehicle. “I’ve driven that van for over 300,000 miles and it’s taken me everywhere I wanted to go in the last ten years.”

Click here to view the videos by Nick Gutwein (BraunAbility) & Doug Eaton (VMI)

###

Media Contacts:

Dave Hubbard – NMEDA

dhubbard1@nmeda.org

800-833-0427

Scott Black – Time Piece PR & Marketing (VMI)

sblack@tprm.com

214-520-3430

Sonya Bradford

ElDorado National

sonyab@enconline.com