News

Health insurance coverage for adaptive bikes has been rare at best, and this needs to change. A recent policy brief effectively dismantles the policy flaws surrounding adaptive cycling and provides regulatory and legislative paths to change.

Lately, during this time of upheaval and isolation, we at Rifton find our thoughts turning often to the people we serve: those sheltering at home with their families and those in group homes and care facilities. In New York now, people in homes for the developmentally disabled are at the highest risk from COVID-19 – even higher than residents of nursing homes.

Employer work-place injury within schools may sound unlikely, but for those health professionals routinely assisting students with disabilities in school, it is not uncommon. In fact, the injury rate of health professionals engaging in lifts, transfers and re-positioning of patients ranks equally with those working in heavy construction settings.1,2 For this reason, in June of 2018, when the Ohio Bureau of...

You’ve heard us talk about MOVE™ for years, and there’s no question we’re unabashed boosters for this wonderful program. We first ran into Linda Bidabe, MOVE’s founder, in 1988 when her program was in its infancy and we’ve loved it ever since. If you’re not convinced, or if you just want to understand it better, set aside 20 minutes today, pour a cup of coffee, and...

If you are involved with wheelchair evaluations and recommendations for your clients – whether experienced or new on the block – this comprehensive and readable book is for you. Michelle Lange and Jean Minkel are well-known clinicians in the seating and wheeled mobility world. They gathered respected contributors with wide-ranging expertise for this well-rounded, thoroughly referenced volume...

Recently, Rifton caught up with Michele Shusterman, mother of Maya and founder/president of CP NOW, a cerebral palsy nonprofit. CP NOW provides educational and support resources to the CP community and funds new research ideas. Although newly formed, CP NOW is gaining recognition and receiving accolades from families, professional organizations and CP centers throughout the US, particularly for their CP...

With spring in the air we’re talking bikes today – or rather, adaptive tricycles. Kids with disabilities want to ride just as much as any child, and with a little bit of extra support they too can navigate those inviting sidewalks. Sadly, adaptive trikes are far too rarely covered by Medicaid or insurance, even with a strong case for the therapeutic benefits of cycling...

The apple pie making booth was a favorite at Rifton’s 40th birthday party and our photographer captured this moment. Write a caption and submit it in the comment section below. We’ll pick a winner on January 2nd. The winner will receive a Rifton bag.  Announcing the Winners Thank you for the great captions! It was next to impossible to choose a winner, but we finally reached agreement on...

Heroes and social giants belong to other times and other places. We see the well- known images of Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Oscar Schindler, and we know where they lived, what they did, and why we remember them. We know who the famous people are. A lesser known woman, but one who is no less a hero is Linda Bidabe. Those who know her know that she developed movement science concepts ahead of...

Rifton turned 40 this year and we celebrated – Rifton-style. These pictures capture the best moments of the big day.                                                ...