Disability advocacy

Stories Death of a Father and a Founder December 14, 2021 by Joe Keiderling
Jerry and Nancy Voll in New York City, October 2016
Last month saw the death of one of Rifton’s founding fathers. Jerry Voll grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied for the ministry at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
Videos Rifton – Who We Are
Joe Keiderling in a Rifton Factory
Rifton is dedicated to the idea that people with disabilities are entitled to the same opportunities as the rest of us.
PT/OT Part 3: The Application of GAS to the IEP Process August 31, 2020 by Sue Cecere, PT, MHS
A boy sitting in the Rifton HTS with a caretaker by his side
Best practice in educational goal writing is for a goal to be discipline-free and reflective of meaningful outcomes, not only for the current IEP cycle but looking forward. Given the one variable requirement of GAS, how does this process work when developing team-oriented goals?
PT/OT Part 2: What Is Goal Attainment Scaling? August 12, 2020 by Sue Cecere, PT, MHS
A girl sitting on a Rifton Adaptive Tricycle with a caretaker holding the front guide bar
Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is a client-centric, criterion referenced measure of progress, responsive to minimally significant changes in a specific outcome, whether it be an individual goal or a functional goal.
PT/OT Part 1: Why Goal Attainment Scaling? July 21, 2020 by Sue Cecere, PT, MHS
A boy sitting on a Rifton Compass Chair and looking at a book
In March 2017, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Endrew F. was a student with autism who for years had made only minimal educational gains under the IEP developed by his school, causing his parents to transfer him to a private school.
PT/OT Interprofessional Teamwork Achieves Toileting Success June 24, 2020 by Tiffany Klein, PT, Sarah Quirk, COTA, Catherine Keir, OT and Laura Arnett, PT
A young man using the Rifton Support Station with the assistance of a caretaker
Here at Maiden Choice School in Baltimore County, MD, we have initiated a program called Maximizing Independence in Life Skills: A Toileting Program for Students with Complex Disabilities. Over the last four years since we began it, this program has had a huge impact on the entire student body.
News The Highest Risk Population: Homes for the Disabled April 16, 2020 by Ray Mommsen, Rifton Marketing
a young man using a Rifton E-Pacer with the assistance of a caretaker
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.
Evidence Based Practice State of the Evidence: Intervention Effectiveness in Children with Cerebral Palsy March 26, 2020 by Elena Noble, MPT
A therapist helps a young girl into a gait trainer
In 2013, Iona Novak and her team put together one of the most comprehensive evidence-based overviews of pediatric interventions. With over 200 systematic reviews performed since then, this evidence update adds strength and definition to recommended interventions for children with cerebral palsy.
News The Meadowood Program: A MOVE™ Model Site November 12, 2018 by Lori Potts, PT
A girl in a pink dress smiles at her caregiver, while walking in her Rifton Pacer gait trainer.
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...
PT/OT Getting Help for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities September 10, 2018 by Denise Swensen, PT, DPT
A young girl looks is entertained by the ipad her therapist is holding as she walks on a treadmill using a Rifton Pacer.
According to the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study, only 4% of infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services have assistive technology and AT services listed on their Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP.) ¹ No, that was not a typo. Only 4%. Think about what that means for the three-and-under children with disabilities you know. The Individuals with Disabilities Education...
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