Buddha Board

Welcome to Capabilities.com! If you have been a customer or previously visited our web site, you will notice right away that we have changed. We are so excited to announce the launch of our new and improved web site. We also are thrilled to finally have www.capabilities.com as our domain. Please let us know here what you think! Many of the changes are direct results of ideas we have gotten from you, our customers and supporters. As always, we are open to your thoughts for even more improvements.


One of our favorites at Capabilities is the Buddha Board. It's based on the Zen concept of living in the moment. You paint on the surface with water and your art comes to life. Wait a bit and it evaporates, leaving a clean slate and a clean mind. You're ready to create all over again. It's environmentally safe and with a little care will last for years. We loved the idea. We thought it would make the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for loved ones. The first week we had it in the store, a woman came in and was taken by it for her father. "He has Alzheimer's," she explained. "He usually just sits and stares out the window. Maybe this will give him something to do." A couple of weeks later, she came back and told us with delight that he loved the Buddha Board. He was now spending hours a day drawing over and over again. She was thrilled. There have been many stories since then, including lots of parents and grandparents who get Buddha Boards for their little ones, especially for travel. We even have a version with a water pen, so no spilling!

Sometimes it's the simple things like water that makes us feel better. Let us know here what simple things make you feel better. Maybe we'll carry them for you. Maybe we already do!

Hot Flash!

Have you heard about the board game HotFlash! ?

Created by Denver local, Kari Epstein, this hilarious game leads players through a series of challenges around the board. Designed for fun and interesting conversation, the game was also a finalist for the Stevie Award for Best New Product. Before becoming an entrepreneurial adventurer, Kari toured with the Mantovani Orchestra as an accomplished cellist.

Here's a sample of the provocative suggestions when you land on the Hotflash space: Do a hula dance; Name 5 women living or dead whom you admire and say why; Describe an exotic romantic encounter, real or otherwise.

Whether you play to win or just play to play, after an evening of HotFlash!, you’ll never think of menopause the same way again.

$29.95 This and thousands of other products are at our store in Westminster.

Mary's Cruise

We heard from one of our fans about her incredible cruise. She had worried about it initially, her arthritis having flared and her knees growing weaker by the day. She came in a number of weeks before her trip (Good Planning, Mary!) to see what options she had to make her vacation easier. We showed her lots of travel scooters. She test drove most of them and decided on a beauty. In Mary’s own words, “First of all, it was red! Not really! ? The real selling point for me was how easily it came apart and went back together. I had a ball. Thank goodness I did not give up my vacation!”

More Traveling

More travel ideas…
Do you get nauseous riding in the back seat or while on a cruise? E-ZY Travel Wrist Bands are a dream, we have found. They pop into your pocket or purse and slip on your wrist discretely.
If road trips are your thing, especially back road trips, or camping and hiking, or if you just want to feel extra comfortable, we discovered a gem of a thing, Travel John comes in a three-pack of disposable, odor-free pouches, for use by men or women. Pretty handy!
We have had good feedback on folding seat canes, too. You can take one along on a local tour or a faraway one.
Walking sticks. Images of rugged mountain hiking come to mind. See some of our favorites in the store. We learned from an interesting local that there is evidence walking sticks provide more stability than ordinary canes even for navigating city streets. If you'd like to learn more about his research, post a comment here and we'll follow up.

What are some of your favorite travel gadgets and tools?

Traveling

Traveling fills the hearts and minds of many during the winter months. And some actually go somewhere and not just dream about it!
We think about travelers and all the things to make travel easy enough to enjoy. We notice that a staple for traveling now is the pillow. Have you noticed how many people carry their own with them on airplanes? We came upon the Twist-It awhile back when we were looking for something unusual and flexible, but comfy, too. It bends easily to conform to your most challenging comfort need. It works well in any vehicle, but since it does not have its own travel bag, we see it especially on road trips. The Side-to-Side by Obus Forme has also been extremely popular. We especially like the collection by Bucky. Their designs and colors are fun and they pack easily into a carry-on bag for air travel. Where are you going this summer?

Mobile Art

We are so excited about our find! We came upon a local artist, Amy Vicioso, who a few years ago was so moved by the story of a friend of a friend that she created a whole new painting technique. Here’s the story.
Gladys Smith, the inspiration for MediArt Outfitters, was the youngest of nine children, born on February 24, 1923 in Pioneer Iowa. Her family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where she lived for 61 years. In 1943 Gladys enlisted in the Navy, becoming a WAVE Seaman First Class. She was stationed at Algiers Naval Base in New Orleans, where her colleagues called her "The Blonde Bombshell".
After the war, Gladys was a waitress in Fort Dodge for many years and loved her work. As a divorced single mother, she taught her children to be responsible and frequently told them, "If you don't have a good time it's your own fault."
She moved to Colorado in 1991 and that's where and when the inspiration for this business began. An unfortunate boating accident caused her serious injury that left her unable to walk any distance. But she kept a positive attitude despite her challenging health problems. "Any morning you place your feet on the floor, it's a good day," she would often say.
Gladys had a sense of style and feminine charm all her own. She was a classy dresser and loved fashion accessories. So, after the accident it was natural for her to view her new mode of transportation (i.e. wheelchair) as a fashion statement. However, her wheelchair was old, rusty and standard issue – anything but unique. She valued her independence and freedom to get out of the house but wasn't about to be seen in that old thing. She spurred Amy along to do something about it. With a minimal amount of effort her wheelchair was transformed into a beautiful, faux-leopard skin fashion accessory on wheels. A classy ride for a classy lady!
So began Amy’s journey creating classy and elegant wear for those with permanent or temporary disabilities. She hand paints canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. Her unique technique transforms these objects into works of art. We are now the exclusive distributor for Amy’s work. She will even contemplate special requests if we ask her nicely!

Take a look for yourself at our unique mobile art.

Sore Aching Muscles

We love finding out about solutions to life’s annoying and sometimes debilitating wiles. We also love it when the solution comes from another Coloradan. Mikel Klees from Johnstown, Colorado, got tired of trying one thing after the other for muscle pain and the more persistent pains of arthritis that seem to creep up somewhere around 50 or so. She also got tired of all the chemicals in the stuff we buy over the counter. Her Pain Wizard is a mix of natural remedies, such as boswellia from the resins of the Boswellian tree, eucalyptus, willow’s bark and witch hazel. We have a little experiment we do when people come into our store. If they have an ache or pain, we encourage them to try out a bit of Pain Wizard on that spot while they are walking around. Inevitably, by the time they have done a lap around the store, they have noticed a significant improvement. It’s hard to deny when something works. Tell us your story and how you deal with either the every day annoying kind of aches and pains that come from living or the more serious types. We’ll share some of your ideas in later blogs.

Resources for Pain

Needless to say, in our business we hear a lot about pain and we spend a lot of time trying to find ways to help others alleviate or cope with it. We host seminars open to the public on a variety of topics, and, based on demand, soothing pain in one way or another is often the underlying subject. We have had the pleasure of working with many fine practitioners in the area who offer traditional and not-so-traditional approaches to addressing pain. In future blogs, we will feature a few of these experts who offer tips and ideas for getting at the root of pain as well as managing pain levels. Let us know whom you work with to address your aches and pains and how they have helped.

Giving Mobility

We can’t tell you how many people come in wondering about whether it’s a good idea or not to get Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa a scooter. The prospect of getting them out and about again sounds great. The idea that s/he will be "driving" (again, in some cases), causes some concerns. Do you go for big or small? Three-wheel or four? What about one just for inside the house?

So, let’s consider the electric scooter. Keeping with our history theme of late…The earliest designs for scooters were in the late 1800s as the bicycle began to emerge. Patents first appeared in 1921. The emergence of powered vehicles for those with disabilities follows nearly a parallel path with early research on the bicycle and also dates to the 1800s. Today’s versions of power-operated scooters to enhance independence have design features and functional options that rival the slickest of vehicles on the market. We even found one that looks like a motorcycle!

There are three-wheel scooters and four-wheeled. And travel sizes that pull apart in three pieces for easy transporting in car trunks and airplanes. These small models are common for those who spend most time indoors, at home, shopping, or vacationing on cruise ships! (See Mary’s story about her cruise, the one she almost did not take because she could not walk long distances and thought she would just not have a good time.) For those who love the outdoors try the hefty models that can maneuver hiking paths and cobblestones. (See Roy’s story. He had not been camping or fishing in years since his knees gave out a while ago. He went this summer on his new Celebrity X!) Sizing and seating accommodate those of every shape and weight. And colors galore! There is a new model out with colored shrouds you can change depending on your mood. Accessories include headlamps, baskets, horns and covers for all types of weather. For the racer in you, choose the one that juices up to 12 mph!

Choosing which scooter works best, however, is more than a matter of taste. When it comes to enhancing mobility there are several key factors to consider.
• What physical condition are you in? What illness or injury is affecting mobility? Is it temporary or degenerating? You want to choose a vehicle that will give you enough flexibility to adjust to your physical changes over a period of time.
• Where do you plan to use the vehicle? If indoors primarily, you want something with a sharp turning radius to maneuver easily through doors and around furniture. (Look at some options.) Outdoors, you need something with bigger wheels and the ability to withstand surface irregularities.
• What feels most comfortable and natural to you? It is important that you test drive scooters. Feeling comfortable is important to driving safely. Having the ability to adjust for seat width, height, reach, and speed are features you simply cannot determine by looking at a picture.

Tell us your “mobility” story. Whether you use an electric scooter or the one-legged kind of youth!

Reclining Chairs

Ahhh! Oh, that feeling of landing in a favorite chair at the end of a long day! Given that we have a huge selection of reclining lift chairs, we got curious about the history of comfy chairs. Recliners appeared as early as the 1920s with a wood-slat porch chair that tipped back. By the ‘50s the motorized recliner found its way into many American homes. In the ‘80s, chair manufacturers experimented with adding lift mechanisms to traditional recliners making it easier for a person to get in and out of the chair. Today reclining lift chairs are a growing part of the alternatives to comfort and independence.

Reclining lift chairs are a versatile choice for anyone wanting luxury and practicality. A reclining lift chair gives a sense of comfort and relief especially when certain physical conditions exist. Arthritic knees, swollen legs or ankles, poor circulation, painful back or hip problems, severe breathing conditions, or certain heart conditions make the daily activity of sitting and standing unassisted nearly impossible. Some lift chairs recline to a position where the feet are above the heart, a useful therapy for severe swelling and congestive heart failure.

When looking for a reclining lift chair, keep a few key things in mind:
1. Be sure you know what symptoms you are working to eliminate. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist. Discuss the details with a trained staff person.
2. Always try out a lift chair. With so many designs and sizes, the only guarantee for comfort is how it feels to you.
3. Know the dimensions of the space where you plan to locate the chair. There are space saver models that only require a six inch clearance rather than the usual foot or more.
4. Shop with a reputable company that sells well-known brands. A reclining lift chair is more than a regular recliner with a lift mechanism.

We went on the search for a reclining lift chair that had a modern look and feel. The popularity of traditional styles has carried over many years and into many homes. And while some of the well-known manufacturers have recently introduced new fabrics, such as leather and microfibers (with fancy names like Brisa and Promessa), most reclining lift chairs still work best in homes with classic or traditional décor. Good examples include the chairs from Pride and Golden collections that we have in the store. We went on our search, though for something a bit more modern looking and uncovered a brand new player, Nex[Idea]. They have created the Nex[Chair]. They boast many of the standard features of lift and recline chairs, with an adjustable head and neck support and a multi-pocket organizer on the side. The design is leading edge and sleek, and the colors unique. We especially like the Tangerine in buttery soft Nex[Suede]. Check them out on our Web site.

Necessity

We have been thinking about history a lot lately as we appreciate all the various tools and devices that exist for our comfort and independence. So much of what exists in a fairly refined form now, undoubtedly started as an idea cobbled together with twine and a nail. Ramps, for instance, are a natural and common part of our every day lives, especially since the passing of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the 1990s. In times gone by, of course, a slab of wood propped against the step or threshold served the purpose. Many ramps today are still made of wood, although the so-called portable ramps of aluminum are increasing popular. They come in all manner of sizes and shapes. Threshold ramps are designed specifically to do just that, cover thresholds. Their length, weight and shape make them a cinch to install. Solid ramps are wider and offer a broader surface for maneuvering whether on a wheelchair, crutches or simply on foot. The multifold variety are for bigger lengths. Their portability makes this selection a natural for taking with you on trips or to the cabin in the mountains. See some of the many options available to you on our Web site.
Do you have a favorite thing that you can’t imagine living without? Is it homemade or store bought? Tell us about it.

Unique Gifts

So, are you stumped yet? How many stores have you looked in for that unusual gift so far? You know, the gift for that person who has everything, or wants nothing, or the one you know would appreciate something unique and unusual, if only you could find it. We know we have some one-of-a-kind items because we have some exclusive arrangements. You saw our previous blog on mobile art. That’s a great example of something wonderful for that hard-to-find-someone on your list.

And have you heard about the board game, HotFlash? Created by Denver local, Kari Epstein, this hilarious game leads players through a series of challenges around the board. Designed for fun and interesting conversation, the game was also a finalist for the Stevie Award for Best New Product. Kari is an accomplished cellist in addition to this entrepreneurial adventure as a board game inventor. Here's for a sample of a couple of the provocative suggestions when you land on the Hotflash space: Do a hula dance; Name 5 women living or dead whom you admire and say why; Describe an exotic romantic encounter, real or otherwise.

Check back here as we add more unusual gift ideas.

A Relaxing Lift

Speaking of summer and relaxing…
We went on the search for a reclining lift chair that had a modern look and feel. The popularity of traditional styles has carried over many years and into many homes. And while some of the well-known manufacturers have recently introduced new fabrics, such as leather and microfibers, most reclining lift chairs still work best in homes with classic or traditional décor. So, we went on our search. We uncovered a brand new player, Nex[Idea]. They have created the Nex[Chair]. Funny punctuation but great chairs. They boast many of the standard features of lift and recline chairs, with an adjustable head and neck support and a multi-pocket organizer on the side. The design is leading edge and sleek, and the colors unique. We especially like the Tangerine in buttery soft Nex[Suede].

Be Unlimited

Unlimited. It's the opposite of exhaustion and resignation. It's accepting what is as long as "what is" includes some "what if" thinking, exploration, resilience, and a strong dose of "why not."

Be Unlimited.

Most people really like our tagline. We always ask people what "unlimited" means to them. We also have the incredible luck to meet people all the time in our stores who live "unlimited." We are grateful for the chance to be reminded that being human also means having unbelievable levels of resiliency, determination and optimism. We would like to share some of the stories of unlimited we have had the pleasure of observing.

There's Luke. He is three and a half and has Down Syndrome. He learned over 300 signs before his third birthday when he started speaking. His mom, dad and grandparents thought "unlimited" about Luke right from the beginning. And he fiercely asserts his desire to do it all.

And then there is Exie. She’s 89 and has macular degeneration. After a full career as a college professor of Biology, she moved on to learn weaving and cultivate a whole new set of interests. When she began to experience difficulty seeing, she used her scientist's skills to research options and opportunities. She found us and we have a great friendship. She helps us understand the needs of those with low vision and we go out and find ways to help address those needs. One of our happiest days was realizing that we could help her continue weaving. She bought one of our CCTVs, the one with the 20" flat panel, movable screen that allows her to see from a variety of angles. We also built her a small stand for the reed which she likes to thread by hand under the magnifying camera of the CCTV. We also found the perfect rolling cart for her small apartment. We stay in touch and she gives us ideas for new products all the time. See Exie and some of her amazing creations on our Web site.

We just recently met Boots, who at age 60, got up one morning and fell down. The accident and its repercussions left her without the use of her limbs. She has made it through months of rehabilitation and is now back home, facing months more. She took matters into her own hands and started researching her options. She was and still is determined to be as independent as possible. Her son brought her into our store where she had the chance to see and touch, experiment and consider. We have helped her outfit her home. She helped us feel amazed all over again at how much strength it takes to be unlimited, even in the face of so many limiting challenges.

There are endless examples and we will continue to share them once in a while. We all need to be inspired sometimes, don't we? Tell us your "unlimited" story here so we can share some of them with our readers.