Handicap Aids Blog

Self Esteem Among Street Children in Chennai City

Roger — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:54:25 +0000

The Phenomenon of the street children is a recent one. It is stated that the Latin American countries were the first to recognize it in their cities being the phenomenon of a magnitude and size which warranted the attention of all concerned. However the problem of street children is global one and exists in both, the developed as well as developing countries, with a difference in its size and magnitude. These countries have some kinds of micro levels of rehabilitation measures. But much remains to be done in this field.
Street children is a trem – shaking uncontrollably as a result of anxiety, excitement or weakness which often highlights a certain set of working and living conditions rather than personal and social characteristics of the individual children them selves. So often, Children in these conditions are victims of stereotypes such as “Juvenile delinquents “ on the part of the public and authorities . The term “street children” should refer to all children who work in the street of urban areas without reference to the time they spend there or the reasons for being there.” (National workshop on street children, 29 and 30 August 1998)
The other terminologies for street children have been using is,
“children without families”
“ high –risk children”
“Unattached Children”
“Children in need of care and protection”
“Abandoned children”
The UNICEF has called them “children in difficult circumstance”.
Around the part of the world the Terminology of street children used in different
ways as follows,
In Naples ,” SCUGIZZO ” derives from the work for spinning – top always
more.
In Peru, the “ PAJARO FRUTERO” (Fruit bird) earns his name looking out for the police in the market place.
In Colombia “GAMIN” (Kid) is Borrowed from the French, but has strongly negative connotations. The same world appears in RWANDA in the form “SALIGOMAN” (Sale gamin, Nasty kid).
In Zaire, street children are “MOINEAUX” (Sparrows)
In Cameroon, “POUSSINS” (Chicks) to field Workers, MOUSTIQUES” (Mosquitoes) to the police . Others have proposed the term “twilight children” to suggest their fragile and indefinite status.
Officialdom, in contrast, tends to be more circumspect and refers to street children euphemistically as “children in an irregular situation.” So, The street children is a most vulnerable and high – risk group in the society. According to UNICEF, they can be classified into three categories as follows.
Street children on the street (children with continuous family contact)
Street Children of the street (Children with occasional family contact)
Abandoned and Neglected children ( children without family)
One of the negative consequences of Urbanization in the world, particularly in the developing countries , is the existence of a large proportion of the urban poor living in slums and pavements many families do not find any shelter. The forces of modernization including industrialization and urbanization, coupled with the appalling condition of poverty have adversely affected the family life.
Illiteracy, broken family, III–treatment, parent left, Death of parents and orphans and poverty are the key factor that forced to runaway from home and living on the street at major metropolitan cities, particularly in chennai. The population of street children in chennai is around 1,00,000 Most of the street children are drop-outs from school.
Most of the time they are living on the street, without having basic general needs of food, clothing and shelter, psychological needs of love, protection and recognition and social needs of social interaction, acceptance and maturity. They are not able to get care and support from family as well as society.
Condition of street children
The most vulnerable are the runaway boys and girls who live on the railway station, bus station, market place, pavements, streets and do odd jobs like rag picking cup collecting, coolie, begging, cleaning the rail boogies, small hotels etc. These children live on pavements and street with sky as their shelter and no one to care for with love and affection.
The condition of street children is a sad reality that this section of the population are neglected, delinquent and are uncared for. They are a new and rapidly increasing group of vulnerable, deprived and exploited children in our cities.
Chennai NGO forum for street and working children conducted a survey on street children in 1996 with the support of UNICEF. This survey was conducted with the following objective:
To enumerate the number of children of children who were on the street in the city of chennai.
To find out the conditions of the street children in the city of Chennai
On the basis of the survey, it was estimated that the number of street children in the city of chennai would be around 75, 000. If one were to include the children bellow 6 years and the teenagers on the street, the population would be as high as 1.5 lakhs. They were covered under survey only 6 to 18 years children.
Most of them earn their livelihood doing odd jobs like picking rags, or recycling garbage, shining shoes, washing cars and the like. Their employers often exploit them sexually. In addition, most economic activities of the street children are controlled by territories, each of which is guarded fiercely by its members, who react violent if threatened . In this struggle for survival the competition is ruthless and only the fittest survive. To survive, They work for three hours a day on an average, either in the morning or in the evening, and with their earning they meet their daily expense. Whenever they need advance money for their expenses, they get from the waste paper shop owners for which they would sell their collection of waste only to that particular shop.
The waste paper shop is also their place of stay after their work. During their Leisure hours, they go for movies, regularly take drug, pills and injection and at night have sex with local CSWs at a cheaper rate. This involves the risk of acquiring AIDS and spreading it. They have homosexual habit also. The drugs they use includes brown sugar.
Family background
Most of the street children are living on the streets away from their family due to some of the following reasons, Abuse, violence, poverty, broken family, Peer group pressure, attractions on city life, dislike towards studies, frustration, orphan and others.
These street children have no one to care for them except their peer with whom they live on the streets. As they are away from home and school environment , the informal social control could only play a major role in their life in shaping the character and behaviour of these children.
The above stated variations have been affecting street children’s Self- esteem very deeply. Self esteem refers to the extent to which they expect to be accepted and valued by the adults and peers who are important to them. Even though self- esteem has been studied for more than 100 years, specialists and educators continue to debate its precise nature and development. But they generally agree that parents and other adults who are important to children play a major role in laying a solid foundation for a child’s development.
What is self – Esteem?
When parents and teachers of young children talk about the need for good self – esteem , they usually mean that children should have “ Good feelings” about themselves. With young children, self-esteem children refers to the extent to which they expect to be accepted and valued by the adults and peers who are important to them.
Children with a healthy self – esteem feel that the important adults in their lives accept them, care about them, and would go out of their way to ensure that they are safe and well . They feel that those adults would be upset if anything happened to them and would miss them if they were separated. Children with low self – esteem, on the other hand, feel that the important adults and peers in their life do not accept them, do not care about them very much, and would not go out of their way to ensure their safety and well –being.
During their early years, young children’s self- esteem is based largely on their perceptions of how the important adults in their lives judge them. The extent to which children believe they have the characteristics valued by the important adults and peers in their lives figures greatly in the development of Self – esteem. For example, in families and communities that value athletic ability highly, Children who excel in athletics are likely to have a high level of Self – esteem, Whereas children who are less athletic or who are criticized as being physically inept or clumsy are likely to suffer from low self – esteem.
Families, communities, and ethnic and cultural groups vary in the criteria on which self – esteem in based.
Children with self- esteem
Keeping self – esteem alive is necessary to every human being. It is the daily food of emotional health. Mother Teresa said that “each of us has a mission to fulfill, a mission to live, but that it must begin in our homes …. In the place where we are, with the people with when we are closest, and then spread out, “
Nurturing self- esteem in children, creating opportunities for success, facilitating a positive self – image are all important influences on a child’s healthy development.
Lack of self- esteem that damages a child’s self –image could interfere with a child’s ability to learn and relate.
To enhance a child’s self esteem is to be a positive force in a loving relationship and thereby make a worthwhile contribution to the world.
Many parents are unwittingly aiding their children to fail and have low self- esteem.
First we must define what every child needs. Every child needs to get parental approval.
for his or her own sense or personhood
for his or her sense of proven ability
for his or her sense of individuality
for set realistic achievement goals
to provide a framework of meaningful values
Typical sources of low self- esteem in children
In most cases, low self- esteem in children, stems from unfortunate childhood experiences. The greatest gift we as parents can give to our children is sound self- esteem. When we fail to give it we unconsciously build low self- esteem in our children.
A Parent’s own low self –esteem is a model for the child
A Child’s lack of recognition and appreciation by parents and others as an intrinsically valuable and important individual, can mar his self esteem. Phrases like “A child should be seen and not heard, “Mother knows best”, etc. demonstrate that the child’s needs, feelings, desires and opinions are not given due consideration.
A child sometimes makes self-deprecating comparisons of himself with those of his own age whom he admires for their strength and ability , their popularity, self –confidence and achievements. To make matters worse, his parents, family and friends compare him unfavourite brother or sister. This overpowers the child with devastating sense of inferiority.
A child feels inadequate because he is not encouraged and motivated to be independent, to do what he can for himself – to take responsibility for his ability as he grows in age and experience. The child is not taught to think for himself.
The false concepts, values and reactions of a child’s Parents, Teachers and peers, cause him to identify himself with his actions. For example, Mohan, whose mother had a severe migraine, is a “ bad boy” because he slammed the door. Whereas, in reality it was only his natural exuberance and lack of awareness that caused the act. This may load the child with self condemnation, shame, guilt and remorse.
Harsh and demanding parents set unreasonable standard, often raising them before the child has developed the ability to meet them. Parents may also subject their children to unreasonable, harsh criticism and undue and/or inconsistent punishment. Such actions cause early frustration, defeatism, and a destructive sense of inadequacy and inferiority.
A child being pushed beyond his capacity by the parents’ vicarious needs to achieve a sense of worth and importance through the child’s achievements often causes a deep feeling of inadequacy and unworthiness in the child.
Rivalry and unsuccessful emulation of an extremely bright or gifted brother or sister, or of an exceptionally talented and prominent parent often generates a deep sense of hopelessness and inferiority.
A child’s unflattering physical appearance and/or “odds” apparel, plus perhaps physical, mental, or emotional handicaps damage his sense of self worth.
A child raised on the basis of “ Reward and punishment”, rather than being motivated through understanding and allowed to make his own mistakes and to accept and resolve, so suffer the consequences develops low self –esteem.
Adverse economic, social, cultural, or ethnic position of parents and family often invite depreciation and ridicule.
Over possessiveness, over permissiveness, and undue control exercise by one, or both parents, nurtures a feeling of un – importance and lack of esteem in the child.
A serious sense of guilt is frequently induced by one’s material wealth or affluent background.
High values place on money, achievement and thing rather than on the individual and his innate worth, can preclude or destroy one’s self – esteem.
Repeated defeats and failures can destroy one’s sense of self- worth and result in one or two extremes. The child may become a drop-out from school or society or he may become a compulsive over achiever in a desperate attempt to “ prove himself”
Procrastination and lack of self – discipline, taking the path of least resistance, tend to demolish one’s self respect and sense of worth.
Lack of sense of meaning and purpose in life, of clear goals and objectives, preclude sound self – esteem; Key to High self – esteem.
The secret to inner peace lies in self – affirmation.
Need for the study
Bring to the end, many studies have concentrated on street children situational analysis, case studies and one study on street children on the independent variation of sex, age, education relationship between father and mother were conducted.
But no study was conducted in relation with street children’s self – esteem and so I have taken this problem for my project study. Because the street children are the important component of the developing country. but they are not in the main stream of the society. they are neglected from the family, school and social setup even they are having positive self – esteem about themselves which is not recognized by the existing social system. the street children’s perception towards the society is negative one.
SUMMERY AND CONCLUSION
Many psychologists state that our self –image is affected by all type experience. We have successes , failures, compliments, Put down personal experiences, our expectation and others expectation of us.
In 1657, Augustine Baker, a mystical theologian and Benedictine monk declared “self – esteem, Self- judgment and self – will” to be the there requisites of independence, the term had been used by scholars in Latin and Ancient Greeks, Plato, Aristotle and others. Thesaurus synonyms are “ self- reliance”, “self- consequence”, “poise”, “ confidence”, “ assurance”, “Pride” or “self- sufficiency”. Antonyms are “self – doubt” and “self – effacement” to “self- hatred” and “ shame”.
Therefore , the self- esteem provides an essential Thread that ties together various aspects of functioning. Low Level of self – esteem have been linked to confusion and disorganization with in a construct system. It would appear that low level of interrogation derived from grids developed to test the construction of others do not strongly imply that low level of interrogation will be found when the grids are based upon the construction of self.
No society can afford to ignore the street children .They are society’s future. They are to be integrated with the main stream of social development and to be provided with the opportunities to grow in sound mental and physical health in a appropriate social environment.
The human resource development approach has to be applied while dealing with all team, and it is sure that given all opportunities of their development, in their turn they can contribute immensely to the all round development of the society.
This study was conducted to mainly assess the level of self – esteem among street and school children to ascertain the possible reasons for higher or lower self – esteem.
Aim
Studying the level of self – esteem among street and school children.
Objective
To find out the level of self – esteem between school children and street children.
To find out the level of self –esteem between boys and girls among street children and school children.
To develop and recommend the remedial measures to overcome low elf esteem of street children.
Hypotheses
There will be significant difference between school children and street children in their level of self – esteem.
There will be significant difference between street boys and girls in their level of self – esteem.
There will be significant difference between street boys and school boys in their level of self – esteem.
There will be significant difference between street girls and school girls in their level of self – esteem.
There will be significant difference between school boys and girls in their level of self – esteem.
Sampling
Using Random sampling method for the study 120 school and street children were selected among these 120 children , 60 were boys and 60 were girls. Their age ranged from 12 to 17 years. Justification of age selection is, below 12 years the children are not able to recognize and express their self – esteem properly , so above 12 years has been selected for the study .
Tool used
The index of self –esteem by walter W.Hudson was found to be the most suitable tool to measure the self – esteem levels. The total questionnaire is 25
Statistical Analysis
The Collected date was analysed, the Mean, standard deviation, ‘t’ Value was established to test the hypotheses
Findings
The Level of Self – esteem of school children is lower than the level of street children, that means street children were having high level of self – esteem.
There is no gender different in the level of self –esteem of street children.
The level of self –esteem of the street boys is higher than school boys.
The Level of self – esteem of the street girls is higher than school girls.
The Level of self – esteem of school girls is higher than school boys.
Conclusion
An analysis of data collected being done, the following conclusion were arrived at. The Level of Self – esteem identified by the school children is lower than the level of street children, that means street children were having high level of self – esteem. The level of self – esteem developed by the street children boys and girls is the same. The level of self –esteem accumulated by the street boys is higher than school boys. The Level of self – esteem indicated by the street girls is higher than school girls.
Limitations
The sample was limited only in the age group of 12 to17 years
street and school children.
It was done only in Chennai city.
The sample size was small.
The self esteem questionnaires was given to the street children and school children separately.
Implications of the study
One of the first steps in encouraging healthy self – esteem in children is to : establish good relationships with them. Persons in good, relationship is ultimately what the world is all about . Relationships which are mutually loving and caring , honest and supportive create an atmosphere for healthy human growth and great self – esteem.
Emotionally, children are easily threatened by anyone bigger, older or more confident than they are not yet possessing the well – developed defended adults usually have, children’s sense of self is still Fragile vulnerable and easily knocked down. for example, children often don’t understand the significant difference chronological age can make in their performance. younger children may feel stupid because their older siblings appear smarter .they do not realize older children have had more time than they for learning skills, physical growth, greater muscle control, more practice and mare experience in sports, school, the arts and so on. younger children need to understand they may be years behind in eyepiece but not necessarily in intelligence.
When they get threats from others, they think of themselves as unlovable, incompetent, unimportant and un wanted misfits. threat brings on feelings of insecurity embarrassment ; failure and fear abounds inside them . So threat is too be avoided.
What Adults can do to boost self – esteem in children?
Acknowledge a child’s right to emotions.
Provides outlets for strong feelings.
allow time for strong feelings to cool off.
connect yourself with their strong emotions.
help relieve stress with some thing physical.
show that you can accept even the undesirable.
encourage children to talk to other adults.
help children by telling them stories.
what parents can do ?
Apart from this, in order to build great self – esteem in children, parents need to.
Be an example of self – value, self – love and self p celebration.
Respect your child as a unique never – to -be- repeated miracle of good.
Lead your child to feel loved , Valued and respected for his / her own self.
Make your child responsible for his/ her actions and conduct.
Help your child to feel capable of accomplishing things on his/her own.
Show your child that each day is full of joys and wonderful experiences.
Give sincere praise and appreciation for every good experience.
Let your child find him self through your guidance. Don’t make him a robot or rubber stamp of yourself.
Invest time and energy to help your child achieve greatness.
Lead your child to Improve with each event, not compete with others who may be more beautiful smarter or wealthier . these are False standards of greatness and make one all but feel like a loser the winner in the one who is doing his best for his own sake. Be consistent in your discipline and lead your child to agree as to proper conduct. Empress praise for good behavior and don’t destroy the value of praise by withholding praise when improper conduct occurs. Teach children not to use self put- downs Teach them how to give tem selves self – support self – value, and self – assurance.
Parents can play an Important role in strengthening children’s self – esteem by treating them respect fully , taking their views and opinions seriously, and expressing appreciation to them above all, parents must keep in mind that self – esteem is an important part of every child’s development.

he is a development workers in India

Curved Stair Lifts Retain the Beauty of Your Home

Roger — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:33:03 +0000

A curved staircase surely adds extra beauty to the interior of a house. For people with mobility issues, climbing curved staircases can be a matter of concern. In such situations, a curved stair lift will be an effective solution to the accessibility problem. Curved stair lifts can be custom-made in order to suit all models of curved stairways without affecting the elegance of your home. These lifts are designed in such a way that they can be mounted both on the inside and outside path of your stairs. It is possible to fix the track on the stair treads, so the exquisiteness of the walls of your home may not be disturbed. Curved stair lifts can accommodate loads up to three hundred and fifty pounds. Another important feature is their quiet and smooth operation. In order to ensure more safety to the users, these models are operated with push button or joystick. When taking into account the price factor, curved stair lifts are more expensive than all the other stair lift models. The price may vary depending on many factors including the length of your stairway, total number of bends along with the angle of bends and lot more. The key point to be kept in mind when purchasing curved chair lifts is that it is always sensible to buy a new one rather than a used one, because curved stair chair lifts are specially made on demand and according to the measurements of particular staircases; the stairways of your home may be having different designs and proportions and so an used model may not fit your stairway. As far as maintenance is considered, curved stair lifts require more maintenance than other traditional stair lifts, because when the chair moves around the corners, a lot of pressure is exerted on the track which can lead to damages. Before buying a curved stair lift model, it is vital to have a good understanding about the different models available and about the company and the dealer because curved stair lifts are not totally free from mechanical problems. It is always advisable to associate with dealers who provide superior warranty for their curved stair lift models.

At DAY, we focus on eliminating several accessibility challenges you face at home and in your business premises, with the help of premium products such as platform lifts, stair lifts, wheelchair lifts and so on. Our curved stair lifts are designed in a way to suit staircases that are curved or spiral, and is provided with in between landing zones.

Are there grant monies to purchase a handicapped van for my son?

Roger — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:56:30 +0000

Hello, my son has Spastic Quadlapledic Cerebral Palsy and we are in desperate need for a handicapped van. I’ve done a lot of research and the Dodge Sprinter is the most adaptive for our needs now and later. My son is four and is bound to a wheel chair and also has other equipment for his physical therapy. I don’t make much that much money and we are hoping to get this need met, we live in NC. Thanks.

ADA Signs, “Accessible”, Adhesive, 6″x9″, Silver/Black Category: Signs, Letters and Message Boards

Roger — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:10:15 +0000

Sold Individually
Color: Silver And Black

Product Description
Item #: USS4764. ADA signs for wheelchair-accessible is manufactured from durable plastic. Contains a raised pictogram and Braille message. Adhesive backing for easy application. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) placement requirements are located with respective sign.
Customers also search for: U.S. Stamp & Sign,Safety Signs,OSHA,Century Handicap Accessible Sign, 010736047644

ADA Signs, “Accessible”, Adhesive, 6″x9″, Silver/Black Category: Signs, Letters and Message Boards

Purple Cat turns to Pepsi for grant

Roger — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:36:14 +0000

Purple Cat turns to Pepsi for grant
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The people at The Purple Cat are hoping for community support to help them win a 50-thousand dollar grant from Pepsi Corporation. The money would be used for a handicapped-accessible swimming pool for the Purple Cat’s more than 100 special needs clients.

Twenty years on, Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates ‘Liberty, Justice and Access for All’

Roger — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:23:28 +0000

Twenty years on, Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates ‘Liberty, Justice and Access for All’
PASADENA – Tonight, the City Council will issue a proclamation in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law July 26, 1990. And the last thing anyone will worry about is whether everyone who wants to can get from home to the second-floor Council Chambers and join in the celebration.

Stair Chair Lifts for Straight and Curved Staircases

Roger — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:38:50 +0000

Stair chair lifts are practical and convenient accessibility solutions for individuals affected by various types of mobility problems. Nowadays, you can find a wide range of stair chair lifts for straight and curved staircases, from leading manufacturers in the industry. Stair chair lifts enhance the value of your home, and with their elegant designs add to the overall aesthetic appeal. Effortless Access to the Different Floors Both straight and curved stair lifts are provided with many standard safety features including safety brake, height adjustable footrest, wall mounted call / send controls, automatic sensors, seat belts and swivel seat cut-off switch, and more. Straight chair lifts designed for use in both indoor and outdoor settings are available. With these devices, anyone can effortlessly use the stairs in residences and offices. Along with reliability and safety, stair chair lifts offer a smooth and quiet operation. Curved stairlifts are the ideal options for staircases with bends or curves. Features such as automatic obstruction sensors, seat belts and armrest controls are incorporated in these models for ensuring safety and convenience. Whatever the configuration of your staircase is, you can get this mobility system tailor-made to the size and shape as per your needs and preferences. Stair Chair Lifts – Enhancing Mobility and Freedom Installing such equipment can provide a great degree of independence and freedom to mobility impaired individuals, and enhance the quality of their life. Stairlifts for residential as well as commercial purposes can be purchased from branded manufacturers in the market. At present, the top manufacturers that offer this line of accessibility equipment are Bruno, ThyssenKrupp Access and Savaria Concord. The available models of stair lifts for straight and curved staircases include Electra-Ride III curved rail model, Citia, Excel, Stair-Glide, Flow II, Step-Saver and B.07. When planning to buy stair chair lifts for straight and curved staircases, it is important to do a little research regarding the various competing brands and models, their advantages, load carrying capacity, safety features, and prices.

DAY Elevator & Lift offers stair chair lifts for both straight and curved staircases. The straight stair lifts and curved stair lifts that we supply are made by top manufacturers in the industry.

How to Turn an Rv Park Into a Destination Instead of an Overnight Stay

Roger — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:33:09 +0000

With the price of gasoline and diesel fuel approaching $5 per gallon, many RV park owners are getting very concerned about how many guests will pull into their RV park this year. Although RV users are not as susceptible to fuel prices as the average American, due to higher disposable income and more willingness to spend it on their RV trips, it still makes sense to make the guests that come into your RV park stay for more nights. Remember that one RV that stays for four days is the same cash flow as having four different RVs stay overnight. Indeed, one of the best ways to hedge your revenue risk is to have guests stay more nights before moving on. So how do you do it?The first step is to realistically assess what your area has to offer the average RV customer. If your park is a scenic area near a national park, then the key benefit is nature and nature-based activities. If you are in a big city, it may be museums or shopping. Whatever the benefits are, you need to sit down and make a list of things that people would want to experience in your area. And be brutally honest with yourself. You do not want to over promise customers all kinds of fun stuff, only to have them find it to be a lie and never come back again. Don’t put anything on your list that you would not proudly invite a friend or family member to do with you.Once you have perfected this, you need to break these activities into bite-sized units of three to four hours duration. For example, if you are in a nature area and the hike around Sampson Springs takes four hours, then that would be one unit. You will want to offer your guests several units of fun things to do, but let them design their own day. Some people will have physical handicaps that will preclude some of the activities, and others just won’t have any interest in all the activities. However, they will greatly appreciate your “menu” of items to choose from, and may stay an extra day or two to sample your ideas. In fact, I have seen cases where, given a list of activities, the overnight guest stays for a couple weeks! A lot of RV park owners do not bother with this ridiculously simple exercise, so customers really appreciate it when they find someone who cares.Once you have your “menu”, gather all the brochures and information you can on these things. The key concept is to entice the guest to stay longer by showing them photos and maps of all the fun things to do. Most of these brochures are available at no charge from the activity itself. Some RV parks in New Mexico have guests who stay for weeks just to fulfill all of the fun flyers that the RV parks offer. Be sure to have a wide array of activities for people of all ages. Include family activities for kids, as well as some senior oriented fare. The bigger your “menu”, the longer the average guest will stay.Some RV parks have taken even greater steps to make the guests stay, by creating their own menu of activities. There are RV parks that offer live entertainment on weekends, and some that have miniature golf and other activities year round. Having some on-site activities will help guests remember their stay with you, and make sure that they come back year after year. It is also possible to work with the activity to sponsor some special benefits to guests, such as having a shuttle that comes directly to the RV Park. An example of this would be river float trips that the RV guest simply has to board to shuttle at the park and take off.Of course, even if you have all of the amenities in the world, you still must offer a decent housing option to your guests. Your RV park must be clean and slightly, and the staff cheerful and helpful. Remember that many guests are paying more this year to stop by, due to fuel prices, so be sure and go the extra mile. The important point here is the “golden rule” – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Never allow your RV park to offer a product or service that you, yourself, would not want to buy into. If the pool is a little shaggy, clean it up. See that litter? Pick it up. Guests really appreciate the extra effort, and it’s free most of the time for the owner.So if you want to keep your revenue climbing despite fewer guests, no problem – just extend their stays. And the best news is that guests who enjoy themselves will tell all of their friends and come back year after year. And that’s a pretty big dividend for not that much work or investment. Make yourself a destination, and your park’s value will grow, despite $5 fuel.

Frank has been involved in all facets of the RV Park business as an owner/operator of parks in four different states. His experience includes purchasing and operating over 25 mobile home and RV Parks as an investor, performing “due diligence” on hundreds of other mobile home and RV parks, speaking at mobile home park investing seminars and real estate clubs and telling it like it is! To see more articles written by Frank Rolfe visit RVParkStore.com

Wheelchair Lifts – Commercial and Residential Models

Roger — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:18:16 +0000

Wheelchair lifts are largely used by physically handicapped individuals and old people. As wheel chair lifts are used in homes, offices, and a variety of public buildings, commercial as well as residential models are available in the market. Most of the branded wheel chair stair lift manufacturers have attractive and high utility lift models for commercial and residential purposes. Since the usage of wheelchair lifts in houses and commercial buildings varies and the way in which the lift is handled differs with different users, residential and commercial vertical platform lifts differ in their features so as to match different situations. In some countries, there are laws that insist on providing facility for handicapped and physically weak people to access places of worship, airports, railway stations, schools, hospitals and more. Commercial wheelchair stair lifts available in vertical lift models are for this purpose. A commercial wheelchair lift has a motor driven platform that can move through different floor levels. These lifts are provided with internal switches which provide the facility for the rider to control the lift. Call-send controls and other necessary safety measures are provided in these lifts. Commercial stair lifts are not accessible to people who cannot bend their knee because these lifts are not provided with swivel seats. Stair lifts having platforms can accommodate habitual wheelchair users, cane-users, and other physically challenged people who are unable to climb stairs. The mechanism and technology used in residential and commercial stair lifts are almost the same. Wheelchair lifts feature a heavy duty mechanism for withstanding wear and tear due to constant use of the public. Commercial wheelchair stair lifts are flexible to install in varying building architectures. As a precaution against the misuse of the lift by children, the controls are provided high enough so that children cannot reach them.For residential use, straight and curved stair lifts in different models and brands are available in the market. When deciding to purchase stair lifts for your house, you can request for the assistance of a technician from the lift manufacturing company who can advise you on selecting the stair lift suitable for your home interior. For home use, luxurious cushioned lifts are available in the market. As wheelchair lifts are usually meant for individual purposes, the users are free to buy models of their choice. Thyssenkrupp Access, Savaria Concord, and Bruno are some of the world class wheel chair lift manufacturers.

Anthony Robbins is working as a design consultant at Day Elevator & Lift, a premier provider of tub lifts, stair lifts, elevators and wheelchair lifts for residential and commercial applications throughout the tri-state area, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut.

Community Calendar

Roger — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:19:01 +0000

Community Calendar
Oak Leaves and Forest Leaves welcome items for the Community Calendar, as well as items for Business Briefs, Campus News, Community Briefs, School Digest and Your Page. Items must be received minimum of 10 days prior to publication. Fax (708) 383-3678; e-mail oakpark@pioneerlocal.com; or mail to Pioneer Press, 1010 W. Lake St., Suite 104, Oak Park, IL 60301.