Making a Difference for the Disabled
From: Designfax - September, 1999 - page 4

Volunteers for Medical Engineering, Inc. (VME) was founded in the late 1970s
by John H. Staehlin, an engineer working for Westinghouse Defense Electronics
outside of Baltimore, MD. Through a series of personal experiences. Staehlin
realized that he and other engineers had talents that could benefit members
of the community. By 1982, Staehlin had recruited a number of other
Westinghouse engineers to volunteer their time and talents for the fledgling
organization. National organizations began to hear about VME and special
honors and recognition soon followed. The Westinghouse Corporation became the
major funder of VME activities. For his last three years at Westinghouse,
Staehlin remained on the full-time payroll of Westinghouse while being
allowed half his worktime to devote to the development of VME and its
services. 

Staehlin has continued as a full-time VME volunteer since his retirement from
Westinghouse in 1994, while VME has grown into a full service, nationally
recognized organization. All work for his clients is still performed by
dedicated volunteers, while a small staff operates the office, coordinates
volunteer efforts, and raises the necessary funds that come from individuals,
corporations and foundations throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Medical and
rehabilitation professionals also joined the ranks. This nonprofit
organization now includes more than 250 engineers, scientists, and other
technical and medical professionals applying technological solutions to
problems faced by people with disabilities, by either modifying existing
devices or inventing new ones. 

Individuals of all ages and with all types of disabilities are eligible for
VME services, with one-of-a-kind assistive devices usually provided at no
cost to clients. An example of the organization's efforts is the 1998 VME
Project of the Year, "Master's Crutches" Engineers Phil Atkinson and Bill
Rynone helped a client who needed durable, lightweight crutches, as he was
wearing out his traditional pair every two to three months. Rynone recruited
an associate who makes custom airplane parts to construct the crutches out of
carbon fiber, resulting in a pair of crutches that should last a lifetime. 

For more information, contact:
Volunteers for Medical Engineering
2301 Argonne Dr.
Baltimore, MD  21218
410/243-7495
http://www.toad.net/~vme/

Photo caption: VME founder John H. Staehlin