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Shepherd Reveals New Eye-Catching Bus for Teen Patients
October 26, 2006 Contact: Larry Bowie (404-350-7708) ATLANTA - Metro Atlanta drivers are noticing a wildly-decorated bus on the road these days after Shepherd Center unveiled its new bus for adolescent patients. The bus is for spinal cord-injured teens undergoing rehabilitation at Shepherd Center and it’s unlike anything anyone’s ever seen in a hospital setting before. The bus was totally redesigned to be more appealing and more fun for teen patients when going on outings with Shepherd therapists to local malls, restaurants or sporting events. The weekly outings, which help recently-injured teens learn to maneuver their wheelchairs in crowded places, are part of the therapy program at Shepherd Center. The bus is the brainchild of Physical Therapist Cathi Dugger, who worked for several years to attract donors to fund the project. Wrapped in black with red and orange flames, and a sign on front that reads, “Rockin & Rollin,” the bus looks like fire on wheels. The inside is also unique and features a flat screen television, sub woofers, a video game system and a silver disco ball hanging from the ceiling. Companies that donated their time or materials include: R & R Mobility; Steve Rayman, Metro Dealers Automotive Association, Best Buy, In house Graphics, Meredith Phillips and ADESA. Each year more than 100 adolescents, age 12 to 21, come to Shepherd Center from all over the nation. They or their families choose Shepherd for its specialized treatment teams, age-appropriate therapy and expertise in treating teenagers with spinal cord injuries. Shepherd Center has a medical team dedicated to treating and meeting the needs of adolescent patients. The adolescent rehabilitation program follows Shepherd Center's philosophy of returning patients to the highest level of functioning and independence possible, while addressing teenagers' needs for autonomy, privacy and control. |