Paralysed Man Takes Hopeful First Steps

(Link for listening: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1105/110522-disability.mp3)
Paralysed Man Takes Hopeful First Steps (22nd May, 2011)
A medical breakthrough has given hope to millions of people who are unable to walk. Doctors pioneered a special procedure that electrically stimulated the spine of ex-athlete Rob Summers. Mr Summers, 25, was paralysed below the chest in a hit-and-run car accident in 2006. Professor Susan Harkema, of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center gave the revolutionary treatment to “dead” nerves in Mr Summers’ spinal cords. He was able to move his legs and toes and take a few steps with the help of a walking frame. Dr Harkema said: "This is a breakthrough. It opens a huge opportunity to improve the daily functioning of...individuals...but we have a long road ahead.” She said this is "going to have a major impact" on people with disabilities.
The treatment is called epidural stimulation. It has taken over three decades of research to get to this stage. The process works when electrical signals bypass the brain to tell the spinal cord what to do. The signals allow the limbs to function independently of the brain. Mr Summers said the treatment has been life-changing. "This procedure has completely changed my life. For someone who for four years was unable to even move a toe, to have the freedom and ability to stand on my own is the most amazing feeling," he said. He added: “My sense of well-being has changed. My physique and muscle tone has improved greatly. Most people don`t even believe I`m paralysed." Five other patients are also taking part in the trial.
WARM-UPS
1. DISABILITY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about disability. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
 
medical / breakthroughs / pioneered / stimulated / revolutionary / long road ahead / treatment / research / electrical signals / life-changing / well-being / physique / trial

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DISABILITY:  Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
Disability
What we know about it
How it affects well-being

Paralysis
 
 

Autism
 
 

Blindness
 
 

Stroke
 
 

Cerebral Palsy
 
 

Alzheimer’s
 
 

4. BREAKTHROUGHS: Students A strongly believe scientific breakthroughs will one day enable all paralysed people to walk again; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
5. WELL-BEING: Which is most important to you? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.
walking
seeing
feeling with your fingers
hearing
running
tasting things
thinking
feeling happy

6. SPINE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘spine’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
A new medical development allowed a paralysed man to walk a little.
T / F

b.
The breakthrough is a special drug that stimulates the spinal cord.
T / F

c.
The man who was paralysed hit a car while he was running.
T / F

d.
A professor was happy that the man walked down a long road.
T / F

e.
The research behind the breakthrough has taken 30 years.
T / F

f.
Electrical signals moved the man’s legs independently of his brain.
T / F

g.
The man doubts if the treatment will impact his life so much.
T / F

h.
He said a lot of people are now surprised to hear he’s paralysed.
T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
breakthrough
a.
triggered

2
pioneered
b.
people

3.
stimulated
c.
go around

4.
spine
d.
arms and legs

5.
individuals
e.
development

6.
stage
f.
feeling

7.
bypass
g.
test

8.
limbs
h.
backbone

9.
sense