Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month Every year, October commemorates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. This year, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) has teamed up with the California Department of…
April 22nd is Earth Day, a unifying gathering that brings together all walks of life to celebrate our planet, activate change, and work together to build an abundant future. Let’s work together to make the future more inclusive for people with disabilities. In 1987, the United Nations defined “development with sustainability” as something that “meets…
“Brain injuries are like fingerprints,” says Phil Subia, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) advocate. “No two are alike.” Because the effects of a brain injury are complex and vary greatly from person to person, there are plenty of different devices and tools that help people living with a TBI. For Phil, a motorcycle accident in 2016…
By Jose Alan Cruz I may have started using assistive technology (AT) in junior high, but my ‘relationship’ with technology did not start until I got to my first year of college. Throughout my junior high and high school years, I used my BrailleNote to do almost all my homework. A BrailleNote is device that…
The staff at The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) who work with the Ability Tools program are no strangers to using assistive technology (AT) themselves. As part of the annual Ability Tools tradition, some of our staff members are sharing their favorite AT devices and tools this year. Pressure Point Massage Hook I couldn’t image my…
This Veterans’ Day, we honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation — specifically the estimated 3.5 million disabled veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Assistive Technology department’s mission is to enhance the ability of Veterans and active duty service members with disabilities to fulfill life goals through the coordination and provision…
One in five people eligible to vote have a disability. With Election Day 2018 just around the corner, Ability Tools is sharing resources on voting accessibility, apps, and guides. If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities there would be about 2.2 million more voters in the 2016 elections. According…
Have you chosen a Halloween costume yet… for your service animal??? Have no fear, Arianne aka “Ari.” is here! She’s part Labrador and part Golden Retriever, and all service dog. You may have seen her in social media sporting fun, adorable costumes, but most of the time she’s on duty. What is a Service…
The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) and its programs are partnering with California disability communities to celebrate October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The purpose of NDEAM is to educate the community about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme…
September is Self Care Month. Self care refers to (often simple) activities to ensure physical and mental fitness. According to clinical psychologist, Lavonna Connell, self care is a critical and important part of every person’s mental health. Not taking care of oneself mentally often leads to physical ailments. Dr. Connell explains that in the…