The image is of a woman standing in ankle deep water. She is wearing a traditional white karate uniform with her black belt. She is in a karate pose. The text is on a dark blue background. It is white and red, it reads "Ability Tools Blog My Mom, The Fighter. In honor of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Awareness Month, Emily Flynn shares about her bad@ss mom Susan--an educator and a third degree black belt!"

My Mother the “Fighter”

Written By: Emily Flynn, Ability Tools Program Coordinator Although Mother’s Day has just passed, I can’t help but have my mom on my mind lately. See, I have one of those moms who was born to be a mom. She puts everyone’s needs before hers, she’s got a poker face like you wouldn’t believe; and…

In the photo, Liz is lying on the ground next to her daughter who is sitting on a ride-on toy. The text is light yellow on a pink background. The Ability Tools Logo is at the top. It reads “Ability Tools Blog; Mothering with a Disability; Liz Pazdral shares her mom hacks using assistive technology; www.abilitytools.org/blog”.

AT Mothering With A Disability

Written By: Liz Pazdral, Executive Director of the State Independent Living Council (SILC) and Madeleine’s Mom If you are living with a disability, you know that modifying tasks is the key to success.  This Mother’s Day, I would like to identify some Assistive Technology I used to successfully mother when my daughter was a baby.…

The image is of President Obama at the White House. He has his arm wrapped around a computer screen that is a robot attached to wheels. On the screen you can see Alice Wong connecting via videochat from her home in San Francisco. The right side features the Ability Tools Logo. It reads “Ability Tools Blog My Day as a Robot. By Alice Wong, Founder of the Disability Visibility Project. www.AbilityTools.org/blog”.

My Day as a Robot

Written By: Alice Wong, Founder of the Disability Visibility Project Resistance to assistive technology is futile. As a sci-fi nerd, I have to make a Star Trek reference whenever I talk about technology and disabled people. The disability community is living in the darkest timeline right now, at least that’s what it feels like under…

Useful AT for Autistic People

Written by: Noor Pervez, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network Greetings, assistive tech fans! My name is Noor. I’m autistic adult with chronic pain who works for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. I’ve learned a lot about assistive technology that autistic folks use from my friends, as well as my own experiences.…

A picture of the earth with text over it reading "Reuse Programs Help More than just mother earth". There are photos of reuse storage libraries and people using the equipment.

Reuse Programs Help More Than Just Mother Earth

Written By: Ability Tools Staff It’s that time of year the again, time for spring cleaning! What better day to spring into cleaning than Earth Day? For close to 48 years, Earth Day has been observed on April 22nd and is a day where people around the world celebrate environmental movements and build awareness around…

A dark blue background. Large white text reads "Free Telecommunication Solutions, Anyone?". Beaneath this is a photo of two adapted phones and a senior woman using the phone. The bottom has the Ability Tools Logo and the California Phones logo.

Free Telecommunication Solutions, Anyone?

Written By: Ability Tools Staff Did you know that California has a state program that provides FREE phone to individuals with various disabilities? These phones are provided by the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) at no charge to eligible Californians. DDTP distributes telecommunications equipment and services that improve communication for all Californians. A program of the…

Spring Gardening With California AgrAbility

Written By: Sara Wat- University of California, Davis California AgrAbility For the past few years, the UC Davis California AgrAbility Program and Ability Tools have partnered to bring assistive technology and farming ergonomic resources to farmers, agricultural workers, ranchers, and gardeners across California. Starting in 2014, the Ability Tool’s AT Exchange- Device Lending Library, began…

Photo description: Photo of a woman in a wheelchair smiling and wearing a blue/brown top. The photo is framed in a gold/purple gradient circle. The background is lavender. There is a CFILC logo at the top left corner and a Puffin Innovations logo in the top right corner. The caption reads, "Adriana Mallozzi" in gold cursive on a dark purple bar, "Founder/CEO, Puffin Innovations” in purple print on a gold bar. #HERstory #DisabledandPowerful

The Future is Female… and Accessible.

By: Kyla Aquino Irving- Communications and Marketing Manager, CFILC   Adriana Mallozzi, CEO and Founder of Boston area-based Puffin Innovations, is on a mission to empower people with disabilities by providing innovative assistive technology (AT) devices. Adriana grew up with a disability at a young age and was exposed to AT by an occupational therapist…

A dark blue background with red and white diagonal stripes. The text in white reads "Vilissa's Vital AT". In red text it reads "Ability Tools Weekly". There is the Ability Tools logo.

VILISSA’S VITAL A.T.

Written By: Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, Creator of Ramp Your Voice! As someone who is proudly disabled as a wheelchair user, little woman, and who is hard of hearing (HoH), assistive technology (AT) allows me to exist and be a part of my community with fewer barriers.  To not have the AT I depend on means…

The Sacramento Royals Wheelchair Basketball team posing for a group photo in their white uniforms.

CONFIDENCE, COMPETITION, AND FRIENDSHIP

Wheelchair Basketball Through Alicia’s Point Of View Written By: Kyla Aquino Irving, CFILC Communications & Marketing Manager   Wheelchair basketball isn’t just about the sport for Alicia Szutowicz, Co-Founder and VP of Operations for the Sacramento Royals. Playing wheelchair basketball is definitely great exercise and lots of fun, and for Alicia, it’s truly about uplifting…