Written By: Sara Moussavian, Full-time Employee & Advocate On July 30, 2009, I left California’s Youth Leadership Forum knowing more about who pioneer leaders of the disability community are and what they have done in comparison to the first day of the program. My knowledge about the Disability Rights Movement continued to expand, when I…
Written By: Paul Denikin, Creator of Dad Knows DIY Children with disabilities require a level of care that can challenge a parent’s patience and endurance. Even the most basic needs, functions such as eating, toileting, bathing and sleeping, may present brand new problems on any given day. Parents can receive training but until one has…
Every year millions of Americans make a New Year’s Resolution to start exercising regularly or to become more active. For people who are wheelchair users this can be an even more difficult resolution to obtain. Luckily, the Apple watch Series 3 is a watch that considers all the different ways people move. This device encourages wheelchair…
Written By: Tatum Tricarico, Point Loma Nazarene University Student & Author Two hundred years ago, someone decided that what the world had to offer him and his disability wasn’t enough. So after putting in a lot of work, Louis Braille changed the world for all blind people. That is why today, and each year on…
AT Advocates are community based information and referral specialists who can assist consumers with a variety of assistive technology issues. They work at Independent Living Centers in California. Ability Tools wouldn’t be the program it is without these advocates and all their hard work. With the New Year approaching we asked our advocates to tell…
Written by: Megan Cowdell, Program Coordinator, CFILC Here at Ability Tools and our parent organization, The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), we have used and worked with our fair share of assistive technology. In this second annual blog you will find testimonials from some of our staff on their favorite AT devices this…
Felix Reges, a 10-year-old boy, is able to see clearly for the very first time with the help of wearable technology. His parents and teachers say, “It’s opened up a whole new world for him.” NuEyes Changing Felix’s Life The Sunrise Valley Elementary School 4th grader has had severely impaired vision his entire life, but…
Written by: Robin Wearley, PA-C. MSc Emergencies happen. Having a plan during an evacuation is key for survival. Every second counts. Airlines currently have no good plan for evacuating passengers who use wheelchairs. As a flight attendant it has always concerned me when a wheelchair traveler was brought onboard the airplane on an aisle chair.…
Written by: Emily Flynn and Megan Cowdell, Program Coordinators at The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers About #GivingTuesday Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since…
Written by: Kim Lathrop, Information & Advocacy Specialist, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers It’s that time of year again where we spend the holidays with those who are near and dear to our hearts. For those who have family members far away or who want to skip town and go on an adventure, making…