Written by: Kevin Hansen, Voice Options Program Manager During the time that the Voice Options Pilot Project has been running we have seen a significant impact in the lives of the participants that have received services from this program. This pilot project was funded by the California Public Utilities Commission and officially started on January…
Written by: Emily Schooling, Independent Living Advocate at Placer Independent Resource Services September is Service Dog Month! In honor of all service animals, we’re sharing 10 tips that will help you separate fact from fiction. There are three different kinds of support animals. Service dogs are task trained to assist handlers with disabilities so the…
Written by: Christina Mills, Deputy Director, California Foundation of Independent Living Centers The chances that most manual wheelchair users will eventually graduate to a power wheelchair are high. As much as I’d like to believe that my body, and specifically my shoulders, should work like they have forever (in a seated position, moving back and…
Written by: Christine Fitzgerald, Community Advocate, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center Not all situations and needs are the same, and this extends to medical needs. Without insurance coverage, many would be forced to choose between DME and basic needs, like food or housing. As it is, many people already have to make this choice between…
Written by: Christine Fitzgerald, Community Advocate, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center When I think of what life might be like without access to Durable Medical Equipment (DME), it makes me think of living in earlier times. Not too long ago many of us would have been forced to live in institutions where we would most…
Written by: Farah Musallam Growing up and using a wheelchair I was self conscious about how different I looked from other kids my age. In elementary school, I was the only student in the entire school that used a wheelchair and I obviously knew I was different, especially when all I wanted was to be…
Today is Purple Heart Day and Purple Heart Day is an observance that commemorates the creation of the Purple Heart Medal in 1782. The Purple Heart medal is awarded to those who were wounded or killed while serving the US military. This holiday encourages people to pay their respects to fallen soldiers, to listen to…
This week, advocates from across the country are gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual National Conference on Independent Living (NCIL). This year’s conference theme is Revolution: A Global Independent Living Movement. Timing couldn’t be better this year! The Conference is not only being held during the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Americans…
Written by: Emily Flynn, Ability Tools Staff Working for Ability Tools I am constantly looking for information on new and upcoming technology. One day while being sucked into an infinite worm hole of assistive technology information on the internet I came across “Team Tactile” and this really grabbed my attention. Team Tactile is a team…
Summertime is here and beaches are a very common destination for those looking to cool off. California’s spectacular coast offers many outdoor adventures for wheelchair users, parents pushing strollers, and others who need accessibility features such as a wide, fairly level and firm path of travel. These travel guides and resources that can help wheelchair…