By Jacquelyn E. and Katie J. At Grizzly Creek Ranch* (GCR) in Portola, CA we had a statewide summit for Disability Pride and Leadership. The purpose of the summit was to bring together youth with disabilities from across California to start making a campaign for Disability Pride Month in July. When we arrived at the…
Written by: Luke Hsieh, Assistive Technology Advocate Community Access Center For this top five countdown, I will be ranking my my five favorite assistive technology devices from high-tech to low-tech. By September next year, I will have worked a full decade as an assistive technology specialist for an Independent Living Center. The first generation iPad…
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.…
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…
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 new self driving bus, named Olli, is in the works that does a lot more than taking people places. An accessible version of the bus, called “Accessible Olli” will be using IBM’s artificial intelligence powered Watson technology to communicate with passengers since there will be no driver or staff on it. For example, when…
Stephanie Thomas, Disability Fashion Stylist For over 25 years, Stephanie Thomas has researched clothing and retail trends for people with disabilities. What started as a Miss America preliminary pageant platform grew into a hobby, and now two decades later, has morphed into her life’s work. Although there are many adaptive designers around the world (and…
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…
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: 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…