You might be asking yourself, “What, exactly, are switches?” Switches are an assistive technology used by individuals with different disabilities for many different reasons. Switches can act as communication devices, to teach cause and effect, and they can take the place of using a keyboard or a mouse. They come in a variety of shapes…
by Chi Hung Luke Hsieh, Assistive Technology Advocate at Community Access Center For Assistive/Adaptive Technology and Rehabilitative professionals, Dragon Naturally Speaking from Nuance has become the go-to software for people with fine-motor challenges. It’s almost a knee-jerk reaction to recommend Dragon to all people that have trouble manipulating the mouse and/or keyboard. And, it maybe…
By Emily Flynn, Program Coordinator, Ability Tools I have been working with Ability Tools and CFILC’s Digital Access Project for about six months now and I have been really enjoying seeing the connection between the two programs. The partnership between the assistive technology (AT) that Ability Tools provides and Digital Access Project’s low-cost internet service…
By Emily Flynn, Program Coordinator for Ability Tools This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jorge Ruiz for our new AT Advocate’s Blog series. Jorge is an AT Advocate at Central Coast Center for Independent Living (CCCIL) in Salinas, CA. Jorge has been an extraordinary member of CCCIL’s team for over five years now! …
To see the complete article, visit: 12 Questions to Ask about a College’s Disability Services. Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) were enacted in 1976 through the passage of Assembly Bill 77 (Lanterman), which funds support services and instructional programs for students with disabilities in the California Community Colleges. DSPS assists colleges to provide services…
Re-posted with permission from MATP By Aimee Sterk, LMSW, MATP Program Staff I had my first panic attack about a month ago, outside my doctor’s office. Stress from recent health crises and triggers from childhood trauma culminated in a very scary experience. My friend was able to talk me through breathing /stopping hyperventilating and came…
by Janet Nunez, AT Specialist, Parents Helping Parents iTECH Center Yesterday I met up with an old acquaintance of mine, who I hadn’t seen for 10 years, at a neighborhood coffee shop. Leslie and I sipped our first cup of coffee reminiscing and the next cup trying to catch up. The third cup finally brought…
By Kirk Aranda, YO! Disabled & Proud Youth Advocate This article explains some common apps used by a variety of people with different disabilities. I have highlighted just four popular apps for your I-devices to help make every day life a little bit easier. There are literally thousands of applications (apps) that are available on…
by Kim Cantrell, Program Director Do you struggle to remember your daily tasks and to stay organized? If so, you are not alone. The popularity of organization apps demonstrates that most of us can use a little help managing our day-to-day lives. No matter your specific needs, chances are, there is an app for that. Below…
Ability Tools just recently opened a nationwide contest where participating contestants could potentially win $500! The purpose of the contest is to showcase the creative ways people with disabilities use assistive technology (AT) in their daily lives. Many people with disabilities use AT to accomplish tasks they otherwise could not. Sometimes they modify a commercial…