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: 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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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: 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…