Katherine Swarts – BridgingApps

The Lifelong Learning with Friends Program: One Family’s Experience

The Lifelong Learning with Friends (LLwF) program, based at the University of Texas Austin, offers continuing-education classes for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. In-person and virtual classes are available. Today, BridgingApps Director Cristen Reat shares about her young-adult son’s…

mom and son hugging in front of school bus

Working with Your Child’s School to Get Reasonable Accommodations

In public places, everyone has the right to “reasonable accommodations.” In public schools, students have the right to additional accommodations, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) geared to learning style. In both cases, the aim is to ensure that everyone, regardless…

Dealing with a Loved One’s Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related conditions take a hard toll on caregivers. It hurts to see someone who never forgot a relative’s birthday become totally confused over what day/month/year this is. Or to have the sweetest person you ever knew…

Preparation Without Panic: Managing Emergency Awareness When You Have PTSD or Anxiety Disorder

June is PTSD Awareness Month. It’s also the first month of hurricane season, which seems appropriate because hurricane survivors do get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not only current hurricane news, but even a clap of thunder or the sight of…

Father’s Day Special: Beating Discouragement for Dads

At first, I was fixated on how to FIX the PROBLEM. That’s what dads do, right? … I believed that if we worked hard enough we could solve [everything. Well, years later] I’m proud to say one of my greatest…

Fun Mental Exercises for Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Here are some fun facts and activities for keeping your brain healthy. 1. Brain-Health Quiz True or False? Alzheimer’s disease is the same thing as dementia. False! As many as 40 percent of dementia cases may have…

Net Inclusion 2025

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) held their annual Net Inclusion conference May 20–22, at the Gila River reservation in Phoenix, Arizona. BridgingApps delegates were Amy Fuchs, Program Manager; Alejandra “Ale” Gonzalez, Digital Navigator; and Tara Rocha, Digital Learning Specialist.…

young adult sitting at computer being helped by teacher

Life After High School with IDD

For parents of high school seniors, graduation season is a season of pride and anxiety. Pride over what the young graduate has accomplished and will accomplish. Anxiety over the challenges ahead. Anxiety worsens when the graduate has a disability—especially an…

Emergency Preparation for AAC Users

May 31 is the last day of Speech-Language-Hearing Month. June 1 is the first day of hurricane season. This article recognizes both. Here Comes Summer—Here Come Weather Worries “What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever,…

Fifty- or sixty-something couple sitting at Next50 table, wearing name tags hanging from green neck ribbons. Man, on left, is wearing a red shirt and has a short gray beard and a full head of mixed gray-and-black hair. Woman, on right, has mostly dark shoulder-length hair and is wearing glasses, a blue shirt, and a gray visor.

Fintech for Seniors: The Next50 Project

*May is Older Americans Month* Thanks to a generous grant from the Next50 Foundation, BridgingApps has been able to significantly expand our fintech (sometimes written FinTech, and short for “financial technology”) services in 2025. Our fintech education programs, usually delivered…