March is National Reading Month. Any time is a good time to teach the joys of reading. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one in five U.S. adults is “functionally illiterate” and cannot: What Does It Mean to…
Author: Katherine Swarts (page 2)
Walk With Me 2025: Wayfinding, the Afterparty, and Other Things New Participants Should Know
ESGH’s annual Walk With Me (WWM) fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at the Houston Zoo. If this is your first time joining WWM (or visiting the Zoo), here’s what you should know. Getting Around What’s This “Afterparty,” Anyway?…
AT for Everyone
We salute everybody working to bring assistive technology (AT) to the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color) demographic. “BIPOC” comprises most people who identify as “nonwhite” races or ethnicities, including Asian American, Native American, Hispanic/Latinx, and many others. Check…
Reasonable Accommodations in Your Own Home Office: Dealing with Kids, Pets, Non-Work Devices, and Distractibility Issues
Thanks to Walter Prescher, BridgingApps Digital Navigator, who provided the idea for this article. Walter’s household includes six kids (ages 16 to 4), two cats, multiple dogs (including one service animal), and a turtle. For nearly 14 percent of working…
About Fintech and Houston Money Week
It’s said that “money talks”; but how many people speak its language? According to the World Economic Forum, half of U.S. adults are financially illiterate—lacking the knowledge and skills to make sound financial decisions. And fewer than 30 percent of…
The Top Teachers’ Tech Event in Texas: 2025 Report
The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) holds an annual Convention & Exposition to help educators keep their tech knowledge updated. The 2025 Convention was February 1–5 in Austin. Tara Rocha, BridgingApps’ Digital Learning Specialist, is also our annual TCEA delegate…
For Caregivers: Respite Without Guilt
Today’s post is in honor of National Caregivers Day, the third Friday in February (February 21). Taking Care of Everyone but Yourself For many people, caring for a disabled family member is less challenging than caring for oneself. Or, rather,…
ESGH Youth Council: A Report from the Field
The Youth Action Council (YAC) of Easter Seals Greater Houston is a student-led group that encourages community leadership, emphasizes youth engagement, and supports the ESGH mission. Their work reaches beyond Houston—sometimes even overseas. In November 2024, YAC member Fife Famurewa…
ATIA 2025: BridgingApps Attendee Report
The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) hosts a conference each year to showcase the latest in assistive technology. For 2025, the conference was held January 30–February 1 in Orlando, Florida, and had: In-person attendees included BridgingApps’ own Amy Fuchs (Program…
Consumer-Directed Services: Friends and Family as Paid Caregivers
Disclaimer: The following is based on consumer-directed-services rules for the State of Texas and is not intended to: (1) provide specifics on rules elsewhere; (2) guarantee up-to-date information on every law/regulation anywhere; (3) provide instructions on qualifying for Medicaid or…