Katherine Swarts – Page 20

Digital Skills Roundup: The First Things Everyone Should Know

Which statement is correct? Actually, both are correct with regard to certain aspects of screen use. What are “people” actually using their screens for? What educational or career fields are they in? What age groups? And perhaps most important, where…

girl sitting at desk looking at phone while making a list with pencil and paper

Preparing for Back-to-School

It’s August. Are your kids ready for school yet? Depending on where they’re enrolled, the actual first day of school may be as early as August 7 or as late as September 5. But however long you have to prepare,…

woman on video call with cat sitting on desk next to laptop

The Working Pet Owner

Among the hundreds of thousands of pets adopted from U.S. animal shelters each year, are an unfortunate minority who are eventually returned to the shelters because they required more money, time, or responsibility than anticipated. The “return” problem got substantial…

BridgingApps in Fort Bend County

Today’s article is compiled from interviews with Tara Rocha, Digital Learning Specialist at BridgingApps. Here’s what she says about working with digital-skills learners in Fort Bend. Generous grants from The George Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston Fort Bend…

weather app on phone displaying rain tomorrow text

Apps for Calming Hurricane-Season Anxiety

The annual hurricane season runs from June through November, and is at its worst in July–September. Along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast, few people watch summer weather forecasts without some trepidation. Will a hurricane visit my…

Family Travel Can Be Fun: BridgingApps Best Summer Road Trip Apps

Cynic’s definition of “vacation”: Something everyone looks forward to and no one enjoys. Particularly those “ones” traveling in family groups that include children under 8, or kids of any age with autism or sensory processing disorder. And particularly if you’re…

older sister holding phone for younger sibling in wheelchair. both smiling

Siblings Have Needs, Too: “Typical” Children in Special-Needs Families

“Siblings of individuals with disabilities face unique challenges, and the sibling experience tends to change over time as siblings age.” -Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMass Chan Medical School Of all people whose lives are affected by special needs…

older adult lady holding interactive pup

Not Just for Kids Anymore: Joy for All Robotic Companion Pets for Seniors

You could say they “aren’t your grandmother’s toy dog,” except that Joy for All robotic pets are designed for grandmothers and other seniors. These amazingly lifelike toy animals are made to provide some of the benefits of pet ownership, where…

patriotic camp counselors and kids smiling

Choosing a Summer Camp for 2024

While July 2023 may seem early to be thinking about summer 2024, many camps fill their registration lists months in advance—especially with well-known or specialized programs. And it’s often easier to start the planning momentum when summer activities are already…

Assistive Technology and Independence

Happy Independence Day month, everybody! No one is “confined to a wheelchair.” Or “stuck in a wheelchair.” Or “wheelchair bound.” Any such phrase marks the speaker as insensitive to wheelchair users. It’s not that wheelchair users have anything against the…