“Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” wrote the poet Alfred Tennyson, processing his grief after the death of a close friend. While mourning has its regrets, these rarely include, “I wish I’d never…
Author: Katherine Swarts (page 23)
Coping When You Have a Disability: Natural Disasters
Wherever you live, chances are that natural disasters interrupt your business-as-usual from time to time. You don’t have to suffer direct injury or property damage: schedule disruptions, power outages, and evacuations impact everyone in the area. Even breaking-news bulletins can…
The World of Recreational Therapy
February is Recreational Therapy Awareness Month. Never heard of recreational therapy? Or assumed it was just another name for physical therapy? Read on! Do you believe having fun is good for everybody? If we’re talking about “everybody under a certain…
Lost Loves: When the Tech World Jettisons an App You Depended On
Somewhere in the digital universe, there’s a limbo that unused apps disappear into, perhaps never to be heard from again. While many individual users dump individual apps after the “honeymoon” period, it’s a day of pain and fury when you…
Popular Misconceptions about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Everyone knows about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but there are “things everyone knows that just aren’t so.” Misconception: All PTSD cases look alike. Truth: No more than do all cases of autism, cancer, or Parkinson’s disease. Individual humans are far…
STAFF PICKS: Cristen Reat on Low Vision AT
Cristen Reat, our Co-Founder and Program Director, has a 19-year-old son with a visual impairment plus Down syndrome. The following are apps she has found to be helpful assistive technology (AT) for making his world more visible.
TCEA Convention Recap
For many students with disabilities, thriving in school depends on a good Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the right assistive technology. Recently, BridgingApps’ Tara Rocha and Alejandra “Ale” Gonzalez attended the Texas Computer Education Association’s convention in San Antonio, where…
Low Vision Awareness: Apps and Tips for Coping
February is Low Vision Awareness Month—a time to learn about visual impairments and how people live with them. What Is Low Vision? “Low vision” should not be confused with nearsightedness or temporary bleariness. A person with true low vision cannot…
ATIA Conference Recap
The World of Assistive Technology Assistive technology (AT) comprises everything, except implanted medical devices, that can be used for improved daily functioning with a disability. AT items range from the most basic cane to the most sophisticated computer technology; and…
Seasonal Affective Disorder in Late Winter
(Thanks to our Digital Learning Specialist, Tara Rocha, for connecting me with Mandy C. in Anchorage, Alaska. Mandy contributed the “far North” perspective for this article.) Depending on how close to the equator you live, February may be the month…