“Joy to the world” and “Peace on Earth” are commonly heard phrases in December. If you’d like to help that spirit endure year-round, here are some habits to cultivate. To develop a lasting spirit of kindness: To develop a lasting…
Author: Katherine Swarts (page 31)
Holiday Treats and Health Requirements
Ask most people to write down their favorite winter-holiday activities, and the list will include at least one item involving something edible. Chestnut latte. Chocolate truffles. Cranberry jelly. Eggnog. Fruitcake. Mashed potatoes. Peppermint bark. Pumpkin pie. Stuffed turkey. Most of…
When Your Parent(s) and Your Child(ren) Have Special Needs
Written By Katherine SwartsRead Time 7 Minutes The sandwich generation is defined as a subset of family caregivers who are taking care of both an adult loved one and a child. Even if your children are self-reliant for their age and your…
STAFF PICKS: Amy Barry on Holiday Apps
Amy Barry, Digital Marketing Lead at BridgingApps, shares her favorite technology for keeping the holidays happy—and manageable. 1. Spotify: My favorite way to get into the holiday spirit is listening to Christmas music; and Spotify is a great place to…
Enjoying the Holidays When Someone Has Seasonal Affective Disorder
Many people believe that suicide rates soar in December, when nights are longest, and when “joy of the season” only seems to mock the unhappiness of major life challenges. But nonetheless, the popular belief is wrong: in reality, the greatest…
Pets Are Good for You
Around half a million people in the U.S. keep service dogs trained to help with physical or emotional disabilities. Some 200,000 people have registered emotional support animals that provide a calming presence to help manage mental illness. And often, the…
Choosing the Best Assistive Technology for You
“Assistive technology” may sound like something best left to engineers, but in fact it’s highly relevant to daily life. Scooter or hearing aid or smartphone app, any item becomes a form of assistive technology (AT) when used for a task…
Happy International Disability Day!
Today, December 3, International Disability Day, full name International Day of Persons with Disabilities, was first proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992. Worldwide, at least 1 person in 7 has disabilities that cause significant impairment to everyday functions. And…
Everyday Tips for Managing Epilepsy
A salute to November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month. There’s more to epilepsy than the infamous grand mal seizure. In fact, for many people with epilepsy, such a “big bad” seizure is a one-time event or never occurs at all.…
Popular Misconceptions about Assistive Technology
We round off National Assistive Technology Awareness Month with a look at some common-but-untrue assumptions about AT. Misconception: Assistive technology is limited to wheelchairs and other bulky devices. Facts: Any “assistive” item counts—including digital apps. You can carry dozens of…