Do “disability” and “healthy” sound mutually exclusive? They shouldn’t be. An impairment to one physical or mental function doesn’t render the whole body useless: if anything, other functions become more effective as they’re exercised to compensate. Still, if the person…
Author: Katherine Swarts (page 33)
The World of Forest Bathing
The Japanese term is shinrin-yoku, which translates to “forest immersion” or “forest bathing.” In English, it’s often called “forest therapy” or “nature therapy,” but “forest bathing” is popular enough to have put an International Forest Bathing Day on the calendar…
Getting Veterans Connected: Easter Seals Greater Houston and Recenter Houston
Not long ago, the military Veteran was seen through one of two stereotyped lenses: forever tough, gruff, and set apart from “ordinary” civilians; or indistinguishable from other civilians, hardly remembering his service years except as stories to entertain his grandchildren.…
Making Technology Accessible to Older Adults
Grandparents’ Day is coming up on Sunday the 11th. Whether you’re a literal grandparent, a foster grandparent, a great-aunt or -uncle, or an honorary relative for a friend’s grandchildren, we wish you and the kids a special day sharing special…
Back to School, Second Stage: Settling in for the Long Term
Once a new school year isn’t quite so new, students and parents often discover new problems. The fresh routine becomes a rut. The syllabus looks as impossible as emptying the ocean with a teaspoon. The new friends turn unfriendly at…
STAFF PICK LIST: Amy Fuchs on Education 🍎
Every other Friday, our blog will feature a “Staff Pick List” of one BridgingApps team member’s favorite apps in one category. To celebrate the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year, today’s topic is “education.” This week’s app list is contributed…
Polypharmacy: Too Much of a (Usually) Good Thing
(This article is partly adapted from “Polypharmacy: What Is It and Are You at Risk?,” a workshop presented by Jay Gupta at the Houston 2022 Abilities Expo.) Polypharmacy: the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient, for one…
Abilities Expo Houston: 2022 Overview
Read Time 4 Minutes Public attitudes toward disability have come a long way in the past few generations. From a topic that was rarely acknowledged in polite society, disabilities or “special needs” have evolved into an everyday concern that few…
The 7 Categories of Rest
The outline for this post is adapted from the book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. See also Dr. Dalton-Smith’s website and “Rest Quiz” (you don’t have to take the quiz…
Counting Disability as a Blessing
Read Time 5 Minutes “It’s not the ‘challenge’ of having a child with special needs. It’s the privilege of having a kid with special needs.” –Alan Roesch, father of a teenager with neurological disabilities Whether a disability is diagnosed before…