Katherine Swarts – Page 7

AirPods as AT: “Hearing Aid” Is Now an Earbud Feature

Remember last year’s blog post on “The New World of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids”? For a long time, hearing aids required a doctor’s prescription and hundreds to thousands of dollars. And those dollars frequently came out of the user’s pocket, since…

Biking with a Disability

Remember our September 23 article, “Hiking in a Wheelchair”? Here’s another post for readers who love autumn and outdoor recreation. If you haven’t been on a bicycle since you reached driver’s-license age, you’re missing out. Bikes get you around faster…

young man with down syndrome standing in green house

Longer Lives, New Challenges: Down Syndrome in the 2020s

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. If you or a family member have Down syndrome and need assistive technology for learning, time management, or long-term planning, check out these apps lists from our database: Growing Older with Down Syndrome As…

What Do Digital Navigators Do All Week? A Firsthand Account

This week—October 7–11—is Digital Inclusion Week, powered by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. It’s a week for celebrating the advantages of digital access; advocating universal accessibility; and recognizing those who work to ensure access for all. Among these workers are Digital…

Discovering His Mission: The Story of a Digital Literacy Training Graduate

In our recent Program Update from Tara Rocha, we shared the latest news on BridgingApps’ digital-literacy training for high school students and recent graduates, especially those with intellectual/neurological challenges. Today, we take a closer look at one participant: his digital-training…

close up image of hands typing on a laptop

Finding Trustworthy Online Sources: The First Google Results Are Rarely the Best

“Google” is a trademark, a proper noun, and a verb. You probably “Google” for online information every day. And that’s fine—for most everyday information. Or for entertainment. But trusting Google is risky if you need really important information, such as:…

older adult woman sitting on couch communicating with laptop

Aging in Place: How Digital Technology Can Help

September is Healthy Aging Month. Today’s article touches on three aspects of healthy aging: minimizing transition stress; minimizing financial stress; and self-care. The U.S. senior population continues to grow; and so does the number of seniors who want to “age…

woman pushing older adult woman in wheelchair outside

Hiking in a Wheelchair

As summer changes to autumn, the U.S. Gulf Coast anticipates the return of cool weather. Outdoor strolls are loaded with health benefits, even for those who can’t “walk” in the standard sense. Many wheelchair users enjoy regular outings, not just…

young adult female sitting on grassy lawn with laptop open. male in wheelchair beside her. autumn colored trees in background

Autumn Is on Its Way: Preparing for Cooler Weather 🍂

The brains behind this blog are all Gulf Coast residents, so we empathize if you’ve had more than enough of summer. In some places, summer is the most beautiful season: in the southeastern U.S., it’s mostly one long slog of…

The World of Communicative Technology: One User’s Journey

Today’s post is written by Andi Fry, our BridgingApps Coordinator for Montgomery County Outreach, in partnership with her adult daughter Megan. Megan was born with severely limited muscle control, which ruled out both verbal speech and sign language for communication.…