Following up our recent “Biking with a Disability” post, Program Director Cristen Reat shares the full story of her family’s test ride on a Van Raam tandem. One of our regular family activities is to go for walks in our…
Category: Feature (page 2)
Looking Back: Assistive Technology in the Last Quarter of the 20th Century
Would it surprise you to learn that assistive-technology engineering began long before the age of apps? And long before the Americans with Disabilities Act? And even before computers became household appliances? My Father the Pioneer I grew up close to…
Super-Accessible Digital Games: Any Ability Level Can Play
***UPDATE*** Since the original publication of this article in June 2023, the Overjoyed Accessible Game Controller has completed its beta-testing period and been officially released to the public. See details on Our Odyssey’s Overjoyed Software page. Digital games are as…
STEAR: State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry
Hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and many Houstonians are already preparing and bracing. All predictions for 2024 indicate an “active” season: 54 percent chance of at least one hurricane landing somewhere along the Texas Gulf Coast, and a…
Let’s Celebrate: Inclusive Post-Secondary Education
Begun in 2020, Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Day (May 1) emphasizes college options for disabled and underserved students. Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), as well as the more “extensive” physical disabilities (e.g., deaf-blindness and quadriplegia), mean extra challenges. In today’s…
Celebrating Earth Day with Sensitivity Issues
April 22 is Earth Day: an event recognized by nearly 200 countries worldwide; a day for making eco-friendly resolutions, picking up trash, planting trees, and otherwise honoring the natural world. Many places host community festivals with nature presentations, farmer’s markets,…
Autism Apps Sales
April is Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month: celebrate with a new app (or two or three) to make life with autism a little easier. Not all the best life-skills and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) apps are free, but many are half…
Love Furry Friends: Pets and Assisted Living – A World of Options
In recognition of Valentine’s Day this month, we dedicate this post to all who have love to share with animals. One tip for health and long life: adopt a pet. People who share their homes with animals have less depression,…
Where Is the ACP Going? What to Do, How to Prepare
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) participants are facing an uncertain future with the possible end of ACP funding. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will stop accepting new applications after February 7, and BridgingApps has already paused Digital Navigator assistance filling out…
Telemedicine and Prenatal Health
Healthcare consultations and checkups have joined the remote-appointments world; and “telehealth” (along with “telemedicine”) is now a dictionary word. Through good audio-video connections, doctors can do many of the same things they do in person: And telehealth saves patients the…