Among the hundreds of thousands of pets adopted from U.S. animal shelters each year, are an unfortunate minority who are eventually returned to the shelters because they required more money, time, or responsibility than anticipated. The “return” problem got substantial…
Category: Feature (page 5)
Apps for Calming Hurricane-Season Anxiety
The annual hurricane season runs from June through November, and is at its worst in July–September. Along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast, few people watch summer weather forecasts without some trepidation. Will a hurricane visit my…
Not Just for Kids Anymore: Joy for All Robotic Companion Pets for Seniors
You could say they “aren’t your grandmother’s toy dog,” except that Joy for All robotic pets are designed for grandmothers and other seniors. These amazingly lifelike toy animals are made to provide some of the benefits of pet ownership, where…
The Freedom to Be Respected
“As we celebrate Independence Day, I think it aligns with our mission perfectly. Supporting clients and their families as they gain strength, skills, resources, and information to build the life they want is what independence is all about. Our work…
Why Cognitive Decline Needn’t Be Inevitable
Nearly 6 million Americans—and 1 in 9 people over age 65—have Alzheimer’s disease, the best-known and most dreaded form of dementia. But Alzheimer’s isn’t the only cause of memory, reasoning, or concentration difficulties in senior adults. Vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalances,…
Starting Fresh After Your Life Is Turned Upside Down
June is Rebuild Your Life Month. What does “rebuilding life” mean to you? Although many people decide on their own to start fresh/look for a new job/revive old dreams, “rebuilding season” forces itself on many others. The trigger might be:…
Fathers and Kids: Bringing Disability Awareness to the Public
Our annual Father’s Day highlight features country musician Cooper Wade and his daughter Anna Kate. Anna is turning 21 and, despite cerebral palsy that severely limits her speech, excels as a Chick-Fil-A greeter, using a BIGmack recorder for assistive technology.…
How to “Think College”: Finding IDD-Friendly Higher Education
No question: it takes more than a high school diploma to prepare for the college world. High school is a right and a duty; college is an earned privilege. High school students are supervised by school faculty during class hours…
Drowning in Passwords: 7 Tips for Securing Your Accounts Without Mental Overload
Which possibility worries you more: having someone steal access to your digital accounts, or losing your own access by forgetting your passwords? If the latter bothers you more, you aren’t alone. With most personal accounts, being hacked is a theoretical…
Facing Hurricane Season with a Disability
Hurricane season spans half a year—June through November—and, for many coastal residents, is also high-anxiety season. “Storm anxiety” is common enough to be recognized by the psychological world and major news media alike. It’s worse if you’ve previously lived through…