***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…
Category: Special Needs Family (page 3)
Client Success Story: Learning Fast in the World of Digital Literacy
BridgingApps’ latest Client Success Story, told by Alejandra “Ale” Gonzalez, Digital Navigator. This story began when Malissa Dean, a visually impaired young-adult client, came to the BridgingApps open lab. Her goal was (and is) to become YouTube famous, and she…
Inclusive Post-Secondary Education: Family Stories, Continued
Companion post to “Let’s Celebrate: Inclusive Post-Secondary Education.” Disability access in higher education has improved considerably since today’s grandparents were in college. Accommodations and stigma are still issues, however—particularly for students with intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), since college admissions…
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…
BridgingApps Reviewed App | AngelSense Guardian
BridgingApps just published the following BridgingApps Reviewed App on the site: AngelSense Guardian is a continuous monitoring and tracking app with a wearable device designed to know where your special needs loved one is at all times. In case of…
The World of Police Encounters: How to Prepare a Disabled Family Member
The traditional motto of a police department is “protect and serve.” For many people, however, the word “police” evokes quite opposite feelings. Traditional police training took few steps to prevent biased and rough treatment of certain populations—a concern which often…
Safety Highlight: Assistive Technology for Wandering and Elopement
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, today’s post shares tips for keeping track of family members with wandering tendencies. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare: a child wanders off and disappears. The nightmare gets even worse if: All the above are…
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,…
Business Etiquette with Autism: Or, How to Be Professional Without Exhausting Yourself
See also: April is Autism Acceptance Month. Employers value “soft skills”: problem-solving, team-based collaboration, clear communications, time management, flexibility, self-control. Which is why the majority of U.S. adults with autism are unemployed: autistic brains have limited executive-function capacities, which regulate…