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Don’t Fail that Fall
by Aimee Sterk Did you know that one out of three adults age 65 and older fall each year? Disability.gov had such a great post about falls prevention, and safety, we wanted to share it here. Falls are the number one cause of fractures, hospital admissions for trauma, loss of independence and injury or deaths for…
Read More“Pawsatively” Helpful: AT for Dog Care
By Laura Hall, MATP Staff A few weeks ago, I attended a training that was more intense and grueling than any other training I’ve given or received, but the reward was life-changing. For two weeks I attended “Team Training” through Canine Companions for Independence to receive my second service dog. After working with many dogs…
Read MoreMemorial Day Post: The Larger Possibilities of AT
Memorial Day has been a time of taking stock since it was created. The holiday has the strength of being recreated every year in a form that reflects the personal histories and connections that veterans, their families, and their friends have with their lived experience, their social networks, and the larger society. It seemed reasonable…
Read MoreUsing Amazon Echo in an Emergency
By Jen Mullins, BS, CTRS, MATP Staff Earlier this year, I watched a very interesting video on the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation PATF’s facebook page. The woman featured in the video is a wheelchair user and shared that she uses a shower chair while showering. She said if there’s an emergency in the shower (such…
Read MoreWheelchairs and Airline Travel: A Turbulent Experience
By MATP Staff Member Laura Hall Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to represent the Michigan Assistive Technology Program at the National Symposium of AT Act Programs meeting and visit Capitol Hill to speak with legislators about the importance and benefits of assistive technology. Typically, I fly to this event, but due to some…
Read MorePersonalizing Alexa for Yourself and Your Family
Many members of our community have learned to use specific Alexa Skills as AT to solve support problems in their lives. But how do we customize skills to exactly fit our needs? Developers have been able to create “skills” or programs for Amazon’s Alexa assistant for some time. What about those of us who don’t…
Read MoreWhen Spring Didn’t Come
This spring, it seems like winter is never going to let go! As I sit here using my lightbox, I wonder when can I start tapering off using it each morning? I use the light box to help keep my circadian rhythm in tune with the rest of the world. Otherwise, especially in Winter with…
Read MoreTelehealth: More Access to What We Need
By Jen Mullins, BS, CTRS, MATP Staff Earlier this year, I had an experience that I think many of us have had: I was home sick with a cold/virus/etc. and couldn’t get an appointment with my regular doctor (not that I really felt up to leaving my home to drive to the doctor & sit…
Read MoreUniversal Design in Learning
by MATP Staffer Laura Hall The term “universal design” has been around for quite some time. Universal design refers to the idea that if structures are built to accommodate a particular group, say, people with disabilities, they also accommodate the rest of the population. Power doors, for example, help people with disabilities navigate entryways, but…
Read MoreSmart 911: Your Path to Safety in a Disaster
One of the enduring problems for people with disabilities who find themselves in an emergency or a disaster is the inability of the systems of emergency response to actually help them with the problems and threats they face. Once the emergency has occurred, it is too late to go through the complexities of your personal…
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