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Using 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…
Read MoreAre You Spring Cleaning? Consider using the ATXchange.org!
While the weather in this part of Michigan continues the long cold winter, there are some subtle signs of Spring, despite the snow coming the next few days! We were woken from a deep sleep last night at about 3 AM by an encompassing awful (!) aroma of skunk. I’ll take daffodils any day over that…
Read MoreMy Driverless Car!
Post Foreword: Driverless cars seem to be in the news more and more these days. The recent, tragic accident raises concerns and the potential benefits for people who can’t drive due to a disability. Guest blogger, Cathy McAdam shares her desire for a driverless car in this blog post. By Guest Blogger Cathy McAdam Yes, I want one: Self-driving car,…
Read MorePanic Attack? There’s an app for that!
I had my first panic attack exactly 3 years ago, outside my doctor’s office. I’ve also had some PTSD flare ups recently so wanted to share this older blog post about my first panic attack as a reminder to myself and hopefully a help for others who have panic attacks. In 2015, stress from recent…
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