Many people find themselves needing accessible homes for themselves or family members. There are approximately 30 million Americans using wheelchairs and the number of people who need accessible homes will continue to increase as disabled and aging people are finding more ways to remain living in their homes. One important way to increase independent […]
Posts with the Accessibility tag
Dog-operated light switch
Performing common household tasks such as turning on a lamp for instance, are often taken for granted. However, for individuals with mobility limitations, a task like operating a floor switch proves to be nothing short of a challenge. Heleen Bartsoen, uses a wheelchair to get around and was unable to operate the floor switch for the lamp in her […]
“Never give up. Never quit.”
Writer: Laura Medcalf Each year across America, many celebrate the beginning of summer on Memorial Day by grilling their favorite meats and relaxing outdoors with their loved ones. To many, this may just be a three-day weekend to kickback while embracing the long-anticipated summer breeze; however, the final Monday in May signifies much more. This federal holiday originally honored military personnel who […]
Tales of 3D printing and tailor-made accommodations
Take a moment to reflect on how many times a day you encounter the following: pencils and pens, eating utensils, drinking glasses, doorknobs, phones and more. Have you ever questioned the design of any of these? Few people would challenge the design due to their prevalence. Why question the design of a fork, when it’s […]
Control your computer with your eyes
Susan B. Anthony said, “Independence is happiness.” The quote’s truth was likely questioned in the 1800s, but today many would argue that independence is happiness; this holds especially true for individuals with disabilities. Persons with ALS, cerebral palsy, stroke/aphasia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and other mobility impairments may often struggle gaining and maintaining their […]
Visually impaired use smartphones to see world
Smart devices have opened up a whole new world to individuals with visual impairments, granting them the ability to communicate, navigate in unfamiliar areas and even take photographs of their surroundings… Wait, what? It is generally understood that individuals with visual impairments read and complete tasks oftentimes through the sense of touch; these individuals read content […]