Getting Out
Now that the severe frigid temperatures have lifted, people are beginning to venture out again. But people with disabilities who use assistive devices don’t have the option or want to just stay inside all winter. Despite whether the ground-hog saw his shadow or not, we have more winter to come! And believe it or not,…
Read MoreThe Last Straw
By MATP Staff Jen Mullins, BS, CTRS “Though plastic straws are a luxury for some, they are a necessity for others. Straws function as an accessibility tool and have historically been used to offer independence for people with disabilities.” –Mashable, 2018. During a trip to Washington D.C. last year, my first meal in the city…
Read MoreCaptioned Phones
By Aimee Sterk, LMSW, MATP Staff Caption Phones Sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for my daughter’s name to be called, I glanced at the magazine offerings and a telephone caught my eye. At first I thought it was for patients to use to call for a ride after their appointment, but then I…
Read MoreWhat WCAG 2.1 Means for Access
Introduction I attended the Accessible Learning Conference at Michigan State University in December of 2018. There were many interesting presentations, but the one that helped me the most was a discussion of the new additions to the web and mobile accessibility standards, known as WCAG 2.1. The standard itself is pretty dense, and I found…
Read MoreAll I Want for Christmas is these Two AT
My colleagues and I are coming up with holiday wishlists of AT (assisitive technology). Since one of my favorite hobbies is cooking, of course, I want some things to help me out in the kitchen. I have chronic upper back pain that usually flares up if I have to do a lot of chopping or…
Read MoreMy Wish for 2019: Protected Net Neutrality
By MATP Staff Jen Mullins During a recent trip to Washington D.C., organizers from Community Catalyst arranged for me to meet with staff from Senator Debbie Stabenow‘s office and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell‘s office. In preparation for these meetings, I was encouraged to talk about the need for continued protections for medicaid and medicare and also…
Read MoreAll I want for Christmas is My Two AT (2018)
By MATP Staff Laura Hall Dear Santa, It’s that time of year again! I’m getting excited about the upcoming holiday season, and I’m sure you are too. Keeping with tradition, I am sending you my wishlist for my top AT items I am hoping for this year. Now, I know in the past, some of my…
Read MoreATXchange.org
The ATXchange.org is a website designed to facilitate transactions between residents of Michigan exchanging, donating, or selling used assistive technology (AT). Any used/open box device that assists a person with a disability to live more independently or safely (assistive technology) may be submitted. Sellers create listings for a wide variety of used AT; wheelchair accessible…
Read MoreAT for My 8 Month Old
My daughter, Anneliese, is turning 8 months old next week. Her brother, Theo, turns one year and 11 months old today. Having two kids under two is exciting, enlivening, and life-changingly wonderful, and busy. Having both of our kids in our 40s after a long battle with infertility and losses, and having worked and lived…
Read MoreBarriers to the Ballot Box
By Laura Hall, MATP Staff Member When I arrived at my polling place this morning, like many voters, I was excited to take part in this important election. I felt prepared because I had ensured I was registered to vote, found my polling place, researched the candidates and issues and filled out a sample personalized…
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