Around half a million people in the U.S. keep service dogs trained to help with physical or emotional disabilities. Some 200,000 people have registered emotional support animals that provide a calming presence to help manage mental illness. And often, the…
Today, December 3, International Disability Day, full name International Day of Persons with Disabilities, was first proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992. Worldwide, at least 1 person in 7 has disabilities that cause significant impairment to everyday functions. And…
A salute to November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month. There’s more to epilepsy than the infamous grand mal seizure. In fact, for many people with epilepsy, such a “big bad” seizure is a one-time event or never occurs at all.…
The holidays are here again! We, at BridgingApps, keep an eye out all year for new and exciting technology and apps for all ages and abilities. The holidays are a great time for us to share some of our favorite…
We round off National Assistive Technology Awareness Month with a look at some common-but-untrue assumptions about AT. Misconception: Assistive technology is limited to wheelchairs and other bulky devices. Facts: Any “assistive” item counts—including digital apps. You can carry dozens of…
Recipe for a nightmare: entering a hectic shopping mall with a child who is hypersensitive to stimulation or prone to wandering. Even purely physical disabilities can spell trouble when they make it difficult for a child to keep up, or…
November is National Assistive Technology Awareness Month. What comes to mind at the phrase “assistive technology”? By formal definition, assistive technology is “any item, piece of equipment, or product system—whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized—that is used…
Ever hear of “inspiration porn”? It’s a cultural phenomenon that has made “inspiration” a dirty word to some people with disabilities. Typically, it involves highlighting someone who has accomplished something noteworthy and who also uses a wheelchair or has another…
November is National Family Caregiver Month. In a multi-person household, keeping track of everyone’s needs and schedules is rarely easy. When one or more family members have disabilities, things get even more complicated. Besides generating expenses, appointments, and paperwork that…
To close out National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a salute to the professionals who help people with disabilities find paid work (and personal independence). Thirty-two years after the Americans with Disabilities Act guaranteed equal rights to employment—with accommodations and without…
