Make Your Voice Heard – Hearing Loss

Banner for HLAA 2021 Convention

By Kathryn Wyeth This past week, I had the opportunity to participate in the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (HLAA) Annual Virtual Convention.  HLAA’s mission is to “open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support and advocacy.” While all the sessions were very interesting, I thought the sessions…

Read More

Access to Facebook

Phone with facebook log on screen

It is so wonderful to see advances in the social media platforms in recent years to make content more accessible to people with disabilities! Some of these advancements are within the platform and you don’t need to do anything. However, there is still quite a bit you can personally do to make sure your content…

Read More

MATP in Marquette: James’ Story

James smiling and holding iPad with the Verbally App on it's screen

James works at Pathways in Marquette doing janitorial work and at times needs to communicate with his employer or even the bus driver who brings him to work. Due to his many disabilities, one of them being extreme hearing loss, James has a very hard time communicating clearly with others.  His mom, Judy, is usually…

Read More

Low Vision and Prescription Medication

Talking Pill Reminder Package

A study by the National Institute of Health found that 55% of seniors take their medications incorrectly.  Many older people deal with normal age-related vision loss and others have low vision or blindness. According to the National Eye Institute, about 135 million people around the world have low vision. There are some resources, including Assistive Technology…

Read More

Getting Out

Ice and snow covered trees

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 More

Tiny Words on Thin Pages

Mark smiling while holding up the book reader machine

A Demonstration and Short-Term Loan Story Mark served his community for years through his work as a substance abuse counselor, care worker for a residential facility, and mission work in a prison and drug rehabilitation center. His whole life he had been an avid reader of the bible. After losing a leg to diabetes as…

Read More

When 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 More

Are You Spring Cleaning? Consider using the ATXchange.org!

Blue bucket, pink mop and multiple bottles of cleaning products

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 More

A Personal Emergency Response Alternative?

apple watch in rose gold with fabric band

After the sudden death of her husband on New Year’s Eve, a friend was really in a daze. She has a lifelong hearing loss and now has arthritis that can flare up in times of stress. She also had a stroke a few years ago and has fallen at home before. Her family and friends…

Read More

Maintaining Your AT – Wheelchair Edition

Someone resting feet up on an empty wheelchair

By Lucia Rios, Guest Blogger One of the most important pieces of assistive technology in my life is the manual wheelchair. It’s the accessory I never leave home without. Wheels enable my independence. Wheeling gives me confidence. Not only has my wheelchair been customized to fit me, but each ding, scratch and tear tells a…

Read More