Tag: accessibility

Benefits of Voice Activated Lighting for People with Disabilities

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Technology has been a key element for increasing the independence of people with disabilities. I’ve written other articles that discuss the benefits of smart homes and how they help people with disabilities increase their independence and self-esteem. There are many layers of technology available to choose from based on your needs and the features you’d like to have available to you in your home. Voice activated lighting is one piece of technology that can be added to many options someone can choose from to increase their home’s accessibility and the individual’s independence

Voice activated lights have the capability to be controlled through specific voice commands instead of being operated with an on and off switch. Depending on the type of voice activated light you choose, it also may have an on and off switch too. This type of technology helps people with disabilities who have difficulty turning on and off conventional light switches due to mobility issues, issues with fine motor control or other limitations that make it difficult to control the lighting in different parts of their home.

There are many benefits of voice activated lights and other types of home automation that help people with different disabilities empower themselves through increasing their safety and independence with these types of available technology. It also allows the person  to save money while managing the electricity use in your home.

Eneida Nieves at Pexels

People with mobility impairments can also benefit from using voice activated lighting. They are able to independently control the lights in their home without having to worry about the possibility of slipping and falling. If you have limitations with your hands that make it difficult to turn a light switch on or off, using voice commands to control the lights in your home remove the barrier from operating the lights so you can accomplish this independently. Voice activated lights can be used on their own or through automated systems like Google Nest or Amazon Alexa. They give people the opportunity to set schedules to have the lighting turned on and off or even dim the lights during certain times of the night or day. This is a good tool to use to control the electricity used in your home which can result in a lower electric bill and help you save money.

You can create schedules so that the lights in your home turn on or off in the morning before you get up in the morning. If you work late hours and arrive home when the sun has already set, you can place the lights on a schedule so that you aren’t coming home to a dark residence where all the lights are off. If you plan a vacation where you’ll be gone for a few days, this type of technology helps you set up a schedule, so your lights turn on and off at a certain time each day. These types of innovations can allow you an extra layer of security when you are on vacation.

The price range for this technology varies and it’s a good idea to research which one best fits your needs. Being able to have options to choose from when looking for technology like voice activated helps you learn which option is most budget friendly for your wallet. You can also select the features that fit your needs best to help increase your independence, save some money and maintain your safety at the same time. That can only result in a positive outcome for your well-being and self-esteem.

Reflections of the Contributions Made By Justin Dart, Jr. on the 32nd Anniversary of the ADA

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As the anniversary of signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) approaches, it’s hard not to think about the contributions that Justin Dart, Jr. made to the disability community. It’s also hard to ignore how the culmination of his advocacy and efforts of increasing awareness about issues faced by people with disabilities was met when George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. There are many contributions that Justin Dart, Jr. made to the advancement of independence for people with disabilities that is relevant more than ever today. This one piece of legislation had a profoundly positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. His efforts not only had an impact on the passage of the landmark law but can also be felt more than 20 years after his death.

Widely recognized as the “father” of the ADA, Justin Dart, Jr. came from a prominent background. When he contracted polio in 1948, he became a wheelchair user. From then on, he championed causes for people with disabilities.  Justin Dart, Jr. traveled around the country before there was wheelchair access at hotels and other places that make travel easier for people with disabilities today.   He is also responsible for being one of the co-founders of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). This agency is responsible for starting the REV UP Campaign and the push for increased participation of voters with disabilities during each election cycle. This movement started to let voters with disabilities gain awareness about the power their voices can have when it comes to voting for elected officials.

Continued advocacy is still needed surrounding voting and people with disabilities. Although polling places may not be completely accessible, the ability to vote is vital to the disability community. By voting for politicians who we feel will best address our issues, we help put into place people who will be instrumental in being a part of finding ways to address various issues that affect our community each day. Because of the example Mr. Dart left us when it comes to political activism, people with disabilities should know their votes count, their voices matter, and they can make a difference in what happens in our country.

Too often, people with disabilities are afraid to exercise their right to vote because they think their voice does not matter or they cannot make a difference by voting. In my opinion, Justin Dart, Jr. is an excellent example of what happens when you focus your advocacy efforts to make substantial change happen for yourself and others. The mark he left behind on the fabric of the disability community and the world is what effective advocacy can do when you keep your eye on the reason you began your advocacy journey in the first place.

Mr. Dart gave us the starting point to voice our opinions in a way that allows the disability community to be a part of the process that shapes the political fabric of our country. His activism in the political arena led to further empowerment of people with disabilities in the hope that there would be a change in the way the disability population was viewed by other portions of the American public.

There are so many disability activists who have made a difference with the changes they helped bring about that have resulted in changing the way people with disabilities live and participate in the world. It is up to us as a community to learn about the contributions disability activists made and continue the work they started. It’s imperative that we continue advocating for other issues to increase our independence. The disability community must take the lead on educating others not in our community about important contributions these individuals made to improve our independence in society. The resulting dialogue can be the icebreaker needed to move the conversation forward about what it really means to live with a disability. As a result of these interactions, the disability community can finally be seen as people, not just the limitations physically visible at first glance.

Only then can we as a community have our needs met, be fully included, and accepted as productive members of society who can make a positive difference in the world. This is not only important for the disabled community that is an active, vibrant population now but also for future generations. There must be further understanding of what work still needs to be done. This will help us have more knowledge surrounding how far we’ve come to cherish the rights and voice we have molded in modern society.

We should study what Justin Dart, Jr. has left us meticulously so we can appreciate his efforts and the results he was able to achieve. This should be the blueprint of how to overcome whatever obstacle is put in our path due to our disability. Speaking up for ourselves and others should be the catalyst for the change necessary to improve our standing in society and how disability is viewed within our communities. This type of advocacy is not only necessary to move our community forward on various levels but is the right thing to do to continue the work Mr. Dart started so many years ago.

The Importance of Home Modifications for People with Disabilities

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Accessibility is something most people don’t give a second thought. It may even be taken for granted. Home modifications for people with a disability are essential for many reasons.

As a person with a disability, living in a home without the modifications you need amplifies the limitations you already know you have. You may have to make concessions in your life that you wouldn’t otherwise have to make. It may also leave you feeling upset and frustrated about your surroundings. Home modifications are the most reliable way to ensure that you can maximize your independence while maintaining your quality of life.

Modifications to increase accessibility aren’t home renovations. Referring to home modifications as home renovation makes it sound like something that is being done to your home for the purpose of luxury. The modifications a homeowner with a disability needs to have completed are so they can have basic access to their home just like anyone else would need to live comfortably in that space.

Home modifications offer many benefits to a family member of a person with a disability. Home modifications offer many benefits to the members of a person’s family. Once a home modification is completed it increases peace of mind for family members. Because of the modifications put into place, loved ones can be at ease about your increased independence and accomplishing tasks that can help you maximize your ability to fully participate in the things you love to do.  Modifications made to your home offer you the chance to feel comfortable to move about in your space with a certain degree of ease. You will feel the difference within yourself and your family will see the positive changes these modifications offer to improve your life in a variety of areas.

Independence and Increased Self-Esteem. The independence a home modification can offer you can increase your self-esteem. When you have a modification completed for you, your independence increases. You no longer have to rely on others to help you complete certain tasks. Being able to do things on your own can increase your self-confidence in your abilities. Your limitations can begin to take a backseat to give you a chance to make a pathway to embark on the adventures that interest you the most.

Safety. The safety and peace of mind home modifications offer is extremely important. The most important part of accessibility of an environment includes making the environment safe. Simple changes that increase the functionality of a space for a person with a disability allows them to not worry about having an accident that could lead to serious injury or hospitalization. This increases the opportunity to enjoy activities that would otherwise be difficult and unsafe without those changes.

Greater access to the world around you.  When you have access to the world around you, you can experience the world from your point of view. It gives you the opportunity to have the freedom to choose from things you want to do or see with family, friends or even on your own. Things like traveling or visiting a museum where you can learn new things becomes a possibility. These experiences help you learn more about things like history or other cultures.  

Increase your problem-solving skills. People with disabilities must proactively problem solve to maximize their ability to live independently. If you have recently purchased a new home, navigating how you are going to get around in your new surroundings may be something that can cause some stress. Figuring out the options available to be as independent as possible and accomplish what needs to be done in your home can seem overwhelming. There are many resources available to help you determine what the best options are for you. All you need to do is conduct a little bit of research to see what is available that best suits your needs.

Increases your feeling of dignity. There is nothing more gratifying than feeling like a person that can maintain their dignity by taking care of themselves. Home modifications allow you to take care of your daily needs independently. There is no amount of money that can equal the satisfying nature of being able to take care of yourself without having to worry if anyone will be available when you would like to do things like take a shower or cook a meal.

Increases your ability to live in your community. People with disabilities who can live in their community have more opportunities to interact with others. This could be as simple as being around family members or close friends. It gives you the opportunity even pick a cause that is important to you and get involved in activities to further that cause. The social interaction that comes along with this helps increase your enjoyment of life and experience overall better health.

Home modifications may take a long time to be completed but pay high dividends. People with disabilities should be able to live in their community. Home modifications give them the chance to do just that. They help people with disabilities have a higher quality of life. Having home modifications in place allows you to have experiences with family, friends and others around you that may not otherwise be possible.

While home modifications can sometimes be a bit on the expensive side, it’s worth doing some research to find out what resources are available to make these options a reality for you. When the home modification is finally completed, it’s like a breath of fresh air. Like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Home modifications allow you to overcome the physical barriers that once existed to be able to start enjoying the life you deserve.

Voting Basics for People with Disabilities

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

“Vote as if your Life Depends on it…Because it Does”. Since we’re in an election year, I thought it was important to spotlight some voting basics to try and help ease the fear people with disabilities may have about voting. Justin Dart, who is considered the father of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 made this important statement many years ago. This idea is more important now than ever before.

There is basic information many people should know about voting. The first thing to know is the difference between the primary and general elections. Primaries are held to determine a political party’s candidate for the general election. During the general election, the final nominee, and their running mate, if applicable, are the ones voters are choosing when casting their ballots.

There are also many laws in place to prevent discrimination of people with disabilities and protect their right to vote. These laws have also helped increase the accessibility of voting for people with disabilities. The laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Voting Rights Act of 1965, The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (VAEHA), The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).

Each state has voter registration deadlines and mail-in ballot request deadlines. Make sure your voter registration is up to date and that you have requested your absentee ballot, if that’s your preferred method of voting, with plenty of time to have it mailed to your address. These are two important steps you need to take to participate in the voting process. It’s important to make sure you request your ballot before the deadline expires. If you decide to change your political party, it’s important to follow the local Supervisor of Elections procedure to do so.  Complete this step with enough time so you can cast your ballot. If you don’t meet the timeframes your Supervisors of Elections has established, you won’t be able to vote until the next election cycle.

People with disabilities can sometimes find voting intimidating. Maybe you’re concerned about how a poll worker will react if you ask for help. They are trained and there to help. Whether it’s because of barriers such as voter accessibility at the polls, long lines or even the current pandemic, every attempt should be made by voters with disabilities to have their ballot counted. Some people think their vote won’t make a difference but in reality, every vote counts.

Even local elections are important. When we have problems accessing services in our community, local government officials can be a source of support and guidance. Depending on the situation you’re facing, they may be the first place to turn. They can be a resource that should be tapped into more than is currently the case. Some people only vote in November because they feel it’s the only election that matters. Primaries are also important because in some cases, those elections are the only ones that have to happen to determine the next candidate that will hold a particular office.

People with disabilities should let their voices be heard and vote for many reasons. This election year, getting out to vote is extremely important. The results will have long term implications on this country. It’s time for people with disabilities to take an active role in the political process of this country and vote. The choices you make will impact the lives of many and make up the America of the future.

Proposed U.S. Bill Helps Traveling Parents with Disabilities

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Summer months are a time for kids to be out of school. It also makes me think about lazy days drinking lemonade to cool off from the hot sun, having barbecues and family reunions, just to name a few fun things. It also stirs up images of taking vacations with family. Thinking about what part of the country, or even the world, you’d like to see, or what adventure you might go on to get a break from everyday life are fun and necessary for most people to “recharge their batteries” from the stresses of life.

Have you ever thought about traveling with your baby? For most parents, while there’s lots of planning that needs to happen for the event, others may sometimes be nervous about this undertaking. Parents with disabilities may even think this isn’t a possibility for them at all. Luckily, there seems to be hope on the horizon. There’s a proposed new U.S. Bill trying to make lactation rooms available to breastfeeding mothers. The room also has to be accessible to people with disabilities. I realize that traveling with a baby or young child isn’t the easiest thing to do when you have a disability. But, due to small changes like this, we could have the opportunity to share in experiences and memories with more ease and less anxiety about the experience. People may not have given the idea of traveling a second thought but maybe now, with this new proposed Bill, parents with disabilities can think a little bit more about the possibility of travel with their families.

While the Bill isn’t intended to focus directly on parents with disabilities, I feel like it’s another step in the right direction. Whether you breastfeed your kids or not, it’s a great idea to have a room at the airport accessible to parents with disabilities to tend to their baby’s needs. I wonder how many more parents with disabilities would entertain the thought of traveling with their families, or even by themselves with their babies and young children, if they felt like airports and other entities that facilitate travel would be more welcoming to them?

Would more accessible services to parents with disabilities make you more willing to go on vacation with your family?

Thanks for reading..

cr

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-airport-breastfeeding-duckworth-met-20150526-story.html

Accessible Playgrounds

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

One of my favorite things to do is go with my son to the playground.  We’re very lucky that one of his mom’s friends doesn’t live too far and picks us up every week so that he can go and have some fun with his friends.  As a child, I remember going to the park in Brooklyn and playing on the swings but, not much else.  I also had a swing set at home and my friends used to come to my house and play for a little while when they could.

Last week, it occurred to me that most places don’t have accessible playgrounds where everyone has the opportunity not only to play but also interact with each other.  Then, I heard something on the radio about accessible playgrounds so, I did a bit of research.  There are some playgrounds in different parts of the country that are specifically constructed for kids with disabilities.  While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public places, like public playgrounds be accessible, these modifications only need to be made to playgrounds already in existence if they’re undergoing renovations.  Accessibility of playgrounds also applies to those playgrounds being newly constructed.

Then, another thought occurred to me.  Accessible playgrounds allow for disabled parents to play at the playground with their kids too.  That’s a wonderful idea since some of the best memories we have as kids are the times we spend having fun with our parents.

What do you think about the idea of an accessible playground?

To find out more information, you can go to:

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/27/213827534/for-kids-with-special-needs-more-places-to-play

Thanks for reading..

cr

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: A few Thoughts

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This past Monday was International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  This day was started by the United Nations in an effort to help others understand disability issues and bring about disability awareness to the general public.  It has been promoted by the U.N. since 1992.

Every year, this day has had a different theme.  This year’s theme was “Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible Society for All”.  This is a great thing to focus on for many different reasons. 

First, there is the importance of accessible buildings for people who are disabled.  Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is not such a huge issue but, there are still places that a person who uses a wheelchair cannot go into because of its lack of accessibility.  I remember when I went to elementary school and because I used a wheelchair, I had to go to a school that was nowhere near where I lived.  That was because it was the only school that was accessible for me to attend.  This may not sound like too much of a big deal, but, when you have to travel for hours on a bus, in a seated position, it is not the most comfortable thing in the world.  If there were an accessible school near my house at that time, I wouldn’t have had to make such a long trek to and from home just to go to school everyday. 

Secondly, having an accessible society also allows people who are disabled to participate in everyday things such as shopping or going to see a movie in a movie theater.  It is my belief that if people can go out and do things like shop for their groceries in the store, they will feel like they have done something important for themselves.  This can lead to improved self-esteem.  I know there are some places that deliver groceries to your home these days, and if you like to use that service, that is just fine too.  I just think people should have the option  of either method of shopping instead of feeling like they are stuck in their homes.

Now, a few words on inclusion.  I know that this is still a work in progress, like all the other issues that disabled people face on a daily basis.  To me, inclusion means in the arena of Employment as well as in Schools, just to name a couple.  These environments have certainly become more disability-friendly but, I feel like they still have a few bumps in the road that need to be smoothed out.  In our schools today, there are a lot more students receiving the services they need in the least restrictive environment and, more importantly,  reaching their educational goals.  Even though unemployment of people with disabilities is higher than other parts of the population, those who are in the workforce are successful in getting and maintaining their jobs.

All in all, I am really happy that the United Nations has brought more awareness to disability issues by observing International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  I believe that the more information that is available to the public on different disability issues, the more likely myths and fears that people have about living with a disability will melt away.

What other themes could be covered in the coming years?

For more information you can go to: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1597

Thanks for reading..

cr