Tag: independence

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.

Goal Setting Empowers People with Disabilities for the New Year and Beyond.

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Once again, we have made it to another New Year. So many people think about making a New Year’s resolution, but do we really realize where the idea began? New Year’s resolutions were started over 4000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians.

New Year’s resolutions are helpful because they make you think of how you can make changes in your life for the new year. All this positive energy is a great way to start a new year. New Year’s resolutions also carry a certain amount of pressure. This is true because if you do not complete your New Year’s resolution, it may discourage you from making other changes in your life. New Year’s resolutions generally get a lot of attention during the first couple of days or even weeks of a New Year only to fall haphazardly to the wayside with last year’s calendar.

On the flip side, goal setting with long-and short-term goals in mind may be a better idea for you. For some reason, people do not think about goal setting as something they can or should use to get important things done regularly. Maybe you think of goal setting as something that should only be used for long term or large projects, or something done in a work environment. It is possible you might think goal setting is something that is difficult, and you are not sure where to start. Although defining your goals may take some time and resources, the rewards are worth it.

There are many ways to motivate yourself to get in the habit of goal setting that can make you a rock star at achieving each of your objectives in life. There are many tools to use that make goal setting a fun and an easy thing to do. Once you get in the habit of taking time to outline what you need and want, the adventure has begun. It is completely up to you how to track your goals. You can use calendars, note cards, post it notes or your phone to monitor your progress. The only thing you must do is make sure the system you choose works for you. It is okay if you find it necessary to test different methods or even combine a few to figure out what works best for you. Make sure to write your goal somewhere that you are going to see it every day. It is also a good idea to create daily action steps toward making your objective a reality. These are things you must do to make sure your goal is achieved. It is just another way to keep your needs at the forefront of your mind. Whether it is reviewing your notes on the progress you have made or talking to a friend to get encouragement, both are productive steps to keep you focused on your desired result.

Goal setting is a great way to get into the habit of taking steps to see actual change come to life right in front of your eyes. It is also an effective tool to use to minimize your chances of getting frustrated or overwhelmed by your situation. Another positive thing about goal setting is that it can help you see your progress in manageable stages instead of trying to tackle a large project in just one afternoon. Seeing your goals through to completion will also help increase your self-esteem and further empower you in the choices you make for your life. It will be clear evidence of your abilities and the methods you used to get results. This could also be your personal playbook on approaching other similar situations and minimize the potential legwork needed next time.

For many people with disabilities, advocacy is a big part of having our needs met. Goal setting is a great tool to use when you are approaching an advocacy project. It gives you an opportunity to focus on your needs and even map out a way to get there. Once you see the progress you have made, it can give you the motivation and self-esteem to complete any project. Using goal setting for both types of issues gives you an opportunity to monitor your progress, celebrate milestones and keep track of the amount of time steps take to be accomplished.

Using the methods put forth in goal setting can be helpful in many aspects in the life of someone with a disability. It can not only help you achieve great things throughout the New Year but let you work on your advocacy skills at the same time. Seeing your goals become a reality is a great way to increase your feelings of empowerment when it comes to choices you make in your life. Not only will the idea of goal setting help you set yourself up for success in the New Year but will help you practice skills that will make you a success in other aspects of your life too. That is a goal anyone would want to reach anytime of the year.

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.

Where Grocery Shopping Just Became Easier..

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Who doesn’t love shopping on the Internet these days? One of the supermarket chains in the South East just took this idea to a whole new level. As of today, Publix Supermarkets now offers a service through a company called Shipt. This is how it works: you pick out your groceries through an app and your groceries can be delivered to your door in as little as an hour.

This is a great idea for those people who have difficulty getting to the store because they don’t drive or have a hard time getting out of the house all together. I’ve heard of other supermarkets in various states providing similar services but, am really happy that Publix has stepped up to the plate to offer this service to their customers too.

While there is a charge for the service, they also provide free deliveries of your groceries on orders over $35. In the long run, it’s really not bad since more than likely you’d have to pay someone to help you get to the store anyway. Lucky for me, Publix is the grocery store where I shop on a weekly basis.

Just think how many people this service will be able to help. Even if you forget a few things at the store, and don’t have time to go back and get them, this alternative can be of great assistance. In a subsequent post, I’ll rate the service and talk in depth about my overall experience. I’m really excited to see how this piece of technology actually works since I think it’s pretty cool to take care of your grocery list right from your smartphone. While they advertise that they have a wide variety of items for you to choose from, I even read that if your item isn’t available for some reason, your shopper will text you with other items that are at the store which are similar to what you need. Lastly, it’s a great resource to have available that will make living independently for many people that much more easier.

What do you think about having this option available in your area?

For more information check out the link below:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/shipt-offer-publix-online-grocery-shopping-home-de/nnX6m/

Thanks for reading..

cr

Home of the Future

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

When I think about home accessibility, things like ramps, grab bars, and walk-in showers come to mind. While I realize the list I’ve mentioned is in no way all-inclusive of the modifications available to make a person’s home more accessible, recently, I ran into an article that discusses how new technology has the potential to increase someone’s independence by introducing various forms of technology and really takes this idea to the next level.

This article will discuss the advancements of technology and how it increases the independence of  people with disabilities.

For those with a disability, accessibility in your own home is like a breath of fresh air. At least I like to think of it that way. Not only have I worked with people to make their homes accessible and have had home modifications completed for my own home but many years ago I was invited to speak to a group of realtors and discuss homebuying as a person with a disability. 

The speech focused on the importance of accessibility for someone with a disability in their quest for home ownership and how different modifications and accessibility features were a necessity so that the homeowner could fully enjoy all of the amenities their home has to offer.

Binyamin Mellish at Pexels

Accessibility allows individuals with disabilities to do things for themselves they may not otherwise be able to do.

Now let’s talk about what I’m calling the “home of the future”.  The reason I’m using that term is because when I read this article that spoke of different types of automation like video doorbells and smart thermostats, it made me think of movies like “I, Robot” starring Will Smith, or even “The Jetsons”, a Hanna Barbera cartoon from the l980’s. Equipment I never dreamed would be available in my lifetime will be more readily available in the not-so-distant future. Lights being controlled by smartphones and voice-activated television guides for the visually impaired were just some variations of technology that were mentioned. This is definitely a game-changer to help people with disabilities thrive in their own homes.

Right now, there’s a significant cost for such innovative technology. However, there are currently some organizations offering assistance for individuals with disabilities to get the equipment and upgrades they need to make these pieces of equipment available to them. As the years go by, hopefully these gadgets won’t be so difficult for someone to obtain on their own so that independence is not so far out of reach.

The assistive technology we use every day not only helps people with disabilities be more independent but adds to our quality of life and self-esteem. It helps us accomplish this by increasing the number of tasks that we can accomplish independently.

The advancements being made now will only help us reach our goals more and more as time goes by. In the long run, there’s no limit to what people with disabilities will be able to accomplish.

What gadget interests you the most?

Author’s note: The article that was originally included in this blog post was no longer a viable link. Updated information on home automation can be found here.

What Does Independence Mean to You?

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This may sound like a silly question but, if you think about it, independence means many different things to different people.  When I started thinking about writing this post, I was thinking about the independence you feel when you can do something with out someone else’s help.  Then I started thinking about independence as freedom from oppression that people face in other countries.  Then I started thinking about when I was in high school and one of my best friends got her driver’s license.  That led to independence (of sorts) from our parents driving us around (they still gave us a curfew so, we weren’t totally independent of them until later on).

There is also the independence you experience when you move out of your parents house to your first apartment or when you go off to a college dorm.  You begin to find out who you are as a person without your parents dictating your every move.  It also means being able to do whatever you want without having to ask anyone’s permission.

When you ask someone how it feels to be independent, they will probably tell you how great they feel because of their new-found freedom.  I started thinking about how it feels to be able to do things on your own, yet another aspect of independence.  I am talking about things that most people find easy, like, for example, cutting a piece of meat for the first time when you haven’t been able to do this before.  It may sound silly but, it’s like a whole new world opens up. All of a sudden you don’t have to rely on others to do it for you anymore.  You actually feel like a new person.

I had that experience many years ago.  In fact, I tell people about different things I use to make my life easier and it is like a lightbulb goes off over their head.  They either tell me “I never thought something like that was available” or “I never thought you had some difficulty doing (fill in the task here) because you make it look so easy.

Being more independent in your everyday life gives your self-esteem and self-confidence a boost.  It makes you think “if I can accomplish those things that were once hard for me, I wonder what else I can do?”

What does independence mean to you?

Thanks for reading…

cr