Hello Ability Hacker Friends! It’s been a while, and I’ve missed you. Just as our life started getting back to normal after a year full of medical challenges for our family, the Novel Coronavirus entered the picture – throwing life sideways once again. This past week has been full of stress for me (as I’m […]
Posts in the Accessibility category:
School Emergency Planning for Kids with Disabilities
About a year ago, I had an “aha moment” during a work safety meeting when a police officers said the best thing to do in an active shooter situation is to run. Run, run, run … as far and as fast as you can. My mind went to my daughter and her school. Her disability makes […]
Adapting Jump Rope for AFOs and Crutches
When the fundraising paper came home from school for the Healthy Heart Challenge (sponsored by the American Heart Association), I thought it was important for my daughter to learn about the importance of being active and to raise money for heart health along side her peers. We worked with her gym teacher and physical therapist […]
One by Kathryn Otoshi will help you talk with kids about inclusion, acceptance & courage
The book “One” by Kathryn Otoshi reminds readers that everybody counts, and is a great tool for facilitating conversations with kids about inclusion, acceptance & courage. The story highlights the message that when one person is brave and confident enough to stand up to a bully, their actions can give others the courage to stand up along […]
How “Jessica’s Box” by Peter Carnavas helps readers connect with the character and see past her wheelchair
The book “Jessica’s Box” by Peter Carnavas is my favorite type of inclusive book because it shows a child with a disability experiencing the same feelings and concerns that all children have, without making the disability a central aspect of the story. By not making the story about Jessica being in a wheelchair, it helps all children connect with […]
Why you should read “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems to promote inclusion & acceptance
The book “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems promotes acceptance of people different from ourselves, demonstrates creative problem solving, and helps kids see the importance of resilient perseverance. It’s a great book for talking to kids about disability and inclusive play, especially when a peer uses equipment such as a wheelchair, walker, or crutches, has […]
Changing How the Media Portrays Life With a Disability
As I watched the coverage of Stephen Hawking’s passing, it became clear it’s time to start a revolution on how we talk about people with disabilities and how we represent them in the media — big media and social media. The way we talk about people “escaping” their disability and being “free” after they die is not OK. […]
Converse “Easy Slip” Chuck Taylor Sneakers
A post of mine from last year has resurfaced, and I’m getting a lot of requests for where to buy the converse sneakers with the back that flips down and velcro shuts. The links from the post are a bit outdated, so I did a search and found some new links. See below! We loved […]
Liftware – Helping people with hand tremors eat more easily
I came across this product today, and it nearly jumped off the page at me. What a cool and really helpful way to use technology! It’s an eating utensil that makes it easier for people with tremors to feed themselves. The handle is electronic (comes with it’s own charger), and accommodates for the shaking hand while keeping […]
Ladies & Gentlemen… we’ve gone all terrain!
From the moment my daughter started using her Kaye walker full time at 2 years old, I have had a dream. A dream of an all terrain walker that glides smoothly and easily over grass and dirt and mulch. A walker that doesn’t require muscle and struggle to cross uneven surfaces. Isn’t that a beautiful […]
Zubits – Adapting Shoe Laces – Open & close with magnets!
Tonight I came across a new product that I think could be life changing for many people who have trouble with their fine motor skills, or who have to wiggle and squish bulky braces (AFOs, etc.) into shoes. My daughter has challenges in both of these areas, so I’m super excited (and hopeful) about this new […]
A fabulous day for clothes & shoes!
When I think of all challenges we’ve faced over the last 4 years, the two that rear their ugly heads over and over again are clothes and shoes. Clothes: Over AFOs & twister cables Every day when I pick out Lily’s clothes, my mind is running scenarios. “Hmmm… I know these pants fit over her braces, but […]
A simple fix for helping kids clear their place at the table
One of the things I feel very strongly about is that kids with limited mobility should be required to do as much as possible for themselves. This past week, I was trying to figure out how I could enable Lily to clear her own place at the table when I remembered a microwave cart we used to use for […]
How to “Hack” Cute Shoes for AFOs #1: Remove the Tongue
One of the most frustrating things about having a child who wears AFOs is how hard it is to find shoes to fit. My daughter started wearing AFOs at 3 months old. For the first year, she simply did not wear shoes. However, when she started pulling to stand I knew I needed to tackle the […]
Eight Fun Easter “Hacks” for Kids with a Variety of Abilities
Easter egg hunts and traditional egg coloring can be a challenge for kids with differing abilities. However, with a few tweaks, there are many ways to include kids with a variety of ability levels in the fun. Challenges: Wheelchairs & walkers: Difficult to navigate grassy terrain, and often can’t easily bend down and pick up eggs. Blind or low vision: Can’t locate eggs […]
When has a story changed you?
Disability is a subject on which it is difficult to get people to engage. No one dreams of or hopes for disability to affect their life, so it’s logical that when the subject comes up people have the tendency to shy away or change the subject. It’s simply an uncomfortable topic when you aren’t neck deep in […]
ReelAbilities Cincy: “If you shovel the ramp, we can ALL get in!”
On Tuesday, I attended the LivABLE Luncheon as part of the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival. This session featured a short film called The Commute about a man’s attempt to travel across New York City in his wheelchair. The film was followed by a group discussion about solving the everyday challenges facing people with disabilities as […]