If you have a disability, you already know how difficult it is to acquire the things you need to live your best life. For some, that means an assistive device, like a wheelchair, but for others, it means a job that showcases often neglected talents and abilities. So how do you find (and pay for) […]

Since the invention of the smartphone, leaving the house to get essentials done has now become optional instead of mandatory. While this is a big win for individuals with disabilities, it may lead to an over-dependence on technology, especially those that find face to face interactions challenging. Let’s take a look at the pros and […]

This is a multi-part article about asking for, and getting, – needed assistance. To recap Parts I and II, asking for help is a function of: Realizing in the first place that help is needed. Acknowledging to someone else that having help for XYZ has become a necessity. Going to an appropriate place where help […]

Technology Boosts Independence for People with Disabilities The last 150 years have been the most exciting, in terms of technological inventions, in the history of the human race (the discovery of fire and controlling it notwithstanding). The most important and far-reaching inventions have been those that make electricity available to everyone. One group of people […]

How to Set Expectations for Individuals with Disabilities Expectations can be tricky. A balancing act is always in play. Set expectations too high or set unrealistic expectations, and the expectee can get discouraged and stop working toward the goal. Set expectations too low, and the result may be the same – the person quits trying […]

Sympathy, compassion, empathy, pity “all denote the tendency, practice, or capacity to share in the feelings of others, especially their distress, sorrow, or unfulfilled desires,” according to Dictionary.com. Four similar words, four similar meanings. The mindsets of the first three words are usually welcome additions to the actions that help a person with a disability. […]

Mental Health for Everyone The social stigma surrounding mental health, as with physical disabilities, is slowly diminishing. Over time, it has become more and more evident that the mind and body are connected, and that an individual’s mental state can both positively and negatively affect a person’s overall well-being. Because of this, there are many […]

Asking for Help – Part II This is a multi-part article about asking for – and getting – needed assistance. To recap Part I, asking for help is: Realizing in the first place that help is needed. Usually, having difficulty navigating solo through one or more aspects of everyday life is the catalyst for learning […]

Helping is more than providing assistance to an individual with a disability. There is an element of kindness involved, too. A number of research studies have shown that performing an act of kindness (helping someone) benefits the person giving the helping hand, the person (or people when it’s a group activity) receiving the help, and […]

Where to begin when asking for help Help can mean different things to different people. To some, it can be a means to improve the quality of their loved one’s life situation. To others, it is giving a person the tools they need to be more independent. Help can be as simple as visiting someone […]