Technology Access, Equity, & Inclusion

04/21/2026

https://youtu.be/HElF1SRooI4

CHIRP Episode 1: Who are you asking?

02/12/2026

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living.

Information about the field of occupational therapy.

02/03/2026

"The GAO report highlighted examples from school staff about how assistive technology has benefited students, including one student who “blossomed” after accessing eye gaze technology that allows students to interact with devices with just their eyes and another student who was able to express more words verbally through a communication device and special education supports."

The federal government watchdog outlined how some districts use these tools to fit the individualized needs of students with disabilities.

11/11/2025

Hi everyone, we were recently at the Abilities Expo in Ft Lauderdale, and our booth was visited by Paolo from Synergies SEED Fund. This looks to be a fabulous opportunity for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Check it out!

Accessible Funding for Disabled-Owned Businesses Affordable micro–loans and tailored resources designed to help your small business grow. Learn More Apply for a Loan Your Path to Business Growth Financial Solutions​ Get affordable loans up to $30K designed for entrepreneurs with disabilities. St...

10/28/2025

The team learned about several barriers for wheelchair curling athletes: the physical demands of traveling to training facilities, limited access to ice time and coaching, and facility constraints. The VR solution directly addresses these barriers.

Read more at:

A virtual reality applied research initiative conducted by Red Deer Polytechnic students and staff could reshape the future of wheelchair curling.

10/27/2025

Free Webinar: Digital Accessibility – Why It Matters for Everyone

Understand what digital accessibility really means, why it matters for your business or nonprofit, and how to start resolving accessibility issues today.

November 19, 2025; 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Panelists:

• Nick Sinagra, Owner of Able IT Pros, Digital Accessibility Expert
• DJ Stemmler, Assistive Technology User
• Joan Stein, President, Stein Consulting, LLC, ADA and Accessibility Consultant

Register online:

Understand what digital accessibility really means, why it matters for your business or nonprofit, and how to start resolving accessibility issues today.

10/15/2025

Join the Lotus Ring Pilot Program
Participants Needed in Pennsylvania and
Washington, D.C.

The Lotus Ring, developed by Tools for Life partner Lotus, was just named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025—and now you can be part of its journey!

Designed for people with mobility-related disabilities, the Lotus Ring lets users control lights and devices at home with a simple point-and-click; no apps, WiFi, or rewiring needed.

How it works:
1. Put on the ring.
2. Attach the magnetic covers to your existing electrical wall switches.
3. Point and press, just like a TV remote.

Lotus is launching a multi-state pilot program this fall, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and is seeking participants to try the ring in their homes for up to four weeks.

Who can participate?
• Adults (18+) with mobility-related disabilities
• Priority locations: Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
• Also welcoming participants from California and Florida

If you are interested in participating, please complete the Pilot Screening Survey (only the Lotus team has access to your response).

For an alternate format of the survey or for more information, please reach out to the Lotus Helpdesk by email at [email protected] or by calling (408) 357-3085.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUXl8GO7lYlVL97uqmEO3O9sKS34_x-905HQiBb30iKzqASA/viewform

10/01/2025

Did you know that apps are considered assistive technology? There are many that can help improve your health! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO1pMIb57Oc&list=PLZH-8z1Rji0vdOUzWjdYpydIB7XyxyzLG&index=4

Discover how these apps can help you live a healthier life!

09/29/2025

Just a slight departure from the usual posts, and a reminder to stay active. It matters more than you might think.

This 40-minute therapeutic yoga class is designed to help you strengthen both body and mind. Through gentle stretches, mindful breathing, and grounding movem...

09/16/2025

Webinar: Five Resources to Help with Your Workplace Accommodation Journey

September 18, 2025 2-3PM EST

Join us and Tools for Life for a webinar exploring the resources created by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Accommodations, Employment Supports, and Success for People with Physical Disabilities (ACCESS-PD)!

These resources include an online course titled “Navigating Employment as a Person with a Physical Disability,” tools for exploring assistive technology (AT) and other accommodations, and a tracker to monitor a person’s progress in mastering AT.

The resources presented in this webinar are free and appropriate for employees with physical disabilities, employers, and service providers.

CEUs and CRCs will be offered.

Learn more and register by clicking the button below!

Join us for an exploration of resources created by the RRTC on Accommodations, Employment Supports, and Success for People with Physical Disabilities (ACCESS-PD RRTC). These include a new “Navigating Employment as a Person with a Physical Disability” online course, tools to help people explore a...

09/10/2025

As artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and apps become more commonplace, we want to hear from you! We invite you to fill out our survey to tell us whether or not you’ve been using AI, what you use it for, what you think about AI, and any problems you have had with AI systems. We want to learn how AI experiences differ between people with and without disabilities. We’ll use what we learn to inform AI companies and policymakers, so they can make AI as accessible as possible to everyone.

Anyone in the United States who is at least 18 years old can fill out the survey. You do not have to have a disability to take the survey.
The survey should take about 30-45 minutes to complete. You can take breaks while completing the survey.

We invite people with any type of disability to take the survey. The survey is screen reader accessible. We offer a Certified Deaf Interpreter or a scribe who can record your spoken answers if you wish. You can also take the survey with your own ASL interpreter or communication assistant.

Fill out this form to receive access to the study:
https://afb.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bNktziveYnZSu7s

If you have any questions or need more information please contact Dr. Arielle Silverman, AFB Director of Research, [email protected] or 202-469-6832.

The survey will close on September 30, 2025.

This interest form is used in recruiting and screening participants for the AI Study 2.

09/03/2025

The Aware Home, a three-story, 5,040-square-foot living laboratory, is designed to simulate a real home environment where Georgia Tech researchers, faculty, and students can develop and test innovative technologies. With its fully equipped kitchen and smart home capabilities, it offers an ideal setting for EXCEL students — many of whom are tactile learners — to engage in real-world, hands-on learning.

A new partnership between Georgia Tech’s Aware Home Research Initiative and the Georgia Tech EXCEL program is helping students with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain essential life skills — starting in the kitchen.The EXCEL program, named for its goal of expanding career, educatio...