December 2021 - Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays

Assistive Tools (AT) can be helpful over the holidays. If you have family visiting that use a wheelchair or walker, make sure your home is accessible. A ramp can help with entering your home. Once in the home, an accessible path through the main areas will let everyone celebrate together. In the kitchen, adaptive tools can help with opening jars, chopping vegetables and cooking food. Enjoying the meal can be made easier for some with tools like adapted utensils and non-slip placemats. Holidays can be more enjoyable for all with the help of AT.

For more information on how assistive tools and supports could help in your home during the holidays, call WVATS at 800-841-8436, email WVATS at wvats@hsc.wvu.edu, or visit the WVATS website at wvats.cedwvu.org.

Check It Out

Portable Ramps

Portable wheelchair ramps are designed to be lightweight, compact and easy to carry. This is important when there is a need to make a home wheelchair accessible. The ramps come in a variety of lengths to allow for entry over a small threshold to several stairs. Most ramps are designed with a surface that can reduce the risk of slips and falls. Portable ramps may be useful if you have family who need an accessible entrance for visiting at the holidays. WVATS has several ramps available in our loan library at https://vll.cedwvu.org/ found by using the search term "ramps".

For more information on the portable ramps or other devices available in our loan library, call WVATS at 800-841-8436 or email WVATS at wvats@hsc.wvu.edu.

There is an App for That

Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk allows users to create and share to do or shopping lists and tasks. The app helps to organize priorities, notes, and due dates. It can help users with memory problems keep track of important items during the busy holiday season. Users may also set up reminders of upcoming tasks. The app will sync across different user devices. It can also be connected to email, calendars, and other device programs. The task manager app is available for use on computers, android, and iOS platforms.

Upcoming Events & Training

Wednesday , January 13, 2022 from 1 pm to 2 pm:
Disaster Preparedness and Assistive Technology
Disaster preparedness will inform about the importance of assistive technology when a disaster occurs. Learn what assistive technology first responders and shelters can use to help people with disabilities. Assistive technology can become lost or damaged during a disaster.

Participants will learn:

• What assistive technology should be taken when in a rush to evacuate an area
• Low tech options when electricity is out for extended periods
• Resources where individuals can obtain a short-term or long-term replacement for assistive technology

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 from 3 pm to 4 pm:

Accessible Social Media

Social media platforms raise some access issues for individuals with disabilities. Although accessibility on social media sites is limited in a lot of ways, some features do exist in each platform. During this training you will learn some ways that you can make your posts more inclusive to everyone.

To register for a training or to find out about future training and events, visit the WVATS Upcoming Events at wvats.cedwvu.org/upcoming-events.