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Sewing with physical limitations
Hi there! I’d really like to get into sewing so i can make things like foley bag holders, accessible clothing for different levels of independence, seat cushion covers, and more! However, most sewing machines have that little foot peddle… my feet are asleep so that doesn’t work for me. I could try to hold the material in…
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Those with mobility impairments - how do you feel about the Expecting Mothers parking?
Hi there, everyone! I've got a question geared toward those with mobility impairments who use the accessible parking spots, but it's open to everyone! How do you feel about the Expecting Mothers' parking spaces? I think they're great for mothers who have to tote babies and car seats, etc. However, my issue comes when they…
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Start up business funding
Hello, Can I get funding for my start up business from Open Inclusion Community? I'm an undergraduate degree holder. I have researched and done due diligence on the business of interest. What is lacking now is funding. Kindly guide. Regards.
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Universal Design- Accessibility for All
When I go out in the community, I sometimes have to rely on others due to inaccessible buildings and parking lots. How often do you go to a restaurant and find that there is an accessible button to open the door and a convenient curb cut? In my experience, the answer to this question is "not very often." I recently visited…
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Easy to Prepare Recipes for People with Disabilities
Cooking with a Disability We are all busy in our daily lives and, whether you have a disability or not, sometimes you just want to make a quick meal. Cooking can take time, especially if you have specific access needs, which can slow things down. How do you make meals? What kind of meals do you prepare? What tips do you…
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Half of disabled consumers face access issues at live events: Are artists partly to blame?
A couple of weeks ago some of the community leaders met up to discuss festival accessibility and what we felt were some barriers to entry. Needless to say, there were lots of barriers that we have or may face, but this was a conversation which I thoroughly enjoyed being a musician myself. Although the conversations…
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Quality-Adjusted Life Years QALY
The US House of Representatives recently passed a ban on QALY https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2842163/house-votes-to-ban-use-of-quality-adjusted-life-years-in-federal-health-programs/ Here is a scholarly article with additional detail. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC317370/
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Sex and Menopause
Sex and Menopause I don’t know about the US, but in the UK these are topics I feel are not talked about openly enough. They have considerable effect on people’s well-being. Currently I am helping a MS Society research project to try and rectify the lack of information on this topic by providing materials for MS nurses. So…
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The Effects of Winter on Mental Health
The Effects of Winter on Mental Health Speaking openly, the cold weather has had an impact on my mental health. I'm wondering if others have felt the same. Here are some interesting facts about the science of how the weather can affect our moods from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and some simple things we can do…
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YMCA's $5.2 Million Inclusive Adaptive Sports Complex: Leading the Way for Inclusive Recreation
YMCA's $5.2 Million Inclusive Adaptive Sports Complex: Leading the Way for Inclusive Recreation Exciting news awaits South County as the YMCA prepares to unveil its groundbreaking $5.2 million inclusive adaptive sports complex this spring, 2024. This state-of-the-art facility promises to redefine sports and recreation,…
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Elevating Inclusion: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the Power of Brand Sponsorships
Elevating Inclusion: Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the Power of Brand Sponsorships The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games stand as a beacon of progress in a world where inclusivity is increasingly valued. A recent article from Adweek sheds light on a crucial aspect of this movement: brand sponsorships. Let's delve into how…
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Self-care and wellbeing
Self-care and wellbeing It can become so easy to neglect self-care and overall wellbeing when you get bogged down by doing what needs to be done to survive. You need self-care to thrive
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Super Bowl ASL Interpretation
The recent Super Bowl has upset the deaf community in many ways, mainly the lack of visibility of ASL performers pregame and halftime on national TV. To watch the full ASL version, deaf people must go to a special link to access it on a different device instead of using cable on their TV which is an awkward process…
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Accessibility technology to be trialled at Glasgow Airport: Open Inclusion
We have some exciting research at Glasgow Airport that's been featured in the news! The research project will examine how neurodiverse and deaf/hard-of-hearing passengers navigate Glasgow Airport and how accessible technology could help. The technology will hopefully be introduced at Glasgow Airport in the hopes of making…
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Exercise and POTS
Fellow POTSies, I have been trying to improve my stability, strength, and cardio fitness. A Physical therapist of mine had found this helpful program, that I wanted to share with others. I have had a positive experience with the rowing machine especially, as it is a full-body workout I can do while sitting down. Does…
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Elon Musk being Elon Musk
A recent Elon Musk’s tweet has upset the deaf community, see the screenshot below The deaf community has responded to Elon’s tweet explaining that ASL is very different from spoken English and that not every deaf person is proficient in English. Some people came to Elon Musk’s defense saying he has Asperger's.
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Winter preparedness tips
Winter preparedness tips As most of the country continues to deal with uncharacteristically low temperatures, here are some tips to remain warm and safe. The Independent Living Association published this article. If you are a wheelchair user. Many sites suggest having an emergency kit if stuck in hazardous conditions. Some…
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Google's Super Bowl Ad Champions Accessibility: Pixel Highway and Inclusivity in Technology
Google's Super Bowl Ad Champions Accessibility: Pixel Highway and Inclusivity in Technology Google's Super Bowl ad spotlighting the low vision mode in the Pixel Highway marks a pivotal moment in the tech industry's commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. This innovative feature utilizes AR and advanced image…
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Design Thinking Methodologies
I am an autistic/ADHD woman in the built environment/architectural profession. I have found the way in which we communicate with clients is not really catered towards our clients, but rather our architectural profession, impacting the information we receive from our clients. How can we make design thinking and the…
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Straws as an assistive technology
Recently the team at Open have had the pleasure of working with two major global beverage companies considering how disabled people buy, carry, open, consume and dispose of cans and bottles. This has provided so many fascinating insights into the design of beverage packaging and we have created some content to share with…
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Straws as an assistive technology
Recently the team at Open have had the pleasure of working with two major global beverage companies considering how disabled people buy, carry, open, consume and dispose of cans and bottles. This has provided so many fascinating insights into the design of beverage packaging and we have created some content to share with…
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Research into providing better customer experience for those with additional needs.
Hi, I my name is Tom. I am a student at De Montfort University Leicester studying a masters in digital design. We are working with Sainbury's to try and improve the customer experience. In specific we are trying to look at how we can improve the customer experience for those who might have additional needs when shopping in…
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Tax resources
Tax resources As the calendar flips to a new year, it signals that we have to get our financial houses in order. This is a challenge for everyone, but it can be incredibly challenging for those of us with disabilities. Here is a solid resource page from the national disability Institute. If you are a member of the deaf…
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What have you found to help you fall asleep with chronic pain and other symptoms?
I have dealt with insomnia my whole life, but when my chronic pain and POTS worsened, this worsened. I can have a tough time breathing depending on how I lay down and which position I am in can really spike my heart rate (which makes me feel similar to being overcaffeinated. Not fun to sleep!) I have found that sleeping…
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Stylish adaptive men's fashion
Stylish adaptive men's fashion Men's lifestyle and clothing brand Brooks Brothers has partnered with magnetic apparel MagnaReady to create the first adaptive shirt. The Brooks Brothers x MagnaReady shirt brings together Brooks Brothers' iconic button-down shirt with MagnaReady’s patented adaptive technology with magnetized…
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Booking holiday travel
Booking holiday travel The Holiday travel season is officially upon us. Last month, United Airlines announced a plan to make it easier for wheelchair users to book flights. United Airlines is improving the process with a new booking tool designed especially for wheelchair users. Beginning in early 2024, the airline is…
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The disabled tax affects all disabled people differently
The disabled tax affects all disabled people differently I often use the phrase “disability tax” to describe the hidden cost, both literally and figuratively, of living with a disability. This article from Business Insider does an excellent job illustrating this tax's tangible effects. Products and services disabled people…
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Disability as a Spectrum
The universe of individuals with disabilities is large, diverse and no two people experience our human condition in the same way. This can make the task of crafting public policies challenging. Let's consider one of the largest "measures" of disability data, which is contained within the U.S. Census bureau's American…
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Moving mood accessibility fashion experts
Found this really interesting company but shame it is so experience as an indiviual to access information on how make accessible clothes. https://movingmood.com/en/
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Trip of a lifetime to Greece and Italy
Thanks to my roommate, Jen, I was able to visit Greece (two weeks) and Italy (one week) in late September/early October. Some info about me. I am a 56 year old man who has cerebral palsy but is ambulatory. In Greece, we traveled all over and visited a winery, an olive grove, many ancient ruins and etc. We ate lots of…