Mikelle and I feel compelled to write about life with a disability, not just the challenges but the opportunities, the friendships, the innovations, and the brilliance of our communities in action as we share our everyday life living with a disability. With a little more information, motivation, we hope to share how our life is shining beautiful and maybe help you to shine beautiful, too.
The Easy Power of Simple Business Cards
It’s a simple thing, a business card. Typically, most people carry them, especially if they are interested in working. Most people with disabilities don’t. Should they? As adults, part of the enculturation process into the world is to seek employment as a means for building a productive and meaningful
Texting With Words For Life And Text Plus App
What once looked like an expensive blank slate, void of the traditional programs typically loaded on desktop and laptop computers; Mikelle’s iPad has become populated with effective and inexpensive applications. After a somewhat lengthy discovery process, we have found two applications, which Brian Simms, her speech and language therapist, helped
iPad Accessories–The Otterbox Latch.
Brian Simms, Mikelle Learned and Otter Latch for iPad We love the iPad for augmenting Mikelle’s communication and entertainment needs. But, we had a problem. Mikelle wasn’t using it as effectively as we thought she could. After scratching our head, exploring simple, cheap ideas for stabilizing an iPad on a
The Truth Is…People with Disabilities Face Obstacles Everyday
The truth is when I woke up on Wednesday morning, the last thing I imagined I would do was push an elephant up a hill shortly after noon that same day. This story sounds funny when put like that, but in all reality it was a fairly straining experience both
The Gift of Great Friendship with Denver’s cbs4’s, Dominic Garcia
Watch out! Here comes Mikelle! No matter the setting, this woman knows how to make an entrance. I remember the first time I met her, it was back in 2005 at Rocky Mountain Village and I was brand new. She came speeding into the room and was immediately the
Dell Computers Films Mikelle Learned for New Assistive Technology Program
On a Thursday afternoon, a film crew hired by Dell Computers from Arts + Labor https://www.arts-and-labor.com located in Austin, Texas spilled into our living room to film Mikelle and a few other folks in Denver who are served by Rocky Mountain Human Services www.rockymountainhumanservices.org Dell is jumping into the
Josh Winkler–The Man to Go To for a Quick Fix
Sometimes the simplest of things can cause the biggest problems. Imagine yourself four wheeling it, casually cruising along the sidewalks of Denver. Okay, maybe if you count the tiny back wheels, it would be six wheeling it and your steering mechanism fails you. You crash. Look down and there is
Part 2, The Sweetest Thing. Using Indiegogo to help a Veteran.
Posted by Adriana Carlson After my brother Colton, lost his legs in Afghanistan, I desperately wanted to help any way I could. My mom flew out to Maryland to be his caregiver as he healed, and my little sister went with her. My two remaining siblings, my dad, and I
Leadership on the Move. Sometimes it is the small things which make a big difference for people with disabilities.
Update This is a re-post from our former Tango Community site. The story is about innovation and leadership and demonstrates the progress people can make given the right resources and supports. Everyone mentioned in this blog post has moved into new leadership opportunities and will have a powerful impact on
What if You Could—See What We Hear? 21st Century solutions for people who experience hearing loss.
Posted by: Sally Richards Media Marketing Consultant 20/20 Captioning and Reporting SRichards2020@aol.com https://www.2020captioning.com/ Imagine for a moment, the soft sounds from the hum of car, hoo hoo from a morning dove, crinkle-crinkle of leaves and splish-splash walking through a puddle. . Sounds are often taken for granted when one is
Think Before You Buy! What You Need to Know before You Get an iPad for your Child with Special Needs
By Brian Simms (Mikelle’s AT Guy!) Colorado Therapy Associates My grandfather always said, “When all else fails…think.” That’s what he told his high school chemistry students up until he retired at the age of 75 and I am reminded of that everyday when I see it written on his desk
Broncos and Boys, Celebrating Friendship Part 2
Well, the Part 2 didn’t go as planned. The Denver Broncos changed the time of training camp from afternoon to morning practice due to the threat of thunderous storms tumbling over the Rocky Mountains. Bummer. Disappointed by not deterred. Mikelle, Ian, Jerome and I were set to go. Her boys