Products

Leafi Nova Makes Blinds Accessible at an Affordable Price

Leafi has released a device that converts horizontal tilt-wand blinds into smart blinds in minutes, providing a cost-effective, simple alternative to most automated blinds on the market. Though designed as a mass-consumer product, the automated system offers accessibility benefits to wheelchair users with limited grip strength and those who can’t easily reach the wand due to height or furniture placement.  

Make Cooking Easier with the Thermomix

If you didn’t see it in our recent Health and Wellness newsletter, check out this video from Joanne Smith showcasing how she cooks with limited grip using the Thermomix multicooker. Though it’s pricey, Smith says the ability to easily and quickly try recipes she’d never otherwise attempt makes Thermomix a worthy investment.

Travel

An Accessible 48 Hours in Honolulu

If Hawaii is on your bucket list, travel writer Sylvia Longmire says that it’s hard to beat Honolulu for overall accessibility and ease of travel. She shows you around her favorite accessible activities, including going to the beach, seeing the island via a lift-equipped helicopter and enjoying a traditional Hawaiian luau.

Recreation

Pickleball is Scoring Points with Wheelchair Users

Pickleball started taking over America during the pandemic, and this pint-sized paddle sport is attracting a growing number of wheelchair users. Quad Cheryl Angelelli tries it out and finds that the smaller court, light paddles and ease of getting the ball over the net make Pickleball a particularly fun and accessible sport for wheelchair users.

Pro Tips

Failure is a Chance to Grow: Lessons from 35 Years as a Disabled Farmer

Decades ago, Tim Gilmer took a big risk: He and his wife purchased a small farm with no prior farming experience. The resulting struggles — including everything from paralyzed cows, to failed crops and learning when to let go — taught him some valuable lessons. “We only get a handful of opportunities for real growth that come our way in our lifetimes. Fear not. Take the risk,” he writes. “The gamble is not about winning or losing, succeeding or failing. It’s about doing the best you can and growing in the process.”