SimplyHome: Empowered by Technology

04/08/2026

Needing some tips?

"Instead of k***s and small pulls, which require grip strength, wide handles are much easier to grab and pull for those with limited strength or arthritis."

Check out other tips in the article below.

If you're planning to build a new home for aging in place, here are the design features you'll regret when you're older, and what you should do instead.

04/07/2026

Mark your calendars! Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host “Signs of Spring” on April 18 from 9 am to 4 pm in Cades Cove. The event invites visitors to explore the park alongside rangers and members of the Deaf community in celebration of National American Sign Language Day.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the Smokies from park rangers and members of the Deaf community.

04/06/2026

With new updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act set to take effect at the end of April, public institutions will be required to meet clearer accessibility standards. Learn how two students describe ongoing challenges with inaccessible course materials at their university.

Higher education is especially reliant on computers and phones, but accessibility for people with disabilities has often been forgotten. A new federal rule could change that.

04/03/2026

03/31/2026

Do you qualify for a free National Parks Access Pass?

The National Parks Access Pass waives entrance fees for medically eligible U.S. citizens and residents to all 433 sites managed by the National Park Service. According to the article below, people with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, as well as people who are blind or deaf, are covered.

Learn about the National Parks Access Pass for people with permanent disabilities, including how chronic conditions like diabetes qualify for a lifetime pass.

03/30/2026

Max Crawford, 22, started Max Mix Gourmet Spice Blends — a seasoning blend business that's now sold in 150 Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest.

This 22-year-old JoCo entrepreneur is turning spice blends into a growing business and a path to independence.

03/25/2026

The Arc of North Carolina is happy to announce that Wings for All will be landing at the Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT) on May 2nd, 2026!

Event registration: https://fs30.formsite.com/wingsforautism/mkne3lolkc/index

Wings for All® is an airport rehearsal program designed specifically for individuals with Autism or other intellectual disabilities. Families are given the opportunity to practice all steps involved in air travel including: entering the airport, obtaining a boarding card, going through TSA security, and boarding a real plane (that does not take off).

This event is free to families, but pre-registration is required as space is limited. For more information, check out the Wings program website at thearc.org/wings or contact Mikayla Robins at mrobins@arcnc.org.

03/25/2026

After a multiyear collaboration with individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities, one of the world's largest footwear companies is rolling out a shoe designed to specifically meet their needs.

03/19/2026

Can rock climbing classes help students with disabilities regain support they lost during the pandemic? Pittsburgh Public Schools is using rock climbing as part of its effort to help students with disabilities rebuild access to those supports.

School districts across the country are working to help students with disabilities make up for the supports they lost access to during the pandemic. In Pittsburgh, those efforts include rock climbing.

03/19/2026

Many airports will soon be required to provide changing tables for adults with disabilities. Now federal officials are looking for input on how to go about implementing the new mandate.

03/16/2026

Did you know nearly half of adults with disabilities live in households where someone has been involved in a court case, according to a recent national poll by The Pew Charitable Trusts?

Learn more about what the data reveals and why researchers say this matters for accessibility in the justice system.

Nearly half of adults with disabilities live in households in which someone has been involved in a court case, according to a recent national poll by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This is the first known data on the prevalence of this population’s court interaction, which is significantly higher than...

03/12/2026

Major companies like Starbucks, Walmart, and CVS are working with disability advocates through The Access Coalition to make retail spaces more inclusive. Their new playbook outlines practical ways businesses can go beyond ADA requirements and create spaces that work better for everyone.

Advocates are working with some of the nation's most recognizable companies in an effort to increase disability access in retail spaces.