
iPads and tablets have become more widely used in our everyday lives and have provided an essential means of communication, and are used for education and entertainment for people of all ages. We work with many people who need to be able to take pictures of text and have it read back to them through…

I make no secret of the fact that I love connecting with other organizations and entities whose mission it is to assist people with disabilities, and Amy Osvold from ND Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) is someone I respect. She is an excellent resource when I need help with clients with sight loss or…

As we head back into the barely-charted waters of educating our children during COVID times, it’s good to remind ourselves that there are many, many assistive technology buoys out there that can help us avoid some of those big underwater rocks and keep on sailing. In this blog, you’ll find a compilation of assistive technology…

Although the development of assistive technology (AT) started much earlier, the field of AT, in my opinion, did not really come into the public eye until the 80s, which is when I first learned about it in college. The year 2020 marks the 32nd anniversary of the Assistive Technology Act, the 30th Anniversary of the…

Since 2003, ND Assistive has administered the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Services (TEDS), also known as the Specialized Telephone Program for the State of North Dakota. ND Assistive contracts with the ND Department of Human Services, Aging Services Division, to implement TEDS. The funds for equipment, client services, and administration for TEDS are provided through a…

Maintaining connection to our loved ones is crucial to combating the feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression, and anxiety that have arrived hand-in-hand with the COVID-19 pandemic. As public health officials warn us to avoid in-person contact, nursing homes and assisted living facilities have shuttered their doors to visitors and residents are remaining in their rooms,…

Candy Lien (former employee from ND Vision Services/School for the Blind) recently wrote an article for the ND Association of the Blind’s newsletter, and she agreed to allow us to use it for this blog. Candy describes her experience with the new Blind Shell Classic phone and I thought it would be beneficial for our…