Author: Jillesa Shotts

May 21, 2025

Color Me Impressed! How Paint Colors Impact People with Disabilities.

Are you renovating a meeting or office space? Do you plan on helping someone refresh their room with a new coat of paint? Maybe you are assisting someone with a disability move into their new home. Something as simple as wall color can greatly impact the mood and feeling of a room. We all understand how daunting it can be...

Categories General

May 14, 2025

Able News: For, By, and About People with Disabilities

You’ve heard it said ‘information is power.’ Able News at The Viscardi Center stands as a vital information resource for the disability community. It launched with the foundational mission to provide news for, by, and about people with disabilities. Able News has become a trusted source of information and advocacy. A Digital Hub for Disability News Able News at The...

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April 30, 2025

Shake it Up! Spices from Max Mix

The topic of inclusion, employment for all, and spices reminds me of this adage. “Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.”  – William Cowper, The Task (1785) Aren’t you glad this world, people, and life itself isn’t boring!?! Food can be so flavorful, especially when complimented with seasonings and spices. With our Holiday Shopping...

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April 2, 2025

A Penny Saved is a Penny Learned

Finances in Everyday Life Do you ever find yourself singing along to ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money”? While we don’t want to forget that the most meaningful and beautiful things in life are not things at all, we all know that finances are an important topic. We ask financial questions every day. To buy the latte or not? Buy lunch out...

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March 26, 2025

Here Comes the Sun! The Sunflower Reveals Hidden Disabilities

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: A Symbol of Inclusion The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple yet powerful tool. Wearing the Sunflower is a way people with non-visible disabilities can discreetly signal that they may need extra support. It might allow others in public spaces like stores, transport, and workplaces to recognize the wearer might need more understanding or time. For...

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February 12, 2025

Looking for Love? Try Dateability

“Faint heart never won fair lady/maiden.” This old proverb first showed up somewhere in the early 1500s according to Google. The fact that we still hear it today shows that humanity continues to relate to this sentiment. In other words, love takes courage. It takes a lot to put oneself out there. You must be vulnerable and real. You need...

Categories General/Resources

December 11, 2024

Sensational Socks and Stories that Sweep the Nation

I’ve known about John’s Crazy Socks for some years now. Every time we (HCQU team) opened an order to add socks to a conference raffle basket or a Direct Support Professional appreciation bundle, it felt like Christmas. The large variety of cute, funny, quirky socks to tickle your toes has impressed me. With thousands of designs, John’s Crazy Socks is...

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November 20, 2024

Change: Inclusive Cafe Has So Much to Give in Accessibility

Accessibility and inclusion. These two words are major hot button topics. On one hand we talk about it all day everyday that it seems like as a field and culture that we must have made great strides towards accessibility and inclusion. We have enjoyed some major wins over the last few decades. Think about parking spaces, larger bathrooms, more places...

Categories Employment/General

November 6, 2024

More than a Story: Turning to the Next Chapter

Are you an avid reader like me? Do you know someone who loves stories and sharing what they just read? Still, others out there I bet love tales of heroes and adventures, even if they can’t read. I think literature is such a gift. That’s why I’m excited to share about this world-wide book club. Aptly named Next Chapter Book...

Categories Everyday Life/Resources

November 1, 2024

That Time of Year! Holiday Shopping Guide is Here!

Milestone HCQU West is excited to present our second annual Holiday Shopping Guide. This digital publication features small businesses owned and operated and products created by people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and Autism. We haven’t found them all but we happily share what we found across the map. Notice that the companies listed link to their respective websites. You can click...

Categories General