Milestone HCQU West Blog

February 21, 2024

iPad Lending Program Teams Up With Assistive Technology Coordinator of Tech OWL

At the HCQU we have some exciting news! You may be aware of the fact that we have an iPad lending program, where a request to borrow an iPad can be made through supports coordination for self-advocates. This FREE service is available to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who reside in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer,...

General/Resources/Technology

February 14, 2024

Love the Community, Raise Employment Opportunities: Luv Michael

Work, work, work. We all have to do it. But do you ever consider that you get to work? You get to wake up and go. You get to serve with whatever capabilities, skills, and education you have. Not everyone has that privilege. Or rather than privilege, is it a basic human right? So often our community takes for granted...

General

February 7, 2024

The Anticholinergic Burden Calculator: What is the fall risk?

Did you know…42% of older adults take 5 or more prescription medications. According to Lown Institute, nearly 20% take 10 drugs or more medications daily. Unfortunately, older people are prescribed multiple medications. Many of these medications that are prescribed have anticholinergic properties. Anticholinergics are drugs that block the action of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter, or a chemical messenger. It...

Resources

January 31, 2024

How to Dance in Ohio: An Insight into Autism

How to Dance in Ohio isn’t what you might think it is based on the title alone. It is a new Broadway musical showing right now. What makes this musical different from others is that it stars seven actors with Autism. This Broadway show is based on a true story from an award-winning documentary that aired on HBO. It is...

Community/General

January 24, 2024

It Starts with Special

How do you define special? Do you look at the word positively or negatively? Why is it that we use words to hurt and minimalize people? As you may know, Special Olympics campaigned against the “R” word several years ago as people with intellectual disabilities spoke out about how the word had been used to bully, abuse, and hurt people....

General/Resources

January 17, 2024

Popcorn for the People

Popcorn is a favorite snack for many people, especially if they are watching a movie! I love a big bowl of popcorn covered in melted butter and salt. How about you? I read an article about an NFL team who is introducing a popcorn stand at their stadium for the 2023 football season. This popcorn stand is different from others...

Community/General

January 10, 2024

Finding the Pathways to Justice Together

I have been on a journey to find ways in which we, as a system, can better support those who have been a victim of crimes or may have engaged in criminal behavior. This means I am always on the lookout for resources. I recently came across The Arc’s initiative is called Pathways to Justice. This initiative is through The...

General/Resources

January 3, 2024

Muhammad Ali – Consider and Commit to Others

“I’ve wrestled with alligators; I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning and throw thunder in jail. You know I’m bad. Just last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick. I’m so mean, I make medicine sick.” Muhammad Ali I remember Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Flame in Atlanta. I saw an older gentleman, visibly...

Community

December 27, 2023

iCanConnect

Talking on the phone or working on a computer can be difficult for someone who has minimal hearing and/or vision loss, but what about someone who has significant hearing and/or vision loss? Do you support someone with that diagnosis? If you answered “yes” then you will want to read on. I have good news! There is help, but you have...

General/Technology

December 20, 2023

RODS Heroes Gives Voice to the Voiceless

An amazing organization helping every child hero get a family. I recently came across an organization called RODS Heroes, which helps hero children with special abilities come home to loving families. This amazing organization described what they do in this heartful paragraph on their website. “RODS Heroes inspires families to answer the call to adopt a child with special abilities...