Minnesota-NEAT

Are you a parent with a disability?

A pilot project is being done with Tech4Home that’s here to support!

April is Autism Awareness Month, also known as Autism Acceptance Month! It is a dedicated time to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and advocate for the rights of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. It is a spectrum disorder, which means individuals with autism may exhibit a wide range of abilities, strengths, challenges, and care needs. Autism affects people of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with autism.

Autism Acceptance Month emphasizes the beauty of neurodiversity, recognizing that processing information differently contributes to the richness of our communities. It highlights the unique strengths and challenges of individuals with autism and serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to be included and valued. Finally, it empowers individuals with autism to live fulfilling lives and it reinforces the need for ongoing support and resources to equip them.

We’re honored to celebrate Autism Awareness Month to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion, and to foster a more compassionate and supportive society for individuals with autism and their families.

Join us for a webinar at 10:30 am CT!

Off the Shelf Options for Home Automation

As we approach the holiday season, give the gift of home automation to your loved ones that actually works. Buying off the shelf items is easy, but understanding how they work together, how they connect, how the apps work, etc. can be overwhelming and sometime seem impossible. This webinar will not only cover ideas for home automation equipment, but will also talk about how to properly use it and set it up.
Hear from experts who work directly with Assistive Technology to help make homes accessible and smart. Learn about alternate options if you are working with a limited budget, or if you don't have reliable internet coverage. Finally, understand how DHS approves the use of smart home technology to allow individuals environmental control and access.
Click on this link at the time of the webinar to join live:

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“Three wheelchair users who regularly mush — Rodney Higgins, Don Wheeler and Jared Fenstermacher — have their own unique approaches to the sport, but they share a common message: Wheelchair dog mushing is a hell of a lot of fun.”

Wheelchair Mushing is More than a Free Ride Three wheelchair users explain how to get mushing with your dogs.

In order to highlight everyone’s employment journey and share resources for employers and employees, the ADA National Network invites you to join them on Wednesday, October 26th, 12 PM CT for an ADA National Network Twitter Chat on Employment and the ADA. These chats are a great opportunity to connect with other individuals, organizations, and groups in the disability community and get information about common ADA questions.

Visit the event page to learn more about how to participate in Twitter Chats: https://adata.org/event/employment-and-ada-twitter-chat

With service dog by her side, Texas teen with epilepsy, autism wins Miss Dallas pageant The pageant newcomer said her whole goal was to be present with her service dog and “show people that you can do it with a disability.”

Our Technology for Healthy Aging webinar recording is up!

Tech for Healthy Aging MN NEAT and DHS cover technology to help individuals as they age. Learn about assistive technology options (including wearable tech) that can help maximize s...

A great first step has been announced in smart home product compatibility!

Matter 1.0 has been announced. Matter is a standard that makes smart home products work together.
Full article here:

The Apple, Google, and Amazon-backed smart home standard Matter has arrived. So what’s next? Matter-branded devices could be available as soon as this month

Meet a very valued member of the MN-NEAT team, Sheri Cooke!

Sheri is the APT-Assistive Technology Division Lead at Lighthouse Center for Vital Living in Duluth, MN. (Yes we meet virtually throughout all of MN!)

What's Sheri's favorite part of MN-NEAT?

"I love being a part of this group. This is a very dedicated, professional group of people that love assisting others live their best lives."

Looking for remote supervision options in your own home?

Check out our recorded webinar on Alternative Overnight Supervision FAQ with MN DHS and MN-NEAT!

Alternative Overnight Supervision - FAQ with MN DHS and MN-NEAT Remote Support specialists, Residential Providers, and Minnesota DHS presented about using technology for alternative overnight supervision. Hear from the ex...

Meet Kit, our MN-NEAT Vice - Chair of the Board!

Why does Kit like being a part of MN-NEAT?

"I want to allow everyone the dignity of independence. We all have areas that we specialize in. We (MN-NEAT) need each other so we can quickly get people the supports we need."

Thanks for being a part of the team, Kit 🙌

Yes 👏👏

"We can fly through space. We can walk on the moon. Let's go on. We can make our world accessible too."
- Eva Westerhoff

Member Spotlight!

Meet Alaina Gallagher, MN-NEAT Chair & CRO at Dose Health.

Why does Alaina love being a member of MN-NEAT?

"I love participating in MN NEAT for so many reasons. It’s such a great group, made up of exceptional people who truly want to help others succeed and live their best lives. I’m always blown away by how willing everyone is to volunteer their time to share their knowledge and experiences. Not only do we get the opportunity to learn about and educate others on Assistive Technology, but we also get to laugh and have fun while doing it. All around, this group is amazing and I am thankful for it every day!"

Mark your calendars!

Our next webinar: Technology to Help with Young Adult Transitions

Date: May 15, 2022 10AM-11:30AM

Location: VIRTUAL

More info: https://mn-neat.org/events
Link to join: https://msteams.link/HMVY

The Accessible Gaming webinar is up!

Watch it here: https://mn-neat.org/tech-webinars

Did you know you can create visual cues at home with automated lighting?

- signal routine start & end times
- give visual rather than (or addition to) verbal cues
- Build greater interdependence at home

Ideas for cues:
- dim lights at bedtime
- brighten lights in the morning
- change light color to signal a new activity or part of the day!

Learn to create lighting routines: https://bit.ly/lightroutines

Disability Inclusion is NOT about ADA compliance. It is about creating EQUITABLE experiences.

The Autism Society of Minnesota is working to improve the accessibility of disability services in Minnesota.

If you have a story you'd like to share, email [email protected]

Register for our upcoming ADA Audio session, "The Intersection of Race and Disability" with Timotheus “T.J.” Gordon, Jr. This session will look at the experience of people of color who have disabilities.
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
Register at: https://bit.ly/3ow4WP7

Thank you to everyone who attended & presented at Accessible Gaming today!

Our Accessible Gaming webinar is tomorrow!

Join us from 10-12 CT this Wednesday to learn about accessible gaming + building strong & safe gaming communities 🎮

https://mn-neat.org/events

We’ll also be sharing assistive tech available from MN STAR Program’s lending library!

Do you or someone you know like to game, but struggle with accessibility? Join Minnesota-NEAT and The AbleGamers Foundation for a webinar, Wednesday, February 9th from 10am to 12pm. Click the link below for more information and the link to join
https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=DHS-334192
[Image of accessible gaming tools]

How I measure as a blind woodworker! #accessibility #blind John Furniss () has created a short video on TikTok with music original sound. | How I measure as a blind woodworker!