“A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.” - Joyce Meyer Are you a struggling artist? Do you ponder the merits of various types of pencils while endlessly wandering the isles in the funky art store in your city or town? No? Then perhaps you are like me and the thought of drawing anything more complicated than a stick figure is distressing! Whether or not artistic talents are running through your veins like for my daughter and sister, and well, millions of others, pencils and pens are so ubiquitous most of us don’t think about them. That is, until you need one and they have all disappeared from the face of the planet, right?
Jean Des Roches
Program Director
Assistive Technology
"My name is Jean Des Roches, I am the Assistive Technology (AT) Assistant Vice President for Seven Hills Foundation. I invite you to access helpful tips, tools, information and resources as I share them here."
Why AT?
Assistive technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they may have difficulty accomplishing.
Assistive technology, or AT for short - is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities. AT helps by providing enhancements to the methods we use to accomplish tasks and goals.
Seven Hills is committed to enhancing the education, communication, recreation, and social opportunities of individuals we support. This work is enhanced by our increasing ability to provide access to Assistive Technology through secured funding from private and corporate grants, individuals and through the generosity of our funding partners.
Thanks to grant funding, Seven Hills has been able to purchase, configure and deploy an impressive amount of vital technology across our various programs.
Recover, Refurbish, and Reap the Rewards!
By Jean Des Roches, AT Program Director
OK – on a scale of 1 to 10, what kind of recycler are you? (1 being “I have no idea what you are talking about?” and 10 being “I am going to stand over you and wait to see what you do with that paper coffee cup when you are finished.”) It is hard to be objective and judge oneself on one’s own behavior, and like most things, there is a range of acceptable choices for sure. I am good at recycling certain things like newspaper, milk cartons, and water bottles. (Oh dear, did I just admit to buying bottled water!?)
Honey, have you seen my keys?
By Jean Des Roches, AT Program Director
I know I put them on the kitchen table; I did, so if they are not there, someone must have moved them. I know I put them there, right there, on the kitchen table. I don’t have to tell you I was shocked when I eventually found them in a pocket, in my purse. But, I KNEW I had left them on the table! Hadn’t I? How did that happen? It is at times like these we all start to fear that the everyday memory issues we all have might really be the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.