Planning for the future is really about education of the possible resources that are available when they are needed. Assistive technology (AT) is equipment that helps perform activities of daily living and live more independently. This equipment can be big or small, complicated or simple but regardless of size is geared towards the individual's need(s).
Assistive technology can help you stay comfortably in your home during retirement by providing support in various aspects of daily life, including home automation, mobility aids, medication management, home safety, and communication aids.
What types of challenges can I expect to face in retirement? Who can advise me as to which assistive technologies will best help me now and in the future? Where can I get this equipment? These and other topics will be discussed by Mary Rodwell and Rebecca Patterson from Access to Independence Inc. and by Denise Jess from the Wisconsin Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Rebecca Patterson has been working as an independent Living Specialist at Access to Independence for several years during two different times. She started the first time in 2002 after receiving her MA in Psychology. One of the things she loves most about her job is that every day is unique. It leads to helping such a wide variety of people. One of her main interests at Access is with assistive technology. There is such a wide range of technology out there. Often there are easy solutions to overcome people’s challenges.
Mary Rodwell received her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2019. She has been working at Access to Independence since 2022. She is driven by faith, compassion, and the firm belief that every single person has an inalienable right to dignity and respect. She is a fierce advocate for disability rights. She is passionate about erasing the stigma that comes with having a disability, particularly in regard to mental health. She draws on her personal experiences living with both a neurological condition and mental health conditions to connect with and provide the highest level of care and service to those she interacts with.
Denise Jess has served as executive director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired since 2016. The Council’s mission is to promote the dignity and empowerment of Wisconsinites living with vision loss through advocacy, education and vision rehabilitation services. Denise is pleased to apply her diverse talents and her lived experience with vision loss toward achieving the Council’s mission and expanding its reach.
Serving with honor on multiple national, state and local commissions, committees and boards, Denise brings the perspectives of those living with vision loss into the mainstream. She advocates on issues ranging from transportation equity and pedestrian safety to website accessibility, disability voting rights, equitable health care access and employment equality. She believes that if we are to create truly inclusive communities, people with disabilities, including blindness, must have a seat at the table and be engaged in the dialogue.
If you have preliminary questions for the speaker, please send to Program Coordinator Jim Vannes at jjvannes@wisc.edu by Tuesday, March 7.
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 10, 2023.
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
NOTE: The weblink and virtual call information will be included in the meeting reminders registrants receive.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
