As a company that works to provide dignified solutions for independent living, SimplyHome has endorsed and stands by The Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access Declaration. This is a document that expresses commitment to the equal rights of people with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access. Cognitive disabilities include intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, severe and persistent mental illness, brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. A majority of people with cognitive disabilities do not have much, if any, access to comprehensive information and technology used for communication.

The Declaration encourages “Ensuring access to technology and information for the 28 million people with cognitive disabilities in the United States will create new markets and employment opportunities; decrease dependency on public services; reduce healthcare costs; and improve the independence, productivity, and quality of life of people with cognitive disabilities.”

With our clients as our first priority, we stand by the declaration in an effort to provide the most innovative solutions for people to be able to communicate and access information in ways that they have not been able to before. Enabling our clients to stay at home for as long as possible and providing peace of mind for caretakers, we are committed to continue to create the most personalized ways for people to access information and communicate.

An example of how we continue to do this is Zachary Winstead. Zachary, 14, has access to technology through the North Carolina Innovations Waiver and has been able to experience life in a new, more advanced way with the help of SimplyHome’s environmental control system. Through his iPad, Zachary can open and close doors, control the lighting as well as the television with a simple slide of a finger. This has allowed a new independence for him as well as for his mother who is the primary caretaker of three children, two of which have special needs.

“We are committed to helping families like the Winsteads find new solutions and new outcomes for everyday tasks that are unique to each situation. That is important to us and is stated wonderfully through the Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access Declaration,” said Allen Ray, SimplyHome CEO.

A second example of SimplyHome’s commitment to providing technology to all people is the partnership with Eblen Charities in order to provide refurbished systems to those who need our technology but may not have the funds to purchase it. It is crucial that all people have the opportunity to access technology that will ease their living and create a new sense of freedom for not only the individual who needs it, but also for their caretakers.

By signing the Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access Declaration, SimplyHome has confirmed “the commitment to equal rights of people with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access and we call for implementations of these rights with deliberate speed. “

Click here to check out a video about why this Declaration is important

Click here to endorse this Declaration.