Live, Laugh, Enable!

Ultimate Hacking Keyboard on Crowdsupply

Crowdfunder aimed at programmers but this could help many disabled people. It has completely reprogrammable keys for gaming, coding and using hot keys.  Being able to mount the keyboard in halves so they’re beside your hips instead of needing to lift your arms might also make it a lot easier to type for some people.

More from their page:

“The keyboard for professionals.

Increase your productivity by never leaving the home row.

Improve your posture by typing on two, separate keyboard halves.

Remap your keys in any way you want.

Experience how a keyboard can be different, yet familiar.

The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is a split mechanical keyboard which utilizes Cherry MX-style switches. It’s also a fully programmable keyboard which can be vastly customized for your needs. If you need a compact, ergonomic keyboard or are looking for the perfect programming keyboard, look no further!

Increased Ergonomics

Two keyboard halves result in a more natural typing posture - rather than forcing your wrists to adapt to a straight keyboard, you can adjust your keyboard so that your wrists are straight. The halves are connected by a bridge cable which expands and shrinks as needed, occupying minimal desk space.

The halves connect together securely as one piece, which is useful for transportation purposes or if you happen to prefer a one-piece keyboard.

When connected, you can unplug the bridge cable since there are connectors right between the halves that firmly mate upon connection.

Improved Productivity

For maximum touch-typing productivity, you should never leave the home row. Most keyboards have their keys arranged into various blocks, forcing you to leave the home row quite often to access navigation and function keys. The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, as you will see below, solves this problem with layers.

Thanks to the compact design, reaching the mouse is also faster, as your hands only need to travel the minimum distance required.

Built to Last

High-end mechanical key-switches are used for a flawless typing experience. Unlike the switches of regular keyboards, these provide a satisfying tactile feel. They endure not 5 but 50 million keystrokes, do not degrade over their lifetime, and are replaceable.

The halves are connected by precision-machined, hardened-steel guides mounted to the stainless steel plates that form the endoskeleton of the keyboard. These guides, combined with a pair of neodymium magnets, not only result in a smooth connect/split experience but also create supreme durability.”

Check out the main page for videos and tech details.

NYFW

The development of antimalarial drugs is fascinating – it is often driven by war and conquest. When human beings got busy trying to kill each other (during the era of colonial expansion, WWII, the Vietnam War), they often found themselves face to face with an even deadlier foe. 

Check out my animation that explores this incredible history.

THE JOB HUNT POST

Another OT student on tumblr, who happened to be in the year above me at my school, once wrote me a long message explaining how she tackled the hunt (a lot of my technique ought to be credited to her, actually!!) and I found it super helpful. I hope you do too!! :) :) :)

1. Get a system of folders going and an excel spreadsheet or word chart. How I organized it: Each folder will be a company. Save a copy of your basic resume and cover letter into each folder and then open up your resume (now saved in company x folder) and write it so it is tailored to company x. The excel sheet keeps track of job posting info, date of posting, application due date, and whether or not you ended up applying.

2. Get help with your resume and cover letter. Do not be too proud to send it to basically every person you might think will help you. Check out what services your school offers and take advantage. Get opinions from people outside the field too (although take these with a grain of salt). Get actual feedback, not just blind corrections and edits. And be smart about who you ask; one specific edit for the job of your dream can be better than a general edit…but tbh you’ll probably want both.

3. THE HUNT

3.1 THE INTERNET: Unfortunately, I’m from canada, but basically, I used: local hospital websites directly, indeed.ca, wowjobs.ca, and the biggest secret weapon - CHARITYVILLAGE.CA. Listen up Canadian OTs interested in working in non traditional settings…get on charity village. I did a quick search for an American version and found this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/03/25/the-7-top-websites-for-nonprofit-jobs/ Personally I tracked the terms: mental health, housing, and occupational therapy, and checked about once a week. Pragmatically: Let’s say I spent 2 days a week on the hunt, day one was saving listings into excel and day two was customizing the resume/cover.

3.2 NETWORK: informational interviews are where you pick the person whose job you want and tell them you think they’re awesome and would they be willing to talk to you about their work. Never mention you are looking for work in these interviews- the topic will come up if the interview goes well. Reach out and keep in touch with all your preceptors. Doesn’t hurt to keep in touch with social workers, PTs, nurses etc you meet on placement and previous employers too.

3.3 BE CREATIVE: Over the last two years (I kind of job hunted while in school, just to see), I have seen so many more jobs open up to MScOT’s specifically, especially positions that used to only ask for nursing and social work backgrounds. If there aren’t a lot of jobs asking for OT specifically in your local area, get creative! I have no doubt that it was the classes that graduated a few years before mine that hustled and showed companies what OT can offer in mental health, case managing, research, disability managers in corporate, community care, developmental disability housing etc…And that won’t change unless you try.

4. Strategize for the big picture. Now you have your system going…start thinking long term. What’s gonna make you happy? Staying in a certain part of the city and working any random Job? Or moving to get the dream job? Or staying in the city you love and volunteering in the field until your dream job comes up? Can you afford to chase your dream or will you have to take the first job that comes up? I’m an exceptional nerd so I actually sat and wrote personal mission, vision and values statements and then a 6mos, 1 year, and 5 year plan, treating myself like a company. For me, I knew I could live for 6 months with my part time job, but if I didn’t find work in my home town, I would broaden my search to other cities at the 6 month mark.

5. Be proactive, but figure out when your stress is helpful and when it’s unhealthy E.g it’s good to be so stressed that you reach out to your contacts in the field and find names of hiring managers, go on informational interviews etc. But when you start stressing about things outside your control like, did they get my email, will they respond to me today, etc, it’s not helpful. At least that’s what I found. Striking that balance is tough, not gonna lie, cuz you’re gonna want to do as much as you can, but there are some times when you have to let go and realize you will have to just chill for while you wait for a response.

6. Don’t give up. Keep going!!! It’s a tough market out there. OT yourself! Break down the task of job searching, treat yourself to free stuff (Like free yoga classes and stuff like that haha), practice positive self talk, and if you can afford to participate in a volunteer position, I highly recommend doing it - for me, volunteer work was a really helpful motivator and reminder that I want to work in this field.