Virtual Ability

Friday, March 21, 2025

Why is March 21 World Down Syndrome Day?

Human DNA consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes… for most people. People with Down Syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome, making 3 copies not 2. Therefore, the awareness day for Down Syndrome is March (3rd month) 21, to signify the third 21st chromosome. On March 21, join the "Lots of Socks” campaign. Wear your craziest or mismatched socks to engage people in conversations about Down Syndrome. Here are some Down Syndrome sock sources:

People with Down Syndrome have a wide range of physical and mental capabilities, and must deal with a large ombre of health and life challenges. It is important to not stereotype this diverse group of individuals.

To learn more about Down Syndrome:

Down Syndrome International https://www.ds-int.org/
(US) National Down Syndrome Society https://ndss.org/
(UK) Down’s Syndrome Association https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/
Canadian Down Syndrome Society https://cdss.ca/
Down Syndrome Australia https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Reasonable accommodation at work?

The ADA explains that your employer must give you reasonable accommodations unless that would pose an undoable hardship. Most accommodations are obvious and are cheap or free to implement. You don't have to accept the first accommodation your employer offers, if it doesn't work for you. But sometimes you and your employer can't seem to find a good accommodation. What can you do then?

It will help to look at the accommodations you have already tried, to see why they would not work. Brainstorming potential accommodations with an outside resource, such as JAN, Vocational Rehabilitation, or a job coach may turn up additional possibilities. Maybe it’s time to do a trial accommodation with one of their suggestions.

Another option if you can’t be accommodated in your present job, a possible solution would be reassignment to a vacant job, or the creation of an entirely new job.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Quinoa is the March Grain of the Month

The Whole Grains Council has declared QUINOA to be the grain of the month of March.

Quinoa is not as well-known as other grains. It is a native of the Andes in South America, and it isn’t even really a grain! It is considered a pseudo grain, a member of the same plant family as spinach and Swiss chard. Pseudo grains are similar in nutrition and culinary use to true grains.

Quinoa is a very diverse plant, making it adaptable to a wide range of cultivation environments. It grows best, though, in cooler high-altitude environments. A major crop in the time of the Incas and an important food for poor communities up to the present century, quinoa is now mainly produced by small farmers and growing associations in Peru and Bolivia. The UN declared 2013 the International Year of Quinoa to celebrate recognition of its potential to improve worldwide health.

Quinoa is a tall plant; it can become up to nine feet (almost 3 meters) tall! The seeds of quinoa come in a variety of colors, including white, red, and black. Since the seeds mature at different rates, harvesting is done by hand, a labor-intensive process. Mechanized harvesting of quinoa is difficult. During processing before packaging, quinoa seeds are rinsed to remove the bitter-tasting saponincoating that protects the plant from insect pests.

Quinoa is one of few plant foods that provides complete protein. It offers all nine essential amino acids. It is rich in antioxidants and helps you feel fuller for a longer time. Quinoa also has a very high ratio of protein to carbohydrate in its germ; protein is about sixty percent of the germ in quinoa, while only about three percent in wheat. And quinoa is gluten-free, a boon for people with celiac disease.

Quinoa seeds are generally washed in a sieve before being boiled. Each cup of raw quinoa seeds will turn into about 3 cups when boiled for 12-15 minutes. Cooked quinoa is chewy, and has a slightly nutty flavor. It is often used as the base for both warm and cold salads, and is common in Latin American recipes.

Monday, March 3, 2025

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for March 2025

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits in Second Life using the SLURLs in this posting. While there, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24