WHYY News is looking to cover stories from a variety of regions, including Philly and the Pennsylvania suburbs, South Jersey, and Delaware. They are asking for suggestions on what topics or events their reporters should cover in these areas.
One recent development worth covering is the opening of TechOWL, a new community space at Temple University’s Morgan Hall on Cecil Moore Avenue. This space offers people with disabilities access to high-tech devices to aid in their mobility, vision, voice, or even help them play video games. The 2,227-square-foot facility is part of Temple’s Institute on Disabilities in the College of Education and Human Development and also provides 3D printing technology to create assistive devices.
The creation of TechOWL was made possible by a $500,000 grant from the state Department of Education, supported by State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and State Sen. Tina Tartaglione, who has personal experience with disability due to a boating accident in 2003. Executive Director of the Institute of Disabilities, Sally Gould-Taylor, expressed gratitude for the grant and the opportunity to continue advocating for individuals with disabilities since 1974.
The TechOWL Community Space held a grand opening on April 18, drawing a large crowd. The space is open to the public and is designed to be fully accessible with barrier-free entrances and accessible restrooms. Gould-Taylor hopes that this space will become a central hub for learning and community building for people with disabilities across Pennsylvania.