Author: TECH

Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty ImagesAt the start of 2025, during President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office, lawmakers pushed forward with last-minute major legislation that provides Social Security benefit increases to certain public pensioners.The Social Security Fairness Act was passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate, and Biden signed it into law on Jan. 5, 2025.Now, several senators are calling on the Social Security Administration to reconsider what they say is a flaw in the law’s implementation: retroactive payments limited to six months rather than one year for certain beneficiaries.The Social Security Fairness…

The rules of digital delivery have been rewritten. AI now shapes how digital experiences are designed, built and shipped. Portfolios are expanding. Websites, apps, documents and interfaces multiply faster than teams can manually govern. Every touchpoint now carries operational weight; each can introduce friction, risk or failure.   At scale, digital accessibility is a dependency. When it fails, it fails late – after sign-off, after build, right before launch, or worse, when it disrupts a user’s experience.   Campaigns pause. Costs spike. Momentum stalls.   Tightening regulations raise the stakes. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) now attaches concrete consequences to inaccessible…

As my family and I were not eligible for the DFG, we paid for the adaptations ourselves, to the tune of around £24,000, by taking out a bank loan. Had we been able to buy a wheelchair-user home from the outset we could have avoided the stress and cost of major adaptations, as it would have met my access requirements as well as those of future generations of disabled households. People I know have had to relocate miles away from their community and support network just to get a home that meets only some of their accessibility requirements. Can we…

Weaker-than-expected price increases in January is generally welcome news, unless you rely on Social Security to pay for everyday needs, some Social Security experts said. Based on annual January consumer price data released Feb. 13, seniors might expect a 1.2% rise in the 2027 Social Security cost of living adjustment, or COLA, said Mary Johnson, retired Social Security and Medicare analyst. That would be the smallest increase since 2016, according to government data. “For many consumers these numbers, may seem to be at odds with the prices that they pay,” she said in an email. The final COLA, usually announced…

Water shortages, rising temperatures, and droughts caused by climate change have an immense impact on agriculture — and today’s farmers are desperate to find solutions. In the western United States, some are turning to dry-farming, a form of agriculture that doesn’t require irrigation. Here’s how it works: Dry-farmed plants take moisture stored in the ground, rather than sprinkled from above. All farmers need is a wet, rainy season, followed by a dry growing season, as well as some methods like insulating a layer of mulch on top of soil to retain moisture, spacing plants more widely, and planting earlier in the season.According to…

We’ve just gotten past arguably the most hectic time of year (And sometimes, the most stressful!). It’s not uncommon to be feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or searching for a little chunk of inner peace. If this sounds like you, then we suggest the restful practice of forest bathing, a Japanese concept that involves immersing yourself in natural surroundings to help you relax and enjoy more inner peace. This isn’t just a simple walk in the woods; it’s a mindful and intentional experience that allows you to connect with nature on a deeper level. By engaging all your senses and taking in…

MONROE, La., Feb. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) has announced an unprecedented collaboration with the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN) to increase awareness of and access to assistive technologies throughout Northeast Louisiana. The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer and LATAN President and CEO Yakima Black. The purpose of this agreement is to establish Assistive Technology (AT) Demonstration Centers that will ensure individuals in Northeast Louisiana have expanded opportunities to obtain the devices, tools, and support necessary to enhance independence, improve daily…

Mental Health After ICE Violence: Trauma Is Not Just for Immigrants – BlackDoctor.org – Where Wellness & Culture Connect Ask me something!   

KaterinaDalemans / Envato Think your Social Security check is yours to keep? Think again. Nearly half of all beneficiaries have some form of tax liability on their benefit payment, according to Pew Research. Simply put, if you earn a middle to high income, you’re likely to owe some of your benefits back to the government (1). Depending on your family’s combined provisional income, you could owe taxes on either 50% or 85% of your benefits (2). As of 2026, the combined provisional income threshold is $25,000 for a single taxpayer, $32,000 for a couple filing jointly. If you live in…

The monks arrive in Washington – credit, Walk for Peace via Facebook It was a day that some locals said was unlike any other they had ever seen when the party of Buddhist monks arrived barefoot on the steps of the National Cathedral, as snow still covered the ground. “This is the moment I will remember for the rest of my life,” said the leader of the band of monks, Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara. “And I hope you do the same.” For months, the nation has been captivated as some 19 senior monks, known as Bhikkhus, left the Hương Đạo Vipassana…