SMA News Today Forums | Val | Activity https://smanewstoday.com/forums/members/val/activity/ Activity feed for Val. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:35:31 -0500 https://buddypress.org/?v=2.21.1 en-US 30 hourly 2 ff4a5567ab389e53023b6f00f2095b55 Val replied to the discussion What is the most accessible place you have traveled to? in the forum Welcome Lounge https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/what-is-the-most-accessible-place-you-have-traveled-to/#post-32944 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:42:54 -0500 Reply to What is the most accessible place you have traveled to?

London and Dubai. Love those.

]]> a8a2400e3cdf0e0f5402532b6b6c96ba Val replied to the discussion Any recommendations for voice-to-text software? in the forum Assistive Technology https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/any-recommendations-for-voice-to-text-software/#post-32917 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:09:34 -0500 Reply to Any recommendations for voice-to-text software?

I bought this one.

It uses latest ML models and performes offline:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whisper-transcription/id1668083311

apps.apple.com

‎Whisper Transcription

‎Quickly and easily transcribe audio files into text with state-of-the-art transcription technology Whisper. Whether you're recording a meeting, lecture, or other important audio, Whisper for Mac quickly and accurately transcribes your audio files into text. *Features - Easily record and … Continue reading

]]> 5e06693770e3e5c2ed6923fccb98e454 Val replied to the discussion Has SMA ever benefited your career? in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/has-sma-ever-benefited-your-career/#post-32767 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:27:41 -0500 Reply to Has SMA ever benefited your career?

Honestly, I believe that having Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 has actually given me a significant advantage in my professional journey.

Of course, I can only speak from my personal experience, but I hope it will be encouraging to others as well.

Today, I’m 40 years old. Over the course of my career, I’ve shifted paths at least three… Read more

]]> 5c38620227b451ec9aff1c2b91b6e7e7 Val replied to the discussion Traveling to New York in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/traveling-to-new-york/#post-32748 Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:06:35 -0500 Reply to Traveling to New York

@alyssa-silva Not really, to me it was somewhat of a surprise 🙂

]]> 9d5c7858531a051982a1fa322e2cecd3 Val replied to the discussion Traveling to New York in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/traveling-to-new-york/#post-32741 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:48:40 -0500 Reply to Traveling to New York

From Manhattan you can.

There might be an issue going back

]]> 54b6ddafefced985ffd95515a2cb780a Val replied to the discussion Traveling to New York in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/traveling-to-new-york/#post-32740 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:40:02 -0500 Reply to Traveling to New York

I landed here New York/Newark, NJ, US (EWR)

and had to take the bus, waisting somewhere around 4 hours, getting lost at Central and making my way through homeless people to a taxi in Manhattan.

Transportation is something you want to be really sure of.

]]> 22f64cf187a9e569c3cd4be7296a4a25 Val replied to the discussion Traveling to New York in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/traveling-to-new-york/#post-32730 Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:14:38 -0500 Reply to Traveling to New York

Make sure to order transportation before arriving to the airport.

You can’t catch accessible Uber outside of Manhattan.

Buses are ok though, but take time.

]]> 3158489ed6d4fe325e7d5af2e4725489 Val replied to the discussion How does anyone actually live independently? in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/how-does-anyone-actually-live-independently/#post-32329 Wed, 21 Aug 2024 02:56:54 -0500 Reply to How does anyone actually live independently?

After my mother passed away in 2018 and my father died in a car accident in 1999, I’ve been living independently for many years now. As someone with a disability who previously relied on my parents for care, I had to find a way to continue living independently and started doing this gradually since 2010.

Fortunately, I was able to find a…

Read more

]]> 2d82dcb73835b0f3bf81b76ee7caf78d Val replied to the discussion How do you protect personal information? in the forum Adults ​With​ ​SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/how-do-you-protect-personal-information/#post-32276 Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:27:05 -0500 Reply to How do you protect personal information?

I place credit freeze on the credit history bureaus.

Establishing a trust is an option to protect personal assets (anonymize you).

]]> 315d41f998858d112dada94c9d3ed695 Val replied to the discussion Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases? in the forum COVID-19 and SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/are-you-monitoring-the-new-influx-of-covid-cases/#post-32191 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:23:16 -0500 Reply to Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases?

Better !

Thank you

Morning cough was giving me a hard time for several days, but hopefully its now in the past

]]> 287f1be993f5ef4d2f087b8f96c570f1 Val replied to the discussion Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases? in the forum COVID-19 and SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/are-you-monitoring-the-new-influx-of-covid-cases/#post-32182 Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:07:50 -0500 Reply to Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases?

its worsening.

now i would rate my condition as 7/10, where 10 i had to stay in bed for two weeks with very bad cough (before vacation).

I did own test too late now, it came negative and i was denied paxlovid.

Stay safe.

]]> 5ca12a7f72649bec6db9c856a5fda710 Val replied to the discussion Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases? in the forum COVID-19 and SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/are-you-monitoring-the-new-influx-of-covid-cases/#post-32178 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:01:21 -0500 Reply to Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases?

nope,

phyzer vaccine and toilenol

]]> b637c5a0abeb7237fe9000422e3a42cb Val replied to the discussion Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases? in the forum COVID-19 and SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/are-you-monitoring-the-new-influx-of-covid-cases/#post-32175 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:40:27 -0500 Reply to Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases?

Coughing is not that bad.

At least not yet.

I stayed in bed for one day, but working already.

]]> da356611f066e23a80f4cd1ab7cb6a98 Val replied to the discussion Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases? in the forum COVID-19 and SMA https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/are-you-monitoring-the-new-influx-of-covid-cases/#post-32173 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:15:18 -0500 Reply to Are you monitoring the new influx of Covid cases?

I got it. Hopefully vaccine done in september will prevent it from going too bad

]]> 511845cb2fa5a4f3ef6f0ea2f41582bc Val replied to the discussion Do you have accessibility expectations? in the forum SMA News Today's YouTube https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/do-you-have-accessibility-expectations/#post-32081 Thu, 23 May 2024 19:20:32 -0500 Reply to Do you have accessibility expectations?

I’m fine with stores.

Flying is pain.

I would love to remain in my own wheelchair while on a plane.

]]> 366892453a50a26aefae75f1ad75563a Val replied to the discussion What are some tech items that make your life easier? in the forum Assistive Technology https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/what-are-some-tech-items-that-make-your-life-easier/#post-31713 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 22:53:12 -0600 Reply to What are some tech items that make your life easier?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XBR38SS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

]]> 9a891a3a0e127f5ebbdb0e988544cce5 Val replied to the discussion What are some tech items that make your life easier? in the forum Assistive Technology https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/what-are-some-tech-items-that-make-your-life-easier/#post-31705 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:59:45 -0600 Reply to What are some tech items that make your life easier?

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Back-Massagers/b/ref=dp_bc_aui_C_5?ie=UTF8&node=3767531

]]> 0c8be7e175d349aff1f7a30d0ba44a67 Val replied to the discussion What are some tech items that make your life easier? in the forum Assistive Technology https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/what-are-some-tech-items-that-make-your-life-easier/#post-31694 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:15:07 -0600 Reply to What are some tech items that make your life easier?

Automatic (Alexa, remote) door opener for sliding and room doors.

Smart lights and motion switches.

Smart lock.

Cameras. Useful to check things not just bad guys.

Mouse pad with wireless phone charger – I hate cables 🙂

Massage seat.

]]> 170d699bc144990cee116a49801d05a9 Val replied to the discussion Hello! Thanks for having me. You've probably heard my story :) in the forum Welcome Lounge https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/hello-thanks-for-having-me-youve-probably-heard-my-story/#post-31299 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:52:13 -0500 Reply to Hello! Thanks for having me. You've probably heard my story :)

Thank you!

I actually love to do a lot of stuff: study new tech, recording youtube, improving my home.

Also, my kid keeps me up all the time, requiring my participation in his games

]]> 20a0ac4652c19f6a46efbcfd1ad1f835 Val started the discussion Hello! Thanks for having me. You've probably heard my story :) in the forum Welcome Lounge https://smanewstoday.com/forums/forums/topic/hello-thanks-for-having-me-youve-probably-heard-my-story/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:05:33 -0500 Hello! Thanks for having me. You've probably heard my story :)

Hey,

I’m Val

I do cyber security and live in Florida.

I do have a blog, where I help to take a different perspective on some aspects of our lives.

Let me know if you are having questions on IT 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v77DlHsLhw&t=79s

]]> bf5f9dec140ad4c795d4dc0ad9aaefbe Val became a registered member https://smanewstoday.com/forums/activity/p/17480/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 13:43:48 -0500 0