Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives

Call Directions Website

Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives Technology for Our Whole Lives (TechOWL), formerly known as PIAT, is the Commonwealth's program under the federal Assistive Technology Act.

TechOWL is one of 56 statewide programs - one in every state and territory. TechOWL and its statewide network of subcontractors focus on the mandated activities under the AT Act, including:
(1) Helping people afford Assistive Technology through our “Free Special Phone Program” and the federally funded iCanConnectPA, which distribute free specialized telecommunications equipment to low-income individuals. (2) Matching people with disabilities who are unable to afford "new" with "gently used" devices through our Used Equipment Exchange program
(3) Lending devices through our Assistive Technology Lending Library and the onsite loans available at our regional centers, so people can "try before you buy";
(4) Demonstrate assistive technology to help people with disabilities make informed decisions about the technology that might help them
TechOWL also does many public awareness activities such as:
a. Frequent posting on social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube
b. Community-based training with local organizations and direct providers
c. Speaking to people with disabilities, families, and providers at various events across the state
d. University-based training for the "next generation" of professionals about the nature and scope of AT devices and services
e. Training and technical assistance related to transition from school to adult life, from nursing home to the community, as well as other transitions that occur throughout one's lifetime.

10/13/2026

Borrow it at www.TechOWLpa.org/library

Video description: two devices plugged in. One has a list of tasks with checkmarks next to them and the other just has the date and time.

Transcript: Did you know that setting personalized daily goals can help people living with dementia maintain independence? You can use the Day Range Hub and Day Connect to create up to 10 custom task alerts to help support daily routines and make everyday life a little easier. These devices can be borrowed from the statewide assistive technology lending library at TechOWL along with hundreds of other devices. Would this help you or someone you know?

10/08/2026

Do you pronounce it open “scad” or open “s-cad”? By the way, you can find these files and many others on our website: www.TechOWLpa.org/maker-catalog.

Video description: Alanna showcasing a bottle squeezer which kind of looks like the flying fairy toy from the 90s with two wings and it attaches to the neck of a bottle and presses against it with a gentle squeeze. Alanna also is using calipers to measure the neck of the bottle and type on her computer.

Transcript: This is why I love the 3D printing community. A few weeks ago, I shared a video of this eye drop squeezer, and someone reached out asking if it could be modified to squeeze larger paint bottles so they could get back to painting. I’m a design newbie, so I tried enlarging the file, but that made the entire device ridiculously big! I told Scott from School House Spools about my frustration, and he said, “I’ll take care of that.” By the end of the day, he’d created an OpenSCAD file where I could adjust the bottle size. When the squeezing pads didn’t line up, he updated the file again so I could adjust their position, too. And now it works! Want to try it out?

09/30/2026
09/29/2026

7 scheduled SHED PICK-UPS last week!!

We are able to greatly increase our ability to serve families with this option. We value the time with the families for an in-person pickup but we love that we have an alternative when that can’t happen.

Thank you Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives for providing this option for us!!

09/25/2026

Go to makerworld.com/en/ or
TechOWLpa.org/maker-catalog.

Video description: Alanna showing 3D printed playdough caps with a loop.

09/18/2026

No pressure Mark (Abilitease, Inc. (Mark Fuglevand) ). You can find these files and lots more on our website: www.TechOWLPa.org/maker-catalog

Video description: Clips of people using 3D printed pill bottle caps with a loop that go on top of a CVS pill bottle, a glue stick cap that replaces the original cap and has a loop, and a playdoh cap that replaces the original cap with a loop. Everyone looks very pleased with the devices!

Transcript: This project really is the gift that keeps on giving. It started with Mark who designed this pill bottle cap for himself and generously shared the file with us to download and print. We shared a video of it and Amber commented and asked if someone could make something similar for glue sticks. Of course Mark jumped in to help and now that design is available to download and print. But it didn’t stop there because then someone else asked, what about play doh? So a huge thank you to Mark for continuing to build on this project. Should we give him some more ideas to work on? What else is hard to open?

09/17/2026
09/14/2026

Which toys do you want to switch adapt?

Video description: 4 switch adapted toys- a dancing and singing cactus, a storytelling owl animated plush, a light up cactus, and a frog bubble machine.

Transcript: Interested in switch adapted toys like these? Check out resources like Makers Making Change and SwitchedToys.org to learn about switch adapting. And if you’re able, go to bit.ly/HelpTechOWL to support this year’s adapted toy drive.

09/11/2026

You can put it in your cart- for free! Go to www.TechOWLpa.org/library to visit our online lending library and check out www.TechOWLpa.org/community-space to learn about our in-person community space in Philadelphia.

Video description: Text on the screen that says “People who come to the TechOWL Community Space or visit our online assistive tech lending library” and clips of 3d printed and commercial assistive tech including Guided Hands, a glue stick cap, a round paint brush holder, finger brush, flipper clipper nail clipper helper, adaptive pill cap, pill puncher, and Obi Dining Robot.

Transcript: Audio of a person saying, “Oh my god, what is that? Put it in the cart! Put it in the cart! I don’t even remember what I came here for. Well this section looks a little different than it did yesterday. Look at this. Look at this.”

Address

Institute On Disabilities 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Annex Room 430
Philadelphia, PA
19122

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18002047428

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Sponsored

Share