Hey there, I'm Yolanda Garagorri Arregui, and for the past 22 years, I've been dealing with a degenerative beast called Arnold Chiari malformation. Throw in a sidekick called syringomyelia. Long story short, my mobility's doing a vanishing act. As of today, my hands are like, "We're on strike!"—working at a solid 1%. It's basically like having boxing gloves permanently glued to my hands. And just for kicks, imagine strapping a belt around your knees, making every step a mini obstacle course. That's the VIP experience of living with the level of disability I'm rocking. Life's one big adventure, right? It's basically like having boxing gloves permanently glued to my hands.

Picture this: gloves on, attempting the most ordinary tasks like chomping on an apple, hitting the bathroom, or crafting your signature on paper. Now, throw driving into the mix—talk about a wild ride! Ever tried lace-making with these bad boys? Spoiler alert: it's a solid "mission impossible." For us mere mortals, flicking a switch to turn on/off a light is a piece of cake. But for folks with disabilities, it's like facing a dragon. Sometimes, we can't even rise from our thrones, and the switch is up on Mount Everest. In my case, even if I reach it, my fingers throw a protest party—they're just not up for the button-pushing gig. And oh, don't get me started on the unsolicited light show, where someone else decides when to play DJ with the switches, totally ignoring our disability-driven preferences.

In my case, I live in Etxegoki, these support-equipped apartments owned by the Government of Biscay. It's like living in the future, everything's on autopilot. Thanks to this nifty app called Control+, we're the puppet masters of our doors, blinds, lights—you name it. Even the kitchen countertop is on a joyride, lifting and lowering as we please.

Home automation turns my life into a chill cruise—easier, comfier, and, most importantly, more independent. Usually, we don't pay much attention to this stuff until we really need it. But when a disease or some other curveball messes with your physical mojo, these things become MVPs. They empower you, letting you make decisions in more aspects of your life.

For me, tech is my ride-or-die. I'm basically living in a sci-fi flick. Got Alexa helping me jot down story ideas, keeping me on track with Google Calendar, and even drafting my grocery list. I play TV director with voice commands and conjure light from my bedside lamp like a tech wizard.

Tech also upgraded my leisure game—I've got a surfboard with a chair setup, turning waves into my playground. This year, I even hit the slopes for some skiing. What's next, you ask? Honestly, no clue. If you're a tech whiz, hit me up! I'm either brainstorming genius ideas or testing whatever crazy gadget you've got in mind.

Because that's what tech's about—solving everyday problems in a creative and practical way. Sure, creating new tech toys is a challenge, but who said it was gonna be a cakewalk?

And let me emphasize, the end user's gotta be ready to test all kinds of prototypes until we find the golden ticket. It's the way to spark solutions in every nook of life.

So, I challenge you to ditch those gloves, get creative, and start inventing. Even if it feels like your work's in a vacuum, trust me, it's not. The real game is making the tough stuff look easy—breaking down the physical barriers us folks with disabilities face. Of course, a sprinkle of human connection is non-negotiable too.