Many people in the U.S. suffer from physical or mental disabilities, and those who struggle turn to a variety of means in order to cope. Some look to natural healing while others seek more allopathic treatments. Given advances in technology, many of those who suffer from various conditions now utilize apps to track symptoms and monitor protocols.

One such digital health app is Assuaged. Designed by a married couple experiencing mental and physical disabilities themselves, the pair dedicated their life journey to helping others in need. Recently, the pair gifted hearing aids to those with impairment lacking the funds for such devices.

What Is the Assuaged App?

Designated as a health and natural fitness app, Assuaged aims to connect those with various health conditions and disabilities locate resources to aid in achieving optimal health. The app offers health-conscious product suggestions for those following a vegan lifestyle. All products are organic and Non-GMO Project verified as well as being free of any animal-based ingredients.

In addition to product recommendations, the app offers a wealth of cruelty-free recipes designed to optimize health and improve various conditions. The Murphys, the app’s founders, discovered through personal experience how food acts as medicine. Because the app is classified as charitable, people can download it for free from the App Store or Google Play. The app also helps connect the disabled with a variety of resources.

Meet Thane and Cynthia Murphy

Thane Murphy is a disabled Marine Corps veteran struggling with PTSD. He previously suffered from obesity as well, and was pre-diabetic before his wife Cynthia led him to healthier eating. Thane recently graduated from Purdue University with a degree in nutrition and holistic medicine.

Cynthia Murphy is a model and a cranial-facial disability activist. She suffers Treacher-Collins syndrome, which alters the bones and muscles of the face. She has a master’s degree in public health and contributes to The Mighty as a freelance writer.

Helping Those with Disabilities

Through their own experiences, the Murphys became dismayed at the way many Americans struggling with disabilities spend trillions on preventable health care costs and still lack adequate levels of care. The couple recently donated two $5,000 hearing aids to those denied insurance and look forward to offering more. Hearing loss affects 11 percent of American adults, but most major health insurers refuse to cover the devices, deeming them a convenience, not a necessity. Interested individuals can apply for aid on the couples’ website.

Approximately 44 million Americans lack health insurance coverage. Given the Trump Administrations’ commitment to overturning the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that number is expected to grow by millions more over the coming years. Even those who do have coverage often struggle to meet high deductible and copay costs.

The Murphys hope the Assuaged app will help individuals take better care of their health through clean vegan eating. As obesity contributes to many other diseases such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease, helping people lose weight and balance their stomach microbiome can significantly improve health outcomes.

Those interested in learning more about various disabilities or those who suffer from them now can find apps which do anything from helping the visually impaired navigate unfamiliar areas to helping children with developmental disabilities learn to speak and read. Many of these apps are free!

Greater Inclusivity Through Technology

As technology continues to advance, more app developers will follow in the Murphys’ lead and create innovative ways to aid our more vulnerable populations. In the meantime, those hoping to hear better and improve their health through clean vegan eating do well to give the Assuaged app a try!

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About Author

Kate Harveston covers social justice and human rights issues. She graduated with a Bachelors in English and minored in Criminal Justice, so she enjoys writing about anything related to the intersections of law, politics and culture. For more of her writing, you can visit her blog, Only Slightly Biased.

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