blueIRIS Location: United Kingdom Abstract: The Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre Society for the Blind recently launched a service called blueIRIS using broadband internet to create a radio service for the blind that is available over the Internet. Previously, the Society distributed cassette recordings of daily news from local and international newspapers to blind and visually impaired citizens. The new service, on the other hand, includes the use of computers, broadband Internet, and special software which reads any screen text to users, offers the option of increased text or image size, and eliminates the need for a mouse. blueIRIS provides increased accessibility for users with disabilities by giving them the opportunity to pick and choose what they listen to, as well as by providing access to a greater amount of news content than what was previously available with the recorded cassettes. The software is also being used to help the visually impaired to navigate the Internet. Related Items: • Breaking Barriers for Children • AAPD LAUDS UNITED NATIONS G3ICT INITIATIVE FOR INCLUDING DISABILITY PERSPECTIVES AT DIGITAL CITIES WIRELESS ROUNDTABLE • Technology Helps Visually Impaired People to Enjoy Art • 3rd European eAccessibility Forum, Paris, France Website: blueIRIS Practitioner Name: Steve Carter Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: enquiries@blueiris.info Presentation: Only registered users can load presentations, please log-in |
Bobby Worldwide Location: United States Abstract: BobbyTM was launched in 1996 to help web designers throughout the world analyze their sites for accessibility for all Internet users, including those with disabilities. This interactive tool examines web pages to identify potential barriers to access. Bobby offers prioritized suggestions based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provided by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Access Initiative. With the release of Bobby WorldWide, web designers can now test their sites for compliance with the U.S. Federal Government's Section 508 standards. As web designers use Bobby WorldWide, they learn how to address problems within their own sites and subsequently learn skills to design more accessible sites in the future. CAST no longer supports the Bobby accessiblity testing software. Bobby was sold to Watchfire in 2004 which, in turn, was acquired by IBM in 2007. Although Bobby is no longer available as a free service or standalone product, it is one of the tests included within the IBM Rational Policy Tester Accessibility Edition software, the comprehensive enterprise application for testing websites. Related Items: • GameON • W3C HTML5 Accessibility Task Force Collates Accessibility Requirements for Audio and Video on Web of Users with Disabilities • Nominations Open for U.S. FCC Chairman’s Award for Advancement in Accessibility (AAA) • BSI documentary points the way to accessibility in buildings and the Internet • 6th European e-Accessibility Forum: eAccessibility at the Core of Information Systems, Paris, France Website: Bobby Worldwide Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +1-781-2452212 Practitioner E-mail: cast@cast.org |
Bookshare Location: United States Abstract: Originally created by a community of volunteers, Bookshare is a subscription-based service operated by California-based Benetech®. A provision in U.S. copyright law allows Bookshare to make copyrighted digital books legally available to people with bona fide disabilities. The Bookshare library provides people with print disabilities in the United States legal access to more than 50,000 books and 150 periodicals that can be converted to Braille, large print or synthetic speech. The Bookshare concept is simple. In addition to texts, the Bookshare website offers free assistive technology software that Members can use to read digital texts in a range of formats. Benetech advises the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) advisory committee which develops e-text standards for K-12 textbooks. The company also works closely with assistive technology vendors and leading technology firms such as Amazon and Google to make books more accessible. A community of volunteers and Bookshare staff scan, upload and proofread books, and organize these in collections by subject area, just as they would be in a physical library. Members pay a USD25 set-up fee and a USD50 annual subscription. Bookshare is free to qualified U.S. students regardless of age to access unlimited books and periodicals in the collection. The Bookshare Digital Rights Management system ensures that the copyrighted books are available only to qualified people with disabilities and stay within this community. Bookshare works with state education agencies and schools to get digital books to students in a timely manner. The library also partners with authors and publishers who contribute digital content with global permissions to make books available to print disabled readers worldwide. Related Items: • DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) • LATEST MOBILE BREAKTHROUGHS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AT M-ENABLING SUMMIT • World's Largest Accessible Online Library for People with Print Disabilities Offers More Accessibility and Ease of Use - Benetech Launches New Bookshare Library • Delivering accessible Electronic & Information Technology (E&IT) • ACP - Adaptive Content Proccessing Conference 2008, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Website: Bookshare Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +1-650-644-3400 Practitioner E-mail: info@benetech.org |
Breaking Barriers for Children Location: Philippines Abstract: The Breaking Barriers for Children project, a partnership between KAMPI, the National Federation of Disabled Persons in the Philippines (Disabled Peoples International-Philippines), and PTU, the Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims, established the Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC), providing rehabilitation services to over 8,000 children with disabilities in 14 different provinces. In addition to rehabilitation services, the centers provide social services that aim to change negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities within education. The project has also established STAC Satellite Centers in rural villages in order to prevent high transportation costs to families. Related Items: • “Breaking Down Barriers” International Disability Film Festival • G3ICT AND E.J. KRAUSE & ASSOCIATES TO CONVENE GLOBAL FORUM ON MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES • Opinion: Breaking the Autism Barriers with Technology • Loans and Resources for Disabled Entrepreneurs • BSI documentary points the way to accessibility in buildings and the Internet • Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) 8th World Assembly, Durban, South Africa Website: Breaking Barriers for Children Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +1-632-455-2729 Practitioner E-mail: bbcy406@pldtdsl.net |
Canadian Association of the Deaf Location: Canada Abstract: Founded in 1940 by the three regional associations of the Deaf, the CAD is the national consumer organization of Canada's 300,000 deaf citizens. The CAD provides consultation and information on deaf needs and interests to the public, business, media, educators, governments and others. We conduct research and collect data regarding deaf issues; issue reports on these studies; and provide expertise on them; develop and implement pilot programs. We offer assistance to deaf organizations and service agencies across the country, and also provide a major library and resource centre on deafness at our office in Ottawa, Ontario. The CAD receives 23% of its annual revenues from Human Resources Development Canada. The remaining 77% is received through fundraising, membership fees, and special project grants. Related Items: • Deaf-Alerter • USA: National Association of the Deaf Files Disability Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Netflix • Survey Results: Impact of the Convention on States Parties' Policies Addressing ICT Accessibility • XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, Durban, South Africa Website: Canadian Association of the Deaf Practitioner Name: Jim Roots Practitioner Tel: +1-613 565-2882 Practitioner E-mail: jroots@cad.ca |
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Location: Switzerland Abstract: DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is an open international standard for accessible multimedia. The DAISY Consortium is based in Switzerland, and is made up of leading non-profit organizations from around the world serving blind and dyslexic people. DAISY helps bridge the digital divide in developing regions of the world by ensuring access to information for those who have previously had severely limited or no access to information, such as persons with print disabilities, speakers of minority languages, indigenous populations without a written language, and those who are illiterate. DAISY for All is a project to deploy DAISY technology, address goals and objectives (which include capacity building in developing countries), and serve as a catalyst to generate broader alliances that support the global sharing of human knowledge in the information society. DAISY for All is funded by the Nippon Foundation as a five-year project. Related Items: • Adaptive Multimedia Information System • BOOK RELEASE - G3ICT'S BOOK "THE ACCESSIBILITY IMPERATIVE" NOW AVAILABLE IN DAISY FORMAT • Daisy Makes Disabilities Not So Challenging • Delivering accessible Electronic & Information Technology (E&IT) • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Address • 9th Annual Information Solution Network (ISN) Forum, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Website: DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Practitioner Name: Varju Luceno Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: varju.luceno@gmail.com |
Deaf-Alerter Location: United Kingdom Abstract: Deaf Alerter is a radio-based fire alarm warning and public address messaging system for the deaf and hearing-impaired. The device is capable of both visual (strobe) and physical (vibration pad) warnings. Today, the Deaf Alerter is widely installed in the UK and is now being installed worldwide. The device works as follows: upon seeing the Deaf Alerter sign, a hearing-impaired person knows that the building is equipped with a Deaf Alerter transmitter and that his or her own Alerter (or one borrowed from the building's reception desk) will operate anywhere within that building. While used primarily for fire alarms and public address messaging, it can also be used for bomb evacuations, paging, or an equipment alarm warning. The vibration pad (termed "Night Cradle") is part of the system and provides wake-up features for deaf persons who might be in bed asleep at the time of an emergency. Related Items: • Full Access Through Technology • AAPD LAUDS UNITED NATIONS G3ICT INITIATIVE FOR INCLUDING DISABILITY PERSPECTIVES AT DIGITAL CITIES WIRELESS ROUNDTABLE • World Deaf Congress Headed for South Africa • ITU and the Internet Governance Forum 2007 • XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, Durban, South Africa Website: Deaf-Alerter Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +44-1332-363981 Practitioner E-mail: info@deaf-alerter.com |
Deafblind Online Location: United Kingdom Abstract: Deafblind Online was a project set up by Sense and the University of Manchester in 2002. It was a website offering free software for persons who are deaf-blind or have learning disabilities to help them to pursue more knowledge, explore their surroundings, and become more independent. While the project is no longer running, deafblind and people with learning disabilities can still access free software at Sense Factory's website OATS (open source assistive technology software). Visit the website: http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/sense-factory/ Related Items: • The Archimedes Project • Health Services Are Failing Deaf Children With Additional Complex Needs • Survey Results: Impact of the Convention on States Parties' Policies Addressing ICT Accessibility • Knowbility's AccessU at CSUN, San Diego, USA Website: Deafblind Online Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +44-845-127-0060 Practitioner E-mail: info@sense.org.uk |
Delivering Inclusive Access for Disablied or Elderly Members Location: European Union Abstract: DIADEM, or Delivering Inclusive Access for Disabled or Elderly Members of the community, is an EU funded project coordinated by Brunel University (UK) to develop next-generation assistive systems that empower persons with disabilities (and aging citizens) to play a full role in society by increasing their autonomy and helping them to realize their maximum potential. With the help of partners such as the Norwegian National Computer Center, Bluegarden (Norway), MORE (Norway), and CSI Piemonte (Italy), the project will provide greater dialogue to counteract the issues faced by many cognitively disabled users. For example, cognitively disabled persons can suffer from poor concentration and loss of short-term memory, which means that they are more likely to lose track of where they are in a particular process or get lost in an online transaction. In addition, reduced problem solving skills and loss of mental flexibility mean that users are more likely to become frustrated by requests for input that are unexpected, irrelevant, or appear out of sequence. To this end, DIADEM aims to provide support to help these users. The project received 1.95 million euros from the European Union, and is set to run from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2009. Related Items: • Making Advanced Technology Useful for Independent Living for Disabled People at Home • UK: New Benefit Will Replace Disability Living Allowance • Nominations Open for U.S. FCC Chairman’s Award for Advancement in Accessibility (AAA) • UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Address • 3rd Disability and Development Forum and GPDD Membership Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina Website: Delivering Inclusive Access for Disablied or Elderly Members Practitioner Name: Dr. Tony Elliman Practitioner Tel: +44-1895-266022 Practitioner E-mail: info@project-diadem.eu |
Disabilityart.com Location: United States Abstract: Disablityart.com is a website which creates and compiles positive images of persons with disabilities in everyday-life situations and inclusive settings. The site facilitates the purchase of the images in collections in CD-Rom format or on a by-image basis. The images can be used to communicate the work of an organization (as is the case with other groups, such as Wheelchairnet), whether that be on brochures, in existing publications, on web pages, or in training and educational materials. In essence, the site facilitates the transfer of information through dynamic visual expressions, thereby raising awareness of different types of disabilities and offering an effective educational tool. Website: Disabilityart.com Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: info@disabilityart.com |