UN Rights Chief Calls for Boosting Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations human rights chief today called for the removal of barriers that prevent the participation of persons with disabilities in political life and public affairs. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that although she was encouraged by the 109 States that have already ratified or acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, much more needs to be done to ensure their rights are respected and enforced.
From http://bit.ly/zSCZve, March 10, 2012
Indonesian Minister Asks Companies to Employ Persons with Disabilities
Indonesian Social Services Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri said companies must make jobs available to physically disabled people because they too were entitled to a decent life.
From http://bit.ly/wST6PO, March 10, 2012
USA: AbleLink Technologies Announces Visual Impact Pro for the iPad
Visual Impact Pro allows users to create custom, personalized tasks, social stories and picture-based learning sequences for visual modeling on the iPad. The instructional content may be step-by-step task instructions for individuals with cognitive disabilities, detailed instructions for complicated tasks for individuals with or without disabilities, training tasks for new employees at a job site, or home health care instructions for family caregivers.
From http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/visual-impact-pro/id499969996?mt=8&ls=1, March 09, 2012
TechNews: HumanWare Victor Reader Stratus M Version 2.1 – Listening Made Easier
HumanWare has announced the first free software upgrade to the Victor Reader Stratus M multimedia accessible audio book player that was launched in October. The Stratus M continues the legacy of HumanWare's 13 year history of developing simple, easy-to-use audio book players that offer extended multimedia capabilities. It can play many recorded book and audio formats including DAISY, MP3, commercial audio books or music CDs. And customers can use any of their preferred media: CD, DVD, SD cards, or USB flash.
From http://visit.humanware.com/e/3332/tratus/wr959/385231448, March 09, 2012
Denmark: Accessibility Act: A Binding Legislation is the Only Effective Option
The leaders of the European Disability Forum gathered on the 3rd and 4th of March in the capital of Denmark for their board meeting. This meeting was organized just before the Danish Presidency Conference on Accessibility and Inclusion where the disability movement presented how the EU has to improve accessibility for 80 million citizens with disabilities. 18% of the population in Europe remains unable to enjoy their full right for mobility, which prevents persons with disabilities access to studies, to work, and more generally to full integration in society.
From http://tinyurl.com/7lltjhx, March 09, 2012
European Funds for European Destinations of Excellence - Accessible Tourism
The objective of the present call for proposals is to support eligible countries’ National Administrations in charge of tourism, or other eligible public bodies for the purpose of the selection of one destination of excellence.
From http://bit.ly/wqIjsl, March 09, 2012
Russia: Organization Asks for Separate Online Social Network for People with Disabilities
Organizations for people with disabilities in Moscow have asked the authorities to launch an online social network for disabled people. “The social security department will announce a tender for the portal in March 2012. The project will cost 1.05 million rubles [$32,000],” the paper said. Valery Shkolnikov, deputy chief of the Moscow branch of the Russian disabled association, said experts of the organization would soon discuss the details of the project with officials. About 1.2 million people with disabilities live in Moscow.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/01/19/russian-with-disabilities-ask-for-separate-online-social-network/, March 08, 2012
USA: ATMs Fall Short on Disability Rule
ATM operators have until March 15 to make the devices accessible to customers who are blind or visually impaired. But banks and analysts say many of the country's cash machines are unlikely to be ready in time.
From The Wall Strret Journal, March 08, 2012
TechNews: Six New Gadgets Helping People with Disabilities
The HeadMouse Extreme, created for people with limited use of their hands, translates movements of the head into proportional movements on a computer screen. The user places a disposable adhesive sensor to their forehead, hat or glasses which is tracked by a wireless optical sensor.
From http://mashable.com/2012/02/29/tech-disabilities/, March 07, 2012
USA: Technology Gives Voice to People with Disabilities
Matthew is severely autistic and cannot read, write, or speak sentences. His family, friends, and educators never know exactly what he is thinking, but they know Matthew likes going to synagogue. He has been a regular at the Sunday service at Andover’s Temple Emanuel, where he hums, claps and smiles when Cantor Idan Irelander plays traditional Hebrew prayers on his guitar.
From http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-04/metro/31119794_1_bar-mitzvah-ipad-prayers, March 07, 2012
