UN: Autism Awareness Day Should spur Action to Combat Discrimination
he annual observance of World Autism Awareness Day should spur global action to combat the “unacceptable” discrimination, abuse and isolation that people with the disorder and their loved ones face, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Autism is not limited to a single region or a country; it is a worldwide challenge that requires global action,” states Mr. Ban’s message for the Day, observed annually on 2 April. “People with autism are equal citizens who should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
From http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41674&Cr=autism&Cr1=, April 02, 2012
Irish Student Wins Overall Award at European Student Innovation Finals
Kieran O’Callaghan, a PhD student at Cork Institute of Technology, was declared the winner last night among a field of 42 finalists from 28 countries. It is the first time the award has been won outright by an Irish student.
From http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/history-made-as-irish-student-wins-european-innovation-award-188714.html, April 02, 2012
USA: Implementing Section 508: Improving Access to Government Information and Data for Persons with Disabilities
Over the past few years, we have taken several affirmative steps regarding Section 508. For the first time, the Chief Information Officer Council and the Chief Acquisition Officer Council now jointly chair the Chief Information Officers Accessibility Committee. Following that creation, in July 2010, OMB issued a memorandum, Improving the Accessibility of Government Information to set forth additional steps. This memo focused on (1) increasing awareness of responsibilities and requirements associated with Section 508, (2) improving agency accountability and accessibility performance, and (3) improving outreach and communication. It also included a requirement to host listening sessions with the community across the nation to gather input on Federal implementation of Section 508.
From http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/19/implementing-section-508-improving-access-government-information-and-data-persons-di, April 02, 2012
India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites to Offer Access to Tourists with Disabilities
Tourists with disabilities are to be given access to the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora rock-cut caves via battery-powered vehicles. As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, the Archaeological Survey of India is to provide the vehicles which can transport up to five people per trip to the caves, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The beautiful rock-hewn Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples of the Ellora caves, carved on the hillsides of the Sahyadri ranges, will be the first to be made accessible using existing ramps, Dr D. Dayalan, director of the Aurangabad Circle at the ASI, told Gulf News yesterday. The service will then be rolled out to the Ajanta caves, 100km away.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/23/indias-unesco-world-heritage-sites-to-offer-access-to-tourists-with-disabilities/, March 30, 2012
USA: Department of Justice Official Clarifies Effect of New ADA Rules on Vending Firms and Equipment
Vending operators now must comply with changes to the regulations mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but many are not sure what this compliance requires. The new rules went into effect on March 15, and the National Automatic Merchandising Association organized a webinar with a U.S. Department of Justice expert to help clarify what the rules mean to the industry. Barbara Elkin, attorney-advisor for the DOJ, explained that many of the standards on which the new 2010 rules applicable to vending machines are unchanged from the original regulations drafted under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. There are some consequential changes in the final revisions to the regulations published by the DOJ on Sept. 15, 2010, which took effect on March 15, 2011, with compliance required 12 months thereafter.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/23/department-of-justice-official-clarifies-effect-of-new-ada-rules-on-vending-firms-and-equipment/, March 30, 2012
Indian Government sets up Committee on Rights of Air Passengers with Disabilities
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has constituted a committee on the “Rights of Passengers with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility” under the chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, to look into the problems of persons with disabilities in undertaking air travel and give suggestions on how to improve the facilities to make their travel more convenient. The committee has been asked to give its report in eight weeks for consideration of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/23/indian-government-sets-up-committee-on-rights-of-air-passengers-with-disabilities/, March 30, 2012
Qatar Telecom Qtel Supports Accessibility Forum
Qtel is one of the main sponsors of this week’s “First Forum for Integration and Enabling People with Disabilities,” held at the Abdul Rahman Jassim Preparatory School for Boys, Al Wakrah. The company is using its support for the event to raise awareness of the broad range of specialist services and innovative technology it makes available for people with disabilities in Qatar.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/22/qatar-telecom-qtel-supports-accessibility-forum/, March 30, 2012
South African Broadcasting Corporation dds subtitles to TV shows for deaf people
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/20/south-african-broadcasting-corporation-adds-subtitles-to-tv-shows-for-deaf-people/, March 30, 2012
South African Broadcasting Corporation Adds Subtitles to TV Shows for Deaf People
As from March, SABC3 has ramped up its commitment to catering for deaf people by adding wall to wall subtitles on the channel’s flagship soapie, Isidingo. This reflects South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)’s strong support for fostering deaf pride. “SABC3 has supported people who are deaf in South Africa in a significant way over the past years through DTV, the popular programme made by and for people who are deaf. This community is very important to the SABC and to the channel in particular and so it gives us real pleasure in being able to provide wall to wall subtitling on Isidingo. Our hope is that this will enhance the viewing pleasure of the community and grant them full access to South Africa’s most popular soapie,” says SABC3 acting GM Ed Worster.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/20/south-african-broadcasting-corporation-adds-subtitles-to-tv-shows-for-deaf-people/, March 30, 2012
TechNews: Smarter Voice Capabilities Will Transform Medical Documentation
Natural language processing combined with voice recognition produces clinical language understanding, which has the potential to profoundly change how information gets into clinical systems.
From http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/clinical-systems/232602902?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_healthcare, March 30, 2012
