USA: Institute on Disability and Public Policy Offers World's First Virtual Master's Degree on Disability Studies
As the International Day for Persons with Disabilities approaches this Saturday, one institution is working to remove some of the barriers that prevent disabled people from taking a leading role in policies that affect their lives. The Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP), offering the world's first virtual master's degree on disability studies and public policy, is geared specifically toward those with disabilities, adapting innovative technologies to make the degree accessible.
From ipsnews.net, December 02, 2011
UK: Ministers Back New Bills Outlawing Job Discrimination Against People Suffering from Mental Illness
Current laws allow jurors, MPs, school governors and company directors to be removed from office because of past mental health problems. Crossbench peer Lord Stevenson, who has suffered from depression, described this as the “last significant form of discrimination in law in our society”. He has introduced a Bill, which has won Government support, to outlaw the “disgraceful” practice.
From www.express.co.uk, December 02, 2011
USA: AIA to Host Accessibility Forum at CSUN 2012 Conference
Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA) - the technical & engineering division of the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA), will play host to “Taking Accessibility Mainstream - Making the Case for an International Society of Accessibility Professionals”, an accessibility forum, to be held on the second day of the 2012 CSUN Conference in San Diego, California. The forum aims to bring focus to the needs of the development community in achieving accessible technology. Sponsors for the event include Microsoft, Adobe, SSB Bart Group, textHelp, and The Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs.
From www.atia.org, November 24, 2011
Taiwan: Disabled Rally for Adequate Facilities
Carrying signs while shouting slogans or using sign language, about 1,000 people — most of them physically challenged — took to the streets in Taipei yesterday to express their anger at what they said was a lack of accessible facilities for disabled people, despite requirements in the law.
From www.taipeitimes.com, November 14, 2011
USA: Disabled Citizens in Oregon Are Voting With iPads
Physically impaired Oregonians are using iPads to vote in today's election after the new system was introduced to help voters who can't fill out traditional forms. Election workers armed with tablets and portable printers will be stopping in parks, nursing homes and community centers in five of the state's counties to assist voters whose limited mobility prevents them from participating through write-in ballots. With the iPad, voters can adjust reading size, font colors and even use a "sip and puff" device that registers breaths as fingertip touches.Physically impaired Oregonians are using iPads to vote in today's election after the new system was introduced to help voters who can't fill out traditional forms. Election workers armed with tablets and portable printers will be stopping in parks, nursing homes and community centers in five of the state's counties to assist voters whose limited mobility prevents them from participating through write-in ballots. With the iPad, voters can adjust reading size, font colors and even use a "sip and puff" device that registers breaths as fingertip touches.
From gizmodo.com, November 09, 2011
TechNews: Best Android Apps and Options for Persons with Disabilities
Android and app developers are becoming more and more sensitive to the special accessibility needs of our friends with disabilities. Apps and mobile operating systems are now designed with these users’ ease of use and convenience in mind.
From www.androidauthority.com, November 08, 2011
TechNews: Handwriting Communication System Could Let the Visually Impaired Feel Their Messages
Researchers at Nagoya Institute of Technology have developed a unique communication system that lets an image or message drawn on a touchscreen be felt by another user in their palm of their hand.
From gizmodo.com, November 08, 2011
USA: Online Learning Provider Makes Learning Accessible to Students with Disabilities
Advanced Academics, a nationally recognized online learning provider, announced today that it has modified more than 100 courses to become compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, making them accessible to hearing and visually impaired students. The organization plans to release 50 additional courses compliant with Section 508 by the end of January 2012. The revised courses have been approved as section 508 compliant by the Digital Learning Department of the Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
From globalaccessibilitynews.com, November 03, 2011
TechNews: Eye-tracking Allows for More Creative Computer-aided Design
Designing with Vision, a system using eye-tracking technology, has been developed by researchers at The Open University and the University of Leeds to give computer-aided design users a more fluid human-machine interface. The software can identify and select shapes of interest automatically within a drawn sketch. The combination of eye-tracking technology and conventional mouse-based input allows initial design sketches to be manipulated and developed according to the user’s subconscious visual cues.
From www.kurzweilai.net, November 02, 2011
Opinion: Breaking the Autism Barriers with Technology
There has been a lot of talk lately about iPads and, to a lesser extend, some other technology that has been vastly improving the treatment methods of autistics all around the world. Yes, Autistics are finding a way to communicate using an iPad. Thanks to the hard work of some very amazing developers, a child, teen or adult with Autism can move a finger around and select emotions, objects, words or even letters on an iPad and express themselves… even though no previous method had worked for that person before.
From www.stuartduncan.name, November 02, 2011
