Canada: Daisy Player: Electronic Storytelling Device Helping Blind Kids Read
They had come to pick up a Daisy Player, a storytelling device distributed by the CNIB, which starts blind and visually impaired children on the path to independent reading.
From www.vancouversun.com, September 23, 2011
USA: Disability Groups React to President Obama's NCLB Waiver Plan
How will states evaluate the teachers of children with disabilities, students who often have more than one teacher? And will states get a pass from paying attention to some students with disabilities at some struggling schools? These are some of the concerns raised by advocates of students with disabilities following the release Sept. 22 of details of President Barack Obama's plans to give states wiggle room (or perhaps something even more roomy) on the No Child Left Behind Act.
From blogs.edweek.org, September 23, 2011
Touchscreen Tech Gives Voice to Disabled People
When Kirsten Deane started to teach her daughter Sophie to read, it was harder than it needed to be. It wasn't so much that Sophie, 10, has Down syndrome and a hearing impairment that makes speech quite difficult for her. Ms Dean found there was a lack of technology to assist.
From www.abc.net.au, September 22, 2011
USA: Lawmakers Press FCC to Resist Industry Pressure to Short-circuit Landmark Law
Lawmakers who spearheaded efforts to get makers of smartphones, tablet computers and communications services to better meet the needs of the disabled are pressing the Federal Communications Commission to resist industry pressure to short-circuit landmark law, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.
From www.politico.com, September 22, 2011
UN Report: New Technologies Altering Healthcare Landscape
New ways of doing business, often triggered by novel technologies, have up-ended public and private sector roles in development — offering a new landscape of healthcare opportunities for women and children in developing countries, according to a UN report.
From www.scidev.net, September 22, 2011
Assistive Technology Experts Attend G3ict AT Summit in Doha, Qatar
A group of representatives of assistive technology (AT) centres and disability initiatives from around the world have gathered at Mada - Qatar Assistive Technology Centre - to discuss ways to provide expertise and support on policies and programmes that will promote assistive technologies for education, employment, recreational activities and rehabilitation.
From www.gulf-times.com, September 21, 2011
Smart and Accessible: New Awards Promote IT Applications for the Elderly
Can you develop an app to make life easier for older people or people with a disability? If so, you could win EURO50,000. Calling all IT researchers or developers working on smartphone applications for older people and people with a disability: the brand new Vodafone Foundation Smart Accessibility Awards.
From www.guardian.co.uk, September 21, 2011
Opinion: The Resurgence of Inclusive Design
In recent years we have witnessed a resurgence in the inclusive design approach. This partly due to the importance of web accessibility and the wider role it plays in delivering a great user experience to everyone. However, inclusive design is far from a new approach!
From www.nomensa.com, September 21, 2011
Opinion: Telecommuting as a Reasonable Accommodation
Before the 1990’s, many persons with disabilities who wanted to work could not because employers did not provide reasonable accommodations. With the advent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), however, companies were required to accommodate employees with special needs. It requires employers to make the workplace more accessible physically.
From www.ssbbartgroup.com, September 21, 2011
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Takes Action to Make Websites and Kiosks Accessible to Air Travelers with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in its ongoing effort to ensure equal access to air transportation for all travelers, today proposed a regulation that would require airlines to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities and ensure that their ticket agents do the same. DOT also proposed that airlines make automated airport kiosks at U.S. airports accessible to passengers with disabilities. U.S. airports that jointly own, lease or control such kiosks with airlines would also have responsibility for ensuring the accessibility of automated airport kiosks.
From www.dot.gov, September 21, 2011
