Accessibility and ACTA – by Jim Fruchterman. "Brief Comments on Accessibility Concerns on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The disability community should be concerned about ACTA for two reasons: 1. At its core it's an anti-piracy agreement. The digital measures designed to defeat piracy usually end up equating accessibility with piracy. 2. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is being negotiated in secret. We don't know if it's benign or hostile to accessibility."
http://benetech.blogspot.com/2009/11/accessibility-and-acta.html
Accessibility For iPhone And iPod touch: A Blind User's Review – by Kyle Buckley (Nilabyte.com blog). "The iPhone and iPod touch are amazing and revolutionary devices, and now, consumers who are blind or visually impaired, can use them too. I've been using the iPod touch for the past few weeks and have been testing out the accessibility tools. Although I've only tested the iPod touch, the same features and functionality are the same on the iPhone. Those with special needs, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, can use nearly every device produced by Apple. Every model of Mac, the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, and the iPhone all have built-in technology geared towards blind consumers."
http://www.nillabyte.com/blog.php?bt=952
The Accessible Dream Home – by Roxanne Furlong (NewMobility). "Curb appeal, kitchens and baths. Ask any realtor and she'll tell you those are the three areas that sell a house — they're also the bane of any wheeler's home life. Until America gets on track with universal design, or what some call visitability or 'aging in place' design, finding a home that suits our accessibility needs is nearly impossible — or at the very least requires expensive upgrades. In search of our New Mobility dream home, we talked to several wheelers who built new, gutted an old home, or renovated an existing home to create an aesthetically pleasing, seamless showplace. Yes, stylish accessibility can be costly, but what's the harm in dreaming? Besides, there are plenty of low- or no-cost renovation ideas that can help you create the home of your dreams."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11532
Accessible Technology and Broadband – by Jenifer Simpson. "I recently attended a field hearing held by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the topic of 'Broadband Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities' on Friday November 6, 2009, held at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. This field hearing was part of the FCC's effort to gather information from subject matter experts and consumers as they develop a National Broadband Plan to be sent to the US Congress by February 17, 2010. It was initiated by FCC Commissioner Copps who has always been a staunch supporter of disability issues. (View Copps photo from event here) I was delighted to hear Commissioner Copps, who spearheaded this field hearing on disability, state 'Access denied is opportunity denied...' Similar stirring statements were made by FCC Commissioners Clyburn and McDowell. My understanding is that this National Broadband Plan will include many elements of broadband connectivity and will likely address availability in regard to geographic, age, gender, socio-economic, racial, and age issues. For me, of course, it's important that people with disabilities are included."
http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/blog/accessible-technology-and-broadband
Field Hearing: People With Disabilities Need Minor Modifications for Broadband to Work – by Christina Kirchner (BroadbandBreakfast.com). "Panelists at a Federal Communications Commission field hearing on Friday agreed that there should be a national broadband plan that made high-speed internet connections accessible to everyone, including those with hearing, visual and other disabilities. 'A national broadband plan is not national if not accessible to everyone,' said Michael Richert, director of public policy for the American Foundation for the Blind. Thus far, people with hearing or visual disabilities have been limited to the resources that are offered to those without disabilities. And those have been inadequate to meet the special needs of people with disabilities, panelists said."
http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2009/11/field-hearing-people-with-disabilities-need-minor-modifications-for-broadband-to-work/
Automatic captions in YouTube – (GoogleBlog). "Since we first announced captions in Google Video and YouTube, we've introduced multiple caption tracks, improved search functionality and even automatic translation. Each of these features has had great personal significance to me, not only because I helped to design them, but also because I'm deaf. Today, I'm in Washington, D.C. to announce what I consider the most important and exciting milestone yet: machine-generated automatic captions. Since the original launch of captions in our products, we've been happy to see growth in the number of captioned videos on our services, which now number in the hundreds of thousands. This suggests that more and more people are becoming aware of how useful captions can be. As we've explained in the past, captions not only help the deaf and hearing impaired, but with machine translation, they also enable people around the world to access video content in any of 51 languages. Captions can also improve search and even enable users to jump to the exact parts of the videos they're looking for."
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/automatic-captions-in-youtube.html
Blind law school grad can see injustice – by Patty Fisher (MercuryNews.com). "Being blind didn't keep Stephanie Enyart from graduating from Stanford University. It didn't keep her from earning a law degree at UCLA. And she's determined not to let it keep her from practicing law. Enyart, 32, is suing the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which repeatedly has denied her request to take the bar exam using adaptive technology. She was a 15-year-old high school sophomore growing up in Nipomo, south of San Luis Obispo, when she learned she suffered from a rare form of macular degeneration called Stargardt's disease. Her central vision was deteriorating rapidly, and there was no way to stop it. At first, she refused to believe it."
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_13846278?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1
Paralympian Drags Himself to Plane After Airline Makes Him Check Wheelchair – (FoxNews). "A paralympic champion who dragged himself through an airport after a budget airline made him check in his wheelchair has received an apology. Kurt Fearnley had just crawled along a 60-mile jungle track in Papua New Guinea. But when he arrived at Brisbane airport a few days later, Jetstar— an offshoot of Qantas airlines — asked him to check in his wheelchair. The Australian budget airline offered him its own wheelchair, specially designed for planes, but told Fearnley he would have to be pushed by airline staff."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576816,00.html?test=latestnews
Schools shun Kindle, saying blind can't use it – by Rachel Metz (BusinessWeek). "Amazon's Kindle can read books aloud, but if you're blind it can be difficult to turn that function on without help. Now two universities say they will shun the device until Amazon changes the setup. The National Federation of the Blind planned to announce Wednesday that the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University won't consider big rollouts of the electronic reading device unless Amazon makes it more accessible to visually impaired students. Both schools have some Kindles that they bought for students to try this fall, but now they say they won't look into buying more unless Amazon makes changes to the device."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9BT4BCO0.htm
Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook photo – by Amy Luft (BusinessWeek). "A Canadian woman on sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits after her insurance agent found photos of her apparently having fun on Facebook. Nathalie Blanchard said Monday she was diagnosed with major depression and was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits until payments dried up this fall. When Blanchard called her insurance provider, Manulife, to find out why she says she was told the Facebook photos showed she was able to work."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9C5DTK80.htm
Fighting for our lives - Canada's chill wind of euthanasia – (DisabilityNow). "While disabled people across Canada are campaigning for better access, more support and greater inclusion, their lawmakers appear to be more concerned with making it easier for disabled people to choose death. Activists from Canadians with Disabilities here set out their case. Currently, in Canada, as elsewhere around the globe, poverty and disability are largely synonymous; poverty can lead to disability and disability can lead to poverty. A disproportionate number of Canada's disabled people live in poverty. Poverty is an even greater problem for disabled Aboriginals. Across the country, there is no coordinated policy response in place to address the problem of poverty. Instead, those who require income assistance and services rely on a patchwork of local/provincial/territorial and federal programs that overlap, grab back, and fail to provide adequate income and the basic supports required to remove barriers associated with disability. Approximately a half million disabled Canadians rely upon provincial welfare or upon welfare-like programs."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/world-view/fighting-for-our-lives-canadas-chill-wind-of-euthanasia
The OHRC invites public consultation on its human rights and mental health strategy development – (OHRC). "The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released its Human Rights Mental Health Strategy for public consultation. The Commission has significant concerns about the degree to which people with mental health disabilities and addictions face discrimination across sectors such as employment, housing and services. The OHRC has named mental health as one of its strategic priorities and is currently developing a human rights mental health strategy. This could involve using the functions in its mandate, such as public education, policy development, and legal intervention, to address systemic human rights concerns in key areas. In September 2009, the OHRC started meeting with individuals and organizations in the field regarding human rights concerns faced by people with mental health disabilities."
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/mentalhealth
Welfare reform creeps at snail's pace – (TheStar). "Bronwen Sims calls it Ontario's 'work disincentive program.' The 35-year-old woman, who suffers from bipolar disorder and fibromyalgia, has been living in poverty on Ontario's disability support program for the past 10 years while doctors help her battle alcoholism, depression and severe panic attacks related to her mental illness. Sims has been well enough to work part-time for the past five years. But her chances of crawling out of poverty are slim. For every dollar she earns, the province cuts 50 cents from her disability cheque and raises the rent on her subsidized apartment. Hence, Sims' derisive description for the provincial program. Now earning $17.50 an hour, Sims, for the first time, has the potential to earn slightly more than the $1,372 in monthly basic income, shelter, nutrition and employment supports she's eligible to receive through the disability program. But she still can't afford to leave 'the system' because she needs the program's drug card to pay the high cost of prescription drugs that keep her illness in check."
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/732428--welfare-reform-creeps-at-snail-s-pace
You're having a laugh! – (DisabilityNow). "Laugh and the world laughs with you, they say. But if you're disabled, it's more likely to be laughing at you. So, what's so funny about us? And who's allowed to make or laugh at jokes? And, asks Ian Macrae, is there such a thing as disability comedy Adam HillsHow sharp is your funny bone? Let's start with a little test. Actor and comedian Mat Fraser was once asked by one of those annoying people who feel it's their right to ask such things whether he'd always been 'like that'. He looked them dead in the eye and said: 'Actually, no. I woke up this morning. Fuckin' arms had dropped off!' Did that make you laugh? In the past few weeks, Jimmy Carr and 'that joke' have once again brought the subject of disability humour kicking and screaming into the spotlight."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/youre-having-a-laugh
Professional Development
Accessible Technology On-line Seminar Series – (ADA). "The goal of the Accessible Technology Webinars is to increase awareness on technology accessibility for people with disabilities. Each session is 60 minutes in length. They will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time Zone(CT) on dates specified below."
http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology/Schedule/
CDS announces second Disability Intensive Course on cerebral palsy – (Medicalnews). "The College of Direct Support (CDS), an internet-based curriculum for direct support professionals and managed in partnership by MC Strategies/Elsevier and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center, announced today that its second Disability Intensive Course (DIC) on 'Cerebral Palsy' is now available for administrators and learners to use as part of the online curriculum. It is the second of the DIC courses added to the CDS course lineup. The CDS had released a DIC course on 'Autism' earlier this year."
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20091130/CDS-announces-second-Disability-Intensive-Course-on-cerebral-palsy.aspx
Emergency Management with Special Populations Certificate Program – (Disability.gov). "Temple University's Department of Public Health, in collaboration with Temple's Center for Research Preparedness Education and Practice (C-PREP), is offering classes for preparing the public health workforce and emergency managers to address the needs of special populations in a competency based framework. ,. . . These classes are for practitioners in emergency preparedness and response, public health professionals, undergraduate students, and recent . . . . [and] are offered in an online format through the undergraduate public health program."
http://www.temple.edu/chp/departments/publichealth/emc/
New Online Course on Sexuality, Disability, and Rights – by Cory Silverberg (About.com). "I just had a chance to talk briefly with Caroline Earle from CREA about what sounds like a great new project. It's an online course offering training in disability, sexuality and rights for people working in development, health and rights NGOs and social activists. Who could this training be good for? Caroline gave the example of someone working in an HIV/AIDS clinic who would certainly be aware of how HIV impacts people's lives, but might not have made the connection to disability and get how powerful (for both individuals and organizations trying to make change) linking sexuality, gender, and disability can be as sites of political struggle." http://sexuality.about.com/b/2009/11/19/new-online-course-on-sexuality-disability-and-rights.htm
K-12
Dyslexia May Make It Tough to Tune Out School Noise – (BusinessWeek). "Students with developmental dyslexia may not be able to focus on the teacher's voice in noisy school settings that include banging lockers, scraping chairs and other auditory distractions, a U.S. study has found. Developmental dyslexia affects reading and spelling skills in 5 to 10 percent of school-age children. In their study, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago found that the brains of non-dyslexic children could ignore distractions and automatically focus on relevant, predictable and repeating auditory information. Dyslexic children didn't have this ability."
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/632866.html
Going to College – "This Web site contains information about living college life with a disability. It's designed for high school students and provides video clips, activities and additional resources that can help you get a head start in planning for college. Through several interviews, college students with disabilities from across Virginia provided key information for the site. These video clips offer a way for you to hear firsthand from students with disabilities who have been successful. Each module includes several activities that will help you to explore more about yourself, learn what to expect from college and equip you with important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college. Share these with your parents, teachers and guidance counselor — you might just teach them a thing or two."
http://www.going-to-college.org/overview/index.html
Post-Secondary
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Expands Reach to Assist More Veterans – "The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) today announces three major initiatives that will significantly expand the reach and impact of the EBV to assist in rebuilding the lives and economic potentials of U.S. veterans with disabilities."
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/558398/?sc=dwtn
Job Crunch Even Harder On People With Disabilities – by Joseph Shapiro (NPR). "As large numbers of Americans deal with losing jobs, the unemployment rates are even higher among certain groups, including men, minorities — and also people with disabilities. Lenny Kepil knows. He was laid off from his job this spring as a software test engineer. He'd been the last hired, but his whole department took a hit. 'It makes you nervous when you're laid off a long period of time. And right now, it's been seven months so far,' he says. 'So I have to get ready for the reality that things are stacking up against me.' Kepil, who lives in Naperville, Illinois, has an impressive resume with more than 26 years as a software engineer. He's also deaf. It's hard enough for anyone to find work in this recession. It's much harder for someone with a disability."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120852418
More businesses trying to hire workers with disabilities – by Josh Gore (Jacksonville.com). "Shannon Mclaughlin treasures her two Persian cats. She works four days a week at Mandarin Veterinary Clinic, mainly filing paperwork. Now, after eight years at the clinic, the 36-year-old recently learned how to use the office computer. . . . It's hard to tell while watching her work, but Mclaughlin was born with cerebral palsy, a series of disorders that changes her speech and makes her crouch over instead of sitting upright. . . . Mclaughlin can work only three hours per day, has limited endurance and can walk for only short periods of time. . . . She is one of 386,116 people with a disability employed in Florida last year. In Duval County, there were 25,955 out of 395,544 workers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey."
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-10-21/story/more_businesses_trying_to_hire_workers_with_disabilities
Overview of Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities – (Online Course- January 25 - February 22, 2010) "The success rate of small business is surprisingly high, despite widely accepted folklore to the contrary. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that over 79% of small businesses are still operating after the initial eight years. And, the long term trend in employment is smaller firms. Self employment and small business are a defining characteristic of America's economic landscape, and present a tremendous opportunity for those most challenged by the competitive labor market. Self-employment is increasingly recognized as a viable employment option for people with disabilities. Self employment for individuals with disabilities involves minimizing the fears of the prospective business-owner, as well as the rehabilitation and local small business development professionals who assist them. A person does not need to 'get ready' to own a business, if a customized approach is used. In customized self-employment, the focus is on the talents and interests of the individual and identifying personal assets. Self-employment uses a strength not deficit-based outlook."
http://www.start-up-usa.biz/training/webcourses.cfm
Returning to Work after Disability – by Katharine D. Gardner (abledbody). "Rosalind Joffe is a co-author of Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! and the founder of cicoach.com, a career-coaching practice that helps people with chronic illnesses develop workplace skills. She helps her clients return to the workforce after an extended absence and assists them in the process of succeeding in their careers."
http://abledbody.com/expertviews/2009/11/09/rosalind-joffe-returning-to-work-after-disability/
Disability savings plan a godsend for parents – by Garry Marr (Financial Post). "Former National Hockey League player Jim Kyte knows a little something about living with a disability: He was the first deaf NHL hockey player. During his pro career from 1983-1997, which included stops in Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg, Mr. Kyte made his share of money but this week he confessed much of his wealth has been directed to one of his own children born with a disability -- autism. 'They say failing to plan is planning to fail,' joked Mr. Kyte, who agreed to appear on a conference call sponsored by Bank of Montreal to promote the bank's registered disability savings plan (RDSP)."
http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=2278482
It's Here! The 2009 Holiday Guide by Disaboom Focuses on Sharing – and Surviving – the Holidays – by Debbie Marsh (Disaboom). "With a focus on creating an enjoyable—and memorable – holiday experience, the 2009 Holiday Guide by Disaboom takes on accessible travel (yes, during the holidays!), budget-friendly gift-giving, and managing holiday stress… without resorting to the liquor cabinet an undue number of times. We wanted the guide to be fun as well as really practical, with useful information for people with disabilities as well as their friends, families, and caregivers, so we brought together articles, tips, and resource links on the topics that our community members indicated would be of most interest."
http://www.disaboom.com/perspectives/its-here-the-2009-holiday-guide-by-disaboom-focuses-on-sharing-and-surviving-the-holidays
Stitch It finds 'the perfect fit' with CNIB – (CNIB). "On the cusp of National Philanthropy Day, November 15, 2009, Stitch It re-affirms its commitment to CNIB. Even through a challenging economy Stitch It continues to show support for CNIB in communities across Canada, by providing funds and generating awareness about CNIB's programs and services targeted to people who are blind or partially sighted. Stitch It is Canada's only national clothing alteration chain offering complete clothing alteration services at their 99 locations in local communities across Canada. These locations donate 10 per cent of the proceeds from product wall sales to support CNIB's vision health services and programs in each community. To date, Stitch It has donated $20,000 to CNIB, the first part of a pledge of $100,000 over five years."
http://www.cnib.ca/en/news/archive/20091112-stitchit.aspx
Government
Canada
CNIB applauds government's investment in eye health for blind and partially-sighted New Brunswickers – (CNIB). "CNIB applauds the New Brunswick government's $300,000 investment in retinal surgery equipment at St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint John and for adding Lucentis to the provincial drug benefit list. Lucentis is a groundbreaking treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, which is an eye condition that causes severe and rapid loss of central vision."
http://www.cnib.ca/en/news/archive/20091117-lucentis_nb.aspx
Support for Seniors, Persons With Disabilities, and Northern Housing – "In September 2008, the Government of Canada announced $1.9 billion over five years, for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians.New in Canada's Economic Action Plan
· $400 million to build more housing for low-income seniors
· $75 million for new housing for people with disabilities
· $200 million for Northern Housing"
http://www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan/susepedi/index.cfm
US
Commissioner Astrue Asks Inspector General to Investigate California and Hawaii Disability Determination Services – (Disability.gov). "Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today asked the agency's Inspector General to investigate allegations that the states of California and Hawaii have recently implemented practices that deny applicants the right to receive full consideration of their Social Security disability claims. . . At a hearing before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security yesterday, Congressman Filner (D-CA) testified that the California DDS is denying the claims of disability applicants who fail to return a 25-page report within 20 days – a practice which has been adopted since the institution of furloughs. He reported that one office had closed 30 percent of its cases due to the applicants' failure to return the completed form within 20 days. In addition, he testified the California DDS may be manipulating its service numbers by assigning claims to fictional examiners or supervisors. According to the Congressman, this scheme would allow the DDS to hide the fact these cases are not actually being reviewed."
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/dds-letter-pr.htm
Health/Wellness
Baby Boomers May Prove More Disabled Than Their Elders – (HealthDay News). "Baby boomers in the United States may enter their 60s with far more physical disabilities than previous generations, which could spell trouble for an already overburdened health-care system. That's the finding of University of California, Los Angeles researchers who analyzed data from the 1988 and 1999 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys to identify changes in disability trends among older adults. The study authors looked at four areas of disability: basic daily living activities, such as walking from room to room and getting in and out of bed; instrumental activities, such as doing household chores or preparing meals; mobility, including walking one-quarter mile or climbing 10 steps without stopping for rest; and functional limitations, such as stooping, crouching or kneeling."
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/632970.html
Heart Disease and Women with Disabilities: Don't Be a Statistic – by Kim Donahue (Disaboom). "Research indicates that heart disease far outpaces breast cancer in terms of annual death rates for women. On top of that, women with disabilities who are physically inactive are likely to be at even higher risk for cardiovascular disease than their able-bodied counterparts, according to the National Council on Disability's report, 'The Current State of Health Care for People with Disabilities.' The good news: your choices can often strongly affect your outcomes."
http://www.disaboom.com/disability-health-and-wellness-general/Women-with-Disabilities-and-Heart-Healthy-Living
Self-care: Why Parents of Children with Disabilities Must Nurture Themselves – by Kara Ayers (Disaboom). "Parenting children with disabilities can be an exceptionally rewarding experience characterized by challenges and triumphs. In addition to traditional parenting responsibilities, parents of children with disabilities must also fulfill the disability-related caregiving needs of their children. Many parents tackle these tasks day after day with little or no caregiver support. Families with special needs are at risk of experiencing the adverse effects of caregiver burnout if parents do not prioritize the necessity to nurture themselves and meet their own needs. What's at Risk? Research on families of children with disabilities indicates several important risk factors for parents to consider. Parents of children with disabilities are more likely to experience major life events, including divorce, surgeries, and frequent moves. They are also more likely to experience a greater number of daily hassles compared to parents of typical children."
http://www.disaboom.com/children-with-disabilities/self-care-why-parents-of-children-with-disabilities-must-nurture-themselves
What's in the Healthcare Bill for Americans with Disabilities? – by Dan Lawton (Disaboom). "The passage of the Affordable Health Care Act by the House of Representatives on November 7, paves the way for a number of disability-related reforms. The bill, which passed 220-215, has a tough road ahead in the Senate, as many Congressional Republicans have stated their opposition. The legislation has a number of crucial components that will affect
Americans with disabilities, some of which disability advocacy groups have been lobbying in support of for years."
http://www.disaboom.com/healthcare-issues-and-advocacy/healthcare-overview-for-people-with-disabilities
Legal
Twenty-Six Charged in Nationwide Scheme to Defraud the FCC's Video Relay Service Program – "Indictments were unsealed today against 26 people charged with engaging in a scheme to steal millions of dollars from the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Video Relay Service (VRS) program, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Assistant Director of the FBI's Washington Field Office Joseph Persichini Jr., Deputy Chief Postal Inspector Zane Hill, and FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus."
http://www.icdri.org/legal/VRSFraud.htm
Historic Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act Takes Effect – (Disability.gov). "In the first legislative expansion of its jurisdiction since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Saturday will assume responsibility for enforcing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). . . Specifically, the law prohibits the use of genetic information in making employment decisions, restricts the acquisition of genetic information by employers and others, imposes strict confidentiality requirements, and prohibits retaliation against individuals who oppose actions made unlawful by GINA or who participate in proceedings to vindicate rights under the law or aid others in doing so. The same remedies, including compensatory and punitive damages, are available under Title II of GINA as are available under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA."
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/11-20-09.cfm
National Federation of the Blind Commends Parties to Google Settlement – (508Portal.com). "The National Federation of the Blind today commended Google, the Association of American Publishers, and the Authors Guild for retaining important provisions in the amended settlement relating to the Google Books project that will allow people who are blind or have other print disabilities to access the books that Google makes available to the public. The amended settlement between Google and authors and publishers regarding the Google Books project, if approved by the courts, will have a profound and positive impact on the ability of blind people to access the printed word."
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-federation-of-the-blind-commends-parties-to-google-settlement-70299682.html
http://www.508portal.com/?q=node/733
Media
ABC to Air "A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities" – (NSCIA). "Diva Communications, Inc., a three-time Emmy award-winning programming and production company, has complete 'A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities,' a unique interfaith documentary due to begin airing on ABC stations in December. The documentary, produced in conjunction with the New York Board of Rabbis, had the support of an extraordinary lineup of faith groups including the National Council of Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ and the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops. The faiths' relationship with persons with persons with disabilities is a critical issue since it is estimated that 1 out of 5 Americans has a disability."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=2403
"Glee" Hits Bump with People who are Disabled – by Lynn Elber (NSCIA). "The glee club members twirl their wheelchairs to the tune of 'Proud Mary' and in joyful solidarity with Artie, the fellow performer who must use his chair even when the music stops. The scene in Wednesday's episode of the hit Fox series 'Glee,' which regularly celebrates diversity and the underdog, is yet another uplifting moment - except to those in the entertainment industry with disabilities and their advocates. For them, the casting of a non-disabled actor to play the paraplegic high school student is another blown chance to hire a performer who truly fits the role. 'I think there's a fear of litigation, that a person with disabilities might slow a production down, fear that viewers might be uncomfortable,' said Robert David Hall, longtime cast member of CBS' 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=2400
Kinshasa heat – (DisabilityNow). "From busking in their home city to a genre-defining funk album and sold out UK tour, Staff Benda Bilili are taking their unique Congolese sound around the world. Cathy Reay went to meet and see them in action In the Congo we play on the streets in front of restaurants, or wherever we know that there are people who might pay us something. Leon 'Ricky' Likabu is about to get the shock of his life. He's speaking to us just hours before he is set to join the rest of his band of paraplegic melody makers on a stage in front of 1,500 plus people at London's Barbican Centre, who have individually paid more to see them than they might make in a day on the streets of their home town, Kinshasa. This is the beginning of the biggest tale of rags-to-riches you are going to hear this year. And the greatest thing? Nobody believed they could do it."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/entertainment/arts/kinshasa-heat
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Profiles an Inspiring Organization for Paralyzed Football Players When the Show Returns Nov. 24 on HBO – (NSCIA). "Gridiron Heroes. After suffering a catastrophic neck injury during a high school football game in 2001, Schertz, Tex. resident Chris Canales faced the challenge of living paralyzed from the neck down. His first year of recovery was especially difficult. In Dec. 2002, when his depression was at its worst, Chris's father, Eddie Canales, made an unorthodox attempt to cheer his son up that would forever change their lives: He took Chris to a football game. During the contest they saw a player suffer a catastrophic neck injury similar to Chris's and, without flinching, went straight to the hospital to offer counsel and support to the player and his family. Father and son quickly saw the value of the unique assistance they could provide and created the nonprofit organization Gridiron Heroes to raise money and lend support to paralyzed high school football players and their families. In a REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated profile, correspondent Jon Frankel looks at this amazing organization and the inspirational leaders behind it."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=2399
Richard Dreyfuss Navigates the Highs and Lows of Bipolar Disorder – by Catherine Mabe (Disaboom). "Actor Richard Dreyfuss has referred to himself as 'a secular, agnostic Jew.' But his real life is even more colorful than the picture his own description paints. He's been married three times. He's won an Academy Award for Best Actor and was nominated for another. And he's probably best known for his roles in the movies counted among the most important in American film history: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and American Graffiti to name just a few. Yet Dreyfuss's roles off-screen are more complex than any of the characters he's played."
http://www.disaboom.com/movies/richard-dreyfuss-navigates-the-highs-and-lows-of-bipolar-disorder
Seasons of Seasons – by Tim Gilmer (NewMobility). "Since the early 1980s Walnut Hill Farm has been growing and delivering veggies to restaurants and markets in the Portland, Ore., metro area. A year ago a TV crew came to my farm to film a Public Broadcasting episode of 'Chefs A'Field.' . . . In the preview of the PBS episode that will air this month, I see myself saying, 'The best way I can define my disability is, if I'm doing my job, my disability will be invisible.' In other words, my farming accomplishments can be measured by the product in the box — the tomatoes or beans or basil — not by anything about me."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11522
Medical
Battle of the Blades benefits spinal-cord injury – by Quinn Phillips (ExpressNews). "Medical researchers at the University of Alberta are doing triple lutzes today after learning they will receive a $100,000 donation as the result of a former Edmonton Oiler and an Olympic figure skater winning the 'Battle of the Blades.' Craig Simpson and Jamie Salé received the most votes and took home the grand prize Monday night in the finale of the CBC hit, which saw retired hockey players paired with figure skaters in the elimination-style reality series. The money goes to their charity of choice, which is the northern Alberta Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society, a charity Simpson has been involved with for 21 years and a group committed to raising money to recruit a world leader in spinal-cord research to the U of A."
http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=10604
MS Is More Aggressive in Children but Slower to Cause Disability Than in Adults, Say Researchers – (RehabManagement). "Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in childhood show that pediatric onset multiple sclerosis is more aggressive, and causes more brain lesions, than MS diagnosed in adulthood, according to researchers at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. Interestingly, however, patients with pediatric-onset MS—who comprise up to 5% of total MS cases—develop disabilities at a slower pace than patients with adult-onset MS, the data showed."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-11-19_02.asp
Policy/Research
Consumer Expert Group report into the use of the Internet by disabled people: barriers and solutions – "The Consumer Expert Group (CEG) was asked in the Digital Britain Report to report on the specific issues facing disabled people using the Internet. This report responds to that request. This report will inform the government's long-term strategy, as well as the immediate work that is being done by both the Consortium for the Promotion of Digital Participation and by the Champion for Digital Inclusion, Martha Lane Fox, in their work to get people online."
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6378.aspx
The three ghosts of poverty: Being a caregiver can affect your financial health – by Sheri Torjman (The Toronto Star). "Unlike the ghouls that make an appearance only on Oct. 31, there are three ghosts that haunt millions of Canadians every day. These ghosts of poverty stalk far too many households involved in providing personal care and support to relatives with severe disabilities, or sick and aging parents. The caregiving role can create serious financial strains. First, many seniors and persons with disabilities live on low incomes; caregivers often spend much of their own money for basic food, heat and shelter required by those receiving care. Second, caregivers' own employment status and income can be jeopardized by the pressures of their caregiving responsibilities. Third, caregivers often have to pay the additional cost of disability related goods and services not covered by medicare or private insurance."
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/718716
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/831ENG.pdf (Caledon report)
FACT SHEET: ODSP Adjudication of Addictions – "People with addictions to drugs and / or alcohol may now be eligible for benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program."
http://cleonet.ca/resource_files/1252433804AddictionsAdjudication-Aug2009.pdf
Crash Victim Trapped in 'Coma' for 23 Years Was Conscious, Now Communicates – (RehabManagement). "The Guardian, UK, reports that for 23 years, Rom Houben was trapped in his own body, unable to communicate with his doctors or family, who presumed he was in a vegetative state following a near-fatal car crash in 1983. Physicians used a state-of-the-art scanning system on the brain of the martial arts enthusiast, which showed it was functioning almost normally, the newspaper says. Steven Laureys, a neurologist at the University of Liège, Belgium, has published a scientific paper saying Houben could be one of many falsely diagnosed coma cases around the world. Houben is at a facility near Brussels and now communicates via a computer with a special keyboard activated with his right hand, which is capable of minimal movement. He said his body was paralyzed after the crash. Although he could hear every word his doctors spoke, he could not communicate with them."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-11-24_01.asp
Residential Design For People With Neurological Disability – (RehabManagement). "IOS Press, Amsterdam, has devoted the November 2009 publication of a special issue of NeuroRehabilitation: An International Journal to residential design for people with neurodisability. While many agree that the nature of the long-term living environment can improve quality of life and minimize safety risks for those who are cognitively, behaviorally, and/or physically challenged due to neurodisability, residential design factors are often either ignored or minimally considered, says the publisher. The issue spotlights community based residential design by presenting a compendium of design perspectives, insights, and practical information not available elsewhere, according to the publisher."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2009-11-24_02.asp
Sports & Recreation
IPC: Athletes With Intellectual Disabilities Can Compete In Future Paralympics - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "After nearly a decade of being banned from the Paralympics -- by no fault of their own -- athletes with intellectual disabilities will be allowed to compete in the 2012 Games in London. During this week's General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the International Paralympic Committee voted to allow such athletes to again be included in future games. The IPC stopped allowing athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate in January 2001 after it was learned that 10 members of Spain's gold-medal winning Paralympic basketball team at the 2000 Sydney Games had no disabilities. . . . After the 2000 games, the IPC said that it would not allow athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate until there was a way to keep bogus athletes from cheating the system. Athletes with intellectual disabilities and their supporters pressured the IPC to change its ruling, calling the ban a blatant form of discrimination."
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2009/11/24/112409intsports.htm
Technology
Blind Readers Blast Intel's "Ghetto" Text-to-Speech Device – (abledbody). "I wonder if Intel feels sheepish right now. Here they are, thinking they've just launched a great new product for the blind, a mobile device that reads text aloud. Intel partnered with assistive tech pioneer HumanWare and reached out to the blind community to get their input, too. But the Intel Reader, announced yesterday, has pretty much bombed in the marketplace. At $1,500, the Reader is overpriced and doesn't have any more bells and whistles than other devices already out there. Intel should have known this would happen — or perhaps they don't really care. After all, if they can get schools to pay for it under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, then they'll make money."
http://abledbody.com/profoundlyyours/2009/11/11/blind-readers-blast-intels-ghetto-text-to-speech-device/
A camera that reads text aloud – Posted by Jon Fortt (Brainstormtech.blogs). "When Ben Foss's father in law was dying of liver cancer months ago, friends suggested Foss read 'How We Die' to help the family with the grieving process. Foss has dyslexia, and finding an audio version of the book or scanning it into a computer typically would be an ordeal. But in this case he was able to plow through it at 250 words per minute. Foss did it with an early version of the Intel (INTC) Reader, a $1,500 device he dreamed up along with colleagues in Intel's Digital Health Group. The device launches today as the first consumer product from the five-year-old group. And though its name seems to place it in the same category as trendy ebook readers from Amazon (AMZN), Sony (SNE) and Barnes & Noble (BKS), this reader is profoundly different."
http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/11/10/a-camera-that-reads-text-aloud/
Free Software Helps People with Limited Dexterity Stay Connected – (508Portal.com). "With a relatively low-cost input device and free software offered by the Sue Center, people living with MS can communicate with one another on the computer without the use of their hands. Sue Center users purchase a Smart Nav device, a hands-free ergonomic mouse that allows complete control of a computer through a reflective dot on the forehead that follows natural head movements."
http://www.mymsmyway.com/resources_tools/tech_connect_archive/tech_connect_2009_10.php
http://www.508portal.com/?q=node/728
Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia – (AbilityNet). "The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia (GATE) is a Wiki, or piece of software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. It's a little bit like Wikipedia, but just concentrating on assistive technology. GATE is very simple to use, with a control panel enabling you to add content and more."
http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/
Gujarati's 'Ability' to beat disability wins Unesco award – by Kulsum Yusuf (TNN). "After graduating from LD College of Engineering in computer engineering and working with MNCs, Bipin Agravat, 34, would often spend time with the children of his village Thanagalol in Jetpur taluka of Rajkot, teaching them how to operate computers. It was here that he met a 13-year-old speech impaired girl. 'It took me one hour to teach her tasks that other children picked up easily because I could not communicate with her,' he says. 'I decided to create a software that would break this barrier.' Today, Agravat has been honoured by Unesco for creating a unique software 'Ability'. It bridges the disability divide. It converts typed text into both animated sign language and sound and can be connected to both a computer and a mobile phone."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Gujaratis-Ability-to-beat-disability-wins-Unesco-award/articleshow/5256195.cms
IBM Accessibility Internet Browser for Multimedia (aiBrowser) – "The IBM Accessibility Internet Browser for Multimedia (aiBrowser) is an Internet browser for visually impaired users that provides multimedia control features and alternative user interfaces with external metadata."
http://ow.ly/ypwo
Live from NCTI 2009: Developing the Net Generation – (abledbody). "An eclectic group of social entrepreneurs and educators are creating new solutions for teaching a new generation, including those with disabilities. Moderator Alan Brightman, senior policy director of special communities for Yahoo!, spoke with panelists on how to engage students using technology."
http://abledbody.com/profoundlyyours/2009/11/16/live-from-ncti-2009-developing-the-net-generation/
Live from NCTI 2009: Powering Students with Technology – (abledbody). "The 2009 NCTI Technology Innovators Conference focuses on how learning and assistive technologies can supercharge education for all students. At the start of the morning session, here are five trends that will unleash the power of assistive technology in the classroom: 1. Convergence. . . . 2. Customizability. . . . 3. Evidence-based Research. . . . 4. Portability. . . . 5. Interoperability."
http://abledbody.com/profoundlyyours/2009/11/16/live-from-ncti-2009-powering-students-with-technology/
Tailwind Takes You to New Heights, Effortlessly – (Disaboom). "How many times have you passed up a walk with friends or family because your wheelchair just wasn't up to that uneven terrain, or propelling yourself up that hilly path was simply too exhausting? Well, it's time to start joining the fun. The effortless, resistance-free propelling offered by our new TAILWIND power-assist wheelchair means you can navigate that uneven terrain without fear, and cruise up that path with ease."
http://www.disaboom.com/mobility-equipment-technology/sponsored-by-next-mobility
Towson U., National Federation of the Blind re-invent CAPTCHA – (BaltTech). "Researchers at Towson University and the National Federation of the Blind, based here in Baltimore, have come up with a new and more accessible twist on the CAPTCHA services -- you know, those squiggly, hard-to-read letters us humans are forced to enter in a Web application to verify that we're human and not malicious bots."
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/technology/2009/11/towson_u_national_federation_o.html
Windows 7 Features New Ways to Make Your Computer Easier to Use – by Ellen Kampel (MyMSmyway). "On October 22, Microsoft released the newest version of Windows -- Windows 7. If you are one of the millions of people using this operating system, you'll want to learn more about the free accessibility options and programs in Windows 7 that let you customize your computer for maximum comfort and efficiency."
https://www.mymsmyway.com/resources_tools/tech_connect_archive/tech_connect_2009_11.php
Conferences
( New Conferences)
Canada
26th International Seating Symposium – March 10-13, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "This international symposium addresses current and future developments in the areas of seating, positioning and mobility. Topic areas include service delivery, product development, research and evaluation. The format for the symposium will include plenary, poster, instructional and paper sessions. Extensive opportunities are provided for networking with colleagues."
http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/26th_Seating.htm
DRN 2010 "Pathways To Success: The Power of Inquiry, Connections & Mentorship" – May 17-18, 2010 | Vancouver, BC." The DRN Conference Planning Committee is pleased to invite you to the 2010 annual conference, which will bring together once again, practitioners in both programs and services in post-secondary institutions from around the province, along with community based programs. This year, we are also looking forward to including representatives from lower mainland secondary schools with a view to strengthen the transition process for students. This year's theme aims to bring you new information through inquiry, expand and strengthen your efforts through connections among all stakeholders, and foster success through mentorship. Featuring international keynote speakers, such as David Harp : internationally- acclaimed writer and teacher of cognitive psychology and cognitive science , actor Geri Jewell and much, much more!"
http://www.drnbc.org/newsDetail.cfm?DNWS_NEWS_ID=760
College Committee on Disability Issues 22nd Annual Conference – May 17 - 20, 2010 | Huntsville, Ontario." The College Committee on Disability Issues (CCDI) invites you to join us at Deerhurst Conference Centre for the 22nd Annual conference. Titled 'It All Starts Here - Transitioning from Secondary School to College or University' the conference program will provide a variety relevant tracks designed to provoke thought and discussion and will highlight transitioning from secondary school to College or University to employment. The conference is three days of skill building and partnerships to promote success for students with disabilities. For: Disability Specialists; Assistive Technologists; Learning Strategists; Counsellors; Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants; parents; and students the conference is three days of learning and networking which will enlighten and energize each conference delegate."
http://www.ccdiconference.org/
International Society for Gerontechnology 7th World Conference – May 27-30, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Internationally recognized experts in gerontechology will share their knowledge and experience through lectures, symposia, workshops, papers and posters. Topics to be addressed will include rehabilitation engineering, robotics, telemonitoring, telecare, ICT, biomechanics and ergonomics, assistive technology, inclusive design and
usability, smart homes and smart fabrics, sensor technology, and cognitive aging and computer games."
http://www.sfu.ca/isg2010/about/index.html
2010 CDSA-ACEI Conference – June 2-4, 2010 | Montreal, Quebec. "The Congress 2010 theme is 'Connected Understanding – Le savoir branché' and encapsulates the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research and the importance of connecting the academic world with users of knowledge from all sectors. It also refers to the impact of the rise of digital technology on scholarly research."
http://www.cdsa-acei.ca/conference.html
Shine 2010 CACUSS Conference – June 20-23, 2010 | Edmonton Alberta. "On June 20th 2010 we welcome you, our student services colleagues from across Canada and the world to Edmonton, Alberta. This year our theme is 'Shine: Light it Up in Edmonton'. During these trying times of economic recession our institutions are facing pressures from many sources that are testing our student service capabilities daily. And so, our simple theme is meant to celebrate what we do and to shine some light into the variety of challenges we deal with daily. In doing so we plan to celebrate solutions, share the difficulties, focus on the positives and embrace the possibilities."
http://www.cacuss2010.ca/
U.S.
WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson 's Disease and Related Disorders – December 13-16, 2009 | Miami Beach, Florida. "Celebrate 50 Years of Scientific Advancement in Parkinson's Disease. In 2009 the WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson 's Disease and Related Disorders celebrates half a century as a leading international summit for clinicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide seeking real solutions to improve the long-term outcomes for Parkinson 's patients. Over 3,000 participants are expected to attend this biennial Parkinson 's Disease congress – the eighteenth organized by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) 'Research Group on Parkinsonism and Related Disorders'."
http://www2.kenes.com/parkinson/Pages/Home.aspx
2010 IARP Case Management/Disability Management Conference – February 11-13, 2010 | Scottsdale, Arizona. "The first Case Management & Disability Management Section Conference will take place Feb. 11-13, 2010, at the beautiful Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. This will be a fantastic opportunity to shake off the winter blues and cold weather for many of our members, or for others an occasion to enjoy all that the area has to offer. The programs offered at this conference are based on the needs expressed by our members in response to membership surveys conducted over the past two years."
http://www.rehabpro.org/events/2010-CM-DM
In Such a Time as This…Responding Wisely in Difficult Times – March 7-9, 2010 | Durham, North Carolina. "As we experience budget and service cuts, it seems increasingly difficult to be successful without seriously damaging our values. But we can continue to be successful – if we are willing to learn from our past and the innovations that today are making a difference in the lives of people who experience disability. Join us as we examine creativity and collaboration with renewed hope. Join us as we learn to engage with people who experience disability in new and constructive ways. Join us as we throw off unnecessary limitations and find new solutions – for such a time as this."
http://craconferences.com/
The 25th Annual International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference - March 22-27, 2010.|.San Diego, California. – "The conference strives to present a best-practices approach for the education of students, professionals and consumers involved with the many aspects of technology and disability. Your experience, gained through practical applications and/or research, is vital to the promotion of effective assistive technology practices on a widespread basis."
http://www.csunconference.org/index.cfm?EID=80000218
2010 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium Equality, Difference, and The Right to Live in the World – April 15-16, 2010 | Baltimore, Maryland. "To carry forward the work of Dr. Jacobus tenBroek in assuring that all citizens may have the opportunity for full participation in the society in which we live, the National Federation of the Blind is hosting the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium. The 2010 symposium will consist of plenary sessions and workshops facilitated by distinguished law professors, practitioners, and advocates who will discuss the concepts of equality and difference as they relate to the disabled in employment, education, medical treatment, and access to technology."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Law_Symposium.asp
The Third Pacific Rim International Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - April 12 & 13, 2010 | Hawai'i. "The 2010 Pacific Rim International Forum will focus on the convention on rights of persons with disabilities with special attention to education and employment. With its beginnings dating back to 1985, the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities has evolved into one of the top rated international educational offerings for and from persons with disabilities, family members, researchers, service providers, policymakers and nationally recognized professionals in the various disciplines in the diverse field of disabilities.Pac Rim continues to provide cutting-edge opportunities to learn from one another, share resources and ideas that support the quality of life, community inclusion, and self-determination for all persons with disabilities and their families and help shape our world community."
http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
7th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility – April 26–27, 2010 | Raleigh, North Carolina. "A revolution in the information society is now starting, based on the use of mobile phones in developing countries. The hyper-growth of mobile phone penetration is deeply changing the lives of people in most of the world; their ways of communicating, working, learning, and structuring their societies. The promising next step is obviously to access the Web. The Web has already touched the lives of over a billion people and now is the time for the next billions. However, this expansion faces unprecedented accessibility challenges. Even the word 'accessibility' needs a new definition for people in the developing regions. How can someone who is illiterate or barely literate access the Web? In some cases, a language may not even have a written form. The affordability of the technology is also a challenge, while access is constrained by low computational power, limited bandwidth, compact keyboards, tiny screens, and even by the lack of electric power. All of these constraints compound the problems of access and inclusion."
http://www.w4a.info/2010/
2010 International VSA Arts Festival – June 6-12, 2010 | Washington, D.C. "From June 6-12, 2010, VSA arts will bring together artists, educators, researchers, and policy makers with disabilities from around the world for a multicultural celebration of the arts and arts education. Featuring visual, performing, literary, media artists, and a guest list that includes over two thousand participants from all corners of the globe. . . A primary goal of the International Festival is to provide information and effective strategies that can be translated from theory to practice for use in the home, community, or classroom. With this goal in mind, the 2010 International VSA arts Festival will convene an International Education Conference at the downtown Grand Hyatt Washington, June 10–12, 2010. Focusing on three areas—21st -Century Learning, Inclusive Education, and Pathways to Employment—the conference features several notable keynotes including percussionist Evelyn Glennie, Kenneth Eklindh of UNESCO, and noted author and arts educator Sir Ken Robinson."
http://www.vsarts.org/x5992.xml
RESNA 2010 and the International Symposium on Quality of Life Technology – June 26-30, 2010 | Las Vegas, Nevada. "Call for papers: Scientific and Student Scientific Papers will be due January 18, 2010. Instructions for submitting these papers will be forthcoming."
http://www.resna.org/conference/index.php
Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters - July 12-15, 2010 | Boston, Massachusetts. "The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has estimated that between 1987 and 2007, about 26 million older people were affected each year by natural disasters alone and that this figure could more than double by 2050 due to the rapidly changing demographics of ageing. Correspondingly, a recent report by Baylor College of Medicine and the American Medical Association (Recommendations for Best Practices in the Management of Elderly Disaster Victims) has computed that 74% of the approximately 1,200 people who died as a result of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans were over 60 years old and 50% were over age 75. The elderly comprised only 11.7% of the total population."
http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/rscepd
International Forum on Disability Management 2010 - September 20-22, 2010 | Los Angeles, California. "IFDM 2010 will advance disability management knowledge and initiatives to:
· Realize the aspirations of people with disabilities to find and maintain meaningful employment.
· Support employers in achieving productive and stable workforces.
· Educate human resource, workers' compensation, and disability specialists on successful techniques to accomplish desired outcomes.
· Advocate for public policy initiatives that provide better social protection and economic empowerment for everyone."
http://www.ifdm2010.com/
Overseas
12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) – June 2-4, 2010 | Hong Kong. "The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) is proud to announce that the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) will take place in Hong Kong in 2010. The theme of TRANSED 2010 is Sustainable Transport & Travel for All. Held every three years, TRANSED conferences are milestone events in the field of accessible transportation, attracting researchers, policy-makers, transport operators, consumers and other specialists worldwide to share innovations and best practices in order to make transportation and mobility accessible to everyone."
http://www.transed2010.hk/front/#
12th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs – July 14-16, 2010 | Vienna Austria. "Over the last decades the advancements in Assistive Technologies (AT) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have significantly influenced the life of people with disabilities. According changes in awareness and understanding of disability as well as social and legal frameworks, driven by Disability Rights and Independent Living Movements led to what is known as eAccessibility, Universal Design or eInclusion. The more ICT and AT increases, people with disabilities are enabled to take part in almost any area of life, and eInclusion and eAccessibility become a common responsibility of mainstream ICT development. In 2008 ICCHP summarised this process in the equation 'equality =eQuality'. 'Equality', equal access and, therefore, equal chances in society are dependant on 'eQuality', the quality of systems and servicesin taking the needs of all users into account including those with disabilities. Interfacing the existing and emerging Human-Computer Interface is and will stay a key issue."
http://www.icchp.org/node/194