Accessibility Standards Legislation: A Strategic Options Paper Prepared for Barrier-Free Manitoba – by Cara Wilkie and David Baker (Barrier-Free Manitoba). "This paper is intended to guide informed discussion within the disability community on the content of the proposed legislation on key aspects of accessibility-standards legislation that should be considered in the design and development of legislation in Manitoba. In this paper the available options are measured against the nine principles that Barrier-Free Manitoba developed for the legislation."
http://www.barrierfreemb.com/feature
Access is a right and good public policy – by Harry Wolbert (The Winnipeg Sun). "Access and accessibility are no longer just disability issues. And access means more than just the building of ramps or the sloping of sidewalk curbs. With an aging population and seniors who wish to age in place, access and accessibility are issues which benefit us all and not just persons with disabilities. We will be hearing a whole lot more about the concept of 'liveable communities' in the coming months."
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/columnists/2010/05/03/13811951.html
Fast-food eatery shoos blind woman's guide dog – by Kevin Rollason (Winnipeg Free Press). "A Winnipeg woman can't believe a McDonald's manager would be blind to the law allowing guide dogs in places open to the public. Renee Brady, who has relied on her six-year-old golden retriever to be her eyes for the last five years, said she was taken aback when the manager of the restaurant at Main Street and Mountain Avenue told her on Wednesday she had to eat her food outside because of the dog."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/fast-food-eatery-shoos-blind-womans-guide-dog-94646939.html
The view from the chair – by Lindor Reynolds (Winnipeg Free Press). "Talk to half a dozen people active in disability issues and you'll get half a dozen answers as to how accessible Winnipeg is and how much more needs to be done. The basic framework has been laid: cut curbs to roll a wheelchair up and down, an increase in the number of ramps at public buildings, more doors that open with the press of a button and a building code that requires retrofitted buildings to be made accessible if more than 50 per cent of the original building is being renovated. Under most circumstances the provincial government will not lease buildings unless they are accessible. Winnipeg has a number of transit buses with drop down floors to allow wheelchairs to roll on. Huge steps have been made. Activists say it's not enough."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/fyi/the-view-from-the-chair-94646539.html
Disability 101: Accessibility in grocery stores – by Sandy Lahmann (The Daily). "The Americans with Disabilities Act requires stores to meet a minimum level of accessibility so people can get into the store and access goods and services. However, there's a higher standard, a best practices standard, which will attract people with disabilities and their wallets. I offer the Mayonnaise Incident, an experience I had at my local grocery store a couple years ago."
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20100510/NEWS/100509796/1078&ParentProfile=1055
Charting a Path Forward: Report of the Independent Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 – "In June 2009, I was appointed by the Ontario government to conduct an independent review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). The subject matter of this review is vitally important to the people of Ontario because accessibility for persons with disabilities strengthens our society, our economy and our quality of life. The purpose of this groundbreaking legislation is to make Ontario accessible to persons with disabilities by developing, implementing and enforcing standards with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises. The standards will break down barriers in key areas of daily living. Improvements will be phased in, with reviews every five years, moving toward an accessible Ontario by 2025. Standards are to be developed with the involvement of persons with disabilities, the Ontario government, the broader public sector and the private and not-for-profit sectors."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/publications/accessibility/charles_beer/tableOfContents.aspx
Flying High - The Sky Is No Limit for Pilot Jessica Cox – by Floyd Allen (Abilities.ca). "Being born without arms has never stopped Jessica Cox from doing anything she sets her mind to. She swims, bikes, surfs, scuba dives, tap dances and has two black belts in tae kwon do. She is also an accomplished and certified pilot. 'I have always approached life from a somewhat different perspective,' she explains. 'I have never felt that being born without arms was particularly a challenge, physically. I found it to be more of an emotional and psychological challenge.' While she developed a natural adaptability to do everything without her arms, the uniqueness of her appearance did create some issues when she was growing up."
http://www.abilities.ca/people/2010/05/19/jessica_cox/
Future Web Accessibility: SVG – by Aaron Andersen (Web Aim). "This is the fifth in a multipost series about the immediate and likely future of web accessibility. Each week or so I'll discuss a different upcoming technology, tag, platform, or system from an accessibility perspective."
http://webaim.org/blog/future-web-accessibility-svg/
High Schoolers Use Physics Lessons To Tackle Accessibility Issues – by Shaun Heasley (Disability Scoop). "Students in an innovative high school physics class are using their knowledge to offer individuals with disabilities access to everything from gardening tools to video games. Through a partnership with United Cerebral Palsy, high school juniors and seniors taking an applied physics and design course at two Philadelphia-area schools work to identify and solve everyday problems that people with disabilities encounter. In past years, students tackled shredders, sports equipment and gardening tools. This year, they worked to make Nintendo's Wii game system accessible for individuals with limited use of their arms and those with poor motor control."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/25/wii-device/8774/
Making Recruiting Sites Accessible for All – "The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is sending employers an important message: 'Talent has no boundaries; workforce diversity includes workers with disabilities.' As employers begin to hire once again, therefore, they had better make sure that applicants with disabilities can find and compete for jobs just like everyone else. DOL's message is actually the 2010 theme for October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to remind employers that there's a large pool of talent waiting to contribute. According to April 2010 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than a quarter of the potential labor force of Americans with disabilities are employed (22 percent), compared with more than two-thirds of the labor force without disabilities (70 percent)."
http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/Diversity/Articles/Pages/RecruitingSitesAccessible.aspx
Ontario Marks National Access Awareness Week – "Ontario is celebrating National Access Awareness Week and marking the fifth anniversary of the province's groundbreaking Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. The first standard to be implemented under the act - for accessible customer service - is already in place for the broader public sector. By January 1, 2012, Ontario businesses will also have to meet the standard."
http://www.news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2010/05/ontario-marks-national-access-awareness-week-1.html
Project MUSICC - Multi-Sensory Information on Climate Change – "Most countries are forced to face the issues of global warming with more seriousness than before. Our children need to be taught about this situation and the likely implications on their future lifestyles. For those who have a sensory impairment access to such information may be denied through lack of adaptive systems and materials. Although teaching material are now beginning to appear, very little work has been done in establishing a methodology of explaining the visual and graphical images needed to cover such a scientific subject in a format accessible to those with a sensory impairment. In developing such materials, adaptation to hearing impairments will fall well within the scope of achievement. This project would like to establish a methodology for explaining the links to global warming and climate change (often graphical) and deliver this vital information in an accessible, adaptable and assimilateable manner."
http://musiccproject.eu/
Study Reveals Digital Divide In New Generation Of Mobile Phone Based Payment Systems – (Neil Squire). "A study just released by the Neil Squire Society finds that the 'Digital Divide' has widened with the creation of the new generation of mobile phone based payment (M-Payment) systems. New devices and services create new barriers for people with disabilities. New technology is often not designed with their needs in mind. The study looked at four types of M-Payment systems: voice activated, web-based, text messaging, and a combination text messaging and web based style applications. The study was conducted in several cities across Canada. It involved users who were blind, hard of hearing, deaf and those with severe mobility impairments. The study summarizes the key barriers encountered by each of the disability groups."
http://www.neilsquire.ca/section.asp?catid=121&subid=130&pageid=638
Virginia Tech evaluates campus accessibility – by Sara Mitchell (Collegiate Times). "Michele Shebroe began avoiding the stairs on campus her sophomore year. After her father, who suffers from a long-term back injury, complained of Virginia Tech's hilly campus while moving her in freshman year, Shebroe wanted to survey the campus's accommodations for those with a physical disability. Using only paths that accommodate wheelchairs, she discovered the lack of disability access on the stair-covered residential side of campus, and the mechanical engineer decided to contact the Americans with Disability Act office on campus."
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/15484/virginia-tech-evaluates-campus-accessibility
ADDA Comments on Proposed Changes to the Diagnostic Manual – "The members of the Professional Advisory Board of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) want to commend the work of the ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Work Group in the development of the DSM-5. ADDA is the largest organization devoted specifically to the needs of adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Though primarily comprised of mental health professionals, the ADDA Professional Advisory Board is represented by members with diverse professional backgrounds who share a focus on helping adults with ADHD. Consequently, we reviewed with great interest the proposed revisions to the ADHD diagnostic category for DSM-5, specifically with regard to issues related to adults with ADHD."
http://www.add.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=109648
Amputee Coalition's Limb Loss Task Force Warns of Increasing Limb Loss in US – (Rehab Management). "On average, 507 people lose a limb every day in the United States. This number is expected to almost double by 2050 unless a major public awareness campaign is launched and key prevention initiatives put in place, according to a task force convened by the Amputee Coalition of America, Knoxville, Tenn."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2010-05-07_01.asp?frmTagFilePath=%2Fnews.asp
Disability Advocates Reserving Judgment On High Court Nominee – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "Disability advocacy groups are taking a wait and see approach with Elena Kagan who the president nominated to the Supreme Court on Monday. Kagan, who currently serves as the country's solicitor general, will replace Justice John Paul Stevens if she is confirmed by the Senate. A former Harvard Law School dean, Kagan has never been a judge. She would be the court's youngest member at age 50 and the fourth woman to serve on the court. Disability advocates were hesitant to say much about Kagan. Without a judicial record, they said little is known on her positions regarding disability rights law."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/11/nominee-kagan/7992/
Disability Rights Online News - May 2010 Issue Thirty Six – (ADA). "Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement."
http://www.ada.gov/newsltr0510.htm
Doctors' 'Right-To-Die' Efforts For Terminally Ill Patients Worry Advocates For People With Disabilities - by Arielle Levin Becker (Hartfard Courant). "Cathy Ludlum says she has a great life, but since childhood she's been aware not everyone thinks so. She remembers being 5, sitting in her wheelchair as people in the supermarket looked at her and shook their heads. She wondered how she could tell them she was not to be pitied. Years later, in the hospital, Ludlum overheard the staff talking about her, assuming she led a tragic life in an institution, even though the medical chart said otherwise — she lived on her own and ran a consulting business despite a neuromuscular disease that took away her ability to move."
http://www.courant.com/health/hc-hc-right-to-die-disability-0.artmay16,0,7088546.story
Historic PsychOUT Event Promotes Activist Unity, Protests Electroshock – (Mind Freedom). "Survivors of psychiatric human rights violations and their allies from more than five countries gathered for three days -- from 7 to 9 May 2010 -- in Toronto Canada for a conference and protest dedicated to 'Organized Resistance Against Psychiatry.' Here is brief coverage including a photo essay by David Oaks, director of MindFreedom International, of a few of the events and themes during the conference, and the anti-electroshock protest that followed."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/as/act/inter/coalition-against-psychiatric-assault/psychout-news/psychout-mfi
Worst Mental Health Media: Canada's National Post Biased Coverage by Joseph Brean of PsychOUT Conference – (Mind Freedom). "MFI awards the Worst Media Coverage of Mental Health Month May 2010 to reporter Joseph Brean from Canada's National Post. Brean horribly mis-covered the May 2010 international PsychOUT conference of psychiatric survivors activists and allies, who gathered from five nations to resist psychiatric human rights violations."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/campaign/media/mental-health-bias/joseph-brean/joseph-brean-national-post-psychout
A Personal Perspective of Life with an Invisible Disability - by David Bedworth. "I write this article as an attempt to raise the awareness of a medical fact. There are those among us who suffer invisible disability and, as such, seem to ghost through life without being useful members of our busy society. In fact, they seem to have gotten away with the chores of life and could be seen to be slacking off or avoiding responsibility. I am one of these people with invisible disability. I do not have a missing limb. I am not in a wheel chair. Instead I do have a golf ball sized hole in the right frontal lobe of my brain. Surgery and treatment has left me in a disabled condition, officially recognized by the Federal Government."
http://thesop.org/story/health/2010/05/02/a-personal-perspective-of-life-with-an-invisible-disability.php/
Despite dyslexia, they wouldn't let me give up on diploma – "I have previously written about my dyslexia for the HT Page. I have explained the accommodations I have needed in order to succeed in school, and I have been critical when school officials balked at providing me with those accommodations. I have opened my soul to the public about my dyslexia and the frustration, humiliation and fears it has caused. I will graduate from high school on Friday, and I will not receive an occupational diploma often given to students with learning disabilities as school officials recommended to me and my parents when I was in ninth grade. I will receive a regular high school diploma that will enable me to further my educational goals. The road to this accomplishment has not been an easy one, and I would not have made it without the help of a number of people."
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/ht.ssf?/base/news/1274692528131590.xml&coll=1
Disability challenges students, colleges – by Melissa Ludwig (My San Antonio). "Alex March is not stupid. In fact, he's smart and articulate — yet it has taken him nearly 16 years to earn an associate's degree at San Antonio College. March says it's because he suffers from a severe case of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. He loses track of time and assignments, often earning incompletes because he's forgotten one lingering paper or test."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/moms/disability_challenges_students_colleges_95201139.html
Higher Education Abroad and Complex Accommodations Issue – (MIUSA). "This second issue of the NCDE AWAY Topics focuses on issues related to U.S. students going abroad including medical insurance, complex accommodations and institutional best practices for recruiting and accommodating students with disabilities."
http://www.miusa.org/news/awaytopics2
Ailing Workers 'Gut It Out,' Opt Against Disability – by Andrew Frye (Business Week). "Ailing U.S. workers, hounded by debt and the 9.9 percent unemployment rate, are forgoing compensated leave with greater frequency and sticking to the daily grind, said the head of the biggest U.S. long-term disability insurer. 'If you don't feel good about your own personal financial position, you're going to kind of gut it out, if you will, at the office as opposed to filing the claim,' Unum Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Watjen said today in an interview at Bloomberg headquarters in New York. 'You're going to be fearful that when you come back maybe your job isn't there.' People seeking to re-enter the workforce are facing an unemployment rate that remained near a 25-year high even as the economy returned to growth. For those contemplating leave, debts and home-price depreciation have left fewer financing options to boost funds beyond what disability stipends typically pay."
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-25/ailing-workers-gut-it-out-opt-against-disability-update2-.html
Managers with Disabilities – "Smart companies know it just makes good business sense to access the trillion dollar buying power of the disability community. Executives who can turn their 'insider knowledge' of this valuable market into increased profits will be rewarded. And yet, overcoming widespread misconceptions and stereotyping may be the biggest challenge you face in advancing your career. UCLA's groundbreaking Leadership Institute for Managers with Disabilities produces powerful leaders, expert at leveraging diverse perspectives and harnessing innovation to drive the future success of their companies."
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/EEPlimd.xml
Thorkil Sonne: Recruit Autistics – by Drake Bennett (Wired). "Most occupations require people skills. But for some, a preternatural capacity for concentration and near-total recall matter more. Those jobs, entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne says, could use a little autism. Sonne reached this conclusion six years ago, after his youngest son was diagnosed with the mysterious developmental disorder. 'At first I was in agony and despair,' he recalls. 'Then came the thought of what happens when he grows up.' In Sonne's native Denmark, as elsewhere, autistics are typically considered unemployable. But Sonne worked in IT, a field more suited to people with autism and related conditions like Asperger's syndrome. 'As a general view, they have excellent memory and strong attention to detail. They are persistent and good at following structures and routines,' he says. In other words, they're born software engineers."
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist_sonne
As Autism Web Sites Boom, Experts Urge Caution – (Health Day News). "When Connie Anderson's son was diagnosed with autism a decade ago, she scoured the Internet looking for treatments. 'I tried all sorts of things I now consider bananas,' said Anderson, now community scientific liaison at Kennedy Krieger Institute's Interactive Autism Network. 'At the time it didn't feel like nonsense. It was hope. People will try all sorts of things to help their child, sometimes even against their better judgment.' Since Anderson's son was diagnosed, the number of Web sites devoted to autism and autism treatments has multiplied. While a 1999 study counted about 100,000 autism Web sites, entering the term 'autism' into the three major search engines today yields more than 17.4 million results, according to new research. So how can parents know how to weed out fact from fiction when faced with so much information? It's not easy, experts say, but there are some steps parents can take to determine if the information they are getting is from a reputable source."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_99177.html
Government
Canada
McGuinty's axing of the Special Diet program is a catastrophe to poor and sick Ontarians – by Krystalline Kraus (Rabble.ca). "Single parents with two children are up by just $10 a month in Ontario, thanks to the McGuinty government's Budget on March 25. This was their response to Dalton McGuinty's re-election campaign promise to reduce poverty in the province -- the raising of social assistance rates by 1 per cent. The Ontario government also announced it will cancel the Special Diet Allowance it provides to people on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This social assistance provision, used by 20 per cent of welfare and disability recipients, provided people with up to $250 extra a month to help buy fresh fruits and vegetables and other medically necessary dietary items."
http://www.rabble.ca/news/2010/05/mcguintys
Report on Manitoba's Employment and Income Assistance Program – "This report sets out the findings and conclusions of an investigation into Manitoba's Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program. The report contains 68 recommendations for administrative improvement. The investigation was undertaken in response to a complaint from twelve community organizations, many of whom have clients who are also participants in the EIA Program. The complainants requested a comprehensive review of the program, and also raised specific concerns about the adequacy of the services and benefits provided by the program and questioned whether participants in the program are being treated fairly."
http://www.ombudsman.mb.ca/pdf/2010-05-26_News_Release_EIA_Report.pdf
http://www.ombudsman.mb.ca/pdf/2010-05-26_EIA_Report_2010.pdf (report)
Good news for disability tax credit applicants - by David Christianson (Winnipeg Free Press). "This article is aimed at physicians, optometrists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and speech-language pathologists, all of who are considered 'qualified practitioners' to certify a person is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Good news is that the Canada Revenue Agency has made huge improvements to its website to help qualified practitioners understand the criteria for the DTC and determine whether the patient might qualify. It almost makes it simple."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/good-news-for-disability-tax-credit-applicants-95093864.html
US
Auto safety bill would require 'alert sounds' for quiet hybrid, electric cars – by Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post). "A 'quiet ride' was once a mark of automotive quality. But the advent of hybrid and electric vehicles, which are particularly quiet at low speeds, has raised the possibility that cars could become silent killers. On Wednesday, a House committee approved an auto safety bill that calls for hybrid and electric cars to be equipped with 'alert sounds' that would 'allow the pedestrian to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle.' The measure is part of a broader auto safety bill that was approved 31 to 21 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It now goes to the full House, where lawmakers are expected to take action later this year."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=597&SnID=172183697
Presumed Disability: Proposed regulations reflect the EEOC's intent to vigorously enforce the amended Americans with Disabilities Act – by Duane Morris LLP (JDSupra). "As the Americans with Disabilities Act approaches the 20th anniversary of its enactment this summer, it finally may be about to enter its prime. Much about the law, signed initially by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, remains uncertain. Just a single candle has been lit since the law was expanded by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush on Sept. 25, 2008, and effective on Jan. 1, 2009. Next January, the Amendments Act will enter the terrible twos."
http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=d79efa9a-2ab6-4f36-a2aa-5a4c28d4723f
HUD Awards $32.7 Million To Help The Elderly And People With Disabilities Continue To Live Independently At Home – "Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced $32.7 million in Service Coordinator grants to provide more than 19,200 low-income frail elderly and residents with disabilities in federally supported housing with assistance to identify and receive health care, meals and other critical support services. 'The Obama Administration is helping older Americans and those with disabilities get the housing they need and the grants announced today give added assistance by helping to provide the services that will enable them to remain in their homes, living independently, connected to their communities and friends,' said Donovan."
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-101
Majority of Congress Supports Special Diabetes Program Renewal – "The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide, today praised the majority of Congress for co-sponsoring legislation to renew the Special Diabetes Program. Specifically, 51 Senators have co-sponsored S. 3058 and 220 House members have co-sponsored H.R. 3668, which would extend the Special Diabetes Program for five years. According to Cynthia Rice, JDRF's Vice President of Government Relations, the program is providing a tremendous return on the federal investment and resulting in real advances for people with diabetes, from therapies to reverse diabetic eye disease that can cause blindness to an artificial pancreas to improve glucose control to drugs to prevent the disease altogether."
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=113814
State Of MN Apologizes For Treatment Of Those With Disabilities – (Northland). "During the final days of the 2010 session, legislation publicly apologizing for the state's past treatment of people with disabilities was adopted. House File 1680/Senate File 1135 passed both the House and Senate without opposition and today was signed into law by the governor. State Sen. John Marty, author of the legislation, said that after 13 years of pushing for its passage, it is time for the state to acknowledge that terrible injustices were done to tens of thousands of Minnesotans who were punished for having mental illnesses or developmental and other disabilities."
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/94960234.html
Tea Party Candidate Draws Backlash For Qualms Over ADA – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "Since winning Kentucky's Republican Senate primary this week, tea party activist Rand Paul is causing a stir by criticizing federal disability and civil rights laws. Paul's victory Tuesday was seen as a milestone for the grassroots tea party movement, which advocates for smaller government and less spending. But in relishing the win, Paul — the son of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas — may have gone too far. He's taking heat now after telling National Public
Radio in an interview earlier this week that he believes both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 represent overreaches of the federal government."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/21/rand-paul-ada/8156/
Health and Wellness
Health Reform & Americans with Disabilities (05/20/2010 Web chat) – "Answers questions about how the Affordable Care Act will give Americans with disabilities greater choices and more control over their health care. For more information download the fact sheet Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities or visit HealthReform.gov."
http://www.youtube.com/user/USHealthReform#p/p/E13B55ACDF862D29/0/ccKQNklpCWg
http://www.disability.gov/health/news_%26_events
Hear us: Inquiry into hearing health in Australia – (Australian Policy Online). "One in six Australians suffers from some degree of hearing loss. By 2050 this is forecast to grow to one Australian in four. Hearing health is a mainstream health issue which touches the lives of most Australians in one way or another, yet as a public health issue it is not ranked as a national health priority. Australians with hearing loss must live with the paradox that their disability is so prevalent in our community, and yet suffers from a generally low level of awareness and understanding."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/hear-us-inquiry-hearing-health-australia
Primary carers of people with arthritis and osteoporosis – by Kuldeep Bhatia, Naila Rahman (Australian Policy Online). "This report brings together the latest data to highlight the impact of caring. Family members known as 'primary carers' provide significant assistance to people with disability associated with arthritis and osteoporosis to help them cope with their restrictions and continue independent living. The demand of caring however can have significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the carers."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/primary-carers-people-arthritis-and-osteoporosis
Social Determinants of Health: THE CANADIAN FACTS – by Juha Mikkonen & Dennis Raphael (York University School of Health Policy and Management). "The primary factors that shape the health of Canadians are not medical treatments or lifestyle choices but rather the living conditions they experience. These conditions have come to be known as the social determinants of health. . . . Research is also finding that the quality of these health-shaping living conditions is strongly determined by decisions that governments make in a range of different public policy domains. Governments at the municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal levels create policies, laws, and regulations that influence how much income Canadians receive through employment, family benefits, or social assistance, the quality and availability of affordable housing, the kinds of health and social . . . services and recreational opportunities we can access, and even what happens when Canadians lose their jobs during economic downturns."
http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf
York U health researchers produce public primer on who gets sick and why – "A report released today by York University researchers offers Canadians the opportunity to learn how their living conditions will determine whether they stay healthy or become ill. Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts shows why these factors are so important for health and documents the state of living conditions in Canada in an accessible manner for the Canadian public. The report finds these conditions are deteriorating, with serious ramifications for the quality and longevity of Canadians' lives, and outlines specific ways that the situation can be improved. . . . 'Our key message is that the health of Canadians is much less determined by the health care system than we typically think. Much more important are public policies that influence our living conditions,' says Dennis Raphael, Professor in York's School of Health Policy & Management and the report's co-author. Raphael and visiting scholar Juha Mikkonen explain in everyday language and with compelling graphics how Canadians' health is shaped by how much income and wealth they have, whether or not they are employed and, if so, the working conditions they experience. They pull together a wide range of research to show how health is powerfully influenced by Canadians' ability to obtain quality education, food and housing, among other factors."
Working to heal the mind-body connection – by Sarah Moran (Star Tribune). "Sixteen students bend, twist and stretch. Some sit in the prayer position and others lie on mats, moving and strengthening different parts of their bodies. The teacher, Matthew Sanford, wraps up with a breathing meditation. 'Thank your body,' he tells them. It's a message that drives his personal and professional life. The students -- young and old, male and female -- get up from the floor. Most return to their wheelchairs with the help of several volunteers."
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/92530094.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
Legal
Briefs Filed in Florida, Illinois and New Jersey to Support the Supreme Court's Olmstead Decision – "The Justice Department today announced it has filed briefs in three separate cases in Florida, Illinois and New Jersey as part of its continuing effort to enforce civil rights laws that require states to end discrimination against and unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities. The department's filings support two private lawsuits seeking relief in Florida and New Jersey, as well as a proposed statewide class action settlement in Illinois."
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/May/10-crt-612.html
Bus seat belt laws mostly exclude wheelchairs – by John Seewer (Business Week). "Lonnie Acton's lifeless body sat in a wheelchair fastened to the floor of a mangled minibus. No shoulder or lap belt protected him. Those restraints, attached to the bus, are specially made to secure passengers in their wheelchairs. They weren't being used when a tractor-trailer slid across a snowy highway and slammed into the bus in January, killing Acton and two other residents of a special-needs center in western Ohio. While federal law requires buses to be equipped with straps that lock down wheelchairs, as well as seat belts and shoulder harnesses to secure passengers themselves, laws in Ohio and most states don't require that people in wheelchairs on small buses and vans actually wear the seat belts -- even though they're vulnerable to injuries from being tossed around in an accident."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FK5N980.htm
Court rules for moviegoers in disability access case – by Judy Greenwald (Business Insurance). "The owners of movie theaters could be required to install special equipment for patrons with hearing and visual impairments under the Americans with Disabilities Act as a result of a federal appeals court ruling that that has been hailed as groundbreaking. Friday's decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in State of Arizona vs. Harkins Amusement Enterprises Inc. et al. largely overturned a lower court's dismissal of the case brought by Frederick Lindstrom, who has severe hearing loss, and Larry Wanger who is blind in one eye and has poor vision the other."
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20100503/NEWS/100509989
French father loses bid to keep family in Canada – (Vancouver Sun). "The Federal Court on Tuesday dismissed a French man's last-ditch plea for permanent resident status for his family, saying immigration officials were correct in finding that his disabled daughter would place an excessive burden on the medical system. David Barlagne's family initially had its application for permanent residency rejected earlier this year because his daughter, Rachel, was deemed 'medically inadmissable' because she has cerebral palsy."
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/French+father+loses+keep+family+Canada/3043610/story.html
PR boss to appeal disability tribunal ruling – "Mr Saville-Smith, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1992, and was prescribed medicine three years later, which kept the condition under control. But just seven weeks after being appointed as public relations manager for the Homecoming Scotland event in August 2008, he suffered a bipolar episode which resulted in him needing psychiatric care. When he attempted to return to work, VisistScotland prevented Mr Saville-Smith, 48, from doing so, and he was sacked in November 2008 for what the agency said was his inability to do his job."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8654032.stm
Princeton U. settles learning disabilities suit – "Princeton University has reached a settlement in a lawsuit with a student who claimed the school refused to accommodate her learning disabilities by not providing her with enough extra examination time. The university agreed Thursday it would grant freshman Diane Metcalf-Leggette her request for 100 percent extended time to take tests beginning with final exams this semester, until a university task force reviews the school's policies and practices for students with disabilities."
http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1273902420237840.xml&coll=5
Responsibility for Children With Disabilities During and After Divorce – "While divorce is difficult for families with children of all ages and needs, it can be even more complicated for families with disabled children. . . . Divorced parents of a child with significant disabilities must decide not only who will have legal and physical custody of the child, but also who will become the child's guardian when the child reaches the age of majority."
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/responsibility-for-children-with-disabilities-during-and-after-divorce-152007.php
Media/Arts
Can Disability Be Sexy? – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "A series of photographs spoofing the often racy advertisements from clothing retailer American Apparel is questioning traditional ideas of beauty in a most provocative way. The photos are of Jes Sachse, a 25-year-old Canadian college student with a rare genetic condition known as Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. She has unique facial features, a curved spine and her right leg is a bit shorter than her left, but Sachse is not lacking in attitude. The series dubbed 'American Able' includes 13 recreations of actual American Apparel ads. In one called 'Tight,' Sachse appears in a leotard to strut her stuff before an oversized window. In another ad called 'Workout,' Sachse is shown wearing nothing more than a headband and green shorts. The work produced by Sachse's friend, photographer Holly Norris, 21, is appearing in Toronto subway stations this month on more than 270 electronic screens as part of a photography festival."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/14/can-disability-be-sexy/8048/
Delaware student wins literary prize – "A college senior from Delaware who wrote about family, the literary life and the frustrations of dealing with physical disability won one of the nation's largest undergraduate literary prizes Sunday."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/maryland/del-student-wins-literary-priz.html
Drummer beat odds to conquer disability – by Jeff Wiehe (The Journal Gazette). "Dan Caro doesn't remember the accident that took his hands and left him scarred. He survived the fire but lost his hands. But that never killed his desire to do something with his life. . . .Now a professional drummer in New Orleans, Caro will be the special guest as members of the Mizpah Shrine celebrate the group's 100th anniversary today at Sweetwater Sound. . . . Hailing from a musical family – his father and brothers played instruments – Caro wanted in on the action'."
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100522/LOCAL/305229978/1002/LOCAL
GLEE Guest Star Weinstein Talks Career With Disabilities – "Actor Zack Weinstein will be appearing in next week's episode of hit television show GLEE. What makes the appearance stand out is that, unlike Kevin McHale - who plays GLEE's Artie Abrams who is confined to a wheelchair - Weinstein faces disabilities on a daily basis. The actor became paralyzed during a canoeing trip in college. While he was left with only the use of most of his upper body, leaving him unable to use his hands or legs, Weinstein has fought to continue his dream of acting."
http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/GLEE_Guest_Star_Weinstein_Talks_Career_With_Disabilities_20100509
Voices to be Heard, In Harmony – by Shantah Rau Barriga (Huffington Post). "The documentary film, Music by Prudence, tells the story of a young Zimbabwean woman born with a congenital disease that twisted her body and led to the amputation of her legs. Prudence Mabhena was abandoned by her family and shunned by her community, yet through music, she found a way
to share her story and advocate for change. In February, the film won an Oscar and Prudence became a national hero."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shantha-rau-barriga/voices-to-be-heard-in-har_b_561577.html
Medical
Blood test on newborns could prevent disability, say scientists - by Jeremy Laurence (The Independent). "A blood test to assess the risk of brain damage in vulnerable newborn babies could save lives and prevent disability, scientists say. The test, carried out on blood taken from the umbilical cord immediately after birth, measures its acidity (the pH level). Blood with a low pH (more acid) indicates a lack of oxygen at birth, which is the commonest cause of brain damage, cerebral palsy and death."
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/blood-test-on-newborns-could-prevent-disability-say-scientists-1973011.html
Britain Bans Doctor Whose Research Triggered Autism-Vaccine Scare – by Shaun Heasley (Disability Scoop). "British authorities stripped the doctor whose research first suggested a link between autism and vaccines of his medical license Monday. . . . In taking away Wakefield's medical license this week, the medical board prevented the doctor from practicing in Britain. But the action is largely symbolic since Wakefield has not practiced in that country for many years. Instead, he headed a research program at an Austin, Texas autism center until resigning in February, though he was never licensed to practice medicine in the United States."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/24/wakefield-stripped-license/8738/
Getting Closer to Cause of Tourette Syndrome – by Jenifer Goodwin (Business Week). "A family in which the father and all eight of his children have Tourette syndrome held clues to treating the neurological disorder that can cause debilitating, involuntary motor and verbal tics. by studying the family's genome, researchers identified a mutation on the HDC gene that encodes the enzyme L-histidine decarboxylase, which is involved in regulating levels of the neurotransmitter histamine in the central nervous system. While the variant itself is likely very rare -- meaning most people with Tourette syndrome don't have the precise mutation -- what's known about the gene's function in the body hints at new treatments, researchers explained."
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/638818.html
Top Mental Health Officials Urge New Approach – by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "The nation's top two mental health officials say it's time to focus on prevention rather than rehabilitation when it comes to autism and other mental disorders. In a commentary to be published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, and Philip Wang, the agency's deputy director, argue that the best treatments for mental disorders likely are not ones that take place after symptoms of the disorder have fully onset. Rather, they say research should focus on uncovering the genes behind such conditions and better understanding the brain circuitry involved. 'It is time to rethink mental disorders, recognizing that these are disorders of brain
circuits likely caused by developmental processes shaped by a complex interplay of genetics and experience,' they write."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/18/insel-mental-health-commentary/8095/
Policy/Research
Anger as ILF changes threaten independent living – by Sunil Peck (Disability Now). "The Independent Living Fund's (ILF's) decision to restrict new applications for financial support to disabled people who work more than 16 hours a week undermines the Government's commitment to advancing equality, campaigners claim. The ILF is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and at present provides money for claimants between 16 and 65 with high support needs regardless of whether or not they work and who receive local authority support worth more than £320 a week. But changes are being introduced that mean that from May 1, the ILF will only accept new applications from people who are in paid work for more than 16 hours a week."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/news-focus/anger-as-ilf-changes-threaten-independent-living
Disability care and support – (Australian Policy Online). "There is a widespread view that the current system to support people with disability and their families is deeply flawed and will increasingly be unable to meet people's needs. This issues paper is intended to help interes[te]d people prepare responses to the Commission's public inquiry into long-term disability care and support. It covers a range of issues that the Commission is seeking information and feedback on."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/disability-care-and-support
Evaluation of the Integrated Rehabilitation and Recovery Care program – by David Abelló, Karen Fisher, Tomasz Sitek (Australian Policy Online). "This transition program was designed to assist consumers from Secure Extended Care Units and Community Care Units who need a higher level of combined clinical and community treatment and support than is usually available to become reintegrated into the community. Pilot programs in three metropolitan consortia in Melbourne are evaluated in this report. The report was prepared for the Department of Human Services, Victoria, submitted July 2009 and published in May 2010."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/evaluation-integrated-rehabilitation-and-recovery-care-program
An Examination of Employment and Income Assistance and Private Market Housing Affordability for Single Persons in Six Urban Centres in Manitoba – (Community Mental Health Association Winnipeg). "This objective of this research was to determine whether the rate of Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), as paid by the Province of Manitoba to eligible single person recipients, is sufficient to obtain and maintain adequate shelter in six urban centres in Manitoba. These communities are: Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach and Selkirk. Special consideration was given to single persons and also to those who are experiencing mental illness."
http://www.cmhawpg.mb.ca/documents/ManitobaEIAReport_Mulligan_March30_2010.pdf
Jail More Likely Than Treatment For Americans With Psychiatric Disorders - by Michelle Diament (Disability Scoop). "Americans with severe mental illness are three times more likely to go to prison than to a psychiatric hospital, new research indicates. While the likelihood varies by state, there is no state where individuals experiencing diagnoses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are more likely to be in a psychiatric hospital than a jail, the findings from a new report conducted by the Treatment Advocacy Center and the National Sheriffs' Association indicate. The best case scenario appears to be in North Dakota where the odds are one to one that a person with mental illness will be in prison or a psychiatric hospital. In contrast, Arizona and Nevada each host 10 times more people with mental illness in their jails than in psychiatric facilities."
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/05/13/mental-illness-jail/8038/
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/tac/documents/final_jails_v_hospitals_study.pdf
Mainstreaming Disability in Policy-Making (1) – by Dr. Emmanuel Botlhale (The Botswana Gazette). "This two-part installment is actuated by recent moves to coordinate the mainstreaming of disability into policy-making from the Office of the President (OP) as instanced by the appointment of a disability coordinator thereat. Amongst other things, the Office for People with Disabilities is tasked with promoting equal participation of people with disabilities in all spheres of life; i.e., political, social and economic. Thus, this offering seeks to give an overview of initiatives relating to the mainstreaming of disability into the policy-making process."
http://gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6435:mainstreaming-disability-in-policy-making-1&catid=21:columns&Itemid=2
May 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released – "The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has released disability employment statistics for May showing that the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 22.3. by comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.1. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 14.7 percent, compared with 9.1 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted."
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm
http://www.disability.gov/employment/news_%26_events
New Study Shows Public Transit Needs Additional $3.9 Billion Annually by 2030 to Serve Mobility Needs of Older Americans – "To serve the rapidly growing portion of Americans older than 65, public transportation will incur increased operating and capital costs on the order of another $3.9 billion annually by 2030, according to a new study conducted for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). APTA released the study in recognition of May as Older Americans Month, which is designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging. Local public transit systems nationwide are also highlighting their service to seniors during this month."
http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/2010/Pages/100507_OlderAmerican.aspx
Younger people with disability in residential aged care program – "This report includes information from the 2008-09 younger People with Disability in Residential Aged Care Minimum Data Set (YPIRAC MDS). It summarises the characteristics of people who were 'on the books' during 2008-09 and the YPIRAC services they received."
http://www.apo.org.au/research/younger-people-disability-residential-aged-care-program
Sports & Recreation
Four Beach Wheelchairs You Can Take Into the Ocean – by Eric Levy (Disaboom). "Roll that beach wheelchair right into the saltwater! Yes, it's possible, with wheelchairs that can take you over the sand into those salty blue waters. There are only a few manufacturers of such beach-to-ocean wheelchairs, which include: The Aussie Beach Wheelchair . . . Mobi-Chair . . . Beach Trekker . . . Rolleez All-Terrain Beach Wheelchair"
http://www.disaboom.com/mobility-equipment-technology/four-beach-wheelchairs-you-can-take-into-the-ocean
Choosing a Special Needs Tour or Excursion – "Are you a traveler with a special need looking to add an excursion or tour to your cruise vacation plans? Perhaps you are simply a slow walker. Whatever your level of need, a tour or excursion specifically designed to accommodate travelers with special needs will be easier and more enjoyable. Today, there are more travel agents than ever offering trips and excursions for persons with special needs. These professionals understand your physical limitations, know how to book accessible transportation and can ensure destinations are accessible. How do you find the right travel agent? Kristy Lacroix of Wheelchair Escapes recommends working with agents who are certified in Accessibility Travel by the Travel Institute and who are members of SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality."
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/choosing-a-special-needs-tour-or-excursion-93571319.html
Disability can't strike him out – by Elizabeth Leland (Charlotte Observer). "[Michael] didn't hear 'The Star Spangled Banner' before the game. Or his coach's send-off: 'Have fun while you're out there.' Or the occasional heckling from opponents. Or the crack of the bat. Like old-time baseball player 'Dummy' Hoy, who is credited with introducing hand signals to the major leagues, Michael is deaf. Like Hoy, he refuses to let his inability to hear affect his ability to play."
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/03/1412649/disability-cant-strike-him-out.html
Hearing-impaired Gillies driven by determination – by Mike Drago (Reading Eagle). "Gillies faced adversity growing up with a severe hearing impairment. The other kids teased him so badly about his hearing aids that he grew embarrassed and frustrated and refused to wear them. Even flushed them down the toilet once. It wasn't until eighth grade that his disability really stung him."
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=220342
Technology
24 Hours with the iPad – by Bradley Hodges (AFB). "One of the more troublesome problems when managing a publication that addresses technology is the arrival of an important new product just a few days before deadline. The much-anticipated release of Apple's iPad is such an event. Because the iPad was going to be available shortly before AccessWorld's April 1 deadline, the AFB TECH staff considered what approach to take. Would it be best to perform a comprehensive evaluation, knowing it wouldn't appear until the following issue? Or was a quick look and a report based on first reactions a useful contribution to our understanding of the device."
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw110206
Can an Android Make Your Mobile Phone Accessible? – by Darren Burton (AFB). "If you're like me and you watched countless hours of this spring's March Madness NCAA college basketball tournament, you probably heard plenty of promotions for the Droid cell phone. The Droid is one of several new phones using Google's new Android operating system. If you have been wondering what an android can do for you as far as cell phone accessibility, you've come to the right place. Along with my fellow lab rats at AFB TECH, I've been investigating a couple of phones with the Android operating system, and this article will discuss the accessibility that is being developed for this new line of cell phones and provide our initial thoughts on the line's progress."
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw110202
Don Johnston Partners with Atomic Learning - Online Professional Development Helps Educators Make Efficient Use of Assistive Technology in the Classroom – "Dedicated to helping school districts get the most out of their assistive technology (AT), Don Johnston, a leading publisher of AT tools and literacy software for children with special needs, has partnered with Atomic Learning, an online professional development education service provider to present a NEW special PD offering—The Don Johnston Online Training Collection. The Don Johnston Online Training Collection video tutorials are short, to the point, and searchable."
http://www.prweb.com/releases/ATonlinetraining/DonJohnstonInc/prweb3976714.htm
A Review of Oratio: A Screen Reader for BlackBerry – by Darren Burton (AFB)."We announced the release of the Oratio screen reader for the popular BlackBerry cell phone/PDA in the March 2010 issue of AccessWorld, providing our initial impressions and promising to delve more deeply into this issue. Since that announcement, my fellow AFB TECH lab rats and I have had the chance to put the BlackBerry through its paces, and this article reports our findings."
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw110203
Spreading: Swype's Touchscreen Keyboard Technology – by Ian King (Business Week). "Touchscreen software maker Swype says its technology will be speeding the way consumers type on about 10 million smartphones by the end of this year. . . Swype's technology was invented by Cliff Kushler, who created the T9 predictive text-entry system that has been used
on 4 billion phones. Like T9, the Swype software is the result of research into technology designed to help people with disabilities."
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2010/tc20100430_917760.htm
Conferences
( New Conferences)
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Webcast 26 Disability Research Design Issues and Strategies: A Conversation with Researchers – "The NCDDR hosted a webcast on May 26th, 2010 for NIDRR grantees and other individuals interested in disability and rehabilitation research study methodology and design. . . The session addressed a broad range of topics dealing with disability and rehabilitation research methodology and quality. Presenters will also address questions from participants in areas of: current methods used to establish evidence, challenges in disability research designs, and strategies to maximize rigor and relevance to consumer needs. The webcast is sponsored by the NCDDR's Community of Practice on Research Quality."
http://www.ncddr.org/webcasts/webcast26.html
Canada
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/
21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) – July 18-22, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "On behalf of the Organizing Committee it is our pleasure to invite you to the 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED). The Congress will take place at the Westin Bayshore in beautiful Vancouver B.C. over the dates of July 18 – July 22, 2010. This is the first time Canada has hosted the International Congress and we feel particularly privileged to show off our beautiful city of Vancouver and Canada's West Coast. Through the theme 'Partners In Education', we look to celebrate past achievements in education of the Deaf while also focusing on the latest research and established best practices to help us map out an exciting future."
http://www.iced2010.com/
2010 ACRM-ASNR Joint Educational Conference –October 20-23, 2010 | Montreal, Quebec. "The 2010 Annual Conference reflects ACRM and ASNR's focus on creating a dynamic, innovative, evidence-based educational conference that brings together generators, users, and funders of rehabilitation science and research in a collaborative effort. The 2010 Program Committee invites members and newcomers to join this exciting effort and submit proposals
for Symposia, Morning Sessions and Research Work Sessions focusing on evidence-based medicine."
http://www.acrm.org/
4th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference – October 28-30, 2010 | Niagara Falls, Ontario. "The conference will include a pre-course, plenary sessions, poster displays and concurrent workshops that are intended to promote collaboration and exchange among attendees in a variety of formats. Please join us once again at the pre-eminent gathering of clinicians, research scientists and consumers in Canada and North America who are focused on understanding and achieving recovery among the spinal cord injury population"
http://www.torontorehab.com/education/scic10index.html
2nd Conference on Positive Aging An Interdisciplinary Team Approach for Health Professionals – November 26-27, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "The aim of the 2nd national conference on positive aging is to bring together an interdisciplinary audience of health professionals and researchers to address some of the issues and challenges facing the aging population today. Hear about the most current research findings from leading experts, learn how research can be translated into practice, and discover useable resources to promote healthier, more positive living for Canada's older adult population. The importance of purpose and meaning of the later life as well as lessons for health and longevity will be emphasized. The conference will provide informative lectures, discussions, workshops, poster sessions and ample networking opportunities. A highlight of this conference will be to hear from the Older Adults."
http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/Positive_Aging_2010.html
Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology - FICCDAT 2011 – June 5-8, 2011 | Toronto, Ontario. "FICCDAT could be thought of (modestly) as the olympiad of all conferences relating to aging, disability, caregiving and technology. This is the second FICCDAT and we intend to continue the tradition every four years. FICCDAT is an amazing opportunity for you to transfer knowledge from your experience and your research to an extraordinarily broad audience. You can submit abstracts to all six major conferences, and you can attend and present at several conferences for the cost of attending a single conference. What an efficient way to build your cv!"
http://www.ficcdat.ca/main.cfm?cid=1559
U.S.
The National ADA Symposium – June 20-23, 2010 | Denver, Colorado. "The National ADA Symposium has earned the reputation as the most comprehensive conference available on the Americans with Disabilities Act."
http://www.adasymposium.org/
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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
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Reinventing Quality 2010 Conference – August 8-10,2010 | Baltimore, Maryland. "The Reinventing Quality Conference is the premier gathering place for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, family members, direct support professionals, administrators of community support agencies, advocates, and government leaders – all committed to a vision of a better future for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. . . . This year's conference focuses on how the most forward thinking states and providers are not only weathering the economic crisis but using it as a fulcrum to improve quality and lives."
http://www.reinventingquality.org/upcoming/
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/
Closing The Gap 28th Annual Conference – October 21-23, 2010 | Minneapolis, Minnesota. "This year's conference builds on a tradition of providing a comprehensive examination of the most current uses of technology by persons with disabilities and the professionals who work with them. Topics will cover a broad spectrum of technology as it is being applied to all disabilities and age groups in education, rehabilitation, vocation, and independent living."
http://www.closingthegap.com/conference/
ASSETS 2010 - The 12th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility – October 25-27, 2010 | Orlando, Florida. "The ASSETS conference explores the use of computing and information technologies to help persons with disabilities and older adults. ASSETS is the premier forum for presenting innovative research on the design and use of both mainstream and specialized assistive technologies. This includes the use of technology by and in support of:
· individuals with hearing, sight and other sensory impairments
· individuals with motor impairments
· individuals with memory, learning and cognitive impairments
· individuals with multiple impairments
· older adults
· professionals who work with these populations
All contributions are peer-reviewed by an international Program Committee. Accepted papers, posters and demonstrations will be archived in the ACM digital library. Select authors will be invited to submit extended versions to a special issue of the ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)."
http://www.sigaccess.org/assets10/
Overseas
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
The 3rd International Conference for Universal Design in HAMAMATSU 2010 – October 30- November 3, 2010 | Hamamatsu City, Japan. "Japan's first international Universal Design (UD) Conference was held in Yokohama in November 2002. The declaration adopted on the last day of the enormously successful conference stated that UD signifies the building of a comprehensive social environment that respects the dignity of each individual by redefining relations between the user, the designer and the producer. With the experience of a super-aged population ahead of other countries, Japan has the responsibility to build a model society safe and secure not just for an increasing number of seniors but for people with disabilities, children and expectant mothers, and ethnic groups who have different languages and diverse cultures. For this to happen, we absolutely must have designs that incorporate facility and diversity so as to ensure that no one due to age, gender or origin or lacking in skills and capacity will be unfairly excluded."
http://www.ud2010.net/outline/en_prospectus.html
http://www.ud2010.net/index.en.html