Disability Resource Digest
Volume 6, Issue 6 June 2006
The Disability Resource Digest (DRD) is a special project of SMD Alliance. SMD Alliance is based in Manitoba, Canada and provides strategic vision and policy direction to four SMD corporations: SMD Clearinghouse; SMD Foundation; SMD Ventures; and SMD Services.
The vision shared among the corporations is of a "community that supports the independence, participation, and empowerment of persons of all abilities." Each SMD corporation pursues a complementary mandate in working toward this vision.
The DRD is prepared primarily as an informational resource for consumers, professionals and publics interested in remaining current in disability related issues. An archive of past editions of the DRD is maintained on SMD's web site (http://www.smd.mb.ca).
Published monthly (with a single summer edition for July and August), the DRD presents summaries of, and URL addresses for, notable disability-related content on the world-wide web (WWW). The DRD focuses on recently posted content but also includes coverage of other web pages of interest. The URL addresses cited in the DRD are current at the time of publication. But as those posting content on the web often revise URL addresses, the addresses in the DRD may not remain current.
The DRD is prepared for SMD Alliance by The Project Group (TPG) Consulting Cooperative Ltd., a Winnipeg-based consulting firm. Neither SMD nor TPG are responsible for the accuracy or reliability of the content cited in the DRD.
Readers interested in learning more about SMD Alliance are invited to visit: http://www.smd.mb.ca or to contact the agency by e-mail at info@smd.ca. Readers are also invited to send comments and suggestions regarding the DRD to this same e-mail address.
AUTISM
Autism Information Center - (Center for Disease Control). "Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that are caused by unusual brain development. People with ASDs tend to have problems with social and communication skills. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations. ASDs begin during childhood and last throughout a person's life."
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddautism.htmAutism: The Latest Prevalence Rates in USA. Now 1 in 175 - DAWN Ontario has an a number of links and excerpts from current articles on new data on the prevelance of autism in the US. One article notes, "About 300,000 U.S. children have been diagnosed with autism, according to the largest national study so far of the prevalence of this complex developmental disorder. That means about 5.5 out of every 1,000 school-age children have been diagnosed with autism. Past estimates have ranged from one to nine out of every 1,000 children, based on smaller studies in individual states or cities. The study, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doesn´t attempt to answer the controversial issue of whether autism is increasing. The research is being published this week in the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."
http://dawn.thot.net/autism2.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5517a3.htm (CDC Morbidity and Mortality report)
Center for the Study of Autism - "The Center for the Study of Autism (CSA) is located in the Salem/Portland, Oregon area. The Center provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research on the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions. Much of our research is in collaboration with the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, California." This web page was developed to provide information on various topics related to or about autism. This site provides an overview of autism, the issues, and interventions, as well as specific information on Temple Grandin (a veterinarian with autism who has written a number of books), exclusive interviews with a variety of individuals and a "Sibling Center."
http://www.autism.org/NDP MP tables private bill on autism care - (CTV). "Alberta is the only province in Canada that pays for autism treatment and therapy, but NDP MP Peter Stoffer has tabled a private members bill that would ensure every province does the same. 'No matter where you live in this country, you should have equal access to the healthcare system when it comes to autism,' he told CTV News."
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060424/autism_bill_060424/20060424?hub=CanadaThirteen Month Delay Between Evaluation and Autism Diagnosis in Children - (Center for Disease Control). "Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may experience a 13-month delay before they are diagnosed. A study in the April autism supplement of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics released today, found that children diagnosed in metropolitan Atlanta were initially evaluated at an average of 4 years of age but were not diagnosed with an ASD until an average of 5 years 1 month. The study also found much variability in both, with an age range of 1 year 4 months to 8 years 6 months old for initial evaluation, and an age range of 1 year 5 months to 8 years 8 months old for actual diagnosis."
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r060510.htm
ACCESSIBILITY
Blind inventor makes web accessible - "A blind entrepreneur has developed a new device, SpeakOn, which will make internet content available to blind people without the need for computer skills. Chris Mairs, founder of an assistive technology charity called A-Technic, has developed the SpeakOn device, which will be able to access MP3 music files, radio stations, podcasts and website content normally available only as text (such as online news papers)."
http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/news/2157993/blind-inventor-makes-webGuide for kids with dyslexia released - by T.S. Mills-Faraudo (insidebayarea.com). "If 15-year-old Zachary Burket reads for two hours every day, he can finish 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in five days. But without a special reading tool that helps him with his dyslexia, the San Carlos resident said he would never finish the book. There are now a plethora of tools and devices available to students with learning disabilities, such as Zachary's, that open doors for them that were shut before. The nonprofit program of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation recently released a guide to assistive technology, with information about these tools for students struggling with listening, math, organization and memory, reading and writing."
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/ci_3822189http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=286&f=allart (article overview from Schwab)
http://www.schwablearning.org/resources.asp?g=6&s=4 (Schwab database)
TextAloud Chosen by Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency - "TextAloud is an award-winning Text to Speech program from NextUp.com that converts text into spoken audio for listening on a PC, or for easy export to audio files for playback on portable media players such as the iPod and more. With its elegantly simple program interface and wide assortment of premium voices, more educators every day are turning to TextAloud to help students learn. Program Support Teacher JoEllen Waddell of CESA 5 is a perfect example. Six years ago, Waddell wanted to encourage the teachers she worked with to increase the use of assistive technology for students with disabilities. So she conducted an extensive search for a solution which had to meet two important criteria: it had to be easy for teachers, professionals and students to use, and it had to be cost-effective, within the financial reach of most school districts. She soon found NextUp's simple and inexpensive software program TextAloud, which fit both criteria and has since become the cornerstone of her assistive technology programs at CESA 5."
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/5/prweb384609.htmWhy a landmark court case could force you to redo your whole Web site - "Is your Web site accessible to people with disabilities (PWDs)? Particularly to those with impaired vision? Do you even know what the definition of such accessibility is? Probably not. But you may have to thanks to a landmark case now getting underway between the National Federation of the Blind and Target."
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=3014
ADVOCACY
UN Committee Criticizes Canada For Persistent Poverty In The Midst Of Wealth: Notes Discriminatory Impact on Women - "In Concluding Observations released yesterday in Geneva, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed great concern about persistently high rates of poverty among women, Aboriginal peoples, African Canadians, people with disabilities, youth and single mothers. The Committee reviewed Canada's 4th and 5th periodic reports on its compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during its 36th session, which ended in Geneva on Friday."
http://www.fafia-afai.org/webEdition/we_cmd.php?we_cmd[0]=show&we_cmd[1]=1022&we_cmd[4]=166
AGING
Health, Wellness and Aging with Disability - This site links to a large number of sites. Most of the sites are annotated and includes such topics as:
• [Accessibility] and Health Care
• Active Health Care Consumer Strategies
• Aging Well with Disability
• Assistive Technology
• Complimentary Approaches
• Condition / Disability Specific Information
• Ethnic and Cultural Diversity - Equity and Access
• Exercise
• Health Information Online & E-Health
• Home Modifications
• Managed Care
• Self-Help
• Traveling
• Women's Issues.
http://www.jik.com/hwawd.htmlThe Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care - "The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care is one of the largest human services organisations in NSW [New South Wales]. We provide support and services to more than 1 million older people, people with disabilities and their carers in NSW. In 2004-05 the Department had a total budget of $1.4 billion and employed more than 12,000 staff. We are committed to ensuring that older people, people with disabilities and their carers are valued, lead independent lives and have the opportunity to participate fully in community life."
http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/DADHC.htmEMPLOYMENT
Florida Bar study aims to enhance experiences of disabled lawyers (Tampa Bay Business Journal). "Florida Bar members with disabilities are encouraged to participate in the first statewide survey designed to identify the nature and impact of disabilities on the practice of law. The survey will also gather information on accommodations and technical assistance that would enhance the participation of attorneys with disabilities in Florida's legal community."
http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2006/05/08/daily10.html?jst=m_ln_hl&surround=lfnHelping a new day dawn - by Anna Quon (CBC.ca). "Montrealer Marie Barile is a woman with a disability, a researcher with a Master's degree in social work, and a feminist. She was walking with a cane and not yet using a wheelchair when she applied for a social work position. 'They said, how will you do home visits, and how will you handle the phones?' Barile remembers. She explained that she could use a wheelchair in the office to save her energy and use her cane when she had to visit clients in their homes, and that she could bring her own adjustable phone from home. But she didn't get the job. 'They looked at environmental reasons [not to hire me], which had nothing to do with my skills,' Barile says."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_disabilitymatters/quon_20060510.htmlMr. Mxyzptlk Reports That Most Disabled Americans Have Jobs - by Rob McInnes, (Diversity World). "Mr. Mxyzptlk is an odd character from Superman lore. From another dimension, this character is a mischievous practical joker who uses his powers to warp 'reality' on earth and create mayhem. As I read earlier today, his main claim to fame is his 'topsy-turvy magical, nightmarish alterations of reality.' His only weaknesses are that he can not stand being ridiculed and, if tricked into saying or spelling his name backwards (Kltpzyxm), he is involuntarily sent back to his home dimension for a minimum of 90 days. On May 12, 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau issued a press release entitled 'More than 50 Million Americans Report Some Level of Disability'. . . Based on this press release, a writer for the Associated Press immediately produced an article entitled 'Most Disabled Americans Have Jobs' that was picked up by major newspapers across the country. The result? A little mayhem within the disability community! Here at Diversity World, I quickly received several emails – all questioning the validity of the data. One reader wrote: 'Are they (the government) trying to convince all of the fine American people the disabled are working despite their disability? All the people I know and some professional people think the opposite'."
http://www.diversityworld.com/Disability/DN06/DN0605.htm GENERAL INTEREST
2006 Race for a Cure - "The 11th Annual Indy Go-Kart Challenge is racing into a community near you on Sunday September 10th, 2006!! The Indy Go-Kart Challenge is a fun, family day of friendly competition while raising crucial funds for the services the Huntington Society of Canada provides families across Canada! This unique fundraiser appeals to people of all ages, and can be a enjoyable day out with your family! . . . Indy Go-Kart Challenges are taking place in the following communities nationally:
• Prince George, British Columbia
• Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Ottawa, Ontario
• Toronto, Ontario
• Kitchener, Ontario
• Niagara Falls, Ontario
• London, Ontario
• Windsor, Ontario
• Halifax, Nova Scotia"
http://www.hsc-ca.org/english/indy.htmDisabilityInfo.Gov Receives American Association of Webmasters Gold Award - "DisabilityInfo.gov, a comprehensive one-stop federal Web site for disability-related information and resources, has received the American Association of Webmasters (AAWM) 2006 Gold Award for outstanding design and quality of content. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) manages the Web site." The site can be found at:
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do%3fparentFolderId=500http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/odep20060860.htmGeezer Profile: LKO and BlindGunner - (Geezer Gamers). "Recently, I got a chance to interview some Geezers that I've admired for a long time. One is blind and deaf and still manages to kick my ass in Halo 2 and the other is rumored to be famous in some underground hacking circles. Besides playing on Live they also like to kick it really old school passing the time with their family playing a little D&D."
http://www.geezergamers.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=187Government
CANADA
Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability's position on the Throne Speech - "With the opening of parliament, the government's throne speech promised a 'health system that is timely and sustainable'. The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability believes this a worthy goal and would take this opportunity to point to the importance of sport and physical activity in achieving a strong and healthy population."
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2006/04/c2366.html
Federal Budget 2006: Child Disability Benefit - "Budget 2006 proposes two changes to the CDB to enhance assistance to families with children eligible for the DTC. First, the Budget proposes to increase the maximum annual CDB to $2,300 from $2,044, starting in July 2006. The benefit will continue to be indexed for inflation thereafter. Second, the Budget proposes to extend the CDB to more families caring for a child eligible for the DTC by reducing the rates at which the CDB is reduced as family income rises."
http://www.mnp.ca/media/pdfs/additions/FederalBudget06.pdf (p.4)
http://www.fin.gc.ca/budget06/bp/bpc3ce.htm (Budget 2006: Families and Communities)
Breaking Down Communication Barriers For Ontarians Who Are Deaf Or Deafblind - "The McGuinty government is investing in more services for Ontarians who need intervenors or sign language interpreters to assist them with daily activities. 'For someone who is deafblind or has a hearing disability, communication barriers can seriously limit their access to things that most of us take for granted, such as going to the bank or visiting their doctor,' said Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur. 'By breaking down these communication barriers, we are building greater independence for people with disabilities.' The government's 2006 Budget includes nearly $11 million for interpreter and intervenor services, an increase of nearly 65 per cent over existing funding levels. The funding will help to provide more service to people who need it, improve the quality of services and improve wages to attract and keep people who provide interpreter and intervenor services. The government will also explore opportunities to increase the availability of French sign language interpreters and intervenors in the coming year."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/060601.htm
Fix The Flawed Bill 107 Action Kit - "On April 26, 2006, the McGuinty Government introduced the seriously-flawed Bill 107, its proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act, into the Legislature for First Reading. Bill 107 sets back human rights protection. It seriously weakens the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the public agency responsible to enforce your right not to suffer illegal discrimination. We appreciate both the opposition Conservative and New Democratic Parties voicing our concerns with Bill 107 in the Legislature."
http://www.aodaalliance.org/reform/bill107-actionkit.aspGreater Fairness For People Awaiting Disability Support - "The McGuinty government has eliminated a rule that limited retroactive payments for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants, Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced today. 'We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, no matter what struggles they face,' said Meilleur. 'That's why we moved quickly to change the rules so that we can help people when they need our help the most.' As part of its plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance program, the government has eliminated the four month limit on retroactive ODSP payments. Now, an individual who is approved for ODSP after submitting an application will receive retroactive payments for the full amount of time that they have been waiting for approval. Under the previous rule, this person would only have been eligible for up to four months of retroactive support."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/060531A.htmMcGuinty Government Builds Better Access For People With Disabilities - "The Ontario government, Shaw Festival and the Canadian Standards Association are changing the way patrons with disabilities are being served when they go to the theatre. . . . Through this program, the Canadian Standards Association worked with seven 'champion' businesses and organizations to develop and test new customer service training for businesses to use when serving customers with disabilities. 'Better accessibility can mean more customers, a larger pool of potential employees and long-term growth for Ontario businesses,' said Meilleur. 'Our goal is to make Ontario an accessible province by 2025, but businesses like the Shaw Festival are showing us that improved accessibility is something we can achieve right now'."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/060530.htmOntario's most vulnerable are losing out - "Ontario's disabled have lost out on disability benefits to the tune of at least $6 million, as a result of delays in processing their applications for support by the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Ontario Disability Support Program and the impact of a provincial regulation, which limited retroactive benefit payments to four months. 'Thousands of Ontario's most vulnerable citizens have become losers in a cruelly insensitive and intensely bureaucratic waiting game' Mr. Marin notes in his latest report titled Losing the Waiting Game."
http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/pdf/DAU%20PRMay312006.pdf (press release)
http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/pdf/LosingtheWaitingGameENG.pdf (Marin's report)
http://dawn.thot.net/ombudsman_ontario.html#lwg (DAWN's backrounder)
Ontario welfare, disability benefits get first increase in 11 years - "People collecting Ontario welfare and disability payments will see their first increase in 11 years, the new Liberal government announced in its first budget. 'Whatever challenges the province faces, we must not forget the challenges faced by the most vulnerable,' Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said in his budget speech."
http://www.canada.com/national/features/ontariobudget04/story.html?id=696bda5e-8e6e-499c-aaf7-d7c266518094Removing Barriers For People With Disabilities Helps Open Doors To New Customers - "The McGuinty government is working with Ontario businesses and community groups to build awareness of the benefits of removing barriers for people with disabilities, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Ontarians with Disabilities, announced today. Meilleur joined representatives of the Ontario Chinese Restaurant and Food Services Association (OCRFA) in Toronto's Chinatown neighbourhood to announce the government's seven new EnAbling Change partnership projects. 'Improved accessibility is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do,' said Meilleur. 'Not only does it give people with disabilities more opportunities to participate in our society – it also helps businesses attract new customers and strengthens the life of all our communities'."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/060531.htmhttp://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/backgrounders/060531.htm (EnAbling Change Project Information)
US
Medicare Denies Coverage of iBOT Mobility System - "Last week, the Medicare program released a draft coverage decision for the iBOT Mobility System that essentially amounts to a non-coverage decision for the device. Rather than recognizing the device as an integrated, multi-functional system, Medicare artificially split the functions of the iBOT Mobility System into component parts. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that only the iBOT Mobility System's 'standard power function' meets the Medicare definition of 'durable medical equipment' while its other functions such as stairclimbing, 4-wheel function, and the balance feature to extend reach are not considered covered benefits. Despite over 100 public comments that Medicare should not take this approach, CMS's draft decision takes this position. As a result, getting Medicare to cover this innovative device at all will be extremely difficult and if it is covered, the beneficiary will have to pay for most of the device out-of- pocket, putting it out of reach for most beneficiaries."
http://www.aapd.com/News/medicare/060511ibot.htmU.S. House Education Leaders Announce Series of Hearings on Implementation, Impact of No Child Left Behind Act - "U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon (R-CA), the Committee's Senior Democrat George Miller (D-CA), and Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE) today announced their plans to continue to examine the implementation and impact of the landmark 2002 No Child Left Behind Act through a new series of hearings to be held by the House Education & the Workforce Committee over the next several months. During the past several years, the panel has held ten hearings on topics ranging from the law's overall implementation and its 'persistently dangerous schools' provision to school choice provisions under No Child Left Behind and the impact of the law on children with disabilities. The education reform law is scheduled to be renewed next year, and the upcoming series of hearings is expected to lay the groundwork for the congressional reauthorization effort."
http://www.aapd.com/News/education/060511nclb.htmHealth
ADHD drugs take toll on minors - by Joyce Howard Price (The Washington Times). "Accidental overdoses and side effects from attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder drugs send about 3,100 Americans -- 80 percent of them children -- to hospital emergency rooms annually, a federal survey has found. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 60 percent of the overdoses were accidental and were preventable if parents had kept the stimulant drugs locked in cabinets and in child-resistant containers."
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060525-123310-5356r.htmFamilies face barriers to managing kids' diabetes - by Amy Norton (Reuters Health). "Parents of teenagers with type 2 diabetes feel they face a range of obstacles to helping their kids take care of their health, a study has found. In discussions with 27 parents of diabetic teenagers, researchers found that parents often struggled to get their kids to eat right, check their blood sugar or think about the long-term health consequences of their condition. Parents also cited a number of other obstacles, including less-than-ideal food choices and a lack of exercise at school, and their teenagers' resistance to letting their classmates know they had the disease. Some parents said their children were teased, sometimes because of their weight."
http://www.medicineonline.com/conditions/article.html?articleID=4414&articleSource=12Finding Answers Online in Sickness and in Health - by Mary Madden and Susannah Fox (Pew Internet & American Life Project). "Recent research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that, as more Americans come online, more rely on the internet for important health information. Many Americans are deepening their connections to the internet, whether for entertainment or to help a loved one through a crisis. And though the audience for the latest DVD may be larger than the audience for clinical trial information, the impact on someone's life in the latter case may be dramatically different in scale. Fully 58% of those who found the internet to be crucial or important during a loved one's recent health crisis say the single most important source of information was something they found online."
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/183/report_display.asphttp://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Health_Decisions_2006.pdf (pdf Report)
Women, Health and Action - (Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women). "What makes us healthy? We all know about fruits and vegetables, but did you know that the 12 determinants of health identified by Health Canada are: income and social status, employment, education, social environments, physical environments, healthy childhood development, personal health practices and coping skills, health services, social support networks, biology and genetic endowment, gender, and culture. What kind of society we live in has a huge impact on our health. That's why this health fact sheet isn't just about eating apples, it's about changing the world. It's about women taking control of our own health and our society's health."
http://www.criaw-icref.ca/indexFrame_e.htm (CRIAW Fact Sheets)
http://www.criaw-icref.ca/factSheets/Health%20Fact%20sheet/Women%20Health%20Action.pdf (pdf)
http://www.criaw-icref.ca/factSheets/Health%20Fact%20sheet/health_e.htm (text)
HIGHER EDUCATION
Educators strive to retain science students with disabilities - by Paroma Basu (University of Wisconsin at Madison). "Although many students wrestle with complicated concepts in science, that struggle takes on a whole new meaning for students with disabilities who are trying to learn the same things. Imagine having a visual impairment and trying to identify a chemical that has no smell, or being in a wheelchair and trying to collect biological samples from the bottom of a lake. For many students with disabilities, such barriers simply outweigh any benefits they might associate with a future in science. Now, a consortium of educators, scientists and student service providers – the Midwest Alliance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (MIDWEST) – is starting to tackle that problem."
http://www.news.wisc.edu/12418.htmlNew head of Gallaudet in 'deaf enough' clash - by Arlo Wagner (The Washington Times). "The faculty of Gallaudet University yesterday stood against the school's board of trustees by delivering a vote of no-confidence in Provost Jane K. Fernandes on her elevation to president of the only U.S. liberal arts college for deaf students. The dispute centers on whether she is 'deaf enough' for the job. Mrs. Fernandes was born deaf but grew up speaking and did not learn American Sign Language (ASL) until she was 23. Sign language is the preferred way of communicating at 1,900-student Gallaudet."
http://www.deaftoday.com/v3/archives/2006/05/new_head_of_gal.htmlLEGAL
Enforcing the ADA: A Status Report from the Department of Justice - "This Status Report covers the ADA activities of the Department of Justice during the fourth quarter (October - December) of 2005. This report, previous status reports, and a wide range of other ADA information are available through the Department's ADA Home Page on the World Wide Web (see page 13). The symbol (**) indicates that the document is available on the ADA Home Page."
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/octdec05.htmMEDICAL
CDC - New Research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - by CDC (ImmuneSupport.com). "CDC scientists will be discussing results from the largest clinical study of CFS patients to date published in the April issue of Pharmacogenomics. This research strongly suggests there are specific genes and gene activity that make some people more susceptible to having CFS, (e.g. their genetic makeup affects their body's ability to adapt to change). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decision by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations."
To listen to a recording of the original Audio WebCast Click On This Link
http://www.videonewswire.com/cdc/33494/event.html http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=7149Disparities Among Children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - (Ivanoe.com). "Not all kids with juvenile diabetes are getting the same benefit from medical care. A new study reveals children from lower-income families often have a lower quality of life and higher level of disability than other children. Researchers from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati wanted to know if there was a relationship between health insurance status and how children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) fared. Researchers found the children with JRA on Medicaid used the medical resources available to them approximately the same amount as other children in the study. The kids on Medicaid, however, had significantly lower quality of life and were more disabled than the other children in the study."
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=13813Estimated number of Canadians with multiple sclerosis re-examined - "The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, in consultation with Canadian experts in the epidemiology of MS, has announced that the oft-used '50,000 Canadians with MS' needs to be revised. The MS Society now estimates that there are likely between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadians living with this unpredictable disease. Release of the revised estimate coincides with the start of May, MS Awareness Month. 'The new range reflects the reality that MS is firmly established as a disease of great concern in Canada,' says Dr. William J. McIlroy, national medical advisor for the MS Society of Canada. 'However, it should also be emphasized that researchers around the world are in agreement that work being done today holds great promise for the future of this disease.' While the revised numbers at first glance may suggest that the risk of MS is increasing in Canada, they may also reflect improvements in diagnostic technology."
http://www.mssociety.ca/en/releases/NR_May06.htmNatalizumab Monotherapy Reduces Disability Progression in Patients With MS: Presented at AAN - by Claire Sowerbutt. (Doctor's Guide). "Results from a phase 3 study of the novel monoclonal antibody, natalizumab, show significant efficacy in reducing progression of disability and suppressing disease-related changes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment with natalizumab resulted in a 42% reduction in disability progression over 2 years compared with placebo (P =.0002), according to results from the Natalizumab Safety and Efficacy in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (AFFIRM) study."
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF685257149004B7432Strokes more crippling, less deadly, study says - (Canada.com). "Heart disease and stroke are moving from killer to crippler diseases, new data warns. Death rates from cardiovascular diseases plummeted 53% for Canadian men and women between 1979 and 2003, according to a report released yesterday by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The rates of people hospitalized for every major type of cardiovascular disease have also fallen, except for heart attack-related hospital admissions, which have increased steadily over the past decade. The drop in mortality rates means 'we're getting better and better at keeping people alive with cardiovascular disease, but it also means that we're faced with a whole new set of challenges as millions of Canadians cope with living with heart disease and stroke,' says Dr. Andreas Wielgosz, an Ottawa cardiologist and scientific editor of the statistical report."
http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=e8f4db9e-d00d-41f9-a0bc-60e3eac200bbTipping the Scales of Progress: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada releases new data and recommendations on tobacco, obesity and disease prevention - "The Heart and Stroke Foundation today released new projections on tobacco use and obesity in Canada, along with policy recommendations to reduce heart disease and stroke aimed at governments. The report is called Tipping the Scales of Progress: Heart Disease and Stroke in Canada 2006.
Key highlights of the report include:
• an overall reduction of 53% in age standardized cardiovascular mortality (1979-2003)
• new projections on future smoking and obesity rates – some trends will hold, others will not
• significant gaps and inadequacies in Canadian health data
• alarming increases in overweight and obesity, particularly among children
• significant declines in smoking rates, placing Canada as a world leader in tobacco control
• much higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk among lower income and First Nations populations."
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=33&ArticleID=5043&Src=news&From=SubCategoryhttp://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/images/english/Tipping_the_Scales.pdf (pdf Report)
MEDIA
Children's book guides conversations about multiple sclerosis - "Multiple sclerosis (MS Society) therapy provider, Berlex Canada Inc., in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, announced the Canadian launch of Benjamin: My Mum is Special, a children's book for families affected by MS. Benjamin, the book's hero, is an eight-year-old boy whose mother has MS. He is worried and frightened when his mother suddenly has trouble walking and dressing herself because of her MS. With the support of family and friends, Benjamin learns that it is okay to be worried, ask questions and talk about how he is feeling. Benjamin: My Mum is Special was originally published in Germany and has been successfully launched in Austria, France, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Malta, New Zealand and Australia."
http://www.mssociety.ca/en/releases/NR060515.htmdestination anywhere: A National Juried Exhibit for Young Artists with Disabilities, Ages 16 - 25 - "VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities."
http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/vw/2006/New festival to focus on deaf filmmaking - (CBC Arts). "Another international film festival is debuting in Toronto, this one aimed at promoting the work of deaf filmmakers. One of the goals of the Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival is to celebrate the deaf filmmaking community, festival organizer Catherine MacKinnon told CBC News. 'We're not hiding under the stairs. We are here, we are in the community, we are making noise, so to speak,' MacKinnon, a deaf filmmaker, said through an interpreter. 'We just want to show people we can have mutual respect. There are different cultures and we happen to be a different culture as well.' This year's event will screen 20 films, chosen out of 60 international entries submitted. Filmmakers from Italy, Japan and the U.S. will attend."
http://www.deaftoday.com/v3/archives/2006/05/new_festival_to.htmlThirteen-Year-Old Becomes an Author--Christopher Bullfrog Catcher by Christopher Shiveley Welch scribed by Debra Shiveley Welch - (PRWEB). "There are times when a book will capture your heart; it can happen in many ways, but each time it is fresh and new. This is the case as I read this delightful work by 13 year old Christopher Shiveley Welch as scribed by his mother, Debra Shiveley Welch. Christopher has learning differences, but this has not quenched the fire of life within this special young man, nor his desire to share adventures of his life with others. We begin this read with a poem, a simple one, yet one whose words say volumes because they shine forth with the love of one young boy for his lake and the activity that awaits him there."
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/5/emw379712.htm
POLICY/RESEARCH
CDD throws its weight behind proponents of Disability Bill - "The Centre for Democratic Governance, (CDD), says the eventual passage of the Disability Bill is the greatest opportunity for government, Parliament and the public to secure the enjoyment of the rights of more than two million people living with disability in Ghana. The bill made it to the second reading in Parliament this week after almost fourteen years of non recognition of the constitutional rights of the disabled under the Fourth Republic. The CDD says its interest in the Disability Bill is based on the fact that the rights of the disabled are human rights issues which should be taken seriously by everybody."
http://www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=5328The Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion - Highlighted this month by Giles Seguin in his Canadian Social Research Links this site has any number of valuable research pieces on social policy issues. The site states: "Inclusion is an independent, not for profit organisation dedicated to promoting social justice, social inclusion and tackling disadvantage. We work with the public sector, voluntary organisations, business and trade unions. We develop policy and strategy in a variety of fields and work closely with the Government to implement ideas. We also work with people delivering policy on the ground. This broad range of contacts lends a unique perspective to our work."
http://www.cesi.org.uk/index.aspThe Institute on Disability/UCED - "The Institute on Disability/UCED (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. . . . The IOD advances policies and systems changes, promising practices, education, and research that strengthen communities and ensure full access, equal opportunities, and participation for all persons. . . To carry out its vision, mission, and values the IOD:
• Trains students, self-advocates, families and professionals through coursework, seminars, workshops and conferences
• Provides technical assistance to organizations and individuals to improve their capacity to include all citizens
• Serves as a resource for information to policymakers and government officials
• Disseminates information to families, consumers, community members and professionals via books, monographs, articles, videos, newsletters, the Internet and press coverage including TV, radio, newspapers and consumer forums
• Conducts applied research to better understand and address the needs of individuals with disabilities
• Engages in collaborative activities and joint projects with organizations that share common goals."
http://www.iod.unh.edu/Working Text: International Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities - "The States Parties to the present Convention, (a) Recalling the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations which recognize the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, (b) Recognizing that the United Nations, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, has proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, (c) Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination,"
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc7ann2rep.htmLack of research and asset-building programs leaves many disabled persons in a financial and social limbo - by Jessica Martin (Washington University in St. Louis). "The straightforward solution for many people living in poverty is building savings. For the 9 million disabled Americans living in poverty, the answer isn't as simple. 'The poverty rate among Americans with disabilities is nearly double that of persons without disabilities, and while there is a complex web of federal and state-based programs offering financial assistance to eligible persons with disabilities, policy rules often preclude the accumulation of assets, which are often key for exiting poverty,' says Michelle Putnam, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. 'New research and public policies have the potential to help people with disabilities to have greater economic resources and become more integrated into their communities,' Putnam suggests."
http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/6872.htmlStudy Guide: Human rights of persons with disabilities - (Human Rights Education Association). "The Study Guides offer introductions to various human rights topics. The guides present definitions, key rights at stake, human rights instruments, and protection and assistance agencies. They guides also offer links to the full text of international treaties relevant for the topic, and other useful resources on the HREA and University of Minnesota Human Rights Library web sites." The HREA study on 'persons with disabilities' includes information on
• Rights at Stake
• International and Regional Instruments of Protection and Promotion
• National Protection and Service Agencies
• Advocacy, Educational and Training Materials
• Other Resources.
http://www.hrea.org/learn/guides/disabilities.html REHABILITATION
OT students conducting cutting-edge research - "Four senior occupational therapy students are conducting research in the Assistive Technology Research Institute at College Misericordia to determine if new speech recognition computer programs can be used in clinical settings for school-aged children."
http://www.misericordia.edu/news/news_full.cfm?news_id=747SELF HELP
How special-needs kids created special parents - by Margi Shrum (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). "When the realization hits that your child is different, the impact is immediate, yet slow to dawn at the same time. Once you work through the shock and denial, you must live with, potentially, years of exhaustion and, as child psychologists call it, 'emotional lability.' Even if you are fortunate to be educated and financially well off, you can get socked. How you, your spouse, your special-needs child and any siblings make it through the dips and turns in the journey varies dramatically, but no one avoids the impact. Two recent first-person accounts detail the experience in depth and make for good reading for parents facing any level of special need in their children."
http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=SPECIALNEED-BOOKS-05-24-06Myth of a Quick Fix - by Diana Moore (Schwab Learning). "In the information age, being a skeptical consumer has become a necessary part of parenting a child with a learning disability (LD). Given the complexity of LD and the growing array of quick fix 'cures' that are becoming available, consumer learning has become a hot topic. . . In April 2000, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) released research results on the instructional methods that work best when teaching reading. Since then, words like 'research' and 'science' have shown up in names and descriptions of all sorts of LD therapies and educational tools, whether or not the products have third-party research proving their effectiveness."
http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=86
TECHNOLOGY
Australian Neuroscientists Tap Star-P Software to Accelerate Brain Disorder Research - "Researchers at Australia's top neuroscience research labs and universities are using a new parallel supercomputing system to help unravel the mysteries of the brain to fight disease. With the help of Interactive Supercomputing Inc.'s (ISC's) Star-P(TM) software, scientists at the Howard Florey Institute, Flinders University and University of Queensland will soon be able to rapidly analyze large magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets that may someday reveal correlations between brain structure and conditions such as ADHD."
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-15-2006/0004361491&EDATE=Carnegie Mellon team develops disability-friendly devices - by Saravana Sivasankaran (The Tartin Online). "Sometimes tech projects that make the largest impact donate revolve around high-end, new technology. The key is the approach taken to finding a solution for the problem at hand, and being able to combine current technology with cutting-edge tech. Take Trinetra, for instance, a project that aims to develop cost-effective assistive technologies to provide blind people with a greater degree of independence in their daily activities. The Sanskrit word Trinetra refers to the powerful third eye of the Hindu god Shiva. Trinetra was started by Priya Narasimhan, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, who struck upon the idea for the project one day in December 2004 when she noticed how difficult it was for blind people to catch a bus on a snowy Pittsburgh evening."
http://thetartan.org/2006/4/10/scitech/researchprofilesDeveloping Technology for People with Dementia - by Arlene J. Astell (Psychiatric Times). "Technology offers potential interventions for people with dementia to maintain their independence and maximize their retained abilities for as long as possible. This includes both practical solutions to managing the activities of everyday life and interventions geared to meeting psychological needs. Recent initiatives such as the ASTRID Project, ENABLE Project and Alzheimer's Association Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer Care (ETAC) highlight the possibilities offered by technology to address the needs of people with dementia. Currently, developments in dementia are focused on meeting needs in three broad areas: safety, security and social interaction."
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174402656Engineers try to solve playground cochlear implant problem - by Alison Drain. "For some deaf children, a plastic slide is a more formidable foe than the school wedgie-giver. Static electricity buildup from sliding down a plastic slide – instant summertime fun for those with normal hearing – can temporarily silence the world to cochlear implantees. Robert E. Morley, D.Sc., associate professor of electrical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, and his colleague Ed Richter, research associate in electrical engineering, have tested static electricity buildup on sliding children to quantify the sparks. Thanks to some publicity and increased awareness, their research has inspired the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department to consider the problem, and an anti-static coating company to try to solve it."
http://www.deaftoday.com/v3/archives/2006/05/engineers_try_t.htmlOcuSource.com Launches Recordings of Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference - "The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) concluded a highly successful seventh annual Conference & Exhibition on January 21st, 2006. With over 1500 attendees, the conference provided nearly 300 presentations by industry experts on assistive technology for hearing, mobility, vision, speech and learning disabilities. ATIA and OcuSource.com recently announced that the two groups have joined forces to produce a sampling of over 150 hours of conference presentations from ATIA's conference. OcuSource will make the recordings available to consumers and professionals via the company's virtual conferencing system at
www.letsgoexpo.com or via ATIA's website,
www.atia.org."
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/5/prweb385114.htmPhotosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool (PEAT) - "Photosensitive seizures can be provoked by certain types of flashing in web or computer content. Hazardous, seizure-inducing content has been broadcast on television causing mass seizures in children. As Web content becomes more dynamic and television-like it is important that it not cause similar problems. Some mouseover behaviors can also cause large areas of the screen to flash. Web designers and computer software developers should avoid the use of content that could potentially cause seizures. The Trace Center's Photosensitive Epilepsy Analysis Tool was developed to provide a tool to Web developers to identify potentially seizure inducing material."
http://trace.wisc.edu/peat/Tech Report: Cambridge brain waves open communication for the severely paralysed - (SiliconFen Business Report). "An exciting breakthrough in a brain-computer interface (BCI) system that translates brain waves into computer commands – without the need for implanted electrodes - might soon be assisting paralyzed people in their daily activities. The novel BCI system is being developed by the Wadsworth Center, a public health laboratory for the New York State Department of Health, with help from Silicon Fen icon Cambridge Consultants who are transforming a brilliantly engineered and technically complex research system into an easy-to-use solution at a fraction of the cost. 'Our device requires neither implanted electrodes nor eye movement to help severely paralyzed individuals to communicate,' said Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw, director of the BCI unit of the Wadsworth Center. 'We're trying to take a solution that might cost tens of thousands of dollars and make it work better at a price of around $5000'."
http://www.siliconfenbusiness.com/archives.php?articleid=102WELLNESS
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability - "NCPAD is an information center concerned with physical activity and disability. Being physically active is good for every body. That's a message you will find many times on this site. Being active is an important part of getting and staying healthy. One 'must read' item on this website is our monograph on Can Disability, Chronic Conditions, Health and Wellness Coexist? in which author June Kailles discusses the common confusion people have about the relationship between having a disability and being healthy. Once you realize that EVERY BODY needs some activity to get and remain healthy, you will find we have a great many resources to help you find how YOU can participate. We have information and resources for EVERYONE, from guidelines to consider before starting any kind of exercise program to factsheets on many popular activites, games, recreational pursuits, and sports that have been adapted to allow people with disabilities to participate as fully as they wish, become as active as they wish."
http://www.ncpad.org/?PHPSESSID=ecf99b1cfc63f62aThe Wellness and Disability Initiative - "The Wellness and Disability Initiative (WDI) offers health and wellness information for Canadians with disabilities through our web site,
Resource Centre and telephone/fax service. Our focus is on health and wellness information in plain language and alternative formats."
http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/s/WDI.asp?ReportID=86382
CONFERENCES
(Conferences listed for the first time in DRD)
CANADIAN
10th International Child Neurology Congress - June 11-16, 2006 | Montreal, Quebec. "We are proud to announce that over 600 abstracts from more than 50 countries have been submitted for oral and poster presentations. Confirmation letters will be sent out at the end of January 2006. Abstract submission and the application process for travel awards is now closed."
http://www.icnc2006.com/9th World Down Syndrome Congress - August 22-26, 2006 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Welcome to the home page of the 9th World Down Syndrome Congress, being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from August 22 - 26, 2006. At present, you will find details in regards to the City of Vancouver. Further information will be available shortly. Please visit the site often for updates and additional information."
http://www.venuewest.com/2006/wdsc/Alzheimer Society of Canada 28th National Conference - Alzheimer Research and Innovation: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - Nov. 6-8, 2006 | Toronto, Ontario. "In 2006 it will be 100 years since Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described Alzheimer Disease. To mark this, we will showcase advances in research and innovation at the 28th Alzheimer Society of Canada National Conference. Alzheimer Research and Innovation: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow will be a special event in this 100th anniversary year and we're expecting up to 800 delegates to this exciting conference -- leading researchers and academics, health-care professionals, people with Alzheimer Disease, caregivers and policy makers."
http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/newsevents/conference-intro.htmFestival of International Conferences on Disability, Aging and Technology - June 16-19, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together five important and different conferences all focused on enhancing the lives of seniors, persons with disabilities and their family caregivers.
• Growing Older with a Disability
• The 2nd International Conference on Technology and Aging (ICTA)
• Advances in Neurorehabilitation
• Caregivers: Essential Partners in Care
• Improving Medical Device Usability (CMBES)"
http://www.ficdat.ca/TRANSED 2007 - 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons - June 18-21, 2007 | Montreal, Quebec. "Canada is proud to host the 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED), to be held June 18-21, 2007, at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal under the theme 'Benchmarking, Evaluation and Vision for the Future'. The conference will review advances in research, evoke international break throughs and explore perspectives for technological innovations in order to respond to the mobility challenges of an aging population and of persons with disabilities, as part of an inclusive society."
http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/Transed2007/home.htmThe 12th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics - Moving Beyond Disability - July 29 - August 3, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Welcome to the web page for the ISPO 2007 World Congress. The ISPO World Congress is the premiere global event for multidisciplinary prosthetic and orthotic care. The ISPO Canada National Society is pleased to welcome you to Vancouver to enjoy the scientific sessions, workshops and symposia, expansive trade exhibits, and active social programs."
http://www.ispo.ca/congress/U.S.
Society for Disability Studies 19th Annual Conference: Disability Goes Public: Re-Imagining Policy/Protest/Possibilities - June 14-17, 2006 | Hyatt Bethesda, Washington, D.C.http://www.uic.edu/orgs/sds/annualmeetings.html
RESNA 2006 - Thriving in Challenging Times: The Future of Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology - June 22-26, 2006 | Atlanta, Georgia. "Three Conference Tracks: Research, Practice and Policy. Each Track has 3 full days of programming across eight topic areas:
• Computer Applications & Communication
• Job & Environmental Accommodation, including Ergonomics
• Outcome & Quantitative Measurement
• Wheeled Mobility Technologies and Interventions
• Wheelchair Seating Technologies and Interventions
• Public Policy and Education
• Technology for Cognitive and Sensory Impairments
• Other, including: Technology Transfer, Rural Rehab, Robotics, Telerehab and more!"
http://www.resna.org/RESNA%202006%20Preliminary%20Program.pdfAutreat 2006 - June 30, 2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Autism Network International's 10th annual conference is a retreat-style conference run by autistic people, for autistic people and friends. Autreat focuses on positive living with autism, NOT on causes, cures, or ways to make people with autism more normal."
http://ani.autistics.org/autreat.htmlAssociation on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) 29th Annual Conference and Exhibit Hall - July 18-22, 2006 | San Diego, California. "The AHEAD 2006 Conference celebrates the 20 year anniversary since our last adventure together in San Diego! Transition and change mark the theme of our Conference; our program reflects the many lenses we use to bridge the transition gap."
http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2006.htm2006 Call For Proposals - 28th International Conference on Learning Disabilities - Research in Context: A Capital Idea for 200 - October 20-22, 2006 | McLean, Virginia. "The Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD) invites proposals from the full range of professionals who serve individuals with learning disabilities, including classroom teachers, administrators, speech/language pathologists, diagnosticians, researchers, higher education teacher preparation faculty, consultants, and others."
http://www.cldinternational.org/Conference/conference.aspASSETS 2006 Conference on Computers and Accessibility - October 23-25, 2006 | Portland, Oregon. "The ASSETS series of conferences is aimed at providing a technical forum for presenting and disseminating innovative research results that address the use of computing and information technologies to help persons with disabilities."
www.acm.org/sigaccess/assets06/2006 TASH Conference - Call for Presentations - November 8-11, 2006 | Baltimore, Maryland. "The TASH Board and 2006 Conference Committee invite you to submit proposals for presentations that support and contribute to valued outcomes for individuals with disabilities. Proposals are sought that address how policy, research and practice converge to produce the full inclusion and active participation of individuals with disabilities in school, community, and employment settings. For 31 years, TASH members have advocated for and implemented progressive policy, practices, and research to ensure that all people - regardless of their label or perceived level of disability - have the supports they need to lead valued lives. TASH is dedicated to disseminating information that reflects value-based and evidence-based strategies to pursue equitable access, participation and full inclusion in school, community, and work for people labeled with disabilities - particularly those who are at most risk of being excluded from community life."
http://www.tash.org/2006tash/index.htmOVERSEAS
4th International Conference on Smart Homes and Health Telematics - ICOST2006 - June 26-28, 2006 | Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. "After three successful editions held in France (2003), Singapore (2004), and Canada (2005), ICOST2006 aims to continue to develop an active research community dedicated to explore how Smart Homes and Health Telematics can foster independent living and offer an enhanced quality of life for ageing and disabled people. A Smart Home can be considered to be an augmented environment with the ability to consolidate embedded computers, information appliances, micro/nano systems, and multi-modal sensors to offer people unprecedented levels of access to information and assistance from information and communication technology. Health Telematics makes the most of networks and telecommunications to provide, within the home environment, health services, expertise and information and hence radically transform the way health-related services are conceived and delivered. We believe that in the future ageing and disabled people will use smart assistive technology to perform daily living activities, socialize, and enjoy entertainment and leisure activities."
http://www.icost2006.ulster.ac.uk/callforpapers.htmInternational Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication - July 31-August 3, 2006 | Düsseldorf, Germany. "The German Speaking Chapter (ISAAC-GSC), consisting of members in Germany, Switzerland and Austria (ISAAC´s biggest chapter worldwide), would like to invite everybody interested in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to participate in the 12th Biennial Conference of ISAAC, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication."
www.isaac2006.de2006 International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies - September 18-20, 2006 | Esbjerg, Denmark. "Welcome to the International Conference Series on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies website. Here you will find all the information for the upcoming ICDVRAT 2006 conference, 18-20 September 2006, plus archive information from previous ICDVRAT conferences, including full conference proceedings of all past conferences."
http://www.icdvrat.reading.ac.uk/International Forum on Disability Management - October 8-11, 2006 | Brisbane, Australia. "The Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) at The University of Queensland and Griffith University have been invited to host the 3rd International Forum on Disability Management in Brisbane from 8 to 11 October, 2006. The forum will build on initiatives and progress following the first forum 'Work Retention Strategies in a Global Society' held in Vancouver 2002 and the second forum 'Disability Management works' held in Maastricht in 2004. The forum will be in the format of Plenary Sessions and Workshops."
http://www.ifdm.com.au/index.htmlARATA 2006 National Conference - Connecting People & Community Through Technology - October 17-20, 2006 | Perth, Australia. "On behalf of the conference organising committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to Fremantle, Perth for the ARATA 2006 National Conference 'Connecting People and Community Through Technology', to be held from Tuesday 17th until Friday 20th October, 2006. The 2006 conference aims to enable participants to understand how the application of technology can allow inclusion of all people into everyday activities, home, school, work and leisure by:
• Increasing awareness of the potential of technology
• Presenting new developments and research
• Sharing information and exchanging ideas
• Providing resources, product information and a trade."
http://www.e-bility.com/arata/conf.phpMobility for all - The use of Ambient Intelligence in addressing the mobility needs of people with impairments: the case of ASK-IT - October 26-27, 2006 | Nice, France. "The ASK-IT International conference marks the two year point of this EU research funded project and the conference will provide the opportunity to take stock of the progress made in ASK-IT so far. It will also provide a unique occasion for different stakeholders, whether it be telecom providers, industry, user representatives, research institutes or local authorities, to gather together to discuss the role of Information Communication Technology in aiding and improving the everyday lives of mobility impaired people. It will include high level speakers and experts from around the world who will look at various issues, such as making content accessible, accessible tools and Ambient Intelligence. The conference will provide state-of-the-art information on accessibility initiatives in Europe and beyond."
www.ask-it.org/conference/ASKIT_Callforpapers.phpDPI 7th World Assembly - "Asserting Our Rights, Celebrating Our Achievements and Building Our Future: Towards A Society For All" - December 1-4, 2006 | Johannesburg, South Africa.http://www.dpi.org/en/events/events.htm