AFB to Close its Audio Production Division in October 2009 – (AFB). "After 75 years of participating in the National Library Service (NLS) Talking Book Program, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is closing its audio book division in October 2009 with the expiration of AFB's New York headquarters' lease. Fans of talking books will continue to have access to high quality audio books from the many other accomplished audio book producers participating in the NLS program, as well as through increasingly popular, accessible, and affordable commercially produced books and internet downloads. Since pioneering the development of recorded books in the 1930s, AFB has produced tens of thousands of Talking Books for the Library of Congress—a program championed by Helen Keller during her tenure at AFB. AFB expects to continue producing audio material for NLS and our other customers until AFB leaves its present facility."
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=4491
Board Releases Revised Draft of Updated Guidelines for Buses and Vans – "The Board has released a revised draft of updated guidelines for buses and vans as part of a refresh of its guidelines for transportation vehicles covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The document is available for public comment until January 20, 2009. An earlier draft was released for comment last year. In response, the Board received almost 90 comments, including feedback from vehicle manufacturers, transit operators, trade associations, consumers, disability groups, and others. The new draft includes revisions made in response to this input."
http://www.access-board.gov/news/vehicle-draft2.htm
City to install more accessible pedestrian signals – "The City of Toronto has agreed to accelerate the installation of accessible pedestrian signals at traffic signals across the city after a negotiated settlement was reached with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Under the policy approved by Toronto City Council, 81 accessible pedestrian signals (formerly known as audible pedestrian signals) are to be installed over the next three years. The City will also install accessible pedestrian signals at all new traffic signal locations."
http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/7017df2f20edbe2885256619004e428e/44314beae7ce361f8525750d006a3d16?OpenDocument
Designing Housing for Disabled People – by John M. Williams (AssistiveTechnologyNews). "In the 30 years that I have been involved in the disability field, scores and scores of people with disabilities have told me about the woes they encountered in having an accessible house built. I could write a book on their horrific trials that have caused delays in building, additional costs for retrofitting and personal anguish. People have told me, for example, that garage doors did not automatically open using a remote control. The bathtub was not wheelchair accessible. The counters in the kitchen were inches higher than they were suppose to me. Some of the wall switches were too high to reach. As a result people could not reach anything from her wheelchair. Instead of a ramp, three steps lead to the front porch."
http://www.atechnews.com/designinghousing.html
Detectable Warnings – "Detectable warnings are intended to function much like a stop sign and to alert pedestrians who are visually impaired to the presence of a hazard in the line of travel. A Detectable Warning surface is defined by ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) as a standardized surface feature built in or applied to walking surfaces or other elements to warn visually impaired people of hazards on a circulation path. Detectable Warnings incorporating truncated domes are the best indicator to alert pedestrians there is a hazard approaching in their way of travel. Truncated domes are the only detectable warnings allowed by ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)."
http://www.armor-tile.com/detectable-warnings_info.html
Disabled Winnipeggers underserved by cabs, board told – by Martin Cash (WinnipegFreePress). "The two largest taxicab companies in Winnipeg were accused Monday of operating a cartel by one of many applicants for new licences. In his application for 50 new licences before the Manitoba Taxicab Board, Mike Akinola, an outspoken veteran cabbie, said the Winnipeg taxi business is controlled by Unicity and Duffy's and that they are preventing competition to protect their own interests. 'They do whatever they want,' he said. 'Enough is enough.' Akinola's comments were made after he presented correspondence to the board from organizations including Independent Living Resource Centre and the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies who endorsed Akinola's contention that Winnipeg needs more accessible cabs."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/breakingnews/Disabled_Winnipeggers_underserved_by_Winnipeg_cabs_board_told.html
New ASTM Initiative: "Inclusive Fitness Equipment Standards" – (NCPAD). "Many people with disabilities can get into a fitness facility, only to find that there is no equipment that is accessible. The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) has launched an initiative to create inclusive fitness equipment standards. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) secures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Title III of the ADA applies to public accommodations in particular, which are private entities that are open to the public, including fitness centers. Thus, the intent of the ADA is that people of all abilities be able to access all public accommodations, including fitness centers, and engage in use of all membership benefits equally, including access to the fitness equipment. At this time, this legal approach addresses the built environment, but what good is it if a person with a disability can enter the building but cannot use any of the equipment?"
http://www.ncpad.org/fitt/fact_sheet.php?sheet=658
Ontario Improving Accessibility – "Ontario is taking another step towards improving accessibility for people with disabilities with the release of the proposed information and communications standard for public review. The standard was developed by a committee of people from the disability and business communities. People with disabilities often face barriers in getting the information they need, whether on paper, online or in person. This proposed accessibility standard aims to ensure people of all abilities can equally access information."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/news/releases/081117.htm
Schindler Award 2008 won by German team from Koblenz – "A leading European architecture competition, run by the elevator company Schindler, has been won by a duo from Germany's Koblenz University of Applied Sciences. Participants had the task of revitalizing a derelict area of the Austrian capital, Vienna, with special emphasis on improving disabled access. Nils Krieger and Thorsten Stelter clinched first prize of €5,000 for their project 'Triangle', while the faculty at Koblenz won the first Schools' prize of €25,000. Other students' and schools' prizes were handed out at the Schindler Award 2008 ceremony held in the 'Kultur und Kongresszentrum' (KKL) in Lucerne, Switzerland. The president of the jury, Professor Françoise-Hélène Jourda, said the impressive participation rate was proof of 'growing interest in questions of accessibility and universal design'. A total of 369 projects competed for the prestigious Award, with 957 students from 17 European countries taking part. A total of 125 projects made it to the final."
http://www.schindleraward.com/award_press_news?news=124825
Section 508: Uncle Sam's Guide To Web Accessibility – by Rob Ballou (Site Point)."Accessibility is a hard topic for many web developers, raising questions of whether features must be removed or color palettes changed. The truth is that accessibility enhances your web site, allowing your visitors access on their terms—and if you follow other guidelines for creating accessible web sites, the United States Government's Section 508 should feel very familiar. Section 508 is an amendment to the US Government's Rehabilitation Act, and is designed to standardize the accessibility of information technology. The amendment was passed in 1998, and requires all US federal agencies to make their products accessible for all users. Also, these agencies must purchase goods and services that meet the 508 standard, which makes this law important for anyone contracting for the federal government. While specifications like Section 508 help drive developers down the correct path, accessibility is a matter of finding the best way to make the most of your site. Section 508 is a portion of a larger law in the United States dealing with all aspects of information technology—not just the Web. But the paragraphs within this law help truly define the best practices for developing web sites."
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/section-508-web-accessibility/
Adobe Accessibility News – (IT Director). "PDF and Flash files are ubiquitous with hundreds of millions of files on the web. They contain an enormous amount of useful, important and interesting information most of which is not available on-line in any other format. The audience for these files will include people with disabilities. Electronic files are particularly important for people with disabilities that make it difficult or impossible for them to access hardcopy. This may be because of a vision impairment, or a physical impairment that prevents them holding a book, or because they find reading difficult and benefit from having the text read to them. Electronic files can also provide alternative presentations of material, for example captioning for people with hearing impairments. There are moral, legal and financial reasons for making electronic information, including PDF and Flash, accessible to as wide an audience as possible."
http://www.it-director.com/business/compliance/content.php?cid=10907
The ÆGIS project – "The ÆGIS project seeks to determine whether 3rd generation access techniques will provide a more accessible, more exploitable and deeply embeddable approach in mainstream ICT (desktop, rich Internet and mobile applications). This approach is developed and explored with the Open Accessibility Framework (OAF) through which aspects of the design, development and deployment of accessible mainstream ICT are addressed. The OAF provides embedded and built-in accessibility solutions, as well as toolkits for developers, for 'engraving' accessibility in existing and emerging mass-market ICT-based products, thus making accessibility open, plug & play, personalised & configurable, realistic & applicable in various contexts; ÆGIS is placing users and their needs at the centre of all ICT developments."
http://www.aegis-project.eu/index.html
Microsoft Demonstrates Accessibility Advances – by Anne Maschino (Assistive Technology News). "Microsoft presented before government representatives and advocacy groups some of its latest accessibility features in development for its upcoming Windows 7 platform, which is the next Microsoft operating system. There is no official release date yet, but it is widely anticipated that Windows 7 will be on the market by 2010. Windows 7 promises to bring many improvements over the Vista operating system. Windows Accessibility lead Norm Hodne noted, 'As an end user, you will find that many of the problems (experienced with Vista) have been fixed' in Windows 7. Some accessibility enhancements to the new Windows 7 operating system involve the magnifier, onscreen keyboard, speech dictation, color customization, overall user interfacing, and the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY). Microsoft has made it easier to use the magnifier. Users will have greater control over dots-per-inch (DPI) for screen resolution, and they will be able to increase magnification in small increments. The magnifier will have full-screen capability. It will be possible to see where the magnifier is positioned on the overall screen."
http://www.atechnews.com/mswin7.html
Berkeley quadriplegic helps empower disabled Iraqis – by Barbara Grady (Oakland Tribune). " With his long, gray ponytail and progressive politics, Bruce Curtis is one of many Berkeley activists working to help heal the problems wrought by the Iraq war. What sets apart Curtis is that he does it in Iraq. Curtis is a quadriplegic who trains disabled Iraqis in how to handle the daily challenges of their disabilities. He helps them with using wheelchairs and learning how to advocate for their rights in a country where the disabled have few opportunities. 'Everybody would like to do something to help deal with all the death and destruction the war caused in Iraq,' Curtis said recently from his office at the World Institute on Disability in Oakland. His priority is to make sure 'disabled people are in the mix' of work done to rebuild Iraqi society. It's a major undertaking. Many people in that country have suffered disabling injuries. Curtis, the institute's international program director, has a method for how to those people: He trains 30 to 50 people at a time how to teach others. The 57-year-old Berkeley resident, who became disabled after a diving accident when he was 17, has empowered disabled people in Russia, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Vietnam and Central America."
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_11103490
Campaign to end 2-year insurance gap for disabled – by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar (USAToday). "Congress and the Obama administration should end the two-year wait to qualify for Medicare for people the government deems too sick to work, lawmakers and leading advocacy groups said Wednesday. Medicare covers the disabled and older people, and at any time, 1.5 million disabled people find themselves waiting to qualify. About 40 percent are uninsured during part of that wait, while 25 percent are without insurance during the entire 24 months. Of the rest, some get coverage through Medicaid, but many end up depleting their savings on private insurance and medical bills."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-11-12-3867611717_x.htm
Disability rights must not take back seat to economic crisis – "With the approach of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is concerned that advances achieved by people with disabilities may be under threat during the current economic crisis. With the impact of the crisis widening, there are fears that governments will react by further cutting programs put in place which serve to remove barriers to people with disabilities. Unfortunately, many of the community social services that provide supports to people with disabilities have been chronically under-funded and the target of repeated cuts. Some of the strongest advocates for people who need a wide range of support services find themselves unable to deliver anything but the most basic level of support. As a result many people are receiving either inadequate support or are on long waiting lists. The root of the problems involving service delivery, waiting lists, and recruitment and retention of workers is plain and simple – a lack of funding. Cutbacks to social services by the federal government have left the provinces to pick up the slack."
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2008/n28no08e.htm
Disability Rights Online News – "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.
In this Issue:
ADA
Fair Housing
ADA Mediation
ADA Outreach"
http://www.ada.gov/newsltr1008.htm
Employers get expert help on human rights in the workplace – (OHRC). "The new edition of a human rights handbook will help employers put human rights into action. The Ontario Human Rights Commission today released the newly-updated third edition of Human Rights at Work. This plain-language guide includes examples, best practices, sample forms and other
resources to help people develop and maintain inclusive, respectful workplaces that meet the standards of the Ontario Human Rights Code."
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/hrworkrelease
Ethics
New reproductive technologies and limits to procreative liberty – (Australian Policy Online). "In September this year, Sydney IVF became the first Australian fertility clinic to be issued with a licence to produce human cloned embryos exclusively for research purposes. . . . The ability to engage in (appropriately restricted) therapeutic cloning science has been greeted with enthusiasm by stem cell scientists and patient advocacy groups, and allows for Australia to enter the race to be the first country in the world to successfully extract stem cells from a human embryo produced through cloning. These developments are not, however, welcomed by all."
http://www.apo.org.au/linkboard/results.chtml?filename_num=240243
Whose right is it anyway? – (DisabilityNow). "The assisted suicide of a 23-year-old former junior international rugby player in September rang alarm bells for many disabled people. The subsequent outpourings in our national press have confirmed prejudicial attitudes that demand a response from concerned disabled people, says Paddy Masefield. . . Of course we all have the right to our private views. It is when they are made public that we also should have a right to reply."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/news-focus/whose-right-is-it-anyway
General Interest
Hanging Around Downtown – "Disabilities Issues Office policy analyst, John Wyndels, rappels down the Royal Bank Building downtown in his wheelchair in support of Easter Seals Manitoba and The Society for Manitobans with Disabilities Foundation. The event raised more $80,000. John describes the ride down."
http://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/whats_new/easter_seals.html
Technology helps shatter limits of disability – by Meris Stansbury (eschoolnews). "A web site with information on learning disabilities, a national research center for studying advanced technologies, and a web site for those who are dealing with traumatic brain injuries: These were some of the new initiatives highlighted at the National Center for Technology Innovation's 2008 Technology Innovators Conference, which explored ways that assistive technology (AT) can help persons with disabilities not only learn and function, but also achieve their dreams. 'This conference has really inspired me,' said Tracy Gray, director of NCTI, 'because all I've heard from AT industry veterans is the word 'vision.' I feel like we're all looking to the horizon, to the vanishing point, and we just keep moving forward until we see another vanishing point, and then move even farther. The dedication and the vision I've seen are incredible'. During a series of sessions in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21, AT experts sought to inspire educators and technology developers to look for new tools and solutions that would allow all citizens with disabilities to reach their goals."
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=56181
Paraplegic Children Fly Weightless with Physician – (Rehab Management). "Erik Viirre, MD, PhD. a University of California, San Diego School of Medicine physician who specializes in diseases of the inner ear, recently completed his fifth weightless flight with Zero Gravity Corp—and aboard the same plane were four paraplegic children who left their wheelchairs on earth as they floated free in a zero-gravity environment. 'It was exhilarating and deeply gratifying,' says Viirre, adjunct associate professor of otolaryngology and cognitive science. 'For these brave kids, it was a rare opportunity to experience the world without their wheelchairs. One child said she got to stand up for the first time. Hearing that, as a physician, truly lifts the heart.' The four pioneering children ranged in age from 11 to 12 years old and hailed from Florida, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Together they completed sixteen periods of weightlessness with Zero-G, Las Vegas, which offers FAA-approved weightless flights for the general public."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2008-11-14_01.asp
Government
Canada
Manitobans with Disabilities to Employers: "See What I Can Do, Not What I Can't" – The province is launching an awareness campaign to promote the skills and potential of hard-working Manitobans with disabilities, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, announced today. The province is also introducing new funding for communications technology, an incentive for volunteering, more support to help people get jobs, stronger government information and service standards, and is removing barriers to family supports.
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2008-12-01&item=4896
Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy : Breaking the Cycle – "The strategy sets a target of reducing the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over the next 5 years. That means that while all low-income families will see the benefits of this strategy, our target will be to move 90,000 kids out of poverty. The target is being set on Statistics Canada's Low Income Measure, which is calculated as 50 per cent of median income – for a single mom with two kids living in Toronto, that's about $27,000 in 2008." The Poverty Reduction Strategy has identified a number of key groups that will require very specific and tailored types of support. These include new Ontarians, people with disabilities, women and Aboriginal peoples.
http://www.growingstronger.ca/english/pdf/Ontario%27s_Poverty_Report_EN.pdf
Ontario Supports Registered Disability Savings Plans – "McGuinty Government Helps Families Save For Children With Disabilities Ontario is making it possible for social assistance recipients to take advantage of Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs).Like the Registered Education Savings Plan, RDSPs allow family members and loved ones to save money tax free until withdrawal. The program helps people plan for the future needs of children and adults with disabilities. Changes to Ontario's social assistance rules will make sure that both RDSP assets and withdrawals are fully exempt. This means:
· RDSP contributions do not impact eligibility for social assistance
· People on social assistance can take money out of an RDSP without affecting their social assistance payments."
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/news/releases/081130.htm
U.S.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan – (barackobama.com). "Barack Obama and Joe Biden's comprehensive agenda to empower individuals with disabilities fits in with the campaign's overarching message of equalizing opportunities for all Americans. In addition to reclaiming America's global leadership on this issue by becoming a signatory to -- and having the Senate ratify -- the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the plan has four parts, designed to provide lifelong supports and resources to Americans with disabilities."
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities/
Legal
Canadian airlines lose disability appeal – (UPI). "A move by Canada's Supreme Court in Ottawa Thursday means airlines will have to provide free second seats to the disabled. Air Canada and WestJet had appealed a Canadian Transportation Agency order in January to make room for attendants traveling with and assisting a disabled passenger. However, the high court refused to hear the case and issued no reasons, the Canwest News Service reported. The case's origins were in two lawsuits filed against airlines in 2002 by two disabled people from opposite ends of the country. The transport agency said in January the new policy would cost Air Canada $7.1 million annually and WestJet an extra $1.5 million although the airlines argued on appeal it would be higher because the policy would be abused, the report said."
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/11/20/Canadian_airlines_lose_disability_appeal/UPI-80671227202944/
Is Obesity A Disability? – by Sharon Kirkey (Canwest News Service). "Peter Mathisen told his murder trial he couldn't remember exactly what happened between the time he fell on his wife and the time he got off her, when he realized she was no longer moving. His appeal lawyer is launching an accident defence, citing Mathisen's weight - which was about 380 pounds the night he landed on top of his five-foot-two, 165-pound wife. Obesity issues are in the courts in Canada and in the U.S, in two cases: one involving Mathisen, convicted of murdering his wife in 2001 when he knelt on her during an argument; the other, a Texas woman, who in medical terms is morbidly obese, charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of her two-year-old nephew. . . . From criminal courts, to Canada's top court, the issue of whether obesity qualifies as a disability is raising questions about crime and punishment, as well as human rights."
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=a36b1874-5c9d-44f6-b2b1-c15fb8f43d49
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Molski Appeal – by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "California's self-proclaimed ADA 'Sheriff' has run out of appeals in his crusade to make businesses comply with the 18-year-old federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down Jarek Molski's appeal of a federal judge's order that he can no longer use the Americans with Disabilities Act to file lawsuits against businesses that fail to be accessible to him and other wheelchair users, and other people with disabilities. The high court did not comment on why it refused to hear Molski's appeal. Molski, 38, has used a wheelchair since he was in a motorcycle accident two decades ago. Between 1998 and 2004, Molski filed more than 400 lawsuits over accessibility problems in restaurants, wineries and other California businesses, mostly in coastal towns. He said he considered himself a public servant that simply tried to make businesses comply with the 1990 anti-discrimination law. Molski's critics say he filed the suits to intimidate businesses and make money for himself. Most of the businesses that Molski sued decided to settle their cases out of court for between $20,000 and $35,000 each. In December of 2004, U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie called Molski a 'vexatious litigant' and a 'hit-and-run plaintiff' who filed discrimination suits 'maliciously and without good cause'. Rafeedie then ordered Molski to stop filing ADA lawsuits without first getting permission from a federal judge."
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/11/17/111708camolski.htm
Wrongful birth litigation and prenatal screening – by Mark Pioro, MA, Roxanne Mykitiuk, LLB LLM and Jeff Nisker, MD PhD. "Canadian clinicians must be aware of new standards of care resulting from national clinical practice guidelines, both to ensure best practice and to avoid malpractice litigation. Clinical practice guidelines can reduce successful malpractice actions through physician education and they may be used in court as evidence that the standard of care was met. The 2007 clinical practice guidelines on prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy have expanded the potential for successful wrongful birth litigation and have set a new standard for family physicians, obstetricians, laboratory physicians, radiologists, geneticists, midwives, registered nurses, genetic counselors and ultrasound technicians. The clinical practice guidelines on prenatal screening were endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists. The guidelines include the recommendation that all pregnant women be offered prenatal screening, rather than just women aged 35 years or more the age at which the risk of losing a fetus as a complication of an amniocentesis is equal to the risk of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome.7 This recommendation was in response to the observation that 56% of women who give birth to a child with Down syndrome are under 35 years of age. New sensitive and noninvasive screening strategies have made this recommendation possible. Recent clinical practice guidelines in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, have similarly recommended offering of screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women. It is too early to evaluate the legal impact of such clinical practice guidelines in these jurisdictions."
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/179/10/1027?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=disability&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=date&resourcetype=HWCIT
Media
Disability Film Festival Supports Sochi 2014 – "During a four-day period more than one hundred art documentaries and animated films from twenty countries about athletes with disabilities will be shown in Moscow as part of the IV International Disability Film Festival – 'Cinema Without Barriers'. According to a Sochi 2014 press release the festival, which premiered Tuesday, 'is an important step in preparing for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.' For the first time in the history of the festival, a new category, 'people with disabilities in sport', was introduced to attract public attention to the problems that people with disabilities face in their daily lives. State Duma deputy Mikhail Terentieve, who is also General Director of the Paralympic Committee of Russia, a member of the Sochi 2014 Supervisory Board, and a former Paralympic champion, presented the new category."
http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1216133908.html
Medical
Multiple sclerosis progression can be predicted with MRI – (EurekaAlert). "A new study published in Journal of Neuroimaging shows that MRI scans used on multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to determine if the disease has affected gray matter in the brain can identify those at-risk for progression of disability. MS affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States and as many as 2.5 million worldwide. It is the most common cause of progressive disability in young adults. While the cause of the disease remains unknown, it is characterized by damage to the covering over the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, or to the nerve fiber itself. In an attempt to understand the causes of disease progression, researchers at the Partners MS Center, led by Dr. Rohit Bakshi and his team, have developed new ways to detect gray matter damage."
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/w-msp110508.php
Policy/Research
AAPD Partners with CEPIN to Create Emergency Management Web Training – (PRNewswire). "The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to partner with the Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) to develop an emergency management web-based training program. AAPD, the largest cross-disability membership organization in the U.S., will provide technical assistance to CEPIN on content and usability for the training program. This self-paced, web-based training will increase public awareness about challenges that people with various functional needs, including those with disabilities, face during disasters and will examine the needs gaps in emergency plans. The pilot program for the training will launch in Spring 2009 and will jumpstart the dialogue needed to develop mutual understanding and respect between the special needs and emergency management communities."
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/AAPD-Partners-CEPIN-Create-Emergency/story.aspx?guid=%7B5394A79F-4D98-46CB-AFEC-0CE22F449DF4%7D
A new perspective on disability – by Simon Crompton (TimesOnline). "In a week of gloomy reports about rape, murder and hostage-taking, news that more Down's syndrome babies are being born in the UK because of enlightened attitudes about disability provided a glimmer of optimism. The story was based on statistics from the National Down's Syndrome Cytogenic Register, which showed that, although the number of babies born with the condition fell between 1989 and 2000, Down's births rose by 15 per cent after that - even though antenatal testing, and the opportunity for termination, became more easily available."
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article5250815.ece
AusAID: People with disability a priority for Australia's aid program – "The Australian Government has for the first time made people with disability a priority for Australia's international development program. Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, will today launch Australia's first strategy to guide Australia's aid program in supporting people with a disability in the developing world. An estimated 10 per cent of the world's population, or around 650 million people, live with a disability. Of these, about 80 per cent live in developing countries. 'Australia is committed to including people with disability in the fight against global poverty and supporting them to improve the quality of their lives,' Mr McMullan said. 'People with a disability are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries,' he said."
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=200811253600.3_85a800063e96d136
Confusion around Down's syndrome – (mencap). "Media reports have wrongly attributed an increase in the number of babies born with Down's syndrome to changing attitudes. The number of babies born with Down's syndrome has risen for the first time, nearly two decades after pre-natal screening. Figures from the National Down's Syndrome Cytogenetic Register show that the rate has risen by around 4% since screening was introduced in 1989. The rate decreased in the decade after screening was introduced, but has increased by 15% since 2000. Some media reports attributed the rise to a change in attitudes, leading to fewer screenings and fewer terminations. However Professor Joan Morris, director of the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register, has issued a statement refuting this. Since 1989 there has been an increase in the age women become pregnant. As the risk of Down's syndrome pregnancy increases with the mother's age, the number of babies with Down's syndrome would have increased by over 50% from 1989 to 2006, if screening had not been available."
http://www.mencap.org.uk/news.asp?id=4836&pageno=1&year=&menuId=90
Defining disability difficult – by Peter McKnight (Vancouver Sun). "Having only one eye might be viewed as a disability, but it depends on what kind of world you live in. If, for example, you live in the land of the blind, then you are not only not disabled but, as the adage has it, king. That tells us that it's simply not possible to define disability in isolation from one's environment. And as well-known as the adage is, we often forget that the environment plays a crucial role in determining whether someone qualifies as disabled. This, in effect, is the argument made by many people in the disability rights movement, an argument that played a significant role in the Canadian Transportation Agency's 'one person, one fare' decision, released in January of this year."
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=d9425710-217b-4d55-a34e-bf7a048ad546
Disability in Australia: intellectual disability – "People with an intellectual disability represent a very significant client group of disability services in Australia, reflecting the priority given to this group and the origins of many disability services in Australia. This bulletin presents an overview of prevalence of intellectual disability and its related impairments, health conditions and activity limitations. The analyses focus on outcomes of participation in major life areas in children and young adults with intellectual disability as well as people ageing with intellectual disability."
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10582
Pilot project offers choice for people with a disability – "An innovative NSW Government pilot project which enables people with a disability and their carers to design their own program of activities is proving a success, Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch said today. The two-year pilot started in June 2007 and in its first year has played a decisive role in supporting people with a disability increase their independence. Mr Lynch said young people with a disability and their family or advocate were being given more choice in the services they received through the Self-Managed Community Participation Project. Of the 80 packages that are available, Ability Options is delivering 40 of them through $1.2 million in support from the NSW Government. Mr Lynch today attended a celebration of Ability Options' program in Sydney. He said the Self-Managed packages enabled people to choose, direct and control the nature of their support."
http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=1889&id=100
The 2007 Annual Disability Status Report – "The Annual Disability Status Reports provide policy makers, disability advocates, reporters, and the public with a summary of the most recent [U.S] demographic and economic statistics on the non-institutionalized population with disabilities. They contain information on the population size and disability prevalence for various demographic subpopulations, as well as statistics related to employment, earnings, and household income. Comparisons are made to people without disabilities and across disability types. Disability Status Reports and other statistics are available for each state, DC, and Puerto Rico at www.disabilitystatistics.org. The Status Reports primarily look at the working-age population because the employment gap between people with and without disabilities is a major focus of government programs and advocacy efforts. Employment is also a key factor in the social integration and economic self-sufficiency of working-age people with disabilities."
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/disabilitystatistics/StatusReports/2007-PDF/2007-StatusReport_US.pdf?CFID=6331198&CFTOKEN=84216352&jsessionid=f030e7afc9979d9f0b9d4719252e5a203322
Rehabilitation
Disability Rights Legal Center honors Ossur – (Ossur.com). "The Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC), which for four decades has advocated for the civil rights of people with disabilities, has recognized Ossur, a trusted and leading global innovator and provider of non-invasive orthopaedic products and services, with the Charles D. Siegal President's Award. Tim McCarthy, vice president of Prosthetics for Ossur Americas, accepted the award on Thursday before 500 local and national leaders in the legal, entertainment, and other industries at the DRLC's Annual Gala in downtown Los Angeles. Mr. McCarthy and his team are credited with leading an entire industry into the Bionic age of prosthetics with Ossur's successful market entry via three groundbreaking product launches: the Rheo Knee, the Power Knee and the Proprio Foot. All three products have gained international recognition and acclaim."
http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=631&NewsID=2536
Predicting the Future for Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury – (Rehab Management). "'How will our loved one come out of this?' After an accident that results in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), the answer to this simple question can change everything for a family. The latest study carried out by Elaine deGuise, PhD, Joanne Leblanc, MOA, Mitra Feyz, MScPs, and clinicians of the Traumatic Brain Injury Program for Adults at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, describes effective tools for providing an objective answer to the question almost as soon as patients leave intensive care. The study was published recently in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2008-11-17_01.asp
Training Brain-Injured Enables Recovery of Emotional Perception Skills – (Rehab Management). "People who have lost the ability to interpret emotion after a severe brain injury can regain this vital social skill by being re-educated to read body language, facial expressions, and voice tone in others, according to a new study. The research, published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, reveals that appropriate training can result in significant gains in emotional perception, which is crucial for successful social communication. 'The results are cause for optimism that people suffering traumatic brain injuries can be retrained to identify emotions in others, and to begin functioning normally again,' says the study's lead author, Cristina Bornhofen, PhD, clinical psychologist, of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The study involved 18 participants recruited from an outpatient service at the Liverpool Hospital Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Sydney, All had experienced a severe traumatic brain injury at least 6 months earlier and had significantly impaired ability to interpret emotions in others."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2008-11-24_02.asp
What will my life be like after spinal cord injury? – "Working with newly injured SCI inpatients at Harborview and UWMC, rehab staff often see them struggling to imagine what their lives will be like with a spinal cord injury. They dutifully learn all the new self-care skills required to stay healthy and function as independently as possible, but what about everything else? We frequently hear, 'All my expectations and assumptions about what a normal life is—they don't apply anymore.' It can be terrifying. The truth is that people with SCI can go on to do the same things that make life fulfilling for everyone, including careers, friendships, marriage, children, and participating in activities they enjoy. But it's hard to picture these things for yourself while lying in your bed in the rehab unit, no matter what rehab staff and people 'on the outside' tell you. Thus was born the idea for a series of short videos showing people with SCI living lives that include all the 'normal' stuff: work, family and friends, sports, an active social life, owning a home, driving a car, etc."
http://sci.washington.edu/info/newsletters/articles/08_fall_video.asp
Self-Help
Determining Quality – by Karl Beck (NewMobility). "Q: How can I tell if the lowered floor minivan I am purchasing is a quality conversion? A: Quality is usually a function of your expectations for the vehicle, tempered by what you are willing to pay. But, always, it is an opinion. . . Take two kids on their bikes. 'My bike's better than your bike' usually ends with a race or a fist fight. If you switch the kids' bikes, they usually prefer their original bike because it is adjusted to perform according to their height and weight, even if the bikes are similar. What forms each kid's opinion is his bike's ability to meet his needs and expectations. The same is true of adults. Opinions on the quality of a vehicle are based on how well the vehicle works for them. But vehicle owners all have different needs and expectations. Truck owners expect durability, load-carrying capacity and reliability. Luxury vehicle owners expect their car to have amazing comfort features. Performance car owners expect to be pinned to the back of their seat when they hit the accelerator."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11298
Overcoming Alienation – by Roxanne Furlong (NewMobility). "As wheelchair users, many of us go through a period of feeling isolated from family, friends, and society. While we can't always change the way the public views us, we can change the way we respond to negative influences and find peace within ourselves."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11299
Sports/Recreation
Berkeley shop adapts bikes for any disability – by Scott Ostler (Chronicle). "Cast your memory back to the age of 5 or 6, when your adult helper let go and you wobbled off on your first solo bicycle ride. What was that incredible feeling? Freedom. But what if that freedom was never available to you? A woman named Meida recently contacted the Adaptive Cycling Center at Berkeley's Aquatic Park. The weathered wooden building is known to regulars as the BORP bike house, as in the Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program. Meida explained that she was born without arms and wanted to ride a bike. She had ridden tandem but hoped to ride alone. She dreamed of someday riding across the Golden Gate Bridge. The problem: Cycles are factory-made for people with a wide variety of physical disabilities, but there is no solo bike made for a person with no use of her arms."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/26/SPT114C8KE.DTL
If Kevin Hall makes it to the PGA Tour, he's uniquely prepared for the spotlight – by Dave Seanor (Examiner.com). "David Paterson, the accidental governor of New York, is African-American and legally blind. He once told the New York Times that during his lifetime he has suffered more discrimination because of his disability than the color of his skin. 'Internally, I probably felt myself more discriminated against as a disabled person,' Mr. Paterson said in 2006, when he was lieutenant governor to Elliot Spitzer, who resigned last March after being ensnared in a prostitution ring. 'And when I would experience discrimination from another African-American I would go ballistic. I thought black people were supposed to understand.' Professional golfer Kevin Hall is deaf and African-American. He can empathize with Gov. Paterson, to a point."
http://www.examiner.com/x-755-Golf-Examiner~y2008m11d1-If-Kevin-Hall-makes-it-to-the-PGA-Tour-hell-be-uniquely-prepared-for-a-glaring-spotlight
Technology
Intelligent Walker Assists Elderly, People in Rehab – (Rehab Management). "A team of researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, has designed an intelligent walker (i-Walker) that goes a step beyond conventional walkers—communicating with users, thinking for itself, and reacting to the environment. The device can understand a set of voice commands and can be activated by means of simple verbal instructions given by the user (eg 'take me to the kitchen'). To do this, it includes elements for independent movement and a personalized intelligent software agent. The tool is based on intelligent multiagent-systems technology, which are personal agents or software systems that observe and interact with their surroundings independently, proactively, and rationally—and have the ability to learn and communicate. It adapts to the specific assistance requirements of people who use it and enhances their autonomy by helping them to make decisions that are usually beyond their scope due to physical, mobility, or cognitive obstacles imposed by ageing or their illness."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2008-11-11_01.asp
COGAIN: Communication by Gaze Interaction – "COGAIN is a network of excellence on Communication by Gaze Interaction, supported by the European Commission's IST 6th framework program. COGAIN integrates cutting-edge expertise on interface technologies for the benefit of users with disabilities. The network aims to gather Europe's leading expertise in eye tracking integration with computers in a research project on assistive technologies for citizens with motor impairments. Through the integration of research activities, the network will develop new technologies and systems, improve existing gaze-based interaction techniques, and facilitate the implementation of systems for everyday communication."
http://www.cogain.org/
The eCane – (ICDRI). "An innovative new Assistive Technology called the eCane is anticipated in the market based on a patent that has just been announced. It uses a combination of old and new technologies to produce a smart cane for people who are blind, or deaf and blind (deafblind). It provides communications and navigation on numerous levels. Moreover the eCane is not limited by the restrictions that GPS units have by not being able to function indoors or near tall buildings. The device can tell a blind person if a specific object is in the immediate area. For example, if a person is in a hotel lobby, the eCane can tell the user if there is an elevator, or a restroom in the immediate area. After receiving a command, the cane will guide the person to an elevator or restroom, and in the case of the restroom tell if it is a men's, women's, or coed restroom. An important feature of the eCane is the ability to correct any deviations in the course towards a destination. When a user is walking in the street, the eCane can inform a person what stores are in the area and how to get to a specific store in which they have an interest. The device can also tell a person which street they are on and when they reach an intersection, it will inform them of the name of the cross street as well."
http://www.icdri.org/News/eCane.htm
People with Disabilities Motivate Inventors – by Ellen Kampel & John M. Williams (Assistive Technology News). "In today's technological world, people with disabilities have an array of assistive technologies at their disposal to address a number of challenges. However, this hasn't always been the case. Many assistive technologies have been developed based on identifiable needs within the disabled community. In many cases, well-known inventions are the result of inventors with family members or friends experiencing a physical or communication need that was not being addressed. Motivated to provide a solution for those they care about, these inventors created a product to address the need and brought them to market."
http://www.atechnews.com/motivateinventors.html
Special GUI for Your Eyes Only – "Researches at the University of Washington have recently developed a system, which for the first time, offers an instantly customizable approach to user interfaces. Each participant in the program is placed through a brief skills test and then a mathematically-based version of the user interface optimized for his or her vision and motor abilities is generated. The current off-the-shelf designs are especially discouraging for the disabled, the elderly and others who have trouble controlling a mouse, because most computer programs have standardized button sizes, fonts, and layouts, which are designed for normal users. The newly designed system, named Supple, starts with a one-time evaluation of a person's mouse pointing, dragging, and clicking skills. The process starts a ring of dots appearing on the user's screen and as each dot lights up, the user must promptly click on it. The test is then performed with varying-sized dots. The next section questions the user to click and drag, select from a list, and click repeatedly on one spot. Participants can control the cursor using any type of device. An able-bodied person usually takes 20 minutes to complete the test, but someone with motor disabilities might take as long as 90 minutes."
http://thefutureofthings.com/news/5829/special-gui-for-your-eyes-only.html?addComment
Conferences
( New Conferences)
Canadian
Meaningful Day Workshop – February 12-13, 2009 | Winnipeg, Manitoba. "Do you support individuals with an intellectual disability, as a staff person or family member? Are you someone labeled as intellectually disabled who wants to change what you do during the day? Are you struggling to plan days, either for yourself of others, that are full of meaningful activities that build on gifts, abilities and interests? Well join the crowd!
This two-day workshop will focus on:
· Why is it difficult to design and implement supports for people of all ages, who have the label of intellectual disability, to have full, meaningful days?
· What kind of a vision is needed to guide our actions to effectively support people to be active, engaged and able to contribute to their community?
· How do valued social roles help in making the vision a reality?"
http://www.gov.mb.ca/dio/whats_new/meaningful_day.html
Louis Braille: From Literacy to Liberty 2009 Canadian Federation Of The Blind Convention Louis Braille Birthday Bash – May1-3, 2009 | Victoria, British Columbia. "Celebrate the 200th birthday of Louis Braille at the fourth annual Canadian Federation of the Blind Convention."
http://www.cfb.ca/
2009 CHHA Conference & AGM - "Technology: The Gateway to Hearing Life" – May 21-24, 2009 | St. John's, Newfoundland. "The theme for the 2009 Conference is 'Technology: The Gateway to Hearing Life' and reflects the impact technology has on persons with hearing loss and their families. A full line-up of educational workshops has been scheduled for May 22 and May 23, 2009. Some of the topics to be discussed could include cochlear implants, tinnitus, captioning issues & accessibility, hearing aids, speech recognition software, etc. Young adult sessions are also included."
http://chha.ca/index2.php?content=information
2009 CDSA-ACEI Conference – May 25-26, 2009 | Ottawa, Ontario. "The 2009 CDSA-ACEI Conference, held in conjunction with the Congress of the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, will be at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 25 and Tuesday May 26, 2009. The theme of Congress 2009 is 'Capital Connections: nation, terroir, territoire.' This theme invites an exploration of identity as physical space; the space of a people, a nation, and their historic 'terroir.' It asks the question: Has globalization produced a sea-change in our understanding of the relationship between place and who we are? Our conference will accordingly reflect that theme with regards to disability studies."
http://www.cdsa-acei.ca/conference.html
U.S.
Technology, Reading & Learning Diversity 2009 – January 22-24 2009 | San Francisco, California. "The mission of TRLD 2009 is 'Opening Doors to Universal Learning.' Universal Learning embodies the idea of equitable and flexible access to concepts and ideas for all students, all people. The digital age we live in creates a level playing field and multiple opportunities for all learners to achieve."
http://www.trld.com/about/mission/index.html
ATIA 2009 – January 28-31, 2009 | Orlando, Florida. "The ATIA Conference serves as a leading conference for the Assistive Technology community offering attendees the opportunity to participate in discussions with industry experts, learn about new technologies, best practices, and a host of specialized services. Assistive Technology products and technologies will be represented in various presentations, demonstrations and/or exhibits. In addition, hands-on labs will provide an opportunity to experiment with and evaluate the latest assistive technology devices and software."
http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3280
First World Congress on Spina Bifida Research and Care – March 15-18, 2009 | Orlando Florida. "The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) is pleased to announce the First World Congress on Spina Bifida Research and Care. This meeting promises to be the premier forum for a unique gathering of international Spina Bifida researchers and care specialists. For the first time, the international leaders in the medical and scientific community from the fields of neurosurgery, neurology, urology, developmental pediatrics, orthopedics, epidemiology, and other arenas will come together to discuss the future of care for this challenging and complex birth defect. Don't miss your chance to be a part of this amazing event…the future is now."
http://medicalconference.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.gnKOKTOtHqE/b.3512717/k.BE78/Home.htm
The 24th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference –
March 16-21, 2009 | Los Angeles, California. "The 24th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference will be held March 16-21, 2009 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott & Renaissance Montura Hotels. Please join us as we celebrate 24 years of leadership in the technology and disability fields. We will be presenting experts and trends in assistive technology and persons with disabilities, while also highlighting adaptive technology for aging and international practices. The Call for Papers opens Monday, August 25th and closes Friday, October 17th. For additional information about Call for Papers or to submit a proposal please visit our Call for Papers page."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=33&list=1963
17th annual Spinal Cord Injuries Conference – March 18-21, 2009 | Orlando, Florida. "New technology, equipment and changes in early interventions are challenging multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams to improve protocols to maximize functional outcomes for persons with SCI. Quality of life issues such as sexual health, spasticity and pain management continue to drive changes in approach and treatment interventions as life expectancy is extended. Improvements in technology and wheelchair function expand options for maintaining shoulder function while maximizing mobility. How do we integrate these changes and discoveries into our clinical practices to provide the best care we can for persons with SCI? Join us at the 17th annual Spinal Cord Injuries conference being held in Orlando this coming spring and take home a cadre of valuable tips that you can apply immediately in your work setting. Seize this opportunity to combine education and an early spring warm up in this spectacular resort location."
http://www.contemporaryforums.com/m412409/bene.asp
Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion, and Disability Annual Conference – April 28-29, 2009 | Ohio State University Columbus Campus. "The Ninth Annual Multiple Perspectives conference continues the university's efforts to bring together a diverse audience to explore disability as both an individual experience and social reality that cuts across typical divisions of education & employment; scholarship & service; business & government; race, gender & ethnicity. This year's theme 'Change, Challenge & Collaboration' reflects the critical place in history we occupy. Between last conference and this call for papers the United Nations has adopted the Convention on Disability, Congress passed a new GI bill and the Higher Education Opportunity Act which include a significant focus on disability; the Access Board is proposing changes in Section 508, the Department of Justice is in the final stages of a comprehensive review and update of the regulations for the ADA's Titles II and III; and the ADA Amendments of 2008 are working their way through Congress. The theme and the quotes below are offered as a guide to framing your proposals and considering your topics from a fresh perspective."
http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/2009Conf/callforpapers09.html
Pacific Rim International Forum – May 2-3, 2009, | Honolulu, Hawaii. "With its beginnings dating back to 1985, the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities has evolved into one of the top rated international educational offerings for and from persons with disabilities, family members, researchers, service providers, policymakers, community leaders, advocates, and nationally recognized professionals in the various disciplines in the diverse field of disabilities."
http://wecando.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/25th-annual-pacific-rim-international-conference-on-disabilities-honolulu-hawaii-4-5-may-2009/
21st Annual Postsecondary Disability Training Institute (PTI) – June 2 - 6, 2009 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Come learn skills you'll use every day! The objective of this Training Institute is to assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants can select from a variety of Strands and Single Sessions taught by experts in the field that provide participants with in-depth information and adequate time for questions and follow-up activities. Participants also have opportunities to share information and network with each other at various activities throughout the week."
http://www.cped.uconn.edu/09pti.htm
The Second National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities – June 15-16, 2009 | Washington D.C. "The Conference will be hosted by the ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law and 2008-2009 ABA President H. Thomas Wells Jr. It is co-sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. This groundbreaking program aims to: encourage large legal employers, particularly corporations and law firms, to sign pledges to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace with an emphasis on hiring and retaining lawyers with disabilities; develop best practices for promoting disability diversity and inclusion; and identify legal employers and work settings that are models for the legal profession. The Conference is part of the ABA's commitment to open the legal profession to lawyers with disabilities."
http://www.abanet.org/disability/conferences/09conference.shtml
2009 Resna Conference – June 23-27, 2009 | New Orleans, Louisana. "Join us in New Orleans on June 23-27, 2009 for the Annual RESNA Conference at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. For information about the hotel, click here http://www.sheratonneworleans.com/. For information about New Orleans, check out http://www.neworleansonline.com/."
http://www.resna.org/conference/index.php
Overseas
Third International Conference on Disability Research – March 22-26, 2009 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Prince Salman Center for Disability Research will proudly host the Third International Conference on Disability Research from the 22nd to the 26th of March, 2009, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The goal of this conference is examining and promoting the role of research in preventing disability and improving the quality of life of individuals with disabilities, and the means of facilitating that through international partnerships targeted at high impact research."
http://www.pscdr.org.sa/en/news/Pages/ThirdInternationalConferenceonDisability.aspx
4th International State-of-the-art Congress "Rehabilitation: Mobility, Exercise & Sports" –April 7-9, 2009 | Amsterdam. Netherlands. "The theme of the 4th congress underlines the development taking place in our research since 1991: from a strongly manual wheelchair-oriented focus back than, towards the much broader perspective of mobility restoration, active lifestyle, exercise, training and sports in the context of rehabilitation practice today."
http://www.move.vu.nl/links/rehabmove2009/program/
International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility 2009 – April 20-21, 2009. | Madrid Spain. "Population demographics indicate that our populations are ageing across the board. As the population ages the financial requirement to work longer is increased, but the ability to work longer is reduced because disability becomes a bar to employment. With the growth of the knowledge economy, and a move from manual work to more thought and communication based activities, there is the very real possibility of older Web users being able to finding productive, fulfilling, and social empowering employment; if only technology, and specifically the Web, where available to them. An ageing but Web literate population indicates a large market for online shopping and services especially when mobility is a problem for the shopper. In this case we wonder how this new population we interact with Web based resources, and what new problems in accessibility will there be to overcome?"
http://www.w4a.info/
Eighteenth International World Wide Web Conference – April 20-24, 2009 | Madrid, Spain. "The International World Wide Web Conferences Steering Committee (IW3C2), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Madrid municipality cordially invite you to participate in the 18th International World Wide Web Conference (WWW2009) to be held in Madrid, the charming and cosmopolitan Spain´s capital. The World Wide Web Conference is the global event that brings together key researchers, innovators, decision-makers, technologists, businesses, and standards bodies working to shape the Web. Organized by IW3C2 since 1994, the WWW conference is the annual opportunity for the International community to discuss and debate the evolution of the Web. The conference will feature a range of presentations on world-class research, as well as stimulating talks, workshops, tutorials, panels, and late-breaking posters."
http://www.www2009.org/
The Second International Conference on Information and Communication Technology & Accessibility – May 7-9, 2009 | Hammamet, Tunisia. "After the success of ICTA 07, with more than 300 attendees from about 30 countries, the Second International Conference on ICT and Accessibility will take place in the beautiful town of Hammamet from 07 to 09 May 2009. ICTA 09 will provide a unique forum for all research related to ICT and e-accessibility. This conference addresses new trends and challenges, emerging technologies and progress in standards relevant to today's fast moving areas of Information and Communication Technologies. It will also discuss how e-accessibility can be supported and improved."
http://www.icta.rnu.tn/callforpapers.html
DSAI 2009 Software Development for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion – June 3-5, 2009 | Lisboa, Portugal. "Welcome to DSAI 2009. After a successful start with DSAI 2006 and 2007 editions, the International Conference on Software Development for Enhancing Accessibility and Fighting Info-exclusion (DSAI 2009) will take place in June 2009, at the MSFT - Software para Microcomputadores, Lda. - TAGUSPARK - Lisboa - PORTUGAL. Nowadays, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a major role in our lives. However, ICT development which is indifferent to the concerns of social inclusion may raise barriers and increase the gap between the average user and those with special needs, instead of contributing to eliminating this gap and promoting equal rights and opportunities for all. Senior citizens and others with special needs are often faced with multiple minor disabilities that prevent them from enjoying the benefits of technology and higher quality of life standards. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, technology design should take into account accessibility and usability features for the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities, in all policies and programmes."
http://dsai2009.utad.pt/
19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics – July 5-9, 2009 | Paris, France. "Every four years, the World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics represents a unique and irreplaceable event attended by experts from around the world to discuss the latest findings in the field of ageing. The 19th congress, which is taking place in Paris in 2009, is particularly important, as it coincides with an ideological u-turn. Lifespan extension and the
growing number of elderly people, once considered as catastrophic, are now viewed as an indisputable progress."
http://www.gerontologyparis2009.com/site/view8.php
AAATE 2009 Conference - Inclusion between past and future – August 3-September 2, 2009 | Florence, Italy. "As technology develops rapidly and an Information Society is approaching, the concept of Assistive Technology seems to be moving away from adopting the most appropriate device/s for each user in order to overcome the limitations to her/his activity to the design and set up of the total environment in which people live, supported by suitable functionalities (services) and, when necessary, by additional support devices integrated within the environment. At present, these two perspectives are deeply intertwined, from both a technological and a social point of view. The relationship, coexistence and transition between them currently represent the first challenges for the world of Assistive Technology. This is coherent with the WHO-ICF model, which describes disability as resulting not only from a person's intrinsic attributes but also from the context. Therefore, according to the emerging technological perspectives, inclusion of all citizens can be pursued by the creation of inclusive living environments in which the abilities to carry out necessary tasks are redefined, particularly with reference to the accessing of information, interpersonal communications, and environmental control. From this perspective, this approach is also coherent with the definition of eInclusion, as approved in the 2006 Riga Ministerial Declaration: 'e-Inclusion means both inclusive ICT and the use of ICT to achieve wider inclusion objectives'."
http://www.aaate2009.eu/