Accessibility
Are electronic whiteboards accessible to people with disabilities? – (Accessible Technologies). "Many e-learning courseware packages include a whiteboard tool. The purpose of an electronic whiteboard is the same as that of a blackboard or whiteboard in a learning institution or in a workplace setting. Users write or draw on the board in order to share their ideas and to deliver instruction. Electronic whiteboards work as graphical chat tools. They allow multiple users to draw, paint, and share existing graphical files in real time. Unfortunately, exclusively graphical workspace is not accessible to users of screen readers. Even the text tools that are available in these environments often produce text in a way that cannot be accessed by screen readers."
http://accessibletech.org/articles/elearn/electronicWhiteboard.html
Are Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) accessible? – (AccessibleTechnologies). "Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are small hand-held computers, also known as palmtops, hand-held PCs, or hand-helds. PDAs are becoming increasingly popular in all different types of businesses. In many ways, PDAs provide benefits to individuals with disabilities. For example, people with learning disabilities or cognitive disabilities can benefit from PDAs' organizational and task management functions. Also, some people with mobility impairments can benefit from PDAs' small size, light weight, and portability. These latter characteristics have led vendors of augmentative communication devices to develop PDA-based aug-com products, such as the Palmtop3 and the Saltillo ChatPC series. Despite these benefits, however, PDAs are currently not accessible to all users."
http://accessibletech.org/articles/products/pda.html
Neil Squire Society Comments on Recently Announced CRTC Policy on Accessibility of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Services – "The Neil Squire Society is pleased with the recent CRTC ruling on the accessibility of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Services which addresses a range of important issues. In particular we are encouraged with their ruling which requests, ‘That, by 21 October 2009, all WSPs (Wireless Service Providers) offer and maintain in their inventories at least one type of wireless mobile handset that will provide access to wireless service by persons who are blind and/or have moderate-to-severe mobility or cognitive disabilities.’ Additionally, ‘The Commission requests that WSPs consult with parties representing persons with disabilities on an ongoing basis to determine which handsets they will make available to address the needs of persons with disabilities. Also in consultation with these groups, the Commission requests that the service providers provide reasonable technical and lifecycle support of these handsets in order to address unique needs, such as those imposed by assistive technologies’."
http://www.neilsquire.ca/section.asp?catid=121&subid=130&pageid=595
New Resource Provides Information for International Visitors to the U.S. who are Blind or have Low Vision – (Miusa). "When Ms. Uyanga Erdenebold, a blind student from Mongolia, arrived at Louisiana State University on a Fulbright Program scholarship, she had to get used to a new city, a new country, and the rigors of graduate school – not to mention the humidity. As she pursued her Master’s degree in Library Science, she learned to travel independently with a white cane, honed her computer skills, and read extensively for her studies. Ms. Erdenebold reported being forever changed by her experience in the United States, which she describes as ‘an interesting, dynamic and encouraging one.’ For international professionals and students who are blind or have low vision, visiting the United States just became easier. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) has published a new informational tipsheet to assist international blind and low vision visitors in preparing to come to the United States. This tipsheet contains a variety of resources about access and independent living."
http://www.miusa.org/newsitems/blindvisitorsnewsitem/
AAPD’s Statement on the Passing of Senator Ted Kennedy – (AAPD). "The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, released a statement following the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, an unequaled champion for civil rights in the United States Senate for half a century: 'Ted Kennedy understood better than anyone how the struggle for equal opportunity for disabled Americans was an essential part of this nation's broader commitment to civil and human rights,' said Tony Coelho, Chair of AAPD. 'I have never worked with a more effective legislator, and I am deeply saddened to have lost a good friend,' Coelho continued."
http://www.aapd.com/Communications/2009EdwardKennedy.html
Alert 21: Another Ray Sandford Campaign Victory: New Psychiatrist is Official – (MindFreedom). "As you may know, Ray is a 55-year-old Minnesota resident who has received more than 40 involuntary electroshocks (also known as 'electroconvulsive therapy' or ECT). Adding to his horror, Ray received these court-ordered procedures against his wishes -- and even against his family's wishes -- on an OUTPATIENT basis. That is, Ray would be woken up early in his group home, and escorted to a hospital for his forced shock over and over and over again. Ray asked for help from MindFreedom, which kicked off a Ray campaign activating people internationally. Today, Ray said because of his campaign his new psychiatrist -- who opposes forced electroshock -- has been officially approved by the mental health system. Ray already has a new attorney, who is moving toward changing Ray's guardianship. Meanwhile, because of the campaign the Minnesota state legislature has scheduled a hearing this Monday, 10 August, on the subject of electroshock of committed Minnesota residents."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/ray
http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/ray/ray-sandford-new-psychiatrist
Disability Rights online News – (ADA). "Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division’s activities in the area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement."
http://www.ada.gov/newsltr0709.htm
Giving disability a face – by Alyaa Alhadjri (The Sun Daily). "In an effort to raise the profile of disability issues in Malaysia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has unveiled mascots to represent the different faces of people with disabilities. The mascots were showcased at the launch of the National Disability Advocacy and Awareness campaign 2009 at SEGi University College on July 31. Themed ‘Real Lives, Real Abilities’, the campaign which began with a competition to design the mascots in partnership with SEGi’s faculty of creative arts and design, aims to promote a rights-based approach to disability from one that is charity-based. Wilson Kok Jun Chean from SEGi emerged the winner after his designs were chosen from 109 entries and incorporated into campaign materials to be distributed nationwide."
http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=36637
MindFreedom International Launches Directory of Alternatives – (MindFreedom). "MindFreedom's new directory is unique in that every provider listed has agreed to uphold key principles on such issues as the use and discontinuation of psychiatric drugs, the 'biomedical model,' and forced treatment. The principles were devised by the the MindFreedom International Choice in Mental Health Care Committee, and endorsed by the MindFreedom International board of directors."
http://www.mindfreedom.org/directory/launch
New video helps understand people with disabilities – (Examiner). "I just viewed a demo of a new video from Had To Be Productions, titled, Not Just Ramps, that offers great insight into people with disabilities. The two actors go into detail explaining that they are not just a person with a disability; they are a full person who happens to have a disability. They discuss blindness, spinal cord injury, deafness and hearing loss, ALS, Cerebral Palsy, breathing and vocal impairments, dyslexia, mental illness, and developmental disabilities." To view the demo and find out more about the video you can go to http://www.hadtobe.com.
http://www.examiner.com/x-7061-St-Louis-Disabled-Workers-Examiner~y2009m8d7-New-video-helps-understand-people-with-disabilities
Ontario Human Rights Commission releases its 2008-09 Annual Report – "The Ontario Human Rights Commission continued to work towards a human rights culture in the province during a year of transition, according to the Commission’s Annual Report for 2008-09, released today. The Report provides a snapshot of successes and challenges of the past year, new policies and important legal decisions, and sets out the Commission’s priorities for the future. During the past year, the OHRC has begun to deliver its new mandate. The Commission no longer handles the complaints of individuals. It proactively addresses systemic and public interest issues, getting at the roots of discrimination and preventing it before it happens." This year’s Annual Report is available from the OHRC’s website – www.ohrc.on.ca.
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/ar0809
You'll never walk alone – (DisabilityNow). "The question of whether or not to offer tracking devices to people with dementia isn’t as simple as looking out for their interests says Peter White. Disabled people have learnt the hard way over the years to be wary of the phrase: ‘in your own best interests’. Much has been justified under that vast umbrella including institutional care, aggressive medication, forced sterilisation – the list goes on. Which is why when the subject of tagging of patients with dementia comes up, my antennae begin to quiver, not, I would argue, out of a kneejerk response to the infringement of liberty, but from bitter experience of how ‘assistance’ can become ‘control’. My wife is a psychiatric nurse, and has spent many years working in care homes. She’s also married to me, and is, I would say, if anything even more robust than me on this issue of self-determination and personal freedom."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/have-your-say/petes-place/youll-never-walk-alone/?searchterm=Peter%20White
Disability 101: The Paparazzi Effect – by Sandy Lahmann (Summit Daily). "What do celebrities and people with visible disabilities have in common? The paparazzi effect! Let me explain. If Angelina Jolie were to walk into a local business, what's the first thing that would happen? People would openly stare at her with a look of shock and disbelief. You know, the jaw drops, the mouth hangs open, the eyes get big. What's the first thing that happens when I, in my wheelchair, roll into the same business? People stare at me with a look of shock and disbelief. Their jaws drop, their mouths hang open, their eyes get big."
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20090802/NEWS/908029995/1078&ParentProfile=1055
Native Americans are People too: An Editorial – by David Morrison (Star News). "This article was inspired by one of my current professors and as I sit here typing it, I am shocked at the lack of data that is available. Furthermore, as you will see the data that is available clearly suggests that Native Americans with Disabilities are vastly under served nationwide. Take just a moment and continue to read, what you find may shock you as well."
http://disabilities.blogs.starnewsonline.com/10339/disabilities-native-americans-are-people-too-an-editorial/
Fresh Faces, Fresh Voices – by Josie Byzek (NewMobility). "An entire generation of American wheelchair users has grown up since the ADA became law. So that means everything's better now, right? Well, yes, in many ways. And, no, of course not. Some old obstacles have just been exchanged for newer, less physical ones. Attitudinal barriers still restrict access to full participation in our culture. Regardless, the four twentysomethings we spoke with all say life is good, and will only get better. They're all on Facebook, so look them up to continue the conversation."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11471
The Influence Game: Biotech drug lobbying war – by Alan Fram (BusinessWeek). "With the nation's $46 billion biological drug market at stake, the war between makers of the pricey biotech medicines and their would-be generic competitors has involved millions of dollars in lobbying, thousands in campaign contributions and uncounted visits to members of Congress. And one noteworthy letter. The note from the private National Health Council, sent to House leaders drafting health overhaul legislation, said the plea was on behalf of ‘the more than 133 million Americans living with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers.’ It urged lawmakers to protect the makers of high-technology biological medicines against early competition from lower-cost generic copycats."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/THE-INFLUENCE-GAME-Biotech-apf-2041712701.html?x=0&.v=1
On health care and scare tactics – by Jerry West (rabble.ca). "My greatest source of amusement the past few weeks has been watching a lot of Americans act like gullible idiots on the health care issue. What is even more amusing is that progressives like Representative Denis Kucinich and the usual gaggle of right-wing nut bars both oppose the Obama health care plan. Of course they do not oppose it for the same reason. A straight forward and functional solution to the problem of health care coverage in the U.S. would be to adopt a single payer insurance system similar to the one in Canada, either at the national or state level. This is what Kucinich supports. What the profiteers and right-wing extremists want is a totally privatized health care system. What Obama has foolishly offered up is a dysfunctional combination of both, and both the progressives on the left and the regressives on the right are up in arms."
http://www.rabble.ca/columnists/2009/08/health-care-and-scare-tactics
Ratify disability rights agreement now – by Helen Henderson (TheStar). "What can a six-foot-10 Turkish hoops star teach us that the Bank of Canada can't? When it comes to money, the financial capital that drives the economy, the central bank likes to think of itself as the last word. If it says things have bottomed out, we are meant to take heart. Personally I'd rather put my faith in our social capital. Social capital is all about our ability to live with each other, to build communities that include everyone. . . Two years ago, Ottawa inked the landmark United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (un.org/disabilities). Signed by 140 countries at last count, it emphasizes that people who move or communicate or process information differently from the majority are active and valued members of society. They are entitled to inclusive schools, workplaces, affordable housing, transportation systems and communities. The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion calling for Canada to ratify the agreement after consulting with the provinces and territories. Ratification means agreeing to enact laws and shape policies that translate into meaningful change for the more than 4 million Canadians with disabilities. It also means abolishing laws and practices that discriminate against them. But here we appear to be dragging our feet."
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/673156#survey
$4.5 Million in Grants Awarded for Special Education Parent Information, Training Centers – "The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of more than $4.5 million in grants to operate 16 special education parent information and training centers in 14 states, including targeted centers for American Indians and military families. Every state has at least one parent information center funded by the Department of Education to help improve results for children with disabilities. There are more than 104 centers nationwide."
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08062009.html
Easter Seals Offers Free Disability Awareness Curriculum for Educators – (prnewswire). "Elementary school educators now have a free teaching tool to help their young students learn about children and adults with disabilities. There is still a critical need to build awareness and change attitudes about what it means to be a person with a disability -- the best time to learn is as a young child. Easter Seals, the country's leading non-profit provider of disability services, has launched an online version of its award-winning disability awareness curriculum, FRIENDS WHO CARE. ‘Easter Seals developed this resource for teachers and parents to educate children about their peers with disabilities and foster greater inclusion in our classrooms and on our playgrounds,’ says Patricia Wright, Ph.D., MPH, national director of autism services, Easter Seals."
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-03-2009/0005070314&EDATE=
Secretary Duncan Sends Letter to Chief State School Officers on Restraint and Seclusion in Schools – "Late last week, [US] Secretary Duncan sent a letter to Chief State School Officers encouraging each state to review their current policies and guidelines regarding the use of restraints and seclusion techniques in schools and if appropriate develop or revise them to ensure the safety of students."
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08032009a.html
Schoolkids need lessons in disability – by Cathy Reay (DisabilityNow). "Primary schools need to do more to change the way children think about disabled people, according to new research from the University of Leeds. The study found that typical misconceptions held by children include disabled people are not able to work, they are unlikely to have a partner or get married, disabilities are passed onto children and disabled people have tragic lives, often cut short by their impairment. The research also found that learning materials, particularly children’s books, frequently reinforce those stereotypes. Researchers talked to groups of children in year two (aged 6-7) and year six (aged 10-11) in six schools as well as sending out questionnaires to 500 primary schools. Quotes from children that answered the questionnaire revealed that some feel disabled people wouldn’t get a boyfriend or girlfriend because ‘people people think they’re ugly’ and one is quoted as saying ‘disabled people can’t work. They have to go in the house and just sit down. And they can watch TV’."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/schoolkids-need-lessons-in-disability
10 Secrets That Every Job Seeker with a Disability Needs to Know: How to Make the Internet Work for You When Looking for a Job – "What every Job Seeker with a disability needs to know when they are posting their resume on an electronic job board. Technology has changed the way that employers view resumes, and this presentation will help you get your resume seen. . . You can view an interactive web presentation while you call in to learn about resume placement strategies while having your questions addressed by an expert."
http://onemoreway.org/0916teleseminar.htm
Disabilities: Voc Rehab to Sponsor 2nd Annual Employment Recognition Event – by David Morrison (StarNews). "Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The Office of Disability Employment Policy has the lead in planning NDEAM activities and materials to increase the public’s awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year ‘National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.’ In 1962, the word ‘physically’ was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to ‘National Disability Employment Awareness Month’."
http://disabilities.blogs.starnewsonline.com/10281/disabilities-voc-rehab-to-sponser-2nd-annual-employment-recognition-event/
New brochure from Office of Disability Employment Policy – (Examiner). "The United States Department of Labor, office of Disability Employment Policy has released a new brochure titled, Employer Perspectives on Employment of Employees with Disabilities. The brochure, which is available in Word or PDF format at http://www.dol.gov/odep, features a survey of 3,797 businesses representing 2.4 million companies across 12 industry section and various company sizes. The brochure reports on the companies beliefs about and strategies for recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing employees with disabilities."
http://www.examiner.com/x-7061-St-Louis-Disabled-Workers-Examiner~y2009m8d7-New-brochure-from-Office-of-Disability-Employment-Policy
Overview of Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities – (WorkSupport.com). "The success rate of small business is surprisingly high, despite widely accepted folklore to the contrary. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that over 79% of small businesses are still operating after the initial eight years. And, the long term trend in employment is smaller firms. Self employment and small business are a defining characteristic of America’s economic landscape, and present a tremendous opportunity for those most challenged by the competitive labor market. Self-employment is increasingly recognized as a viable employment option for people with disabilities. Self employment for individuals with disabilities involves minimizing the fears of the prospective business-owner, as well as the rehabilitation and local small business development professionals who assist them. A person does not need to 'get ready' to own a business, if a customized approach is used. In customized self-employment, the focus is on the talents and interests of the individual and identifying personal assets. Self-employment uses a strength not deficit-based outlook."
http://www.worksupport.com/training/webcourses/self_employment_course.cfm
General Interest
Is Compulsion to Amputate Healthy Limbs Mind or Matter? – by Alexis Madrigal (Wired). "One day, after years of agony, an Australian man took a large quantity of dry ice and intentionally damaged his left leg, so that a surgeon would have to amputate it. The action was intentional and the man, Robert Vickers, described the feeling of waking up in the hospital without his leg as ‘absolute ecstasy.’ He’s one of a small number of people who have what psychiatrists have come to call body integrity identity disorder in which patients report the desire to have one or more of their limbs amputated because the extremities don’t feel like they ‘belong’ to their bodies. The disorder is the subject of a debate between psychiatrists and neuroscientists about whether the brain physiology causes the psychiatric condition or whether the causality runs in the other direction. New research by both sides has yielded fresh ammunition for both interpretations, highlighting how difficult it is to separate biological from psychological phenomena."
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/07/biidbiid/
Sotomayor will bring unique perspective to the [US] Supreme Court – by David G. Savage and James Oliphant (LATimes). "The newly confirmed justice's experiences with a disability, economic struggles and as a prosecutor and trial judge are among several things that may set her apart from her new colleagues."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sotomayor7-2009aug07,0,4571672.story
Special Olympics Mourns the Loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver – "Eunice Kennedy Shriver died early this morning at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old. Near her at the time of her death were her husband, R. Sargent Shriver; her five children: Robert Bobby Sargent Shriver III, Maria Owings Shriver, Timothy Perry Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver, as well as their spouses and all of her nineteen grandchildren. The younger sister of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Shriver was the founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, and executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. She has been a leader in the worldwide movement to improve and to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than six decades."
http://www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/media/press/special-olympics-mourns-founder.pdf
You complete me – (AbilityMagazine). "‘You complete me.’ That memorable line from the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, now holds special meaning for me. A former Habitat for Humanity volunteer, I hadn’t had the opportunity to help with a build since becoming a paraplegic nearly seven years ago, and I was excited for the chance to participate again. I arrived at the ABILITY Build site with eagerness, protective goggles and sunscreen."
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/ABILITY_Build_Briana.html
Government
Canada
Federal program aims to get mentally ill off streets – "Hundreds of homeless people with mental illness in five cities across Canada will take part in an ambitious federal housing experiment this fall that researchers say could become a new model for helping the down and out. The experiment – created by the Canadian Commission on Mental Health – will provide subsidized apartments and intensive psychological and social support to more than 1,000 homeless people in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Moncton."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/08/25/homelessness-federal-project-subsidized-housing.html
Government of Canada Helps People With Disabilities in Estevan Find Meaningful Employment – (News Blaze). "People with disabilities will get help to prepare for and obtain employment thanks to Government of Canada support for a local employment project. Mr. Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. . . The Opportunities Fund supports an array of activities, such as increasing employability skills, providing work experience and preparing individuals for self-employment. The Government of Canada is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent Canadians from reaching their full potential with a wide range of effective policies, programs and services tailored to people with disabilities."
http://newsblaze.com/story/2009082809040300004.cc/topstory.html
Province Invests Over $5.5 Million To Expand Dialysis At Health Sciences Centre, Seven Oaks General Hospital – (Government of Manitoba). "Construction is underway on 10 new dialysis stations at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) and an additional six stations at Seven Oaks General Hospital as part of the province’s $21-million investment to enhance renal health services across the province, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today. ‘Our government is keeping its commitment to increase investments both in prevention and in expanded treatment options for patients in need of renal care,’ said Oswald. ‘Today’s investment in new stations will ensure that Manitobans who need dialysis are able to access care both now and in the future.’ Construction of the 10 new stations at HSC will cost $5.5 million and is expected to create 165 jobs. It is estimated that for every $1 million invested in renovations, 30 jobs are created and $1.5 million is added to the GDP. The new stations will be built across from the current dialysis unit and will be used by up to 60 dialysis patients weekly. Construction is expected to be complete by fall of 2010."
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2009-8-01&item=6394
U.S.
Health Insurance Reform and Disability – by Katherine Brandon. "Recently, you may have heard one misunderstanding that the President’s plan will mean children with disabilities will not receive the care they need. On the contrary, reform will eliminate health insurance discrimination against people with disabilities. Under the President’s plan, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition, which will allow those with disabilities to receive the quality, affordable care they deserve. We asked Mike Strautmanis, Chief of Staff for Valerie Jarrett and the father of a child with a disability, to set the record straight. In this 'Reality Check' video, he explains more about how the President’s plan will help, not hurt, those with disabilities:"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Health-Insurance-Reform-and-Disability/
Disability.gov Adds Social Media Tools, Disability Resources and a New Design to Complement Information from 22 Federal Agencies – "In conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Labor has re-named and re-launched its disability resources Web site to Disability.gov. Formerly called DisabilityInfo.gov, the site offers comprehensive information about programs, services and assistive technology to better serve more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, their family members, veterans, employers, educators, caregivers and anyone interested in disability-related information."
http://www.prweb.com/releases/Disability_Resources/Assistive_Technology/prweb2677734.htm
Health/Wellness
Expansion Of Video-Conferencing Technology Delivers Health Care Closer To Home For Rural Manitobans: Oswald – (Government of Manitoba). "Expansion of video-conferencing technology that links health-care providers to patients will ensure rural Manitobans will get the care they need closer to home, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced here today. ‘Linking people to health-care expertise at a distance reduces their travel time while increasing their access to specialized services,’ said Oswald. ‘These communities and the region have worked hard to make this expansion possible to ensure quality services are available for area residents.’ At least 40 clinical specialties can be accessed using the MBTelehealth Network, such as speech language pathology, dermatology, neurology and cardiology."
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2009-8-01&item=6538
Social Security to Test Use of Microsoft’s HealthVault in Disability Process – "Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced today that the agency has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to test the use of Microsoft’s HealthVault application in the disability process. HealthVault is a free online service that enables people to gather, store and manage their families’ health information, and share that information with their physicians and healthcare providers. These ‘personal health records’ contain the same types of information that Social Security generally obtains from people applying for disability benefits."
http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/ms-healthvault-pr.htm
Legal
St. Louis Rams To Pay $134,000 For Disability Bias – "The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a disability discrimination lawsuit against the St. Louis Rams, the city’s National Football League (NFL) team, for $134,000 and important remedial relief on behalf of Ron DuBuque, a long-term employee with a seizure disorder. . . ‘As this case and many others show, disability does not mean inability,’ said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. ‘All employers should make workplace decisions based on merit and qualifications to do the job, rather than on myths, fears, or stereotypes associated with a person’s disability.’ DuBuque, who had been an assistant trainer with the team for 11 years before he was fired, had epilepsy during his entire employment. DuBuque and the EEOC alleged that he had successfully performed his job until the Rams' management, in June 2006, claimed he was a medical liability and posed a threat
to his own safety and that of coworkers. DuBuque was diagnosed with trauma-induced epilepsy in 1984, more than a decade before working for the Rams."
http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-19-09.html
Media
American Airlines and American Association of People With Disabilities Launch Inaugural 'Altitude Award' Call for Entries – (PRNewswire). "American Airlines and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are pleased to announce the creation of the ‘Altitude Award’, honoring the best U.S. television commercials featuring authentic depictions of people with disabilities. ‘Every TV commercial tells a story, and we believe the Altitude Award competition will provide the American public unique insight into the country's most socially responsible companies,’ said Roger Frizzell, American Airlines Vice President - Corporate Communications and Advertising."
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-05-2009/0005072499&EDATE=
Medical
Carbon nanotubes may help regrow nerve tissue according to a research study – (Medicalnews). "Carbon nanotubes hold many exciting possibilities, some of them in the realm of the human nervous system. Recent research has shown that carbon nanotubes may help regrow nerve tissue or ferry drugs used to repair damaged neurons associated with disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and perhaps even paralysis. Yet some studies have shown that carbon nanotubes appear to interfere with a critical signaling transaction in neurons, throwing doubt on the tubes' value in treating neurological disorders. No one knew why the tubes were causing a problem."
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20090828/Carbon-nanotubes-may-help-regrow-nerve-tissue-according-to-a-research-study.aspx
FDA panel backs approval for J&J hip replacement – by Matthew Perrone (BusinessWeek). "A panel of federal health experts on Tuesday unanimously recommended approval for an experimental hip replacement system from health care products maker Johnson & Johnson. The Food and Drug Administration's outside panel of orthopedic experts voted 5-0 that the Pinnacle Complete implant system appears safe and effective, according to an agency spokeswoman. Panelists recommended approval, provided the New Brunswick, N.J.-based company conduct a 10-year follow-up safety study. The FDA is not required to follow the panel's advice, though it usually does. J&J's Depuy unit has asked the FDA to approve its device for patients who need a total replacement of the ball-and-socket hip joint due to damage or deterioration. A diseased hip joint can cause pain and disability."
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9A5GS8O0.htm
Policy/Research
Clay: From wellbeing to art – by Josie Cavallaro (Australian Policy Online). "This brief paper draws on the author's experience in working alongside emerging artists with a disability and as an advocate for access to the arts for people with a disability. The presentation bypasses any examination of art and wellbeing within the heath setting, a context in which art created by people with a disability can be limited by clinical or therapeutic outcomes. Here, wellbeing is interpreted as a by-product of access to creative opportunities and social inclusion."
http://apo.org.au/research/clay-wellbeing-art
Disabilities report exposes exclusion, neglect – by Julia Medew (The Age). "Julian McAlpine is a happy eight-year-old boy living with Down syndrome. He goes to school, has plenty of friends and attends scouts with his brothers - but Julian's mother fears for his future. ‘'I want the same thing for Julian as my other sons. I want him to have somewhere to live, I want him to have someone to love, I want him to have a job, I want him to live an ordinary life,’' Catherine McAlpine says. ‘'But it's scary. You talk to other parents with adult offspring and it really is difficult to achieve all of those things.' Mrs McAlpine's concerns are well founded. A new Federal Government report documenting the experiences of Australians with disabilities has found widespread discrimination, social exclusion and a chronic lack of services to help people with disabilities live fulfilled lives."
http://www.theage.com.au/national/disabilities-report-exposes-exclusion-neglect-20090809-ee9p.html
Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities – "The National Council on Disability (NCD) is pleased to submit this report, entitled Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities. NCD’s purpose is to promote policies and practices that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability, and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and integration into all aspects of society. Under its congressional mandate, NCD is charged with the responsibility to gather information on the development and implementation of federal laws, policies, programs, and practices that affect people with disabilities. This report is a result of that mandate."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2009/NCD_EmergencyManagement_HTML/EffectiveEmergencyManagement.html
Future Threats to, and Possibilities for, Disability Studies – (DPI). "Disability studies is an emerging field in academia, represented by a burgeoning program at York University. The discipline is meant to represent the interests of a marginalized group and critically assess the nature of disability. This presentation will characterize the context for Disability Studies: including new, envisioned and emerging sciences and technologies; as well as social concepts such as transhumanism (the idea that it is essential to move the abilities of the human body beyond the ‘normal’, the species-typical). Dr. Wolbring will identify the impact that Disability Studies could potentially have on discourses such as privacy, climate, water, sustainability, and human security, all of which in turn impact the social wellbeing of people with disabilities."
http://v1.dpi.org/files/uploads/gregor%20wolbring%20talk%20poster%20091026-1.pdf
National Summit on Disability Policy 2010 – "Hosted by the National Council on Disability (NCD), this Summit commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a reception, an ADA retrospective and a series of working meetings. The results of the meetings will help shape disability policy and programs for the next decade. Topics for discussion include the following 10 tracks:
· Employment
· Civil Rights
· Education
· Healthcare
· Transportation
· Housing
· Telecommunications and Technology
· International Affairs
· Emergency Management
· Statistics and Data
The National Summit is an invitation-only event. If you are interested in attending, please review the participant information and complete an application."
http://www.neweditions.net/ncd2010/eventinfo.html
No longer shut away, people with a disability are still shut out – by Rhonda Galbally (The Age). "The trouble with disabilities is that most Australians think they happen to someone else. Recently I was talking to a man whose partner was disabled by a recent accident and he told me: ‘I just didn't realise how bad things were for people with a disability - until it happened to us.’ He is not alone. Without first-hand experience of disability, most people assume things are better than they used to be - or at least that they are getting better. It is true that many of the large institutions that once housed people with a disability - out of sight and out of mind - are now closed. It is true that Australians with a disability are now largely free to live in the community. But that does not mean they are welcome."
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/no-longer-shut-away-people-with-a-disability-are-still-shut-out-20090809-ee6i.html
People with Disability Australia – (Austalian Policy Online). "People with Disability Australia Incorporated (PWD) is a national peak disability rights and advocacy organisation. Its primary membership is made up of people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability. PWD also has a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement. PWD was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. The organisation has a cross-disability focus - representing the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWD is a non-profit, non-government organisation."
http://apo.org.au/website/people-disability-australia
PWD E-Bulletin – "PWD E-Bulletin is a source of PWD internal news and developments in the disability sector at the state, national and international levels. It goes out to members and interested others every fortnight by email." This month’s edition is on individualised funding and self determination.
http://www.pwd.org.au/e-bulletin/PWD_E-Bulletin_56.html
Speak up: arts and disability priorities for NSW – (Australian Policy Online). "This report is the result of a three year consultation project with arts and disability stakeholders across NSW. It identifies key findings, issues and solutions to promote full inclusion, access and cultural opportunities in the arts for people with disability. This report ensures the work of Accessible Arts is guided by priorities identified by stakeholders in the arts and disability sectors. Face-to-face consultations with over 500 individuals and representatives from communities, organisations and companies in the arts, disability, government, transport and education sectors inform the strategy. A number of support groups as well as ‘Speak Up' forums in 17 locations in regional and metropolitan NSW were included in the consultation process between 2006 and 2009."
http://apo.org.au/research/speak-arts-and-disability-priorities-nsw
UB College of Arts and Sciences Launches Center for Disability Studies – "The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the University at Buffalo has launched a Center for Disability Studies, a partnership between CAS and People Inc. aimed at advancing greater acceptance of persons with disabilities in the community. The goal of the center, which is housed in CAS, is to encourage the study, teaching and accurate representation of disability, and of individuals with disabilities, says David Gerber, UB Distinguished Professor in the Department of History and center director."
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/10290
Carving space for independent living – (Joongang Daily). "The sounds of an electric saw and a drill roared from the depths of Hanbeot Welfare Foundation in Hyochang-dong, central Seoul. Rehabilitation engineers Kim Dong-hak, 49, and Jang Jae-sang, 29, are busy making a customized wheelchair for 31-year-old Kim Byung-kyu, who has a brain lesion disorder, at the Assistive Technology Center on the foundation’s first floor. . . The center makes various devices for people with disabilities to help them live more independent lives. Each device is custom made to accommodate an individual’s body and the nature of his or her disability."
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2908498
Locomotor Training: A Step in the Direction? – by Allen Rucker (NewMobility). "LT is a difficult, sometimes fuzzy-edged scientific adventure, not a predictable task like learning to play Wii dodge ball with the kids. When I first dropped by the Next Step Fitness Center, situated in a nondescript mini-mall in the Los Angeles suburb of Lawndale, Janne Kouri had been walking, or more precisely, stepping, with a walker for about two weeks. Three years ago Kouri, now 34, was playing volleyball on the beach and decided to dive into the ocean, hitting a sandbar and ending up a with a C5-6 incomplete SCI. In that stark nanosecond many paralyzed people have experienced, Kouri went from a former 280-pound defensive lineman at Georgetown to an immobile tetraplegic."
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11470
Self-Help
LD OnLine’s Multimedia section – (LDOnline). "Welcome to LD OnLine's multimedia section! Here you will find videos about learning disabilities and related topics. These multimedia resources feature the country's top experts and latest research findings. You'll also find practical advice for parents, and the personal stories of children, families, and teachers."
http://www.ldonline.org/multimedia
Sports/Recreation
Disability 101: Rowing an ocean – by Sandy Lahmann (SummitDaily). "When Angela Madsen decided she was going to row across the Atlantic Ocean, she had trouble getting sponsors. Rowing across an ocean is not something a lot of people do. But it's a growing sport. One of the first challenges every person who wants to row across an ocean faces is raising enough money. Sponsors are needed. Angela was rejected by almost all of the sponsors she contacted. And she had difficulty getting media coverage. You see, Angela is paraplegic as a result of a botched back surgery."
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20090817/NEWS/908169986/1078&ParentProfile=1055
Technology
Acoustic Maps to Aid the Blind – by Janice Karin (TheFutureofThings). "Researchers at the University of Bristol in England have developed a new method to convert images from lasers and digital cameras into real-time, three dimensional acoustic maps that help the blind navigate around obstacles in their path. The images are converted to sounds that get louder as objects get nearer, accurately reflecting their orientation with respect to the user. Coupled with related work from the University of Laguna in Spain and several other institutions, these maps could result in a workable assistive technology for the sight-impaired in the near future."
http://thefutureofthings.com/news/7685/acoustic-maps-to-aid-the-blind.html
Adaptive Technology makes a City Smart – by Darby Patterson (simplyraydeen). "Several years ago when I was editor in chief of a national tech trade magazine, I visited IBM’s experimental center near Austin, Texas. It was much like stepping into the Starship Enterprise with technology that I’d yet to imagine even though I’d been writing extensively about assistive technology and Section 508. Now, with a growing interest in how the Baby Boomer generation and people with disabilities share a common interest in accessibility, I revisited IBM (virtually) to see what is on the company’s horizon."
http://www.simplyraydeen.com/authors/116-darby-patterson/349-adaptive-technology-makes-a-city-smart
AFB Partners with AOL to Explore the Feasibility of Accessible Walking Directions from MapQuest – (AFB). "Ever wonder whether an online service designed to provide driving directions to the sighted could provide relevant information to the blind, or others with vision loss? So have AFB TECH and AOL. Together the organizations are developing early prototype technology intended to harness the vast amounts of data available from AOL's MapQuest to create Accessible Walking Directions (AWD). The first of its kind, this effort is reaching an important phase in development. A small group of blind and visually impaired individuals will soon use their computers to try the AWD service. With white canes and dog guides, in places including Washington DC, the suburbs, and a small town in Iowa, these volunteer ‘Test Pilots’ will evaluate the accuracy of the provided directions on travel routes with which they are very familiar. The results of this testing will illuminate the path ahead for the technology."
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=42&TopicID=242
Deaf-blind communication goes portable – by Geoff Adams-Spink (BBC News). "A new portable device for deaf-blind people allows them to have face-to-face conversations, make phone calls using a text relay service and communicate by SMS. The DeafBlind Communicator (DBC) consists of a Braille note-taker linked by Bluetooth to a mobile phone. The DBC is made by assistive technology firm HumanWare and was developed in partnership with the Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) as well as several deaf-blind individuals."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8183838.stm
Food guide application for iPhone/iPod users impacted by celiac/coeliac disease and food allergies – (Medicalnews). "The iPhone/iPod touch application, iCanEat OnTheGo Gluten & Allergen Free, expands the suite of innovative solutions to help those impacted by celiac/coeliac disease, food allergies or intolerances safely eat out anywhere. Developed by AllergyFree Passport and GlutenFree Passport, internationally acclaimed education firms, iCanEat OnTheGo easily pinpoints what meals to eat at 15 US Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Chains for special diet customers. In order to dynamically tailor the application to specific concerns, users select from one or any combination of 9 allergens including eggs, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat."
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20090829/Food-guide-application-for-iPhoneiPod-users-impacted-by-celiaccoeliac-disease-and-food-allergies.aspx
Epicenter The Business of Tech - Disability Group Boosts Google Book Search – by Ryan Singel (Wired). "Google’s Book Search program will help wheelchair users and the blind read more, a disability group told a federal judge Wednesday, giving Google some much-needed support in its attempt to create the online library and bookstore of the future. The American Association of People with Disabilities told federal court judge Denny Chin that ‘vast numbers of books will be opened up for many people for the first time ever,’ citing the fact that Google Book Search will digitize books into formats that can be used by specialized readers. The nonprofit group asked the court to approve the controversial copyright settlement that Google struck in 2007 to settle a class action lawsuit filed by authors and publishers."
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/disability-group-boosts-google-book-search/
People With Disabilities Helped by Robotic Systems – (redorbit). "Bioengineering and mechanical engineering professor Rory Cooper describes how rapid prototyping and robotics are providing promising solutions for those with severe manipulation and mobility challenges. People might be surprised to learn that about 50 million individuals in the world use, or could benefit from the use of, a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are one of the most commonly used assistive devices for mobility, providing people with mobility in their homes and communities. While wheelchairs were once a symbol of inability and considered stigmatizing, they have evolved to be highly mobile forms of self-expression that are often fitted to each individual user."
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1741324/people_with_disabilities_helped_by_robotic_systems/
Tiny magnet reads tongue motion to control wheelchairs – by Vanessa McMains (Tribune Newspapers). "The tongue stud, that in-your-face accessory to rebellion, could spell freedom of another kind for people with major paralysis, thanks to researchers developing a magnetic control system operated entirely inside the mouth. Called the tongue drive, it uses a magnetic field to read tongue movement as commands to a computer or a wheelchair. ‘Imagine all the different ways you can bend your tongue,’ said developer Maysam Ghovanloo, assistant professor of the school of electrical and computer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. ‘The possibilities are endless.’ The prototype is a small magnet—the size of a grain of rice—adhered to the tongue. Wireless headphones with magnetic sensors detect movement and transmit commands to a laptop computer."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/monday/nationworld/sfl-tc-nw-tonguedevice-0816-0817sbaug17,0,1427586.story
World's first ever 'permanently tied' shoelace technology premiers at Naidex 2009 – (YourAble). "Greeper shoelaces is a pioneering new invention for the disabilities market that is functional, fun and fashionable. Greeper laces, the world's first ever shoelaces that can never come undone, adding a new dimension of convenience for the disabilities, rehabilitation and aged market will premiere at Naidex 2009 ? the UK leading event for homecare, disability and rehabilitation. As the result of six years of research and development, UK inventor and entrepreneur Peter Greedy patented this unique shoelace technology that allows users the convenience of simply tightening or loosing their laces, without ever needing to tie them. This makes wearing shoelaces simple, easy and safe. Greeper laces can be applied to almost any lace-up footwear."
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/May2009/laces
Conferences
(New Conferences)
Canada
17th National Conference on Learning Disabilities – September 24-26, 2009 | Whitehorse, Yukon. "For the 2009 Minds of Gold Conference hosted by the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon, we expect to attract over 400 delegates made up of persons with learning disabilities, parents, teachers, administrators, early childhood educators, students, health professionals, social and justice workers, and others interested in the field of learning disabilities. The conference program includes dynamic speakers presenting innovative ideas, information and techniques on the following themes:
· Effective Instruction
· Advocacy
· Research & Technology
· Community Partnerships "
http://lday.leafsolutions.ca/home.asp
Connections Collections Communities: Making Museums and Galleries in Canada Inclusive and Accessible – October 1-4, 2009 | Ottawa, Ontario. "How do museums and galleries develop new audiences and adapt to a diverse population? How do we facilitate the meaningful involvement of the very communities we aspire to represent through our exhibitions, curatorial research, and interpretive planning? In response to growing interest and demand for training and dialogue from museums and galleries across Canada, this national conference will examine these and other topics which address new and innovative ways to make exhibitions, programs and spaces more accessible for all visitors, including those with disabilities. Speakers will include leading experts in the field of community outreach, cognitive psychology, adaptive technology and multi-modal learning as well as Canadians with disabilities."
http://www.gallery.ca/conference/en/index.htm
15th Annual Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) Conference – November 11-13, 2009 | Moncton, New Brunswick. "CASE is proud to co-host this event in partnership with the New Brunswick Association for Supported Services and Employment Inc. The CASE conference attracts leaders in the field year after year, and is highly valued as a high quality networking and professional development event.
Conference Highlights
· International Speaker Sean Wiltshire opens the conference
· Former and present Members of Parliament, and past president of Canadian Chamber of Commerce, join us as conference keynote speakers
· Longer networking breaks as requested
· Increased focus on policy and employer involvement
· Superb made-in-New-Brunswick talent and entertainment to delight
· Over 400 YEARS of collective experience in Supported Employment offered by workshop presenters! For more information, check out the Conference Brochure (949KB PDF)"
http://supportedemployment.ca/en/conference/
26th International Seating Symposium – March 10-13, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "This international symposium addresses current and future developments in the areas of seating, positioning and mobility. Topic areas include service delivery, product development, research and evaluation. The format for the symposium will include plenary, poster, instructional and paper sessions. Extensive opportunities are provided for networking with colleagues."
http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/26th_Seating.htm
International Society for Gerontechnology 7th World Conference – May 27-30, 2010 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Internationally recognized experts in gerontechology will share their knowledge and experience through lectures, symposia, workshops, papers and posters. Topics to be addressed will include rehabilitation engineering, robotics, telemonitoring, telecare, ICT, biomechanics and ergonomics, assistive technology, inclusive design and usability, smart homes and smart fabrics, sensor technology, and cognitive aging and computer games. "
http://www.sfu.ca/isg2010/about/index.html
U.S.
Southwest Conference on Disability – September 30-October 2, 2009 | Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Main Conference Theme: Disability in America: Inalienable Rights for All Co-Sponsored by the American Association on Health and Disability. For many years, stakeholders in the disability community have identified significant inequalities in many areas between people with and without disabilities. These disparities hinder many people with disabilities from fully enjoying the rights guaranteed to all Americans under the Constitution and prevent them from becoming actively contributing members of their communities. The 2009 Southwest Conference on Disability is soliciting presentations that
· document or explore disparities in a particular area, including education, independent living, economic status, employment, housing and access to services, or among people with particular disabilities or
· focus on solutions to overcoming inequality through innovative policies or programs that reduce or eliminate inequality based on disability and which contribute to creating a country in which disability is no longer a barrier to equal rights.
We welcome contributions from the policy, academic, healthcare and advocacy communities which address a general perspective, or which focus on particular types of disabilities or populations, including veterans, women, or ethnic minorities."
http://cdd.unm.edu/swconf/proposal.asp
ACRM Annual Conference - Building the Evidence Base for Rehabilitation Interventions: From Research to Clinical Care – October 7-11, 2009 | Denver, Colorado. "The ACRM–ASNR Joint Educational Conference is the world 's largest forum focusing on interdisciplinary rehabilitation research. Our meeting attendees are providers and clinicians in the field of rehabilitation science who are dedicated to delivering best practices, and support advocacy efforts that ensure adequate public funding for research endeavors. These are project directors from many of the traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury model systems, principal investigators from leading medical centers around the world, and leaders of major government agencies that fund rehabilitation research. "
http://www.acrm.org/annual_conference/Sponsor_Information.cfm
Eleventh International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility – October 26-28, 2009 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "The ASSETS conference explores the use of computing and information technologies to help persons with disabilities and older adults. ASSETS is the premier forum for presenting innovative research on the design and use of both mainstream and specialized assistive technologies. This includes the use of technology by and in support of:
· individuals with hearing, sight and other sensory impairments
· individuals with motor impairments
· individuals with memory, learning and cognitive impairments
· individuals with multiple impairments
· older adults
· professionals who work with these populations
All contributions are peer-reviewed by an international Program Committee. Accepted papers, posters and demonstrations will be archived in the ACM digital library. Selected technical paper authors will be invited to submit to a special issue of the journal ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, and the best paper of the conference will receive the ACM SIGACCESS Best Paper award. Mentoring is available for first time authors."
http://www.sigaccess.org/assets09/
2nd UCLA Technology & Aging Conference – October 30, 2009 | Los Angeles, California. "This one-day conference will bring together academic and industry leaders to discuss how the latest technologies in the medical, consumer and lifestyle fields will help older adults live better, longer lives. Its breakout sessions are designed around two track themes:
· Aging In Place, which will focus on technologies that will enable older adults to continue to live longer and better in the comfort and safety in their own homes, and
· Aging Healthier Longer, which will focus on cutting-edge developments in disease management and treatment, adaptive and assistive devices and techniques, emotional health, and function/sensory enhancements."
http://www.aging.ucla.edu/TechAgingConference.html
The Second IASTED International Conference on Telehealth and Assistive Technology: TAT 2009 – November 4-6, 2009 | Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The healthcare industry is constantly changing to incorporate new advances in science and to address new needs within society. Recent developments in communication technology have greatly facilitated the exchange of information and expertise. Telehealth is an emerging field in which health services are transmitted over a long distance using technologies such as videoconferencing, the Internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, satellites, and wireless communications. Telehealth promises to impact the ways that clinical healthcare, health-related education, public health, and health administration are approached."
http://www.iasted.org/conferences/cfp-663.html
2009 AUCD Annual Meeting & Conference – November 8-11, 2009 | Washington, DC. "The 2009 AUCD Conference is centered around the network members and the disability community gathering together to address the opportunities and challenges presented by current changes in the economic, political, social, and environmental climate. With a growing membership of UCEDDs, LENDs, and IDDRCs along with international affiliates, AUCD has become a key disability organization. This annual meeting offers you a chance to interact with policymakers, researchers, administratiors, families, students, and advocates across these types of organizations and across disciplines."
http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=641
60th Annual IDA Conference – November 11-14, 2009 | Orlando, Florida. "The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a scientific and educational nonprofit organization concerned with dyslexia and related language and learning difficulties. The IDA Annual Conference focuses on the latest advances in these and related fields. IDA is interested in a broad spectrum of research and practical presentations along these lines. The objective of the conference is to bring up to date information to a diverse audience that includes educators, researchers, physicians, psychologists, social workers, speech language pathologists, administrators, parents, persons with dyslexia, and others."
http://www.interdys.org/CallForPapersOrlandoTest1.htm
WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson 's Disease and Related Disorders – December 13-16, 2009 | Miami Beach, Florida. "Celebrate 50 Years of Scientific Advancement in Parkinson 's Disease. In 2009 the WFN XVIII World Congress on Parkinson 's Disease and Related Disorders celebrates half a century as a leading international summit for clinicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals worldwide seeking real solutions to improve the long-term outcomes for Parkinson 's patients. Over 3,000 participants are expected to attend this biennial Parkinson 's Disease congress – the eighteenth organized by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) 'Research Group on Parkinsonism and Related Disorders'."
http://www2.kenes.com/parkinson/Pages/Home.aspx
7th International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility – April 26–27, 2010 | Raleigh, North Carolina. "A revolution in the information society is now starting, based on the use of mobile phones in developing countries. The hyper-growth of mobile phone penetration is deeply changing the lives of people in most of the world; their ways of communicating, working, learning, and structuring their societies. The promising next step is obviously to access the Web. The Web has already touched the lives of over a billion people and now is the time for the next billions. However, this expansion faces unprecedented accessibility challenges. Even the word 'accessibility' needs a new definition for people in the developing regions. How can someone who is illiterate or barely literate access the Web? In some cases, a language may not even have a written form. The affordability of the technology is also a challenge, while access is constrained by low computational power, limited bandwidth, compact keyboards, tiny screens, and even by the lack of electric power. All of these constraints compound the problems of access and inclusion."
http://www.w4a.info/2010/
Overseas
The European Ambient Assisted Living Forum 09 - "Innovative ICT Solutions for Older Persons – A New Understanding" – September 29-October 1, 2009 | Vienna, Austria. "Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) aims at extending the time older people can live in their preferred home environment by increasing their autonomy and assisting them in carrying out activities of daily living. The aim is to enhance the quality of their lives by the use of ICT products and the provision of remote services including care services that will assist them to achieve the autonomy, independence and dignity appropriate to their needs and conditions. The AAL Joint Programme (AAL JP) is a new joint research and development (R&D) funding activity implemented by actual 20 European Member States and 3 Associated States with the financial support of the European Community based on article 169 of the EC treaty. The overall objective of the programme is to enhance the quality of life of older people and strengthen the industrial base in Europe through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The motivation of the new funding activity derives from the demographic change and ageing taking place in Europe, which implies not only challenges but also opportunities for the citizens and the social and healthcare systems as well as industry and the European market."
http://www.aal-europe.eu/news-and-events/aal-forum-2009
Confronting the Gap: Rights, Rhetoric, Reality? – October 21-23, 2009 | Salamanca, Spain. "Inclusion International and Inclusion Europe are organizing Confronting the Gap: Rights, Rhetoric and Reality? Return to Salamanca - A Global Conference on Inclusive Education, October 21-23, 2009, Salamanca, Spain. The conference will be co-sponsored by a number of organizations including the United Nation Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education; the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia de España; the Instituto Universitario de Integración en la Comunidad (INICO); and Confederación Española de Organizaciones en favor de las Personas con Discapacidad Intelectual (FEAPS). Fifteen Years have passed since The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education was adopted by the World Conference on Special Needs Education: Access and quality, (Salamanca, Spain, 10 June 1994). As the Convention on the Rights of Person 's with Disabilities comes into effect, it is time to assess the progress made and set the agenda for renewed action in the years ahead."
http://inclusion-international.org/en/calendar/2009/10/21/details.html
OASIS 1st International Conference - Open architecture for Accessible Services Integration and Standardisation – November 4-5, 2009 | Florence, Italy. "How to support holistically the independent living and mobility of the elderly across Europe? How to connect services for the elderly in an one-stop-shop fashion and interrelate/ integrate them? What are the elderly and their families/ carers primary needs, concerns and expectations from the technologies and services arising? These, and much more, are to be presented in Florence, in the OASIS 1st International Conference. OASIS is a Large Scale Integrating Project – partially funded by the European Commission (FP7-ICT 215754) - with the aim to develop an open and innovative reference architecture, based upon ontologies and semantic services, that will allow plug and play and cost-effective interconnection of existing and newly developed services in all domains required for the independent and autonomous living of older people and their enhanced Quality of Life. The aim of the OASIS 1st International Conference is to serve as a forum to present current and future work as well as to exchange ideas in the field of Independent Living and Autonomous Mobility of the elderly."
http://www.marie-curie-bg.org/images/uploads/OASIS_International_Conference_Call_for_Papers.pdf
12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) – June 2-4, 2010 | Hong Kong. "The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) is proud to announce that the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) will take place in Hong Kong in 2010. The theme of TRANSED 2010 is Sustainable Transport & Travel for All. Held every three years, TRANSED conferences are milestone events in the field of accessible transportation, attracting researchers, policy-makers, transport operators, consumers and
other specialists worldwide to share innovations and best practices in order to make transportation and mobility accessible to everyone."
http://www.transed2010.hk/front/#