Disability Resource Digest
Volume 7, Issue 2 February 2007
The Disability Resource Digest (DRD) is a special project of SMD
Alliance. SMD Alliance is based in Manitoba, Canada and provides
strategic vision and policy direction to four SMD corporations: SMD
Clearinghouse; SMD Foundation; SMD Ventures; and SMD Services.
The
vision shared among the corporations is of a "community that supports
the independence, participation, and empowerment of persons of all
abilities." Each SMD corporation pursues a complementary mandate in
working toward this vision.
The DRD is prepared primarily as
an informational resource for consumers, professionals and publics
interested in remaining current in disability related issues. An
archive of past editions of the DRD is maintained on SMD's web site
(http://www.smd.mb.ca).
Published monthly (with a single
summer edition for July and August), the DRD presents summaries of, and
URL addresses for, notable disability-related content on the world-wide
web (WWW). The DRD focuses on recently posted content but also includes
coverage of other web pages of interest. The URL addresses cited in the
DRD are current at the time of publication. But as those posting
content on the web often revise URL addresses, the addresses in the DRD
may not remain current.
The DRD is prepared for SMD Alliance
by The Project Group (TPG) Consulting Cooperative Ltd., a
Winnipeg-based consulting firm. Neither SMD nor TPG are responsible for
the accuracy or reliability of the content cited in the DRD.
Readers
interested in learning more about SMD Alliance are invited to visit:
http://www.smd.mb.ca or to contact the agency by e-mail at info@smd.ca.
Readers are also invited to send comments and suggestions regarding the
DRD to this same e-mail address.
ACCESSIBILITY
Accessible Currency No Access Means No Freedom - by Penny Reeder (AAPD). "Shortly after President George W. Bush took office, I was invited, as a member of a group of Americans with disabilities, to the White House for the Bush Administration’s unveiling of the so-called ‘New Freedom Initiative.’ Following on, and expanding upon the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed by the first President Bush in 1990, the new president Bush exalted in the law his father had signed and promised great things ahead for people with disabilities under his administration. Well, I guess now that the president’s term of office is winding down, and not too much has actually happened in the arena of expanding opportunities for people with disabilities, he’s decided his commitment to people with disabilities was really just a platitude after all."
http://www.aapd.com/News/courtdecisions/070131it.htmRecycle Your Assistive Technologies - (AAPD). "On Feb. 1, 2001, President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative-a comprehensive program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society. One of the pillars of the NFI is dedicated to increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational opportunities and promoting full access to community life for all Americans. OSERS has an important role in working to achieve these objectives by ensuring that youths with disabilities are prepared with the training and skills they need to take advantage of the postsecondary outcomes of competitive employment, education, independent living and community participation. Assistive technology gives individuals, particularly those with disabilities, the freedom to explore the possibilities of work, school and home, and helps to ensure that all individuals who want to work can find a job."
http://www.aapd.com/News/tech/070104doe.htmTop Cities in Disability Friendliness, Outreach - (AAPD). "Berkeley, CA, and Chicago, IL, have been chosen as the winner and runner-up in the sixth annual Accessible America Contest, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) announced today. The cities are being heralded as national models for innovative programs to promote community inclusion of people with disabilities. The Accessible America Contest, administered by NOD’s Community Partnership Program, is sponsored by generous grants from UPS and Wal-Mart. Other 2006 contest finalists were: Alexandria, VA; Bloomington, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; Miami Beach, FL; New Haven, CT; San Francisco, CA; and Sioux Falls, SD. Berkeley will receive the top prize of $25,000 sponsored by UPS. Their best practices included the nation’s first universally designed affordable housing development; a comprehensive transportation program, an outstanding emergency preparedness plan for people with disabilities, and a self-imposed tax to fund some of their disability services."
http://www.aapd.com/News/disability/070116pnn.htm
ADVOCACY
15 Years of ADA - Filled with Setbacks - and Victories - "Today, Jan. 26, is the 15th anniversary of the day the Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect. Since then, a barrage of legal challenges has rendered the ADA much weaker than envisioned. Title I, which prohibits employment discrimination, has especially taken a hit over the years. Employers from both the public and private sectors have frequently challenged the ADA’s definition of disability and have narrowed the scope of who qualifies for protection under the law. It is now at the point where people with such conditions as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and significant vision loss have had their cases dismissed because judges determined they don’t qualify as disabilities. Employment discrimination suits brought under the ADA are rarely successful in courts. Every year since 1992, the American Bar Association has surveyed Title I cases, and each year the survey reveals that employers have prevailed in more than 90 percent of the decisions. President Bush has helped undermine the law his father proudly signed by appointing active opponents of the ADA to the federal bench."
http://www.aapd.com/News/adainthe/070126pmp.htmBob Kafka & Stephanie Thomas: Turning the Queen Mary - by Josie Byzek (New Mobility). "More than 15 years ago ADAPT demanded that the federal government redirect 25 percent of nursing home dollars to in-home services. As of January 2007, that goal, which at first seemed impossible, has been exceeded. ADAPT triumphed through protests that led to the everyday business of policy meetings, writing waivers, advocating for budget riders and pushing for both state and federal laws. In 2006, with the passage of Money Follows the Person legislation - the brainchild of ADAPT’s national organizers, Bob Kafka and Stephanie Thomas - each state was encouraged to apply for a federal grant to transition people out of institutions. Largely because of the organizational, leadership and advocacy skills of Kafka and Thomas, MFP promises to change America’s long-term care policy forever. For this reason, New Mobility is pleased to name Bob Kafka and Stephanie Thomas our People of the Year."
http://newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=1239&action=browse
The Briefcase - Disability Rights Advocates’ Semi-Annual Newsletter Winter 2007 Issue - "In this issue of The Briefcase:
• What does sidewalk accessibility mean?
• DRA’s recent sidewalk cases
o CDR v. Caltrans
o Sacramento
o Vacaville
o Emeryville
o Investigations"
http://www.dralegal.org/briefcase/index.php#topDisability Committees to be Activated by April - Implementation of the United Arab Emeriates Disbaility Act - by Nina Muslim (Gulfnews.com). "Implementation of the UAE Disability Act has begun, with the setting up of special committees to activate provisions within the law, likely to be in place before April. The act, or Law No. 29/2006, guarantees the rights and protection in health, education, work and entrepreneurship and public services for physically challenged people. It was signed into effect by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month. Abdullah Al Suwaidi, undersecretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs, said he has sent the requirements to the different ministries and government responsible for each section. ‘Now we need the committees to take forward the provisions within the ministries and government agencies. The committees should be activated within the first quarter of the year,’ he said. Speaking to Gulf News after attending the Arab Decade of Disabled Persons 2004 to 2013 round-table discussion, organised by Takamul, he added that the committees would be in charge of setting up the ‘tools of law’ that would most effectively achieve the objectives contained within the act."
http://www.aapd.com/News/international/070111gn.htmDisability 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:
• Disability Treaty
• ADA
• Fair Housing
• ADA Mediation
• ADA Outreach"
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/newsltr0107.htmGeorgia Measure Would Bring Sterilization Apology - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "By 1935, American eugenics -- a powerful social movement based on the idea that society’s problems could be solved if those considered ‘superior’ were allowed to make more children while those considered ‘inferior’ were no longer allowed to have children -- was going strong. Lawmakers from several states had already adopted laws making it mandatory to operate on people with physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities, along with homosexuals and other ‘undesirables’, to make sure they did not have children. Eight years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in an 8-to-1 vote that Virginia’s eugenic sterilization law did not violate the constitutional rights of Carrie Buck, an 18-year-old inmate of a Virginia institution. . . In May 2002, following efforts from a handful of disability rights advocates, Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner apologized for his state’s role in eugenics which led to the sterilization of more than 7,000 Virginians. That was followed fairly rapidly by apologies from the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and California."
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/07/02/05/020507gaeugenic.htmNo Room At the Inn - (AAPD). "I believe in the principle of last-first: The last thing you think will be valuable is likely to be the first and most important. This Christmas, the lesson came to me in a particularly powerful story: the scandal of Misty Cargill. Driving home from Christmas shopping, I couldn’t believe what I heard on NPR. Misty Cargill is a woman with a mild intellectual disability living in a group home in Oklahoma. She and her boyfriend go to movies regularly and play in a weekly bowling league with friends. She works full time at a nearby factory. Her life is normal in almost every respect except one: Misty Cargill needs a kidney transplant. I’m no expert on the gut-wrenching ethics of transplant decisions, nor am I a doctor. But when I heard that Cargill was told that she was not a candidate for transplant because of her lack of mental competence, I was outraged. The University of Oklahoma Medical Center decision makers claimed that she was unable to give informed consent and turned her away. They did this despite her own physician saying that she is perfectly competent. The hospital then suggested she get a medical guardian, but state officials refused to play the role, because they rightfully determined that she was already fully competent. Most recently, the hospital has offered to conduct its own assessment of her competence, and that’s due next month."
http://www.aapd.com/News/health/070121wp.htmYou be the critic: Disability rights only piece missing in doctor’s book - "In his book, Cancer in the Body Politic: Diagnosis and Prescription for an America in Decline, Dr. Peter Mott of Pittsford employs a medical model to diagnose, from a social justice standpoint, what is wrong with America, and its relationship with the rest of the world. His main point is that if people had access to the sources of information that corporate and government leaders have, they would reject the foreign and domestic policies now in place. But when he talks about the significance of social movements, he fails to recognize the contributions of the disability rights movement, which came about at the same time as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War protests, the gay rights and women’s rights movements."
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/OPINION02/701180363/1039/OPINIONEDUCATION
Many nations yet to enact UN rules on education for people with disabilities - "Thirteen countries, including Oman, have failed to implement any of the 22 Standard Rules set by the UN on education for people with disabilities. The Global Disability Report, prepared by the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, revealed that 51 UN-member countries have not enacted the legislation, one of the major standard rules set by the UN, to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Forty five countries do not have accessible education. There is a wide gap between provision and access to education, the report said. Argentina, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, Rwanda, Slovakia and Zambia are the other countries which reported that they have taken no action on education for persons with disabilities."
http://tinyurl.com/yw68qvPOSTSECONDARY
Access to Academic Materials for Post-Secondary Students with Print Disabilities - by Dr. Liam Kilmurray and Neil Fabar (NEADS). "A proper post-secondary learning experience is largely dependent on the student’s ability to possess, and to gather information from, academic materials—textbooks, lecture notes, exam papers and the like. For students living with a print disability, this means being able to secure the same materials made available to classmates, in an alternate format suited to their own learning needs. But just three percent of the world’s literature is available in alternate formats. This creates roadblocks for print-disabled students. Time-consuming delays can occur in situations where the materials are not available in alternate format but must be produced by an educational institution, a service provider, or a provincial library. In some situations cost, technology, copyright legislation or societal ignorance stand in the way of such materials even being produced."
http://www.neads.ca/en/about/projects/atam/executive_summary.phpNEADS Conference Report - (NEADS). "The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) held its 20th anniversary conference ’Creating Our Future: On Campus and Beyond’ November 10th to 12th at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites. Over 150 delegates from across Canada took part in the proceedings. Workshops included: Job Search Strategies: Competing in the Employment Market, Looking Into the Future of Post-Secondary Education, Creating Leaders for the Future and New Developments in Disability Studies. The conference also featured an exhibit area with the following companies: BMO Financial Group, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, IBM Canada, Microcomputer Science Centre, Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians, NEADS and the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council – Accessibility Directorate of Ontario." (report available in html, pdf and Word formats)
http://www.neads.ca/conference2006/en/report.phpSECONDARY
Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students With Disabilities: Parents’ Materials - (AAPD). "The Parent Tool Kit compiles materials identified to augment the previously released CD, Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities, and offers a collection of resources on the same substantive areas addressed, including assessment, instructional practices, behavior and accommodations. These new documents were written specifically for parents and include information they need as they work with schools to ensure that their children are receiving a quality education. Materials included in the new Parent Tool Kit provide information that will help them become active and informed participants in IEP discussions and other decision-making meetings that support students with disabilities and their families. To encourage broad dissemination of these materials, we have launched a new website, which includes the materials in the Parent Tool Kit. The Web site will continue to be updated with additional materials as they become available."
http://www.aapd.com/News/education/070126doed.htm
EMPLOYMENT
The Best 4 Ways to Recruit Employees With Disabilities - by Yoji Cole (DiversityInc). "Kathy Martinez, who is blind, was shocked to be asked questions such as ‘How will you find the restroom?’ and ‘What should we do about employees who wonder if they’ll have to pick up your slack?’ at the end of a job interview. She felt she had proved she was well suited for the job, but those questions told her that the interviewer only saw her disability. Fortunately, she had the opportunity to choose another company. ‘Now I’m managing a $2.1-million company,’ says Martinez, executive director of the Oakland, Calif.-based World Institute on Disability (WID)."
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/1132.cfmLiving With a Disability in America and Trying to Earn a Living - (Voice of America). "There are job training and placement programs, and employers are required to make reasonable accommodations. Still, unemployment is common among the disabled. Second in a series." (radio transcript, streaming audio and mp3 download).
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2007-02-04-voa4.cfm
ETHICS
The Ashley X treatment – Join us to defend disabled children’s rights - "In a society that largely ignores disabled people, it has been hard to avoid the recent controversy about Ashley X, the American child who received radical medical and surgical treatment to prevent her from growing to adulthood. We understand that the parents of disabled children face tough decisions to do what’s best for their child. Often families do not receive the vital funding and support they need to ensure that they and their disabled child are not disadvantaged. But we are committed to equality for disabled people and believe that everyone, regardless of their impairment or needs, has full and equal human rights. Central to these human rights is that disabled children should not be prevented from growing into adults through medical intervention."
http://www.scope.org.uk/childrensrights/Hyde Park: MADD’s discrimination against the disabled - by Daniel Harvey (The McGill Daily). "Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada’s current woes go far beyond their fundraising issues; individuals should acknowledge what is being produced with their charitable donations, specifically pertaining to MADD’s representations of disability as a selling feature. MADD’s recent public service announcement, ‘Girlfriend,’ seeks to frighten youth into not drinking and driving by revealing the possibility of a prospectively horrible life of disablement, and all of its so-called negative repercussions."
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=5769GENERAL INTEREST
Blogs of entry - (Ragged Edge). "Was it less than two years ago when we looked around for disability blogs and could find only a handful? Today there are hundreds if not thousands of bloggers writing about disability. What’s a person to do when there are only so many hours in the day, and hours and hours of good blog surfing to be done? What one does is make a very short list. Herewith, my list: I have to admit that as time passes I find myself starting my blog surfing most days with a visit to two blogs: Disability Studies, Temple U and The Gimp Parade. Between the two, I learn a lot about what’s going on in the disability blogging world. . . And these two blogs seem to maintain nice, updated blogrolls, too -- so I can find out about new disability blogs there as well."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/blogs/edgecentric/media/002949.htmlEmbedded - by Barry Corbet (AARP). "It happened so fast it stunned me. At the age of 67, after one week in a hospital, I found myself in a nursing home. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. We think nursing homes are just for old people, but that’s not always true. Nursing homes also exist for people like me. Most people in nursing homes are old, but it isn’t age that gets them there. It’s disabilities, the kind that make us unable to get in and out of bed or get dressed or go to the bathroom on our own. In 1968 I was in a helicopter that crashed while I was filming a movie near Aspen, Colorado. My lower body was paralyzed, and I started using my arms and shoulders as others use their legs and hips. Now, my bones are eroded by abuse and arthritis, and muscles and tendons are long gone. For 35 years it’s been slow-motion demolition. Performing everyday tasks has become so painful, my functioning so balky, that I’m ready to try a partial shoulder replacement, the only remedy medicine offers. Recovery will certainly take many months. That certainty causes real fear. So equally does the uncertainty. No one can predict how long I’ll lose my physical independence. But I’ve done my homework and made my decision."
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/embedded.htmlUN Holocaust commemoration remembered victims with disabilities - (Ability magazine). "The plight of persons with disabilities during the Nazi era will be remembered at the second annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, was held at the United Nations on January 29th. The memorial event focused on the disabled community as one of the many victim groups of the Nazi regime. It highlighted the importance of education in ending discrimination against all minorities, particularly in light of the adoption by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006 of the landmark Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Thomas Schindlmayr, of the UN Secretariat of the Convention, spoke at the ceremony, and was webcast live at
www.un.org/webcast"http://www.abilitymagazine.com/news_holocaust.html
World Braille Day Resources - Material for the celebration of World Braille Day on January 4 (the birthday of Louis Braille). Features a link to the ‘World Braille Day Handbook, which "provides a menu of activities including a World Braille Day Media Kit and elementary school Teachers’ Resource Guide, to enable you to create a World Braille Day program that best suits your community and fits your resources." (source: Librarians’ Internet Index).
http://www.worldblindunion.org/home.cfm?id=36&nivel=3&orden=6‘Disablism’: A Closer Look - (Ragged Edge). "The first thing that can be said about ‘disablism’ is that most folks do not know it exists. The term is British. In the U.S. some disability rights activists have used the term ‘ablism’ (or ‘ableism’) for awhile -- both terms mean the same thing, and neither term has the acceptance of terms like ‘racism’ or ‘sexism’ which it is designed to parallel."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/closerlook/000947.html GOVERNMENT
CANADA
New funding to the Rick Hansen Foundation - "Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Canada’s New Government intends to provide $30 million in funding over five years for the Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network (SCI-TRN), established by the Rick Hansen Foundation. ’Canada’s New Government is proud to support the efforts of Rick Hansen – a true Canadian hero,’ said the Prime Minister. ‘This funding will further aid the Foundation’s efforts to make an immediate, positive difference for Canadians living with spinal cord injuries.’ Building upon previous federal and provincial investments, the SCI-TRN is working to create a national network to accelerate the translation of innovative research discoveries into practical benefits for Canadians with spinal cord injuries, generate savings in health and social services and accelerate scientific advances towards a cure."
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=1516
HEALTH
Diabetes: NY Time Complete Coverage - (NY Times). "A collection of articles and multimedia about diabetes published in The New York Times." (one-time registration required).
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/diabetes/index.html?8qa
Young people often serve as caregivers for parents with disabilities and chronic illnesses - (Healthcare News). "The Wall Street Journal on Friday examined how young people often serve as caregivers for parents with disabilities and chronic illnesses. According to the Journal, the number of young people caring for parents with debilitating conditions -- such as Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, cancer and heart disease -- is ‘large and expected to grow’ as advances in medicine and technology allow people with such conditions to live longer. A 2005 study funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging and conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the United Hospital Fund Foundation found that as many as 1.3 million to 1.4 million children in the U.S. ages eight to 18 provide care for a family member with a chronic illness or disability, and more than 400,000 child caregivers are younger than age 12. The study, based on a two-part survey that included a random sampling of 2,000 households and follow-up interviews with children and other family members, found that nearly 60% of child caregivers helped their family members bathe, dress or eat. About 25% of the children had no help with such tasks, and about half said caregiving took a significant amount of their time, the study found."
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=21287
LEGAL
Diabetics Confront a Tangle of Workplace Laws - by N. R. Kleinfield (NY Times). "John Steigauf spent more than a decade fiddling with the innards of those huge United Parcel Service trucks until an icy day two years ago when the company put him on leave from his mechanic’s job. A supervisor escorted him off the premises. His work was good. He hadn’t socked the boss or embezzled money. It had to do with what was inside him: diabetes. U.P.S. framed it as a safety issue: Mr. Steigauf’s blood sugar might suddenly plummet while he tested a truck, causing him to slam into someone. Mr. Steigauf considered it discrimination, a taint that diabetes can carry. ‘I was regarded as a damaged piece of meat,’ he said. ‘It was like, ’You’re one of those, and we can’t have one of those’." (one-time registration required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/26/health/26workplace.html?ex=1324789200&en=f58ef2356a4d7b95&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rssMEDIA
Blue Peter and deaf children celebrate ten years of The Listening Bus - (Youreable.com). "The 10th anniversary of a mobile technology exhibition for deaf children was marked on Monday 15 January. The innovative National Deaf Children’s Society’s (NDCS) Listening Bus was launched by Tony Blair when he was Leader of the Opposition. Its huge popularity led to it being replaced by a new version in 2004 with updated technology, a toy area for younger visitors and a quiet room where parents and professionals can talk to the NDCS staff in greater privacy. Since 1996 the bus has travelled approximately 160,000 miles with over 56,000 visitors. Richard Vaughan, NDCS Technology Manager said: ‘The NDCS has regular contact with technology suppliers to ensure that the latest equipment is always on board. The Listening Bus travels throughout the country delivering its unique service to the door step of thousands of children every year. We know that the right technology can transform the life of a deaf child and we will work to ensure that this service continues to reach yet more children and their families in the future’."
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/Jan07/listening%20busCall of Entries: Documentary and Disability 1st International Festival, Athens - "The Secretariat General of Communication - Secretariat General of Information, in collaboration with the Greek Film Centre and within the framework of the annual international conference ‘People with Disabilities and Mass Media’ is establishing an annual International Documentary Festival in Athens with documentary films focusing exclusively on issues of disability. The Festival’s aim is to promote the further awareness, acceptance and integration of disabled people and to encourage film-makers, disabled or not, to take an active interest in this area and address the widest possible public. The Documentary and Disability: 1st International Festival – Athens 2007 will take place in June 2007 in Athens, at the same time as the 2nd International Conference ‘People with Disabilities and Mass Media’."
http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/details.php?page=828The Farthest Earth from Thee - "Commissioned by VSA arts, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange performs an original work inspired by Shakespeare’s sonnets. The production features company and guest dancers with and without disabilities. Shakespeare revealed intense, intimate, and moving relationships through his sonnets. This collection of contemporary dances transforms his words into explosive movement and vibrant video images. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
http://www.vsarts.org/x1886.xmlMedia Access Awards - "For 24 years, entertainment industry professionals and disability advocates have teamed up to produce a unique project called the Media Access Awards. This gala Academy Awards-style event celebrates Hollywood and the contributions made toward enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. The Media Access Awards recognizes those in the entertainment industry who hire and/or accurately portray people with disabilities, utilizing the power of their medium to accelerate public awareness and understanding, thereby enhancing employment opportunities for all people with disabilities."
http://www.edd.ca.gov/mediaaccessawards/maaawards.aspPBS Documentary Explores 200 Years of Deaf Life in America - (AAPD). "‘Through Deaf Eyes,’ a two-hour PBS documentary exploring nearly 200 years of Deaf life in America, will air early next year. The film was inspired by the exhibition, ‘History Through Deaf Eyes,’ curated by Jack R. Gannon of Gallaudet University. The documentary will air nationally on PBS on Wednesday, March 21 at 9 p.m.ET (check local listings). The film presents the shared experiences of American history – family life, education, work, and community connections - from the perspective of deaf citizens. Interviews include community leaders, historians, and deaf Americans with diverse views on language use, technology and identity. Bringing a Deaf cinematic lens to the film are six artistic works by Deaf media artists and filmmakers: Wayne Betts, Renee Visco, Tracey Salaway, Kimby Caplan, Arthur Luhn, and Adrean Mangiardi. Poignant, sometimes humorous, these films draw on the media artists’ own lives and are woven throughout the documentary. But the core of the film remains the larger story of Deaf life in America -- a story of conflicts, prejudice and affirmation that reaches the heart of what it means to be human."
http://www.aapd.com/News/disability/070108pbs.htmVSA arts of New Jersey is Seeking Artists with Disabilities for Artist Registry - "VSA arts of NJ is seeking artists who would like to be added to its artist registry to receive news and announcements of opportunities including competitions and juried and non-juried exhibits. VSA/NJ welcomes artists with disabilities who have regional, national and international reputations to become part of the artist registry as well as emerging artists who have received little or no public exposure in media including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media as well as commercial arts and computer graphics. Through programs including the artist registry, VSA/NJ promotes opportunities for serious artists with disabilities and creates exposure and recognition for their art. Additionally, the organization dispels stereotypes and fosters a positive image of artists with disabilities."
http://www.vsarts.org/x1479.xml
MEDICAL
Focus On Independence Program Offers Vision Correction Surgery to Quadriplegic Patients - "Refractive Surgeons Robert K. Maloney and Daniel Durrie have teamed up to help launch a national program, called Focus on Independence, in which eye surgeons provide LASIK or vision correction surgery at no charge to quadriplegics. This program was recently highlighted in New Mobility, a publication for the physically disabled. According to Dr. Maloney, ‘For many people glasses are a real nuisance, but to quadriplegics glasses are an actual disability. With the Focus On Independence program, we aim to make day-to-day life a little bit easier for these patients.’ The Focus On Independence program is intended for patients over the age of 18, who have suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury and have lost the use of their hands and/or arms, making it difficult or impossible to put on or take off their glasses without assistance."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=1015Protein Shows Promise for Spinal Cord Injury Patients Regaining Partial - "A study of a protein applied to the spinal cord for totally paralyzed patients during surgery shows some promise for spinal cord injury patients with some regaining partial movement. A one-year clinical study of Cethrin(R), performed by neurosurgeons at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and other medical centers in the United States and Canada, indicated positive interim results for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). The study was designed to determine if the protein was safe and well tolerated by SCI patients. In the trial, 31 percent of patients recovered some sensory and/or motor function below the level of their injury, going from a complete injury to an incomplete injury. In one case, a patient who participated in the study at Jefferson was able to regain movement in his previously paralyzed legs."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=6&list=1014POLICY/RESEARCH
Forgotten Crimes - by Suzanne E. Evans (DRA). "A concise, scholarly and accessible history of the nightmarish plight suffered by more than one million people with disabilities during the Nazi era. Focusing on the Nazi goal of creating a ’racial utopia,’ Forgotten Crimes explores the development of the Nazi regime’s genocidal euthanasia programs. With research and writing supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of State, this book also highlights the implications of Nazi medical practices for contemporary controversies regarding eugenics, euthanasia, genetic engineering, medical experimentation and rationed health care." (181 pages)
http://www.dralegal.org/publications/forgotten_crimes.phpThe fACTivist: the Newsletter of the Edmonton Social Planning Council - "In this issue of the fACTivist, we revisit the social determinants of health (SDOH) and how they relate to social inclusion."
http://www.edmspc.com/Uploads/fACTivist_Winter%202007.pdfSeniors in Canada 2006 Report Card - "NACA’s 2006 Report Card follows up on an examination of the situation of seniors in Canada undertaken several years ago, that culminated with the publication of a first Report Card on seniors, in 2001. NACA’s Report Cards rate seniors’ well-being by measuring their health status; access to quality health care; financial situation; living conditions; and participation in Canadian society."
http://www.naca-ccnta.ca/rc2006/pdf/rc2006_e.pdfThe Living Research International Database - "The Living Research International database (LRI) is a general research tool, a gathering point for education-focused information that spans the fields of arts and disability. LRI is not an exhaustive compilation of information from the arts, disability and education fields. More comprehensive resources, such as databases dedicated to specific subject areas, may prove helpful beyond the information contained in LRI. As an evolving resource, it fosters the development of additional literature through an active submission and review process. LRI provides a dynamic forum for information exchange. LRI includes substantive summaries and complete citations of literature such as relevant dissertations, articles, reports, presentations, and books. Complete citations allow users to locate resources in libraries, or comprehensive, full-text databases (to which many libraries subscribe.) Free electronic copies of publications may be
available by searching professional organizations’ websites, and within specific journals. In addition, dissertations can be accessed via UMI Digital Dissertation service."
http://livingresearch.vsarts.org/admin/about_living.cfm?CFID=8175211&CFTOKEN=54346567Web cast: IL & Outcome Measurement: What You Need to Know - presented by Mike Hendrix. "If your Center for Independent Living (CIL) or Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) isn’t up to date on the essentials of Outcomes, Measurable Indicators, Logic Models, and what they mean for the future of Independent Living, then you can’t afford to miss this IL NET training! The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)’s Outcome Measures Taskforce is currently drafting a set of Measurable Indicators for Independent Living (IL) nationwide. These Indicators will eventually be presented to the Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA) and could be used as the foundation for future 704 Reports. Register now, so your organization has the tools necessary to participate in the creation of these indicators, vital to the livelihood of IL, and join NCIL in shaping the IL movement across the country!"
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/handouts/2007/3-12-ILNet/overview.htmlSELF HELP
IDEAs that Work Web Site - "The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. OSEP, directly and through its partners and grantees, develops a wide range of research-based products, publications, and resources to assist states, local district personnel, and families to improve results for students with disabilities. This web site is designed to provide easy access to information from research to practice initiatives funded by OSEP that address the provisions of IDEA and NCLB. This web site will include resources, links, and other important information that supports OSEP’s research to practice efforts. Please continue to check the web site for new information that will be posted as it becomes available."
http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/index.asp
TECHNOLOGY
CNIB Talking Books Go Completely DAISY! - "CNIB approaches the final phase in the transition from audio books on cassette tape to audio books on CD. On March 27, 2007, the CNIB Library will cease circulation of books on tape. This change has been occurring in phases over the last two years to ease the transition to digital services for CNIB Library clients and ensure that they had time to acquire DAISY talking book players. DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is the ‘next generation’ audio format, providing a higher quality, fully navigable talking book experience for readers. Also, since DAISY is a global standard, libraries providing DAISY talking book services for people living with vision loss can now explore resource sharing opportunities around the world."
http://www.cnib.ca/library/whats_new/2006/talking-books.htmThe Family Center on Technology and Disability - January 2007 newsletter – "Educational and assistive technologies are steadily converging, presenting hard-pressed school districts with a growing opportunity to fund technology purchases that benefit all children. For students, convergence represents the technological evolution that has become their birthright. For teachers whose school days were spent in inclusion classrooms with children with disabilities – and who took state-mandated pre-service instructional technology courses -- convergence is another dose of the familiar, squared. For school districts and voters, convergence means a more muted approach to the allocation of tax dollars to classroom technology purchases. For parents of children with disabilities, convergence may result in the enhanced availability of the technology their children need in school and at home. This issue examines technological convergence, its benefits and the barriers to it as the former world passes into history and a new world continues to take shape."
http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/displayNewsletter.php?newsletterID=10043Innovator Profile - NCTI’s Innovator Profiles offer a closer look at the work and worlds of assistive technology designers, manufacturers, and distributors - "Larry Goldberg was keenly interested in technological ‘toys’ since childhood. A self-described ‘geek from the AV (audio-visual) squad,’ he began working with media in high school and studied cinema and broadcast journalism in college while working at TV and radio stations. This, coupled with a fierce commitment to ‘public service and the democratic applications of technology,’ put him on a natural collision course with one of the most enlightened media organizations – WGBH in Boston. WGBH has been aggressively involved with media access since it produced the world’s first captioned television show, The French Chef With Julia Child, in 1972. It has maintained a central focus on access to entertainment, informational, and entertainment media for individuals who are deaf or blind, but is also interested in the applications of its work for many populations, including description and captioning in multi-tasking environments and for persons with learning disabilities."
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/partnership/profiles15.aspMicrosoft and AT Vendors Usher in Next Wave of Technology for People With Disabilities - (PRNewswire). "Microsoft Corp. and assistive technology (AT) vendors today unveiled an array of innovative products and services for people with disabilities at the Assistive Technology Industry Association’s eighth annual conference. The products will be available when Microsoft launches the Windows Vista(TM) operating system and the 2007 Microsoft(R) Office release next Tuesday. . . Historically, customers often had to wait six, 12 or even 18 months for assistive software and devices that supported a newly released operating system. Now, due to close collaboration with the AT industry as well as advances in the underlying technology in Windows Vista and the 2007 Office release, customers who experience a range of physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities will be able to purchase the very latest in assistive technology without delay. This includes products such as screen readers, screen magnification, one-handed keyboards and other specialized input devices."
http://www.tickertech.com/cgi/?a=news&ticker=a&w=&story=200701200701240001PR_NEWS_USPR_____SFW019NCTI Technology in the Works Supporting Information - 2007 Collaborative Short Term Competition - "To fund quick turnaround collaborative research that informs the development of assistive and learning technologies to improve educational results for all students, particularly those with disabilities. . . Up to five awards of $15,000 will be made in 2007. The collaboration team must secure matching funds of at least $15,000 from at least one of the parties involved in the study. The matching funds may be given to the project in the form of in-kind materials, equipment, or staff. We encourage creative arrangements. The NCTI award and matching funds may be used to support an expansion of an already existing research project. However, these funds cannot be used to purchase hardware or software. No more than five percent of the award may be budgeted to cover administrative and indirect costs."
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/rfp/2007.asp#contentPinky Tells the Real Story About Video Relay Services - (Deaf Today). "Anyone who has used a videophone knows all too well the frustrations of failed calls, poor lighting, lousy signing and videophone etiquette – and these frustrations have evolved into a must-see performance, ‘Pinky Tells the Real Story About Video Relay Services.’ Pinky Aiello, an entertainer from Portland, has traveled the nation presenting her show that pokes fun at what happens during a videophone call, especially when making relay calls."
http://www.deaftoday.com/v3/archives/2007/01/pinky_tells_the.htmlThe RoboBraille project - "The RoboBraille service is an email-based translation service capable of translating documents to and from contracted Braille and to synthetic speech. Users submit documents (e.g., text files, Word documents, HTML pages) as email attachments. The translated results are returned to the user via email, typically within a matter of minutes. The service is available free of charge to all non-commercial users."
http://www1.robobraille.org/websites/acj/robobraille.nsf/all.lookup/B3BA544AA14D0584C125715A00700029?OpenDocument
CONFERENCES
(New Conferences)
WEB EVENT
International CES Consumer Electronics Show Web Event - What’s Happening With Accessibility? - March 2, 2007 | Web Event. "Join NCTI for a Web Event to explore the implications of design and development trends in consumer electronics for the field of assistive and learning technologies. The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a window into emerging industry trends. Join NCTI’s Web Event on CES and explore the implications for the field of assistive and learning technologies."
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/partnership/CES.aspCANADIAN
Autism Biennial Congress 2007: Autism Through the Lifespan - March 1-4, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present an evolving set of personal, familial, societal, and therapeutic issues as individuals grow up, reach maturity, and age. Sponsored by Autism Today, this Congress features 21 autism experts addressing ASD across the lifespan."
www.autismvancouver2007.comTaking the Wheel: Transition Planning from Adolescence to Adulthood for Individuals with Disabilities - May 3-4, 2007 | Edmonton, Alberta. "The process of transition to adulthood is both important and challenging for adolescents/young adults and their families. This becomes even more significant when a disability is present. Join us for an exciting and information-packed conference as keynote speakers Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift show us how young adults can prepare to take the wheel and how caregivers can prepare to take the back seat."
http://www.capitalhealth.ca/NR/rdonlyres/e4r72dxjgxy2fketgkn4vsbungijefrvyrgqpgdwkpswc27gpczuhv6n3apup7ptrae5drbrn3fbzhyz7bxlhifoxye/Taking_the_Wheel_Flyer_Transition.pdf
Vocational Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury - May 24-26, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "This second biennial international gathering focuses specifically on vocational outcomes in traumatic brain injury. Presentations will cover the range of impairment from mild to severe by a group of world renowned speakers."
http://www.tbicvancouver.com/ 2007 RehabNet Conference - June 14-15, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "In Canada, there has been an increased recognition of the importance of accountability in respect to quality of patient care and patient safety in the healthcare system. However, most of the attention has been on developing methods and standards for acute care facilities and very little has been published about patient safety initiatives in rehabilitation settings. Necessary risk-taking is another important consideration as one re-integrates into their environment with a new disability. This is particularly evident for children and adolescents with physical impairments as they grow into independent adults. The 2007 RehabNet Conference is a two-day event recognizing the unique challenges around patient safety and the ethical dimensions of balancing safety measures and necessary risk-taking in rehabilitation. In relation to this year’s theme ‘Achieving Patient Safety, Respecting Patients’ Choices’, the conference will provide an opportunity for clinicians, administrators, academics and policy makers to share experiences, research and best practices on the current trends and future directions of rehabilitation."
http://www.torontorehab.com/education/rehabnet/Conference.htmFestival of International Conferences on Disability, Aging and Technology - June 16-19, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together five important and different conferences all focused on enhancing the lives of seniors, persons with disabilities and their family caregivers.
• Growing Older with a Disability
• The 2nd International Conference on Technology and Aging (ICTA)
• Advances in Neurorehabilitation
• Caregivers: Essential Partners in Care
• Improving Medical Device Usability (CMBES)"
http://www.ficdat.ca/
TRANSED 2007 - 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons - June 18-21, 2007 | Montreal, Quebec. "Canada is proud to host the 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED), to be held June 18-21, 2007, at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal under the theme ‘Benchmarking, Evaluation and Vision for the Future’. The conference will review advances in research, evoke international break throughs and explore perspectives for technological innovations in order to respond to the mobility challenges of an aging population and of persons with disabilities, as part of an inclusive society."
http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/Transed2007/home.htmThe 12th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics - Moving Beyond Disability - July 29-August 3, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Welcome to the web page for the ISPO 2007 World Congress. The ISPO World Congress is the premiere global event for multidisciplinary prosthetic and orthotic care. The ISPO Canada National Society is pleased to welcome you to Vancouver to enjoy the scientific sessions, workshops and symposia, expansive trade exhibits, and active social programs."
http://www.ispo.ca/congress/U.S.
The 2007 AHEAD Management Institutes - February 22-24, 2007 | New Orleans, Louisiana. "The 2007 AHEAD Management Institutes have been developed to offer important professional development opportunities for disability service professionals. All three institutes will be offered in a workshop style format with a friendly balance of lectures, discussions, and small group interaction. In addition to invaluable information and resources, the institutes will offer excellent networking opportunities for participants. The Institutes will be held in the beautiful Sheraton Hotel New Orleans on Canal Street in the heart of the historic city."
• Institute One - The AHEAD Institute for New and Newer Disability Services Managers
• Institute Two - Managing Assistive Technology from A to Z
• Institute Three - Disability Services in the Community College - Key Issues and Best Practices
http://www.ahead.org/training/reg_training/Spring_2007_ProfDev.htm2007 Disability Policy Seminar - March 4-6, 2007 | Washington, D.C. "The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy, AAMR, The Association of University Centers on Disability and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities are joining together again to host to 2007 Disability Policy Seminar. Preserving and strengthening the federal policies and programs important to people with disabilities is the top priority of this seminar. The entire disability community is invited to join in this public policy discussion/meeting focused on issues affecting people with disabilities and their families. On the final day, participants will travel to Capitol Hill to deliver a unified message to Congress about retention of benefits and services. A preliminary seminar agenda and registration information will be available in late fall/early winter from any of the organizations listed above."
http://www.aamr.org/Events/gas.html 23rd International Seating Symposium (ISS) Moving into the Age of Accountability - March 8-10, 2007 | Orlando, Florida. "The 23rd International Seating Symposium (ISS), Moving into the Age of Accountability, will be held March 8-10, in Orlando, Fla. One of the highlights of the event will be this year’s keynote speaker, Marilyn Hamilton, vice president of global strategic planning, Sunrise Medical Laboratories, and founder of Quickie Designs. The focus of this year’s symposium is accountability--a timely theme as funding sources are becoming more limited, and as certification is becoming a requirement for most. The program will include papers, instructional courses, and panel discussions address both clinical issues and service delivery challenges in difficult times of reimbursement. Additional sessions will cover ethics, advanced case studies, service delivery models, and equipment provision to veterans and recently injured soldiers. The closing discussion will be Moving Forward on Continuous Quality Improvement of Assistive Technology Services."
http://www.iss.pitt.edu/ISS_2007.htmlPac Rim 2007 - March 12-13, 2007 | Honolulu, Hawaii. "An international conference for persons with disabilities, families, researchers, service providers, policymakers and specialists. Keynote speakers for this year’s gathering are Greg Smith, syndicated radio host of On a Roll and The Strength Coach; Claudia Osborn, physician, author, and brain injury survivor; Kim and Fran Peek (Kim the real ‘Rainman’), who will address the subject of trust and respect between individuals."
www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/15th Annual Best Practices in Brain Injury Conference - March 15-16, 2007 | Des Moines, Iowa. "This conference will feature, Dr. Ronald Savage, Pediatric BI specialist; the lessons of 25 years of cognitive therapy from Dr. Rick Parente; the new Iowa Brain Injury Services Program, and much more."
http://www.biausa.org/Iowa/docs/bestpracbro6.doc11th Annual Nonverbal Learning Disorders Symposium - March 16-17, 2007 | San Jose, California. "Symposium 2007: Moving Toward a Brighter Tomorrow will focus on an array of interventions that are both proactive and practical. Keynote for the conference is Joseph Palombo, author of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: A Clinical Perspective, who will offer a new look at disorders of verbal language and impairments in nonverbal communication."
www.NLDA.org California State University, Northridge Center on Disabilities’ 22nd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference - March 19-24, 2007 | Los Angeles, California. "The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers for the 22nd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference is now open and available on-line. For information and guidelines on Call for Papers, please go here: Call for Papers Information and Guidelines for above info. . . This is a comprehensive, international conference, where all technologies across all ages; disabilities; levels of education and training; employment; and independent living are addressed. It is the largest conference of its kind!"
http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm
Anxiety Disorders Association of America 27th Annual Conference - March 29-April 1, 2007 | St. Louis, Missouri. "The keynote speaker for this conference will be Kay Jamison, PhD, Johns Hopkins University. Explore the associated anxiety disorders: social phobia, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, intense fears and terrors."
www.adaa.org/conference&events/AnnualConference.asp.United Cerebral Palsy 2007 Annual Conference: No Limits, Just Life - April 12-14, 2007 | Orlando, Florida. "This year’s conference will unveil the Big Sky Project, and examine innovations in service delivery models, full integration for people with disabilities, future leadership practices, funding opportunities, and the forces that are likely to have major impacts on individuals with disabilities over the next decade."
www.ucp.org/ucp_general.cfm/1/12438Family Voices 2007 National Conference - May 23-26, 2007 | Washington, D.C. "Family Voices invites you to join veteran and emerging family/youth leaders from around the country focusing on children and youth with special health care needs. Gain new information about critical topics such as: Medicaid policy; health information technology; family-centered care; cultural competence to improve care and systems; quality assurance; Bright Futures/wellness; transition; evidence-based outcomes, and more."
www.familyvoices.org Postsecondary Disability Training Institute - June 12-16, 2007 | Saratoga Springs, New York. "Sponsored by the University of Connecticut Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability. This Training Institute will 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. Attendees will have opportunities to share information and to network with each other at various activities throughout the week."
www.cped.uconn.edu/07pti.htm RESNA 2007 - June 15-19, 2007 | Phoenix, Arizona. "RESNA 2007 will feature assistive technology’s leading researchers, renowned clinicians and policy experts creating a conference program with unmatched levels of knowledge and expertise. RESNA presenters and attendees will experience a surprisingly intimate conference environment where:
• information is contemporary and innovative
• uncommon questions find in-depth answers
• sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences is easy, and
• new connections last a lifetime.
RESNA 2007 will offer an exciting Exhibit Hall featuring product demonstrations and training sessions, two days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full-days of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions and distinguished speakers."
http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.phpAmerican Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) 20th Biennial Convention - June 28-July 2, 2007 | St. Augustine, Florida. "The ASDC biennial conference gives parents the opportunity to attend educational workshops, discover resources, and to network. ASDC is a national nonprofit organization to empower parents of deaf and hard of hearing children through the highest quality services and programs."
www.deafchildren.org/convention.aspxAHEAD conference 2007 - July 17-21, 2007 | Charlotte, North Carolina. "The annual international AHEAD conference brings together professionals in the fields of higher education and disability for a week of information-sharing, networking and theoretical and practical training."
http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2007_conf/AHEAD_2007_Conference.htmNational Federation of the Blind Youth Slam - A 2007 STEM Leadership Academy - July 30-August 4, 2007 | Baltimore, Maryland. "The largest gathering of blind youth ever. This four-day academy will engage and inspire the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for blind people to enter. While staying at Johns Hopkins University, youth will be mentored by blind role models during fun, challenging, and inspiring activities meant to stretch the imagination, build confidence, and increase science literacy. Activities will take place with support from partners such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, and other institutions and corporations working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The NFB Youth Slam will culminate in an inspiring rally at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and a celebration at the center of innovation in the field of blindness—the NFB Jernigan Institute."
http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Youth_Slam.asp?SnID=1479761418Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators (PEC) - August 3-5, 2007 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "SHOUT, a 501( c )3 nonprofit corporation, has as its mission advocacy for employment of people who rely on augmentative communication. As part of its mission, SHOUT has hosted eight, three-day Pittsburgh Employment Conferences for Augmented Communicators (PEC@) in the past 10 years. With hundreds of attendees
drawn from four continents, PEC@ is the only conference in the world focused on employment outcomes for people who use augmentative communication."
http://www.sciconics.com/shout/index.html
2007 Southwest Conference - October 3-5, 2007 | Albuquerque, New Mexico. "The 2007 Southwest Conference on Disability will be held October 3-5, 2007 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Conference organizers are excited to announce that the 2007 conference will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Association on State Units on Aging. The call for papers will open December 1, 2006. Check back then for more details!"
http://cdd.unm.edu/swconf/OVERSEAS
The First International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Accessibility - April 12-14, 2007 | Hammamet, Tunisia. "The World Health Organization estimates that between 750 million and 1 billion of the world’s 6 billion people have a speech, vision, mobility, hearing or cognitive impairment. Given the broad implications that accessibility has on society in general, and the global importance of IT and accessibility, a common understanding and knowledge is a necessity. Without global standards and a harmonized approach to procuring information technology, different technical standards can be adopted. By organizing this conference in Tunisia, the host of the World Summit of the Information Society 2005, the research Unit UTIC, very active in this field, and the cooperating partners would like to draw the attention of the different implied communities on the importance of Accessibility."
http://www.esstt.rnu.tn/utic/tica2007/call_paper.htm International Convention for Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2007) - April 23-26, 2007 | Singapore. "Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of scientific and engineering principles to address the needs of persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation engineering professionals play a vital role in the removal of barriers to employability and independent living opportunities among this population. Through the use of assistive technology, the employability, education, communication, daily functioning, and recreational activities of persons with disabilities are all enhanced."
http://www.i-create2007.org/14th Deafblind International (Dbl) World Conference - September 25-30, 2007 | Perth, Western Australia. "The 14th Deafblind International World Conference will be held in Perth at the Burswood Entertainment Complex, from Tuesday 25th to Sunday 30th September 2007 inclusive. Exciting international and national speakers will form part of the Conference program based around the Conference theme. An estimated 1000 delegates will attend the Conference from the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe and from Asia and the countries of the Pacific. Registrants will be
• International, national and local health and disability professionals and service providers;
• World recognised experts in deafblindness;
• Representatives from the international blind and deafblind communities."
http://www.dbiconference2007.asn.au/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