Disability Resource Digest
Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2006
The Disability Resource Digest (DRD) is a special project of SMD Alliance. SMD Alliance is based in Manitoba, Canada and provides strategic vision and policy direction to four SMD corporations: SMD Clearinghouse; SMD Foundation; SMD Ventures; and SMD Services.
The vision shared among the corporations is of a "community that supports the independence, participation, and empowerment of persons of all abilities." Each SMD corporation pursues a complementary mandate in working toward this vision.
The DRD is prepared primarily as an informational resource for consumers, professionals and publics interested in remaining current in disability related issues. An archive of past editions of the DRD is maintained on SMD's web site (http://www.smd.mb.ca).
Published monthly (with a single summer edition for July and August), the DRD presents summaries of, and URL addresses for, notable disability-related content on the world-wide web (WWW). The DRD focuses on recently posted content but also includes coverage of other web pages of interest. The URL addresses cited in the DRD are current at the time of publication. But as those posting content on the web often revise URL addresses, the addresses in the DRD may not remain current.
The DRD is prepared for SMD Alliance by The Project Group (TPG) Consulting Cooperative Ltd., a Winnipeg-based consulting firm. Neither SMD nor TPG are responsible for the accuracy or reliability of the content cited in the DRD.
Readers interested in learning more about SMD Alliance are invited to visit: http://www.smd.mb.ca or to contact the agency by e-mail at info@smd.ca. Readers are also invited to send comments and suggestions regarding the DRD to this same e-mail address.
Accessibility
Behind the Scenes of a Smart Home - "The ABILITY House program works with ABILITY Magazine and Habitat for Humanity to construct accessible homes for low-income families with disabilities, while engaging people with disabilities in the community as volunteers to help build the homes. Every ABILITY House employs universal design elements and meets the criteria of visitability (i.e., people with disabilities who don't live in the home can still visit it with ease). The basic features include a minimum of one no-step entrance, hallways at least 36" wide, and one bathroom on the first floor with a 32" doorway. In addition, each ABILITY House is built to accommodate the specific needs of the homeowner. The first ABILITY House for a person who has quadriplegia, Daniels' home was constructed in collaboration with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham and sponsored by BellSouth and ABILITY Magazine." Other online articles in this month's issue of Ability Magazine are:
Loni Anderson — Smart, Sexy and Speaking Out
Front of the Class — Book Excerpt
Paralympic Military — Sport as Rehabilitation
Senator Harkin — Expand Stem Cell Research: Letter to ABILITY readers
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/ABILITY_House_Smart.html
Dying In the Streets: Wheelchair Users Face Tragic Choices Nationwide - by Mary Johnson (Ragged Edge). "Wheelchair users nationwide risk their lives daily by being forced into the street because their communities, despite the Americans with Disabilities Act, have not bothered to install curb cuts or maintain sidewalks. In St. Louis, Bansen was unable to travel on the sidewalk near her home, so she took to the street. 'Much of the sidewalk along Bansen's three-block route is either broken or choked with weeds,' wrote Jeremy Kohler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 'Curb ramps are absent in key places, blocking access to the few passable stretches.' (Read Path of resistance from the Nov. 10, 2005 St. Louis Post-Dispatch). But that story didn't come for a full week after Bansen's death. Early reports said police did not know why she had been driving in the street on St. Louis's busy Delmar Boulevard."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/closerlook/000619.html
Safe and sound landing for disability rights - "506 votes in favour, 6 against and 1 abstention. The results of today's voting will mean a radical change in the lives of millions disabled air passengers', who have been facing discrimination and humiliation for countless years. 'Today's voting is not only a major victory for disabled people in Europe. It proves that the political determination to reinforce disability rights exists. The European Parliament has unanimously showed its commitment to end discrimination and their belief that this can only be achieved through more and better legislation', said Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum. The European Disability Forum, the representative organisation of disabled people in Europe, has been actively working on the new Regulation since 2000 and celebrates today this major achievement. In particular, EDF expressed its satisfaction on the process that resulted in the adoption of the proposal, directly applicable to airports and air careers:"
http://www.edf-feph.org/en/news/press.htm
SFO to improve services for deaf - "In a deal that could have nationwide implications, San Francisco International Airport has agreed to improve services for deaf travelers to settle a class-action lawsuit. The airport will increase the number of visual message boards and make other improvements to settle the suit, filed in 2002 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco by a San Leandro man and two nonprofit organizations that advocate for people with disabilities. Both sides released a joint statement about the settlement Wednesday. 'This will absolutely be a model in providing access,' said Kevin Knestrick, a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs, Oakland-based Disability Rights Advocates. People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing have found it difficult to navigate airports, especially in the post-9/11 era of heightened security, he said. They are often forced to rely on a piecemeal system of writing notes and gleaning what little information they can from arrival-and-departure monitors to get around. In April 2002, SFO became the first airport to face a lawsuit over such equal-access issues."
http://www.4hearingloss.com/archives/2005/12/sfo_to_improve.html
The Universally Designed Classroom: Accessible Curriculum and Digital Technologies - Edited by David H. Rose, Anne Meyer, and Chuck Hitchcock. "The Universally Designed Classroom addresses crucial questions about how to create full access to the general education curriculum for children with disabilities. Based on years of research and innovation at CAST (The Center for Applied Special Technology), the book provides a helpful overview of the digital solutions that are at the forefront of efforts to create universal access. It also looks closely at the major policy and practice issues connected to this initiative."
http://gseweb.harvard.edu/hepg/universallydesigned.html
Advocacy
Disability advocates: We're broke - by Carol Marbin Miller (MiamiHerald.com). "An advocacy group for the disabled that has angered state officials said it is running out of money and is `basically out of business.' Saying it's facing 'a drastic financial crisis' and deepening lack of support from the governor's office and its own director, the state's largest watchdog group for disabled Floridians said it has all but ceased its advocacy efforts for vulnerable children and adults. In a plaintive Dec. 12 letter to Gov. Jeb Bush, the chairwoman of the Statewide Advocacy Council said her agency lacks adequate staff, is running out of money and has been stonewalled in attempts to secure the records of agency clients."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/13465355.htm
Citycide: 'Birdman' Of Niagara Falls Battles Bureaucracy Over State Park Access - by David Staba (Paralinks). "You probably don't know the name Gary Mock, but if you've spent any time around Niagara Falls, particularly the downtown area, over the past decade, you definitely know Gary Mock. With a tightly cropped beard and graying hair pulled back into a short ponytail, Mock looks like the musician he was until a devastating accident left him disabled and cut short his drumming days. Showing a visitor around his home, his deep voice softens when he talks to or about his constant companion and claim to local fame, a double yellow crown Amazon macaw. The bird, mostly green with flashes of yellow, sits on a perch above Mock's TV. Unless Mock speaks to him or you watch him closely for a while, you might mistake Sundance for an ornate decoration."
http://www.paralinks.net/garymockbirdman.html
Disability Rights Online News - "Disability Rights Online News is a monthly update about the Civil Rights Divisions 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.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/newsltr1005.htm
Put disability issues on election agenda - by Helen Henderson (Toronto Star). "It's less than a month to the federal election. Do you know where your candidates are? Where do they stand on helping people with disabilities get the education, jobs and services they should be entitled to? What are they doing to make sure that this election is barrier-free, including access to campaign literature, websites, public meetings and polling stations? When will they start putting plans into action?"
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1135205411318&call_pageid=991479973472&col=991929131147
Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development - (Disability World). "The aim of the International Day of Disabled Persons, established by the UN General Assembly, is to increase awareness and promote an understanding of disability issues, and to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and equality of opportunity of children, youth and adults with disabilities in society. This year's theme "Rights of persons with disabilities: action in development" spotlights the need to address disability issues and to ensure the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in economic and social development initiatives, particularly in developing countries."
http://www.disabilityworld.org/12-01_06/ilostmt.shtml
Senate Responds to CFIDS Advocates! - "Thanks to the work of CFIDS advocates, including those who participated in the Association's May 12 Lobby Day, Senate action this week has supported our requests for more research and education about chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS)."
http://www.cfids.org/advocacy/2005/gac_11172005.asp
The Time to Rise Will Come Again - by Frank Bowe (Ragged Edge). "A while back, I wrote a piece here on Ragged Edge Online about how the movement soon will get a big jolt from the aging of the 76-million strong Baby Boom generation. Reader response has been gratifying. Along with the customary 'thanks for writing this' notes came a small flood of e-mails with questions. Most were variations on a theme. 'Why aren't our people out in the streets protesting?' asked one, urging civil unrest. 'Where are the next-generation leaders?' inquired another, noting that many of the 'names' of the disability rights movement were gradually leaving the stage, via retirement or death. 'How do we recapture the magic of the 1977 sit ins?' queried a third, recalling the 10-city protest that I led to help make section 504 effective."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/closerlook/000631.html
UN Day For The Disabled December 3rd: Empty Rhetorics 12 Years Down Memory Lane - by Phitalis Were Masakhwe (Independent Living). "Twelve years ago the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 3rd of December as International Day for people with Disabilities. This was a build up to earlier initiatives by the UN to get the international community to recognize and include people with disability in all spheres of life. Such initiatives included, but not limited to, the International Year of Disabled, the UN Decade of Disabled People, which culminated into the World Program of Action for disabled people (1992) and the UN Standard rules on equalization of opportunities for people with disabilities (1993). So what is the whole hullabaloo about the UN day for disabled people? This day was set aside, I hope, with the genuine intention to mobilize and galvanize the world to do a serious soul searching about the needs, aspiration and concerns of the over 600m people with disabilities, worldwide. It was also supposed to create awareness about their issues with a view to spontaneously fashion concrete community, national and international programs to give them a new lease of life."
http://www.independentliving.org/docs7/masakhwe20051129.html
Employment
Disability matters in the workforce - by Hélèna Katz (CBC news). "Some 20 years later, it still ranks as one of the dumbest comments I've ever had to deal with. I was about 18 years old and in search of a part-time job to pay my tuition. A friend of my sister's suggested that I apply for a job as a typist at the Montreal hospital where she worked, so off I went. Her boss figured out that I had a visual impairment and asked about it. I explained that I'm nearsighted but able to work just fine with a combination of contact lenses and glasses. I then assured him that I could do the job for which I was applying."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_disabilitymatters/katz_20051201.html
The Social Security Administration's Efforts to Promote Employment for People with Disabilities - New Solutions for Old Problems - "On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), I am pleased to submit this report, entitled The Social Security Administration's Efforts to Promote Employment for People with Disabilities: New Solutions for Old Problems. Under its congressional mandate, NCD is charged with the responsibility to gather information on the development and implementation of federal laws, programs, and initiatives that affect people with disabilities. Our nation's current disability benefit programs are based on a policy principle that assumes that the presence of a significant disability and lack of substantial earnings equate with a complete inability to work. Americans with disabilities remain underemployed, despite the fact that many are willing and able to work. Although the Social Security Administration (SSA) has instituted a number of incentives to reduce the numerous obstacles to employment faced by its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries, such efforts have had little impact because few beneficiaries are aware of these incentives and how they affect benefits and access to health care."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/ssa-promoteemployment.htm#exec
General Interest
Health Journal: Parents debate how to reveal their baby's disability - by Amy Dockser-Marcus (The Wall Street Journal). "In November 2004, Chris Messina and Julie Lim Messina had their first child, a boy they named Evan Michael En-Wen Messina. Shortly after he was born, they learned that Evan has Down syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of intellectual and physical disabilities. For months afterward, they struggled with how to announce his birth. Evan spent two weeks in neonatal intensive care because he had trouble breathing, but by mid-December, he was able to come home. At the Down syndrome clinic where they took him for a check-up, the doctor was concerned that they hadn't yet told most of their family and friends. He noted that some new parents send out birth announcements stating that their child has Down syndrome."
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05361/628537.stm
NASA tries to figure out real-life Rain Man's brain - by Robin McKie (The Observer). "It took Kim Peek just over an hour to read Tom Clancy's The Hunt for Red October. Four months later, when asked to give the name of the book's Russian radio operator, Peek quoted the entire relevant passage. It was a prodigious feat. Yet for Peek - the real-life 'savant' on whom Dustin Hoffman's character in the film Rain Man is based - such recall only gives a glimpse of his powers. He knows 9,000 books off by heart; he can direct people around US cities from maps he has memorised years ago; and he has total recall of the dates of all major world events. Now studies of Peek's abilities are being used by scientists to shed intriguing light on the human mind, and to open the way for men and women to exploit far more of their intellectual potential, as the latest issue of Scientific American reveals."
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,1664653,00.html
Sex, signing and socialism - "Few people have done more to highlight issues facing deaf people than Clive Mason, the long-standing presenter of BBC's See Hear. Clive was the first to use British Sign Language (BSL) on the show, presenting subjects of huge importance for viewers, such as how disabled people were affected during the Holocaust. Twenty years on and he continues to inspire and impress. At the recent Remark! Awards for deaf media he was given a lifetime achievement award, the judges heralding him as a 'deaf icon', not only for introducing BSL into people's living rooms, but also for inspiring many deaf people to pursue careers in the media."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/people/profiles/prof_jan_2006.htm
Government
Canada
Additional Housing For People With Disabilities Officially Opened In Downtown Winnipeg - "New housing units that are more accessible to people with disabilities were officially opened today by Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick, minister responsible for persons with disabilities. The opening of the apartment units, developed with over $314,000 in provincial funding, marks the completion of another phase of a successful project. It included substantial renovations to create seven newly-designed, accessible apartments at 340 Princess St., Winnipeg."
http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2005/09/2005-09-26-02.html
Advancing Citizenship: Moving Forward A National Disability Agenda - "In a positive move forward, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Social Services, at their November 2004 meeting, committed to exploring long-term options for investing in a disability strategy. The continued exclusion and incidence of poverty of persons with disabilities is intolerable. Together, the federal, provincial and territorial governments can do something about this and make true and lasting change in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. . . . To encourage Ministers of Social Services to follow through on this commitment, CCD and CACL issued the following Open Letter to all Ministers of Social Services. The letter gained broad support beyond the disability community. Civil society stands in solidarity, declaring that NOW is the time for action."
http://www.ccdonline.ca/publications/Advancing%20Citizenship%20July%202005.pdf
Advancing the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 2005 - (ODI). "Advancing the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 2005 reports on broad areas of inclusion identified in previous disability reports. It provides examples of actions taken by the Government of Canada to promote inclusion of seniors with disabilities."
http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/hip/odi/documents/advancingInclusion05/summary.shtml
United States
Background on the Medicaid Budget "Reconciliation" Legislation - (NAMI). "This week House and Senate negotiators and the Bush Administration are attempting to reach final agreement on legislation to reform the Medicaid program and achieve as much as $11 billion in savings over the next 5 years. Congressional leaders and the Bush Administration hope to reach agreement on the legislation – known as budget "reconciliation" before final adjournment for the year. The reconciliation package touches not only Medicaid, but also a broad range of domestic programs including farm subsidies, student loans, food stamps and child support enforcement to achieve an overall savings target approaching $50 billion."
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Issues_Spotlights&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=28996
Year End Congressional Wrap-up - "Congress has finally gone home for the last time this year. The last few weeks were a time of 'ups and downs,' 'backs and forths,' and all night sessions with early morning votes. . . . On Wednesday, Dec. 21, the Senate approved the overall bill by a vote of 51-50 with Vice President Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. Due to last minute provisions, the bill must go back to the House now for final approval. Because House Democrats insisted on a recorded vote on the last day in session, the bill must now await the new year for any further action. The House had approved the 774-page budget reconciliation bill on a vote of 212-206 in the very early hours on Monday, Dec. 19."
http://www.aapd.com/News/budgetrec/yearend2005.htm
Budget Reconciliation is the Darkest Day, Says National Disability Advocates - (U.S. Newswire). "Sue Swenson, executive director of The Arc of the United States and Stephen Bennett, president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy, two of the nation's leading non-profit organizations advocating for people with disabilities, issued the following statement in response to the Congress' passage of the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Reconciliation bill ("the Budget Reduction Act"): 'Nationwide, people with disabilities should be saddened to know that their United States Congress considers their health and well-being a less than worthy investment. The Arc and UCP can truthfully say this could be the darkest day for people with disabilities and the future looks even bleaker'."
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=58512
Medicaid and Budget Reconciliation: Implications of the House and Senate Bills - "This issue brief provides an overview of the federal budget context and then highlights key Medicaid savings proposals in the House and Senate bills and discusses the implications of the proposed changes."
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7410-02.cfm
Spellings Hails 30th Anniversary of I.D.E.A. Special Education Law - "U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings released the following statement on today's 30th anniversary of former President Gerald Ford signing on Nov. 29, 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act."
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/11/11292005.html
U.S. Congressional Briefing Held November 10 on Emergency Management and People with Disabilities - (Disability World). "On November 10, 2005, the National Council on Disability, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Organization on Disability, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and the Paralyzed Veterans of America hosted a Congressional Briefing on Emergency Management and People with Disabilities: Before, During and After. The briefing featured in-depth experiences of national disability groups during and following the Katrina hurricane, centered on the serious lack of planning for and inclusion of disabled persons in rescue, relief, rehousing and allied responses on the part of both governmental and non-governmental agencies. Responses of a few emergency management agencies in the governmental and private sector who attended the session are included."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/transcript_emergencymgt.htm (transcript of Congressional Briefing)
http://www.disabilityworld.org/12-01_06/emergencymgmt.shtml
U.S. State Department Forms Disability Advisory Committee - (Disability World). "On August 15, the members of the U.S. State Department's Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities held their first meeting in Washington, DC. The Committee serves in an advisory capacity with respect to the consideration of the interests of people with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy and assistance. Prior to the meeting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed the eight Committee members. By the close of the meeting, members established a Committee agenda including the following priorities: review the State Department's 504 plan; provide technical assistance on the proposed United Nation's convention on the human rights of people with disabilities; and, include people with disabilities in all aspects of democracy-building, human rights and development programs."
http://www.disabilityworld.org/12-01_06/advisorycommittee.shtml
Health
Diabetes association calls for national drug plan - (Canadian Press). "Out-of-pocket expenses for diabetics vary widely across Canada, depending on where they live and whether they have private health-care insurance, the Canadian Diabetes Association said in a report Wednesday. In releasing its Diabetes Report 2005, the organization called for a catastrophic drug plan to be established to help with the cost of medication, supplies and medical devices. 'A national plan means that Canadians with diabetes - regardless of where they live - can afford the life-sustaining therapies they need to live healthier lives,' Dr. Karen Philp, national director of public policy and government relations for the association, said in a statement."
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051207/diabetes_051207/20051207?hub=Health
Health Canada prohibits sale of Bextra in Canada - "Following a review of safety information, Health Canada is informing the public that Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis and pain, will not return to the market. The manufacturer voluntarily suspended sales of Bextra in April 2005 due to safety concerns related to rare but serious skin reactions and cardiovascular problems. Health Canada issued a stop-sale order which ensured that Bextra (the brand name for valdecoxib) would not return to the market without further consultation with Health Canada."
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2005/2005_134_e.html
Health Care in Canada Survey 2005 - A national survey of health care providers, managers, and the public - "Results of the 2005 Health Care in Canada Survey highlight some significant challenges ahead for those managing, working and receiving health services in Canada. Canadians are divided on the appropriate role for private payment and private insurance in the Canadian health system. A slight majority of Canadians support paying out-of-pocket for service enhancements and allowing private insurance and payment for non-emergency services outside of the public system. Support drops when asked if they would like to pay out-of-pocket to purchase quicker access to services."
http://www.mediresource.com/e/pages/hcc_survey/pdf/2005_hcic.pdf
Seniors' falls in Canada - "Most of us have heard of a senior who has fallen, been injured and suffered devastating effects: disability, chronic pain, loss of independence and a lesser quality of life. Such falls not only alter the course of aging, they also have serious repercussions on the lives of family and friends, and on Canada's public health resources. Recognizing that falls are one of the most costly and complex injury issues facing seniors, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has prepared this Report on seniors' falls in Canada to support and promote research, policies and programs to prevent seniors' falls. It is the first report to present comprehensive data on fall injuries and deaths, as well as evidence on risk factors and best practices for prevention, solely for Canadians age 65 years and over."
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/seniors_falls/index.htm
Legal
A Threat to People with Disabilities - (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law). "Samuel Alito, President Bush's nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, poses a serious threat to people with disabilities. Having sat on a federal court of appeals for 15 years, Judge Alito has a record of decisions hostile to disability rights."
http://www.bazelon.org/takeaction/alerts/11-13-05-AlitoAlert.htm
Medical
Ataxia sufferer's stem cell hope - "A woman is thought to be the first person in the world to be undergoing stem cell treatment for a rare neurological condition. Angie McDonald, 32, of Oxton, Merseyside, is travelling to the Netherlands to undergo the procedure to combat Friedreich's Ataxia. The condition is caused by a faulty gene which affects her balance, co-ordination and speech. She is undergoing the treatment abroad as it is not available on the NHS."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4527744.stm
Molecule 'may offer Down's hope' - "Researchers believe they have identified a molecule that could be targeted to treat mental impairment in people with Down's syndrome. A team at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London found people with Down's syndrome have higher levels of myo-inositol in their brains. They also found increased levels of this molecule are associated with reduced intellectual ability.The study is published in Archives of General Psychiatry."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4498652.stm
Stem cells may help damaged hearts heal - "UPMC physicians and researchers are developing new treatments for heart disease using a patient's own stem cells. This approach may offer hope to patients who have not benefited from conventional therapies for heart disease and heart failure. Stem cells are present even in adults. They are immature cells that have the potential to become many different kinds of tissues in the body, and so function as a repair mechanism to replace the cells that we lose to disease or wear and tear. Unfortunately, the heart does not naturally repair itself. Usually, once heart muscle has been damaged, it remains permanently weakened. Amit Patel, MD, director of the UPMC Center for Cardiac Cell Therapy, is a pioneer of techniques that isolate a patient's own stem cells from their bone marrow — which has a rich supply — to strengthen heart muscles weakened by heart disease or devastated by heart failure, the most severe form of heart disease."
http://healthjournal.upmc.com/1205/CardiacCell.htm#Top
Parkinson's hope over 'implants' - "US scientists have moved a step closer to developing a brain implant therapy for Parkinson's disease symptoms. The most common drug treatment for the brain condition is levodopa, but the pills can leave people susceptible to involuntary movements such as twitches. The Alabama University team found in tests on six patients, eye cells which produce levodopa can be implanted safely and without the side effects. The study was published in the Archives of Neurology journal."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4522452.stm
UCSF study finds nerve regeneration is possible in spinal cord injuries - "A team of scientists at UCSF has made a critical discovery that may help in the development of techniques to promote functional recovery after a spinal cord injury. By stimulating nerve cells in laboratory rats at the time of the injury and then again one week later, the scientists were able to increase the growth capacity of nerve cells and to sustain that capacity. Both factors are critical for nerve regeneration. The study, reported in the November 15 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, builds on earlier findings in which the researchers were able to induce cell growth by manipulating the nervous system before a spinal cord injury, but not after. Key to the research is an important difference in the properties of the nerve fibers of the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord, and those of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which is the network of nerve fibers that extends throughout the body."
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/uoc--usf120105.php
Media Arts
Strengths and weaknesses - by Paddy Masefield (The Guardian). "Disabled people have long brought a wealth of quality to the UK arts scene, so why are they still excluded from the mainstream?"
http://society.guardian.co.uk/socialcare/story/0,,1666242,00.html
Policy/Research
Achieving Good Outcomes in Students with Learning Disabilities - by Louise Spear-Swerling (LD OnLine). "A long line of research in psychology has focused on the concepts of risk and resilience. This work studies youngsters who are at risk for a variety of reasons---including poverty, developmental problems, or family instability---and the factors that seem to enable some at-risk children to do well in the face of adversity. More recently, a number of researchers have begun to apply the risk-and-resilience framework to learning disabilities. Specifically, what kinds of factors promote good outcomes in students with LD?"
https://www.ldonline.org/article.php?max=20&id=1765&loc=111
Evaluation Practices in Canadian Voluntary Organizations - "A new fact sheet, titled Evaluation Practices in Canadian Voluntary Organizations sheds light on the capacity of charitable and nonprofit organizations to evaluate their work, and how the expectations of funders has changed."
http://www.vserp.ca/
http://www.nonprofitscan.ca/pdf/vserp_fact_sheet.pdf
Meeting the Civic Challenges of Social Inclusion: Cross-Canada Findings and Priorities for Action - by Peter Clutterbuck, Christa Freiler and Marvyn Novick. "Inclusive Cities Canada: A Cross-Canada Civic Initiative was established in 2003 as a partnership of five social planning organizations. The Initiative begins with the understanding that all members of the community potentially gain from social inclusion – those who are vulnerable for reasons of poverty, racism or fear of difference – as well as the broader community that benefits when every one is able to participate as a valued and contributing member. An inclusive community or city is one that provides opportunities for the optimal development of all children, youth and adults."
http://www.inclusivecities.ca/pdf/MeetingCivicChallenges.pdf
A National Snapshot of Home Support from the Consumer Perspective - by Kari Krogh & Mary Ennis (Council of Canadians with Disabilities). "This research project represents a joint effort between the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University. Both parties shared an interest in conducting a national study of home support (home care) policy and service that emphasized the perspectives of individuals with disabilities who require the service."
http://www.ccdonline.ca/publications/home%20support/home%20support.htm#executivesummary
Research in Action: A Research Report on the Role of Consumer Driven Disability Organizations in the Non-Profit Sector - (Council of Canadians with Disabilities). "This study addresses disability policy and the future role of consumer driven organizations in the non-profit sector as it examines the role of such organizations in the shifting disability movement into the new social movement. Four national consumer organizations were examined throughout the course of the study: 1) Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) 2) Canadian Association for Independent Living Centres (CAILC) 3) National Network for Mental Health (NNMH) and 4) People First of Canada (PFC)."
http://www.ccdonline.ca/publications/index.htm
http://www.ccdonline.ca/publications/Researchfinal.pdf
Selected Reports and Research on Needs of People with Disabilities in Disasters: International review - (Disability World). "Following is a summary of recent resources regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities in planning for and responding to emergencies and disasters, both natural and manmade. . . Most guidelines and research initiatives were developed in response to recent disasters, such as earthquakes in Japan and California, floods in Europe, the World Trade Center attack in New York, and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia."
http://www.disabilityworld.org/12-01_06/disasterneeds.shtml
The State of 21st Century Long-Term Services and Supports: Financing and Systems Reform for Americans with Disabilities - "The National Council on Disability (NCD) is pleased to present to you our groundbreaking report, The State of 21st Century Long-Term Services and Supports: Financing and Systems Reform for Americans with Disabilities. NCD undertook research for this report because it has grown increasingly concerned about the (a) lack of a coherent national long-term services and supports (LTSS) public policy for all people with disabilities; (b) fragmented nature of service and support delivery systems, with uneven access and services provisions; and (c) LTSS costs of 22 percent or more of state budgets, which are fast becoming unsustainable. Additionally, NCD noted in undertaking research for this report that no single federal program, federal agency, or congressional committee is charged with the responsibility for the management, funding, and oversight of LTSS; however, 23 federal agencies are actively involved in LTSS using the NCD definition."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/longterm_services.doc
Rehabilitation
CBR: A strategy for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion of people with disabilities - (International Labour Organization). "ILO, UNESCO and WHO view CBR [community-based rehabilitation] as a strategy that can address the needs of people with disabilities within their communities in all countries. The strategy continues to promote community leadership and the full participation of people with disabilities and their organizations. It promotes multi-sectoral collaboration to support community needs and activities, and collaboration between all groups that can contribute to meeting its goals. For this reason, the three UN organizations have issued a new Joint Position Paper entitled 'CBR: a Strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities'. The purpose of this Joint Position Paper 2004 is to describe and support the concept of CBR as it is evolving, with its emphasis on human rights and its call for action against poverty that affects many people with disabilities."
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/disability/whatsnew.htm
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/download/jointpaper.pdf
Self Help
The Braille Monitor (Vol. 48, No. 11) - This month's edition includes:
Convention Bulletin 2006
In the Driver's Seat
Yogi Was Right!
Out of the Darkness: Craig Roisum
The 2006 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program
Reflections on Leadership
The Soft Side of Mr. Hardball
Chris Matthews Joins Forum on Disabilities
Aloha with Love
Honored Teacher Helps Visually Impaired Students
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award for 2006
The 2006 Blind Educator of the Year Award
Advocate for Blind Urges Shift in Attitude
Diane NFB-Seed
Holiday Hints and Helps
Fourth Annual Meet the Blind Month Campaign
Social Security, SSI, and Medicare Facts for 2006
http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0511/bm0511tc.htm
CFID Association of America 2004 Annual Report - "The CFIDS Association of America leads the battle to end CFIDS [chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome] on many fronts: in the research labs where we fund cutting-edge CFIDS science; on Capitol Hill where we work to focus government attention on the needs and concerns of the CFIDS community; in the doctors' offices where CFIDS patients seek care and support; and among the general public where we strive to foster greater understanding of CFIDS and compassion for those who suffer from it. . . . On the pages that follow, you'll read about what was accomplished with your support and how we will build on these successes."
http://www.cfids.org/about/2004-ar.pdf
Future Reflections: Convention Report 2005 - (Vol. 24, No. 4). This is the most recent quarterly report of The National Federation of the Blind Magazine for Parents and Teachers of Blind Children. Listed is a selection of this month's articles:
NFB Conventions are Cool
In the Driver's Seat
Emergency Preparedness for Blind Children
Dr. Doolittle Comes to Louisville
2005 Parent Power Workshop
NOPBC Exhibit Table—Come One, Come All!
Art and Emotions: A Tactile Art Activity
Artistically Expressing Emotions
Art Materials and Techniques for a Tactile Arts Class
"Hanging Out"—A Report on the Teen Hospitality Room
Saturday School: A Holistic Approach To Educating
Children with Visual Impairments
Braille, Motivation, and Useless Trivia: How I Got on Jeopardy
http://www.nfb.org/fr/fr20/fr05citc.htm
Parenting with a Disability (Volume 11, Issue 2 Fall 2005) - Parenting with a Disability Newsletter, produced by Through the Looking Glass (http://lookingglass.org/index.php), is now online, and includes such articles as:
Through the Looking Glass: Taking a Closer Look
TLG's Intervention Model and New Training Module concerning Parents with Intellectual Disabilities
Parents with M.S.
Returning Soldiers from Iraq
New Training and Materials Available for Occupational Therapists
Family, Disability and the Law at the National Resource Center
TLG Provides Bilingual Information & Referral Services
Motherhood and Disability: Children and Choices
The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
Mother Father Deaf: Living between Sound and Silence
Systems Development Work in Kansas
Parent Network Poster Free for Public Display
2005 College Scholarships for Students of Parents with Disabilities
http://www.lookingglass.org/newsletter/
Technology
The 50 Best Robots Ever - by Robert Capps (Wired). "They're exploring the deep sea and distant planets. They're saving lives in the operating room and on the battlefield. They're transforming factory floors and filmmaking. They're - oh c'mon, they're just plain cool! From Qrio to the Terminator, here are our absolute favorites (at least for now)." Included in this list are the:
"Edinburgh Modular Arm System Part man, part machine, all Scottish: Campbell Aird received the first complete bionic arm in 1998. Pressure sensors in the shoulder attachment detect minute fluctuations in Aird's muscles, activating motors that control the arm's movement. Eat your heart out, Lee Majors."
"Da Vinci Surgical System - In the future, you'll beg to be operated on by a machine. Credit Intuitive Surgical's 2000 robot, a fusion of arms, cameras, and instruments that allows doctors to slice into patients remotely. Procedures done with the da Vinci are more precise than when humans wield the scalpel - research shows there's less blood loss and quicker recovery."
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.01/robots.html
CES 2006 Presents New Keyboard Prototype - "New Standard Keyboards (NSK) of Santa Maria, California will introduce a new line of patented USB-interface computer keyboards at CES, which have just 53-keys and offer several advances over standard keyboard designs for businesses, home users, gamers and assistive technology users. The New Standard Keyboard departs from traditional 101-key designs, but still retains the full functionality of a standard keyboard. The keyboard places all 53 keys within easy reach of the home position. The approach offers an alternative for media PCs, assistive living users and swift business data entry where the clutter of a typical QWERTY keyboard is not needed."
http://www.gameshout.com/news/122005/article2110.htm
Deaf get voicemail messages in text - Mobile industry criticised - by Dan Ilett. "Deaf people are piloting a service that allows them to read messages on their phones which were originally left as voicemails. The Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People has teamed up with mobile services firm SpinVox to provide the service, initially for 15 people. SpinVox said the service, which is free during the testing period, will be open to the nine million people with hearing impairments in the UK. The two organisations have criticised telecoms players for failing to include deaf people in the early stages of designing mobile services."
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39155022,00.htm
Dr. John P. Donoghue Presents on BrainGate System at ALS/Motor Neuron Disease International Symposium - "The BrainGate Neural Interface System developed by Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc. was the subject of a presentation to his peers at an international symposium in Europe by John P. Donoghue, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cyberkinetics. The BrainGate System is currently being tested in a pilot clinical trial for those who have lost the ability to speak as a result of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or other motor neuron disease (MND). . . . Dr. Donoghue's pivotal closing address focused on recent advancements in the field of neuroscience and brain interface technology, as well as recent progress in the pilot clinical trial of Cyberkinetics' BrainGate Neural Interface System currently being tested in participants with spinal cord injuries and in those with ALS and other motor neuron diseases."
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=1124545XSL_NEWSML_TO_NEWSML_WEB.xml
Fonix Offers Enhanced Text-to-Speech for Embedded Applications - (Business Wire). "Fonix Speech, an operating division of Fonix Corp. (OTCBB: FNIX), an integrated communications carrier providing telecommunications services and value-added speech technologies, releases an updated version of its Fonix DECtalk text-to-speech (TTS) technology. Fonix has greatly enhanced this new version's naturalness and intelligibility in several major European languages (French, German, Italian, and Latin American and Castilian Spanish) as well as U.S. English. In addition, Fonix DECtalk 4.6.4 now supports Windows Mobile 5.0, including C#.NET, VB.NET and .NET Compact Framework."
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20051208005061&newsLang=en
iBOT 4000: New Model Gets Thumbs Up - by Robert C. Samuels (New Mobility). "Say you bought an expensive new car. It came equipped with fantastic features you never imagined existed, but still there were things about it that bugged you. You couldn't squeeze it into your garage, for one, and it was noisier than you expected. What's more, its controls were overly complicated. Then, out of the blue, the dealer calls and tells you there is a new model. They've fixed what had bothered you. Just bring the old one in, the dealer says, and they'll give you the new one. The best part is that the trade won't cost you a dime. Sound unbelievable? Well, it's just what's happening to owners of the iBOT, the revolutionary, stair-climbing wheelchair, and these first-generation users are pleased as punch."
http://www.newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=1086&action=browse
Powerchair Review - "I really wanted one of these iBOT 4000 Powerchairs but I am not so sure now. The first one (reviewed in depth here) had some obvious issues and problems This new iBOT has addressed some of them to a greater or lesser degree but added some extra ones! Great... Generally though it is a big improvement in many areas and more refined. This chair is almost perfect but for a few minor niggles that ruin it and rule it out for me and probably many others. . . They don't seem to understand your average paraplegics needs or requirements!"
http://www.powerchair-review.fsnet.co.uk/ibot-4000-transporter-full-review.htm
TankChair! A Powerchair for off road! - "The owner of the company Soden Gang that is currently designing this chair contacted me recently to see if I was interested in testing one of these Powerchairs! Well what would you say! I can't wait! He is interested in quality feedback from me (and 5 other people in a similar position to myself) and is prepared to ship me a chair from the US to get it. That's what you call commitment! He is keen to see a finished version out and about helping people to get back to nature in a way that no other chair can!"
http://www.powerchair-review.fsnet.co.uk/tankchair.htm
Making technology work for disabled - by Michael Smith (MedPage Today). "Winter can be hard on old people and those with disabilities. So winter is a challenge to Geoff Fernie, one of the world's leading experts in rehabilitation research. Fernie, 56, has transformed an interest in gadgets into a lifelong professional quest to find ways for people to overcome the ravages of disease or age and let them live as independently as possible."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/12/06/profile.fernie/
Model home showcases assistive devices - by Lois Baker. "Thanks to creative designers and engineers, as well as inventors with disabilities determined to live independently or simply to have fun, devices that make nearly any activity of daily living easier now are available on the market. Many of these devices, including those that were developed at UB's Center for Assistive Technology (CAT), are on display in a model home newly installed in the Western New York Independent Living Project Inc. at 3108 Main St., Buffalo. The model home was introduced to the public recently at an open house at the living center to celebrate its move from the South Campus to its current, more accessible site."
http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol37/vol37n14/articles/LaneModelHome.html
New Software Allows the Blind to Access Windows Based Personal Data Assistants - (CNW). "Walk through any airport, or coffee shop in a downtown location and you'll find business professionals using small handheld computer to organize their day, take notes, send and receive emails and surf the web. Until now, blind Canadians have had to rely on specially built devices to perform the same sorts of tasks, and because these devices were specialty items and not mass-produced, they were prohibitively expensive. . . Today, Aroga, Canada's leading distributor of assistive technology for people with visual impairments is pleased to announce the availability of Mobile Speak Pocket, a software package that will now provide blind and visually impaired Canadians access to standard Pocket PC devices running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, and Windows Mobile 5.0 software. This includes devices from major manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Fujitsu and Siemens."
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2005/14/c0503.html
Visual Studio 2005 makes accessibility a real possibility - by Peter Abrahams (IT Director.com). "One of the barriers to developing accessible web sites has been that the development tools made it difficult or impossible to create conforming sites. Development tools were chosen for their capability and productivity but until recently the ability to generate accessible web sites was not on the requirements list. Microsoft Visual Studio 2003 included support for developing accessible web sites. Microsoft provided guidelines and walkthroughs on how to use the functions to create accessible sites. However, it did require the developer to understand accessibility requirements and coding in detail."
http://www.it-director.com/article.php?articleid=13021
Conferences
(Conferences listed for the first time in DRD)
Canadian
7th National Conference on Shared Mental Health Care - May 11-13, 2006 | Calgary, Alberta. "Our conference focus is on case studies and learning from our success as we plan for the future. This is a hands on conference and you will bring home practical tools and learnings that you can use in your daily work. Conference Highlight: The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Initiative will be sharing results from two years of research on the current state of CMHC and presenting a series of interactive toolkits for providers, educators, consumers, family/caregivers and policy makers. CCMHI will also be unveiling an action plan to implement CMHC principles outlined in the Collaborative Mental Health Charter."
http://www.shared-care.ca/calgary_conf.shtml
2006 Canadian Disability Studies Association - 3rd Annual Conference - May 27-28, 2006 | Toronto, Ontario. "The conference theme is: 'The City: A Festival of Knowledge'. Submissions are invited on the conference theme, as well as on other topics covering all aspects of disability. This can include community activism, arts, culture as well as studies from all academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Individual abstracts as well as proposals for panel sessions, workshops and performances are welcome."
http://www.disabilitystudies.ca/ccdsnews.htm#cdsaconfinfo2006
10th International Child Neurology Congress - June 11-16, 2006 | Montreal, Quebec. "On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 10th World Congress of the International Child Neurology Association, I would like to invite all those with a professional interest in pediatric neurological disorders to attend the Congress in June 2006 here in Montreal. Close to 1000 health professionals are expected to attend this premier international gathering in pediatric neuroscience."
http://www.icnc2006.com/
9th World Down Syndrome Congress - August 22-26, 2006 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Welcome to the home page of the 9th World Down Syndrome Congress, being held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from August 22 - 26, 2006. At present, you will find details in regards to the City of Vancouver. Further information will be available shortly. Please visit the site often for updates and additional information."
http://www.venuewest.com/2006/wdsc/
Festival of International Conferences on Disability, Aging & Technology - June 16-19, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "Welcome to the site of the Festival of International Conferences on Disability, Aging and Technology. FICDAT will include four important conferences running concurrently as well as many joint events."
http://www.ficdat.ca/en/festival.php
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.htm
U.S.
The International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence - February 1-4, 2006 | St. Petersburg, Florida. "The International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence will bring together researchers, practitioners, business leaders and people involved in aging policy to focus on these issues."
Assistive Devices:
Housing, Home
Injury Prevention:
Smart Homes:
Telehealth:
http://icadi.phhp.ufl.edu/2006/
43rd Annual International Conference of the Learning Disabilities Association of America - March 1-4, 2006 | Jacksonville, Florida. "The LDA 43rd Annual International Conference will now be held in Jacksonville Florida. All events and sessions will be held at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel. We invite you to join us for another outstanding four days of the best research and findings in learning disabilities, including specific workshops on Medical issues, Mental Health, Technology, Teacher Preparation, Early Childhood, and much, much more. Preliminary conference program books, detailing the entire conference will be available in late September."
http://www.ldaamerica.us/conference/index.asp
Pac Rim Conference 2006 - March 13-15, 2006 | Honolulu, Hawaii. "With its beginnings dating back to 1985, the Pacific Rim Conference has evolved into one of the top rated international educational offerings for and from persons with disabilities, family members, researchers, service providers, policymakers and nationally recognized professionals in the various disciplines in the diverse field of disabilities. The 2006 Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities is tentatively scheduled for March 13, 14 & 15 2006. All other information regarding the 2006 conference is tentative, and may be subject to change."
http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
21st Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference - March 20-25, 2006 | Los Angeles, California. "The Center has advanced to the stage of conducting the longest-running and largest annual university sponsored conference on technology and persons with disabilities. This annual conference serves as a major training venue for professionals around the world involved in the field of disability and technology."
http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/2006/genconfinfo06.htm
26th Annual Anxiety Disorders Association of America Conference - March 23-26, 2006. | Miami, Florida. "The ADAA Annual Conference is the only conference devoted exclusively to anxiety disorders. It provides education for health care professionals, individuals with anxiety disorders and their families, and the media about the nature and management of anxiety disorders. The theme for the 26th Annual Conference is, Understanding Risk and Resilience in Anxiety Disorders: Implications for Research and Clinical Care. This year's theme will examine individuals at risk for the development of an anxiety disorder as a result of a variety of biological, psychological, or environmental factors as well as those already manifesting difficulties and in addition, explore factors that affect the response to treatment and chronicity of these disorders. Our invited keynote speaker will be Dennis Charney, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine."
http://www.adaa.org/conference&events/AnnualConference.asp
Power Up 2006 Conference and Expo - April 10-11, 2006 | Columbia, Missouri. "Power Up 2006 Conference and Expo is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 10 and 11, 2006. Power Up Conference and Expo has a mission of strengthening the capacity of people with disabilities, educators, independent living staff, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, information technology technicians, librarians and media specialists, and service providers. Power Up features a variety of sessions which provide up-to-date information on disability related policy, assistive technology services and devices, independent living issues, educational policy and practices, and information technology accessibility to enhance and promote independence of people with disabilities."
http://www.at.mo.gov/Powerup2006/powerup.shtm
Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion, & Disability. 6th Annual Conference - April 17-18, 2006 | Columbus, Ohio. "As a modern land grant university an important part of Ohio State University's mission is outreach and engagement, serving the community through a variety of activities. During the tenth anniversary year of the Americans With Disabilities Act the Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion And Disability conference was created to help fulfill this mission."
http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/default.htm
Back to Contents Page
Overseas
2006 International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies - September 18-20, 2006 | Esbjerg, Denmark. " Welcome to the International Conference Series on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies website. Here you will find all the information for the upcoming ICDVRAT 2006 conference, 18-20 September 2006, plus archive information from previous ICDVRAT conferences, including full conference proceedings of all past conferences."
http://www.icdvrat.reading.ac.uk/
International Forum on Disability Management - October 8-10, 2006 | Brisbane, Australia. "The Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) at The University of Queensland and Griffith University have been invited to host the 3rd International Forum on Disability Management in Brisbane from 8 to 10 October, 2006. The forum will build on initiatives and progress following the first forum 'Work Retention Strategies in a Global Society' held in Vancouver 2002 and the second forum 'Disability Management works' held in Maastricht in 2004. The forum will be in the format of Plenary Sessions and Workshops."
http://www.ifdm.com.au/index.html
ARATA 2006 National Conference - Connecting People & Community Through Technology - October 17-20, 2006 | Perth, Australia. "On behalf of the conference organising committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to Fremantle, Perth for the ARATA 2006 National Conference 'Connecting People and Community Through Technology', to be held from Tuesday 17th until Friday 20th October, 2006. The 2006 conference aims to enable participants to understand how the application of technology can allow inclusion of all people into everyday activities, home, school, work and leisure by:
Increasing awareness of the potential of technology
Presenting new developments and research
Sharing information and exchanging ideas
Providing resources, product information and a trade."
http://www.e-bility.com/arata/conf.php