Disability Resource Digest
Volume 7, Issue 1 January, 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.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS (E-ACCESSIBILITY)
International Day of Disabled Persons 3 December 2006: E-Accessibility - “Access to information and communication technologies creates opportunities to everyone in society, but perhaps no-more so than for persons with disabilities. No longer do the societal barriers of prejudice, infrastructure, and inaccessible formats stand in the way of participation. When available to everyone, information technologies foster individuals to reach their full potential, and for persons with disabilities it allows them to play their part in society’s development. At the First World Summit on the Information Society in 2003, Governments expressed their commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge. Despite the vision, many persons with disabilities remain unable to take full advantage of the Internet as most websites are: inaccessible to the blind and visually impaired, heavily dependent on using the mouse, and training is often conducted in inaccessible formats and venues. As persons with disabilities are amongst the most marginalized in society, many do not have access to information technologies at all. Even those with access to information technologies may not be able to utilize them effectively, as available adaptive equipment cannot keep pace with innovation. Persons with disabilities are at a considerable disadvantage by not being able to access information technologies. For instance, as education becomes increasingly dependent on information technologies, not being able to access the Internet for example limits the learning potential of persons with disabilities.”
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/iddp2006.htmUN Celebration of International Day of Disabled Persons - (AAPD). “A Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (information and communication technologies) was held at the United Nations in New York City on Monday December 4, 2006 as part of the Celebration of International Day of Disabled Persons. It was organized by the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), in partnership with W2i, the Wireless Internet Institute. As a first step to implementing Article 9 ‘Accessibility’ of the full ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,’ two expert sessions were held. The first panel on ‘E-Accessibility’ focused on accessibility barriers on the Internet and mainly addressed difficulties for persons with vision disabilities, although captioning of audio for persons with hearing disabilities was also mentioned as an important consideration. Case studies were presented about GE’s web site accessible design process, about IBM’s ecosystem usability/human factors approach. A UK report summarized the findings of a survey of accessibility of 100 web sites in 20 countries that found minimal accessibility of websites overall.”
http://www.aapd.com/News/international/061211aapd.htmUN Draws Attention to Web Access for Persons with Disabilities - by Gina M. Scott (govtech.net). “In recognition of International Day of Disabled Persons, the United Nations held a conference on E-Accessibility December 4th. The event sought to promote understanding of, and generate support for, the issue of disabled persons using technology and the Internet. The UN states: ‘The United Nations aims to raise appreciation among governments, private entities and the public of the significant benefits to persons with disabilities and society when they are empowered with increased access to information technologies’.”
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php/102711
United Nations Global Audit of Web Accessibility - (Nomensa). “The United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs commissioned Nomensa to conduct this audit to determine how accessible the Internet is for persons with disabilities. The audit, the first of its kind, investigated the accessibility of 100 leading websites from 20 countries from around the world. The aim of the survey, which was not intended to be exhaustive, was to obtain an indication concerning the existing status of accessibility of websites that people with disabilities might access as part of their daily lives.”
http://www.nomensa.com/resources/research/united-nations-global-audit-of-accessibility.htmlCanada Celebrates International Day of Disabled Persons - “The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, marked the International Day of Disabled Persons today. In 1992, the United Nations proclaimed that December 3rd of each year would be the International Day of Disabled Persons, to help focus attention on disability issues and the contributions of people with disabilities to the societies in which they live. ‘This day provides us an opportunity to recognize the important contributions that people with disabilities make to our society,’ said Minister Finley. ‘This government is committed to achieving the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life’.”
http://news.gc.ca/cfmx/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=260259
UK DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2005
The Disability Equality Duty - by Anne McGuire (Ouch). “How many times have you tried to access a ‘public service’ and found yourself unable to? When you need to see a doctor, visit your local library or access any sort of service, you have a right to expect it to be delivered in ways that are appropriate to your needs. After all the core value of a public service is that all citizens should benefit. Yet for many disabled people this doesn’t happen and there’s a lot still to be done to successfully challenge this sort of inequality. That’s why this Government introduced a duty for the public sector to promote equality for disabled people, as part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005. The Disability Equality Duty - which comes into force on December 4 - will place a legal responsibility on people working in the public sector to promote equality for disabled people in everything they do.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/news/btn/disability_equality_duty.shtmlPublic bodies face disability law change - “The UK’s 45,000 public bodies face a fundamental change to the way they operate with the arrival of new disability legislation, which came into force today. The new law was introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act of 2005 which amended the 1995 Act of the same name. It forces bodies to take the needs of disabled people into account when planning everything from buildings to websites. The new Disability Equality Duty (DED) places a legal obligation on public bodies to consider the needs of the disabled when planning services. In carrying out their functions, the Act says public authorities must ‘have due regard’ to needs that include eliminating discrimination and promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people. Around 10 million people in the UK have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act, according to the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). ‘The Disability Equality Duty will have a major impact on the lives of disabled people and will radically shift the way public authorities deliver their services,’ said DRC chairman Bert Massie. ‘Public bodies – from the local library to the NHS – will have to consider what disabled people need when planning their services. This is a step-change away from individual disabled people having to complain about discrimination after an incident has taken place,’ said Massie.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/04/disability_act_changes/UK disability legislation to be scrutinised by European Court - (Work Place Law). “A landmark decision by an Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) may lead to ‘associated discrimination’ becoming an explicit feature of UK legislation if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) agrees with the principle. The EAT decision confirmed that a case originally referred to the ECJ by an Employment Tribunal (ET) should be allowed to proceed. The ECJ will rule on the interpretation of the Equal Treatment Framework Directive 2000/78/EC, to establish whether or not those who are associated with a disabled person (such as a carer) can claim protection under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.”
http://www.workplacelaw.net/display.php?resource_id=8094ACCESSIBILITY
ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments - (AAPD). “On December 5, 2006, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued the first installment of a new technical assistance document designed to assist state and local officials to improve compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their programs, services, activities, and facilities. The new technical assistance document, which will be released in several installments over the next ten months, is entitled ‘The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments.’ The Tool Kit is designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. It will also teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access.”
http://www.aapd.com/News/adainthe/061211ncd.htmNext Move is Treasury Dept.’s in Reshaping Money for the Blind - by Justin Berton (San Francisco Chronicle). “After Frank Welte finished a tuna sandwich and plate of french fries in a San Carlos cafe Thursday, the 45-year-old blind man opened his wallet and approached the cashier with a twice-folded $20 bill. Welte, like most of the estimated 1 million legally blind Americans, resorts to a folded-bill system to distinguish denominations by touch: One dollar bills lie flat, fives get creased once, tens are folded lengthwise, and twenties get the twice-over. ‘Money has a certain feel to it,’ Welte said outside the cafe as he thumbed the surface of a crisp greenback. ‘But all money, no matter how much it’s worth, feels the same.’ That’s a problem that could change soon. The Treasury Department has until Tuesday to respond to a federal judge’s ruling that would require the agency to reshape dollars to accommodate the nation’s legally blind and an additional 2.3 million low-vision Americans. U.S. District Judge James Robertson agreed with lawyers from the advocacy group American Council of the Blind that the current universal shape for all bills -- 6.14 inches by 2.61 inches -- violates the federal Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against the disabled.”
http://www.aapd.com/News/courtdecisions/061213sfc.htm
Unified Design of Universally Accessible Games (Say What?) - (gamasutra). “Until now, little attention has been paid to the development of computer games that can be potentially played by all gamers, independently of their individual characteristics, requirements, preferences and abilities. In particular, there are no computer games that can be concurrently played among able and disabled people, either remotely or sharing the same computer, with the minor exception of a few games that can be played both by visually impaired and sighted players, like All inPlay card games and the 3D shooter Terraformers.”
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20061207/grammenos_01.shtmlADVOCACY
Disa
bility Rights Online News: December - (ADA.gov). “Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division’s activities in the area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement. In this issue:
• ADA
• Fair Housing
• ADA Mediation
• ADA Outreach“
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/newsltr1206.htmCMS Publishes Final Patients’ Rights Rule on Use of Restraints and Seclusion - (APPD). “Healthcare workers who employ physical restraints and seclusion when treating patients must undergo new, more rigorous training to assure the appropriateness of the treatment and to protect patient rights, according to a regulation published in the Federal Register today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The patients’ rights regulations set forth, as a condition of participation (CoP) in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the expectation that healthcare facilities will protect the rights of patients. These protections are part of Medicare’s revised CoP requirements that hospitals must meet. The requirements apply to all participating hospitals including short-term, psychiatric, rehabilitation, long-term, children’s and alcohol/drug treatment facilities.”
http://www.aapd.com/News/health/061208cms.htm
EDUCATION
POSTSECONDARY
AHEAD’s Perspective on the Issues of Textbook Access - (AHEAD). “The purpose of this paper is to offer assistance to colleges and universities required to scan textual instructional materials into digital formats for students with disabilities in order to provide for effective access to curriculum materials and to respond to assertions contained in a position paper disseminated in 2004 by the American Association of Publishers.”
http://www.ahead.org/etext/etext_positionstatement.htm
EMPLOYMENT
ILR’s Employment and Disability Institute receives $5.5 million - (theithacajournal.com). “One element lacking in efforts to educate employers and citizens alike about the American Disabilities Act (ADA) is an absence of research into impediments to ADA compliance. A five-year, $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) will seek to correct that. The recipient, the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center-Northeast ADA Center (DBTAC-Northeast) in the Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) of Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), will be able to do the kind of research needed to better understand how to improve employment and community living for the disabled.”
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/NEWS01/61207004/1002Reasonably accommodating the hearing-impaired - by James Jorgensen (thetimesonline.com). “In our last article, we reviewed generally the Americans With Disability Act’s application to deafness and hearing impairments. At least 10 percent of Americans have difficulty hearing, one way or another. This is especially true among older Americans. The impact on the workplace is significant; as more and more employees decide to work longer, employers increasingly will have to deal with hearing impairment disabilities. At the heart of the ADA is the concept of ‘reasonable accommodations.’ Employers are required to provide adjustments or modifications that enable qualified people with disabilities to enjoy equal employment opportunities unless doing so would result in undue hardship (i.e. significant difficulty or expense). Employers should not assume that all persons with hearing impairments will require an accommodation or even the same accommodation.”
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2006/12/09/business/business/1dbc1c628d585a9e8625723e005e67a4.txtWorkAble Solutions - “WorkAble Solutions - a unique employment resource for persons with disabilities, employers, and Human Resources professionals in British Columbia (BC). . . This site is compatible with screen-reading software, and lists jobs from employers committed to accommodating successful job applicants who have a disability.”
http://www.workablesolutionsbc.ca/index.aspETHICS
Ashley - the disability perspective - by Geoff Adams-Spink (BBC News). “The case of Ashley X - the American child with learning disabilities who has had surgery and other treatment to keep her body “childlike” - has triggered a debate about medical ethics. But what do disabled people, themselves, have to say about the matter? . . . Overwhelmingly, the disabled community - as represented by participants in Ouch’s messageboard discussions - seems to want to claim Ashley as one of their own. In other words, a disabled person whose human rights need to be carefully protected and whose fate has the potential to be shared by a much larger group of people.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6234601.stmDeliberate disability - by Lindsey Tanner (Sun Times). “The power to create ‘perfect’ designer babies looms over the world of prenatal testing. But what if doctors started doing the opposite? Creating made-to-order babies with genetic defects would seem to be an ethical minefield, but to some parents with disabilities -- say, deafness or dwarfism -- it just means making babies like them. And a recent survey of U.S. clinics that offer embryo screening suggests it’s already happening. Three percent, or 4 clinics surveyed, said they have provided the costly, complicated procedure to help families create children with a disability. Some doctors have denounced the practice, others question whether it’s true.”
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/182789,CST-NWS-designer22.article
GENERAL INTEREST
An Open Letter From Friends of the Canadian Abilities Foundation - “The Canadian Abilities Foundation is a national treasure that, since 1986, has been a key communication resource to all Canadians, and in particular, those with disabilities. Abilities Magazine, the outstanding publication produced by the Canadian Abilities Foundation is the glue that holds the ?disability? sector together. They are in danger of disappearing. This urgent matter has just come to our attention. Due to unprecedented financial circumstances, the Canadian Abilities Foundation and its projects, including Abilities Magazine are endangered. A number of us have formed a coalition of urgency, Friends of the Canadian Abilities Foundation. We intend to seize our future by acting together to stabilize the Canadian Abilities Foundation. We are setting aside our individual needs, and in the spirit of collaboration, requesting that you join us in supporting the Canadian Abilities Foundation in this troubling time.”
http://snow.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=344&Itemid=304Gallaudet Chooses Interim President Campus ‘Thrilled’ By Pick of Nationally Known Deaf Leader - by Susan Kinzie (Washington Post). “When the board chairwoman announced yesterday that Robert Davila will be the next leader of Gallaudet University, the crowd in the auditorium at the school for the deaf rose to their feet and waved their hands in the air to applaud. Just weeks ago, the university in Northeast Washington was in chaos, shut down and deeply divided by protests over an incoming president. Now Davila, 74, takes on a school whose future is at stake, and the campus seems united and hopeful. Davila, a nationally known deaf leader, steps out of retirement to become interim president next month. He spoke with affection of the school but also shared a full slate of ideas. He told his audience yesterday that they would move forward because they love Gallaudet. ‘If we cannot do it together, it will not happen,’ he said. It was as though the campus sighed with relief after months spent fighting over the last presidential appointment, with many feeling that academic and other problems on the campus will no longer be ignored.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/10/AR2006121000242.htmlI’m not a saint, just a parent - (Timesonline). “In a moving extract from a new book to mark Mencap’s 60th birthday, the Times chief sports writer Simon Barnes describes life with his five-year-old son Eddie, who has Down’s syndrome. - The thought hit me with such extraordinary power that my legs almost gave way beneath me. I walked a few steps to one of the benches that surround the duck pond on the edge of Barnet, and sat down. My heart was racing, my breathing shallow, I was covered in a sweat, and I thought for a moment that I might pass out or throw up. After a decent while I decided I would do neither. And I got up and went to the supermarket, for my wife was in hospital and was filled with a passion for fresh fruit. What if he has Down’s syndrome? That was the sudden question that had overwhelmed me. My first child was to be born any day and there were complications, which was why my wife was in hospital. So naturally I was full of nerves, as a first-time parent must be. The duck-pond incident was an attack of the horrors: I imagined a situation so terrible that it almost robbed me of consciousness. Down’s syndrome! The horror, the horror!”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8123-2448700,00.html
People of the Year Awards: The Results - “The People of the Year awards is the only event in Europe that recognises and honours individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution towards the furtherance of the human rights of disabled people. The Awards were held at Old Billingsgate on 4 December 2006.”
http://www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/tabid/107/default.aspxThe New Vulgarity - by Stephen Kuusisto (Ragged Edge). “The stories arrive from every quadrant. The latest involves a blind woman who was harassed by her condominium neighbors who complained because the blind woman in question was, well, blind, and not only that, old and for crying out loud she wasn’t always accurate when cleaning up after her guide dog out there on the lawn. Her young and fully sighted neighbors, or some of them, excuse me, I’ll just say it-the neighbors who drive imported automobiles were inconvenienced by an occasional turd out there on the grass. The point is that they had to ‘see’ it. Incensed neighbors insisted that this elderly woman should have to take her dog to an unseen location. Discrimination against people with disabilities is not new. The evidence that buttresses the ADA is fully documented. What is new is the vulgarity of entitlement, the exaggerated posturing of privileged citizens who find people with disabilities unacceptable and are brazen about their views.”
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/reflections/000704.htmlGOVERNMENT
CANADA
Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2006 - (HRSDC). “The Government of Canada will be seeking to develop a National Disability Act to improve accessibility and inclusion for all Canadians with disabilities. The Government of Canada will engage concerned stakeholders, including Canadians with disabilities, in gathering information and eventually developing a proposal for this Act. The Government of Canada will be seeking opportunities to engage concerned stakeholders, including Canadians with disabilities, in gathering information and eventually developing a proposal for a National Disability Act. . . . [T]his report provides an overview of key initiatives that different federal departments and agencies have implemented, individually or in collaboration, or are in the course of implementing in 2005-06 and beyond. This report uses the same accountability framework as that of the earlier reports to describe progress made and initiatives taken with the goal of achieving full citizenship for all Canadians, including people with disabilities. The information is divided into the major life areas: accessibility and disability supports, health and well-being, skills and learning, employment and income. This report does not try to give an exhaustive account, but instead provides an overview of the major federal programs and initiatives that directly or indirectly benefit people with disabilities.”
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/hip/odi/documents/advancingInclusion06/toc.shtmlDisabled Manitobans To Enter Legislative Building’s Front Door - “Access for people with disabilities to Manitoba’s Legislative Building will be improved with the construction of a wheelchair ramp at the building’s front entrance, Premier Gary Doer announced today.’Universal access to public buildings is an important part of ensuring that people with disabilities have full opportunity for participation in the life and development of our community,’ said Doer. ‘I can think of no more appropriate time to reaffirm Manitoba’s commitment to this ideal than today as we mark the United Nations’ International Day of Disabled Persons.’ Preliminary plans call for the ramp to be built on the east side of the stairs leading to the building’s main entrance on Broadway and to reflect the 86-year-old building’s classic architectural style. At six feet in width, the ramp will permit two wheelchairs to pass each other safely and will include a landing. The design permits the ramp to be installed without altering the heritage building’s original materials.”
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2006-12-01&item=548Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Law - (isthatlegal.ca). “Ontario social assistance law consists of two main pieces of legislation: the Ontario Works Act, 1997 and the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997. The two programs are very similar in structure, with the main difference being the obvious ODSP requirement of medical disability (‘person with a disability’). They also differ by which level of government administers them, the amount of
financial aid provided and the levels of income and assets allowed before ineligibility occurs. This program is about the disability program, more commonly known simply as ‘ODSP’ (Ontario Disability Support Program).”
http://www.isthatlegal.ca/index.php?name=start.odsp
HEALTH
The Health of Canadians - (CCSD). “An individual’s health is influenced by everything from their genetic make-up, to living and working conditions, to the quality and availability of health services. This Stats & Facts Sheet tracks a number of influences that affect individual health and well-being, as well as key health outcomes. It also monitors health disparities. Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world, but some Canadians are not as healthy as others. Socio-economic status, Aboriginal identity, gender, and geographic location are significant factors associated with health disparities that can cause early deaths, disease, disability, and distress - at a significant cost to the individuals themselves and for Canadian society as a whole.”
http://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/health/index.htmhttp://www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/health/health.pdf
Levelling up (part 1): a discussion paper on concepts and principles for tackling social inequities in health - (World Health Organization). “In 1990, the WHO Regional Office for Europe published two technical documents: The concepts and principles of equity and health (Whitehead, 1990), followed by a companion paper on policies and strategies (Dahlgren & Whitehead, 1992). Both documents tried to distil the elusive concept of equity, in the context of health, and to clarify what the implications would be for policy development in this field. . . . Why is a similar exercise necessary now? Surely, fundamental concepts and principles do not change that much. In response to the question, several key points need to be made. First, the European context has changed, with social divisions across and within European countries widening in many respects. These divisions have challenged policy-makers to the limit. . . . Of particular relevance is the new body of evidence that indicates the social cause of many health inequities. Second, new debates about how to measure differences in health have appeared in the literature. However, without a parallel conceptual debate about the assumptions built into these measures, the technical developments risk providing little support to policy-makers. Also, they may not measure what they intended to or may distort objectives to match what can be measured. Third, concepts, principles and measurements of social inequity in health need urgently to be related to equity-oriented strategies and actions, both within and without the health policy domain.”
http://www.euro.who.int/document/e89383.pdfLEGAL
U.S. Sued Over Dropping of Benefits for Disabled Class-Action Case Filed on Behalf of Physically Handicapped People Granted Asylum and Awaiting U.S. Citizenship - by Darryl Fears (Washington Post). “For eight years, Shmul Kaplan lived alone in a suburban Philadelphia housing complex with hardly any furniture and barely enough food to eat. Two years ago, the government told the amputee he would have to make do with less. Kaplan, who is from Ukraine, lost his $603 in Supplemental Security Income after he missed a seven-year deadline to become a U.S. citizen. The clock started ticking after he was granted asylum in 1997. A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Pennsylvania recently on behalf of people such as Kaplan, 80, contends that they are not responsible for missing the deadline. Kaplan’s citizenship application is among hundreds of thousands awaiting background checks by the FBI, a mountainous backlog that grew after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More than 6,000 physically handicapped people who were granted asylum have had benefits cut as they wait, according to the suit.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001910.html MEDIA
Listen to the GG’s! - (CNIB). “A cooperative project to produce and promote the 2006 Governor General’s Literary Award collection of winning titles in digital audio format. Audiobook publishing and sales are increasing internationally. In the U.S. alone, the market is estimated at $871 million. Interest has been steadily increasing, particularly in the sale of online audiobooks. While Canada is recognized internationally for excellence in literature, very few Canadian books are produced in audio format. Listen to the GG’s is a Canadian ‘proof of concept’ project in cooperation with the Canada Council for the Arts and supported by Canadian Heritage, to accomplish the following:
• Identify and increase market potential for digital audio in Canada.
• Increase access to information for three million Canadians who cannot read regular print due to a disability.
• Provide a learning platform for Canadian publishers in the production, marketing, and online retailing of audiobooks.
Listen to the GG’s! is a voluntary project that will include winning titles from publishers and authors who agree to the terms of participation. The audio collection will be launched in spring 2007.”
http://www.cnib.ca/library/whats_new/2006/listen-ggs.htmThe Politics of Popcorn - (Ragged Edge). “‘What do movies have to do with our mission?’ asked a local disability rights activist as I detailed plans to screen the short films Lormen and Naomi’s Corset and facilitate a talk back session at the Margaret Mead Film Festival. I was at a loss for words. Stunned. How best to explain? ‘There we’ll be in living color,’ I proclaimed, ‘sharing the bill with various cultures from across the globe. Think of it as community building; an important part of public outreach and education.’ The explanation seemed to suffice for the moment, but still the question nagged at me. Later I realized I’d asked myself the same question, in a different context, almost five years ago and was as surprised then as the questioner above with the answers that emerged.”
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/mediacircusblog/000673.htmlPOLICY/RESEARCH
Disability in Elderly Tailing Off As Baby Boomers Encroach - by Mark McCarty (Medical Device Daily). “Kenneth Manton, PhD, director of research at the Center for Demographic Studies, and the rest of the team reviewed data obtained in the National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS) documented that the percentage of Medicare eligibles who were disabled fell to 19% in 2004/05 from 22.5% in 1982, the first year of data available for the analysis. Those with one disability only dropped from 5.7% in that first year to 2.4% in the final year, and those who were institutionalized due to their disabilities fell from 7.5% to 4% during that same time span. . . . The authors noted, however, that if federal healthcare expenditures are to ‘decline at the projected rate because of a per annum decline of 1.5% in chronic disability, future disability declines will have to occur at increasingly older ages.’ This improvement in those above the age of 85 ‘must occur to maintain the current rate of improvement in the fiscal status of Medicare and Medicaid to 2050, the year by which the last of the post-World War II’ cohort has reached that age.”
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&neID=200612083000.1_67bb003861599371National Council on Disability Explores Emerging Technology Trends and Provides Strategies for Change - (EARTHtimes.org). “The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released Over the Horizon: Potential Impact of Emerging Trends in Information and Communication Technology on Disability Policy and Practice -- -- a policy paper that explores key trends in information and communication technology, highlights the potential opportunities and problems these trends present for people with disabilities, and suggests some strategies to maximize opportunities and avoid potential problems and barriers.”
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,38786.shtmlhttp://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/pdf/emerging_trends.pdf (NCD report - pdf)
Over the Horizon: Potential Impact of Emerging Trends in Information and Communication Technology on Disability Policy and Practice - (National Council on Disability). “Report from the National Council on Disability (NCD) exploring trends in information and communication technology and the potential opportunities and problems these trends present for people with disabilities.”
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/emerging_trends.htmSatellite account of non-profit institutions and volunteering: 1997 to 2003 - (Statistics Canada). “Economic activity in the non-profit sector, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), outpaced that of the economy as a whole between 1997 and 2003, according to data on the economic contribution of non-profit institutions and volunteering. During this seven-year period, GDP for the non-profit sector grew at an annual average rate of 6.4%, faster than the average of 5.6% for the total economy. For 2003 alone, GDP for the overall non-profit sector increased 6.3%, topping $80.3 billion. Again, this rate of growth outpaced the total economy, which rose 5.6% for the year. For the purposes of this analysis, the overall non-profit sector is split into two groups. The first consists of hospitals (including residential care facilities), universities and colleges, which account for the lion’s share of non-profit economic activity. The second consists of a diverse range of other generally smaller organizations, known as the “core non-profit sector”. They operate in numerous fields and play an increasingly important role in society.”
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061208/d061208a.htmStatement by Louise Arbour UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Ad Hoc Committee’s adoption of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - “I am delighted to have the opportunity to address you today at the momentous occasion of the Ad Hoc Committee’s adoption of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is the second time this year I have had the honour to address this Committee. In January, I highlighted the crucial nature of your work for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities – I am very pleased to be addressing you so soon afterwards, as you move towards the final adoption and implementation of this important human rights instrument. This drafting process has been rapid – a testimony to the seriousness the United Nations places on the need to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.”
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/401FB04FFA31B0C6C125723D0056BDFA?opendocument REHABILITATION
Just Hop Up, Look Here, Read This, Listen Up, Don’t Breathe & Stay Still! Access to Medical Equipment – Where are We? - (Independent Living Research Utilization). “How accessible is the medical equipment at your doctor’s office? Can you get on the exam table by yourself? Or, are you literally in the hands of untrained office staff? All of us know that whether in doctor’s offices or hospitals, medical testing equipment (consider the mammogram) is almost always inaccessible to people with physical disabilities. Join ILRU to hear June Kailes discuss efforts being taken to make equipment used in health care more accessible. For the past five years, Kailes has been part of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Medical Instrumentation at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Her presentation will cover research and development activities of the center as well as an assessment of the current state of accessibility in health care testing. The Web cast is an initiative of the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Health & Wellness at Oregon Health Sciences University and Technology for Independence Disability Rehabilitation Research Project at the University of Syracuse.”
Go to Archived Web Cast (uses RealOne Player)
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/handouts/2007/01-04-JK/aboutwebcast.htmSELF HELP
AOL Introduces Blog Targeting People with Disabilities - (Ability Magazine). “In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, AOL has introduced a new AOL Ability blog site and forum dedicated to people with disabilities, and their families, friends and colleagues. Designed to provide focused content for people with disabilities and to heighten disability awareness with mainstream audiences, the AOL Ability blog will have relevant news, stories and information in the key areas of employment, entertainment, family, health and technology. AOL is partnering with The Paciello Group and recruiting bloggers from the disability community to provide the majority of content in these areas. By reengineering corporate software, TPG is focused on results to support technology vendors, government agencies, e-commerce corporations, and educational institutions to build community, foster interaction through social networking and deliver accessible communication services to make their technology equally accessible to all people with (and without) disabilities.”
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/news_AOL_Ability_Blog.htmlhttp://ability.aol.com/ability/index.phpDisaster Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities - (Independent Living Research Utilization). “This webcast will provide valuable information about disaster preparedness and emergency planning for individuals with disabilities. It will include information to assist businesses in including the needs of employees with disabilities in disaster planning. We will discuss disability-specific planning, how to prepare, when to leave, what to take, and even why we don’t prepare as we should. Participants will get a list of great resources to help with planning.”
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/handouts/2006/12-13-JB/overview.htmlNational charity launches website to make life easier for older and disabled people - (youreable.com). “Now for the first time older and disabled people and their carers and families are able to make informed choices about walk-in baths, showers and grab rails thanks to “Bathing made easy”, A new free service from leading charity the [UK] Disabled Living Foundation (DLF). As we get older it can become increasingly difficult to take a bath or shower. With so many products on the market it is not always easy to work out the best solution. Containing detailed, impartial information on over 1,400 personal care items, this online search and comparison website aims to include all products available in the UK. All information has been checked by the DLF’s team of therapists and includes a description, a price guide, dimensions, images and a list of national suppliers.”
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/Nov2006/charity%20launches%20new%20websiteWheel Chair Mobility Resources For A More Independent Lifestyle - (Mobility Advisor.com). “Welcome! Mobility-Advisor.com serves as an educational guide on wheel chair options, mobility aids, disability resources, and recreational outlets that enhance the lives of individuals of all ages who need mobility assistance. I’ve created this site to honor my mother, Anita K. Schwab, who was left paralyzed after a devastating stroke. Mom never lost her steadfast belief that anything is possible with the right outlook, motivation, knowledge, and tools.”
http://www.mobility-advisor.com/
TECHNOLOGY
New Portable Blind Reader - (Ability Magazine). “The National Federation of the Blind has teamed up with famed inventor Ray Kurzweil to develop the first portable reading device for the blind or for anyone who has difficulty reading printed material. The new device, called the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader, weighs less than one pound and fits in a knapsack, purse or small camera bag. The user simply holds the Reader over printed material and within seconds the device begins reading whatever print was on the page using a clear synthetic voice.”
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/news_blind_reader.htmlhttp://www.knfbreader.com/ On The Go: What Consumer Products Can Do For You (If You Know Where to Look!) - (National Center for Technology Innovation and Center for Implementing Technology in Education). “Before you pick up your wallet to go shopping for a new technology, look in your backpack to see what consumer electronics you already own. These common products may already have built-in assistive technologies—you just need to know where to look. As desktop-based computer technology continues to play an important role in the education of students with disabilities, consumer electronics emerge with the potential to change the way in which students, parents, and teachers think about mobile learning tools. Everyday cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and hand-held MP3 players have the capacity to act as assistive technologies.”
http://www.ldonline.org/article/9705Reuse of Assistive Technology – (ed.gov). “For many people with disabilities, assistive technology (AT) is an essential support to daily living. A person may depend on a wheelchair, walker, special computer keyboard, speech-generating device or other AT device at home, at school or at work. Finding ways to make AT more available is something with which few could argue. Over many years, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has supported research in assistive technology, as well as making AT more available to people with disabilities. More recently, OSERS has supported a number of activities to encourage and support AT reuse under the Assistive Technology Act.”
http://www.ed.gov/programs/atsg/at-reuse.htmlCONFERENCES
(New Conferences)
CANADIAN
Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference - February 15-17, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. - “The Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference (also known as PCBIC) is an annual event held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PCBIC is Canada’s premier national conference on acquired brain injury. The Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference Society, a non-profit organization run by a volunteer steering committee, organizes the conference, workshops and exhibits. The mission of the PCBIC Society is to host a yearly brain injury conference that supports brain injury communities. The focus of the conference is to increase understanding of the problems faced by people living with brain injury, to strengthen partnerships, and to increase awareness of services, programs and new approaches in brain injury research. PCBIC is an inclusive conference.”
http://www.pcbic.org/index.htmlAutism 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.comVocational Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury - May 24-26, 2007 | Vancouver, BC, Canada. “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/Taking 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
Festival 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.
ATIA 2007 Conference and Exhibition - January 24-27, 2007 | Orlando, Florida - “ATIA 2007 serves as a leading forum for the Assistive Technology community to participate in presentations and discussions about new technology, practical applications, and services. Segments of the Assistive Technology industry (Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Blindness; Computer Access; Curriculum Adaptations; Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Electronic Aids to Daily Living; Games and Recreation; Learning Disabilities/Study Aids/Literacy; Low Vision; and Mechanical Accessories and Mounting Devices) will be represented in various presentations, demonstrations and/or exhibits. In addition, a hands-on lab will provide an opportunity to experiment with and evaluate the latest assistive technology devices and software available.”
http://www.atia.org/conf_2007.html#Purpose State-of-the-Science Symposium on Post-Acute Rehabilitation: Setting a Research Agenda and Developing an Evidence Base for Practice and Public Policy - February 12-13, 2007 | Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. “The goal of this two-day invitational conference is to develop an agenda for research that will support an evidence base for post-acute care rehabilitation, including issues related to measurement and research design, access to post-acute care rehabilitation services, organization of rehabilitation services, and outcomes attained by beneficiaries of Medicare and other insurers.”
http://www.foundationforpmr.org/programs/postacuterehab.html
LDA 44th Annual International Conference - February 14-17, 2007 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. - “Don’t miss the nation’s leading conference on learning disabilities! The LDA 44th Annual International Conference will be held from February 14-17, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! All events and sessions will be held at the beautiful new David L. Lawrence Convention Center. We invite you to join us for what promises to be another outstanding 4 days of the latest research and findings in learning disabilities, including specific workshops on Medical, Mental Health, Teacher Preparation, Public Policy, Adults, and much, MUCH MORE. Preliminary conference program books, detailing the entire conference are available now!”
http://www.ldaamerica.us/conference/index.aspThe 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.html15th 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.doc
Pac 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/11th 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.”
http://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.htmAnxiety 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/1/12438
Family 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 | 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.htm National 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.html2007 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/ATIA Leadership Forum on Accessibility: Accessibility in the Corporate Environment - January 25-26, 2007 | Orlando, Florida. “The strategic decisions surrounding access for people with disabilities , the aging workforce, and worker shortages are at the forefront for large corporations. With 78 million baby boomers and 54 million people with disabilities in the US and 600 million people with disabilities worldwide, corporations also have a need to reach new customers and deliver accessible products and services to this important and growing market. An accessibility strategy is critical to success with these challenges. This forum will be a unique opportunity for educational sessions and networking opportunities specifically designed for the enterprise environment. It will discuss the business case for
accessibility and its associated technologies and provide case studies from a corporate perspective.”
http://www.atia.org/leadershipforum/OVERSEAS
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