Disability Resource Digest
Volume 7, Issue 3 March 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.
SENIORS AND ACCESSIBILITY
Canadian Intelligent Technology Network Launched to Improve Life for Seniors and People with Disabilities - "Canadian university researchers and private sector organizations that are developing intelligent technology to improve life for seniors and people with disabilities have formed a first-of-its-kind network to increase collaboration in research and development and improve Canada's competitiveness. The Intelligent Computational Assistive Science and Technology (ICAST) network, launched last week at York University in Toronto, is a Canada-wide initiative sponsored by York and Ottawa-based Precarn Incorporated, a not-for-profit company that supports the development of new, commercially-viable technologies. The assistive devices R&D network brings together scientists, engineers, clinicians, industry leaders, and representatives of organizations that serve people with disabilities."
http://www.at-links.gc.ca/as/as013n29e.asp#b2EU project to develop next generation technology for elderly care - "A consortium of 20 partners from European universities, public bodies and private companies is teaming up to develop next-generation technology to allow older people to continue to live independent lives in their own homes. The part-EU funded Service Orientated Programmable Smart Environments for Older Europeans (SOPRANO) project will seek to develop information technology (IT) -based assisted living services aimed at promoting the independence of older people, improving their quality of life and addressing the issue of an ageing European population."
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=27124
'Intelligent' homes designed to help the elderly - "Scientists in Toronto say they have are developing artificially intelligent computer systems to help elderly people suffering from memory loss stay safely in their own homes."
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070209/seniors_ai_homes_070209/20070211?hub=HealthSeniors and Aging - Assistive Devices - "As age advances, some seniors experience discomfort or fear when doing activities they enjoyed in their younger years. If this is happening to you, an assistive device may help you overcome your difficulties."
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/life-vie/seniors-aines_ad-af_e.htmlACCESSIBILITY
Access 2.0 interview - by Richard Cranfield (Access 2.0). "Richard Cranfield (45) has dyslexia. It is often called the 'hidden disability' because it can go undiagnosed despite the problems that it causes with reading and writing. For web developers, too, it presents challenges on how they design pages, and unlike other accessibility issues, relatively little material is available to help. For example, whilst most are aware that contrast is an issue, not everyone knows that an off-white background can be better than white, or better even the yellow on black as established as the typical 'high visibility' colour scheme by Betsy."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/access20/2007/01/access_20_interview_richard_cr.shtml
ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments - "On December 5, 2006, and February 27, 2007, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice issued installments 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. The third and fourth installments, issued February 27, 2007, include:
Chapter 3, General Effective Communication Requirements Under Title II of the ADA (HTML) (PDF)
Chapter 3, Addendum: Title II Checklist (HTML) |(PDF)
Chapter 4, 9-1-1 and Emergency Communications Services (HTML) |(PDF)
Chapter 4, Addendum: Title II Checklist (HTML) |(PDF)"
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htmHow to Make Accessible Web Content Using Microsoft Expression Web - (WebAim). "Expression Web (EW) is the tool that has replaced FrontPage as Microsoft's web design tool. Although the interface is a little bit different than its predecessors, it should be familiar for Microsoft FrontPage and even Office users. Although it offers significant improvements in creating standards-compliant HTML and CSS, it can still be difficult to create accessible HTML using Expression Web "out of the box." This article will show you how to make your content as accessible as possible using MS Expression Web."
http://webaim.org/techniques/msew/The humiliated blind man in a wheelchair - by Damon Rose (Ouch). "Being stuffed in a wheelchair or electric buggy at train stations and airports is the stuff of heated discussion at blindie get-togethers. 'I don't need a wheelchair so why do they make me use one?' Visually impaired people hate it. For them it's not normal. In years gone by, blind people (my lot) would refuse wheeled help which often led to great confusion with the porters: 'Just get in, it'll be much easier for you. I'll push you,' they'd say not understanding the resistance."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/columnists/damon/010307.shtmlNew CSD Web Site Launched With Focus on Sign Language Access - "CSD (Communication Service for the Deaf) is proud to announce its new, more American Sign Language (ASL) centered Web site. The new site is being launched today. In order to make the new site accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people of all language skills, CSD duplicated much of the text information on the site with ASL videos. Press releases, news stories and welcoming messages are accompanied with an ASL video, so deaf consumers can choose their preference of reading the information or viewing it in their native language, ASL. CSD focused on making the site easily accessible to its deaf-blind consumers as well, keeping moving pictures and flash objects with embedded text to a minimum. The overall goal of making the new site friendly, easy to navigate and product-focused was achieved after months of collaborative work with each CSD division, culminating in a site that goes above and beyond the industry standard."
http://www.c-s-d.org/default.aspx?pageid=373
ADVOCACY
AAPD to join NPR's Justice Talking blog - (AAPD). "Starting February 1, AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities) will join some of the nations leading legal analysts and commentators in regularly weighing in on the issues making headlines in a new online blog and discussion forum called Talking Justice. The new feature is a project of Justice Talking, the award-winning NPR program that airs in nearly 100 public radio markets and in 140 countries around the globe via NPR Worldwide and Armed Forces Radio Network. Each day of the week, a new, timely commentary from a distinguished contributor will be posted at Talking Justice. Bloggers from organizations as diverse as the American Tort Reform Association, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Family Research Council, the National Council of Churches, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the National District Attorneys Association and the satirical group the Capitol Steps will offer up their views about law and American life. Some of the best legal blogs, websites and newspapers, including SCOTUSBlog, FindLaw, the National Law Journal and Jurist will post content as well. AAPD will be featured on the 13th day of the month but has also put up an initial post just yesterday. That initial post is entitled Keeping the World Safe for Disability."
http://www.aapd.com/calendar/events/070202aapd.htmDisability Rights Online News: Issue 17 - "Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the area of disability rights. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement. In this Issue:
Disability Treaty
ADA
Fair Housing
ADA Mediation
ADA Outreach"
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/newsltr0107.htmExceptional Parent (EP) Magazine Makes Position Statement - When the Slippery Slope Becomes a Mudslide - "In its thirty-six year history, EP magazine has rarely taken a position in areas of controversy or differences of opinion. We prefer, as a matter of journalistic principle, to present objectively all sides to a given argument and debate, adhering to our mission of providing credible information for and on behalf of those involved in the care and development of children and adults with disabilities and special needs. We have, however, taken a rather strong stance on issues such as: extending the benefits of the Orphan Drug Act, condemning a policy that endorses the use of restraints, and supporting the expansion of newborn screening utilizing tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). . . .Now we find ourselves met with yet another great challenge the very essence of human life and dignity and our conscience dictates we do the right thing once again. . . . It is an outrage that no court or ethics committee engaged in the soul-searching debate a procedure like "Ashley's Treatment" should have generated. It is an outrage that society should countenance extreme surgical procedures and hormone injections as a solution to the challenges of caring for a six year old with complex disabilities. It is a shame and an affront to the human dignity of every one of us to permit these procedures on even one child. We need to make it right and make sure it never happens again."
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/news_EPstatement.htmlThe global fight for disabled people's rights - (Disability Now). "After five years working on the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, Dr Richard Light could be excused some element of personal satisfaction. After all, the UN treaty aims to protect and promote the human rights of 650 million disabled people worldwide. But two days before the convention was to be adopted in December, Dr Light warned a packed meeting of the all party parliamentary group on disability that it could amount to 'little more than empty rhetoric' for disabled Britons, unless the government signs up and implements it effectively. However, Light did hail the treaty as a testament to 'over two decades of campaigning by disabled people and our supporters'. 'The government, and most especially disabled people, have every reason to be proud of what has been achieved,' he said. Although he is confident of the commitment of Anne McGuire, the minister for disabled people, he told the meeting he was 'less confident' of the cooperation and support she will receive from some other government departments."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/search/z07_02_Fe/poverty.shtmlThe Road To Freedom - "A project of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights, The Road To Freedom is a national awareness campaign inspired by the historic journey of Justin and Yoshiko Dart to mobilize support for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our year-long, cross-country bus journey launched from Washington, DC on November 15th, 2006 and aims to engage audiences across the United States in the story of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the history of the disability rights movement. We hope to mobilize Americans to keep the promise of the ADA – freedom, inclusion, and opportunity for children and adults with physical, mental, cognitive and developmental disabilities."
http://roadtofreedom.wordpress.com/Why should I have to give up work to fund my husband's care? - (Disability Now). "Many readers will know that I have cerebral palsy, am blind and a wheelchair user. My husband, Ralph, has had Parkinson's disease for 10 years and has two artificial knees – so we know about disability. In October, Ralph experienced a worsening of his Parkinson's, resulting in three months' hospitalisation, and it was decided that he would require residential care. St Joseph's seemed ideal: lovely surroundings, with wide doorways (essential, as I use a wide wheelchair with elevating footrests). We were told that we would have to contribute Ralph's state pension and half his company pension, but with some state funding there would still be a weekly shortfall of £294. I was about to face the biggest fight of my life to justify the reasons why I could not meet this shortfall myself."
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/search/z07_02_FeDNE/berwick.shtml
EDUCATION
Higher Education and Web Accessibility: Providing Training and Support for the Future• Welcome to the ATHEN E-Journal Issue #2
• Accessible Electronic & Information Technology: Legal Obligations of Higher Education and Section 508
• Cultivating and Maintaining Web Accessibility Expertise and Institutional Support in Higher Education
• Accessibility Training for Distance Learning Personnel
• Case Studies in Training and Professional Development for Web Accessibility
http://athenpro.org/node/52
Ontario introduces tuition break for students with disability - by Kent Anjo (the Charlatan). "The Ontario government announced a new tuition break Feb. 1 for post-secondary students with permanent disabilities. The change in college tuition policy for students with disabilities will assist their success at college or university, said Chris Bentley, minister of training, colleges and universities. The provincial government is providing more than $40.7 million in 2006-07 to help students succeed in post-secondary studies across Canada."
http://charlatan.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18399&Itemid=27Sign of the times at BBC Jam - (Access 2.0). "A new deaf literacy game from BBC Jam, who provide online educational resources, is pushing all the boundaries of technology to produce a compelling learning experience. I recently caught up with Dr Jonathan Hassell, Accessibility Editor at Jam, who talked me through it. Called 'Performing Hands', the game is an interactive learning aid for children aged five to eleven, to help them with both English literacy and British Sign Language (BSL) that utilises new technology to the full."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/access20/2007/03/sign_of_the_times_at_bbc_jam_1.shtmlEMPLOYMENT
Job Accommodation Network Web Training - Accommodation and Compliance Series - (JAN)."The Accommodation and Compliance Web Training Series brings JAN's nationally acclaimed training to your computer! The Series unites national experts on job accommodation and disability employment law to provide one-hour training opportunities via Webcasts. The Accommodation and Compliance Training Series provides a convenient opportunity for human resource managers, compliance officers, disability and diversity managers, and other professionals to discover ways to enhance an organization's ability to accommodate and employ people with disabilities. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for the training events."
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/Teleconf/Living With a Disability in America -- and Trying to Earn a Living - (Voice of America). "Last month we began a series of reports on living with a disability in America. We started with education. Today, in Part Two, we look at employment."
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2007-02-04-voa4.cfmL'Occitane Accepting Applications for Free Summer Fragrance Workshop for Visually Impaired Students Aged 14-16 - "French beauty company, L'Occitane en Provence, and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) are sponsoring a contest to offer young people with vision loss the opportunity to travel to France this summer to learn about fragrance at L'Occitane's perfume school for the visually impaired, Provence dans tous les sens (Provence in every sense). Four teenagers aged 14-16 will be selected to attend the school in Provence, where they will learn about essential oils and fragrance design. The idea for the summer school came from L'Occitane's founder, Olivier Baussan, who was inspired by watching a blind woman smell his perfumes and wanted to help visually impaired teens explore their senses through the scents and savors of Provence."
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=&DocumentID=3342New Eeoc Publication Addresses Employment Of Health Care Workers With Disabilities - (EEOC). "Naomi C. Earp, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today announced the issuance of a new question-and-answer (Q&A) fact sheet on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to job applicants and employees in the health care industry. The new publication, part of a series of Q&A documents about specific disabilities in the workplace and specific industries, is available on the EEOC's web site at http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/health_care_workers.html. Health care is the largest industry in the American economy. The health care industry provided more than 13 million jobs in 2004 and is expected to account for 19 percent of all new jobs created between 2004 and 2014 -- more than any other industry. In addition, the health care industry has a high incidence of occupational injury and illness. Health care jobs may involve potential exposure to airborne and bloodborne infectious disease, injuries from syringes, and other dangers; many health care jobs can also be physically demanding and mentally stressful."
http://www.eeoc.gov/press/2-26-07.htmlNew Year's Resolutions for People with Disabilities - by Joyce Bender (Disability-Marketing.com) "We spend so much of our time wondering when we are going to change the attitudinal barriers that exist in the mind of employers who still resist employing Americans with disabilities. This is only normal, as it is so hard to understand why employers do not recognize the great value of employing people with great abilities. We, people with significant disabilities, are the largest group unemployed in the United States today. It is frustrating and hard to understand."
http://disability-marketing.com/newsletter/2007-01-article-bender.php4U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Calls for 2007 'New Freedom Initiative' Award Nominations - "U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today called upon nonprofits, small businesses, corporations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities to submit their entries for the 2007 'Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award.' 'Improving employment opportunities for workers with disabilities must be a priority for all of us,' said Secretary Chao. 'The New Freedom Initiative Award celebrates successful programs and efforts that increase employment opportunities for disabled workers.' The award recognizes public-private partnerships and programs that have had a positive impact on the employment of people with disabilities through access to assistive technologies, the use of innovative training, and hiring and retention techniques."
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/odep/odep20070234.htmWyoming ranchers, farmers work with limitations, disabilities - by Randy R. Weigel. "Approximately 288,000 agricultural workers between the ages of 15 and 79 have a limitation or disability that affects their ability to perform agricultural tasks. Wyoming's highest nonfatal occupational injury and illness rate in a major industry group occurs in agriculture. The incidence rate is 17.1 per 100 employed in Wyoming compared to 6.2 in the United States. For many individuals, limitations and disabilities jeopardize their rural and agricultural futures."
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/agrability/newsreleases/1.htmWyoming AgrAbility - "Ranching and farming are physically demanding and hazardous professions. The goal of Wyoming AgrAbility is to inform, educate, and assist ranchers, farmers, farm workers, and their families with disabilities, so they can continue to do what they love—ranching and farming."
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/AGRABILITY/
GENERAL INTEREST
Become Our MySpace Friend - "Everyone is on MySpace these days, including AFB (American Foundation for the Blind)! Late last year we started a profile to raise awareness about web accessibility issues on social networking sites like MySpace and Friendster. Social networking is a great way to build community and share ideas. We have MySpace friends from across the U.S. and a couple from Europe and Latin America. Just last week, we got a message and friend request from Matt Miller, the founder of cdifferent, an organization that works to create opportunities for athletes with vision loss to participate in sporting events. Matt's message especially caught our eye since several AFB employees are serious athletes, such as marathon runner Crista Earl. If you're interested, take a look at his foundation. We have also made a lot of MySpace friends, such as the Guide Dogs for the Blind—another organization actively using MySpace to build community. If you're on MySpace, please add us as your friend! You can find us at
www.myspace.com/afb1921."
http://www.afb.org/blog/blog_comments.asp?TopicID=2522Buying and Selling Equipment Online - by Roxanne Furlong (Newmobility). "I love a bargain. I love getting quality things cheap, and I love the hunt. One of my favorite places to bag a good sale is at online sales sites, so when my disability necessitated durable medical equipment, I turned to the Internet to buy -- and resell -- items I needed for daily living. I even check online auctions to find local services such as movers, electricians or carpenters. Doing this, I've saved and made money along the way."
http://www.newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=1252&action=browseHundreds Wait For Accessible FEMA Trailers That Sit In Storage - by Dave Reynolds (Inclusion Daily Express). "In case you're counting, it's been more than 17 months since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, killing hundreds and leaving countless survivors without homes. Last summer, the Federal Emergency Management Agency purchased 2,000 accessible FEMA trailers to help people with disabilities that had been displaced by the storm and the flooding that followed. As of last week, more than half of those trailers -- 1,200 of them -- were still gathering dust in storage yards in Louisiana and Mississippi, while an estimated 788 people are waiting for the temporary homes."
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/07/02/07/020707lakatrina.htmLiving with autism in a world made for others - by A. Chris Gajilan (CNN). "When I walk into her apartment, Amanda Baggs makes no eye contact. She doesn't come to the door or raise her hand to greet visitors. In fact, I'm having a hard time discerning whether she even knows I'm there. I say hello and introduce myself, but she remains silent, sitting at her desk, staring out the window, rocking slightly back and forth. Amanda Baggs is a 26-year-old woman with autism. I've been corresponding with her for weeks via e-mail. I've read her Web site, and from her I've learned a great deal about living with autism."
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/21/autism.amanda/index.html
GOVERNMENT
CANADA
$4.6 Million To Speed Sleep Disorders Treatment: Oswald - (Province of Manitoba). "The province will invest $4.6 million over three years to deliver faster testing and treatment for Manitobans suffering from sleep disorders, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today. "More than 10 per cent of adults live with a sleep disorder that affects their quality of life and can contribute to other serious health problems," said Oswald. "This funding will dramatically improve patient care and allows us to nearly double the number of annual tests to 3,800 from the current 2,000."
http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2007/02/2007-02-07-112000-1134.htmlCanada's New Government Announces $223 Million for Agreements to Assist People With Disabilities - "The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced an investment of $223 million to help Canadians with disabilities develop skills and secure meaningful, long-term employment. At the same time today, the Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages, on behalf of Minister Solberg, made the same announcement in Quebec.Through the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities, the federal government works with provinces to put in place programs to assist people with disabilities to overcome barriers and become active in the labour force. Today's announcement extends those agreements to March 31, 2008."
http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=636037New funding to the Rick Hansen Foundation - "Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Canada's New Government intends to provide $30 million in funding over five years for the Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network (SCI-TRN), established by the Rick Hansen Foundation. 'Canada's New Government is proud to support the efforts of Rick Hansen – a true Canadian hero,' said the Prime Minister. 'This funding will further aid the Foundation's efforts to make an immediate, positive difference for Canadians living with spinal cord injuries.' Building upon previous federal and provincial investments, the SCI-TRN is working to create a national network to accelerate the translation of innovative research discoveries into practical benefits for Canadians with spinal cord injuries, generate savings in health and social services and accelerate scientific advances towards a cure."
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=1516
HEALTH
Exercise Pivotal In Preventing And Fighting Type II Diabetes - "One in three American children born in 2000 will develop type II diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new study at the University of Missouri-Columbia says that acute exercise -- as little as 15 minutes a day -- can have a profound influence on preventing and fighting the disease. This research adds to the body of evidence that indicates exercise can fight type II diabetes . . . Acute exercise is a bout of activity in which people actively participate, as opposed to activity resulting from everyday activities."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=62604&nfid=crssWhy Health Care Renewal Matters: Lessons from Diabetes - (Health Council of Canada). "In this report, the first in a series on health outcomes, we show how health care system renewal can have profound, practical and positive effects on the health and quality of life of Canadians with chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Measuring and monitoring health outcomes helps us understand where the country needs to act and how."
http://www.healthcouncilcanada.ca/docs/rpts/2007/HCC_DiabetesRpt.pdf
LEGAL
Disability funding complaint goes to human rights commission - "Three P.E.I. families are appearing before the Human Rights Commission Tuesday to complain about the province's cap on support for adult children with disabilities. Carolyn Bateman's 24-year-old son Adam has severe autism. She and her husband spend more than $60,000 a year taking care of him. The province caps its support at $36,000 for a person 18 or over."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/01/30/disability-rights.htmlIn defense of dog - by Carl Macgowan (Newsday). "With his service dog, Simba, lying quietly at his feet, a deaf Westbury teenager spoke in federal court yesterday of his anger at East Meadow school officials for barring the dog from school and the damage he sees to the animal's training. The 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever is supposed to learn to respond to sounds, John Cave Jr. told U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Spatt. But Simba's education is suffering because he can't go to school. 'I feel angry,' Cave, 14, said during 90 minutes on the stand in the Central Islip courtroom, with two sign-language interpreters taking turns conveying questions to him. 'My training with him is being destroyed.' Cave's testimony came on the sixth and final day of the hearing. The Caves, who battled the district for more than a year before filing a $150-million lawsuit against the district earlier this month, are seeking an injunction to allow Simba into W. Tresper Clarke High School."
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lidog235105366feb23,0,849796.story?coll=ny-linews-printNational Council on Disability Speaks Out on Supreme Court Winkleman v. Parma City School District Case - "National Council on Disability (NCD) chairperson John R. Vaughn today released the following statement regarding the United States Supreme Court oral argument, which will be heard on February 27, on whether parents may, without a lawyer (pro se), file a lawsuit to enforce their child's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)."
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=200702261680.2_c2a50058800da708
MEDIA
Abnormally funny - (Disability Now). "Hello DN readers. I'm Gareth Berliner from Abnormally Funny People. I'm a stand-up comedian who's had most of his intestines removed. Now they say it takes a lot of guts to do stand-up comedy but I like to think I'm proof it really doesn't. Knowing I had to write this column I thought I'd better check the contents of the magazine online. My eyes were drawn instantly to DN's campaign for medicinal cannabis to be made available on prescription. Now this is a cause I'm more than willing to join. I've used cannabis in the past both recreationally and medicinally. When I'm in hospital I'm known to sit in my car in the car park escaping the MRSA bugs while relaxing with a joint. Last time I was an inpatient I went down to my car with a drip attached on a drip stand. I fed the IV line through the car window and sat there having a quiet smoke. Of course, this left the drip standing alone outside the vehicle. Unbelievably, people seeing me sitting alone in the vehicle actually knocked on the window to ask if I was leaving the space. YES OF COURSE I'M LEAVING, I drive everywhere with a drip stand attached to my car!"
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/search/z07_02_Fe/funny.shtmlDisability drama breaks new ground – by Tom Swanston (BBC). "A 10-part series about a wheelchair basketball team - with disabled actors playing all of the disabled characters - starts on CBBC on Wednesday. Desperados took almost a year to make and stars paralympic wheelchair basketball player, Ade Adepitan. Other disabled characters are played by untried actors, many of them recruited from real-life basketball teams."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6309739.stmThe Buffalo News 'An amazing journey' of mother and son - by Gene Warner. " Monica Moshenko of Clarence and her son, Alex, 13, will be taking their radio shows on nationwide tour next year to raise public awareness about the disabled. Monica Moshenko of Clarence has her own twice-a-week radio program, a show on disabilities that has featured interviews with actors Henry Winkler and Teri Garr and Lt. Gov.-elect David A. Paterson. Not to be outdone, her son, Alex, 13, has his own radio show, 'Al's Wrestling Talk,' which airs live on the Internet every Saturday night. This is a high-powered tandem -- a mother who has become a passionate advocate for the disabled and a teen with a very high-functioning form of autism.The Moshenkos plan to take their radio shows on the road for the coming year, touring America in a recreational vehicle."
http://www.disabilitynewsradio.com/disability_news.htm
MEDICAL
Blood test for Down's likely in three years - (Youreable). "Scientists have devised a blood test for expectant mothers which will predict whether their unborn child has the chromosomal abnormalities which cause Down's syndrome. The test could replace the process of invasive amniocentesis tests, which carry a risk of miscarriage and is worrying for expectant parents, within three years. Two groups of scientists, based in America and Hong Kong, have come up with separate novel solutions to make blood tests possible. Pregnant women have foetal DNA in their blood which could be tested for Down's syndrome. But it has so far proved difficult to distinguish between the mother's and foetus's DNA. Research by the American scientists published in today's Lancet has identified a method to distinguish between mother and foetal DNA to count chromosomes affected by aneuploidy - the defects which cause Down's syndrome. But the technique is not yet perfect and of the 60 women sampled two were given incorrect results."
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/Jan07/test%20for%20downs
'Depression link' to small babies - (BBC). "A US study appears to back previous research suggesting underweight babies are at a greater risk of depression. Researchers found girls who had been born weighing under 2.5kg (5.5lb) were more prone to depression aged 13 to 16 than those born at a normal weight. The Archives of General Psychiatry study, led by Duke University, examined data on more than 1,400 children, aged nine to 16. They said further investigation was needed to pin down possible reasons."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6419537.stmTrials for 'bionic' eye implants - by Jonathan Fildes (BBC News). "A bionic eye implant that could help restore the sight of millions of blind people could be available to patients within two years. US researchers have been given the go-ahead to implant the prototype device in 50 to 75 patients. The Argus II system uses a spectacle-mounted camera to feed visual information to electrodes in the eye."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6368089.stmVaccine zaps allergy in record time - by Aria Pearson (New Scientist). "Allergy sufferers could bid farewell to their sneezes with a new generation of vaccines that take effect within weeks. Existing vaccines for allergies involve three to five years of regular injections with increasing amounts of allergen - the substance that triggers an allergy. . . . Because nothing is directing allergens to the right place in immune cells, it takes a lot of allergen to generate a response. Now researchers at the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) in Davos Platz have developed 'modular antigen translocating molecules' (MAT), which make vaccines more efficient by delivering the antigens - foreign substances that trigger an immune response - right to where they're needed within an immune cell."
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19325894.000?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=mg19325894.000
POLICY/RESEARCH
Disability Tip Sheet - (Indiana University). March is Disability Awareness Month -- Here are tips from disability experts on finding the right words to communicate about and with people with disabilities, caring for siblings of children with disabilities, preparing students with disabilities for the transition to adulthood, and a new student law clinic focusing on disability rights.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/527637/How Sexy is Your Brain? - by Tim Gilmer (Newmobility). "My dad, like a lot of fathers from his generation, waited too long to have his big sex talk with me. By then I had learned all kinds of bad habits and questionable information from my peers, most of whom were prodigious liars. But one thing Dad told me turned out to be both reliable and prophetic: 'It's all up here,' he said, tapping on his temple with his forefinger. . . . Nothing new here, but now we may have a scientific basis for understanding it, according to researcher Kim Anderson, an assistant professor in the Reeve-Irvine Research Center's department of neurosurgery. Even though there are differences in the way men and women with spinal cord injury experience sexual arousal and intercourse, Anderson's most recent research shows that both genders have one rather remarkable adaptive trait in common: the ability to develop new areas of arousal above the injury level when the injury is considered complete."
http://www.newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=1253&action=browseMental Retardation Is No More—New Name Is Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - "After almost 5 decades of being called Mental Retardation, this influential journal in special education changed names to Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities under the leadership of Editor Steven J. Taylor. The journal's name change is a microcosm of society's ongoing struggle to find a socially acceptable way of addressing persons with an intellectual disability. The new name comes close on the heels of the name change of its publisher, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, formerly AAMR, the world's oldest organization representing professionals in developmental disabilities."
http://www.aamr.org/About_AAIDD/MR_name_change.htmMS: The 'white man's disease' - by Sarvat Khan (Ouch). "Sarvat Khan lives in Lancashire. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) eleven years ago. The two-lettered condition is not common across the globe meaning her family and local Asian community often find it hard to get to grips with what's happening to her. My father took me to see his doctor - Dr P - in 1996 because the diagnosis I had received from my neurologist was alien to him. The GP told us both that that I couldn't possibly have Multiple Sclerosis because it's a 'white man's disease.' Is it? Why? Did that mean I had been misdiagnosed?"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/features/white_mans_disease.shtml
REHABILITATION
A Question of Mind Over Matter - by Rachel Metz (Wired News). "MIT assistant professor Hugh Herr is an advanced prosthetics researcher and a bilateral leg amputee, two conditions that have allowed him the rare experience of testing his gadgets on himself. . . .The so-called biohybrid system sports a power pack and computer all contained within the prosthesis and uses sensors to allow more realistic movements than static, strap-on devices."
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,71785-0.htmlIntroducing Jesse Sullivan, the World's First "Bionic Man" - "In May 2001, working as a high-power lineman 54 year old Jesse Sullivan had a life changing event -- he was electrocuted so severely that both of his arms needed to be amputated. While recovering from his third-degree burns and surgeries Jesse wondered how he would be able to live a fulfilling life, let alone hug his grandchildren. Thanks to his fighting spirit, and the innovative 'Bionic' research at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Jesse now can do many things that most would take for granted, like fishing, mowing the lawn, and yes, even hug his grandchildren."
http://www.ric.org/bionic/
SELF HELP
The National Deaf Children's Society has launched a new website to meet the growing demand for information - (Yourable). "Families, professionals and deaf children themselves will be able to find out about the charity's unique services, fundraising and campaigning work. Parents of deaf children played a central role in designing the new site to ensure ease of navigation and to enable new audiences to grasp the varied work the charity undertakes. The website features dedicated information for families, professionals, fundraisers and campaigners. The interactive site encourages dialogue with users, retaining its successful Parent Place discussion forum, as well as allowing users to post comments to pages across the site."
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/Feb07/national%20deaf%20childrens%20society
TECHNOLOGY
Deaf to sign via video handsets - (BBC). "Deaf people could soon be using video mobiles to chat with their friends using sign language. Video compression tools made by US researchers make it possible to send live pictures of people signing across low bandwidth mobile networks. The system cuts down on the bandwidth needed by only sending data about which parts of each frame have changed. The researchers are talking to mobile firms about how to get the technology in to the hands of deaf people."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6366177.stmMembers Approve OpenDocument Version 1.1 as OASIS Standard - "OASIS, the international standards consortium, today announced that its members have approved version 1.1 of the Open Document Format for Office Applications (OpenDocument) as an OASIS Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification. The result of a unique collaboration between advocacy groups for the disabled and open source and commercial software vendors, this new version of the standard provides key accessibility enhancements to ensure that the OpenDocument format (ODF) addresses the needs of people with disabilities."
http://www.oasis-open.org/news/oasis-news-2007-02-14.phpPremier Assistive Technology Announces the Release of Their Latest Breakthrough Technology "PDF Equalizer", Making Alternative Text Truly Accessible - (PRWEB). "PDF Equalizer mean users can easily access electronic books directly from the publisher. In the world of assistive technology, there have been two conflicting terms - alternative media and accessible media. PDF Equalizer was developed in collaboration with University of Georgia's Alternative Media Access Center and Premier Assistive Technology to bridge that gap by making alternative media into accessible media without going through a conversion process. Increasingly, publishers are being asked to provide their books in alternative formats. While many publishers have done that, unfortunately, in many cases the documents still are not 'accessible'. Turning these documents from alternative formats to accessible formats has typically been a time-consuming and a very cumbersome process for the targeted end users that often resulted in a document of lesser quality than the original."
http://prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb507942.htmSun Develops ODF Plugin for Office - (Techtree). "Sun Microsystems has developed software, 'StarOffice 8 Conversion Technology' that enables two-way conversion of Microsoft Office 2003 suite and ODF (Open Document Format for XML). The 'StarOffice 8 Conversion Technology' Preview plug-in application for Microsoft Office 2003 lets PC users with assistive technologies to access documents written in ODF. The technology preview is based on the OpenOffice.org platform, the open-source office productivity suite developed by the OpenOffice.org community, including the founder and main contributor, Sun Microsystems. Initially, the plug-in application will support the conversion of text documents (.doc/.odt), while the support for spreadsheet and presentation documents is expected in April. The company claims the conversion to be absolutely transparent to the user with minimum additional memory footprint."
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Sun_Develops_ODF_Plugin_for_Office/551-78989-580.html
CONFERENCES
(New Conferences)
CANADIAN
Vocational Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury - May 24-26, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "This second biennial international gathering focuses specifically on vocational outcomes in traumatic brain injury. Presentations will cover the range of impairment from mild to severe by a group of world renowned speakers."
http://www.tbicvancouver.com/2007 RehabNet Conference - June 14-15, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "In Canada, there has been an increased recognition of the importance of accountability in respect to quality of patient care and patient safety in the healthcare system. However, most of the attention has been on developing methods and standards for acute care facilities and very little has been published about patient safety initiatives in rehabilitation settings. Necessary risk-taking is another important consideration as one re-integrates into their environment with a new disability. This is particularly evident for children and adolescents with physical impairments as they grow into independent adults. The 2007 RehabNet Conference is a two-day event recognizing the unique challenges around patient safety and the ethical dimensions of balancing safety measures and necessary risk-taking in rehabilitation. In relation to this year's theme 'Achieving Patient Safety, Respecting Patients' Choices', the conference will provide an opportunity for clinicians, administrators, academics and policy makers to share experiences, research and best practices on the current trends and future directions of rehabilitation."
http://www.torontorehab.com/education/rehabnet/Conference.htmFestival of International Conferences on Disability, Aging and Technology - June 16-19, 2007 | Toronto, Ontario. "The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together five important and different conferences all focused on enhancing the lives of seniors, persons with disabilities and their family caregivers."
• Growing Older with a Disability
• The 2nd International Conference on Technology and Aging (ICTA)
• Advances in Neurorehabilitation
• Caregivers: Essential Partners in Care
• Improving Medical Device Usability (CMBES)"
http://www.ficdat.ca/TRANSED 2007 - 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons - June 18-21, 2007 | Montreal, Quebec. "Canada is proud to host the 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED), to be held June 18-21, 2007, at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal under the theme 'Benchmarking, Evaluation and Vision for the Future'. The conference will review advances in research, evoke international break throughs and explore perspectives for technological innovations in order to respond to the mobility challenges of an aging population and of persons with disabilities, as part of an inclusive society."
http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/Transed2007/home.htmThe 12th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics - Moving Beyond Disability - July 29-August 3, 2007 | Vancouver, British Columbia. "Welcome to the web page for the ISPO 2007 World Congress. The ISPO World Congress is the premiere global event for multidisciplinary prosthetic and orthotic care. The ISPO Canada National Society is pleased to welcome you to Vancouver to enjoy the scientific sessions, workshops and symposia, expansive trade exhibits, and active social programs."
http://www.ispo.ca/congress/ Mobility Cup 2007 - August 28-September 1, 2007 | Halifax, Nova Scotia. - "An international regatta for people with significant physical disabilities will sail into Halifax in 2007. The Mobility Cup regatta is North America's flagship for sailors with physical disabilities. The event was first hosted in 1991 and has been growing ever since as it travelled across Canada - but this will be its first appearance in Atlantic Canada. Mobility Cup 2007 will be run by Sail Able Nova Scotia and hosted at the Dartmouth Yacht Club. It will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, to include one day's training and four of racing. Sailing will be on the Bedford Basin, a sheltered body of water two miles wide and five miles long - where the WWII Atlantic convoys would gather."
http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/events/details?page=803U.S.
15th Annual Best Practices in Brain Injury Conference - March 15-16, 2007 | Des Moines, Iowa. "This Conference will continue on its founding theme of being a vehicle of exchange of ideas and philosophies in "Best Practices In Brain Injury Service Delivery". Through the dissemination of information, both through the formal training sessions and informal networking that will take place, individuals attending the Conference will come away refreshed with new ideas, rewarded for past accomplishments, and excited about the on-going challenges that face them in providing service to persons who have sustained a traumatic brain injury."
http://www.biausa.org/Iowa/docs/biaia_conf_pro_reg.doc11th Annual Nonverbal Learning Disorders Symposium - March 16-17, 2007 | San Jose, California. "Symposium 2007: Moving Toward a Brighter Tomorrow will focus on an array of interventions that are both proactive and practical. Keynote for the conference is Joseph Palombo, author of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: A Clinical Perspective, who will offer a new look at disorders of verbal language and impairments in nonverbal communication."
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. 7th Annual Disability Studies in Education (DSE) Conference - "Disability Studies and Inclusive Education: Implications for Practice?" - April 7-9, 2007 | Chicago, Illinois. "Disability Studies in Education (DSE) is a special interest group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). For the last five years, this annual event has attracted researchers, professors, teachers, and other individuals who actively seek to change traditional theory and practice around disability within the fields of education and rehabilitation services. This year, the conference continues its custom of bringing together scholars, researchers, teachers, and agents of social change, all united through their interest in theorizing, politicizing, and reconceptualizing disability within the field of education."
http://www.nl.edu/dse/index.htmlUnited Cerebral Palsy 2007 Annual Conference: No Limits, Just Life - April 12-14, 2007 | Orlando, Florida. "This year's conference will unveil the Big Sky Project, and examine innovations in service delivery models, full integration for people with disabilities, future leadership practices, funding opportunities, and the forces that are likely to have major impacts on individuals with disabilities over the next decade."
www.ucp.org/ucp_general.cfm/1/12438Family Voices 2007 National Conference - May 23-26, 2007 | Washington, D.C. "Family Voices invites you to join veteran and emerging family/youth leaders from around the country focusing on children and youth with special health care needs. Gain new information about critical topics such as: Medicaid policy; health information technology; family-centered care; cultural competence to improve care and systems; quality assurance; Bright Futures/wellness; transition; evidence-based outcomes, and more."
www.familyvoices.org Postsecondary Disability Training Institute - June 12-16, 2007 | Saratoga Springs, New York. "Sponsored by the University of Connecticut Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability. This Training Institute will assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants can select from a variety of strands and single sessions taught by experts in the field. Attendees will have opportunities to share information and to network with each other at various activities throughout the week."
www.cped.uconn.edu/07pti.htm RESNA 2007 - June 15-19, 2007 | Phoenix, Arizona. "RESNA 2007 will feature assistive technology's leading researchers, renowned clinicians and policy experts creating a conference program with unmatched levels of knowledge and expertise. RESNA presenters and attendees will experience a surprisingly intimate conference environment where:
• information is contemporary and innovative
• uncommon questions find in-depth answers
• sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences is easy, and
• new connections last a lifetime.
RESNA 2007 will offer an exciting Exhibit Hall featuring product demonstrations and training sessions, two days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full-days of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions and distinguished speakers."
http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php Autreat 2007 - June 25-29, 2007 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Autreat is a retreat-style conference run by Autism Network International, for autistic people and our families, professionals, friends and supporters. We are accepting proposals for workshops to be presented at Autreat 2007, to be held Monday-Friday, June 25-29, 2007, in metropolitan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."
http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/events/details?page=841American 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.aspx 18th Annual APSE Conference, Employment for All - Show Me The Future - It 's Bigger Than You Think - July 16-18, 2007 | Kansas City, Missouri. "APSE: The Network on Employment is known for hosting the most informative and stimulating conferences on disability and employment in the country. It is the only national annual meeting that focuses exclusively on cutting edge employment practices for individuals with more challenging disabilities."
http://www.apse.org/documents/confbroFINAL.pdfAHEAD conference 2007 - July 17-21, 2007 | Charlotte, North Carolina. "The annual international AHEAD conference brings together professionals in the fields of higher education and disability for a week of information-sharing, networking and theoretical and practical training."
http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2007_conf/AHEAD_2007_Conference.htmNational Federation of the Blind Youth Slam - A 2007 STEM Leadership Academy - July 30-August 4, 2007 | Baltimore, Maryland. "The largest gathering of blind youth ever. This four-day academy will engage and inspire the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for blind people to enter. While staying at Johns Hopkins University, youth will be mentored by blind role models during fun, challenging, and inspiring activities meant to stretch the imagination, build confidence, and increase science literacy. Activities will take place with support from partners such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, and other institutions and corporations working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The NFB Youth Slam will culminate in an inspiring rally at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and a celebration at the center of innovation in the field of blindness—the NFB Jernigan Institute."
http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Youth_Slam.asp?SnID=1479761418Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators (PEC) - August 3-5, 2007 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "SHOUT, a 501( c )3 nonprofit corporation, has as its mission advocacy for employment of people who rely on augmentative communication. As part of its mission, SHOUT has hosted eight, three-day Pittsburgh Employment Conferences for Augmented Communicators (PEC@) in the past 10 years. With hundreds of attendees drawn from four continents, PEC@ is the only conference in the world focused on employment outcomes for people who use augmentative communication."
http://www.sciconics.com/shout/index.html Job Accommodation Network Conference 2007 - Empowering Employers to Build an Inclusive Workforce - August 6-7, 2007 | Arlington, Virginia. "Acquire knowledge and skills to accommodate employees with disabilities, comply with the ADA, and develop innovative employment practices. JAN staff and other experts will answer questions such as:
• How does an employer recruit, hire, retain, promote, and accommodate employees with disabilities?
• What strategies have employers implemented to facilitate successful and cost-effective accommodations?
• What do laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) say about employing individuals with disabilities?"
http://conference.jan.wvu.edu/2007 Southwest Conference - October 3-5, 2007 | Albuquerque, New Mexico. "The 2007 Southwest Conference on Disability will be held October 3-5, 2007 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Conference organizers are excited to announce that the 2007 conference will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Association on State Units on Aging. The call for papers will open December 1, 2006. Check back then for more details!"
http://cdd.unm.edu/swconf/OVERSEAS
The First International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Accessibility - April 12-14, 2007 | Hammamet, Tunisia. "The World Health Organization estimates that between 750 million and 1 billion of the world's 6 billion people have a speech, vision, mobility, hearing or cognitive impairment. Given the broad implications that accessibility has on society in general, and the global importance of IT and accessibility, a common understanding and knowledge is a necessity. Without global standards and a harmonized approach to procuring information technology, different technical standards can be adopted. by organizing this conference in Tunisia, the host of the World Summit of the Information Society 2005, the research Unit UTIC, very active in this field, and the cooperating partners would like to draw the attention of the different implied communities on the importance of Accessibility."
http://www.esstt.rnu.tn/utic/tica2007/call_paper.htmInternational Convention for Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2007) - April 23-26, 2007 | Singapore. "Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of scientific and engineering principles to address the needs of persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation engineering professionals play a vital role in the removal of barriers to employability and independent living opportunities among this population. Through the use of assistive technology, the employability, education, communication, daily functioning, and recreational activities of persons with disabilities are all enhanced."
http://www.i-create2007.org/14th Deafblind International (Dbl) World Conference - September 25-30, 2007 | Perth, Western Australia. "The 14th Deafblind International World Conference will be held in Perth at the Burswood Entertainment Complex, from Tuesday 25th to Sunday 30th September 2007 inclusive. Exciting international and national speakers will form part of the Conference program based around the Conference theme. An estimated 1000 delegates will attend the Conference from the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe and from Asia and the countries of the Pacific. Registrants will be
• International, national and local health and disability professionals and service providers;
• World recognised experts in deafblindness;
• Representatives from the international blind and deafblind communities."
http://www.dbiconference2007.asn.au/19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics - July 5-9, 2009 | Paris, France. "Every four years, the World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics represents a unique and irreplaceable event attended by experts from around the world to discuss the latest findings in the field of ageing. The 19th congress, which is taking place in Paris in 2009, is particularly important, as it coincides with an ideological u-turn. Lifespan extension and the
growing number of elderly people, once considered as catastrophic, are now viewed as an indisputable progress."
http://www.gerontologyparis2009.com/site/view8.php