Disability Resource Digest
Volume 6, Issue 10 November 2006
The Disability Resource Digest (DRD) is a special project of SMD
Alliance. SMD Alliance is based in Manitoba, Canada and provides
strategic vision and policy direction to four SMD corporations: SMD
Clearinghouse; SMD Foundation; SMD Ventures; and SMD Services.
The
vision shared among the corporations is of a "community that supports
the independence, participation, and empowerment of persons of all
abilities." Each SMD corporation pursues a complementary mandate in
working toward this vision.
The DRD is prepared primarily as
an informational resource for consumers, professionals and publics
interested in remaining current in disability related issues. An
archive of past editions of the DRD is maintained on SMD's web site
(http://www.smd.mb.ca).
Published monthly (with a single
summer edition for July and August), the DRD presents summaries of, and
URL addresses for, notable disability-related content on the world-wide
web (WWW). The DRD focuses on recently posted content but also includes
coverage of other web pages of interest. The URL addresses cited in the
DRD are current at the time of publication. But as those posting
content on the web often revise URL addresses, the addresses in the DRD
may not remain current.
The DRD is prepared for SMD Alliance
by The Project Group (TPG) Consulting Cooperative Ltd., a
Winnipeg-based consulting firm. Neither SMD nor TPG are responsible for
the accuracy or reliability of the content cited in the DRD.
Readers
interested in learning more about SMD Alliance are invited to visit:
http://www.smd.mb.ca or to contact the agency by e-mail at info@smd.ca.
Readers are also invited to send comments and suggestions regarding the
DRD to this same e-mail address.
ACCESSIBILITY
Blind Americans to Cast First Secret Ballot - National Federation of the Blind to Monitor Compliance - "The National Federation of the Blind announced today that it has created a hotline for blind and visually impaired voters to report any difficulties in casting their ballots both secretly and independently in the upcoming election. The purpose of the hotline will be to monitor compliance with the provisions of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) relating to nonvisual access to the voting process for the blind."
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=86&SnID=347581720
Dial Me In: The Latest on Off-the-Shelf Cell Phone Accessibility - by Darren Burton (AFB Access World). "Our product evaluation lab at AFB TECH in Huntington, West Virginia, was back at it again this summer, investigating the latest in cell phone accessibility. Readers who have followed our cell phone articles in AccessWorld will know that we have defined two categories of cell phones: off-the-shelf cell phones that are designed with a degree of built-in speech-output capability and cell phones with the Symbian operating system that is compatible with third-party screen-reading and screen-magnification software programs. This article looks at the state of affairs in the off-the-shelf category. You can look forward to a future article evaluating Symbian phones with the latest versions of the Mobile Speak and TALKS screen readers, as well as the Mobile Magnifier and ZOOMS screen-magnifier products. In this article, I examine eight off-the-shelf telephones that are produced by four manufacturers and are available from seven national service providers." (Thanks to Gary Annable for this link.)
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw070503Does accessible product = accessible vendor? - "When evaluating how accessible a product is, I do not just look at the product itself but at the whole sales lifecycle. It is not much point having a wonderfully accessible product if the user cannot find out about it or effectively use it. Also looking at the whole cycle gives me a view as to how committed the company is to the concepts of accessibility and usability and how much they are just trying to get ticks in the right boxes."
http://www.it-director.com/business/compliance/content.php?cid=8917Empower Technologies Teams with Microsoft to Make it Easier to Shop for Assistive Technology Online - "Empower Technologies today announced the launch of a new Assistive Technologies (AT) comparison shopping experience via a number of Microsoft Web sites, including MSN Shopping and Windows Live Shopping. The availability of this service addresses the long-standing absence of a single, comprehensive resource where shoppers can comparison shop for and purchase AT products, which benefit not only people with disabilities, but also the growing aging population."
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061003/sftu027.html?.v=69How to make your website fit for all - "US online retailer Target.com is facing legal action brought by Bruce Sexton, a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Sexton is suing the organisation on behalf of blind people in California, claiming they are being denied access to the retailer's online shopping services. Although legal requirements and a negative... public image represent the accessibility 'sticks', there are many 'carrots' for organisations that make efforts to meet them, including cleaner and easier to use websites (and hence improved customer satisfaction), cheaper and easier site maintenance and, in some cases, increased traffic and revenue. An accessible website can also be more readable for search engine spiders, which can push it up the search engine rankings. The good news is that website developers have access to a growing armoury of resources for creating accessible websites."
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/10/24/219269/How+to+make+your+website+fit+for+all.htmMost significant ever changes for disabled motorists announced by Motability - "Motability, which has the key role in enabling independent mobility for disabled people, has announced its widest ever range of affordable cars and services. The biggest change is the additional choice for those who need specialised vehicles or adaptations in their car. The changes, being introduced from 1 October 2006, will provide much lower prices for those with greater levels of disability."
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/Oct2006/motability%20announce%20changesU.S. reports disabled access attained - by Lara Jakes Jordan (Associated Press Writer)."The Bush administration said Thursday it has forced government agencies and businesses into complying with federal disability laws in more than 2,000 cases over the past five years, mostly without imposing penalties. The vast majority of the complaints -- an estimated 1,800 -- were resolved amicably through mediation, the Justice Department said. Additionally, the department's civil rights division settled 151 cases against state and local governments to bring them into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6127550,00.htmlW3C Announces Roadmap for Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) - "Today, W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) introduces a suite of documents that will make it easier for Web site developers to make dynamic Web content usable to people with disabilities. The First Public Working Drafts of the Accessible Rich Internet Application suite include the WAI-ARIA Roadmap, WAI-ARIA Roles, and WAI-ARIA States and Properties. 'As people are demanding more from the Web - more information, more responsive applications and richer experiences - an explosion in technologies that exclude access to many people is growing. This new suite of documents being rolled out is significant because they will help developers gain access to the tools needed to support persons with disabilities on the Web,' explained Rich Schwerdtfeger, IBM Distinguished Engineer and author of the WAI-ARIA Roadmap. 'ARIA is our first step to bring the richer, dynamic Web content experience to all users of the Web, by providing technology enhancements and examples for better, more accessible implementations'."
http://www.w3.org/2006/09/aria-pressrelease.html.enADVOCACY
California Students with Disabilities in the Class of 2007 Protected - "Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), together with co-counsel Chavez & Gertler, LLP, is litigating a class action lawsuit on behalf of California high school students with disabilities, challenging the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) as an invalid and discriminatory exam as applied to these students. As a result of this lawsuit, students with disabilities in the Class of 2007 who meet all other graduation requirements are generally entitled to their diplomas regardless of whether they pass the CAHSEE. This is because the California Legislature, acting in response to the long standing lawsuit, passed Senate Bill (SB) 267, which ensures that these students can receive their diplomas. SB 267 was sponsored by State Senator Gloria Romero, and it was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 29, 2006. The bill includes certain procedural requirements students must meet in order to graduate."
http://www.dralegal.org/cases/education_testing/chapman_v_ca.php
AGING
Complacency In Caring For Seniors Is Not An Option - (National Advisory Council on Aging). "The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) is unveiling today the results of its Seniors in Canada: 2006 Report Card at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Meeting in Quebec City. The Report Card looked at how well Canadian seniors are doing in five key areas: health status, health care system, economic situation, living conditions and participation in society. The overall grade for the five questions under study is a 'B'."
http://www.naca-ccnta.ca/press_releases/2006-01_e.htmhttp://www.naca-ccnta.ca/rc2006/index.htmEDUCATION
SECONDARY/PRIMARY
SNOW – Special Needs Opportunity Windows - "The Special Needs Opportunity Windows or SNOW Project is a provider of online resources and professional development opportunities for educators and parents of students with special needs. Our online workshops, curriculum materials, open discussion forums and other resources are available to assist you in using new technologies to benefit all of your learners." (The DRD highlighted this site a number of years ago, but a fair number of new resources have been added and it is worth visiting the site again.)
http://snow.utoronto.ca/POSTSECONDARY
Breaking down barriers - Thanks to changing attitudes and a lot more government money, students with disabilities are flocking to Ontario's colleges and universities - by Daniel Girard (The Star). "It long ago moved beyond simply erecting wheelchair ramps into campus buildings. A record number of students with disabilities study at Ontario's universities and colleges. Their ranks have swelled nearly sixfold in a decade-and-a-half on the strength of evolving societal acceptance, progressive public policy, advanced technology and people who refused to take no for an answer. On campuses a generation ago, they were few, stigmatized and left to go it alone. Today, school administrators are helping them increasingly take their place in lecture halls and laboratories where the focus is much more about fulfilling academic expectations than battling."
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1161985809865&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467New Resources @ HEATH - (HEATH). "The Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach offers two new resources that our readers will want to know about. Communication Accommodations is a collaborative effort between Dr. Greg Long of Northern Illinois University and PEPNet Midwest ( Midwest Center for Postsecondary Outreach). This online resource provides information about accommodations frequently used by students who are deaf or hard of hearing in postsecondary settings. Although designed with Disabled Student Services (DSS) Coordinators in mind, students, families, and faculty also find the information useful. The site provides in-depth information on hearing loss, legal mandates, accommodations, and communicative environments."
http://www.heath.gwu.edu/newsletter/Issue%2018/new_resources.htmEMPLOYMENT
10 by 10 Challenge Embraces The Workable - "All British Columbians will benefit from having more people with disabilities in the workplace and that's why the government is issuing a provincewide challenge to increase their employment by 10 per cent by 2010, Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond said today. The 10 by 10 Challenge – increasing B.C.'s current employment of persons with disabilities from 132,000 in 2006 to 145,000 in 2010 – was issued by Minister Richmond and Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, co-chairs of the Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities, at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Victoria."
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006EIA0020-001280.htmBlind ambition: Disabled workers prove their worth on the job - (AAPD). "Kim Charlson has had much success in her life. She is the director of the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, holds her master's degree in library and information science and is an activist. However, one thing differentiates her from others: She is blind and gets around with the help of her seeing-eye dog, Jubilee. As director of the library, a position she has held for the past five years, she is responsible for supervising a staff of 28 people, eight of whom have a visual impairment. Although she considers herself lucky, particularly in the area of employment - she has worked at the Perkins School for the Blind for 22 years and before coming to the Perkins School she worked in Oregon at a talking book library - she knows many people with disabilities struggle to find jobs. Seventy five percent of people with disabilities are unemployed, she said, adding that the high rate stems from misconceptions of what people with disabilities can or cannot do."
http://www.aapd.com/News/empissues/061101bh.htmBill Clements: Electric Bassist (One Arm Missing) - (Paralinks). "Bassist Bill Clements, began playing at the age of 13, inspired by Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and other prog-rock bass giants. Bill decided early on, one way or another, bass playing would be his path. Forgoing a formal musical education, Bill instead embarked on an intensive program of practice and musical research. Unfortunately, Bill lost his right hand and forearm, December 1989 in an industrial accident. This catastrophic event would seemingly have ended his promising career as a musician. Yet within three months time, Bill was gigging again, and he hasn't stopped since. Clements has long received regional acclaim for his prolific style of bass playing, and has been favorably compared to such bass legends as Rocco Prestia and Jaco Pastorius."
http://paralinks.net/musicians/BILLCLEMENTS.HTML
Eeoc Launches Website Section On "Lead"Initiative - "Giving greater presence to a pressing – and largely unknown – problem, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today launched a website section on its LEAD Initiative, designed to address the declining number of employees with severe disabilities in the Federal workforce. The section, on EEOC's website at www.eeoc.gov/initiatives/lead/index.html, offers basic information on the initiative and on the declining number of disabled federal employees. As the effort progresses, announcements and updates will appear regularly. The Commission launched the LEAD (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities) Initiative in June under the leadership of Commissioner Christine Griffin, a legal expert and long-time advocate for disability issues."
http://www.eeoc.gov/press/10-4-06.htmlNine Winners of New Freedom Initiative Awards Announced - "The Department of Labor is praising nine winners of its New Freedom Initiative Award for their efforts to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The awards ceremony took place last week at the Washington Renaissance Hotel. The awards are part of October's observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao also awarded the Spirit Award to Dave Dravecky, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Following his battle with cancer, Dravecky and his wife, Jan, established the Outreach of Hope ministry, which offers referral services and resources for those facing significant medical or physical challenges, especially people with cancer or amputation."
http://hr.blr.com/display.cfm/id/19320Want to Work? - by Jeff Shannon (New Mobility). "Your alarm goes off at 5 a.m. - a rude awakening, as usual. You've got a three-hour morning routine to contend with, and you're never sure if your attendant will arrive on time. You'll have just enough time to grab a bit of breakfast before loading yourself into a van (or public transit, so you'd better be punctual), and your dodgy commute to the office is rarely predictable, so you need some buffer-time to ensure a timely arrival. You roll into work a little before 9 a.m., just to show the boss you're a conscientious and reliable employee. Your workday has just begun, and you're nearly exhausted. Now, really, is this any way to make a living?"
http://www.newmobility.com/review_article.cfm?id=1206&action=browse GENERAL INTEREST
Teddy Pendergrass Alliance and National Spinal Cord Injury Association Announce Partnership - "Soul music legend Teddy Pendergrass and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) today have announced the formation of a partnership between his charitable group, the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance (TPA), and NSCIA. The partnership will focus on reaching people with spinal cord injuries as early as possible after their injury with a message hope and of practical support as these individuals return to an independent and productive life."
http://www.spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=1&page=0&list=959Now, a few laughs from the man in the wheelchair - (The Toronto Star) "Did you hear the one about the guy in the wheelchair who likes to tell jokes? He calls himself a stand-up comic. Tim Rose, 21, has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. He also has a great sense of humour. The third-year student at Carleton University in Ottawa finds being able to laugh at himself serves as 'an icebreaker' to those unsettled by the sight of a guy who only moves his left arm and head, and pilots a 300-kilogram wheelchair. It's also an effective way to advocate on behalf of the disabled, he says. To that end, Rose, a member of Carleton's improvisational comedy troupe, next month will host a comedy night on campus for up to 400 people — Jokes on Wheels — to raise money for Easter Seals and awareness about students with disabilities. 'I want to get people thinking, but still make it fun for them,' says Rose, who is working on a combined honours bachelor's degree in law and human rights. 'It won't be a classroom lecture by any means. Frankly, even I couldn't sit through a lecture on disability rights, and I'm in a wheelchair.'"
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1161985809854&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467Disabled URI engineering student wins invention award - "An 11-year-old Wakefield girl who has cerebral palsy is far more independent than she used to be, thanks to a University of Rhode Island engineering student. Kevin Cronin of South Kingstown helped create a unique switch-and-arm brace to help Caitlin Farless more easily operate a voice output device that helps her communicate. The device Cronin developed also helps Farless operate a radio, toys and other equipment. The Rhode Island Statewide Independent Living Council recently recognized Cronin for his efforts to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities with an award for community service presented at their recent annual meeting. The award 'honors individuals who personify the philosophy of independent living and who, through their efforts, have made life better for others with disabilities,' said Linda Hutnak of the Independent Living Council. A car accident during his freshman year at URI in 1997 left Cronin a quadriplegic, but after years of surgeries and rehabilitation he was inspired to use his mechanical abilities to create ways to help himself and others with disabilities."
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1714&dept_id=73829&newsid=17281687&PAG=461&rfi=9DisabilityNation - An Audio Magazine by and for People with Disabilities - "DisabilityNation is an audio magazine by and for people with disabilities. Click on the links at the left to learn more about DisabilityNation and to listen to recent shows. Transcripts of DN episodes are available to the left as well. Be sure to visit the DisabilityNation show blog for the latest news and updates to the site. To insure you receive the latest DisabilityNation episode be sure to subscribe to the podcast feed directly."
http://www.disabilitynation.net/Disability museum to move into historic Williamsville building - by Jeff Shaw (TheAmherstRecord.com). "A museum in Amherst has found a new, larger home - but it will cost them. The Amherst Town Board voted to approve a lease agreement with People Inc. to allow the company to use the historic Mennonite Meeting House on Main Street in Williamsville as the new location for the Museum of disABILITY History. In return, People Inc. will pay rent, renovate the building for an estimated $60,000 and repair another building — the St. Mary's garage site in Amherst State Park on Mill Street — to house town records that currently occupy the meeting house."
http://www.theamherstrecord.com/local/local_story_262172752.htmlvirtual Museum of disABILITY History - "This online wing of the museum of disABILITY complements our freestanding 'bricks and mortar' museum and our traveling exhibits. The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. The Museum's exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery." (This museum has been covered before in the DRD, but the site has be significantly revamped since, and is worth looking at again.)
http://www.museumofdisability.org/html/exhibits/Disability no obstacle as Sophie conquers Africa - by Kat Dibbits (This is Lancashire). "For anyone, being swept toward a white water rapid without the protection of a raft would be a frightening thought. But for the 11 people who took part in the BBC series Beyond Boundaries, the second episode of which was shown yesterday, the danger was even more pronounced. All the participants have disabilities that make the show's challenge - to walk across Africa - even more difficult."
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.959095.0.disability_no_obstacle_as_sophie_conquers_africa.phpDisability X-Factor begins - by Mike B (BBC Sport). "Nope, there's no Simon Cowell and Sharon Osborne bickering about the 'next Westlife', Paula Abdul won't be making a guest appearance, and thankfully Kate 'cardboard' Thornton is nowhere to be seen. However, a kind of X-Factor is under way in the Paralympic world. In fact, it isn't just a search for a star, it's a search for 'THE' stars of the future - the stars of 2012. Boosted by a massive cash injection, the British Paralympic Association (BPA) has embarked on a major grass-roots campaign to identify the medal-winning talent of the future."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A16134310Gfk Mystery Shopping Partners With Butler New Media To Offer Ability Mystery Shopping Panel Nationally - Provides First and Largest Assessment of Shopping Experience for People with Disabilities - "GfK Mystery Shopping and Butler New Media today announced a joint venture that will provide GfK clients access to Butler's ABILITY Mystery Shopping Panel. The effort combines the expertise of GfK Mystery Shopping with Butler's knowledge of the disabled community to create America's first national panel for individuals with disabilities. Utilizing Butler's ABILITY panelists, GfK Mystery Shopping sends a variety of disabled 'undercover shoppers' into stores nationwide to assess customer service and sales personnel performance. Participant information on service animal usage, disability type as well as various demographic data such as age, race, sex and marital status is available. Store evaluations are based on salesmanship, service, and presentation towards these individuals. By offering access to the ABILITY Mystery Shopping Panel, the new GfK service provides companies the opportunity to determine how their employees communicate with shoppers with disabilities when these individuals are sent to specific store locations posing as customers."
http://www.icdri.org/News/abilitypanelPR-SP_1.htmSupport the Canadian Disabled Individuals Association (CDIA) - "Support the Canadian Disabled Individuals Association (CDIA) The novel LIFE SIDE UP, written by CDIA founder Ron Didur; is a story written from the first-person perspective, bringing the reader along to experience the diagnosis of MS, progression, and subsequent disability. You experience firsthand the frustrations, misunderstandings, and challenges of a disabled individual, the disabled individual is then exposed to the benefits of a positive attitude. When the main character passes away because of a car accident, he wakes up in another body and has a chance to live without disability again. It is a message in a love story as after time passes, he attempts to reunite with his former new bride.'Time is limited for many people and it's a quick afternoon read. Part one is based in reality and part two, the conclusion, is based on a dream'."
http://www.canparaplegic.org/en/News_93/items/16.html
Health
Health Canada approves promising new drug to treat multiple sclerosis - by Sheryl Ubelacker (CBC). "Canadians with multiple sclerosis will soon have access to a highly touted new drug for the treatment of the relapsing-remitting form of the progressive neurodegenerative disease, following approval of the medication by Health Canada. The new drug, to be sold under the brand name Tysabri, is the first in a new therapeutic class of MS treatments called selective adhesion molecule inhibitors and the first pharmaceutical advance for treating MS in 10 years, manufacturers Biogen Idec Canada and Elan Corp. said Wednesday. In a two-year, international trial that included Canadians afflicted with MS, the medication was found to reduce the rate of relapse by 68 per cent compared with placebo and the risk of sustained disability progression by 42 per cent."
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/061004/x100414.htmlHealth Reports: Job satisfaction, stress and depression - (Statistics Canada) "A second article, 'Stress and depression in the employed population,' examined stress levels among the employed population aged 18 to 75, and assessed links between stress and depression. Depression stands out as a major occupational health issue. Just over one million adults had experienced a major depressive episode in the year before the survey interview. Of these people, 7 in 10 were employed during that year. For workers of both sexes, high stress on and off the job was associated with depression. . . According to the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey, just over one million adults aged 18 or older had experienced a major depressive episode in the year before the survey. More than 70% of these people were employed in that year."
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061017/d061017a.htmLEGAL
National Federation of the Blind Files Target Lawsuit - (AAPD). "Bruce Sexton is blind. He would like to shop on Target's website, but says he can't 'read' it. He says the site lacks certain coding — found on many other websites — that would activate software to allow blind computer users to hear audio descriptions of what is on Internet pages. Sexton, 24, who lives in Berkeley, Calif., and the National Federation of the Blind are suing Target on behalf of the 1.3 million blind people in the USA. The suit alleges that the giant retailer discriminates against the visually impaired by violating state and federal laws that protect the disabled. The case draws national attention because it could have implications for virtually every retailer and business in the USA that operates a website. The case also fuels a wider debate starting to play out in courtrooms: whether anti-discrimination laws apply to the Internet. . . . In the Target case, the retailer contends that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and two California laws cited by Sexton apply only to its brick-and-mortar stores and do not extend to the Internet."
http://www.aapd.com/News/disability/061027usat.htmMEDIA
Artist excels despite disability - by Sheila Donnelly (Austin Daily Herald). "A Rose Creek man who can't move his body by himself hasn't let that slow him down. Jeff Koch must be lifted out of his bed every day with a sling and must be bathed, fed and tended to every day by an assistant. However, his intelligence level is higher than normal; he is a member of MENSA, the Gem and Mineral Society, and most recently won awards with his art work at the Art and Ability Art Show at the Mayo Clinic. Koch was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disease that causes muscles to weaken and waste away (atrophy) due to degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord."
http://www.austindailyherald.com/articles/2006/10/03/news/news4.txtCinephile Report - Shameless: The Art of Disability - "It's that time of year again folks. Doc Soup, the always entertaining monthly documentary series run by the folks at Hot Docs starts the countdown to next year's festival. The screening series opens with Bonnie Sherr Klein's candid, funny and unique film, Shameless: The ART of Disability. Klein first made waves with her feminist exploration of the pornography; Not A Love Story, hadn't made a film in 18 years after suffering a stroke. Using the structure of her struggle to make a film regardless of her disability she introduces us to a colourful cast of the most unpretentiously inspiring people your likely to see on screen ever. Comedian David Roche's sharp wit and heart are put to good use in his off-Broadway show 'The Church of 80% Sincerity'. Catherine Frazee an unrelenting and outspoken disability rights activist is as eloquent in her critique as in her poetry. Writer and artist Persimmon Blackbridge creates fierce mixed media portraits of those involved that speak volumes."
http://blogto.com/film/2006/10/cinephile_report_shameless_the_art_of_disability/Rebels With A Cause: Bonnie Sherr Klein - (CitizenShift). "A legendary figure in the documentary film world, Bonnie Sherr Klein was a member of Challenge for Change and Studio D, the National Film Board's famed Women's Unit, where she directed the controversial film, Not a Love Story: A Film about Pornography. Deeply involved in the feminist and peace movements, Klein made several films that showed her passion for these topics. The focus of Klein's lens shifted after a brainstem stroke at the age of 46; her new film titled Shameless: The ART of Disability reveals her life following the stroke, and a passion for a new cause." (This site includes numerous film clips, a biography, an interview with Bonnie, photos and links to other disability arts sites.)
http://citizen.nfb.ca/onf/info?did=1621"Crippendales": "Murderball" meets "Full Monty"? - by Dave Reynolds (Ragged Edge). "Remember the movie, 'The Full Monty', in which six unemployed steel workers follow one man's dream and together form a comedic male striptease act? Now, imagine that same plot line, only with the leader in a wheelchair, and his buddies all having physical disabilities. That's essentially the idea behind the new documentary entitled 'The Crippendales'. The 24-minute documentary reportedly follows Lee Kemp, a cool wheelchair user who wants to be a stripper. He recruits his friends to learn to bump, grind and dazzle the ladies at the 'girls' night out' clubs. Director Havana Marking told The Guardian that the film, which is being screened privately in London this month, was an attempt to challenge the assumptions many people have about the sexuality of people with disabilities."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/ide/progress/002884.htmlDisability Culture Takes Center Stage at Ever Widening Circle 2006 - "Nearly 400 friends of the disability community gathered on September 15 to celebrate the eighth annual Ever Widening Circle, a performance event benefiting the World Institute on Disability and the Corporation on Disabilities and Telecommunication. Award-winning singer-songwriter Victoria Williams and her band headlined this year's show. With a sound located somewhere between hillbilly swing and quirky interpretations of old-time classics, Williams' lyrics are filled with the delight of small-town life and the inspiration of nature. With guitar, harmonica, keyboard, and African thumb piano, her music has a distinct 'Americana' flavor that may have raised a few eyebrows among the mostly urban audience."
http://www.wid.org/Farrelly Bros. To Remake BBC's "I'm With Stupid"For U.S. TV - (Ragged Edge). "The Hollywood Reporter, um, reports edgy filmmakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly have joined forces with the producer of the U.S. version of 'The Office' to bring the new British comedy 'I'm With Stupid' to American viewers. 'Stupid' centers on a down-and-out guy who befriends a young wheelchair user and winds up moving into his group home. Yes, that kind of group home. The show (well, the British version, at least) is funnier than it sounds. The pilot for the BBC 3 original earned kudos in Britain last year for its multidimensional portrayal, and perhaps even better yet, it's casting of people with disabilities which eventually led to a six episode series last Summer. Whereas the producers of the original series took great pains to be more mainstream, the Farrelly approach is likely to be quite different if one considers what they've done previously."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/mediacircusblog/002890.htmlThe Beauty of the Blind - A review by Nicholas Soodik (Ragged Edge). "Stephen Kuusisto's recent memoir Eavesdropping begins with an astonishing question: 'Why travel anywhere if you can't see?' Kuusisto, a blind English professor and poet at Ohio State, was asked the question while delivering a talk at a nonprofit agency. While Kuusisto was unprepared for the question at the time, this slim book represents a thoughtful and stirring belated reply."
http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/departments/reading/002881.htmlThe Boy Inside - (CBC). "Filmmaker Marianne Kaplan turns the camera on her own family, creating a rare and intimate first-hand portrait of living with Asperger Syndrome (AS)-a form of high-functioning autism characterized by socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior, and an inability to interact successfully with others. The film follows Kaplan's son Adam as he makes his way through Grade 7. His condition creates many challenges for him among his schoolmates and he is painfully aware of his separateness, 'I have no clue, really. Am I retarded? That's how kids make me feel. I don't like having Asperger's. I don't like being considered different'."
http://www.cbc.ca/thelens/theboyinside/index.html
The Rhythmic Arts Project - (traponline). "The Rhythmic Arts Project was founded in 1997 by Eddie Tuduri . . .The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) is an educational program for people with disabilities. Employing drums and percussion, the program teaches and enhances basic life skills such as: maintaining focus, using memory, taking turns, developing leadership, using numbers, using prepositional concepts, following instructions, and modeling. Issues of spatial awareness, fine and gross motor skills, and speech are also addressed. Teaching occurs in an environment that is fun and not threatening so participants develop improved confidence and a more positive self-image. In addition to working with intellectually challenged individuals, applications have worked very well with people in various therapeutic and health care situations including stroke, traumatic brain injury, mental illness, Alzheimer¹s disease and other dementia."
http://www.traponline.com/home.htmlMEDICAL
Deep-Brain Stimulation Eases Movement Disorder - by Amanda Gardner (HealthDay News). "Deep-brain stimulation appears to be effective in treating patients with the movement disorder called dystonia, even when those patients no longer respond to medication. Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that result in repetitive movements, twisting and abnormal postures. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition affects some 300,000 people across North America. Deep-brain stimulation, formally called bilateral pallidal neurostimulation, 'is a reasonable treatment for people who have failed other therapies,' concluded study co-researcher Dr. Guenther Deuschl, professor of neurology and chairman of the department of neurology at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany."
http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=535969Older dads boost risk of autistic children - by Gaia Vince (New Scientist). "Men over 40 are almost six times more likely to father a child with autism than younger men, according to a new study. Israeli researchers looked at birth data of more than 130,000 people born in the 1980s, where the paternal and maternal ages had been recorded. Of these 110 – or just over 1 in 1000 – had an 'autism spectrum disorder'. ASD can include autism, Asperger syndrome and Rett syndrome. 'Men who were over 40 at the time of the child's birth were 5.75 times as likely to have a child with ASD compared with men under 30,' says Abraham Reichenberg at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, US. 'The risk was slightly higher for men in their 30s – they were 1.6 times as likely to produce a child with ASD'."
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9998POLICY/RESEARCH
4 in 10 recent war vets file for disability, study says - by Rick Maze (Marine Times). "A newly released report finds 42 percent of recent combat veterans are filing service-connected disability claims, a trend that could overwhelm the Department of Veterans Affairs budget and claims process. The July 20 report, based on data obtained by the National Security Archive through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows that more than 104,000 disability claims from veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been approved, with all but about 18,000 involving the granting of monthly disability pay and automatic eligibility for lifetime care of the service-connected injury or illness."
http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2169674.phphttp://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20061010/index.htm (National Security Archive Report)
DigitalCommons@ILR - (Cornell University). "DigitalCommons@ILR is a DigitalCommons project that offers electronic access to unique material that encompasses every aspect of the workplace. It is a service of the Martin P. Catherwood Library, School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. Research and scholarly output included within the DigitalCommons@ILR has been selected and deposited by the individual departments, centers, institutes, and programs within the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)." (This is a fabulous resource with a large number of research articles on disability and the workforce. Below is a sampling of articles.)
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/about.html2004 Disability Status Reports: United States Summary - by Andrew J. Houtenville (Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute). "The Annual Disability Status Reports provide policy makers, disability advocates, reporters, and the public with a summary of the most recent demographic and economic statistics on the working-age (ages 21-64) population with disabilities. They contain information on the population size, prevalence, employment, earnings, poverty, household income, home ownership, and activity limitations of working-age people with disabilities, as well as the composition of this population by age, race, gender, and educational attainment."
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/182/A Review of Disability Data for the Institutional Population: Research Brief - by Peiyun She, David C. Stapleton, (Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute). "Disability status for the non-institutional population in the United States has been substantially documented from national surveys such as the American Community Survey (ACS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). No comparable surveys have been fielded to collect information for the institutional population as a whole, however, including the large share of the institutional population having disabilities. In general, much less is known about the disability status of the institutional population than about the disability status of the non-institutional population, particularly for those of working age. In light of this gap in knowledge, we compiled and examined existing disability information for the institutional population to evaluate the implications of the exclusion of the institutional population from national surveys for disability statistics and research, with an emphasis on working-age people (She and Stapleton 2006). This research brief summarizes our key findings."
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/1205/Dismantling the Poverty Trap: Disability Policy for the 21st Century. Policy Brief - by David C. Stapleton, Bonnie O'Day, Gina A. Livermore, Andrew J. Imparato (Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute)."Working-age Americans with disabilities are much more likely to live in poverty than other Americans and generally did not share in the economic prosperity of the late 1990s. At the same time, public expenditures to support them are growing at a rate that will be difficult to sustain when the baby boom generation retires and begins to draw Social Security Retirement and Medicare benefits. We argue that this discouraging situation will continue unless we can bring disability programs into line with more contemporary understanding of the capabilities of people with disabilities and successfully implement broad, systemic reforms to promote their economic self-sufficiency. This policy brief summarizes a larger paper (Stapleton, O'Day, Livermore & Imparato, 2005). It suggests principles to guide reforms and encourage debate. Future policy briefs will elaborate on some of these principles."
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/124/What Works and Looking Ahead: A Comparative Study of UK and US Policies and Practices Facilitating Return to Work for People with Disabilities - by Patricia Thornton, Ilene Zietzer, Susanne M. Bruyere Dr., Thomas P. Golden, Andrew J. Houtenville (Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute). "Independent research organizations in the US and the UK were commissioned to review the research on 'what works' in facilitating return to work for people with disabilities, and to consider current developments in the light of the evidence. They produced two background papers for the UK/US Pathways to Work in the 21st Century Seminar. This paper aims to summarize the key points of interest in those US and UK papers. The view expressed here are those of the authors."
http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/1229/Measuring the Effects of Education on Health and Civic Engagement - "Experts and delegates from 12 countries met in Copenhagen last spring to discuss the impact of education on health and social and civic engagement. The OECD's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) has published several papers from that symposium. In one of them, Grounding in a Broader Framework of Determinants of Health, CPRN's Family Network Director, David Hay, gives a critical analysis of the project's review of literature that examines the hypothesis that education has an impact on health. To access the proceedings of the Copenhagen symposium, click here. To access David Hay's paper, click here."
http://www.oecd.org/document/61/0,2340,en_2649_35845581_37425853_1_1_1_1,00.htmlMedicaid Buy-In: How Does It Mesh with Other Federal Programs for Disabled Workers? - (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.). "The Medicaid Buy-In program is a key component of the federal effort to make it easier for people with disabilities to work without losing health benefits. The second issue brief in a series on workers with disabilities explains how the Medicaid Buy-In program fits into other federal efforts to enhance employment opportunities for adults with disabilities by expanding access to health insurance. Read more about the study, which is based on linked data files Mathematica created from state enrollment records and the Social Security Administration's Master Earnings File."
http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/index.asphttp://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=PDFs/buyinprogram.pdf (Report)
National Council on Disability Recommends Making Livable Communities Reality - "The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a new report titled Creating Livable Communities (
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/livable_communities.htm) that identifies barriers to developing livable communities and sheds light on potential methods for overcoming these barriers. According to NCD chairperson John R. Vaughn, 'Communities in the United States are faced with increasingly difficult choices and decisions about how to grow, plan for change, and improve the quality of life for all citizens including children, youth, and adults with disabilities. NCD believes that for the promise of full integration into the community to become a reality, people with disabilities need: safe and affordable housing, access to transportation, access to the political process, and the right to enjoy whatever services, programs, and activities are offered to all members of the community by both public and private entities'."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2006/a06-525.htmNew Project Improves Access to Disability Funding Sources; Foundation Center, Disability Funders Network Embark on Yearlong Collaboration - (AScribe Newswire). "The New York-based Foundation Center, the nation's leading information hub for philanthropy, and the Disability Funders Network (DFN), a membership association of grantmaking organizations, have been collaborating since May 2006 on a project to improve the quality and availability of information about funding for disability-related issues and causes."
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ykl9bzhttp://foundationcenter.org/accessibility/http://www.disabilityfunders.org/REHABILITATION
BrainGate System Enables Thought-Driven Communication Device and Wheelchair Control - (Rehab). "Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems Inc, Foxborough, Mass, announced that John P. Donoghue, PhD, Cyberkinetics' founder and chief scientific officer, presented preliminary findings from three participants in Cyberkinetics' pilot trial of the BrainGate Neural Interface System (BrainGate) at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Atlanta, Ga. Donoghue provided preliminary scientific results related to one of the participants who is unable to move or speak due to a brainstem stroke. This participant was able to achieve BrainGate-enabled control of a communication device and to demonstrate the initial proof-of-concept of the ability to remotely operate a wheelchair using her thoughts. In addition, Donoghue reported that significant progress has been achieved in the development of neural signal-control filters that improve the speed and accuracy of the participant's cursor control."
http://www.rehabpub.com/news/2006-10-31_01.aspGimpGear by Broadened Horizons - Innovative Solutions for the Mobility Impaired - "As a C5 Quadriplegic paralyzed from the armpits down, every solution begins with an intimate understanding of the unique needs of wheelchair users with upper extremity limitations in their arms and hands. Focusing on innovative simplicity, I strive to maximize cost efficiency, compatibility, reliability, and long-term maintainability by utilizing currently available components and technologies in our developments whenever possible. Finally I personally and extensively test every solution offered emphasizing ease of use and reliability while considering cosmetics."
http://www.gimpgear.us/The Latest and the Greatest - Wheelchair accessories: More than just building a better mousetrap. - by Tor Valenza (Rehab news). "Building a better wheelchair accessory, let alone a better wheelchair, is part creative engineering, part listening, and part seeing the same-old, same-old in a new way. There are wheelchairs that do not need much, if anything, in the way of accessories. Think of an airport wheelchair that helps an elderly person travel from the ticket counter to the gate. But for wheelchairs that assist people with chronic and temporary disabilities, the right accessory can make all the difference to the disabled person trying to function in a world that the able-bodied may take for granted. From a simple cup holder to a shock absorber for smoother rides over sidewalk curbs to stump supports, accessories have come a long way since the standard footrest, and even a footrest can be specialized. There are swing-away footrests, elevating footrests, elevating/articulating footrests, and angle-adjustable footrests."
http://www.rehabpub.com/issues/articles/2006-10_06.aspO.T. "MacGyver"Makes Life Easier With Speedy Tools - (Newswise). "University of New Hampshire faculty member Therese Willkomm calls herself 'MacGyvette.' But Willkomm doesn't fight crime like the resourceful 1980s television sleuth; rather, she fashions tools from everyday objects that make life easier for people with disabilities. Willkomm, clinical assistant professor of occupational therapy and director of ATinNH at the Institute on Disability at UNH, is a specialist in assistive technology, which she describes as 'solutions for easier living, learning, working, and playing.' And while the users of her solutions have some form of disability – from an aching back to extensive paralysis – Willkomm's work rarely deals with expensive wheelchairs, specialized computers or complex communication systems. 'Eighty percent of assistive technology costs $100 or less,' she says."
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524389/
SELF 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.htmlDANGERWOOD - "Dangerwood places individuals with spinal cord injuries and other forms of paralysis in a position to help themselves and others with the many problems that result from these conditions. DANGERWOOD facilitates a meeting of the minds and enables much of the disabled community to freely communicate in an organized manner regarding these issues. It is a meeting place to collectively address the extensive needs and concerns often encountered on a daily basis. It provides the disabled community with the opportunity to learn from and aid one another."
http://www.survivingparalysis.com/default.aspTECHNOLOGY
Case Study: Makeovers That Matter - by Heather Clancy (CRN). "Even in the land of extreme, some makeovers are more extreme than others. New Jersey integrator Silicon East naturally was thrilled when its longtime business partner, The Pinnacle Companies, a local construction firm for which it has handled numerous home integration projects, asked it to participate over the summer in a special episode of ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.' The challenge: Outfit a new home for the Llanes family of Bergenfield, N.J., not only with intelligent automation systems, but also with the latest in accessibility and assistive technology for its disabled family members. Quickly, the solution provider found itself at the center of its largest project to date—one that it would be forced to complete in less than one-fifth of the time it normally would schedule for such an undertaking."
http://www.crn.com/sections/channelbusiness/channelbusiness.jhtml?articleId=193104501Cocoon Branding -- Intelligent Assistive Lighting Unit - "Both located in Winnepeg, [sic] Cocoon Branding and Rooster Technologies let their powers combine to revolutionize wheelchair-specific lighting, a product that was desperately in need of an extreme makeover. 'Until now, wheelchair lighting was either big, bulky, and crude, requiring professional installation, or it was poorly-adapted bicycle lighting,' states Kyle Romaniuk, Cocoon Principal and Creative Director. 'We set out to create a considerate product that could address the users' needs and incorporate a sense of style. Assistive devices do not need to be institutional in function and appearance'."
http://www.core77.com/bullitts/2006/10/Cocoon-Branding-Intelligent-Assistive-Lighting-Unit.asp?current_bullitt_id=504DH planning telecare pilot for one million people - "The Department of Health (DH) is to soon seek expressions of interest for a large scale project examining how technology can be used to keep patients with long term conditions out of hospital. The Integrated Care and Assistive Technology (ICAT) project, outlined earlier this year in the DH white paper Our Health Our Care Our Say, aims to cover a million people over three sites and will run for two years from the end of 2006. Last week the DH published Making It Happen, a progress report on the white paper, and included more information on the ICAT project. The report says the aim of the ICAT sites is to demonstrate on a wide scale how integrated approaches to care with joint health and social care teams, supported by intensive use of assistive technologies and home monitoring, can achieve a significant shift from hospital care."
http://www.ehiprimarycare.com/news/item.cfm?ID=2212Getting Started: Linda Knapp - by Linda Knapp (Seattle Times). "Well, I'm back from the dead, or more accurately, a coma, sudden loss of all hearing and the ability to walk. Now, many months later, I can hear again (with my Cochlear implant), and I can walk, though sometimes it's more like a stagger. So, while I'm Getting Started with technology again, I'll report back on the new tools and toys I'm using and, hopefully, help you better understand the technology you're using, or may use soon."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/gettingstarted/Joke generator gives disabled kids a sense of pun - by Tom Simonite (New Scientist). "A computer system that generates simple word-play jokes could help disabled children develop better language skills, say UK researchers. The system is designed for use by children who must communicate via a computer and voice synthesiser. They must normally select from a preset list of words and phrases, which can limit the scope of a conversation. The system uses a database of word definitions, sounds and syntax to generate simple play-on-words jokes, or puns, on a chosen subject. Called the System to Augment Non-speakers' Dialogue Using Puns (STANDUP), it was developed by Annalu Waller at Dundee University, UK, who has arranged for eight children with cerebral palsy to test the system."
http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn9828?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=dn9828
Technology could replace home care - let's welcome it - by Christopher Manthorp (Guardian). "Like us all, I'm disappointed with The Future. We're well into the 21st century and its marvels, as promised by the Dan Dare school of science fiction, have signally failed to materialise. We don't travel to work by jet pack, communicate telepathically, or wear Bacofoil suits - except in California and Japan, which don't count. Here in the UK, the future has largely turned out to be the same old same old. Computers are no more than glorified typewriters, with generous dashes of games compendium, post box and advertising hoarding, as against the Hal/Terminator psychopathic fifth columnists I secretly rather hoped for. However, there are some areas where IT is making really positive inroads. In my own field, assistive technology (AT) is beginning to make a useful contribution to the lives of dependent older people and people with disabilities generally. There are a lot of practical devices for helping older people on the market, including increasingly sophisticated pendant alarms, fall detectors, and gadgets that set off alarms when baths overflow or gas ovens are switched on but unlit."
http://society.guardian.co.uk/longtermcare/comment/0,,1892046,00.html
WELLNESS
Tips for Living Well - (Spring 2006). This issue includes articles on:
• A Tip from BCCPD's Kids on the Block Puppets
• MS One Day at a Time
• Pets & Wellness
• Mental Health and Hearing Loss
• HIV/AIDS Reality Check
• Tips for Living Well
• New Online Safety Toolkit
• MS Facts
The site includes quarterly newsletters that go back to the Spring of 2002.
http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/i/pdf/tips/TipsSpring06web.pdfhttp://www.bccpd.bc.ca/s/WDI.asp?ReportID=86186CONFERENCES
(New Conferences)
CANADIAN
National Aboriginal Disabilities Conference - November 27-30 | Edmonton, Alberta. "To raise awareness, inspire hope and create understanding of the needs of Aboriginal people with disabilities."
http://www.nadc2006.com/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.htmlFestival 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.htmT
he 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 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.asp The 2007 AHEAD Management Institutes - February 22-24, 2007 | New Orleans, Louisiana. "The 2007 AHEAD Management Institutes have been developed to offer important professional development opportunities for disability service professionals. All three institutes will be offered in a workshop style format with a friendly balance of lectures, discussions, and small group interaction. In addition to invaluable information and resources, the institutes will offer excellent networking opportunities for participants. The Institutes will be held in the beautiful Sheraton Hotel New Orleans on Canal Street in the heart of the historic city."
• Institute One - The AHEAD Institute for New and Newer Disability Services Managers
• Institute Two - Managing Assistive Technology from A to Z
• Institute Three - Disability Services in the Community College - Key Issues and Best Practices
http://www.ahead.org/training/reg_training/Spring_2007_ProfDev.htm 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.htmRESNA 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 AHEAD 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 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
DPI 7th World Assembly – "Asserting Our Rights, Celebrating Our Achievements and Building Our Future: Towards A Society For All"- December 1-4, 2006 | Johannesburg, South Africa.
http://www.dpi.org/en/events/events.htm 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/