Other News

June 6, 2013 — Project Ray, a smartphone developer, and Odin Mobile, a cellphone services provider, announced the release of the first smartphone and accompanying services specifically designed for people who are blind or have low vision.  According to Project RAY, the phone, designed for eye-free operation, is affordable and offers built-in services such as “voice calls, email, messaging contact list services, calendar, GPS, advanced WEB remote assistance, voice recorder, panic and emergency services, color identification, pictures transcription and banknote recognition.” In addition, serv

June 3, 2013 — The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in association with the Department of Education issued a request for proposals for the evaluation, operation and maintenance of AbleData, a database and website providing information on assistive equipment for people with disabilities.

May 20, 2013 — The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has issued a notices of final priorities [FR Doc No: 2013-11978 and 2013-11988] and applications for new awards [FR Doc No: 2013-11977 and 2013-11987] for Rehabilitation Research Training Centers (RRTC) on Disability Statistics and Community Living and Participation for People with Psychiatric Disabilities.  The final priorities note that the RRTC on Disability Statistics should aim to provide and improve access to disability data and statistics “relevant to improving the lives of people with disabilitie

May 9, 2013 — The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has announced award applications for a Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) and for Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs).  Award applications are available for a DRRP for a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Collaborative Research Project.  The related final priority notes that the DRRP should contribute “rehabilitation interventions and clinical practice guidelines that improve the lives of individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) through research,” including treatin

May 7, 2013 — The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has issued a notice of proposed priority [FR Doc No: 2013-10833] for a Rehabilitation Research Training Center (RRTC) Program on Disability in Rural Areas.  The notice highlights that people with disabilities comprise an estimated 13.2 percent of rural populations, as compared to 11.6 percent in urban areas.  In addition, rural areas pose challenges such as geographic isolation which is often coupled with “less access to public transportation, employment and educational opportunities, health networks and