Other News

March 2014 — The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) awarded the Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Services with a five-year,  $2.75 million grant for the testing and refinement of a Visually Guided Hearing Aid prototype (VGHA). Typical hearing aids work by amplifying all sound in an area.  However, in many cases there may be sounds an individual would like to ignore.

March 2014 — CVS Pharmacy announced that customers can now receive ScripTalk talking prescription labels when ordering online at CVS.com.  ScripTalk is a free service which provides customers who are blind or have low vision with audible information about their prescription through the use of a ScripTalk reader provided by Envision America.  Of the new service Vice President of Programs and Policy at the American Federation of the Blind, Paul Schroeder, noted, “The lack of accessible labels on prescription drug containers puts people with vision loss at serious risk of medication mishaps.

March 2014 – Due to the increase in emergency and disaster concerns in the Arctic, Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) has embarked on a new initiative to ensure the protection, security and inclusion of people with disabilities in that region.  On Thin Ice, a project funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnership Program, aims to implement international best practices, effective communications, compliance with regulations, emergency preparedness, capacity to sustain life during an emergency, school participation in emergency management

The 2014 M-Enabling Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. from June 9-10.  The Conference and Showcase are hosted by the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict) and E.J. Krause & Associates.  The focus is on accessible use of mobile technologies, applications, and services and other assistive technology solutions.

March 2014 — H&R Block has entered into a five-year consent decree with the Department of Justice (DOJ).  The decree follows complaints by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and two individual plaintiffs that H&R Block violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to ensure accessibility on their website and mobile applications.