Assistive Technology

October 2013 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [DA 13-2097] inviting interested parties to submit applications to become certified “to distribute equipment under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) to qualifying residents in Mississippi.” In accordance with Section 105 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), NDBEDP began as a two-year pilot program in 2012 that enables low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to have access to the Internet and advanced communications thr

September 2013 – Wireless RERC Researchers Brian Jones and Carrie Bruce presented at the CDC Grand Rounds, discussing the Grand Rounds’ September theme of “Technology and Health: Aging Safely and More Independently.”  Brian’s discussion, entitled “Researching Technologies for Healthy Aging,” focused on technologies available for assisting older adults in living independently, while Carrie spoke on the applications of universal design in comparison with assistive devices in her discussion entitled “Supportive Design Strategies to Facilitate Function, Independence, and Safety.”

The RERC's App Factory is holding open its 2013-14 Call for Proposals until October 8. Interested app developers can view the PDF below for proposal requirements or view the App Factory RFP webpage.

This November, UCP Life Labs and Enabled by Design will partner to host the 2013 Enabled by Design-athon in Washington, D.C.  Previously, the two-day event has included presentations from designers in addition to “the Design-athon, which offered participants time and space to devise solutions for problems faced by people with disabilities.”  Those interested in supporting, participating in or attending the conference are encouraged to monitor “Life Lab’s new website for updates.”

September 3, 2013 — In honor of World Cerebral Palsy Day, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has announced the Change My World in One Minute Contest. The contest gathers life-changing ideas, which should take no longer than a minute to explain. The public will then vote on their favorite idea, and inventors from around the world will work to create the ideas with the most votes while competing for $50,000 in prizes. Ideas may be posted here up until October 31, 2013 and the public may begin voting on their favorite idea starting October 1, 2013.