Assistive Technology

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) are seeking information on products most commonly used to reduce educational barriers for children with disabilities.  To gather this information, UNICEF and GAATES are conducting a survey on the most commonly used assistive devices and technologies around the world, having particular interest in the technologies used in low-resource settings.

February 2015 – The Wireless RERC and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Universal Interface and Information Technology Access were selected among Best Papers at last year’s 29th International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, or CSUN 2014. Both NIDRR-funded RERCs, three papers from the Wireless RERC were named among the best to appear in the latest issue of the Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, with one from the RERC on Universal Interface and IT Access.

The three papers from the Wireless RERC include:

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC), in collaboration with Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP), submitted comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice, Request for Updated Information And Comment On Wireless Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Regulations [WT Docket Nos. 07-250 and 10-254].

February 2015 – The FCC released a notice [47 CFR Part 20] correcting errors found in their December 23rd request for updated information to assess whether current hearing aid compatibility rules for wireless handsets effectively address the needs of people who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

We need your help to make emergency alerts and warning systems accessible to people with disabilities.  Alerts and warning messages are critical during emergencies. People with disabilities are sometimes not considered when sending alerts and warnings. This can impact how you prepare, respond and get back to normal life. We invite you to discuss how you are alerted and respond to emergency alerts, the vibration and light features of assistive technologies and mobile phones. We seek individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.