Community Living

Today, AT&T Foundation announced a $50,000 contribution to Shepherd Center to assist researchers in the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) in launching a series of seminars to help consumers with disabilities uncover the range of accessibility features found on their mobile devices. Seminars are scheduled for five cities – Atlanta, Ga., Austin and Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Washington, D.C. – throughout this spring and summer. 

January 2014 — The Presidential Commission on Election Administration released a report providing recommendations to streamline the voting process.  The formation of the Commission follows the 2012 election, where long lines and inaccessibility hindered voters. The Commission’s report highlights that the accommodations made for voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency varies widely with location.

November 2013 – In November, United Cerebral Palsy’s Life Labs partnered with Enabled by Design and Futuregov to host the first International Enabled by Design-athon in Washington, D.C.  Over 100 participants not only had the chance to hear from experts on accessibility and design, but were able to participate in an “immersive usability workshop,” where they created prototypes of accessible and attractive products. Of the event, Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of UCP, noted, “United Cerebral Palsy is thrilled to have hosted this year’s exciting and hugely successful Design-athon.