Apps

February 2014 — The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Protocols and Formats Working Group published proposed recommendations regarding Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA).  The document outlines “ways to make web content, particularly web applications, more accessible to people with disabilities.” Complementing the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, the proposed recommendations provide developers with guidelines to ensure that dynamic content or interfaces developed with Ajax, HTML or JavaScript, are accessible for people with disabilities and operabl

January 2014 — The Wells Foundation in partnership with Ohio State University and Columbus Speech and Hearing Center released a new communication app for children and adults with language impairments.  Based on a successful prototype using a common, standard database of picture elements, Citra networks and shares communication boards, schedule maker, and notes between multiple people providing services to the same child.

November 25, 2013 — Each year, the Wireless RERC’s App Factory invites experienced organizations or individual developers based in the U.S. to submit proposals for financial support to develop assistive and/or accessibility apps which can be used to enhance the utility and usability of wireless products and services for customers with and without disabilities. Following a call for proposals earlier this year, the App Factory is proud to announce that five apps have been selected for development during the 2013-2014 grant year.  The apps selected for development include:

July 2013 — The Seeing Eye and the Sendero Group released The Seeing Eye GPS app, described as the first fully accessible GPS product for the iPhone. The app provides turn-by-turn directions, and includes features such as announcing the orientation of cross streets at all intersections, “heads-up” announcements for upcoming turns, automatic recalculation if the individual wanders off the route, and the LookAround Wand, which audibly lists nearby establishments depending on the direction the phone is pointed.

March 27, 2013 — On April 16, 2013, Sprint will be honored as the Marketplace winner at the Seventh Annual U.S. Disability Matters Awards Banquet and Conference for innovative accessibility solutions. Sprint will receive the award for the Sprint Relay ID pack and four accessibility-themed Sprint ID packs. The packs were funded and developed through Apps4Android and the Apps Factory project of the Wireless RERC.