Wireless RERC - assistive technology (AT)

Open Letter to LA Senators Urges Support for Assistive Technology

mz22 — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:10:51 +0000

Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2013

March 2014 — Former New Orleans Saints player, Steve Gleason, issued an open letter to Louisiana Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and David Vitter (R-LA) and other Louisiana Congress Members urging them to consider supporting a recent bi-partisan piece of legislation, The Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act [S.948 and H.R. 942]. The Act would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure that complex rehabilitation technology is covered under Medicare. In his letter Gleason, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, stresses that for individuals with ALS and similar conditions, assistive technology is essential, yet often an extreme financial burden. The proposed bill would help reduce this burden and grant individuals greater access to assistive technology. Gleason has also created a petition regarding this matter.

M-Enabling Summit Call for Presentations

mz22 — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:10:59 +0000

Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communications Technology (G3ict)

Apps

assistive technology (AT)

M-Enabling Summit 2014

M-Enabling Call for Presentations

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. Individuals, companies, and education or nonprofit organizations are currently invited to submit presentation proposals for applications, new services and case studies with “demonstrated benefits for seniors and users of all abilities.” Those interested in submitting a presentation proposal are asked to send an abstract of 500 words to m-enablingdemos@g3ict.org. Submissions are due March 21, 2014.

Annual Global Mobile Awards for Innovative Technologies

mz22 — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 20:11:23 +0000

assistive technology (AT)

Winners 2014

February 2014 — The GSMA announced the winners of the 19^th Annual Global Mobile awards at a ceremony held at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The ceremony recognizes new developments in mobile technologies ranging from health and banking to network infrastructure. The 2014 award winners included assistive technologies, such as Turkcell Dream Partner a mobile application with text-to-speech and speech-to-text technology, Wibbitz Text-to-Video Technology a mobile app which can convert text articles into videos, and the Magic Pencil, a distance learning device created by Enable Mobile Technologies. Of the event, GSMA CEO, John Hoffman, said “Now in the 19th year, the Global Mobile Awards once again showcase the outstanding level of innovation and creative products and services being developed across a diverse and growing industry. With more than 680 high caliber entries this year, the competition was stronger than ever and it is a significant achievement to have been honored.” A full list of winners can be found here.

AbleData Request for Proposals

mz22 — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:08:24 +0000

assistive technology (AT)

AbleData

National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

NIDRR RFP [ED-OSE-13-R-0015]

June 3, 2013 — The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in association with the Department of Education issued a request for proposals for the evaluation, operation and maintenance of AbleData, a database and website providing information on assistive equipment for people with disabilities. AbleData provides information including “descriptions, availability, manufacturers, distributors and publications” for over 20,000 commercially available devices and 1,800 noncommercial prototypes used to aid people with disabilities. Proposals are due July 5, 2013 by 12:00 PM.

Open House Promotes HEALing

mz22 — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:33:58 +0000

Universal Design

assistive technology (AT)

accessible design

HEAL Website

Georgia Tech hosted a successful 5th Annual Healthy Environments & Active Lifestyles (HEAL) Open House on Tuesday, April 23. The open house showcased demonstrations of student projects and research from several Georgia Tech organizations, including: The Aware Home Research Initiative (AHRI), Design and Technology for Healthy Aging, The Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA), the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) and others.

This year, the program included speakers organized by the Wireless RERC to kickoff the evening and set the stage. After a welcome address given by Dr. Archie Ervin, Vice President of Institute Diversity, the keynote address was given by Lee Mabie, director of Emerging Consumer Markets at AT&T. His comments focused on how the AT&T value, "Deliver the Future First," drives his team toward developing innovative product, service and customer experience solutions for people with disabilities, the aging population and their respective caregivers. Mabie also described how The Connected Child, a child-centered educational concept born out of AT&T’s Advisory Panel on Access and Aging (AAPAA), inspired him to innovate a new educational approach for his special needs daughter London and how that experience has fed back into his work at AT&T. Attendees then moved to the exhibits at the Wireless RERC, Aware Home and CATEA locations.

HEAL brought together projects from the participating organizations that revolved around a common theme: Showcase the great work being done at Georgia Tech related to independence through better design of environments and application of design and technology to improve the lives of people of all abilities. Several Virginia Tech projects were also presented via videos and further emphasized the importance of universal design in creating products appropriate for specific needs with mass appeal. Georgia Tech students and faculty were on hand to share their projects and research and to hear constructive feedback. Visitors did a great job providing that feedback and many students confirmed it was an exceptional experience. Visitor feedback from the event was very positive with some VIPs leaving “inspired” by the number of projects and mentioning a couple that stood out as strong contributions to the field of disability access. Thanks to all who helped with and participated in the event and to our visitors for making it a success.

Promoting Accessible Technologies in the Workplace

mz22 — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:02:51 +0000

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

accessible workplace technologies

employment

assistive technology (AT)

ODEP Report

April 2013 — The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released the report ODEP Accomplishments 2009—2012, highlighting ODEP’s progress in ensuring that individuals with disabilities are considered and included when improving the job opportunities for American workers. Regarding the application of technology in the workplace, ODEP notes their efforts to promote accessible workplace technologies and enable all individuals with the “productivity tools they need to succeed.” ODEP developed two “Roadmap” reports for organizations to strategically incorporate accessible technologies into standard policies and practices. ODEP worked with the Department of Education and the Social Security Administration to conduct the Disability Employment App Challenge and collaborated with the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) to engage government agencies, IT developers and advocates in a discussion on the advancement of “accessible, interoperable, and usable information and communication technology.” Additionally, through ePolicyWorks, a Web-based policymaking tool that facilitates collaborative policymaking, ODEP contributed to the development of policies concerning accessible workplace technologies.

Wireless RERC - assistive technology (AT)

Top TDPH Stories of 2014, Thank you for sharing!

Open Letter to LA Senators Urges Support for Assistive Technology

M-Enabling Summit Call for Presentations

Annual Global Mobile Awards for Innovative Technologies

AbleData Request for Proposals

Open House Promotes HEALing

Promoting Accessible Technologies in the Workplace