Wireless RERC - Education

App Factory Releases 2014-2015 Call for Proposals

blippincott4 — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

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 for mobile platforms (e.g., Android, Blackberry 10, iOS, Windows Phone).

Apps developed through this program include AccessNote by the American Foundation for the Blind, BrailleTouch by BrailleTech, LLC, and Sprint ID Accessibility Packs, Currency Identifier, and IDEAL Group Reader by Apps4Android.

Proposals for 2014-15 are due on June 30, 2014. Selection of proposals for funding will be on October 15. More information can be found in the PDF of the Call for Proposals below.

Related Files:

Attachment	Size
App Factory_RFP_2014.pdf	242.61 KB

Wireless RERC Summit Proceedings: Envisioning Inclusive FUTURES

mz22 — Fri, 20 May 2016 14:45:25 +0000

Futures

Publication Type:

Reports

The Envisioning Inclusive FUTURES Summit Proceedings have been published by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) on our website. The Summit focused on 1) key social, economic, political and technological forces at play in the migration from legacy, analog technologies to mobile, digital technologies, and 2) the consequential futures for people with disabilities. The Proceedings concluded that a variety of technological solutions exist whether discussing the present or the future, and more are under development, to facilitate the ability of people with disabilities to engage in life activities. Transformative ideas and common visionary themes addressed wireless technologies and systems that could stimulate inclusive solutions such as robotics, wearables, the Internet of Things, next-generation emergency communications and alerts, and assistive intelligence for auditory and visual navigation. Looking to an inclusive future, not only were research and policy agenda items identified, but also challenges and recommendations on how to reach a future of inclusiveness. Following are a few findings:

Usability is critical – technology needs to be “out of the box” ready. The design process should be enhanced so that devices be intuitively usable, or conversely, be easily personalizable.
Education, outreach and awareness efforts should be dynamic and integral to both ongoing and adaptive/changing environments. This is in reference to not only technology, but to the changing circumstances of people with disabilities.
Products and services should be universally designed and also take into account cultural sensitivity.

The visionary theme from the opening to the concluding dialog emphasized: A transformative future is an inclusive future. This became the key take-away for reinforcing the Wireless RERC’s commitment to ensure an accessible mobile wireless future for people with disabilities.

Related Files:

Attachment	Size
Wireless RERC SoT - Envisioning Inclusive Futures Summit Preceedings.pdf	1.81 MB

Meet Wireless RERC Researchers at CSUN 2016

mz22 — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:49:27 +0000

Come meet us in San Diego!

Publication Type:

Presentations

Wireless RERC researchers will be featured at the 2016 International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference (CSUN) in San Diego, March 21-26, 2016. The papers/presentations include:

Wireless Independence Now (WIN) Workshop (Wednesday, March 23, 2016 - 10:00 AM PST)
Mixed Sentience Learning Communities: Design Considerations & Opportunities (Thursday, March 24, 2016 - 10:00 AM PST)
Wireless technology use by people with disabilities-2015: A national survey (Friday, March 25, 2016 - 10:00 AM PST)
FutureS of Disabilities: The migration to a digital world (Friday, March 25, 2016 - 10:00 AM PST)
Optimizing Accessibility of Wireless Emergency Alerts: 2015 Survey Findings (Friday, March 25, 2016 - 1:20 PM PST)

American Council of the Blind 54th Annual Conference and Convention

mz22 — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 19:50:42 +0000

The 2015 American Council of the Blind (ACB) Conference and Convention will be held from Friday, July 3^rd to Saturday, July 11^th at the Sheraton Dallas in Dallas, Texas. To find out information about the exhibits, contact Michael Smitherman at amdua@bellsouth.net or (601)331-7740. The confrence and convention calendar is available online at http://acb.org/node/2332.

Start Date:

Friday, July 3, 2015 - 8:00am to Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 10:00pm

Additional Information:

2015 ACB Conference and Convention Information

Subscriptions:

American Association of People with Disabilities Seeking New Leadership

mz22 — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 13:43:37 +0000

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

June 2015 - The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is currently seeking a new President and CEO to advance attainment of the organization’s vision, “to develop the inherent power of people with disabilities to be both a political and economic force.” While they are looking for a new leader, the AAPD Board of Directors is temporarily relying on long-time disability rights advocate and former Executive Vice President, Helena Berger, as the Acting President and CEO of the organization. As the AAPD approaches their 25th anniversary, they are seeking feedback to take the organization to the next level. You can email them at communications@aapd.com with your questions or comments. As well as improving the organization, the AAPD is hosting A Celebration of Pride, Power, and Promise on July 27th in Washington, D.C. with their partner, the National Disability Leadership Alliance (NDLA). Not only do they want you to come out and celebrate with them, they also have open positions in their organization so if anyone wants more information, they can visit http://www.aapd.com/jobs on how to apply.

AFB Accepting Nominations for 2015 Migel Medals

mz22 — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 14:24:23 +0000

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

Nominate Someone for a Migel Medal Award

September 2014 – The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is currently accepting nominations for the 2015 Migel Medal, an honor for professional and humanitarian achievements associated with the provision of services to people with vision loss. Named in honor of the first chairperson of the AFB, M.C. Migel, the Migel Medal honors professionals and volunteers who have made strides to improve the lives of visually impaired and blind people. Migel Medal Award nominees will compete in the Professional Award and the Lay/Volunteer Award categories. Candidates who have contributed to education, assistive technology, vision rehabilitation, and other related fields will be evaluated for the Professional Award. Lay/Volunteer Award nominees who are not employed within the blindness and visual impairment field will be judged upon their support or service to people with vision loss. The AFB's Migel Medals nominations are due by Friday, October 3, 2014. Nominators should submit a one-page description of the nominee, their accomplishments, and two letters of recommendation to Scott Truax at struax@afb.net. Nominations may also be sent online using the link below. For additional information, please click the link below.

ODEP Advisor Appointed to Office of Public Engagement for White House

mz22 — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:10:37 +0000

National Council on Disability (NCD)

NCD Welcomes Appointment of Taryn Mackenzie Williams as White House Public Engagement Advisor

July 2014 – The National Council on Disability (NCD), a federal advisory committee recognized by the President and Congress, released a press release embracing the appointment of Taryn Mackenzie Williams as an advisor for the White House’s Office of Public Engagement. Experience as Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Williams lends her expertise in disability policy areas of workforce development, education, Medicaid, social security, and youth transition services to the Executive Branch, effective as of July 14, 2014.

International Deaf-Blind Expo

mz22 — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:02:39 +0000

The 1^st International Deaf-Blind Expo will be held from July 30 to August 3, 2014 at the Riviera Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, hosted by Bapin Group, will feature educational workshops, networking opportunities and an expo showcasing vendors from around the world. Those interested in attending can register here.

Start Date:

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - 10:00am to Sunday, August 3, 2014 - 1:00pm

Additional Information:

International Deaf-Blind Expo

Subscriptions:

17th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference

mz22 — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 13:55:26 +0000

The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) will host the 17^th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference from November 17 – 21, 2014 in Westminster, Colorado. The conference will offer those within higher education and industry discussions and information on use of accessible media, adoption of universal design practices, and compliance with accessibility policies. Registration for the event is now open and can be accessed here.

Start Date:

Monday, November 17, 2014 - 10:30am to Friday, November 21, 2014 - 2:00pm

Additional Information:

17th Annual Accessing Higher Ground

Subscriptions:

NFB Calls for ADA Internet Regulations

mz22 — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:31:07 +0000

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

National Federation of the Blind Urges Obama Administration to Issue ADA Internet Regulations

July 2014 – The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) concluded their 2014 National Convention with a unanimous vote urging the Obama administration to issue Internet regulations in compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. More than twenty-five hundred members of the NFB adopted the resolution, noting the need for accessible website design and content that allows access to the Internet through computerized speech software or Braille conversion. President of the NFB, Dr. Marc Maurer, stated “Since public accommodations, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), increasingly conduct business with the public over the internet, it is imperative that their websites be accessible to the blind…Technology holds the promise that blind people will be able to live the lives we want to a degree never before possible, but only if internet technology is properly designed …That is why we demand that the Obama administration issue the long-delayed ADA regulations applying to the Internet the legal principle of equal access for all.”