Wireless RERC - Assistive Technology

Mobile Apps for People with Disabilities at ATIA Conference

mz22 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:06:27 +0000

Assistive Technology Industry Association

Apps

Assistive Technology

disabilities

ATIA 2013

Publication Type:

Presentations

John Morris, a Wireless RERC research scientist attended the Assistive Technology Industry Association’s 2013 Conference where he participated in the panel “Mobile Apps for People with Disabilities” at the Research Symposium on IDevices, Apps & the Cloud. The conference provided a forum for professional practitioners serving those with disabilities to communicate and participate in educational sessions. There were over 2,000 attendees for the more than 200 educational sessions at the conference, held in Orlando, Florida from January 30 to February 2, 2013.

Introducing Students to Universal Design and Wireless Technology

mz22 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:17:11 +0000

Universal Design

wireless technology

Assistive Technology

Building Research Capacity in Wireless Accessibility and Usability

Publication Type:

Presentations

On February 15, 2013 James Mueller, a Wireless RERC scientist, presented “Getting Wireless: An Introduction to Universal Design and Wireless Technology” to 32 sophomore industrial design students at Virginia Tech. This is part of the Wireless RERC’s initiative to educate the next generation of wireless technology designers on universal design as a core practice for innovative and future design of products and applications.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

Increase universal design awareness.
Promote the application of universal design principles in the design of wireless technologies.
Encourage development of assistive technologies employing wireless technologies.
Provide advanced-level design training and support for future designers, who are highly qualified to promote and practice universal design of wireless technologies.

Legislation Mandates Accessible Learning Technology

mz22 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:29:52 +0000

Universal Design

Assistive Technology

accessibility

Educational Technologies

H.R. 521

February 201 3— U.S. Representative George Miller (CA), the ranking Democrat in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, introduced a new education bill: The Transforming Education through Technology Act [H.R. 521]. The bill proposes that Congress fund educational grants to be distributed to states and districts totaling $500 million. The funds would support technology to improve the college-and-career readiness, achievement and engagement of all students, including those with disabilities. Specific to individuals with disabilities, the bill would require that when a State educational agency applies for an educational grant, they describe the tools and mechanisms that will be utilized to “improve instruction consistent with the principles of universal design for learning.” If funded, local educational agencies would be required to use learning technology consistent with the principles of universal design, as well as assistive technology, to ensure that all students have “equitable access to high-quality curriculum, instruction, assessments, technology and digital learning.” In addition, State agencies that receive funds must ensure that teachers, paraprofessionals, library and media personnel, specialized instructional support personnel and administrators are trained and capable of utilizing such technology.

Who are the assistive technology designers of the future?

mz22 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:26:21 +0000

Assistive Technology

Design

2013 Student Design Competition

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) annual Student Design Competition (SDC) provides teams of students with the opportunity to present creative and innovative assistive technology designs that can help people with disabilities function more independently. Students from a variety of disciplines are able to participate, including: mechanical, electrical, biomedical engineering, computer information science, architecture, and physical and occupational therapy. The designs are evaluated based on originality, quality and usefulness. The deadline for submissions is April 26, 2013.

BrailleTouch Now Available on App Store

mz22 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:33:40 +0000

The App Factory BrailleTouch Page

BrailleTouch is a smartphone app that allows blind and visually impaired people to type on a touchscreen. It is based on the familiar six-key braille keyboard found on the Perkins Brailler and many electronic Braille notetakers. Both the free trial version and full version are available for download. BrailleTouch was made possible, in part, by the Wireless RERC’s App Factory and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Download BrailleTouch

Visit the Wireless RERC at the Abilities Expo 2013!

mz22 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:50:33 +0000

Abilities Expo 2013

Wireless RERC

Assistive Technology

Abilities Expo Information

The Abilities Expo is coming to Atlanta on February 8-10, 2013 and will provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities, seniors, veterans and healthcare professionals to get a firsthand look at “new technologies, new possibilities, new solutions and new opportunities to change your life.” The Wireless RERC will have a booth in the Assistive Technology (AT) Pavilion where the current research conducted by the RERC, Shepherd Center’s AT Department and Georgia’s Tools for Life Program will be showcased. At the Wireless RERC booth, individuals will have an opportunity to try out the latest wireless phones, tablets, and apps developed by the RERC’s Apps Factory. Individuals can also participate in Wireless RERC surveys, such as the Survey of User Needs, the Emergency Communications Survey and the Hearing Technology for Hearing Impaired Consumers. The Expo will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C4 and is free to attend.

Take the Survey on Hearing Technology for Hard of Hearing Consumers!

mz22 — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:11:57 +0000

Hearing Loss

Apps

Assistive Technology

Start the Survey on Hearing Technology for Hard of Hearing Consumer Now!

The Wireless RERC has just launched a new survey on hearing technology for people who are hard of hearing. The purpose of this survey is to learn how people who are hard of hearing use their mobile phones, and also to learn about their hearing experiences while attending public meetings and events. The information collected will help our mobile app developers understand your needs. Please try your best to complete all parts of this survey. Your answers are important to us, even if you don't use wireless technology.

If you are hard of hearing, please take a moment to complete this short survey.

If you wish to take the survey over the phone, please email John Morris or call him at 404-367-1348.

HELPING STATES ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES

mz22 — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:41:02 +0000

Essential Health Benefits

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) [Pub. L. 111-148]

Rehabilitative and Habilitative Services and Devices

Assistive Technology

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Website

September 25, 2012—The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, the Habilitation Benefits Coalition, the Coalition to Preserve Rehabilitation, and the Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition, released a technical assistance document that aims to be a resource for states in designing essential health benefits packages for “rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices,” as defined by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The purpose is to help states take appropriate measures to implement the ACA reforms in a manner that “eliminate[s] decision-making based on health status in the individual and small group markets, which disproportionately impacts people with disabilities and chronic conditions.”

The document includes: explanations and definitions of rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; recommendations on enhancing state benchmark plans to meet essential health benefits and requirements; information on incorporating state mandates and establishing limits on rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; and an evaluation chart to assist states in their assessment of benchmark plan coverage for rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices. Nathan Moon, PhD, Associate Director for Research at the Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) at the Georgia Institute of Technology led the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Government Affairs Committee that contributed expertise in revising the final document.

Related Files:

Attachment	Size
OPEN LETTER TO STATES ON DEFINING ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS PACKAGE.docx	949.58 KB

GOOGLE APPS MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE

mz22 — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:28:12 +0000

September 19, 2012— Google claims to have worked to improve accessibility in Google Docs, Sites, Calendar and mobile apps over the past year. In Google Calendar, there were enhancements in focus handling, keyboard access and navigation. Optical Character Recognition technology was added to Google Drive, which allowed screen readers to read the text in scanned PDFs and images. Related to the Google Apps (Gmail for mobile and Google Drive on iOS and Android), improvements were made to explore-by-touch capabilities and keyboard/trackpad navigability.

A CALL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DESIGNERS

mz22 — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:32:07 +0000

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (RESNA)

2013 Student Design Competition (SDC)

Assistive Technology

Disability

2013 SDC Announcement

SDC 2013 Flyer

SDC Website

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) announced their 2013 Student Design Competition (SDC). The annual competition provides teams of students with the opportunity to present creative and innovative assistive technology designs that can help people with disabilities function more independently. Students from a variety of disciplines are able to participate, including: mechanical, electrical, biomedical engineering, computer information science, architecture, and physical and occupational therapy. The designs are evaluated based on originality, quality and usefulness. Submission instructions will be available in October 2012 and the deadline for submissions is April 26, 2013.