Welcome to e-bility.com News Update Number 26 - February/March 2004
What's New on e-bility.com?
Brochure Stand
GTK Rehab 2004 Catalogue
GTK Rehab are a leading rehabilitation technology supplier offering a wide choice of seating, mobility, transfer and personal care products manufactured in Australia and overseas. Their web site has recently been updated and now includes an expanded online catalogue with an exciting new range of products, including the Excellent Systems Modular Ramp Kits, Roller RAD paediatric power wheelchair featuring bright colours and modern styling that appeals to kids, Kuschall Kid Competition sports wheelchair and lots more. Referral forms for a personal consultation with one of the GTK occupational therapists can also be downloaded from the web site.
Round Table 2004 National Conference
The Round Table conference theme is "Information Access: Global Trends and Local Innovations". Information Access is important to all people who have a print disability, and has many dimensions, including format (braille, large print, e-text, etc) and facilities (libraries, web sites, agencies, educational institutions, etc). The 2004 National Conference will explore the nexus between global trends in information access, and the requirements and contexts that operate at the local level across and within these various dimensions. More information, as well as copies of proceedings from the 2003 Conference "Variety is the Key" are now available online.
Carrie Writes
Carrie was born with cerebral palsy. She graduated from Madonna University with a bachelor's degree in Social Work and writes a regular column to help people with disabilities and bring awareness to society. In recent columns she shares her thoughts about friendship (true angels) and role models.
Article of the Month
Short, informative articles to be published in this section are always welcome. If you have a story you would like to share please drop us a line. Articles recently published include:
Pacific Cruise Heaven on Superstar Leo
Recently Colin and his wife escaped on a 10 night cruise of the Pacific Islands. As a C6 quadriplegic Colin reports that it was the most relaxing holiday and he would recommend it to anyone, especially those who use a wheelchair (both manual and electric).
Travelling with a Disability
"Vacation" is a magic word. Use it in a conversation and people are likely to momentarily spirit off to their private bit of paradise. But even Harry Potter puts in long hours of preparation to work his magic. So, what's the magic formula for conjuring up a charmed vacation? Scott Rains writes on the six "knows" of travelling with a disability.
Moving on
Transitional accommodation services offer help to people who want to make a change in their living arrangements from a situation where they have to rely on support from other people to a situation where they can rely more on themselves. This article includes three stories from people who have participated in Northcott's Housing Links program.
South Pole Expedition
History has been written... Michael McGrath's quest to conquer both poles has been realised following a successful expedition to the South Pole, making him the first person with a disability in the world to achieve this feat. The team's focus is to generate global awareness around muscle disorders as well as raising funds to assist in researching the causes and potential cures. In some of the coldest temperatures imaginable, Michael, who has Muscular Dystrophy, tells how self belief and teamwork helped him conquer the South Pole, completing the pole2pole Challenge.
Directory of Links
The following sections of the e-bility links directory have recently been expanded:
Accessible Games
Links to web sites with interactive fun games and puzzles that can be played online, as well as games software designed to be fully accessible to people with a vision impairment.
Adaptable Housing
Information about housing and accommodation initiatives to promote easy, safe and "livable" designs that are flexible to meet individual needs and universal in their appeal. Adaptable housing can enhance daily living by maximizing independence and easing care giving, enabling individuals with disabilities, families and older people to maintain safe and active lifestyles.
Disability Arts
The arts and disability, including music, dance, theatre, photography, and painting.
Inclusive IT
Cross Browser Compatibility
Assistive technology, browsers and operating systems interpret web page coding differently, therefore how a web page is designed can affect how it looks and performs. e-bility can provide reports on how your web page appears in different browsers and user-testing by people with disabilities using assistive technology to facilitate browser access.
What's New on the WWW?
General
Wheelabout Second Hand Vehicle Sales
Wheelabout are interested to hear from anyone with a second hand vehicle for private sale. They are receiving lots of enquiries via their web site and customer network but need more vehicles to meet demand.
Electronic banking and financial services
HEROC is requesting information and feedback from people with disabilities and representative organisations on their experiences in the area of electronic financial services since the introduction of voluntary industry standards covering accessible ATMs, EFTPOS, Telephone and internet banking in April 2002.
Born to motivate
A web site to relax and enjoy - includes motivational and inspirational quotes, success tips, self help articles, personality test and more.
Volunteer Advocacy Service
The Disability Advocacy Service Hunter (DASH) has established a new volunteer service to support people with intellectual disabilities when they have to attend court. While the service will focus on people with intellectual disabilities, they will also attempt to assist people with other types of cognitive disabilities, such as brain injury and mental illness who often face similar disadvantages at court.
New online ageing research tool
Ageing Research Online is an interactive web-based directory of ageing-related research projects, courses of study and research grants, including a range of research and information tools (web forum, event calendar) and access to additional resources and publications.
Accessible buildings proposals
Have your say... The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released documents for public comment as part of consultation on the proposed Disability Standards for Access to Premises (Premises Standard). The package also includes proposed changes to the Building Code of Australia (BCA), revised Australian Standards, a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS), Guidelines to the Premises Standard and amendments to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport. Comments on the proposals are invited up to the end of April 2004.
Technology
Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits
Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits is a new online journal with the first issue scheduled for early-mid 2004. The journal will publish peer-reviewed, cross-disability, transdisciplinary articles related to the benefits and outcomes of assistive technology devices and services across the lifespan. The submission deadline for papers is 28 February 2004.
Reader Contributions
Access For All Alliance - National Recognition
In commemorating ten years of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner, acknowledged the contribution or the Access for All Alliance, a small unfunded non-government organisation. Of particular note was a report produced by the Alliance on accessibility of examination facilities in medical rooms. Copies of the report can be ordered by emailing Sheila King at accessforall@bigpond.com
AAC Scholarships
Application forms are now available for a very generous scholarship to send an AAC user or their family to Brazil to attend the ISAAC conference there in October. Beside the usual galaxy of AAC stars at the conference Joan Bruno is also running a Camp Chatterbox at the venue. If you know of anyone who would be interested please contact Sue Owen for a copy of the application forms. Email seowen@iprimus.com.au
World Leisure Congress
The 8th World leisure congress will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia from 12th to 17th September 2004. The theme "Leisure Matters" will include presentations from both an academic base and a practitioner base across 5 core streams: people, places, spaces, impacts and futures. Abstracts for oral papers, workshops, panel discussions, poster presentations and other innovative proposals are welcome.
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