Access briefly
New Publications from Royal National Institute of the Blind, UK
Among new publications of the RNIB are reports on:
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A Right Denied-access to voting for blind and partially sighted people
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Rights of Way-transport & mobility for visually impaired people in the UK
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Get the Message Online-making internet shopping accessible to blind and partially sighted people
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Details: www.rnib.org.uk
Access Exchange International Notes 10 Year Anniversary
The U.S. based group, Access Exchange International has published a newsletter summarizing its efforts since 1991 to increase accessible transportation around the world. In year 2000 for example AEI provided technical information and papers to workshops on accessible transport in Malaysia, China, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Brazil and Japan. Its key publication, Mobility for All: Accessible Transportation Around the World, is now available in English, Spanish and Japanese, and in preparation in Portuguese and Bahasa Malay versions. Details via email: globalride-sf@att.net
Swedish Handicap Institute Publishes Overview of its Role to Ensure Access to High-Quality Assistive Technology
Founded in 1968, the Swedish Handicap Institute is a national resource center on assistive technology and accessibility for people with disabilities. It works towards full participation and equality for people with disabilities by ensuring access to high-quality assistive technology and an accessible environment.
A new publication in English about its work outlines how the Institute stimulates research and development, tests new assistive technologies, contributes to new knowledge and methodology and carries out training and information dissemination. The Institute is run by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Federation of Swedish County Councils and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities. It has a staff of approximately 90 different professionals such as engineers, social scientists, and physical and occupational therapists. The Chairman of its Board is Bengt Lindqvist, former Swedish Minister for Social Service and currently the United Nations Special Rapporteur on disability issues.
The Institute is also an important collaborator on the international scene, participating in: joint Nordic testing of assistive technology; major European Union projects such as HEART, a broad survey of assistive technology in Europe and ARTNet, information about assistive technology on the Internet; administration of International Standards Organizations (ISO) committees on technical aids, and overall influence to ensure that ISO standards take into account the design and safety needs of disabled citizens; and participation in projects and workshops to promote appropriate technology for disabled people in low and middle income countries. Details available on the web: www.hi.se
British University Develops Distance Learning Courses in Inclusive Design and Accessibility
The University of Salford has developed a Masters in Accessibility and Inclusive Design to be offered as part of its part-time and distance learning program. Details are now available on the web at: www.scpm.salford.ac.uk
European Deaf People Lead the World in Using Mobile Phones for Text Messaging
According to an April 17 story by Daniel Rubin, Free Press correspondent (www.freep.com/money/tech/deaf17_2001417.htm) the new generation of cell phones in Europe are providing a lifeline to deaf users. A decade ago, text messaging was available but not well-marketed by phone companies. In the last year the number of text missives sent over mobile phones worldwide increased fivefold to 200 billion. In December 2000 alone Germans sent 1.8 billion.
Rubin reports that a substantial number of persons buying and using these mobile phones for what is called SMS (short message service) or text messaging are deaf or hard of hearing. In some stores in Berlin, deaf buyers represent 35% of the business.
Hansjoachim Schirmer, 60, speaking in sign language, said "It's such a revolution, before the cell phone my whole life was waiting . . . waiting." Messages are short, under 150 characters, mostly used to provide updates or news among friends, family and coworkers. Alexy Dury, a British researcher at the Center for Deaf Studies in Bristol, for example, was in the Netherlands last year when she learned by SMS that her father had died and she should return home quickly.
So far, text messaging in the US is a "non-event," since it requires digital networks and many American phones and systems are still analog. The digital networks that do exist are not compatible with each other. Meanwhile some European deaf groups are awaiting the next generation of phones that will come with digital cameras so they can sign back and forth without the need to type.
Stockholm Plans to Become World's Most Accessible Capital
The Swedish disability community has announced plans to make Stockholm the most accessible capital city by the year 2010. A project called Accessibility Advice, has been launched to make a comprehensive inventory throughout the city, starting with City Hall. Details: www.hso.se/EU-secretariat/News/stockholm.html
Australian Conference on Assistive Technology
Brisbane, Queensland, October 2001
"Practical Magic - Putting Theory into Practice" is the theme of this Australian Conference which aims to look into how to make assistive technology work in the real world. Details: www.e-bility.com/arata/conf2001.htm
Describing Artwork on the Internet for Blind Users
Anyone involved in trying to make a web-based project more readable and easy to use by blind persons has encountered the challenge of clearly describing a graphic, photograph or artwork. Now there is a great new resource to help improve "alt tag writing": Adam Alonzo has written an excellent paper, "A picture is worth 300 words, " that was delivered to the 2001 CSUN conference in Los Angeles. It is posted at: www.CSUN.edu/cod/conf2001/proceedings/0031alonzo.html
UK Center for Accessible Environments
The journal, "Access by Design," is one of the leading products of the UK Center for Accessible Environments. Regular features are design sheets, building studies, updates on legislation, reports on research and book reviews. Details on the web at www.cae.org.uk
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