Global Universal Design Educators Online News

August 31-September 3, 2004: CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) Africa Network Conference 'CBR as Part Of Community Development.' Conference sponsored by the CBR Africa Network (CAN). CBR Africa Network is a non-government organization, of which the secretariat is based at the Ugandan National Institute of Special Education. CAN was established in 2001 following resolutions made at the previous CBR Africa Regional Conference, 'CBR as a participatory strategy in Africa.' CAN aims to facilitate the sharing of information about community-based services for persons with disabilities and their families in African countries. See: http://www.disabilityworld.org/11-12_03/news/cbrafrica.shtml

September 3, 2004: The Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition 2004. Theme: House of Multiple Dimensions. See: http://www.japan-architect.co.jp/english/5info/topics/sk2004.html

September 5 – 8, 2004: 7th IFA Global Conference on Ageing, titled 'Global Ageing: Sustaining Development' organized by: International Federation on Ageing (IFA) & The Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE), in Singapore. A forum for debates on ageing issues, an opportunity for consumers, practitioners and policymakers in the field of ageing to exchange knowledge and information, as well as establish and strengthen friendships and partnerships. This forum is an important occasion to also learn about the impact of ageing policies and programs since the United Nations Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 and finalization of The International Plan of Action. Models of leading practice will also be highlighted. See: http://www.7ifaconference.com

September 6-9, 2004: 'HCI2004, The 18th British HCI Group Annual Conference' Leeds, UK, sponsored by the British HCI Group. Join researchers, practitioners and educators from around the world at HCI2004 where we will be exploring the theme of Design for Life. As designers, evaluators and implementers of interactive systems we have great responsibility. The systems we design impact upon the lives of the people who use them - for good or ill. See: http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/hci2004/

September 7-9, 2004: 'Ageing Societies and Ageing Sociology: Diversity and Change in a Global World' sponsored by ISA Research Committee on Sociology of Aging, RC11, Inter-Congress Conference, Roehampton, UK. Ageing societies are a historically unique and global phenomenon, which calls for intensified scientific research into the consequences of this worldwide development in the years to come: What will ageing societies look like? In which regards will they differ from contemporary societies? How does ageing affect social institutions and social structures? What are the implications of ageing societies in different regional, national, and international contexts? See: http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/crag/ISA2004/

September 8-10, 2004: 'DPI World Summit 2004: Diversity Within,' Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, sponsored by Disabled Peoples' International. DPI's World Summit will be an opportunity for national assemblies, disability organizations, NGOs, international development agencies, as well as local and national goods and services providers in the disability field to discuss and share information. The purpose of the Summit is to pursue the issues identified at the DPI 6th World Assembly in Sapporo, Japan, to address the issue of diversity, and to prepare for the next World Assembly in South Africa in 2006. See: http://www.dpi.org/en/events/world_summit/06-23-03_summit2004.htm

September 15, 2004: Entry deadlines for the 'Design for All Awards' and the 'Assistive Technology Awards' sponsored by the European Commission. To qualify for the Design for All awards, we are seeking entries from designers, engineers, design students and companies. Each entry will be judged according to Accessibility, Aesthetics, Appropriateness, Availability, Awareness, Affordability and Advancement. To qualify for the Assistive Technology Awards, we are seeking applications from industry, research and development companies, institutes, design professionals, innovators and design students. Entries will be judged as for the Design for All awards. See: http://www.dfa-at- awards.org/home/index.cfm

September 20-22, 2004: '5th National NICAN Conference, Out of the Blue: Valuing the Disability Market in Tourism' Perth, Australia. The Conference will concentrate on making Tourism more inclusive for people with disabilities. At the same time it will present an excellent opportunity for tourism and recreation groups to virtually discover an untapped market. The conference is working on the premise that people with disabilities often find themselves as visitors, sitting on the 'perimeter' of the venue they visit, due to difficult access or lack of information and support options. The Conference aims to open up explorative discussion and develop actions to break down some of the inhibitive barriers preventing maximum participation in tourism experiences. See: http://www.nican.com.au/education/conference.shtml

September 28-October 2, 2004: '2nd Symposium on International Issues in Engineering Design (IIED) as part of the 2004 IDETC (International Design Engineering Technical Conference),' Salt Lake City, Utah, sponsored by the International Activities Committee of the Design Engineering Division. The three major overall conference categories are: pan-world collaborative design, management of pan-world project design teams, and international drivers and practice for product life cycle with one focus area being 'Design for the elderly and physically challenged.' See: http://www.detc2004.me.byu.edu/conferences.htm

September 30, 2004: Submission deadline for Include 2005 to be held April 5-8, 2005, Royal College of Art, UK. Inclusive design is a process whereby designers and manufacturers ensure that their products and services address the needs of the widest possible audience. Don't miss this opportunity to discuss your work on inclusive design at one of the key research and design business conferences of 2005, adding to the cutting-edge approaches, case studies and real world achievements described at Include 2001 and 2003. For the call, see: http://www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/include/2005/call.html

September 30, 2004: Nominations due for The Nordic Design for All honor 2004. The Nordic Design for All honor is a new prize awarded by the Nordic Council on Disability Policy and based on nominations from Scandinavian organizations for the disabled. The theme of the 2004 honor is the products and services of the IT society. The focus on placed on good examples of the application of Design for All solutions to general products, services and systems. These solutions shall function in practice, be user-friendly from a Design for All perspective, and fulfill people's needs in such areas as work, education, travel, leisure, and other everyday matters. The product, service or system shall be produced or provided within Scandinavia, but may be targeted at an international, national, regional or local market. For details, see: http://www.nsh.se/in_english/for_all_no1_Spring2004.htm

September 30, 2004: Submission deadline for the 'Access All Area Awards,' UK. The Access All Areas Awards recognize small and medium sized enterprises that have made their services accessible to disabled people in innovative and creative ways. The Awards are run by the Department for Work and Pensions and supported by Vodafone. The closing date for this year's entries is 30 September 2004. The web site includes information about last year's award winners. For more information, see: http://www.disability.gov.uk/dda/awards/

October 1, 2004: Deadline to participate in Georgia Tech Survey on Universal Design of Consumer-oriented Products. Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is conducting a survey for a research project that is designed to address the universal design of consumer-oriented products. The goal of the survey is to measure user perceptions of attempts at building accessibility features into products such as ATMs, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), on-line training software, distance learning software, voice recognition technologies, and televisions. Respondent's answers will assist us in judging the impact of efforts of the Federal Government to promote accessible design practices. The call for participation is at: http://www.ncbvi.state.ne.us/callforparticipation.htm and it includes information on how to request a paper copy of the survey. To access the on-line survey directly, visit: http://aef.gtri.gatech.edu/universal_design.html

October 1, 2004: Submission deadline for EDRA 36, 'Design for Diversity.' The Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) is an international multi- disciplinary organization of designers, researchers, educators, and other professionals involved in the design and management of the physical environment. Our mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge of the relationship between people and their surroundings, thereby promoting the creation of environments responsive to human needs on many levels. EDRA 36 will take place April 27-May 1, 2005, Vancouver, Canada. The conference theme, Design for Diversity, is a celebration of diversity in race, gender, age, abilities, class and ideology in the context of environmental planning and design. It invites presentations, discussions and debates on issues, concerns, paradigms and challenges for the planning and design of multicultural cities. For submission details, see: http://www.edra.org/conference/pdfs/EDRA36CFP(7).pdf

October 4-7, 2004: NCA Training Course: Retrofitting for Accessibility Yellowstone, MT. This course provides education on federal legislations and accessibility requirements as applied to park and recreation facilities and programs. Curriculum emphasis will include application of accessibility standards, barrier removal, safety issues associated with accessibility, and ongoing facility maintenance to assure optimum access for visitors including those with disabilities. Participants will learn how to identify barriers and initiate appropriate solutions for facility renovations beneficial to user groups of all abilities. For more info, see: http://www.ncaonline.org/training/retrofit04.shtml

October 6-8, 2004: New Design Cities, Montreal, Canada. Founded on the assumption that design is an activity involving conception, creation, planning and management that shapes the quality of our environment and contributes to the competitiveness of our economy and the cultural expression of our country, our region, our city and our businesses, this symposium aims to discuss cities' different positioning and development strategies based on design, and then to assess their impact.. For more information see: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/colloquedesign/index_eng.shtm

October 20-22, 2004: Child in the City Conference, London, UK, organized by The Child in the City Foundation in association with the National Children's Bureau. The purpose of this two-and-a-half day international conference is to bring together social scientists, policy makers, planners and practitioners to share current thinking and disseminate good practice on one of the most pressing challenges facing urban governments: integrating the play and recreational needs of children within the planning, design and governance of the modern city. See: http://www.europoint-bv.com/events/?child2004

October 23-26, 2004: White House Conference on Aging, Washington, DC. This is the first White House Conference on Aging of the 21st Century. The Policy Committee Chair Dorcas R. Hardy urged the Committee to look at aging in terms of today and tomorrow. The Policy Committee, required by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000, which authorized the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, is responsible for the planning and implementation of the 2005 Conference. The White House Conference on Aging occurs once a decade in order to make policy recommendations to the President and Congress to assist the public and private sectors in promoting the dignity, health, independence, and economic security of current and future generations of older persons. For several documents about the Conference, please see: http://www.aoa.gov/press/conference_on_aging/conf_on_aging.asp

October 25-28, 2004: American Association for Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, Nashville, TN. AAHSA is committed to advancing the vision of healthy, affordable, ethical aging services for America. The association represents 5,600 mission-driven, not-for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and senior housing facilities, and community service organizations. Our members serve more than two million older persons across the country. For full annual meeting details, see: http://am2004.expoexchange.com/

October 27-29, 2004: Open Space: People Space: An International Conference on Inclusive Environments, Edinburgh, Scotland, sponsored by OPENspace: the research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments is hosting a three- day conference in Edinburgh to review recent research and debate current issues surrounding good design for open space and social inclusion, spaces and places for the 21st century. The program will include contributions from an international array of experts covering the major themes of the conference: children and young people; disability and social inclusion; health and restorative environments and tourism and leisure. See: http://www.openspace.eca.ac.uk

November 1, 2004: Deadline for submission of full papers for the environmental health issue of Children, Youth and Environments (CYE). CYE's environmental health issue will feature articles from researchers around the world who are investigating the conditions in which children live and the impacts of specific hazards and toxins in their environments, such as indoor air quality in homes and schools, lead poisoning and remediation, outdoor environment access and safety, water quality and safety, sanitation issues, and other environmental concerns. See: http://cye.colorado.edu/CYE_SubmissionGuidelines.htm

November 5, 2004: Deadline for PVA's Barrier-Free America Award. Annually, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) honors an individual for their outstanding contribution toward a barrier-free environment. The annual presentation of the Barrier-Free America Award is a chance to recognize an individual for his/her sensitivity to the importance of accessible design, as well as the difference this individual has made through a particular project in achieving a barrier- free environment. For information on past award winners and the submission procedures for the 2005 Award, see: http://www.pva.org/livingsci/architecture/bfa.htm

November 9-12, 2004: 7th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference: Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in Higher Education, Boulder, CO. Accessing Higher Ground focuses on the implementation and benefits of Assistive Technology in the university and college setting for sensory, physical and learning disabilities. Other topics include legal and policy issues, including ADA and 508 compliance, and making campus media and information resources - including Web pages and library resources - accessible. For conference registration and general information, visit: http://www.colorado.edu/ATconference

November 16-18, 2004: Build Boston, Boston, MA. Build Boston brings together the leading suppliers of building products and services all under one roof exhibiting and demonstrating their newest products for your inspection and an array of workshops and seminars. The 'Universal Design' track includes such topics as: Listening for learning - new standards for classroom acoustics, Invoking `equivalent facilitation` in accessible design, Housing for elders: design trends and user preferences, Playground safety, ADA and character education, Evacuating disabled people: training and programmatic issues, Safety and aesthetics in the design of stairways and handrails and ADA Updates `04 -- the revised ADA Accessibility Guidelines. For more information, see: http://www.buildboston.com/

November 17-21, 2004: Design Research Society International Conference, Monash University, Melbourne. The theme is 'FUTUREGROUND', and will feature leading edge design research from the international research community. Supporting the central theme will be discourse around design as both cultural activity and production; mapping the discipline's development; and research in an industrial context. Particular emphasis will be on the opportunities this presents for reconsidering the nature of design and an exploration of the scope for future research. See: http://www.futureground.monash.edu.au

December 5, 2004: Deadline for The Dyson/IDSA an Eye for Why Design & Engineering Competition. Dyson, Inc. and IDSA have teamed up to challenge industrial design students to create an innovative household product that reflects Dyson's philosophy and commitment to intelligent, function-first design and will be designed to work better by solving a problem. See: http://new.idsa.org/webmodules/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=921&z=31

December 7-12, 2004: 'Designing for the 21st Century III: An International Conference on Universal Design,' Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Adaptive Environments is primary Host, Centro de Vida Independente do Rio de Janeiro (CVI-Rio), the first independent living center in Latin America, is Host Partner and Co- Sponsors are NEC Foundation of America, the United Nations Global Programme on Disability and the Universal Design Consortium (Japan). Metropolis magazine is Media Sponsor. This is an extraordinary moment. We are more diverse now in ability and age than ever before. It is time for design to catch up. There is an urgent need to exchange ideas about the design of places, things, information, policies and programs that demonstrate the power of design to shape a 21st century world that works for all of us. Whatever you call it - universal design, inclusive design, design-for-all, lifespan design - the worldwide movement for human centered design with everyone in mind is gaining momentum. The Designing for the 21st Century III Conference is fueled by that momentum and will offer a platform for the next stage of development. The conference includes a student design competition, charettes within Rio de Janeiro and an Educator's Forum. See: http://www.designfor21st.org/

December 15, 2004: Deadline for C2C Home design and construction competition. Design will lead to actual construction. And homes will be built with a goal of achieving the new standards of sustainability set up in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. See: http://www.c2c-home.org/

December 31, 2004: Deadline for submissions to the 18th World Congress of Gerontology, to be held June 26-27 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aging is a major challenge for the 21st century. Not only will retirement policies have to find an innovative structure to accomplish their purpose, but the society will also have to deal with new and difficult demands in the field of health, psychosocial and economic factors. The role of Gerontology will increase not only to answer the new questions regarding the aged, but implement alternatives already available. See: http://www.gerontology2005.org.br/

March 10-13, 2005: The Changing Face of Aging: 5th Joint Conference of the American Society and the National Council on Aging, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. As current social, political, and economic forces intersect a burgeoning medical and technological revolution, what will the face of aging look like? In the spirit of 1776, the conference will examine the themes of independence, choice, evolution and revolution in light of this diversity. What will independence mean? Who will make the choices? How can we, in the midst of this transformation of society, redefine aging, increase consumer choice, expand services and programs, create opportunities for growth and engagement in later life, and hold fast to our inalienable human rights? See: http://www.agingconference.org/jc05/theme.cfm

April 5-8, 2005: INCLUDE 2005, London, UK. Inclusive design is a process whereby designers and manufacturers ensure that their products and services address the needs of the widest possible audience. Don't miss this opportunity to discuss your work on inclusive design at one of the key research and design business conferences of 2005, adding to the cutting-edge approaches, case studies and real world achievements described at Include 2001 and 2003. See: http://www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/include/2005/call.html

May 17-19, 2005: National DBTAC ADA Symposium: The Annual Conference on Disability Issues, Kansas City, KS. The National ADA Symposium is the most comprehensive training event available on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability issues including accessible information technology. The ADA Symposium brings together nationally recognized experts in their fields to conduct dynamic, interactive trainings in a relaxed environment that encourages networking and group problem-solving. Learn more about this comprehensive conference on the ADA and disability-related issues at http://www.adaupdate.org/Symposium.html

May 24-25, 2005: The 5th Conference of the International Society for Gerontechnology - Gerontechnology 2005, Nagoya, Japan. This conference held about every 3 years will focus on the following topics: Health & Self-esteem, Housing & Daily Living, Mobility & transport, Communication & Governance, Work Condition & Work Ability, Geriatrics & Dementia Cares, Leisure, Robotics for Human Support, Universal Design and Standards for the elderly & disabled people. See: http://www2.convention.co.jp/5isg/english/

July 22-27 2005: HCI International 2005, including: 11th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction jointly with Symposium on Human Interface (Japan) 2005, 6th International Conference on Engineering Psychology and Cognitive Ergonomics, 3rd International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, 1st International Conference on Virtual Reality, and 1st International Conference on Usability and Internationalization, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The conference objective is to provide an international forum for the dissemination and exchange of scientific information on theoretical, generic, and applied areas of HCI, usability, internationalization, virtual reality, universal access and cognitive ergonomics. See: http://www.hci- international.org/

November 16-18 2005: World Summit on the Information Society. Tunis, Tunisia. The first phase of WSIS took place in Geneva and the second phase will take place in Tunis. A fundamental change from an industrial to information-based society is taking place. This information revolution affects the way people live, learn and work and how governments interact with civil society. Information is a powerful tool for economic and social development and this Summit will provide a unique opportunity for all key players to contribute actively to bridge the digital and knowledge divides. Development themes will be a key focus in the second phase in Tunisia and it will assess progress that has been made and adopt any further Action Plan to be taken. See: http://www.itu.int/wsis/

May 30-June 2 2006: IFA 8th Global Conference on Aging, Copenhagen, Denmark. The Copenhagen conference aims to highlight cross-cultural co-operation to meet the challenges of global aging, and at the same time address important region- specific issues of ageing. The conference will be built up around the following themes and dimensions: The Economics of Aging, The Challenges of Aging, Active Aging - Aging Well, and Empowerment – participation. See: http://www.global- ageing.dk/

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