Welcome to e-bility.com News Update Number 28 - June/July 2004
New Spam Regulations
Spam Act 2003: http://www2.dcita.gov.au/ie/trust/improving/spam_home
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What's New on e-bility.com?
Brochure Stand: www.e-bility.com/brochure.php
Australian Braille Authority: www.e-bility.com/roundtable/aba.php
The Australian Braille Authority (ABA) is a sub-committee of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc. The ABA oversees the development and maintenance of Braille codes and specifications used in Australia. Braille is the tactile system of reading and writing used by blind people. There are Braille codes for literary material, mathematics and science, computer notation and music. Since the literary codes are language dependent they and their dependants such as the mathematics codes differ between languages. Only for music is there a worldwide Braille code.
Production of materials in alternate formats: www.e-bility.com/roundtable/productionguidelines.php
The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities has produced a number of guidelines and standards on the production of materials in various alternate formats. These guidelines should be used by anyone producing alternate formats to ensure quality and usability for those for whom the material is intended. The guidelines are available for a small charge.
Super lightweight titanium wheelchairs: www.e-bility.com/gtkrehab/products/invacare_tilite.php
GTK Rehab have just launched a new range of TiLITE titanium wheelchairs that are super lightweight and designed for an active lifestyle. The range includes folding and rigid models with exciting features that make them the next generation Ultimate Ride. Titanium is light, strong, absorbs vibration, doesn't rust and its satin or polish finish stays looking new and fresh for longer than enamel. To arrange a demonstration or seating assessment contact GTK Rehab.
Article of the Month: www.e-bility.com/articles
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:
Stone Sculpting: www.e-bility.com/articles/sculptors.shtml
Alistair Green and Garry Curry, are quadriplegic stone sculptors. The two have won awards for their work and have a dream to establish an arts centre for people with disabilities. They have set up the Society of Disabled Artists (SODA) and together have designed many different types of tools to allow people with disabilities to created more complex sculptures.
Nursing students with disabilities: www.e-bility.com/articles/nursing.shtml
In December of her junior year of nursing school, Christine was in a car accident that left her a T-four paraplegic. When she got out of the hospital she returned to her nursing school, one year later, to complete her last semester. In this article she talks about her experiences as a student nurse with disabilities and what it was like working with patients.
Going where there are No Limits! www.e-bility.com/articles/nolimits.shtml
No-Limits is an award winning Australian television show on Melbourne's Channel 31 - a show presented by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. Being on Community TV, it could be considered somewhat irreverant at times, by some. However, the regular and guest panelists have a lot of fun and it is a very informative show that raises awareness about disability issues and rights. Peter Anderson was recently a guest panelist on the show and this article presents a transcipt from his interview with hosts Stella Young and Sara McQueenie.
Of wheelchairs and whale watching in Monterey Bay, California, USA: www.e-bility.com/articles/whales.shtml
Scott Rains is a Resident Scholar at the Center for Cultural Studies, specialising in inclusive travel at the University of California in Santa Cruz, USA. His recent article on whale watching discusses accessibility onboard the cruise boat and local surrounds. He concludes "all in all, for a dose of outdoor inspiration, I recommend whale watching ... although it is not for the faint hearted". Scott will be visiting Australia later this year on a FAMIL grant to research accessible travel in Australia and is a key note speaker at the upcoming NICAN conference (see Coming Events).
Search engine optimisation and accessibility: www.e-bility.com/articles/accessibility_optimisation.shtml
Many of the W3C Web Content Accessibility guidelines, if applied correctly, can have major benefits in search engine optimisation and internet marketing. This article by Big Mouth Media shows how search engines, through their algorithms, and search engine optimisation, have led to a growing interest in making web content more accessible.
What my brother taught me... www.e-bility.com/articles/tiesthatbind.shtml
"What my brother taught me" is a story by Geoff Jordan about growing up with his brother Chris, who has multiple disabilities. Geoff raises issues around independent living and people with disabilities, as well as topics such as choice, community, citizenship, belonging, and making a difference. Geoff's story is part of the The Ties That Bind Community Engagement Project conceived by The National Film Board of Canada to inspire people to become more involved as a community.
New technological options for people with physical disabilities: www.e-bility.com/articles/telecommunications.shtml
Accessing telecommunication technology has been an ongoing challenge for people with disabilities. With technology continually changing and mobile phones shrinking in size, the gap between people with disabilities and telecommunication technology has grown. Regency Park Rehabilitation Engineering recently trialled and evaluated new configurable 'off-the-shelf' telecommunication options and network features that can improve the lifestyle, independence, security and social interaction of people with physical disabilities. Although mobile phone technologies were the focus of these trials, personal digital assistant (PDA) and a home phone were also trialled.
What's New on the WWW?
General
Launch of SANE Helpline: www.sane.org
The SANE Helpline provides information about mental illness and referral to support services. Freecall Australia-wide 1800 688 382 (9-5 EST).
Y-Connection: www.yconnection.org.au
Y Connection is a new web site set up to develop and strengthen connections between Australians 17-30 years with a disability, who want to live a life outside the stereotypes sometimes attached to having a disability. It is packed with informative and useful resources on a wide range of topics, written by young people.
NSW Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/privacynsw/ll_pnsw.nsf/pages/PNSW_index and www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/pc.nsf/pages/privhriptrain
The HRIP Act commences on 1 July 2004 and applies to every organisation that is a health service provider or that collects, holds or uses health information. More information and free training is available from Privacy NSW.
Technology
The Independent Living Centre NSW has moved! www.ilcnsw.asn.au/
The ILC displays a comprehensive range of products and equipment to assist with day to day living and can provide information about supplier details and approximate prices, as well as assistance in selecting items that best suit your needs. Their new address is: 1 Fennell Street North Parramatta NSW 2151. Telephone enquiries: 1300 885 886. All other calls to 02 9890 0940.
Seniors Computing: www.seniorcomputing.org
The Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association is the national peak body for seniors and technology, providing barrier-free access for members with a disability.
Coming Events
Inclusive Learning Technologies Summer School 2004
About: Technologies designed to support students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties.
When: 9 - 11 November 2004.
Where: Surfers Paradise, Queensland.
Web: www.spectronicsinoz.com/info.asp?info=summer_school
Out of the Blue - NICAN's 5th National Conference:
About: Valuing the Disability Market in Tourism.
When: 20-22 September 2004.
Where: Perth Australia.
Web: www.nican.com.au/education/conference.asp
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