International Day of Persons with Disabilities: EU shows the way on e-inclusion – EIS – 3 Dec 2010

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/policy/accessibility/disability_day/index_en.htm

EU-funded high-tech research makes a reality of legal requirements and policy initiatives that aim at unlocking truly equal opportunities and rights for disabled citizens

Besides offering smart solutions to empower persons with disabilities, digital technologies are becoming the more and more necessary, when not the default channel, to access services and exercise one’s basic rights. That is why giving to the 80 million Europeans with a disability the same access to ICT as all other citizens is imperative to counter the emergence of new digital divides and fully realise the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated today across the world.

The recent Digital Agenda for Europe and European Disability Strategy embrace a vision of ICT as the key to making the living environment, services and products personalised and adaptable to the abilities of people with disabilities, and not vice-versa. In addition, EU legislation on electronic communications and audiovisual media already stipulates equal rights for persons with disabilities when it comes to access and quality.

One of the first Digital Agenda actions that we can tick as 'complete' is the signature, on 14 September, of a Memorandum of Understanding on access to works by persons with print disabilities, for example dyslexia and visual impairment. The Memorandum will spur the production and facilitate the cross-border distribution of works published in alternative formats, like audio-books and Braille for example.

Policies and legislation are only one side of the European Union's commitment to the rights of people with disability. The European Union is also supporting research and development activities aimed at delivering e-accessibility, i.e. making sure that ICT is an opportunity and not a barrier.

Since 2007, the European Commission has earmarked more than 110 million euro for research into accessible and inclusive ICT. Thanks to such funding, pan-European teams of researchers, public authorities, disabled users and industry work together to deliver meaningful technology for disabled people in all life environments.

Research into accessible and inclusive ICT – some examples

Since 2002, EU telecom rules have required that the 112 emergency number is available free-of-charge everywhere in the EU. However, disabilities like for example hearing or speech impairments, can make access to the emergency services via the traditional voice telephony impossible, thus putting more lives at risk. The EU-funded pilot project REACH112 is validating – over several Member States - alternative modes of communication, may it be real-time text, sign language, lip reading, voice or any simultaneous combination of these modes, as per the Total Conversation concept, both for calling the emergency services but also for any telephone call. View a short (2:13) video with Gunnar Hellstrom from the leading Swedish pilot site.

The large-scale pilot project DTV4ALL aims at ensuring that everybody enjoys the benefits of the switch-over from analogue to digital television taking place in Europe and to be completed by 2012. It is estimated that 15% of Europeans have difficulties in accessing digital TV for various impairments reasons. At the same time, the switch-over, although theoretically offering more access possibilities, poses also technical challenges to the delivery of such access services as subtitling, deaf signing or audio description, that are valued by users with disabilities. The project aims at validating solutions and issuing recommendations to the electronic industry, broadcasters, and possibly standardisation bodies.

The award-winning Robobraille project was supported by the European Commission to test and adapt in various European countries a service developed in Denmark to translate digital documents into Braille or synthetic speech. It does so through simple e-mail and is today available in various languages and free of charge to non-commercial users and licensed to companies and organisations.

Assistive Technology Supporting People With Disabilities – AT-Center – 24 Nov 2010

Traditionally people with disabilities have had to lean on others for assistance with housing, meal preparation, bathing and other activities of daily living. Today, many people with disabilities are living independently and performing these activities all by themselves. This trend is due to the creation of assistive technology for those that they are disabled. Assistive technology can be defined as the tools that are used by people with disabilities that enable them to complete their tasks of daily living in a functional and easy way.

A few examples of assistive technological devices are telephones with the telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), computer programs with text-to-speech software for reading and spelling and sip and puff device for an electric wheelchair.

The TDD telephone converts typed characters into certain tones that may be sent over telephone lines. Another type of this service involves an operator reading what a deaf person types and hearing person says, and then converts the text/verbal words accordingly. TDD communications is also used on televisions for many regular sitcoms, game shows and sporting events.

Text-to-speech software programs are great for those with visual impairments, dyslexia or dysphagia. These programs can take words that the computer user speaks and convert it into typed text on the screen. The program can also take written text and read it aloud to the computer user. These types of devices make it possible for many disabled people to attend college, trade school or find gainful employment.

A sit and puff device for an electric wheelchair can allow a catastrophically disabled person to successfully navigate their own wheelchair. The device uses the inhalations and exhalations of the wheelchair user to go forward, backward, turn and go faster or slower. This makes it much easier for both the disabled person and their caregiver to leave the home and enter the community for medical appointments, recreation and special outings.

Source: http://www.at-center.com/assistive-technology-supporting-people-with-disabilities.html

Technology puts mind over body – Bangkok Post – 24 Nov 2010

Disabled people can communicate and operate electronic devices just with the power of thought

Quadriplegics face many obstacles, such as full or partial loss of movement and/or speech, but new technology called the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) could improve the quality of life for victims by responding to brain signals and enabling control of certain electrical devices.

The BCI response is becoming ever more realistic thanks to continuing work at the Brain Computer Interface Lab Department of Biomedical Engineering Principle Researcher, Center of Biomedical and Robotics Technology, Mahidol University.

Lab director Yodchanan Wongsawat, speaking after the Thailand seminar on Broadband Deployment and Universal Service Obligation, organised by the Telecommunications Research and Industrial Development Institute (Tridi) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said BCI recognises brain signals and uses them to control electrical or communication devices and can even assist in repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions.

The technology use sensors to detect brain activity and amplify signals, which can then be processed into messages or commands to aid decision-making.

This information is sent wirelessly to a receiver. Currently, the lab has developed a prototype of "iThink 2", the second version of BCI which helps to control electrical devices via brain signals.

The three year projects, developed with funding of 5.8 million baht from Tridi, are aimed at developing solutions to allow severely disabled people to use their thoughts to operate a "visual stimulation unit" _ a virtual remote control _ which could be used to operate home electronic devices such as televisions.

When users look at the visual remote control, the sensor can detect their instructions via EEG electrodes and an EEG amplifier and then transmit their brain activity to a receiver that converts analogue signals to digital.

This process, known as Pattern Recognition Algorithm, then wirelessly sends the user's instructions to the target devices over a range of around 20 to 30 metres.

"We need to further develop the visual stimulation unit so that brain signals are strengthened and commands are processed quicker," said Yodchanan.

"We also need to spend more time training users. Our goal is to achieve an accuracy rate of 90 to 95 percent."

The lab is also working on a prototype of a wheelchair that can be controlled using BCI technology.

In this model, the sensor will detect brain signal activity and connect this with an amplifier and control box to operate the wheelchair's joystick.

In initial tests, the BCI wheelchair has seen an average usage time of one or two hours before brain signals weakened or users became too tired. The next step is to conduct clinical trials of the device, and then to negotiate pricing with manufacturers. Yodchanan hopes the wheelchair, which will be the first of its kind in Thailand, will be sold for 20,000-30,000 baht.

As well as controlling wheelchairs and home devices, the BCI technology can be applied to many other areas, such as facilitating writing by enabling the user to select letters and other targets on a computer screen without any muscular movement, or to remotely control games, robotic arms or other electronic movements.

Meanwhile, Professor Dr Toshio Obi, Director of the Waseda University's Apec e-Government Research Center in Tokyo, added that there is a need for governments to expand mobile broadband development by targeting a broader range of rural citizens with diverse information needs, ranging from mobile commerce, agriculture and education to government issues, healthcare and disaster reduction.

In his view, the use of mobile technologies for disaster reduction is important because research shows that 80 percent of people injured in such incidents will be the elderly and/or disabled.

Senator Monthian Buntan said that expanding broadband would require focusing not only on universal access across all geographical areas, but also on improving human functions.

For example, to ensure accessibility for all, products and services should have a universal design; and assistive technologies for special needs persons should be provided.

"Information communication technology which assists senior citizens, pregnant women, disabled people or those with impaired speech will has huge business potential," said Senator Monthian.

"Whether in the analogue or digital world, inclusive technology will help bring us all closer together."

National Telecommunications of Thailand (NTC) has announced a telecommunication equipment standard draft that has to support a public telephone standard, according to Torpong Selanon, at the NTC.

The standard mainly covers universal design that facilitates equal access use for all, including disabled and senior citizens, such as bigger displays, space for wheelchair access, and so on.

Next year, Torpong expects that 10,000 public telephones across Thailand will comply with this standard. NTC is also aiming at establishing a design standard for fixed lines and mobile phones so that keyboard typing is a feature on all handsets.

Article 27 of the recent NBTC bill supports equal access, while Article 50 mentions a plan for universal service sand accessibility for telecommunication for any group of people, regardless of geographical location or disabilities and other human factors.

Furthermore, Article 52 NBTC supports assistive technology for underprivileged, disabled and senior citizens.

In Thailand, around 1 million disabled people are registered with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, although the National Statistical Office estimates there is a total of 2 million disabled people and 6 to 7 million elderly people nationwide.

NTC has also allocated 18 million baht to set up a Telecommunication For Disabled and Elderly People Showcase Centre in collaboration with Nectec under the Ministry of Science and Technology. This centre will provide all assistive technologies available on the market to increase awareness of such devices and services, and will also take a mobile roadshow of the same into communities.

New technology, programs help disabled employees become more successful

By Heide Brandes
3.22.2010

Ed Abel’s office at the Abel Law Firm is quietly powerful and tactful, much like the man himself. As one of Oklahoma City’s most successful lawyers, he sits behind a deep cherry-red wooden desk, lounging back and speaking clearly.

Yet he doesn’t drive. He doesn’t read. He doesn’t even recognize his clients.

Abel doesn’t see.

As one of thousands of professionals employed in the United States, Abel is blind. But losing his eyesight early in his career didn’t stop him from going on to grow a large, thriving practice. More and more, the disabled are becoming successful business people, thanks to governmental aid programs and, more importantly, technology that makes doing business easier for those who cannot see, hear, move or speak.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, disabled people are nearly twice as likely as the non-disabled to start a business.

Nearly 15% of working disabled people are self-employed, compared to 10% of non-disabled working people. The Disabled Businesspersons Association claims that 40% of home-based businesses are operated by people with disabilities.

“The new technology available today can make it possible for those with disabilities to have fulfilling careers,” says Jody Harlan of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. “Today we have more and more opportunities for people with disabilities to enter the workforce or start their own businesses.”

Abel and willing

In the 1970s, Abel was a budding lawyer with a promising career in personal injury litigation. While driving back from a ski trip in Colorado, he kept swatting at a bug that flew in and out of his field of vision.

“It wasn’t a bug, but I kept seeing this spot in my vision,” he says. “What I was having were small hemorrhages in my eye. I went to the doctor and he said, ‘You’ll be blind in a year.’”

A type 1 diabetic since age 8, Abel knew he had the risk of losing his eyesight, but still, the idea of being blind was a shock.

“It scared me to death,” he says. “I had a family, two little girls to support. I was early in my law career, and I just kept thinking, ‘This can’t be right. What in the world am I going to do?’”

For many adults facing such news, fear and depression easily can set back a promising career. Although successful now, Abel faced that same danger.

“There were two or three things that helped me,” he says. “One was my faith in God. I really feel that during my lifetime, I’ve had several prayers really answered. Secondly, I got good counseling. We guys are supposed to be tough, you know, but I found counseling was extremely helpful. Thirdly, I had excellent medical care, and I didn’t go completely blind in a year.”

Although his vision didn’t disappear completely until a few years ago, the disability made it impossible for him to perform simple, everyday tasks.

“I got to the point where I couldn’t recognize faces, and for some reason, I was very embarrassed by that,” Abel says. “But some of the clients I represented, I learned from.”

One of them was a young man who was burned on more than 80% of his body and horribly disfigured, but more accepting of himself than Abel was at the time.

“I asked him, ‘How do you stand it when you walk in and people stare at you?’ He said he had to get to the point that he realized he was not his neighbor’s greatest concern,” Abel says. “In five minutes, that person who is staring will go back to other worries. That struck a chord in me. I realized I was not my neighbors’ greatest concern.”

The young man went on to become a successful surgeon, and it was a lesson Abel hasn’t forgotten. For 44 years, Abel has successfully practiced law in Oklahoma City.

“I decided this was who I was now,” he says. “I can cry about it or I can get up and make today the best day. I have to figure out how to make today work for me.”

That means hiring a full-time assistant who drives him, reads to him and assists him. Although some privacy and personal freedom are sacrificed, Abel said he’s still able to run a successful business.

Making it work

Being disabled in the workforce is becoming more accommodating, says Harlan. For instance, many governmental programs, such as the Department of Rehabilitation Services, offer incentives and assistance to employers who hire disabled candidates.

“Now, technology really narrows the gap,” Harlan says. “That’s the reason we offer incentives to employers who hire the disabled. The same applications we use to make our lives easier, like DragonDictate, have been used by the disabled for years.”

Technology, training and the growth of telecommuting jobs mean more opportunities for the disabled.

“Telecommuting and flexible scheduling can mean the difference between not working and doing the job just fine,” Harlan says. “In terms of looking for a job, our department offers stimulus money to help employers pay for a person with a disability, for training and necessary startup costs.”

In 2009, the department’s divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services helped 1,689 people with disabilities start new jobs.

As a result, they reduced the need for disability benefits and social services, and paid taxes on collective earnings of $19.2 million. The divisions also provided career-preparation services to 12,431 Oklahomans.
Both divisions work with employers to match qualified employees with job opportunities, share costs of bringing new employees up to speed, and advise on available tax credits and deductions for hiring workers with disabilities.

“Disabled employees are four to five times more likely to stay on the job,” Harlan says. “They don’t take their jobs lightly. Employing the disabled is also good for the state– it’s good for the person being hired, it’s good for the company hiring and it’s good for the taxpayer.”

Census figures

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s “2007 American Community Survey,” Oklahomans with disabilities were employed at a rate of 37.7% in 2007, compared to 80.4% for nondisabled people in the work-age population.

“Nearly 12% of our staff have disabilities, and we find that they are dedicated and committed to helping others go to work,” says Michael O’Brien, DRS director.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, 49.7 million Americans have a disability, with two-thirds of these having a severe disability. The 2000 Census reported the total number of people with disabilities aged 16-64 is slightly more than 33 million. Of those, the total number employed is nearly 18.6 million.

Of the 18.6 million people aged 16-64 employed with disabilities, 60.1% of men with disabilities are employed, and 51.4% of women with disabilities are employed.

Source: http://www.okc.biz/article/03-22-2010/New_technology_programs_help_disabled_employees_become_more_successful.aspx

U.S. Department of Commerce, White House and FCC Highlight Groundbreaking, Empowering Technologies to Recognize 20th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

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Monday, July 19, 2010
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U.S. Department of Commerce, White House and FCC Highlight Groundbreaking, Empowering Technologies to Recognize 20th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Department of Commerce awards nearly $15 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Grant to improve communications for people with disabilities nationwide

The U.S. Department of Commerce, in partnership with the White House and the Federal Communications Commission, hosted an event today celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The program highlighted innovative technologies that have been developed to empower the daily lives of Americans with disabilities.

“On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are reminded of legislation that wasn't just a great civil rights achievement, but also a catalyst for innovation and opportunity throughout our country,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Because of this Act, millions of talented Americans who had previously been denied full career opportunities, flowed into the U.S. workforce and made immeasurable contributions to businesses nationwide. Meanwhile, the Act helped catalyze the development of technologies so people with disabilities would have a fair and equal opportunity to excel in their jobs. The Americans with Disabilities Act is an achievement that remains just as relevant and just as important today as it was when it was signed into law 20 years ago.”

Announced at the event was a nearly $15 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investment to help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth, and improve communications for people with disabilities nationwide. The grant to Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD) intends to expand broadband adoption among people who are deaf and hard of hearing and provide them with tools to more fully participate in the digital economy.

The event provided an opportunity to demonstrate various technologies designed to level the playing field for people with disabilities, and affirmed the Obama administration’s commitment to getting all Americans back to work. New and innovative technology helps create opportunities for people with disabilities, and critically increases options for employment. Nearly 60 percent of individuals with visual impairments are unable to find work, and 40 percent of individuals with hearing loss remain unemployed.

The ADA celebration included a technology fair where various corporations demonstrated their products, encompassing both assistive technologies and mainstream accessibility technologies. It also included speakers from the White House, the Commerce Department, and the FCC, as well as performances by students from Gallaudet University.

Source: http://www.commerce.gov/print/news/press-releases/2010/07/19/us-department-commerce-white-house-and-fcc-highlight-groundbreaking-e

Robots to Help Children With Autism - TMCnet - 12 Aug 2010

PITTSBURGH, Aug 12, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Interbots, Inc., a high-tech spin-off company associated with the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center has teamed up with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh to provide innovative robot-based therapy for children with autism.The program, "Character Therapy," through the use of the Interbot robot "Popchilla" will test the ability of children with autism with limited or no verbal skills.


According to Seema Patel, CEO and co-founder of Interbots, "We've had numerous individuals tell us our robots could be tremendous tools for Autism therapy. We're excited to be working with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh and the Sprout Foundation to take this first step. We're going to learn a lot from the next few months." "The premise behind the program is that children with autism are sometimes more likely to communicate with a non-human entity," said Cindy Waeltermann, Founder and Director of the Autism Centers of Pittsburgh. "When you have a child with autism, you use whatever interests them to gain access into their world. The idea is to bridge the gap between their word and ours.

Popchilla will be used in the first phase of the program with a trained therapist. Programmers and developers at Interbots have created an iPad application that will allow the therapist to direct sessions, which will eventually be transitioned to allow the child to control the robot through an iPad application to identify emotions.

According to Waeltermann, "By using Popchilla as an intermediary, we hope to increase the understanding of the child's internal feelings, thus reducing behavioral frustrations. If they are able to identify that they are 'angry' and what 'angry' means, it can significantly help them understand what they are feeling, reducing behavioral ramifications." The program is funded by Spark. Spark is an initiative of The Sprout Fund catalyzing projects and programs that engage children ages birth to eight through the creative use of technology and media. Spark challenges individuals, organizations, and communities to generate inventive technology-based solutions to the issues and opportunities facing today's young child. Through its funding opportunities and extensive network of support, Spark is unleashing the innovative potential of Southwestern Pennsylvania and transforming our region into one of the best places on earth to be a kid.

"Our emphasis has always been making the use and control of our robots as simple and flexible as possible. You don't need to have a technical background to control our characters. You can control them with a variety of other familiar devices. So that opens a lot of interesting applications - like having a therapist or a parent use our robots as a tool to interact with children - even the possibility of kids using the robot to express themselves and explore emotions on their own," according to Sabrina Haskell, Interbots, Designer & Co-Founder.

The iPad application is currently in production and the program is slated to begin this fall.

"Nobody is more excited than the parents of the children with autism who have the potential to gain great strides from this program," said Cindy Waeltermann. "That's what this is all about -- thinking outside the box to reach these kids." SOURCE Autism Centers of Pittsburgh

New training centre to enhance job opportunities for the disabled: MOM

By S Ramesh | Posted: 07 July 2010 1257 hrs

SINGAPORE: Two companies will pioneer a new training initiative for persons with disabilities.

They will operate Centres for Training and Integration (CTI) to enhance the employability and job readiness of these people in two sectors- call centres and hospitality.

The programme's being coordinated by the Enabling Employers Network, which helps people with disabilities get jobs.

Double degree holder Steve Tee Wee Leong is visually impaired. But that has not dampened the 28-year-old's drive to master skills in call centre operations to get a job.

Mr Tee says: "Our system has enhanced voice synthesizers where the software reads out whatever is on the screen. We also use enlarged fonts which enables me to read whatever is on the screen. All the call centres are pretty much re-engineered to our needs. As each of us in the call centre have different kinds of visual needs and so all the systems have been well organised and catered to our needs."

Eureka Call Centre Systems and Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre will pioneer the training and integration centres.

Launching the two centres, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong says these centres will provide specific skills training for the disabled from special education schools and voluntary welfare organisations, after which they will undergo on-the-job training.

Mr Gan says with this, more persons with disabilities can be equipped with relevant vocational skills through on-the-job training and contribute to the workforce.

He urged more companies to offer employment opportunities for trained persons with disabilities as this would help them attain self-reliance and integrate more fully into society.

Mr Gan noted that the Eureka Call Centre Systems started its own initiative in 2007 to modify its call centre to facilitate employment of persons with disabilities.

The initiative has since paid off with more than 10 people with disabilities being trained and hired at the call centre since last year.

Holiday Inn Singapore employs persons with disabilities in many of its operations, from housekeeping, laundry to F&B services.

The centres will run for four years and train 150 people with disabilities for other hotels and call centres.

The Enabling Employers Network also plans to introduce a special award to reward employers who have been supportive in training people with disabilities and giving them jobs.

Shantha de Silva, chairman, Enabling Employers Network, says: "They have been really loyal to us and when they get an opportunity they are diligent in what they do and they are thankful for the opportunities and for us we see them as very committed employees without distractions.

"It's about making it known, making it public and for us to act as ambassadors in our industries and share our knowledge and experience with our colleagues. Then people will quietly overcome their biasness about people and employ them."

To recognise employers who are supportive in training and employing people with disabilities, the Enabling Employers Network plans to introduce a special award. 

Pilot programme to aid preschoolers with developmental needs sees success - CNA - 06 July 2010

SINGAPORE: A pilot programme that seeks to help preschoolers with developmental needs overcome their learning gaps has seen success, spelling new hope for this group of children.

Mission I'mPossible is a first-of-its-kind programme that takes a community-based and family-focused approach to better prepare such children for mainstream schools.

The programme started its pilot run in July last year, with 22 PAP Community Foundation (PCF) centres in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

To date, 980 pre-schoolers have been screened and 92 children have successfully completed the programme.

Under the programme, each child has a customised education plan (IEP) to help in learning.

The child receives general learning support, speech and occupational therapy.

More than 90 per cent of children who have undergone the programme have shown improvement.

70 per cent of the kindergarten teachers at the 22 PCF centres have also been trained to screen and detect students with developmental needs, and provide them with better support in class.

The pilot programme is a joint effort by the Lien Foundation, KK Women's and Children's Hospital's Department of Child Development and PAP Community Foundation.

It's hoped that the community-based model of care can now be further replicated. - CNA/jm

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1067795/1/.html

Factsheet: http://www.lienfoundation.org/press/MIP%20press%20release_Final_6July.pdf