Accessibility News International

Accessibility News International will strive to bring you as much information as possible from around the Globe regarding issues of accessibility for the Disability Community.

Supports Cut for Low-Income B.C. Residents

Posted under: Community

Minor savings to province signal a devaluation of vulnerable people
By Michael J. Prince, Times ColonistMarch 9, 2010

On April 1, a number of dental, preventive health and medical services for people struggling to live on disability assistance and income assistance will
be cut back.

This is not a fool’s joke; it is Liberal government social policy.

Supports Cut for Low-Income B.C. Residents - Full Article

Study Focuses on Disability and Employment Among Working-Age Immigrants in the U.S.

Posted under: Employment

9. March 2010 07:17

Currently, foreign-born people make up approximately 13 percent of the total U.S. population. As the immigrant population grows, understanding its disability status and employment characteristics becomes increasingly important. People, both native and foreign-born, with disabilities make important contributions to our society, and many individuals continue to work despite a wide range of impairments. A new study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital focuses on disability and employment among working-age immigrants in the United States.

Study Focuses on Disability and Employment Among Working-Age Immigrants in the U.S.- Full Article

Guest Commentary: A Moral Dilemma: “Scentual” Pleasure at the Expense of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Others

Posted under: Editorials, Health

By Carol Lewis
March 8, 2010

Hundreds of Canadians have contacted the Canadian Human Rights Commission to find out whether their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are being violated because they are unable to access basic services, social and cultural events in their community without becoming ill from fragrance exposure.

Guest Commentary: A Moral Dilemma: “Scentual” Pleasure at the Expense of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Others- Full Article

The Proposed Accessibility Exception to Copyright

Posted under: Communications

Posted on 3/06/10 •
By Bihu Sharma and Nandita Saikia

(This is a Working Paper and is based on the proposed Copyright Amendment.)

Introduction

The disabled in India are, for the most part, an invisible minority with disability, and often the disabled themselves, being stigmatised. In a country
where access to information and education is limited by a variety of factors, including class and caste, persons who have disabilities tend to be far more
disadvantaged than the average person of their own caste and class would be.

The Proposed Accessibility Exception to Copyright- Full Article

Noor Dubai Exceeds Target One Year Later

Posted under: Community, Health

4 Jan 2010

The charity Noor Dubai, started by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has reached its first year anniversary – and exceeded its goals.

Noor Dubai Exceeds Target One Year Later- Full Article

Scanners to Help Blind in Kitchen

Posted under: Community, Products

Agence France-Presse, February 23, 2010

Blind people in Switzerland will soon have help telling their ravioli from their tinned fruit in the kitchen as a new loud-speaking device able to decipher 50,000 products was launched Monday.

“It is almost indispensable for a blind person who wants to live independently,” the spokesman for the Swiss union for the blind that will sell the device, told AFP.

Scanners to Help Blind in Kitchen- Full Article

Stage Set for Paralympic Games

Posted under: Arts & Entertainment

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Canadian Press

Canada’s Paralympic team has set a lofty goal of winning enough gold medals to finish among the top three countries. (Nigel Armstrong/Canadian Press)

As the curtain is drawn on Vancouver’s Olympic Games, the stage is being set for Canada’s first Winter Paralympics.

Stage Set for Paralympic Games- Full Article

Torch Bearers Named for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics

Posted under: Arts & Entertainment

VANCOUVER, B.C., (March 3, 2010) – The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is proud to announce the 25 torch bearers it has selected to take part in the Paralympic Torch Relay for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. These individuals have been selected for their outstanding contribution to the Paralympic Movement. The relay will raise awareness for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 12 – 21, 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler.

Torch Bearers Named for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics- Full Article

The Serotek Ultimatum

Posted under: Communications

Monday, March 1, 2010
Posted by Mike Calvo at 2:15 PM

Serotek declares war on the traditional adaptive technology industry and their blind ghetto products. With this announcement we are sending out a call to
arms to every blind person and every advocate for the blind to rise up and throw off the tyranny that has shaped our lives for the past two decades. It
is a tyranny of good intentions – or at least what began as good intentions. But as the proverb says, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

The Serotek Ultimatum- Full Article

Guest Commentary: Stigma & Sensitivities: Must They Coexist?

Posted under: Editorials, Health

By Carol Lewis
Posted Mar 3, 2010

Those with environmental sensitivities look just like anyone else, yet their bodies react very differently to such things as automobile exhaust, moulds, fragrances, tobacco smoke and pesticides. While reactions often effect the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and/or muscular systems, most everyone with environmental sensitivities experiences neurological symptoms such as headaches, depression, insomnia, anxiety, coordination problems, difficulties with memory and concentration, feeling spaced out, etc. These types of symptoms can have a strong impact on employability.

Guest Commentary: Stigma & Sensitivities: Must They Coexist?- Full Article

Making Vancouver accessible to all

Posted under: Community

By LORI KNOWLES, QMI Agency
Last Updated: March 1, 2010 9:35am

Vancouver’s hosting of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is benefitting one very deserving group of travellers: Those with disabilities.

Making Vancouver accessible to all- Full Article

A Federal Agenda that Includes ‘Us’

Posted under: Community

By Harry Wolbert
Last Updated: March 1, 2010 12:00am

Our elected members of parliament will return to work this week. And with that comes the expectation that some work will finally get done. Over these last few years disability issues have taken a backseat on the national agenda. This has been a real disappointment for me and for many of my colleagues.

A Federal Agenda that Includes ‘Us’- Full Article

Vancouver Olympics Web sites are inaccessible to disabled people

Posted under: Communications

Posted: 2010.02.22

By Joe Clark

Testing shows
Vancouver2010.com and CTVOlympics.ca
are almost impossible to use for some people with physical disabilities, and hard to use and understand for blind or deaf people.

Vancouver Olympics Web sites are inaccessible to disabled people- Full Article

Proposed US Law Would Force Product Accessibility

Posted under: Communications, Community

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 1:39 pm

Manufacturers and suppliers of consumer technology devices in the US could be forced to make all their products accessible to blind consumers, if proposed legislation is passed by Congress.

Proposed US Law Would Force Product Accessibility- Full Article

Visually Impaired Skier Draws International Attention Upon Arrival at Olympics

Posted under: Arts & Entertainment

By: Donna Spencer, THE CANADIAN PRESS
16/02/2010 8:30 PM

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The world’s attention turned to Brian McKeever as he arrived at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

Eurosport, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Agence-France Presse, Reuters and the Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun were among the international media that came to hear the story of the visually impaired cross-country skier who is about to make history as the first winter athlete to compete in both
the Olympics and Paralympics.

Visually Impaired Skier Draws International Attention Upon Arrival at Olympics- Full Article

Special Needs Children’s Long Wait for Care

Posted under: Education

Published: Sunday | February 21, 2010
Tyrone Reid, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Scores of Jamaican children with learning disabilities are being left behind by an inadequate education system that spews out illiterates 26,000 at a time.

The system not only fails to identify special-needs children, but expects them to compete without systematic intervention.

Special Needs Children’s Long Wait for Care- Full Article

Blind Association Seeks 4% Quota in Parliament

Posted under: Community

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Islamabad

Pakistan Association of the Blind (PAB) Monday sought four per cent reserved seats for special persons in the Parliament in the upcoming constitutional
package, expected to be announced soon.

Blind Association Seeks 4% Quota in Parliament- Full Article

Social Media Web App “Accessible Twitter” Enters Beta Status

Posted under: Communications, Community

Release Date:
2010-02-23

AccessibleTwitter.com expands features and empowers disabled users to access Twitter, the popular social micro-blogging web service.

Social Media Web App “Accessible Twitter” Enters Beta Status- Full Article

Assistive Technology Helps Dementia Sufferers Get Through the Day

Posted under: Communications, Mental

Tens of millions of elderly people in the EU suffering from mild dementia may be able to look after themselves, and free up their carers, thanks to a new
European-developed system.

One of the first and most debilitating symptoms of dementia is short-term memory loss, which means care is required for people who are otherwise quite capable of looking after themselves. They can perform tasks, but they forget them or how to do them.

Assistive Technology Helps Dementia Sufferers Get Through the Day- Full Article

So, What Has Obama Managed to get Done? Ask U.S. Disabled

Posted under: Community

At last, the United States is part of a UN strategy to stop discrimination

Published On Sat Feb 20 2010
Kathleen Kenna Special to the Star

Being blind doesn’t bother 30-year-old Bryan Garaventa. It’s how others perceive him that’s annoying.

“People see you and they see your disability, not the person,” he says from his home in Pacifica, Calif. “It’s basically ignorance – they think if you have
a disability, you’re not capable of thinking.”

So, What Has Obama Managed to get Done? Ask U.S. Disabled- Full Article