Appropriate tools for independence
Trying to read the text on labels gets harder as we age, its a reality that frustrates many yet many have a -partial solution in their pocket—their smart phone. The best magnifier is just like the best camera, its the one you have with you. iOS 10 has an exceptionally well designed Magnifier that is …
Continue reading "Seeing the fine print…"
Scholarship opportunity for a parent, grandparents or siblings to attend Closing the Gap.
Accessibility isn't about accommodations, its about being able to participate in shaping our society. It's Our Story champions that notion: In using the IOS content to develop media accessibility tutorials and best practices, two critical milestones are met. A people’s history is archived by incorporating 21st Century workforce readiness skills in making the Internet “Accessible to …
Continue reading "Agents of change, not recipients of change"
NATRC and the NNCIL is offers a user group for people learning how to use iOS devices and to share resources on how to better utilize the most accessible mobile device available. See how using an iOS device can change how you things, allowing you to easily participate in a host of daily life activities. Even …
There is no doubt that even within the disability field there lacks information and guidance on providing information in a way that is useable by everyone. Here is some decent information on how to actually disseminate things in a universally accessible manner. Note: It is from the UK but it is better than resources that …
Continue reading "Making electronic and print materials accessible to all!!"
Connecting AT devices to smart devices is a gateway moment—it opens many more opportunities for use of their AT devices as well as making them easier, cheaper and upgradable.
In a collaboration between the NATRC and the UNR Reynolds School of Journalism the Enabled Nevada website was created to highlight the lives of people that either have or work with disabilities. The goal, seeking to personalize disability rather than present statistics, involved numerous graduate journalism students and used newer media forms such as …
AssistiveWare released version 1.1 of their Proloquo4Text AAC app for iOS which adds the first ever bilingual American Spanish voices. The same voice is used in speaking both languages, allowing bilingual users to maintain voice identity. Voice identity is important developmentally for younger users and Proloquo4Text's two child voices (Emilio and Valeria) are particularly welcome. …
Looking forward to seeing Best Kept Secrets documentary. The documentary features the efforts of educator Janet Mino at John F. Kennedy High School in Newark, N.J., helping students with autism open up to the world around them. The series will be shown on KNPB on the following dates: Wednesday, September 25, 7:00am Saturday, September 28, …
More than a third of the sessions are focused on accessibility on the web. Clearly people and institutions are waking up to this important need. In a session on 3rd party apps and VoiceOver. The bug issue is that developers are not doing the minimal accessibility steps as they develop the apps. Pity.
Great story on leveraging design for the needs of many. Source : Global Research Innovation and Technology (GRIT) If you are a wheelchair user who lives in a rural area, there's not really a good mobility aid that allows you to travel a long distance on many types of terrains, but is also small and …
The NATRC has championed the idea that AT users need to have access to the appropriate technology not the cheapest. This idea has been embraced by more and more people, especially by the modern workplace. Appropriate Technology gets people involved and active in the modern world, socially and economically. The unemployment rate last year was …
Continue reading "It’s not just Assistive it is Appropriate Technology"
The Magazine is a new media site that produces 5 mid length articles every two weeks. Well curated and thoughtful articles by respected writers grace its pages. The January 31 issue (9) has a feature on Apple's universal design creedo—the almost gentic drive to balance the user experience for the widest audience. The almost "zero …
Its is not just iPhones. The range of iOS devices from iPods to AppleTV are all accessible from the day of purchase. The ethos of universal design (UD) in Apple's software and hardware engineering is what distinguishes their devices. Training often comes from the people around, visually impaired uses are using the same devices as …
Great move. However, I wonder if it would be better if the tours were made available online for individual's to use on their own devices. Many visually impaired users are using smart devices (especially the iPhone with its built-in screen reader). This would also make it great for self guided tour for people with out …
Continue reading "White House Announces Audio Descriptions for Public Tours"
Education about universal, accessible and inclusive design
Nv State Independent Living Council
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