Web Accessibility Starts With Your Branding
Typically, the look and feel of your website will draw inspiration from some of the major design elements featured in your logo and branding assets. It makes sense then that these important assets should be designed with web accessibility in mind.
From http://www.accessiq.org/news/features/2013/05/web-accessibility-starts-with-your-branding, May 23, 2013
USA: Adaptive Technology Devices a Necessity for People with Disabilities
Computers are essential tools in all academic studies. They can enhance the independence, productivity, and capabilities of people with disabilities. Furthermore, computers can benefit people with low vision, blindness, speech and hearing impairments, learning disabilities, mobility, and health impairments. Each of these impairments poses challenges to accessing and using a standard computer and electronic resources.
From http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/, May 23, 2013
WAI Call for Papers: User Modeling for Accessibility Online Symposium
The W3C WAI Research and Development Working Group (RDWG) invites you to contribute to the online symposium on user modeling for accessibility. Symposium date: 15 July 2013. Abstract submission date: 6 June 2013.
From http://www.w3.org/WAI/RD/2013/user-modeling/cfp, May 23, 2013
Technology Gives Students with Disabilities Access to College Courses
Last week, I met with a group of high school students with learning disabilities who attend a dual-enrollment high school/college program at Mission Middle College in Santa Clara, California. The program emphasizes the use of technology, including the Bookshare accessible library, to help students earn college credit while still in high school.
From https://www.ed.gov/blog/2013/05/technology-gives-students-with-disabilities-access-to-college-courses/, May 23, 2013
USA: Technology for Life: How Students with Disabilities are Attending College at Record Rates
Esha Mehta and Bill Casson had unique qualifications in mind when they looked at universities to attend. Both chose the University of Colorado, where Mehta is pursing a bachelors degree in psychology, and Casson is getting a master's degree in computer science. But their decision to come to Boulder wasn't like many others. They weren't lured by mountain sports or football rankings, but by the reputation of the CU disability services office. Both Mehta and Casson are blind.
From http://www.kunc.org/post/technology-life-how-students-disabilities-are-attending-college-record-rates, May 23, 2013
G3ict Supports HLMDD 2013: Disability Inclusive Development Agenda Enabled through ICTs
On 23 September 2013 the UN General Assembly will hold in New York (USA) a high-level meeting to agree on a global roadmap to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development efforts. The meeting will have the overarching theme, “The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda.”
From http://g3ict.org/resource_center/newsletter/news/p/newsletterId_/id_420, May 21, 2013
UN Disability Rights Body Confirms that Equal Access to Banking Services Should be Granted to All
One of the newest United Nations human rights treaty body, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, issued an unprecedented decision on a case involving Szilvia Nyusti and Péter Takács, two visually impaired complainants from Hungary.
From http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/accesstobankingservices.aspx, May 21, 2013
"Disability is a Developmental Issue," Says DPI Chair Javed Abidi
Born with congenital spina bifida, a developmental disorder, Javed Abidi has traversed the world on a wheelchair, advocating the rights of the disabled.
Considered a pioneer of the cross-disability movement in India, he was instrumental in the drafting and passage of The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, and in the setting up of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People in 1996. He has been its director since 1997. In October 2011, he was appointed world chair of Disabled People’s International (DPI), a global organization working for the rights of people living with disabilities.
From http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/1NkD4OkdnZ3JQrPra8w3YM/Javed-Abidi--Disability-is-a-developmental-issue.html, May 20, 2013
SAP Pledges to Hire Adults with Autism for 1% of Workforce
This week SAP announced that one percent of its workforce will eventually be adults diagnosed with a form of autism. That number could eventually be as high as 650 employees spread across 60 of its locations where SAP runs laboratories as well as research and development operations. What started as a pilot project in India will morph into one of the more compassionate, creative and necessary job programs within the private sector.
From http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/05/sap-adults-autism/, May 17, 2013
USA: Baby Boomers Driving the Technology Wave
That younger investors embrace online brokerages isn’t a surprise to anyone. But what is a surprise — at least to some — is that Baby Boomers are going digital in unexpected ways, forcing the financial community to keep up. Virtual advisory firm Wealthfront built its system to connect with younger investors, the ones assumed to be the most comfortable with digital tools, with financial advisors. But something interesting happened along the way — Boomers started signing up too. “Predominately our audience has been early adopters and younger professionals,” says Wealthfront chief operating officer Adam Nash. “But Baby Boomers are now making up over 10%, and that certainly wasn’t true at the beginning of the year.”
From http://m.wealthmanagement.com/technology/baby-boomers-driving-technology-wave?goback=%2Egde_4083270_member_241439440, May 16, 2013
