DisABILITY Accessibility Information Resources
May - June 2005
Number 33
e-Bility News is a bi-monthly newsletter distributed by e-Bility Inclusive IT. It presents information on updates to e-Bility's web site, news about disability related issues on the Web, as well as other information of general interest to the disability and health sector.
What's new on e-Bility.com?
Brochure Stand
- Australian Braille Authority
- Resources available on the Australian Braille Authority web site have recently been updated.
- ICP Online Training
- Upcoming courses in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) include: Using AAC to develop emotions and problem solving (1 August 2005) and Participation through communication guide for people who use non verbal communication (5 September 2005).
- Families Supporting Families
- Families Supporting Families (FSF) membership is made up of families with a child or children with a disability living in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the lower Hunter Region. FSF provides practical assistance to parents and siblings, including a Hospital Support Program, regular workshops and newsletters.
Articles
- In Ethiopia with a wheelchair
- Gordon Rattray, of Able Travel fame, tells of his travel adventures in northern Ethiopia, attempting to get to the legendary Blue Nile Falls.
- Gwen's story
- In this article Gwen Beaton shares her experiences following a spinal cord injury, in an interview with author Robyn Perham.
- Giannina my lover, fighter, partner, griper, writer
- A poem sent in by Giannina and written by Laszlo, her husband and carer.
Book Reviews
- From Autism to All-Star
- This journal shares the journey one family takes to ensure their son has every opportunity to fly without limits. Starting a life that would resemble most children up until age two, follow as Jordan enters his own world, the world of Autism, and reemerges to share life with those who love him and have endured with him.
- Individualized Service Plans
- This publication is a manual for individuals and organisations "wishing to learn more about designing fully inclusive services for people with disabilities". It is a well written and very practical resource. Materials and information in the book have been gathered using an interdisciplinary team approach, and while the details of case studies relate to the American healthcare system, the principles, values and strategies are universal in their application.
Exhibit Hall
- Automobility
- Automobility provide a range of innovative and affordable accessible vehicle conversions. Their automotive access engineering workshop has moved to new premises - see web site for details.
What's new on the WWW?
Technology
- 4th edition of Living in the State of Stuck now available
- The final chapter of Marcia Scherer's well-loved book on disabilities concludes its 18 year study on the lives and experiences ("battles lost and won") of ten individuals using assistive technology.
- Equipment Recycling Network
- Recycles and distributes computers and equipment to people with disabilities throughout Maroondah and Victoria.
- BBC News - Enable initiative
- A three-year EU project to improve access to the internet by people who are blind has started at Queen's University in Belfast. Researchers at the university are working to devise ways to guide people with vision impairments through the web. The EU has provided funding for the project which has 13 European organisations participating.
- EmpTech
- EmpTech is an independent resource compiled by a team who have worked for many years in the field of disability, assistive technology and computer science. It aims to provide information resources on assistive technologies that are designed to help those with specific difficulties or disabilities work and study more effectively.
Services
- Planning for an ageing community
- The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has established this website to assist local government to plan for an ageing population. The website showcases the latest news, research, data, information and innovative practice.
- AQA VIC
- AQA Victoria's mission is to enable people with severe disabilities to attain maximum independence. This is promoted through the information, resources and publications available on their newly updated web site.
- Independent Living Institute Sweden
- People with disabilities represent an important reserve of employees, interns or volunteers. With support from the Swedish government the Independent Living Institute compiles information about university study, traineeships and volunteer work for all, including people with disabilities. Their online database covers many countries. It is in English, access is free and open to anyone. If your organisation is willing to discuss a potential trainee's or volunteer's access needs then you are also invited to register.
- OSSATE
- This project seeks to establish a prototype multi-platform, multi-lingual online information service comprising national and regional content on accessible tourist venues, sites and accommodation, initially from 2 EU member states: Greece and the UK.
- Newsline Service USA
- The National Federation of the Blind (in America) offers a free electronic news service that delivers daily newspapers in audio format over the telephone. This service is not just for people with vision impairments, but for anyone with a physical disability that prevents them from reading a conventional newspaper.
