Feed on
Posts
Comments

SSB University, for creating accessible online communities, 2/5/15

Feb 5th, 2015 by

Did you know about SSB University?

Everyone understands why wheelchair ramps and curb cuts are important – they allow access for people with disabilities. And just as physical structures need to be accessible, the same is true of digital content and technology. 

Digital accessibility is complex and requires very specialized knowledge – your Development and QA teams need both an understanding of the legal requirements as well as the practical know how for making your digital assets accessible. SSB University from SSB BART Group provides that knowledge through a wide range of multimedia training courses designed to help organizations create accessible web sites, applications, software and electronic documents. SSB University’s curricula ranges from beginner to advanced level courses which can be customized and delivered in a variety of ways to best suit your organization’s specific training needs and budget.

Read about SSB University courses and training options here

Posted in Assistive Technology, AT News, Education, Information Technology, Things to Know Thursday, Web Accessibility | No Comments »

Avoid Form Auto-advancing, Web Tip #32, 2/4/15

Feb 4th, 2015 by

Avoid Form Auto-advancing

Ensure that focus is never automatically advanced from form field to form field. This is often experienced when three text fields are used for telephone numbers (area code, first three digits, last four digits). After entering the first thee numbers, focus is automatically set via JavaScript to the second field, but a user who has pressed the tab key will then be moved to the third field. The problem can sometimes be compounded when the user attempts to fix an error. For example, if the first field contains an incorrect area code and the user presses Shift + Tab to go back to the field, the JavaScript may detect that the field already has three characters and automatically set focus to the next field, making it impossible to correct the field with the error. This can be avoided by not setting focus and simply allowing the user to move to the desired fields manually.

Posted in Assistive Technology, Information Technology, Web Accessibility, Web Tip Wednesday | No Comments »

The home that watches over your parents, 2/3/15

Feb 3rd, 2015 by

There’s a new book on the market that might be of interest to the AT Blog readers –

The Home that Watches over Your Parents

Product category: Activity tracking home sensor systems.

Goals: Do these products work? Which ones are best? And for which types of people are they suitable?

For whom is this work useful: Friends and families of seniors who worry about them being alone. And seniors who are looking for ways they can stay safely at home for longer, avoiding the specter of the nursing home.

Results of this Research Project: The results of Part 1 of this project are available as an e-book on Amazon. Buy it on Amazon: The Home that Watches over Your Parents

Authored by a scientist and a clinician, this book is an independent and objective review of a new product category called “Activity-tracking Home Sensor Systems.” This detailed report is designed to help you decide whether one of these products will help you with caring for your elderly parents; keep them safer; and allow them to stay in their home longer. And if so, which of the quite different product offerings would be right for your particular circumstance and your aging parents.

 

 

Posted in Assistive Technology, AT News, Education, Tech Tip Tuesday | No Comments »

Autism Campus Inclusion Leadership Academy – Apply Now, 2/2/15

Feb 2nd, 2015 by

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is now accepting applications for the 2015 Autism Campus Inclusion (ACI) Leadership Academy!

The ACI summer leadership training prepares Autistic students to create systems change on their college campuses. Accepted applicants will travel to Washington, DC and participate in advocacy training from May 30 to June 6, 2015. Participants will acquire valuable skills in community organizing, policy formation, and activism. Travel and lodging are fully covered by ASAN.

View our flyer Watch the video of our 2013 alumni sharing their experiences

Applicants must identify as Autistic and be current college students with at least one year remaining before graduation. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network will cover travel and lodging costs for all ACI students. We specifically encourage students of color, LGBT students, students with intellectual disabilities, AAC users, and students from other or multiply marginalized communities to apply.

To apply, please submit a completed application by February 15, 2015 to Natalia Rivera Morales at NRiveraMorales@autisticadvocacy.org with the subject line “2015 ACI Application”.

View and download the application here

If you need assistance or accommodations at any stage, please contact Natalia Rivera Morales at NRiveraMorales@autisticadvocacy.org.

Posted in AT Events, AT News, Education, Mystery Monday | No Comments »

FEMA Text Msg Program, 1/29/15

Jan 29th, 2015 by

FEMA Text Message Program

Contributed by Provi Sharpe, Director of Emergency Management and Reuse Projects

It is vital to stay informed during an emergency – whether that emergency is bad or severe weather or some other sort of disaster,  you can get the information you need to help you be prepared and stay safe with text message alerts available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via their Text Message Program.

The FEMA Text Message Program can be used in two ways: to receive regular safety tips for specific disaster types, or to search for open shelters and open disaster recovery centers.

All FEMA text messages are sent from their dedicated number, which is 43362 (4FEMA).  This text message program is not a substitute for 9-1-1. During an emergency, call your local fire/EMS/police or 9-1-1 for assistance. For a list of all the disaster specific keywords you can sign up to receive bi-monthly safety tips for, follow this link.

You can also use the FEMA text message program to receive a link for the FEMA smartphone app for your specific mobile device. FEMA will reply with a link back to your phone’s specific app store.  For Apple devices: text APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA); for Android devices: text ANDROID to 43362 (4FEMA); for Blackberry devices: text BLACKBERRY to 43362 (4FEMA)

Posted in Emergency Preparedness, Things to Know Thursday | No Comments »

Avoid Form Auto-focusing, Web Tip #31, 1/28/15

Jan 28th, 2015 by

Avoid Form Auto-focusing

Users should typically have control over the position of their cursor. Avoid using JavaScript or the HTML5 autofocus attribute to automatically place focus into a form control unless the entire purpose of that application is for user interaction in that field (such as the Search text box at google.com). Automatically setting focus within the page can cause confusion for keyboard users who immediately interact with internal page content rather than the page’s initial content (typically the site name/logo and navigation).

Posted in Information Technology, Web Accessibility, Web Tip Wednesday | No Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

MDTAP | 2301 Argonne Drive, Room T17 Baltimore, Maryland 21218| Voice: 410-554-9230 Toll Free ⁄ Voice 1-800-832-4827|Email: mdtap@mdtap.org