AT News Wrap Up, 6/13/14

Jun 13th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Some weeks, it’s all about the Google Glasses, and some weeks, it’s all about the iPads. This week goes to iPads…AT in the news for the week of 6/9 thru 6/13

ATN launches a great new resource for families to help teens and adolescents with autism sleep

iPads Allow Kids With Challenges To Play In High School’s Band

Appeals Court Rules Bloomberg Plan for ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ Is Legal

Partially-sighted and blind fans to enjoy the full World Cup experience

To Aid the Blind, an Assist From Cameras

Cool concept – Habinteg leads major European project testing new technology in tenants’ homes

Eye-Tracking Technology at E3 Also Means Business

Searchable books database is ‘fair use’

Software company hires autistic adults for specialized skills

New invention provides mobility for any ability

DinnerTime App Released on Google Play Store

These are the apps and devices that are transforming the special-ed classroom

Occupational therapy students’ devices help the disabled

New Technology Helps Blind, Deaf Users Stay Connected

Vet invents “Tankchair” to help paralyzed wife

Germantown medical device company Senseonics raises $20M for implantable glucose sensor and smartphone app

The latest WebAIM survey has data on the use of mobile devices that is worth checking out

Story has gone viral! “Non-Verbal Teen with Autism Gives Inspiring Graduation Speech”

Innovative ad converts wheelchair into a bike for awareness. It works!

Hand held Talking Infrared Thermometer: cooking and safety aid for the blind

“How to Guide to Find Schools for Children with Disabilities”

Posted in Assistive Technology, AT News, Weekly Wrap-up Friday | No Comments »

Wheelchairs! Presentation, 6/12/14

Jun 12th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Everything you need to know about WHEELCHAIRS!

Provided by the Saturday Adaptive Technology Sessions, sponsored by the Disability Resource Center Library Advisory Committee

Saturday, June 28, 2014

1:00—3:00 PM

Experts from The Wheelchair Society and Independence Now will provide information and answer questions that can help you to effectively plan for, obtain, and live with a wheelchair. As of July 1, 2013, new rules apply to wheelchair suppliers and people who buy wheelchairs on Medicare. Topics include:

Eligibility, paperwork, availability of equipment
Local suppliers – and should you buy a wheelchair on Craigslist, Ebay or Amazon?
Cost of manual and power wheelchairs
Where to get information on techniques, rights, and support groups

To be held at the Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave. Rockville, MD 20850Phone: 240-777-0140 TTY: 240-777-0902

To request sign language interpretation or other deaf/hard of hearing services for library-sponsored programs, email MCPL.DeafAccess@montgomerycountymd.gov, preferably with three business days’ notice.

To request other accommodations, contact your local library.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library

Posted in Assistive Technology, AT and the Law, AT Events, AT Funding, AT News, Education, Mobility Aids, Things to Know Thursday | No Comments »

Evaluating Web Access with WAVE, Web Tip #3, 6/11/14

Jun 11th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Evaluating Web Accessibility with WAVE

WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool found at http://wave.webaim.org/. Rather than providing a complex technical report, WAVE shows the original web page with embedded icons and indicators that reveal the accessibility of that page. This presentation facilitates manual evaluation of web accessibility. A Firefox toolbar version of WAVE allows evaluation of web content directly within the browser – thus allowing sensitive, password protected, dynamic, or intranet pages to be easily evaluated. Because WAVE performs evaluation after page styles (CSS) has been applied and (in the toolbar) after scripting has been processed, WAVE provides a very accurate representation of true end user accessibility.

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

AT Library Tour, TOMORROW!, 6/10/14

Jun 10th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Don’t miss a chance to learn about all sorts of AT! The MDTAP AT Library Tour is tomorrow, June 11th, from 1-3pm in Baltimore. For details or to register, visit our registration page.

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

Equipment Connections for Children, Inc., 6/9/14

Jun 9th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Equipment Connections for Children, Inc., a Maryland nonprofit, was founded in 2009 as a resource for families of children with disabilities who need adaptive equipment and have no other means to obtain the equipment. Equipment Connections for Children connects costly adaptive equipment from one child with a disability who outgrows the equipment to another child who needs it. To make an equipment request, donate equipment, or to submit an unmet equipment need, visit them online or call 301-540-8805.

Posted in Assistive Technology, Equipment Loan, Equipment Re-use, Mystery Monday | No Comments »

AT News Wrap Up, 6/6/14

Jun 6th, 2014 by MDTAP Blog

Seriously, I couldn’t make this stuff up…Pimped out prosthetics, 3D blood vessels, a heart-shocking shirt and more. Read up & enjoy on this beautiful day. AT in the news for the week of 6/2 thru 6/6

“Shocking” garment designed by Johns Hopkins’ students could save lives

The Incredible Stair-Climbing, Self-Parking, Amphibious Wheelchair

Innovation Award brings UBC prof’s gaze tracking technology into focus

Designer limbs: top pimped-up prosthetics

Car-for-hire companies sued over lack of wheelchair accessibility

Auto-balancing bicycle-design has the potential to help disabled kids

Enhanced Vision Introduces the Smart Reader

Physical/occupational therapy exercise video game for people with limited mobility in their arms ‪

Funding campaign to help make freedom a reality for millions of wheelchair users

AT for Pet Owners: A No Bend Pet Bowl

New agreement to improve banking services for visually impaired customers

Walgreens Talking Prescription Devices for Customers with visual impairments