Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

Under new federal requirements in the Americans with Disabilities Act, playgrounds built after March 14, 2012 are now required to meet accessibility standards including wheelchair friendly surfaces, braille or textured materials for children with vision impairments and equipment to accommodate children with physical disabilities. National Public Radio (NPR) recently launched a community-edited guide to finding and identifying accessible playgrounds across the nation.

Check out the complete article and download the app today.

The App: How to Participate

“Playgrounds for Everyone” is designed to be a community-edited guide to accessible playgrounds. NPR’s news apps team has identified 1300 and counting nationwide. Many more are unaccounted for. To participate:

1. Identify accessible playgrounds, and add them to the database. Do any have smooth, resilient surfaces that are accessible to wheelchairs, or are their surfaces sand or wood chips, which wheelchairs cannot navigate?
2. Characterize the local play opportunities for disabled children. There is space on each playground page to add comments, tips and even photos of key features.
3. Provide feedback. Go to the accessible playgrounds app, test it out, add to it and comment.

New and Improved Features of KeySoft 9.3

Contributed by Joel Zimba, Special Projects Coordinator, MDTAP

KeySoft Version 9.3 is now available from Humanware.  This is the software powering the BrailleNote Apex line of notetakers.  The 9.3 update is free for all compatible devices and contains several important updates and improvements.

If you have updated KeySoft in the past, the process remains unchanged.  It is worth noting that updating the license key is no longer required if you did this with KeySoft 9.2.  The recommended process is to download the update using a computer and then transfer the software to an SD card.  The BrailleNote will detect the updated file on the SD card and begin the update.  As specified in the manual, the unit must be connected to AC power throughout this process.

The most significant feature in KeySoft 9.3 is compatibility with “.docx” files.  After a mere 7 years, a significant barrier to notetaker functionality has finally been removed.  Since this is the default file-type in Microsoft Word 2007 and above, it has become the standard for most documents, particularly in a professional environment.  The lengthy and tedious process of converting these files to a notetaker-friendly format is a thing of the past.

As if this were not reason enough to rejoice, the web-browser has also been improved.  Modern websites present many challenges to the embedded browser of the BrailleNote Apex.  The Keysoft engineers should be commended for finding a means of extending the useful life of this aging software.

Users will also enjoy direct support for the Bookshare.org and the NLS BARD websites.  Books can now be downloaded, unzipped and read directly on the BrailleNote.

For more information, and to download Keysoft 9.3, go to:

http://support.humanware.com/en-usa/support/braillenote_apex/software/keysoft_93

The Maryland Assistive Technology Network (MATN) presents its Fall 2013 Institute on Thursday, September 19, 2013 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (registration opens at 9:00 am).

iPad BOOT CAMP – Awesome Apps, Accessories, and Resources – Supporting Students with Disabilities

Presented by Therese Willkomm, PhD

The iPad has had a profound influence in the lives of individuals with disabilities. This tool is promoted as a universal design for learning tool to benefit all students including students with disabilities. This hands-on workshop will discuss and demonstrate amazing uses for built-in features of the iPad such as accessibility features, the camera, reminders, auto speak, keyboard short cuts; as well as over 100 apps and accessories to support students who experience vision, hearing, physical, communication, or cognitive impairments to perform such tasks as reading, writing, social skills, life skills, organization, self-regulation, transitioning to work, etc. Participants will learn resources and feature mapping for selecting the most appropriate app for a student.  In addition, this workshop will include a facilitated “Appy Hour” to share and capture the extensive knowledge and experiences that each participant brings to the table.  All participants are encouraged to bring their iPads.

Therese Willkomm, PhD, is the Director of New Hampshire’s State Assistive Technology Program with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire and is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy.

Johns Hopkins University
Montgomery County Campus
9605 Medical Center Drive, Building III
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Simply click on this link below to be directed to the online registration.

http://education.jhu.edu/CTE/MATN/MATN%20Fall%202013%20Institute%20Registration

AT in the news for the week of 8/19/13 thru 8/23/13

Webinar Highlights Why Disabled End-users Need Website Accessibility

BYOD helps to makes Botticelli accessible

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine’s July issue focuses on assistive technology for spinal cord injury

Cutting edge outreach

Home Sensors Enable Seniors to Live Independently

On Life Without a Jaw

Choice of e-book readers for disabled people ‘not good enough’

Adventures in Braille Street Art: unique partnership helps the blind to read the writing on the wall

What wearable computing is really all about

Apps to Organize ADHD Students at School

IPads revolutionize aid for students with disabilities

UI center offers assistive technology app

What’s New on MDTAP’s Equipment Link ? Check it out here…

Recent listings include:

• Jazzy 1400 Quantum Wheelchair
• Nustep Elliptical TRS 4000
• U-Step Walker/Rollator

And, don’t forget these other items listed on Equipment Link:

• Electra Ride Stairway Elevator
• Manual T—lite Wheelchair
• Curved Stair Lift