Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

Now there’s a new and easier way to search for senior and disability-related services in Maryland including:

• Adult Medical Day Care Facilities
• Assisted Living Programs
• Hospice Care Programs
• Home Health Agencies
• Comprehensive Care Facilities (Nursing Homes)
• Residential Services Agencies (provide in-home assistance for health and activities for daily living, may provide items like oxygen, wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, etc.)

The the Office of Health Care Quality in Maryland has licensed a variety of companies that can offer numerous services to people with disabilities. Search the easy-to-use directory at http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq/SitePages/Licensee%20Directory.aspx.

Separate Content/Functionality from Visual Design

Accessibility of web page content and functionality occurs almost entirely in page markup (HTML). Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), on the other hand, should be used exclusively for defining page styling and visual design. While CSS can be used to improve visual design, accessibility, and usability, screen readers ignore nearly all styles. When page content or functionality are integrated into visual design and CSS (such as a CSS background image that presents content, or a styled button that presents no functional text), then this content is not available to screen reader users. Ensure that content and/or functionality are not lost when page styles are disabled.

Baltimore City Health Department’s Office of Aging & CARE Services recently announced new resources available to seniors and persons with disabilities. The announcement coincided with the start of Older Americans Month, a celebration of the nation’s commitment to recognizing the contributions and achievements of older Americans.

The Gold Card is a form seniors or people with disabilities can fill out that lists key medical information an emergency responder would need to know in a medical emergency. The form can be displayed in a home and includes a wallet size card for an individual to carry. The Health Department has printed and distributed more than 60,000 copies of the Gold Card to dozens of sites across Baltimore city, including senior centers, libraries, health centers, Social Security offices, and senior high-rise residential buildings. To get a free Gold Card, call 410-396-CARE (2273).

To learn more about the Gold Card, you can read the press release or visit www.baltimorehealth.org.

The NFB of Maryland is hosting the 2012 Possibilities Fair for Seniors Losing Vision. This will be a hands-on opportunity to try out equipment, learn techniques of independence and speak with service providers.

The event will be held Thursday May 17, 2012 from 9:00am – 2:30pm at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. To register, go to www.nfbmd.org. $20 includes lunch and a goody bag.

AT in the news for the week of 3/30-5/4

Post-Paralysis, New Britain Man Hopes Technology Gets Him Back On The Green

“Using Google’s Online Apps to Enhance a Class and Accommodate Students”

New Advances in Robotics Help the Disabled See the World Around Them

New program to help keep Baltimore’s seniors and people with disabilities safe in an emergency

Non Profit loan programs face low budgets and high demand in Montgomery County

In Philadelphia, books for the blind head for the trash – Philadelphia Inquirer

Touched by technology – The Barrie Examiner

Assistive Technology Blog: EyeRing: Wearable Camera That Detects Objects For The Visually Impaired

Paralyzed Patients Move Vicariously Through Mind-Controlled Robot

West Hartford museum offers new tool for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Residence hall accommodations for students with disabilities are good, need…

Denver County To Use iPads For Elderly, Disabled Residents To Vote – CBS Local

Experts in Universal Design for Learning Address Topic in Free Webinar – PR Web (press release)

Sip-and-Puff Ipod dock highlights assistive technology (Hack A Day)

Consistent Navigation and Identification

Consistency is important for web site accessibility and usability. WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 3.2.3 (Level AA) requires that navigation elements that are repeated on web pages do not change order across pages. Success Criterion 3.2.4 (Level AA) requires that elements that have the same functionality across multiple web pages be consistently identified. For example, a search box at the top of the site should always appear in the same place and be labeled the same way.