Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

AT in the news for the week of 4/16 – 4/20

For the 1st time Scientists have shown that blindness can be partially reversed in mice

A Better Computer Mouse Cursor for the Disabled

Brain Controls Paralyzed Muscles | The Scientist

Special-needs learning aps – Monterey County Herald

Firm making mobiles more user-friendly – This is Plymouth

Brother of Boy With Autism Releases iPad App

T-Mobile Fined: The FCC is fining T-Mobile $819,000 for not offering enough phones that are hearing aid compatib

New Technology To Help Blind Riders Use Credit Cards In Taxis – NY1

Tai Chi wheelchair brings mobility, self-esteem, better health to practitioners – EurekAlert

New Technology for Hearing Impaired in Performance Venues – The Ledger

Hearing aid streams audio wirelessly from TV’s and Smartphones

iPads give children with Down syndrome a voice

Check out this program that school-based SLPs can use when serving children with hearing loss

Researchers to develop assistive robots that will help children with disabilities

Apps for children with autism

April is winding down and we’re gearing up for May and National Mobility Awareness Month! In honor of this, the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is celebrating by giving away free wheelchair accessible vehicles. Currently, you can learn more about applying on their Facebook page.

NMEDA is a non-profit trade association of mobility equipment manufacturers, dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists, and other professionals dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and assisting with driving independence using wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Do Not Require Unnecessary Form Data

One of the keys to creating highly accessible forms is to avoid as many errors as possible before the form is submitted. Ensure that forms are as simple and intuitive as possible, and don’t require that a field be filled out if the content is not necessary (e.g., a telephone number to subscribe to an email discussion list). Errors can also be prevented by allowing informatoin to be entered in a number of logical formats. For example, allow a telephone number to be formatted: (123)456-7890, 123-456-7890, 123.456.7890, or 1234567890, as long as ten numerals are present. This data can easily be reformatted using scripting or database languages for further usage.

Equipment Connections for Children presents a:

Trike-A-Thon!

A Fun Event for Kids With & Without Disabilities:

A non-competitive time for kids with adaptive bikes and typical bikes to ride and have fun together.

Saturday, April 28, 2012  from 11am – 2pm

Germantown Community Center

18905 Kingsview Rd,

Germantown, MD 20874

Fee: Minimum Donation of $10 per Child (Every Dollar Helps!)

Events:

• Trike Event (Please bring your trike)
• Canine Assistants Demo
• Wheelchair Strolls
• Police Safety Talk
• Face Painting
• Cake Walk
• Trike & Wheelchair Decorating
• Bean Bag Toss
• Bowling
• Raffles
• Ring Toss
• and More!

Silent Auction: Chance to Win a Certificate of $1000 towards the purchase of a Freedom Bike!

To register, please visit bitly.com/ecfcevent

or visit the web site: www.equipmentconnectionsforchildren.org

V-LINC’s What I Wish for My Child is an annual campaign designed to help realize the dreams of children with disabilities in Central Maryland. Families of these children know how difficult it can be when their sons or daughters cannot participate in the activities that other children can. Each spring, V-LINC takes requests from parents who have a wish for their child, ages 2-21. We recruit engineers to design and build customized solutions at no-cost for five winning families to help their children do what others find so easy but they may find impossible.

See project winners from 2011 here.

With only 2 weeks left, now is the time to apply! Don’t miss out!

AT in the news for the week of 4/9 – 4/13

BBC News – London 2012: Travelling Paralympic exhibition opens

Movie Theater To Adjust For Deaf, Blind Patrons

Disabled Brit gets smartphone dock built into his prosthetic arm

Delhi University student develops app to aid deaf, blind in texting

Advancing Health and Robotics – U.S. News & World Report

Jemicy School, MICA team up for ‘Memory Tricks’ animation project

New mobility device to replace wheelchairs. What do you think?

New Program Uses Mobile Technology to Help People Manage Diabetes

It’s time to donate medical equipment – Jackson Clarion Ledger

Technology can help special-needs children to communicate, play