Where It's AT – Assistive Technology Blog

AT in the news for the week of 3/12-3/16

Guides to social media for people with a disability

Parkinson’s patients test video games as therapy (video)

Brain-Damaged Emma Finds Her Voice With IPad Grassroot App

The First Philadelphia VoiceOver Event

Technology that translates sign language into text aims to empower sign language users

Don Johnston Announces Snap&Read—A Simple Toolbar That Reads Any Text On-screen

The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program ensures that telephones are an integral part of daily life for those with disabilities, providing free assistive telecommunications equipment to qualified residents of the State of Maryland.

2012 Spring Golf Clinic for individuals with physical disabilities will be held Monday, April 2, 9 16, 23, 30 at Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital, 2200 Kernan Drive, Baltimore, MD 21207.

The clinics focus on the individual capabilities and offer modifications as needed. There will be a brief presentation on the latest adaptive golf aids and resources available. Solo rider golf carts designed to assist golfers with mobility impairments on the course will be available to try as well as other assistive golf equipment. There will be a new lesson each week beginning with putting. The clinics are open to both beginner and experienced golfers. Golf clubs are available; however, attendees may bring their own.

For more information, contact Pam Cauley, Recreation Therapist, Kernan Hospital, (410) 448-6320

V-Linc, a non-profit in Baltimore, provides off-the-shelf computer AT services and customized AT development. But they also run two very special programs each year, including the Computer Arts Summer Camp and the What I Wish for My Child campaign.  Read below to learn more about each of these programs!

V-LINC has two special programs:

• Computer Arts Summer Camp is a week-long, inclusive, full day camp for children with and without disabilities, ages 7-14. It features computer-based activities that teach creativity, independent thinking, presentation skills, and literacy in a friendly and structured environment. Campers will also be able to explore their creativity through painting, drawing, and other arts and crafts activities. In addition, each day children have an opportunity to work at their own individual computer station programmed and configured for their specific needs, document the days’ activities using digital cameras, camcorders, and take part in various field trips. Read more.

• What I Wish for My Child is a campaign held each spring to grant the wishes of families with children with disabilities through engineering and invention. Families are paired with a volunteer engineer who will design and build a unique device to allow a child with a disability to do something they couldn’t do before. A wish could be anything from “I wish my daughter could ride a bike by herself” to “I wish my son could wash his own hair.” Each year, V-LINC chooses several families to receive a custom solution that enables a child to do something he or she couldn’t do before. Our volunteers really enjoy co-designing solutions for these special children. Read more.

AT in the news for the week of 3/5 – 3/9

Adaptive Technology on Apple iPad Helps People with Autism Communicate

Eye Tracking Gets Cheap and Powerful, thanks to Tobii

Chrome extension makes Google+ Hangouts accessible to blind. Made by non-Google person!

Vanderbilt Student Rethinks How Tablets Can Help Disabled …

How Tablets Can Help Your Child’s Learning Disability

5 good news stories from CSUN12

USU students create ‘mechanical creeper’ allowing disabled man to work on cars again

Shoe prototype uses smartphone navigation and vibration to guide visually impaired wearers

Dolphin unveils SaySo, a new software tool for people w/ dyslexia

http://a11ybugs.org focuses on the role browsers and authoring tools play in making the web more accessible

The Man Working To Reverse-Engineer Your Brain

Squag.com – a social network for kids with autism.

[skwag] is an innovative social platform designed specifically for tweens and teens on the autism spectrum. Our goal is to facilitate the opportunity for organic relationships; driven by kids, supported by parents.

Arranged by parents and used by kids, the Squag network allows users to create a room, the Squagpad, filled with original thoughts, messages, videos and photos that enable each user to journal and create a personal space that facilitates self reflection and friendship. And with the help of parents, kids can connect with like-minded other Squag users to build communication skills and establish friendships.