[QUAD-L] FYI
never assume i want credit 4 these lyrics just tryin 2 reach those who would say what, me listen to that shit...lol, u know who u are Eric W Rudd c5sc...@gmail.com
[QUAD-L] FYI in Ohio
Below you will find information on an advocacy event that LEAP will be participating in on March 19 in Columbus Ohio. We are looking for self-advocates, family members, staff advocates, and consumers who believe that Ohio can do better in providing home and community based options for persons with disabilities. We are participating as a member of the Ohio Association of Centers for Independent Living (other sponsors of this event include AARP, Area Agencies on Aging, Olmstead Task Force and Families of Medically Fragile Children). Registration for the event is through the member organizations and we can bring between 3-5 individuals. We will arrange transportation on an as needed basis. Event is free but is not open to the general public. Legislators have been invited to attend and we will also be setting up individual meetings with our legislators for the early afternoon. If you are interested in attending, please contact myself or Donna Prease (at x. 114) and we will work to accommodate you. First come, first serve. Here are the details: Home Care: Serving Ohioans, Saving for Ohio. Ohio Statehouse Atrium Thursday, March 19, 2009 Tentative Agenda: 8:00-8:50 Registration Continental Breakfast 8:50-9:00 Welcome and Introduction 9:00-9:20 Key Note Address-State Rep. Barbara Boyd-Finance and Appropriation, Chair of the Health Care Committee 9:20-9:50 Presentation of the Economic Report- Dr. Howard Fleeter (Economic Value of Home and Community based services over institutional care.) 9:55-10:05 Break 10:05-10:35 Presentation by Ohio Council Legislative Council-State Budget 10:35-11:00 Senator Jimmy Stewart on the importance of Advocacy. 11:00-Noon Panel Presentation Noon-1:00 Lunch with legislators. As their schedules permit we will also schedule visits with key NE Ohio legislators (depending on where we are in the budget process---we will also try to meet with your individual legislator. Please let us know if you are interested in attending. Deborah Donna Deborah Nebel Linking Employment, Abilities Potential (LEAP) Director of Public Policy 1468 W. 25th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216-696-2716 x. 106 http://www.leapinfo.org http://www.leapinfo.org/ dne...@leapinfo.org LEAP's Public Policy Advocacy work is funded in part by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219957551x1201325337/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)
[QUAD-L] FYI-Life Suit Demonstrattion
My VistaPrint Electronic Business CardMonty is the designer/engineer of a walking suit for paralyzed folks like us. The US Military is working with such technology to create super soldiers. Lookup Exoskeletal Suits on You Tube sometime. Matt Monty says, Tell your friends they can see the LIFESUIT live in Shoreline July 18 19. We will have free T shirts and we will be fund raising by accepting donations. www.theyshallwalk.org Ask your friends to become fans of They Shall Walk on facebook.com Monty. Event: Shoreline SolarFest MontyReed LIFESUIT Exoskeleton 14 appearance at Fest What: Rally Host: They Shall Walk When: Friday, July 18 at 5:00pm Where: Meridian Park Elementary, Shoreline, WI Contact: 2062298234 Description Friday evening Monty Reed wearing LIFESUIT #14 will escort the models of the Haute Trash Fashion Show kicking off the Shoreline SolarFest. On Saturday, starting @ 10 am They Shall Walk will be at the festival all day along with the other environmentally friendly exhibitors and the Taste of Shoreline. They Shall Walk will have videos, pictures and T shirts available. The LIFESUIT will be on display.
[QUAD-L] FYI
DBTAC- Northeast ADA Technical Bulletin: October 2007 The DBTAC- Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you. Please Join us for the October Distance Learning Program - ADA Legal Update: Current litigation trends under the ADA The courts and federal agencies are shaping the ADA through their decisions and settlements. This session will outline the key issues that are currently before the courts as well as discuss some trends in case law at the lower courts which will have an impact on decisions at all levels, including any future cases to be argued before the Supreme Court. Speaker: Barry Taylor, Director of Legal Services, Equip for Equality, Chicago, Illinois CEU Credits: CRC Time: 1:00-2:30pm CT Date: October 17, 2007 To learn more or to register for the ADA Audio Conference please visit www.ada-audio.org http://www.ada-audio.org/ . FEMA Releases Disability Disaster Reference Guide (from NCD Bulletin - August 2007) On August 21, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new reference guide that outlines existing legal requirements and standards relating to access for people with disabilities. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and Human Services is the first of a series of disability-related guidelines to be produced by FEMA for disaster preparedness and response planners and service providers. The document summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities within disaster mass care, housing, and human services functions. The Guide explains how applicable federal laws relate to government entities, the private sector, and religious organizations. A full copy of the Guide may be accessed at www.fema.gov/oer/reference New Jersey Institute for Technology- Disability and Employment Training Program Opportunity (from EmployME! website) On December 22, 2006, the Board of Trustees of the Henry H. Kessler Foundation in West Orange, NJ approved a two-year grant allocation totaling $946,000 to New Jersey Institute of Technology - the state's science and technology university - targeted largely towards people with physical disabilities through training and special initiatives leading to employment. The EmployME! Program is a public-private partnership to prepare unemployed and underemployed men and women with disabilities for both entry level and advanced jobs in information technology fields that are in demand in our state. Applicants can expedite the process by calling NJIT EmployME! at 973.596.3064 or applying online at http://cpe.njit.edu/EmployME New Disability Status Report for Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico) The Cornell University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics will release the new Disability Status Reports on November 7, 2007. The Status Reports will include the latest statistics related to disability and employment, education, earnings, poverty, and more. The Annual Disability Status Reports provide consistently measured indicators of the demographic characteristics and economic status of working age (ages 21-64) people with disabilities, based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). Disability Status reports for Region 2 are developed in collaboration with the DBTAC-Northeast and the new reports will be available after November 7, 2007 at the Disability Statistic Website: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/disabilitystatistics/ General Accounting Office has released a report on Lack of Data and Limited Enforcement Options, Limit Federal Oversight for surface transportation (excerpt from GAO's website) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provides people with disabilities the legal right to access transportation and public rights-of-way, including sidewalks and street crossings. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Justice (DOJ) share responsibility for overseeing ADA compliance. GAO was asked to review federal oversight and enforcement of ADA compliance, including (1) what is known about compliance, (2) difficulties the federal government faces in overseeing and enforcing compliance, and (3) the sources of federal help and any gaps in that help. GAO's work encompassed a wide range of federal agencies and other entities, such as industry associations, transportation providers, and disability advocacy groups, as well as detailed reviews in eight cities across the country. For a copy of the full
[QUAD-L] FYI--Black Rain by Ozzy
Just as expected another dollar well spent! Eric W Rudd [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[QUAD-L] FYI--Black Rain by Ozzy
Just as expected another dollar well spent! Eric W Rudd [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[QUAD-L] fyi
DBTAC- Northeast ADA Technical Bulletin: May 2007 The DBTAC- Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you. Please Join us for the May Distance Learning Program - ADA Restoration Act: Legislative Update Date; May 15, 2007 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Eastern Time Congressmen Sensenbrenner, Jr (R-WI) and Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a bi-partisan bill that would restore protections for individuals intended to be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in September, 2006. This piece of legislation was not passed before the end of the 109th Congress. It is anticipated that this piece of legislation will once again be introduced during the new 110th Congress and under very different circumstances given the outcome of the 2006 elections. The ADA Restoration Act as it is currently known is intended to restore the ADA to its original intent and address several decisions made by the US Supreme Court over the past 16 years. Join this session to learn about the history and intent of the ADA Restoration Act and the future of legislation that may affect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Speaker: Andrew http://www.adagreatlakes.org/ProgramsAndServices/AudioConferencing/Speakers /Default.asp?speakerID=andrew_j._imparatoreferrer=fy2007session7 J. Imparato, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) (Additional speakers may be added) CEU Credits: CRC Access Board's New Information on Bus and Van Guidelines (from Access Board) As part of an effort to update its guidelines for transportation vehicles covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Board has released for public comment draft revisions to sections covering buses and vans. Published in 1991, these guidelines cover a range of vehicles in addition to buses and vans, including various types of rail cars, trams, and other modes of public transportation. Revisions to these other sections will be released as drafts are completed. For more information, please go to http://www.access-board.gov/news/vehicle-draft1.htm. Are you prepared for the outcome of the lawsuit involving Target's web site? This blog entry from eTrafficJams.com and posted on April 12th, 2007, sends a warning message to all businesses that they should be thinking about and creating a plan for accessibility. Prompted by a lawsuit by National Federation of the Blind, its California affiliate, and a blind University of California, Berkeley student against Target, the blogger sends a warning to web developers: 'The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will undoubtedly affect websites in the near futureFailing to plan is planning to fail.? Take advantage of this probable turn of events and get your clients working with you to move through recommended changes slowly and methodically. New clients are out there waiting for a tip from you about this issue. Your client's disabled users (read: paying customers) will appreciate it too.' Read the entire blog entry at http://www.etrafficjams.com/blog/seo/seo-preparedness-for-americans-with-dis abilities-act/ . There are many other articles that support the notion that accessible web content contributes to Search Engine Optimization (favorable placement in search engine results). Read SEO Accessibility Prevent Lawsuits, Increase Visibility written by Mike Banks Vale and submitted to webpronews.com on March 19, 2007 ( http://www.webpronews.com/blogtalk/2007/03/19/seo-accessibility-prevent-laws uits-increases-visibility ). Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) on-line The Employment and Disability Institute is pleased to announce the inauguration of their new virtual classroom-ediONLINE. This new on-line series of courses and public offerings focus on effective employment, workplace and disability practice and are delivered using web-conferencing as well as real-time transcription. This series is geared toward: * managers * practitioners * advocates and * policy makers in the disability field in order to improve and enhance effectiveness in supporting employment outcomes and greater economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. ediONLINE courses bridge the gap between policy and practice by providing you with practical applications, hands-on learning, leading-edge skills, and knowledge that you can immediately apply to your work. Courses will cover the following topical areas: Work Incentive Knowledge and Utilization; Work Incentives Planning; Federal Benefit Programs; SSA Advocacy and
[QUAD-L] fyi
DBTAC- Northeast ADA Technical Bulletin: May 2007 The DBTAC- Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you. Please Join us for the May Distance Learning Program - ADA Restoration Act: Legislative Update Date; May 15, 2007 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Eastern Time Congressmen Sensenbrenner, Jr (R-WI) and Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a bi-partisan bill that would restore protections for individuals intended to be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in September, 2006. This piece of legislation was not passed before the end of the 109th Congress. It is anticipated that this piece of legislation will once again be introduced during the new 110th Congress and under very different circumstances given the outcome of the 2006 elections. The ADA Restoration Act as it is currently known is intended to restore the ADA to its original intent and address several decisions made by the US Supreme Court over the past 16 years. Join this session to learn about the history and intent of the ADA Restoration Act and the future of legislation that may affect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Speaker: Andrew http://www.adagreatlakes.org/ProgramsAndServices/AudioConferencing/Speakers /Default.asp?speakerID=andrew_j._imparatoreferrer=fy2007session7 J. Imparato, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) (Additional speakers may be added) CEU Credits: CRC Access Board's New Information on Bus and Van Guidelines (from Access Board) As part of an effort to update its guidelines for transportation vehicles covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Board has released for public comment draft revisions to sections covering buses and vans. Published in 1991, these guidelines cover a range of vehicles in addition to buses and vans, including various types of rail cars, trams, and other modes of public transportation. Revisions to these other sections will be released as drafts are completed. For more information, please go to http://www.access-board.gov/news/vehicle-draft1.htm. Are you prepared for the outcome of the lawsuit involving Target's web site? This blog entry from eTrafficJams.com and posted on April 12th, 2007, sends a warning message to all businesses that they should be thinking about and creating a plan for accessibility. Prompted by a lawsuit by National Federation of the Blind, its California affiliate, and a blind University of California, Berkeley student against Target, the blogger sends a warning to web developers: 'The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will undoubtedly affect websites in the near futureFailing to plan is planning to fail.? Take advantage of this probable turn of events and get your clients working with you to move through recommended changes slowly and methodically. New clients are out there waiting for a tip from you about this issue. Your client's disabled users (read: paying customers) will appreciate it too.' Read the entire blog entry at http://www.etrafficjams.com/blog/seo/seo-preparedness-for-americans-with-dis abilities-act/ . There are many other articles that support the notion that accessible web content contributes to Search Engine Optimization (favorable placement in search engine results). Read SEO Accessibility Prevent Lawsuits, Increase Visibility written by Mike Banks Vale and submitted to webpronews.com on March 19, 2007 ( http://www.webpronews.com/blogtalk/2007/03/19/seo-accessibility-prevent-laws uits-increases-visibility ). Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) on-line The Employment and Disability Institute is pleased to announce the inauguration of their new virtual classroom-ediONLINE. This new on-line series of courses and public offerings focus on effective employment, workplace and disability practice and are delivered using web-conferencing as well as real-time transcription. This series is geared toward: * managers * practitioners * advocates and * policy makers in the disability field in order to improve and enhance effectiveness in supporting employment outcomes and greater economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. ediONLINE courses bridge the gap between policy and practice by providing you with practical applications, hands-on learning, leading-edge skills, and knowledge that you can immediately apply to your work. Courses will cover the following topical areas: Work Incentive Knowledge and Utilization; Work Incentives Planning; Federal Benefit Programs; SSA Advocacy and
[QUAD-L] fyi
DBTAC- Northeast ADA Technical Bulletin: February 2007 The DBTAC- Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you. Please Join us for the February Distance Learning Program-- Tapping a New Resource: Veterans with Disabilities Date: February 20, 2007 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST Veterans, including those with service-connected disabilities, have the skills, training, and character to meet your toughest challenges. There are an extensive number of veterans- resources to assist you in finding veteran candidates for your job openings. In this second session of a two-part series, the Employer Assistance Recruiting Network (EARN) will showcase some top resources and give you the opportunity to speak with key members of these organizations to find out how they can assist you to reach out to veterans in your employment efforts. Speaker: Jane C. Ivey - Director, Private Sector Employment, Tyler T. Matney - EARN Program Coordinator, Robert J. Roundtree - Employment Services Supervisor, VRE Service, VA Central Office, Billy W. Wright - EARN Program Coordinator, Veterans with Disabilities Pricing: http://www.ada-audio.org/ProgramInformation/prices.php Registration: https://ada-audioorg.secure.powweb.com/WebForms/Login/ Deadline for Registration: Monday February 19, 2007 New information on the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) There have been several changes, expansions and revisions with WOTC. One change is Congress' combining the WOTC with the Welfare to Work Tax Credits. Others include expanding the eligibility for food stamp recipients, revising the eligibility requirements for ex-felons and modifying the filing deadline for WOTC claimants. For more information, please go to US Department of Labor's website at, http://www.doleta.gov/business/Incentives/opptax/ Mental Health Parity Bill: Finally on the Way to Becoming Law For the past 15 years, the Mental Health Parity Bill, guaranteeing that mental health disabilities receive the same medical insurance coverage as any other health problem, has languished in Congress. Recently, however, the Mental Health Parity Bill was put on the fast track to passage in the new Congress. It is expected that the Bill will be signed early this year. For more information, go to http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/01/09/mental-health-parity-bill/ New website that brings together employers and people with disabilities seeking employment (excerpt from press release from Access Solutions) SIOUX FALLS, SD, January 8, 2007-Access Solutions, LLC has announced the launch of DisabilityWORK.com, a service that brings employers and people with disabilities together. Employers can expect to reach an untapped pool of qualified workers, while people with disabilities have a new venue in which to showcase their talents. DisabilityWORK.com consists of several different services for both employers and people with disabilities. Employers can search a database of resumes to find prospective candidates to fill needed positions. They can also post their job openings on the website and utilize DisabilityWORK.com's headhunting services. People with disabilities can not only post their resumes on the website, but they can also use an array of services ranging from resume-writing and career coaching to job placement and job coaching. For more information, please go to http://www.disabilitywork.com//default.aspx http://www.disabilitywork.com/default.aspx . Erasing offensive language in New Jersey's State Laws NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities', Monday Morning Advocacy Project is spearheading a constitutional effort to eliminate offensive and outdated language in NJ State Article II, Section I, regarding elections and voting. When the law was adopted in 1789, the verbage read, No idiot or insane person shall enjoy the right of suffrage. This amendment would erase that language. For more information, please go to http://www.njddc.org/amendment.htm American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) joining National Public Radio (NPR) for Legal Blogs and Discussion Forums Beginning February 2007, AAPD will join the ranks of other legal analysts and commentators on NPR on issues that affect Americans . This is part of NPR's Justice Talking Program, hosted by Margot Adler. Among the specialists with AAPD are the American Tort Reform Association, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Family Research Council, the National Council of Churches, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. AAPD will be featured on the
Re: [QUAD-L] FYI about cell phones
Hi Bobbie thanks for the info. Did you find a phone that you liked? Happy New Year. Lindaf
[QUAD-L] FYI about cell phones
Hi All, I learned something new about cell phones I never knew and thought I'd pass on the information. On ANY cell phone ANY company if you need info regarding your cell phone just dial 611. It works. Bobbie
[QUAD-L] fyi
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Technical Bulletin: October 2006The Northeast ADAIT Center has recently been awarded a grant for another five years of funding. We are now called the DBTAC- Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University. We provide training, technical assistance and materials as well as research on the ADA and accessible technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you NDEAM Information (excerpt from US Department of Labor-Office on Disability Employment Policy) What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month." Since 2001, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor has been responsible for planning NDEAM activities and materials to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. ODEP provides information online that can be used for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, as well as other educational programs throughout the year on its Publications webpage.*US DOL NDEAM poster http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/posters.htm *Disability Employment 101 from US Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products/employmentguide/index.html A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America(excerpt from US Department of Labor-Office on Disability Employment Policy)During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we pay tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep America's economy strong, and we underscore our commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunity for all of our citizens.Our country has made great progress to ensure that opportunities are accessible to everyone who is willing and able to work. Access to jobs was significantly expanded in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. This important legislation has served as a foundation for strengthening our Nation's workforce and advancing innovation and American leadership in a global marketplace. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061003-7.htmlNew EEOC website in OctoberEEOC recently added to their initiative section of their website, LEAD- (Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities). This is related to federal employees with disabilities and the decline of their employment with the federal government. EEOC feels that the federal government should be the example for other employers and has created this initiative to help with such things as: increase the awareness of hiring officials about the declining numbers of people with disabilities in federal employment reverse the trend of decreasing participation in federal employment educate federal hiring officials about how to use special hiring authorities to bring people with disabilities on board, particularly those with severe disabilities educate applicants with severe disabilities about how to apply using the special hiring authorities available provide information and resources on reasonable accommodation. (excerpt from EEOC''s website) For more information, please go to: http://www.eeoc.gov/press/10-4-06.htmlUS DOL Mentoring Day Information(excerpt from US Department of Labor-Office on Disability Employment Policy)Students with disabilities (mentees) are matched with workplace mentors according to expressed career interests. Mentees experience a typical day on the job and learn how to prepare to enter the world of work. Employers gain an increased awareness that people with disabilities represent an overlooked talent pool. Disability Mentoring Day is a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).Disability Mentoring Day began in 1999 with fewer than three-dozen student participants as part of a White House effort to increase the profile of National Disability
[QUAD-L] fyi info
Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin: September 2006 The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you Providing Alternate Format Textbooks in Higher Education: The Publisher Look-up ServiceThe Publisher Look-Up Service, A New Textbook Database Offering From The Association of American Publishers (AAP): This online database provides a new resource to help college and university Disability Support Services (DSS) professionals find the appropriate contacts at publishing houses from whom to request electronic formats of textbooks, and/or scanning permissions, to facilitate the DSS office's provision of alternate format instructional materials to students with print disabilities. The Publisher Look-Up Service, www.PublisherLookup.org, is a Web site interface that AAP launched in mid-August. Read the AAPs press release announcing this service for more information.CommonLook: Tool for evaluating the accessibility of PDF filesNetCentric Technologies ( www.net-centric.com) has developed a unique tool, called CommonLook ( www.commonlook.com/pdf). CommonLook makes it possible to visually examine and repair a PDF document's logical structure and to check it against all the federal Government section 508 standards related to 1194.22 (Web-based intranet and internet information and applications). It highlights any compliance problems and helps authors and testers repair them by providing a simple drag-and-drop graphical interface. By simplifying the problem of repairing PDF structure issues, it becomes possible to deal effectively with complex documents containing tables, forms and multi-column documents.Functional Accessibility Evaluator Developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, the Functional Accessibility Evaluator is a free, open source tool that analyzes web resources for markup that is consistent with the use of DRES/CITES HTML best practices for development of functionally accessible web resources and resources that support interoperability. The HTML best practices are not a new standard, but rather a statement of techniques for implementation of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and United States Federal Government Section 508 standards that not only improve accessibility for people with disabilities, but also the inter-operability of web resources for everyone so all people benefit by having more options to access and use web resources.For more information, visit http://fae.cita.uiuc.edu/about.php.Upcoming EASI Web Conferences 4-part Series: Making Podcasts and Vodcasts accessible Presenter: Dick BanksDates: September 12, 19, 26 and October 3Webinar: Section 255: Accessible TelecommunicationsPresenter: Debra Ruh, Founder and CEO, TecAccess LLCDate: Sept. 274-part Series: Authoring DAISY Documents: You Can Do It!Presenter: Karen McCallDates: October 3, 10, 17, 244-part Series: Learning Disabilities and Adaptive Technology Multiple PresentersDates: October 5, 12, 19 and 26 Webinar: Evaluating the Accessibility and Usability of Web-based Student Services at Community CollegesPresenters: William Erickson, Camille Lee and Sharon Trerise, Employment and Disability Institute, Cornell UniversityDate: October 18For more information and to register, visit http://easi.cc/clinic.htm. WebAIM article: "Appropriate Use of Alternative Text"Excerpted from WebAIM.orgIts clear that there is still some confusion and divergent recommendations over what constitutes appropriate alternative text for images on the web, even among accessibility experts. Alternative text for images is the first principle of web accessibility. Despite this, there seem to be examples of improper alt text all over the web, even on sites that claim to be very accessible. WebAIM has written an article offering some best practices in creating alternative text.This article presents the basics of alternative text and showcases many examples of proper implementation. These recommendations come from an understanding of accessibility standards and screen-reader users. Read the WebAIM ariticle "Appropriate Use of Alternative Text" at http://webaim.org/techniques/alttext/. Northeast ADAIT Center201 ILR Extension BuildingCornell UniversityIthaca, NY 148531-800-949-4232 (TTY and voice)NY, NJ, PR, USVIwww.northeastada.org[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[QUAD-L] fyi-august ADAIT
Accessible IT Technical Bulletin: August 2006 The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you U.S. Department of Education Announces Final IDEA RegulationsThe U.S. Department of Education announced the final regulations to implement Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). An official copy of the final Part B regulations of the IDEA will be published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006. So that members of the public will have the opportunity to immediately review the new Part B regulation of the IDEA, the Department is temporarily posting an UNOFFICIAL copy at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html#regulations. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Educations IDEA 2004 web site at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html#regulationsDesign Guidelines for Electronic Publications, Multimedia and the Web(published by WGBH National Center for Accessible Media)These guidelines, providing step-by-step solutions for making a variety of electronic media accessible to users with sensory disabilities, are now available free of charge. The guidelines can be found at the WGBH website at http://ncam.wgbh.org/publications/adm/.Google for Screen Reader UsersGoogle has created a search engine that prioritizes search results based on which sites are the most accessible to screen readers, after finding the most relevant pages. You can test the search engine at http://labs.google.com/accessible/. Background: "Accessible Search is an early Google Labs product designed to identify and prioritize search results that are more easily usable by blind and visually impaired users. Regular Google search helps you find a set of documents that is most relevant to your tasks. Accessible Search goes one step further by helping you find the most accessible pages in that result set." From http://labs.google.com/accessible/faq.htmlNCDAE Webcast: Accessibility and Open Source Content Management SystemsThe National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) will host another in their series of webcasts with a focus on the accessibility of open source content management systems. Join them Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 for the live audio Webcast. The broadcast will begin at 3:00PM Eastern.Visit http://www.ncdae.org/webcasts for more details and to register for the webcast.NCDAE has also created a fact sheet with the following resources:* Advantages and disadvantages of open source vs. commercial Content Management Systems.* General principles and techniques that may help improve the accessibility of your CMS.* A list of popular Content Management Systems with links to their accessibility statements, resources and/or communities.For more information visit http://ncdae.org/tools/factsheets/cms.cfmAccessibility VideoAs part of the Successful Web Communications in NYS Government project, a short video clip was produced to introduce accessibility concepts to those who are not familiar with them, and to advocate a standards-based, inclusive design approach to web development.A captioned QuickTime version is now available as streaming video. To view the video, go to: http://homepage.mac.com/cerasunvideo/nysforum2/.For those of you who cannot use QuickTime, there is a downloadable Windows Media version of our accessibility video available at: http://homepage.mac.com/cerasunvideo/nysforum3/The Web Accessibility Toolbar The Web Accessibility Toolbar for Opera is now available at http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-about.html. Northeast ADAIT Center201 ILR Extension BuildingCornell UniversityIthaca, NY 148531-800-949-4232 (TTY and voice)NY, NJ, PR, USVIwww.northeastada.org[EMAIL PROTECTED] MissLizwww.nstraid.com
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Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin: July 2006The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank youSeminar on Accessible Books for Readers with Print DisabilitiesRegister now for this full day seminar on Friday, July 28, 2006 hosted by the Association of American Publishers Rights and Permissions Advisory Committee, Higher Education Critical Issues Task Force and School Division. Date: July 28, 2006Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pmLocation: The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center at New York University, 60 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 Sessions include:* End User Perspectives* K-12 Textbooks: IDEA and the National Instructional Materials Access Center* Accessible Instructional Materials at the Postsecondary Level * State E-Text Laws * California Perspectives * National Higher Ed Initiatives* Trade Books* National Service OrganizationsFor more information and to register, visit:http://www.publishers.org/conference/eventdetail.cfm?EventID=78Web Design Development Curriculum for students in grades 9-12Register for this Webcast demonstration of the free AccessIT Web Design Development I CurriculumPresenter: Terry ThompsonDate: July 21, 2006Time: 2 pm ETThe AccessIT Web Design Development I curriculum is an introduction to the design, creation, and maintenance of web pages and websites and was developed for use in secondary schools, grades 9-12. Students learn how to critically evaluate website quality; learn how to create and maintain quality web pages; learn about web design standards and why they're important; and learn to create and manipulate images. The course progresses from introductory work on web design to the capstone projects that demonstrate mastery of the information technology (IT) skills standards of the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET).During this Live Meeting event, Terry Thompson will demonstrate this FREE AccessIT curriculum.If you would like to register for this webcast, contact us at 800-949-4232 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]Prepare for the Greatest Workforce Shortage in American HistoryTap into underutilized, highly-qualified job applicants and advancers that include people with disabilities, seniors and others.July 18, 2006 at 2 p.m. EST (RSVP required)A must-attend, no-cost, sixty-minute online Webinar event targeted exclusively to human resources, employee development, and corporate training decision makers. Your organization is experiencing, or preparing for, the greatest workforce shortage in American history. Boomers are retiring and the pool of skilled, experienced workers is shrinking. And yet, a large number of qualified candidates are often overlooked and underutilized. Such candidates, be they existing or potential employees, include those with disabilities (amounting to one in five Americans) and seniors, people able to work and who often exhibit higher than normal levels of productivity and employee loyalty. Join this special online Webinar event during which attorney John D. Kemp, a leading expert on issues relating to disability rights, will: Provide an overview of America's exponentially growing workforce shortage. Review today's urgent employee development, training, and workforce shortage needs. Illustrate the value of sustaining existing employees (such as people reaching retirement age). Invite you to take a lead role in a contemporary talent management solution that targets skilled candidates including those with disabilities, seniors, and others. For more information and to register, visit: http://nbsalliance.com/assessments/bus/email/Designing an ergonomically correct computing work areaCornell University has recently posted information for creating an ergonomically correct computing work area. Visit the CU Ergo website ( http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUEHinfo.html) for more detailed information on the following topics:Workstation Guidelines 10 tips for arranging a Computer Workstation and Keyboard 5 tips for using a Laptop Computer 10 Tips for using a Computer Mouse 6 tips for arranging a Child's Computer Workstation Computer Workstation Tips Diagram How to choose an Ergonomic Chair New Technology: Handheld device will help people who are blind convert print to audioSource: AP via Yahoo NewsA whole new world opened up for Tommy Craig as he tested a new handheld device for the blind that converts print to audio. Craig was able to "read" everything from menus to cooking directions by positioning
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h...a troubled man to say the least.RiverOn Mar 29, 2006, at 7:14 PM, Tim Syfert wrote:I received this email (below) and am just passing it on to help out. Tim http://thequadlink.com --- hi tim i have been writing every day for three years. just so i could send this to you. i m sending it to the u.s. judiciary tomorrow- we need the help of people who are quads and the people who love them. they are our natural constituency- all i ask is that you send this address to as many people that you can. and ask them to pass it on. http://home.earthlink.net/~murphysarena1 god will do the rest. those that can help, will. eugen Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.
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I received this email (below) and am just passing it on to help out.Tim http://thequadlink.com ---hi timi have been writing every day for three years.just so i could send this to you.im sending it to the u.s. judiciary tomorrow- we need the help of people who are quads and the people who love them. they are our natural constituency- all i ask is that you send this address to as many people that you can. and ask them to pass it on.http://home.earthlink.net/~murphysarena1god will do the rest. those that can help, will.eugen Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.
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As you may be aware, the Nassau-Suffolk TRAID Center is located at 250 Marcus Blvd, Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788. As part of our program, the N/S TRAID Center is distributing the Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin, which we feel you will benefit from. If you would like to be removed from the list, reply to this e-mail with the subject line "please remove." If you have any questions, you can call us at (631) 232-3203. Furthermore, you can find out more about the N/S TRAID Center at http://www.nstraid.com Sincerely, The Nassau-Suffolk TRAID Center staffhttp://www.nstraid.com March 2006 Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible inforation technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our new dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you. LAST CALL! Leadership Academy: Ensuring Campus Web Site Accessibility March 14, 20069:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, New York Teams consisting of staff in IT, web development, publications, libraries and disability services from colleges throughout New York are invited to register for this full-day Leadership Academy covering many aspects of web accessibility. The program will address: Legal considerations Costs and benefits of accessible design Specific accessible design techniques Creating accessible distance learning content Evaluating your web pages for accessibility Developing a campus-wide web accessibility policy Plan to have a team from your college attend. Visit the Events page of the Northeast ADA IT Center for more information or to register for this event. Call 800-949-4232 if you have questions. DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Wednesday, March 8, 2006 Target Corp. Sued for Inaccessible Web Site The February 8, 2006 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle reports: "A blind UC Berkeley student has filed a class-action lawsuit against Target Corp., saying he retailer is committing civil-rights violations because its Web site is inaccessible to those who cannot see. " Read the full article. (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/08/MNGO7H4VBP128.DTLfeed=rss.news) New York State already has experienced web accessibility complaints and in August, 2004 issued a statement noting that Priceline.com and Ramada.com were making accessibility enhancements to their website as part of a settlement agreement (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/aug/aug19a_04.htm). As more people become aware of their rights for equal access to information and services, cases like this may become more common. Retrofitting a web site for accessibility can be muc more costly than incorporating accessibility into the initial design and, in the meantime, can leave businesses and educational institutions vulnerable to legal action. Congress Lifts Distance Education Course Limit The March 1, 2006 issue of the New York Times includes an article by Sam Dillon about the recent action by Congress to eliminate the 50% maximum on courses offered fully online versus on-campus. The article states that "Colleges will no longer be required to deliver at least half their courses on a campus instead of online to qualify for federal student aid." Read the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/national/01educ.html?_r=1oref=slogin. At this point we can only speculate on what this will mean for colleges and students, but it is reasonable to expect that online course delivery will grow given the financial advantages it offers to colleges and the flxibility that students gain. Considerations for accessibility of course content need to be kept in the forefront of discussions about developing and expanding online course offerings. It could become an overwhelming burden for colleges to try to make accommodations for students with disabilities taking courses at a distance. Universal design principles applied to course development could greatly improve accessibility and reduce the need for special accommodations. For more information about universal design and accessibility of online learning, visit the DO-IT Distance Learning web page, http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/accessdl.html and the National Center on Disability and Access to Education site: http://www.ncdae.org. NIMAS in IDEA, What You Need to Know Now Source: www.NCDAE.org p class="verdana"The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) is an important new piece of the reauthorized IDEA. It will guide the ways in which textbooks and core instructional materials are delivered so they may be converted easily into
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Accessible Information Technology Technical Bulletin: March 2006 The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank youLAST CALL!Leadership Academy: Ensuring Campus Web Site AccessibilityMarch 14, 20069:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, New YorkTeams consisting of staff in IT, web development, publications, libraries and disability services from colleges throughout New York are invited to register for this full-day Leadership Academy covering many aspects of web accessibility. The program will address:· Legal considerations· Costs and benefits of accessible design· Barriers created by inaccessible web pages for people with disabilities· Specific accessible design techniques· Creating accessible distance learning content· Evaluating your web pages for accessibility· Developing a campus-wide web accessibility policyPlan to have a team from your college attend. Visit the Events page of the Northeast ADA IT Center for more information or to register for this event. Call 800-949-4232 if you have questions. DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Wednesday, March 8, 2006Target Corp. Sued for Inaccessible Web SiteThe February 8, 2006 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle reports: A blind UC Berkeley student has filed a class-action lawsuit against Target Corp., saying the retailer is committing civil-rights violations because its Web site is inaccessible to those who cannot see. Read the full article. ( http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/08/MNGO7H4VBP128.DTLfeed=rss.news )New York State already has experienced web accessibility complaints and in August, 2004 issued a statement noting that Priceline.com and Ramada.com were making accessibility enhancements to their website as part of a settlement agreement ( http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/aug/aug19a_04.html). .As more people become aware of their rights for equal access to information and services, cases like this may become more common. Retrofitting a web site for accessibility can be much more costly than incorporating accessibility into the initial design and, in the meantime, can leave businesses and educational institutions vulnerable to legal action.Congress Lifts Distance Education Course LimitThe March 1, 2006 issue of the New York Times includes an article by Sam Dillon about the recent action by Congress to eliminate the 50% maximum on courses offered fully online versus on-campus. The article states that Colleges will no longer be required to deliver at least half their courses on a campus instead of online to qualify for federal student aid. Read the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/national/01educ.html?_r=1oref=slogin . At this point we can only speculate on what this will mean for colleges and students, but it is reasonable to expect that online course delivery will grow given the financial advantages it offers to colleges and the flexibility that students gain. Considerations for accessibility of course content need to be kept in the forefront of discussions about developing and expanding online course offerings. It could become an overwhelming burden for colleges to try to make accommodations for students with disabilities taking courses at a distance. Universal design principles applied to course development could greatly improve accessibility and reduce the need for special accommodations. For more information about universal design and accessibility of online learning, visit the DO-IT Distance Learning web page, http://www.washington.edu/doit/Resources/accessdl.html and the National Center on Disability and Access to Education site: http://www.ncdae.org/.NIMAS in IDEA, What You Need to Know NowSource: NCDAE.orgThe National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) is an important new piece of the reauthorized IDEA. It will guide the ways in which textbooks and core instructional materials are delivered so they may be converted easily into accessible formats for K12 students. Although the final federal regulations have yet to be released, directors of special education will need to know enough about NIMAS to understand how to fill out the federal forms for the coming year. Each state will be asked to provide assurances about NIMAS (e.g., checking the box) and to opt in or out of the national repository, the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). NCDAE offered a webcast on this important new piece of IDEA on February 28. To listen to an archive of the webcast, visit the NCDAE site:
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Accessible IT Technical Bulletin: October 2005The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank you.Americans with Disabilities Act Symposiums to Be Held In New York and New JerseyHow far have we come since the passage of the ADA 15 years ago? This question will provide the focus for two upcoming symposiums sponsored by the Northeast ADA IT Center in New York and New Jersey. These sessions will include presentations on new ADA/ABA guidelines, updates on employment issues, a look at Supreme Court cases, emergency preparedness, accessible IT, IDEA update and other topics. The New York session will be held on October 25, 2005 in Syracuse, NY at the OnCenter Complex, 800 South State St. from 8:30 3:30pm (A VESID Town Meeting will be held separately from 3:30 5:00pm.)The New Jersey session will be held on November 1, 2005 in Edison, NJ at The Pines Manor on 2085 Route 27 from 8:30 3:30pm.For registration and for more information, please go to our website under our Events page at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/extension/ped/northeastADA/events/index.html or call 800-949-4232.SAVE THE DATE: Lightening the Load with Accessible Web DesignDate: Wednesday, November 2, 2005Event: LIGHTENING THE LOAD WITH ACCESSIBLE WEB DESIGN, A Day-long Session on Producing Accessible Web SitesLocation: Warshof Conference Center, Monroe County Community College, Rochester, NYHosted by: NYS Forum's IT Accessibility Committee, the U. S. Government Services Administration and Intercon, Inc.Registration: Visit http://www.nysforum.org/seminars/accessibledesign-11-2-05/ for more information and to register for this event.Cornell University's Northeast ADA IT Center and the NYS Forum IT Accessibility Committee will present several modules on web site accessibility: Background in Policy and Law Eating the Elephant (how to get started) Images and Visual Elements HTML Forms The U.S. Government Services Administration and Intercon, Inc. will build on the Committee's morning session to demonstrate a time-saving way of web-enabling your forms using Intercon's Accessible FormNet.Video: Accessible Information Technology in Education: Building Toward a Better FutureAccessIT has created a video entitled "Accessible Information Technology in Education: Building Toward a Better Future" that presents the voices of students with disabilities and experts in accessible IT as they discuss the importance of ensuring that information technology is accessible in educational settings. It will broadcast on the following dates on University of Washington Television (UWTV) which can be accessed nationwide on the DISH network.: Tues Oct 4 at 9:30pm Friday Oct 7 at 4:30pm Sunday Oct 9 at 2:30pm Wed Oct 12 at 10:30am Thurs Oct 13 at 7pm If you are unable to see the video at these times or are unable to access UWTV, then keep an eye on the AccessIT website ( ( http://www.washington.edu/accessit/index.php) as they will soon be streaming the video via the Internet. DVD and VHS versions will also be available: Pricing and ordering information will be available soon.New Software to assist with Creating Accessible FormatsLegislation such as New Yorks Chapter 219 and the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard and similar legislation in other states has prompted software vendors to respond to the demand for easier ways to convert text and instructional content to alternative accessible formats. Texthelp Systems is one vendor who has responded to this demand by developing Lexiflow which will convert textbook publishers content to a new digital format.Lexiflow works with Adobe Acrobat to convert publishers textbooks and other instructional materials saved in PDF format to an electronic talking Flash presentation. Designed to work on both Macintosh and Windows platforms, this software will allow the student to view the document in its original format and see the words highlighted as they are read aloud using text-to-speech technology.Read more about this software in a Yahoo Financial News article, Texthelp Systems Enables Textbook Publishers to Meet Growing School Accessibility Requirements with New Software That Automatically Converts Digital Documents to Talking Flash Format.Online Course: Designing Universally Accessible Web Resources: On-line CourseIf you are interested in designing web pages that are universally accessible by people using PDAs and other mobile technologies, various web browser, various types of assistive technologies, take
[QUAD-L] FYI: Accessible IT Technical Bulletin: September 2005
Accessible IT Technical Bulletin: September 2005The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank youSAVE THE DATE: ADA Symposiums in New York and New JerseyADA 15 Years: Where Do We Go From Here?Tuesday, October 25th Syracuse, NY Oncenter Complex, 800 South State Street, Syracuse, NY8:30 am - 3:30 pm (VESID Town Meeting is being held from 3:30-5)Tuesday, November 1st, Edison, NJ 2085 Route 27, Edison, NJ 8:30 am - 3:30 pmWho Should Attend? ILC Staff and Supervisors Advocates ADA Coordinators Disability Service Providers Educators Individuals with Disabilities Anyone with an interest in the future of the ADA Topics to be Covered: New ADA/ABA Guidelines Supreme Court Update Employment Update IDEA Update 504 ADA Update Web Accessibility, Beyond the Basics Good Use of Disability Statistics Many others For registration and more information, stay tuned to www.northeastada.org or call 1-800-949-4232Disaster Relief for Independent Living Centers in the Gulf Coast areaFrom: ILRU"As you may know, the Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. Many of you are asking how you can help. Here is what we have learned from colleagues in those states. Sending money is the first priority. Sending supplies to those centers is helpful too but NOT RIGHT NOW, because they can't get through the water. Here are the suggested options for right now:1) Send a check or credit card payment to the Red Cross and designate it for Hurricane Relief, or designate it for people with disabilities in the Biloxi/Hattiesburg or New Orleans areas.2) If you want to send money for the CILs that are dealing with this disaster directly, here are your options:For the Biloxi Center, mail the check (payable to LIFE of Central MS and designated for the Biloxi Center) to:LIFE of Central Mississippi754 North President Street, Suite 1Jackson, MS 39202For the centers in Louisiana (make checks payable to Resources for Independent Living - this is a branch of the N.O. center - and designate for the New Orleans center)and mail to:Resources for IL11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200Baton Rouge, LA 70809We have also learned from Mack Marsh of the Shreveport Center that centers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles are assisting evacuees. Mack says they would also appreciate supplies if there is any way to get those supplies to the centers. His list includes: manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, adult diapers, bed pads, catheters and other supplies. The address for the Baton Rouge center is shown above, addresses for the Shreveport and Lake Charles centers follow.Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc. Mitch Granger 1202 Kirkman, Suite CLake Charles, LA 70601New Horizons, Inc. Jerry Kidwell9300 Mansfield Road, Suite 204Shreveport, LA 71118We will keep you informed of any additional ways that you can help. Feel free to forward this information to other people interested in the needs of people with disabilities affected by this disaster."New Resources for Creating Accessible PDF documents1. BOOK: Accessible and Useable PDF Documents: Techniques for Document AuthorsISBN 0-9738246-1-1Author: Karen McCall, M.Ed.This 175 page book will be an invaluable reference tool for anyone working with PDF documents who wants to ensure their documents are accessible and usable. With the inclusion of 75 support documents to work through and examine, you will already have many of the solutions you need. Tips and techniques you work through will also help in making legacy PDF documents more accessible and usable.This book is only available through IRTI, Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc..E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Catalogue web site: http://www.irti-cat.peachhost.com/ct_CGdaisytalkingbookproducts.htm The author, Karen McCall, provides on-site training and workshops on creating more accessible and usable PDF documents. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for more information on training sessions.2. WEB CONFERENCES: EASI 4-part Live, Web Conference on Creating PDF DocumentsAccessible and Usable PDF Documents: Techniques for Document AuthorsPresenter: Karen McCallNovember 1, 8, 15 and 29The four Web conferences in the series are:Week One: Getting Our BearingsWeek Two: Tagging and Repair ToolsWeek three: Intermediate TechniquesWeek Four: The Next StepThis PDF series is another in EASI's series of hands-on, online, instructional Web
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If anyone ants more info please let me know, Liz Accessible IT Technical Bulletin: November 2004The Northeast ADA IT Center at Cornell University provides training, technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination efforts and if you do not want to receive this document or would like others from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or reply to this message. Thank youWeb Accessibility Leadership AcademyTo increase awareness about the accessibility of web-based educational resources and implications for students with disabilities, we are organizing mini-conferences at various regional locations across New York State. The regional conferences are being termed a 'leadership academy' to reflect the goal of the program. For each region, we are inviting "teams" of representatives from several schools or colleges within the local region. The team, ideally, will consist of web developers, instructional technology staff, disabled student services support staff, other IT administrators and faculty representatives. The objective is that those attending will become the leaders on their respective campuses in raising awareness about web accessibility issues as well as taking actions to improve the accessibility of new and existing web content. This full-day leadership program focuses on the following topics: * benefits and costs of accessible web sites * accessibility implications for web-based distance learning content * legal considerations * evaluating web pages for accessibility * getting started / making a planIf you would like more information about conferences being held in your area or are interested in hosting a Web Accessibility Leadership Academy at your school or college, please contact the Northeast ADA IT Center by calling 800-949-4232 or emailing [EMAIL PROTECTED]Assistive Technology Act Signed into LawPresident Bush has signed into law the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (HR 4278). Every state and US territory has an Assistive Technology Act Program (AT Program) funded under the provisions of the Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988. The State AT Programs were scheduled to sunset on September 30, 2004. The AT Act of 2004 supports the continuance of State AT Programs and eliminates the sunset provision for state programs. The Act also supports state grants for protection and advocacy programs related to assistive technology and national activities such as a national public awareness tool-kit, research and development, technical assistance and training, data collection and a national public internet site. For more information about the Act, visit the Assistive Technology Act Programs website (www.ataporg.org).No Child Left Behind (NCLB): Parent's GuideThe National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) and Schwab Learning, two national organizations, have collaborated to develop a handbook designed to provide simple, accessible information for parents on the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The 22-page guide addresses the special issues, challenges and opportunities facing parents whose children are struggling to learn, and provides parents with information about specific actions they can take to improve educational services for their children. It is available at http://ld.org/press/PR2004/NCLBGuide_0904.cfm.The US Dept of Education also has a Parent's Guide to NCLB. It summarizes the main provisions of the law, answers common questions, and provides information on where you can find additional resources. To view or print this guide, visit the US DOE NCLB Parent Guide at http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/nclbguide/parentsguide.html .The Public Education Network has also published "An Action Guide for Community and Parent Leaders" regarding NCLB (http://www.publiceducation.org/pdf/NCLBBook.pdf ). The guide highlights ways NCLB can be used to strengthen the public's voice in education, and to increase community and parental involvement in school-level and district-level operations and decisions.eTEACH: multimedia authoring tooleTEACH is a new tool making the creation of multimedia easier for faculty and other content design people. This inexpensive authoring tool is easy to use and enables a teacher to stream video, PowerPoint, audio and more. It produces output that looks entirely professional and will also be fully accessible to viewers with disabilities. It also permits adding synchronized captions for viewers who are deaf. Visit the eTEACH on the Web: http://eteach.engr.wisc.edu/newEteach/home.htmlWeb Accessibility ToolbarAccessible Information Solutions has developed an Internet Explorer toolbar which can be used for evaluating the accessibility of web pages for people with disabilities. The Web Accessibility Toolbar is