IAAP - International Association of Accessibility Professionals’ Post

Watch This Space: Kindship's Vision for 2024! 2024 is set to be a landmark year for Kindship! We're committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in care navigation. Our goals are clear and our team is ready: 🌟 Leadership in Care Navigation: We're on a mission to cement Kindship as a beacon of hope and guidance in the world of care navigation for children with disabilities. 🚀 Advancing AI Technology: Barb is getting smarter! We're geared up to enhance Barb's AI capabilities to revolutionise care accessibility nationally. 💪 NDIS Plan Management Growth: Expect to see significant strides in our NDIS plan management. We're doubling down on compassionate, top-quality service that truly aligns with the intricate experiences of parenting children with disabilities. 🤝 Building a Supportive Community: We believe in the power of community. This year, we're dedicated to fostering a robust network for parents, enhancing care navigation support and experience sharing. Stay tuned as we embark on this exciting journey. Together, we're not just making changes – we're making history in care navigation and support. Let's make 2024 a year to remember! #Kindship2024 #CareNavigation #AIInnovation #CommunityBuilding #NDISManagement

"Small changes can have a huge impact on accessibility." - Haben Girma speaking at the Computing Research Association semi-annual Snowbird conference. Her thoughtful and creative talk described the importance of innovation in the space of computing and accessibility and the inclusion of disabled people in universities, tech companies, and just everywhere. "When we design for disability, we pave the way for technology innovation." It's so easy to think that we can't do anything because we can't fix everything or to rage at the systems that aren't yet built for everyone. It's so easy to forget how designing for disability helps everyone. It was wonderful to hear Haben's story, how small changes along the way made a difference for her, and how she now serves as a disability advocate making those changes for everyone else. I particularly liked the point that "sometimes tactile techniques beat visual techniques." This is true even for sighted people. We need disabled people as part of our design teams so that we can think about things in radically different ways. She is also hilarious. #DisabilityPrideMonth You can buy her book here: https://lnkd.in/gQwkC6_i

Investing in blind assistive technologies is crucial for improving the lives of individuals with visual impairments. These groundbreaking tools, such as screen readers and navigation aids, increase independence and confidence. They also provide access to education and employment opportunities, leading to economic benefits and social inclusion. Additionally, investing in these technologies shows a commitment to equity and accessibility, allowing blind individuals to thrive without unnecessary barriers. Overall, blind assistive technologies empower individuals, foster inclusivity, and should be made widely available. https://lnkd.in/d48UnS8F #inclusion #assistivetechnology #betterliving #visuallyimpaired CBM Global Disability Inclusion Girl Up Initiative Uganda Light for the World Naffe Tusobola Foundation CBM Christian Blind Mission

It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day #GAAD ♿ ! Today we're helping to highlight the importance of inclusive design, sharing the work of the State of the States project based at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities. Working with experts with lived experience, its researchers have developed guidelines to make data visualizations accessible: use plain language and familiar metaphors, manage complexity and avoid pie charts when presenting data. 💡 Find more tips: https://loom.ly/yq1Wg20

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Through collaboration with organisations like ASIAM and Dublin City University Autism Project, as well as leveraging cutting-edge technology, Smart DCU has made significant strides in ensuring inclusivity and support for autistic people. Smart DCU is an Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics and DCU initiative to turn the Dublin City University (DCU) campus, which is a microcosm of a city, into a Smart City Ecosystem. Smart DCU’s mission is to improve the campus experience for students and staff alike. Smart DCU is the only smart campus in Ireland and places special emphasis on harnessing the revolutionary capabilities of emerging technologies to support autistic individuals. https://lnkd.in/e3JShsSu

Exciting new research published in RESNA’s Assistive Technology Journal offers a strength-based framework for improving access to Assistive Technology (AT) at a national level. Using an action research approach and the UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability as a reference, the study identifies seven guiding principles for effective policy processes and five crucial building blocks for AT policy development. This IDEAL PROCESS framework provides a systematic approach to developing context-sensitive AT policies, ultimately enhancing access to crucial assistive technologies. #AssistiveTechnology @RESNA @TandFonline https://lnkd.in/gVu4-VQW

An excerpt from the linked below report on Assistive Technology which explains the need to get AT users involved in all aspects of AT which can be summarized as "Nothing about us without us!". ---------------------------- "Studies have also shown that a critical lack of participation by AT users is part of the market and system failures that hinders AT access. The provision of AT services stands to improve greatly if it were better informed by the stories and experiences of diverse AT users. Many persons with disabilities face barriers to accessing higher education, and therefore have had less access to opportunities for developing research skills. They are often not viewed or included as researchers. This dilemma causes major detriment to AT initiatives, since involving persons with disabilities in research that impacts their lives is crucial for ensuring that data reflects the actual priorities of the disability movement and responds to users’ real needs." https://lnkd.in/etfFQp9d

We’re highlighting SpineX Inc. today! Last month, Kara Allanach, SpineX’s Director of Product attended our second Remarkable Tech Summit and we got a chance to learn more about her experience at the summit and in the accelerator program: “I've just met so many great people with disabilities, disability advocates, and people who are passionate about funding disability innovations. And it's just been invaluable, as far as I'm concerned, for us to be able to take our product from the lab into the real world. Remarkable really has accelerated us.” Head to https://lnkd.in/dbDDK9hi to check out the next installment in our Innovation Insights series You’ll learn more about SpineX’s work, what they’ve achieved, and what they hope to accomplish. #InnovationInsights #DisabilityInnovation #disability #innovation #CP #CerebralPalsy #DisabilityTech #AssistiveTech #accessibility #accessible #Remarkable #RemarkableUS #SpineX #SpinalNeuromodulation #PhysicalTherapy Remarkable Tech Image description in alt text.

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This AT Awareness Day, we at Step Up AT are excited to embark on a myth-busting journey about assistive technology (AT) and its crucial role under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Our goal is to enhance understanding and eliminate the common misconceptions that surround the use of AT devices and services. Myth-Busting with Evidence Drawing insights from the enlightening U.S. Department of Education document "Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services, January 2024," we are thrilled to share accurate information and real examples that highlight AT's transformative impact. This document serves as a robust resource intended to clarify the IDEA's AT requirements and support children with disabilities in their educational journey. #ATAwareness #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology #IDEA #ATClassroom #ATForTeachers