blueIRIS Location: United Kingdom Abstract: The Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre Society for the Blind recently launched a service called blueIRIS using broadband internet to create a radio service for the blind that is available over the Internet. Previously, the Society distributed cassette recordings of daily news from local and international newspapers to blind and visually impaired citizens. The new service, on the other hand, includes the use of computers, broadband Internet, and special software which reads any screen text to users, offers the option of increased text or image size, and eliminates the need for a mouse. blueIRIS provides increased accessibility for users with disabilities by giving them the opportunity to pick and choose what they listen to, as well as by providing access to a greater amount of news content than what was previously available with the recorded cassettes. The software is also being used to help the visually impaired to navigate the Internet. Website: blueIRIS Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: enquiries@blueiris.info |
Bobby Worldwide Location: United States Abstract: BobbyTM was launched in 1996 to help Web designers throughout the world analyze their sites for accessibility for all Internet users, including those with disabilities. This interactive tool examines web pages to identify potential barriers to access. Bobby offers prioritized suggestions based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provided by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Access Initiative. With the release of Bobby WorldWide, web designers can now test their sites for compliance with the U.S. Federal Government's Section 508 standards. As web designers use Bobby WorldWide, they learn how to address problems within their own sites and subsequently learn skills to design more accessible sites in the future. Website: Bobby Worldwide Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: (781) 245-2212 Practitioner E-mail: cast@cast.org |
Breaking Barriers for Children Location: Philippines Abstract: The Breaking Barriers for Children project, a partnership between KAMPI, the National Federation of Disabled Persons in the Philippines (Disabled Peoples International-Philippines), and PTU, the Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims, established the Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC), providing rehabilitation services to over 8,000 children with disabilities in 14 different provinces. In addition to rehabilitation services, the centers provide social services that aim to change negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities within education. The project has also established STAC Satellite Centers in rural villages in order to prevent high transportation costs to families. Website: Breaking Barriers for Children Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: casestudies@g3ict.com |
Canadian Association of the Deaf Location: Canada Abstract: Founded in 1940 by the three regional associations of the Deaf, the CAD is the national consumer organization of Canada's 300,000 Deaf citizens. All monies are spent on programs run by Deaf people for Deaf people. Website: Canadian Association of the Deaf Practitioner Name: Jim Roots Practitioner Tel: +1 613 565-2882 Practitioner E-mail: jroots@cad.ca |
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Location: Switzerland Abstract: DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is an open international standard for accessible multimedia. The DAISY Consortium is based in Switzerland, and is made up of leading non-profit organizations from around the world serving blind and dyslexic people. DAISY helps bridge the digital divide in developing regions of the world by ensuring access to information for those who have previously had severely limited or no access to information, such as persons with print disabilities, speakers of minority languages, indigenous populations without a written language, and those who are illiterate. DAISY for All (DFA) is a project to deploy DAISY technology, address goals and objectives (which include capacity building in developing countries), and serve as a catalyst to generate broader alliances that support the global sharing of human knowledge in the information society. DAISY for All is funded by the Nippon Foundation as a five-year project. Website: DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: casestudies@g3ict.com |
Deaf-Alerter Location: United Kingdom Abstract: Deaf Alerter is a radio-based fire alarm warning and public address messaging system for the deaf and hearing-impaired. The device is capable of both visual (strobe) and physical (vibration pad) warnings. Today, the Deaf Alerter is widely installed in the UK and is now being installed worldwide. The device works as follows: upon seeing the Deaf Alerter sign, a hearing-impaired person knows that the building is equipped with a Deaf Alerter transmitter and that his or her own Alerter (or one borrowed from the building's reception desk) will operate anywhere within that building. While used primarily for fire alarms and public address messaging, it can also be used for bomb evacuations, paging, or an equipment alarm warning. The vibration pad (termed "Night Cradle") is part of the system and provides wake-up features for deaf persons who might be in bed asleep at the time of an emergency. Website: Deaf-Alerter Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: +44 (0)1332 363981 Practitioner E-mail: info@deaf-alerter.com |
Deafblind Location: United Kingdom Abstract:
Deafblind is a website offering free software for persons who are deaf-blind or have learning disabilities to help them to pursue more knowledge, explore their surroundings, and become more independent. The project was established by Sense and the University of Manchester. Furthermore, Sense has three ICT centers in the UK for deaf-blind citizens where the software is used. Deafblind is currently looking at ways to attract a wider audience to its website. Website: Deafblind Practitioner Name: Ms Samantha Denyer Practitioner Tel: 020 7272 7774 Practitioner E-mail: casestudies@g3ict.com |
Delivering Inclusive Access for Disabled or Elderly Members Location: European Union Abstract: DIADEM, or Delivering Inclusive Access for Disabled or Elderly Members of the community, is an EU funded project coordinated by Brunel University (UK) to develop next-generation assistive systems that empower persons with disabilities (and aging citizens) to play a full role in society by increasing their autonomy and helping them to realize their maximum potential. With the help of partners such as the Norwegian National Computer Center, Bluegarden (Norway), MORE (Norway), and CSI Piemonte (Italy), the project will provide greater dialogue to counteract the issues faced by many cognitively disabled users. For example, cognitively disabled persons can suffer from poor concentration and loss of short-term memory, which means that they are more likely to lose track of where they are in a particular process or get lost in an online transaction. In addition, reduced problem solving skills and loss of mental flexibility mean that users are more likely to become frustrated by requests for input that are unexpected, irrelevant, or appear out of sequence. To this end, DIADEM aims to provide support to help these users. The project received 1.95 million euros from the European Union, and is set to run from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2009. Website: Delivering Inclusive Access for Disabled or Elderly Members Practitioner Name: Dr. Tony Elliman Practitioner Tel: +44 1895 266022 Practitioner E-mail: info@project-diadem.eu |
Disabilityart.com Location: United States Abstract: Disablityart.com is a website which creates and compiles positive images of persons with disabilities in everyday-life situations and inclusive settings. The site facilitates the purchase of the images in collections in CD-Rom format or on a by-image basis. The images can be used to communicate the work of an organization (as is the case with other groups, such as Wheelchairnet), whether that be on brochures, in existing publications, on web pages, or in training and educational materials. In essence, the site facilitates the transfer of information through dynamic visual expressions, thereby raising awareness of different types of disabilities and offering an effective educational tool. Website: Disabilityart.com Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: info@disabilityart.com |
Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities Location: Ethiopia Abstract: The Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities (EFPD) and the Tigray Disabled Veterans Association (TDVA), in cooperation with the Ireland-funded International Labor Organization (ILO), are working with women with disabilities and mothers of children with disabilities in Ethiopia to provide entrepreneurial assistance for economic empowerment. Based on analyzed case studies, the organizations developed basic business skills training workshops, follow-up business advisory services, and programs to improve access to credit. The initiative has not only been successful in assisting and empowering women with disabilities to be small business owners, but it has also significantly promoted awareness in the region about the abilities and potential of women with disabilities. Website: Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities Practitioner Name: n/a Practitioner Tel: n/a Practitioner E-mail: casestudies@g3ict.com |