Alisa Brownlee, ATP, CAPS blog offers recent articles and web information on ALS, assistive technology--augmentative alternative communication (AAC), computer access, and other electronic devices that can impact and improve the quality of life for people with ALS. Email--abrownlee@alsa-national.org. Any views or opinions presented on this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the ALS Association.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Assistive Technology Oral History Project
This note was posted on an assistive technology listserv this morning:
Have any of you been interested in the history of assistive technology. How did we get to the point of voice recognition software, power wheelchairs, and other devices?
There is a wonderful body of work that outlines the history of assistive technology and I hope each of you will take the time to enjoy, watch, and learn.
Chauncy Rucker is one of the “originals” in the use of technology and individuals with disabilities. Some years ago, after a along and satisfying career at the University of Connecticut that included preparing innumerable students to become tech-savvy educators, holding the annual CONNSense Conference and many, many other ground-breaking activities, Chauncy “retired“… or rather, as hard-working “retiree” Diana Carl likes to put it, “refocused.” He remains active at UCONN as professor emeritus involved in many projects, including launching the CONNSense Newsletter, but it another of Chauncy’s “refocusing” activities– and I dare say his favorite?–that I am writing to you about today.
The Assistive Technology Oral History Project has beenChauncy’s challenge and bliss since, in 2007, he began collecting audio and video interviews with people who have played and are playing strong, interesting and diverse roles in the development and provision of assistivetechnology devices and services aver many, many years. If you have been to any of the major AT conferences over the last few years, you have undoubtedly seen Chauncy walking about with his audio and video equipment seeking interviews and making history as he goes.
At present the Assistive Technology Oral History Project consists of more than 50 interviews with AT community leaders, some as audio podcasts an others with full video. All of these interviews are available at the AT Oral History project Web site (https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://atoralhistory.uconn.edu/index.html). As you peruse the site, you undoubtedly recognize many, many AT colleagues and, I’ll bet you will greatly enjoy their stories. You will also see how many of the activities and tools that we take for granted today got started and, in his Director’s Notes find out a lot more about how the actual project was begun and sustained.
In a bit of a turn-about, Chauncy was interviewed by Eliza Anderson at the ATIA 2012 conference in Orlando for anarticle that appears in the Friends of ATIA newsletter (Issue 11 available at https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3933. When Chauncy was asked what he hoped people would take away from listening to AT Oral History, he said that one thing is the collegiality of the whole ATfield that comes up in several of the interviews.
I hope that each of you will find the time go to the website and “visit” with the people there whose work and passion are our collective roots.
And, if you have a chance, drop Chauncy a note (chauncyrucker1@mac.com) and let him know how much his work means to all of us AT folks and how much it enriches our lives.
Corrected AccessInfo Notice Re: Extended Due Date for VRS Reform
Corrected AccessInfo Notice Re: Extended Due Date for VRS Reform
On December 15, 2011, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) seeking comment on a series of options and proposals to improve the structure and efficiency of the video relay service (VRS) program. The goal of these proposals is to ensure that VRS provides functionally equivalent communications services to its users – particularly given advances in commercially-available technology – and remains immune from the waste, fraud, and abuse that has threatened its long-term viability.
On February 23, 2012, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (Bureau) issued an Order extending the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments concerning the FNPRM on improving the structure and efficiency of the VRS program. The due dates were originally set for March 2, 2012 for filing comments and March 19, 2012 for filing reply comments. By this Order, the Bureau extended the due dates as follows:
Comment Date: March 9, 2012
Reply Comment Date: March 30, 2012
Order
Word:
PDF:
Text
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Word:
PDF:
Text:
National Council on Disability Quarterly Meeting
Sunshine Act Notice:
National Council on Disability Quarterly Meeting
Date and Time: March 9, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.
Status: The meeting on March 9 will be open to the public.
Matters to be Considered: The agenda for the board meeting includes an update on the Council's various reports including the annual progress report, a discussion on several funding proposals including a project focused on the subminimum wage and competitive integrated employment, a public comment session, a presentation by Peter Blanck, Chairman of the
Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, to provide an update on emerging issues in regards to disability law, policy, and research such as equal access to technology and opportunities for competitive integrated employment and other items to be determined. A public comment session will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Interested parties may join the meeting in a listening-only capacity (with the exception of the public comment period) using the following call-in information: Call-in number: 888-428-9505. The passcode is "NCD Meeting.'' Written comments on disability-related issues of concern or interest may be mailed to NCD's office at 1331 F Street NW., Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004 or faxed to the NCD office at (202) 272-2022. Comments may also be emailed to:
PublicComment@ncd.gov at any time.
Contact Person for more Information: Lawrence Carter-Long, NCD, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004; 202-272-2004 (V), 202-272-2074 (TTY).
Accommodations: Those who plan to attend and require accommodations should notify NCD as soon as possible to allow time to make arrangements.
Link to PDF:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-27/pdf/2012-4714.pdf
Posted by:
Lawrence Carter-Long
Public Affairs Specialist
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2004 Voice
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 Fax
Website: https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncd.gov
Get regular updates via NCD’s Facebook page:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://www.facebook.com/NCDgov
Follow NCD on Twitter:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://twitter.com/NatCounDis
Sign up for regular email updates at:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncd.gov/subscribe
National Council on Disability Quarterly Meeting
Date and Time: March 9, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.
Status: The meeting on March 9 will be open to the public.
Matters to be Considered: The agenda for the board meeting includes an update on the Council's various reports including the annual progress report, a discussion on several funding proposals including a project focused on the subminimum wage and competitive integrated employment, a public comment session, a presentation by Peter Blanck, Chairman of the
Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, to provide an update on emerging issues in regards to disability law, policy, and research such as equal access to technology and opportunities for competitive integrated employment and other items to be determined. A public comment session will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Interested parties may join the meeting in a listening-only capacity (with the exception of the public comment period) using the following call-in information: Call-in number: 888-428-9505. The passcode is "NCD Meeting.'' Written comments on disability-related issues of concern or interest may be mailed to NCD's office at 1331 F Street NW., Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004 or faxed to the NCD office at (202) 272-2022. Comments may also be emailed to:
PublicComment@ncd.gov at any time.
Contact Person for more Information: Lawrence Carter-Long, NCD, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 850, Washington, DC 20004; 202-272-2004 (V), 202-272-2074 (TTY).
Accommodations: Those who plan to attend and require accommodations should notify NCD as soon as possible to allow time to make arrangements.
Link to PDF:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-27/pdf/2012-4714.pdf
Posted by:
Lawrence Carter-Long
Public Affairs Specialist
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2004 Voice
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 Fax
Website: https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncd.gov
Get regular updates via NCD’s Facebook page:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://www.facebook.com/NCDgov
Follow NCD on Twitter:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://twitter.com/NatCounDis
Sign up for regular email updates at:
https://mail.alsa-national.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncd.gov/subscribe
Free Webinar for Consumers--Finding the Right Wheelchair
UsersFirst Hosting Free Webinar
Push For More–Finding The Right Wheelchair
It’s not just your wheelchair. It’s your livelihood.
Join UsersFirst for a free webinar on finding the right wheelchair and other mobility equipment, so you can live the life you choose!
When: Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM EST
Speaker: Ann Eubank, LMSW, OTR/L, ATP; VP Community Initiatives–Users First, a program of United Spinal Association
The right wheelchair, mobility scooter or seating system is important to maintaining good health, quality of life, and independence. There’s no such thing as an “average” wheelchair user, we all have individual needs and lifestyles. So why should our equipment be average?
This interactive webinar will offer strategies and resources to help navigate the process of getting mobility equipment that is right for you. Plus information on finding appropriate doctors; locating resources; and protecting your rights as a consumer.
Please join us. Click here to register.
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