Qatar Telecom Qtel Supports Accessibility Forum
Qtel is one of the main sponsors of this week’s “First Forum for Integration and Enabling People with Disabilities,” held at the Abdul Rahman Jassim Preparatory School for Boys, Al Wakrah. The company is using its support for the event to raise awareness of the broad range of specialist services and innovative technology it makes available for people with disabilities in Qatar.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/22/qatar-telecom-qtel-supports-accessibility-forum/, March 30, 2012
South African Broadcasting Corporation dds subtitles to TV shows for deaf people
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/20/south-african-broadcasting-corporation-adds-subtitles-to-tv-shows-for-deaf-people/, March 30, 2012
South African Broadcasting Corporation Adds Subtitles to TV Shows for Deaf People
As from March, SABC3 has ramped up its commitment to catering for deaf people by adding wall to wall subtitles on the channel’s flagship soapie, Isidingo. This reflects South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)’s strong support for fostering deaf pride. “SABC3 has supported people who are deaf in South Africa in a significant way over the past years through DTV, the popular programme made by and for people who are deaf. This community is very important to the SABC and to the channel in particular and so it gives us real pleasure in being able to provide wall to wall subtitling on Isidingo. Our hope is that this will enhance the viewing pleasure of the community and grant them full access to South Africa’s most popular soapie,” says SABC3 acting GM Ed Worster.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/20/south-african-broadcasting-corporation-adds-subtitles-to-tv-shows-for-deaf-people/, March 30, 2012
TechNews: Smarter Voice Capabilities Will Transform Medical Documentation
Natural language processing combined with voice recognition produces clinical language understanding, which has the potential to profoundly change how information gets into clinical systems.
From http://www.informationweek.com/news/healthcare/clinical-systems/232602902?cid=RSSfeed_IWK_healthcare, March 30, 2012
USA: FCC Makes Changes to National Deaf-Blind Distribution Program
The FCC issued an Order “In the Matter of Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, Section 105, Relay Services for Deaf-Blind Individuals” [CG Docket No. 10-210] regarding the reimbursement schedules for entities participating in the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). Under the original Order adopted on April 4, 2011, the FCC established a two-year NDBEDP Pilot Program utilizing up to $10 million from the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund for the distribution of equipment aiding in access to telecommunications services, internet, and advanced communications services for low-income deaf-blind individuals. The program allowed for qualifying government and nonprofit entities to seek reimbursement every six months from the TRS Fund for distributed equipment. After receiving comment from qualifying entities stating that reimbursement at six month intervals was too infrequent and would “severely and profoundly limit their ability to serve eligible low-income, deaf-blind individuals in a timely manner,” the FCC issued the Order allowing for more frequent reimbursement schedules of either every month or every three months. The new reimbursement schedules will last for the remainder of the two-year NDBEDP Pilot Program.
From http://wirelessrerc.org/news/fcc-makes-changes-to-national-deaf-blind-distribution-program, March 30, 2012
Blind Enjoying Better Social Media Access
How do you find friends on Facebook if you can't see their photo? That question and many others about accessibility of social media for people with disabilities have been answered in a new series of user guides launched on Monday. The guides are the result of research by blind internet expert Scott Hollier.
From http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8433851, March 29, 2012
Speech-Recognition Software now Faster, more Accurate than Ever
Two speech-recognitions applications can be used for controlling your computer as well as for dictating documents. And both can be trained to better recognize your voice.
From http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017827402_ptspeech24.html, March 29, 2012
Ghana Parliament Ratifies UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Parliament has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol laid before Parliament on July 20, 2011 by the committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises. The purpose of the UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol, is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect of their inherent dignity.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/15/ghana-parliament-ratifies-un-convention-on-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/, March 28, 2012
UK: Roman Baths Win Award for Creating, Improving Access for People with a Variety of Disabilities
The South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011/12 have praised Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Roman Baths for the improved accessibility it offers all visitors. The Romans Baths received a “Highly Commended” in the Access for All award section in recognition of recent development work carried out by the Council to improve access in a wide range of ways and make the experience more inclusive for people with a wide range of different needs.
From http://www.accesstourismnz.org.nz/2012/03/uk-roman-baths-win-award-for-creating-improving-access-for-people-with-a-variety-of-disabilities/, March 28, 2012
Australia: Government Spending USD 1.39 Million to Improve Bus Stops Accessibility for People with Disabilities
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government is spending USD 1.39 million to upgrade 300 Canberra bus stops to improve access by people with disabilities. ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Katy Gallagher said the works would see seniors and people with disabilities benefit from upgrades to existing transport infrastructure. Already, work on 75 bus stops on major public transport corridors had been completed. Where possible, concrete waiting areas were being enlarged to three metres by five metres and connections to footpaths to help with wheelchair access were being improved. Tactile ground surface indicators would help blind people.
From http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2012/03/13/government-spending-1-39m-to-improve-bus-stops-accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities/, March 27, 2012
