Accessibility News Posts
Smart phones and tablets have many accessibility features but are still basically smooth surfaces. Two new technologies try to change this by making tablets with tactile output or phones with audio feedback.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on May 21, 2013 in Accessibility, Technology | Add new comment
Disney recently settled a class action law suit in which a group of plaintiffs had argued that the Disney parks and websites weren't accessible to blind visitors and asked that Disney find ways to make their attractions available to everyone.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Mar 05, 2013 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
The idea behind the National Deafblind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is that people with combined hearing and vision loss should have access to modern telecommunication tools (and the training necessary to use them) so that they can interact, communicate, use the internet and contribute more to their community. Access to these tools shouldn't be seen as a luxury, but as a right
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Sep 17, 2012 in Accessibility, Resources, Special Education, Technology | Add new comment
Little Bear Sees is giving away a CVI iPad package to one lucky family! This giveaway includes an iPad, the Tap-n-See Zoo app and the book Little Bear Sees: How Children with Cortical Visual Impairment Can Learn to See.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jul 16, 2012 in Accessibility, Fun & Games, Fundraising, Resources, Technology | 5 Comments Add new comment
Hadley is now offering their free Family Education Program on ebooks. This is especially convenient for busy parents on the go!
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Mar 24, 2012 in Accessibility, Special Education | Add new comment
NOPBC has created a much-needed resources that explains exactly how IDEA addresses braille needs in the classroom. Use this to help you develop your child's IEP.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Dec 15, 2011 in Accessibility, Braille & Literacy | Add new comment
Watch ten month old Alan walk around his living room with his new cane. He's totally blind, but does a wonderful job getting around obstacles!
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 14, 2011 in Accessibility, Videos | Add new comment
Sami Stoner, a teenager in Ohio, has always been a runner, but when she began to lose her sight due to Stargardt's disease, she thought she would have to stop running. Sami's guide dog, Chloe, has helped her so she can continue running.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 03, 2011 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
Read about iPad apps used to help disabled children communicate. Watch a video from 60 Minutes discussing iPad apps for children with autism.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Oct 24, 2011 in Accessibility, Compensatory Skills, Resources, Technology, Videos | 1 Comment Add new comment
The revised 2010 ADA sets guidelines for accessible playgrounds, parks and play spaces. Find out what these new requirements are and when they go into effect.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Oct 11, 2011 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
Cindy O’Connell is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. She will show you how to create simple activities that are easy to adapt for any skill level and teach multiple lessons - all while being fun!
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Sep 15, 2011 in Accessibility, Compensatory Skills, Fun & Games, Special Education | Add new comment
Find out about a new website from NFB of Utah called BlindHow.com. The site allows you to ask questions or share information about being blind.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Aug 16, 2011 in Accessibility, Compensatory Skills | Add new comment
We share a video spotlighting Sarah Hardwig, a young Floridian learning tennis through her summer camp. Using an audibly-enhanced tennis ball, kids with visual impairment learn the skills and the rules of the game.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jul 07, 2011 in Accessibility, Fun & Games, Videos | Add new comment
Andrew's mom, Jackie, created this video of her son using the features on his new iPad for her school district administration.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jan 21, 2011 in Accessibility, Compensatory Skills, Special Education, Technology, Videos | Add new comment
Our 2011 look at Amazon's ebook reader, Kindle, concerned the plug-in for PC Accessibility. Take a look at our current Technology postings or use the search feature for Kindle II's text-to-voice capability.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jan 20, 2011 in Accessibility, Braille & Literacy, Technology | Add new comment
NVDA is a Windows-compatible screen reader in both synthetic speech and braille output that requires no additional hardware and only 50mb of space. The team behind NonVisual Desktop Access for free download on their website, linked here.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Oct 18, 2010 in Accessibility, Technology | Add new comment
In the effort to protect intellectual property and creative rights, lawmakers may be limiting access to readers with disabilities. This article spotlights Steveie Wonder's appeal as an artist and a consumer.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Oct 01, 2010 in Accessibility, Braille & Literacy | Add new comment
Scholastic Books' companion DVD series for children's classics teach sign language to accompany these favorite titles: Goodnight Moon, A Pocket for Corduroy, and Five Little Monkeys.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jul 02, 2010 in Accessibility, Braille & Literacy, Fun & Games | Add new comment
TakePart.com presents eight adaptive devices and peripheries that make computers more useful for people with certain disabilities. You'll see an introduction to a foot-pedal operated mouse and ZoomText reader, and a few gadgets still in development.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jun 29, 2010 in Accessibility, Technology | Add new comment
National Park Service free Access Passes are accepted at all NPS parks and refuges, and cover some fees in the national forests as well. The filing fee for the Access Pass is $10; the annual pass itself is free. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jun 28, 2010 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
"On The Media" is a production of WNYC Radio, and heard on more than 300 National Public Radio stations nationwide. We share a 2010 story about accessibility on the Internet, produced by Bob Garfield. The story begins at the 32-minute mark of this episode.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jun 01, 2010 in Accessibility | Add new comment
Our link to the Apple.com statement on accessibility features includes voiceover, high contrast, and screen reader capability.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jan 05, 2010 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
Interested in trying a screen reader at no cost? Looking for a portable screen reader you can always count on when you are away from home? Serotek provides "System Access to Go" a free web-based tool for reading computer screens where a reader is not available, such as public libraries or internet kiosks.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 08, 2009 in Accessibility | Add new comment
Home video for the entire family is provided by Descriptive Video Service (DVS), a program of the Media Access Group of PBS affiliate WGBH-Boston. In addition to audio description for the WGBH line-up of television programming, DVS provides secondary audio for a wide range of home video title. All DVDs play in a standard home player and at the same retail price.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 07, 2009 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
"Accessible Science" is a set of science-related resources compiled by Perkins School for the Blind, to help ensure that students with visual impairments are given meaningful opportunities to participate fully in the science curriculum.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 06, 2009 in Accessibility, Special Education | Add new comment
Audio Darts is a safe and active game for players of all ages and abilities. If you are looking for a group activity for your rec room, clubhouse, or activity center, Audio Dart Master provides all the specifications, as well as information on organized league play and tournaments.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Sep 26, 2009 in Accessibility, Fun & Games | Add new comment
Michael Brian Reed is a communications accessibility advocate who posted this speech following the UK ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Reed outlines his agenda for ongoing campaigns to educate people with communications disorders.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Sep 12, 2009 in Accessibility, Videos | Add new comment
Learn more about the implications of the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in this summary article written by Perkins School for the Blind. President Barak Obama signed the Convention on behalf of the United States in July 2009.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Aug 06, 2009 in Accessibility | Add new comment
The 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) is now law. Included in the legislation are considerations for broadband, digital, and mobile access for people with disabilities.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Jul 08, 2009 in Accessibility | Add new comment
Amazon's Kindle e-reader device was infamously panned by the visually impaired community when version 2.0 lacked voiceover on basic controls. Follow the American Federation of the Blind's ongoing dialogue with Amazon on their editorial pages.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on May 13, 2009 in Accessibility, Braille & Literacy | Add new comment
Facebook users asked why the website is not more accessible, and Facebook responded. Read Facebook's 2009 response to AFB on this page.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on May 11, 2009 in Accessibility, Technology | 2 Comments Add new comment
Controversy errupts after a court ruling that U.S. money be made accessible for blind people. Are you for or against blind accessible money? Read our arguments here so that you can decide.
Shared by Amber Bobnar on Nov 29, 2006 in Accessibility | Add new comment