AFB Leadership Conference 2015
Registration is now open for the joint 2015 AFB Leadership and Arizona AER Conference (AFBLC), which will take place at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, April 9–11, 2015.
AFBLC attendees are eligible for a special hotel rate of $179/night. Please visit the Marriott reservations page or call 1-800-309-8138 to book your room today.
The American Foundation for the Blind annual Leadership Conference covers the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of blindness and offers many opportunities to learn from the best and brightest minds in our field, make new connections, and reunite with old friends while earning ACVREP and CRC CEUs.
The AFBLC attracts established and emerging leaders in the blindness field. Conference attendees include technology experts, corporate representatives, university professors, teachers of students with visual impairments, orientation and mobility instructors, rehabilitation professionals, and parents. They come from diverse organizations and institutions spanning the public and private sectors, including school districts, schools for the blind, Veterans Administrations, hospitals, private agencies, and universities.
The 2014 AFBLC attracted over 440 attendees from 39 states and 8 countries.
X1 Talks: Comcast Launches Industry's First Voice Guided TV Interface
Comcast announced the industry's first voice-enabled television user interface, a solution that will revolutionize the way its Xfinity TV customers, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, navigate the X1 platform. The "talking guide" features a female voice that reads aloud selections like program titles, network names, and time slots as well as DVR and On Demand settings. The feature will be available to all X1 customers in the next few weeks.
About 19 million US households have at least one member with a disability and according to the US Census there are 8.1 million people with a visual disability. In 2012, Comcast hired Tom Wlodkowski as Vice President of Audience to focus on the usability of the company's products and services by people with disabilities.
The talking guide "speaks" what's on the screen as the viewer navigates the "Guide," "Saved," "On Demand," and "Settings" sections of X1 and includes details like individual program descriptions and ratings from Common Sense Media and Rotten Tomatoes that help viewers decide what to watch. Future versions of the feature will include functionality within the "Search" section of X1 and additional personalization settings like rate of speech.
"The talking guide is as much about usability as it is about accessibility," said Mr. Wlodkowski. "We think about accessibility from the design of a product all the way through production and this feature is the result of years of work by our team including customer research, focus groups and industry partnerships. For people like me who are blind, this new interface opens up a whole new world of options for watching TV."
X1 customers will be able to activate the talking guide on their existing set top box by tapping the "A" button twice on their remote control. The feature also can be turned on via the "accessibility settings" within the main settings menu. Click here to see how it works.
Next year, Comcast plans to partner with service organizations and nonprofits to create awareness in the disability community of Voice Guidance and other accessibility features that offer a more inclusive entertainment experience.
The talking guide is the latest in a series of innovations created in the Comcast Accessibility Lab. In addition to voice guidance and one-touch access to closed captioning, Comcast created an online help and support resource for Xfinity customers looking for information about accessibility-related topics. The webpage includes an overview of accessibility products and services, support for third-party assistive devices, information related to Braille or large-print bills and the ability to connect with accessibility support specialists.
The company also has a service center specifically dedicated to customers with disabilities. Comcast's Accessibility Center of Excellence is based in Pensacola, FL, where a team of specially trained care agents handles about 10,000 calls each month.
International Disability Award to be Given to Senator Tom Harkin on the Occasion of His Retirement from U.S. Congress by U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD)
On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, the Eve of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD), the convener and leader of the coalition to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, hosted its gala at the U.S. Institute of Peace on the National Mall.
The U.S. International Council on Disabilities honored Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), another life-long disability rights champion. Senator Harkin is retiring from the U.S. Congress after 40 years of service. Senator Tom Harkin is the leading advocate for disability rights in Congress. He was the Senate author of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. On working on the ADA, Harkin states:
Working on the ADA, I heard stories from individuals who had to crawl on their hands and knees to go up a flight of stairs, who couldn't ride a bus because there wasn't a lift, and who could not even cross the street in a wheelchair because there were no curb cuts. Before the ADA, millions of Americans were denied access to their own communities—and to the American dream.
Harkin was responsible for numerous pieces of legislation that embedded the four goals of the ADA throughout American policy—from transportation to housing to education to health care—he made certain that people with disabilities were included when legislation was being drafted, and that these individuals were part of the decision making when laws were being implemented.
USICD previously honored Senator Bob Dole in 2012. The award given Tuesday established the Dole-Harkin award for advancing disability rights globally.
Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre for Disability Law & Policy National University of Ireland (Galway) was also awarded for his global advocacy of the rights of persons with disabilities. Professor Quinn has served in prominent positions representing human rights as well as elder and disability rights with the Council of Europe, European Union, Irish Human Rights Commission, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, and many other bodies. USICD is honoring Professor Quinn for his outstanding global work in the field of persons with disabilities.
Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of Ireland and Malta, as well as high-level diplomats from Delegation of the European Union to the U.S. and the Embassy of Slovenia attended. The event was also attended by Congressional Members, policy makers, and members of the disability community.
USICD extends special thanks to its corporate sponsors: JPMorgan Chase, Platinum Sponsor; other corporate sponsors: AT&T, IBM, Wal-Mart, US Chamber of Commerce, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, Alston Bird, LLP. Additionally, National Organization on Disability, Easter Seals, and, The Viscardi Center also sponsored the gala.
Corinne Grousbeck Named Chair of Perkins Board of Trustees
Corinne Grousbeck, a longtime advocate for people who are blind and one of New England's best-known philanthropists, has been named chair of the Perkins Board of Trustees. She was appointed unanimously by fellow Board of Trustees members at their annual meeting, held November 3, 2014, on the campus of Perkins School for the Blind.
"I'm incredibly honored that after 10 years of serving on the Board that my fellow Trustees have the confidence to elect me their next chair," Grousbeck said. "I'm thrilled to help Perkins develop innovative new strategies to achieve our mission."
Grousbeck succeeded Frederic M. Clifford, a former financial services executive, who served as chair since 2008.
As chair, Grousbeck will help steer Perkins' five divisions—Perkins School for the Blind, Perkins Products, Perkins International, Perkins Library and Perkins eLearning—on a course to continued success. She will work closely with Perkins CEO & President Dave Power, a former business executive in the technology industry.
Grousbeck has been an active part of the Perkins community since 1995, when her son Campbell began attending Perkins School for the Blind. He graduated in June 2014. She was a driving force behind Perkins' 17,000-square-foot Grousbeck Center for Students & Technology, the centerpiece of the school's push to integrate technology into every aspect of students' lives. Funded by a gift from the Grousbeck Family Foundation, and inspired by Campbell and his schoolmates, it opened in 2011.
Grousbeck co-chaired the annual Perkins Possibilities Gala for nine years, served as a member of the Perkins Board of Trustees for a decade and headed the Trust Board, which raises funds for Perkins. In addition to her work with Perkins, Grousbeck has served in a leadership role for other local nonprofits, including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Boston Children's Hospital. She formerly served on the boards of Lovelane special needs horseback riding program in Lincoln, MA, the Boston Children's Hospital Trust Board where she was vice chair and Cradles to Crayons as a founding board member. She is currently a director on the Massachusetts General Hospital Leadership Council. In 2011 Grousbeck received the New England Women's Leadership Award for Community Service.
Grousbeck holds a BBA from the University of Michigan. She has worked professionally as a marketer, advertising executive and brand strategist for Procter and Gamble, Saatchi & Saatchi, Gemvara, Inc., and others.
Perkins reaches more than a million people each year in 67 countries providing education, services and products to help people who are blind or deafblind build more productive and meaningful lives. Founded in 1829 as the first U.S. school for the blind, Perkins advances its mission through its five divisions: School for the Blind, International, Library, eLearning, and Products. Learn more at www.Perkins.org
2014 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is Now Accepting Applications
The Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation was developed to inspire innovators to continue the promotion of braille literacy for blind and deafblind people worldwide. The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is provided through support from National Braille Press and The Gibney Family Foundation.
National Braille Press invites individuals, groups of individuals, or companies who have developed an innovative and accessible product in one of the following categories:
- Professional software and apps
- Educational software and apps
- Gaming software or apps that promote tactile and braille learning
- Braille or tactile-related hardware
Louis Braille was an innovator—and this award seeks to identify and inspire future innovation. Potentially, the award process will inspire new strategic directions for National Braille Press. The project must demonstrate some aspect of tactile literacy for blind people and promote Braille literacy or access to information.
Applications must be received by January 7, 2015. For more information and to download the application, please visit www.touchofgeniusprize.org or contact Ximena Ojopi at xojopi@nbp.org or at 617-266-6160, ext. 412.
National Braille Press invites you to apply for the opportunity to win up to $20,000!
U.S. Army Medicine Civilian Corps Recognizes International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2014
The Civilian Corps of the US Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) recognizes Wednesday, December 3, as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities as they continue encouraging people with disabilities to seek employment with MEDCOM.
In 1992, the United Nations decreed December 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in an effort to encourage global understanding and awareness of issues affecting persons with disabilities. This year's theme is "Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology." The theme emphasizes the role technology plays to help create a working environment for employees with disabilities.
Ms. Maria Rodriguez, the Army Medicine Civilian Corps' Disability Hiring Manager, highlights the importance of using assistive technology. "Assistive technology may help employees with disabilities to overcome challenges they may encounter in the workplace. We encourage individuals with disabilities to explore career opportunities with the Civilian Corps. MEDCOM is committed to helping persons with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations to perform their jobs."
The Civilian Corps continues to support the Department of Defense's goals and objectives for hiring persons with disabilities. The Civilian Corps asks that people please visit www.CivilianMedicalJobs.com for more information.
FCC Announces Formation of Disability Advisory Committee and Seeks Nominations for Membership
Deadline for membership nominations: January 12, 2015
On December 2, 2014, the FCC announced the formation of the Disability Advisory Committee (DAC), and is seeking nominations for membership. The Committee will provide a vehicle for consumers and other stakeholders to provide feedback and recommendations to the FCC on a wide array of disability issues. The new body will enable the FCC to keep pace with evolving communications accessibility issues.
Individuals or organizations interested in serving on the Committee should visit www.fcc.gov/disability-advisory-committee for information on the nomination process.
Links to the Public Notice:
Links to the News Release:
Word Format
PDF Format
Text Format
For additional information, contact E. Elaine Gardner, the Designated Federal Official for the Disability Advisory Committee, at 202-418-0581 ( Elaine.Gardner@fcc.gov), or call the ASL Consumer Support Line, at 1-844-432-2275 via videophone.
