Greetings!
If you wish to see this Newsletter on our website, please go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/11_00.html
***************************************************************
Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 10/2000
Internet for Independent Living
--------------------------------------
Contents
Editorial
New in the Library
Books on Web Accessibility
Web Accessibility Resources
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Other Services Offered by the Institute
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
Editorial
Falling through the Net ?
Technology is neither good nor evil - it depends on who uses it for what
purposes. The Internet and related technology is surrounded by a lot of
hype. Every day highly paid prophets paint an ever rosier picture of the
promised land ahead of us. According to my observations, the less they know
about our real living conditions, the greater their enthusiasm over
virtual cure-alls against social isolation and unemployment and for better
education and more personal independence.
With access to the new technology our group stands to gain great
opportunities for joining the mainstream. But without access many of us will
be left even further behind.
We cannot afford to reject the possibilities offered by technology, but
neither can we afford to uncritically embrace technology. We need to make
sure that we have a decisive influence on how it can be accessed. To succeed
in this we need to use the political process, boycott companies with
inaccessible goods and services and recruit allies.
In this edition of our newsletter you will find some tools for our
never-ending struggle for inclusion.
Adolf Ratzka
Enjoy
Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D.
Director, Institute on Independent Living
*********************************************************************
New in the Library - Universal Design - Computers, Telecommunications,
Internet
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents1o.html
*********************************************************************
Here are just a few titles:
Accessibility on the Internet: Report on a Priority Theme
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/UN-Report-accessibility-on-the-inter
net.html
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the existing international
web accessibility initiatives with numerous
links to useful resources for the practitioner.
IIA Warns SOGOC: Disability Web Decision Puts Businesses on Notice
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision-press-release.html
In the wake of the court decision against the Sydney Olympics organizers,
Australian businesses and authorities oversee
their websites' access.
Sydney Olympics 2000 Website Accessibility Decision: Bruce Lindsay
Maguire vs Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games: Reasons for
Decision of the Hon. William Carter QC, Inquiry Commissioner
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision.html
Sydney Olympics organizers were taken to court for having an inaccessible
website, which is in violation of the Australian
Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, and lost the case.
Making Technology Accessible To All
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/gwencarleton.html
Universal design in Information Technology is slowly becoming standard in
the industry.
**************************************************
Books on Web Accessibility
Click here to see all kinds of great books related to Web Accessibility!
Also, check out this new book!
Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible
to All
**************************************************
Through our new affiliate, Amazon.com, the Institute's Bookstore offers a
selection of books directly related to Disability
and Travel. If you've recently read a book you think is relevant to the
Institute and would like to offer a short review, please
contact our web-editor.
**************************************************
Web Accessibility Resources
**************************************************
We have compiled a comprehensive list of web accessibility resources to help
you locate what you want!
Just go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/links/links-computers-internet-disability.h
tml
United Nations Standard Rules: Accessibility
http://www.independentliving.org/STANDARDRULES/StandardRules2.html#anchor137
0198
Although the United Nations Standard Rules imply no legally binding
responsibility, it has become an important
instrument in the hands of the disability community to demand full access as
a human right. Read Rule number 5 on
Accessibility as a target area for equal participation.
Internet Access & the Digital Divide
http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/internet/divide.html
A Digital Divide is threatening people with disabilities. This site contains
resources to bridge it.
Current Research on Web-Based Distance Learning: Web Resources on
Distance Learning
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/webnet98.html
This website contains links to all aspects of web-based distance education,
from online courses, courseware, and exams to
funding, current awareness, educational technology, best practices,
web-based learning sites, and much more!
Policies Relating to Web Accessibility
http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Policy
Would you like to know what the policy is for web accessibility in a
particular country? This website lists links to foreign
government bodies and their policies regarding web accessibility for people
with disabilities.
**************************************************
Don't forget to visit our other great on-line services below!
**************************************************
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such destinations
as France, Egypt the UK or Canada. We
have over 100 attractive offers waiting for you! Our base of participants
lists the accessible features of their homes and
dates they wish to travel.
Assistant Referral Service
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
Many persons with extensive disabilities use employed workers for such daily
tasks as getting bathed and dressed,
shopping, driving their car or anything else which they cannot do by
themselves.
Our ambition is to match assistance users and assistants in their
hometown, within their country or in other parts of the
world. For example, if you as an assistance user plan to take a trip abroad,
you might want to put in an ad offering a
position in that city you will be visiting. In this case, you might want to
use English. If you need an assistant in your
hometown, use your own language. In this case it is easier to match your
request.
Assistance users can find assistants through the Personal Assistance
Exchange, while assistants can regularly check the
site for job openings.
Global Networking
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
Global Networking now has over 240 organizations from around the world
offering information to partner organizations
for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training
or technical assistance, for study visits, internships
or other cooperation including funding. Add your organization now.
Our Online Library!
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/content2.html
Check out our ever-growing on-line library containing hundreds of
independent living articles, resources and subjects of
interest for all people with disabilities! We add new articles all the time
on such subjects as: Universal Design, Human
Rights and Disability, Women with Disabilities, the latest in Assistive
Devices, National Policies of various countries, and
much more, so check back often!
Discussion Forums
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
Current threads under the Access/Universal Design Forum are:
looking for suggestions of books, articles, or interior design ideas,
relating to Cognitive Disability.
invitation to join the accessibuilt mailing list hosted by mailbase and run
by the SURFACE research team at
Salford university.
help needed working on a project to build a Universal Design apartment
complex in Tokyo, Japan.
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate
discussion forum that allows you direct contact with
the thousands of visitors to our site each month. Among the variety of
themes such as human rights; personal assistance;
and relationships, sexuality & family, there is also one for personal
assistance.
**************************************************
Upcoming Events and Conferences
**************************************************
World Congress - Inclusion by Design - Planning the Barrier-Free World
Hosted by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work from June 1-5,
2001 in Montréal, Québec, Canada (Palais
des Congrès de Montréal).
There are three major themes:
1.Inclusive Employment;
2.Inclusive Communities;
3.Universal Access.
The main objective of the event will be to look at inclusive policies which
can be developed and implemented through
government, corporate and community infrastructures. Senior Canadian and
international representatives are invited to
attend this truly unique and progressive event. Delegates comprised of
policy makers, educators, professionals,
organizations and individuals will focus on implementing inclusive policies
and programs, universal design and equal
access for all people.
They are inviting all interested people to participate in this unique event
by either presenting your work and contribution in
support of inclusive employment, inclusive communities & universal access or
attending the Congress to listen to others
and develop future policies.
Deadline for the submission of papers is November 3, 2000.
Inclusion by Design is a call to the world to stop, think and take action.
Come and share your expertise!
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
500, University Avenue, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 1V7
Tel: (416) 260-3060 ext.231 or 1-800-664-0925 ext.231
Fax: (416) 260-3093
email: [log in to unmask]
website: http://www.ccrw.org/
**************************************************
Get Published
**************************************************
http://www.independentliving.org/Publish.html
Expose your articles, reports, training manuals or other resources to people
with disabilities, researchers, service providers,
government officials and policymakers all over the world.
**************************************************
The Previous Newsletter
**************************************************
Our previous newsletter on Accessible Travel is archived at:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/8_00.html
Click on back issues of our other newsletters containing these
interesting themes!
Universal Design
Personal Assistance
Networking
Human Rights
**************************************************
Forthcoming Issue of the Newsletter
**************************************************
In our next newsletter we take up the theme of "Work and Disability". Send
your articles, references to useful resources,
reviews, etc. to: [log in to unmask]
==================================================
You are receiving this mail either because you registered directly with the
Institute, or because of an expressed interest in
independent living or disability issues.
If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list, (if you
have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the list
itself) send email to: ILNewsletter.
==================================================
© 2000 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Dr. Adolf Ratzka, Director
[log in to unmask]
Terry Skehan, Administrator
[log in to unmask]
Malcolm D. Wald, Web Editor
[log in to unmask]
Mowbray Jones, Web Services and Webmaster
E-mail Web Services: [log in to unmask]
E-mail Webmaster: [log in to unmask]
|
