forwarding this although not strictly building related there's no reason
why buildings couldn't qualify.


> *** Please propagate this news release, as widely as possible,
> internationally ***
>
> Sorry, in advance, for duplicate posts.
>
> News Release - March 7, 2001
>
> The International Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists today
> announced the kick-off of its 2001 International Access Engineering Awards
> Program.
>
> Please read below the dotted line for details
>
> For information not included in this post please contact:
>
> Steve Jacobs, Chairman
> 2001 International Access Engineering Awards Program
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> Introductory Letter, Description of the Awards Program and a Nomination
form
> appear below:
> ----------------------------------
>
> International Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists Announces its
> 2001 International Access Engineering Awards Program
>
> March 7, 2001
>
> Dear Reader,
>
> As developer, organizer, and past Chairman, of the first two US-based
> "Excellence in Access" awards programs it gives me great pleasure to have
> been asked to Chair the first International Access Engineering Awards
> Program.  This awards program is being sponsored by the International
> Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists (ICAES) [See note 1] and the
> Information Technology Technical Assistance And Training Center (ITTATC)
> [See note 2].  As you may be aware ICAES was formed by the past Board of
> Directors of the Association of Access Engineering Specialists to more
> effectively facilitate collaboration between industry, consumers, research
> organizations and the government, on a global basis, with respect to
access
> engineering.
>
> Our information infrastructures - local, national, and global - are
> connecting people to other people, businesses and government; and more
> generally to sources of information, art, entertainment, and much more.
> Persons in one country are being provided the opportunity to serve
customers
> from other countries.
>
> Technological developments are changing our everyday lives and changing
them
> very rapidly. The Internet, and many other Electronic and Information
> Technologies (E&IT) are no longer just tools to connect people, businesses
> and information together. They are driving the creation of new economies
and
> communities that are altering the way people live, learn, work and play.
>
> As our world's 21st Century information infrastructures evolve we need to
> take care not to isolate consumers if it is technically feasible,
> economically possible and reasonable to do so from a business standpoint.
>
> Isolated consumers refer to individuals:
>
> * living within low-bandwidth information infrastructures (2 billion
> worldwide);
>
> * 65 years of age and older (420 million worldwide);
>
> * who have never been afforded the opportunity to learn to read (1.5
billion
> worldwide);
>
> * who only speak, write and/or understand the language native to a
> particular piece of E&IT as a second or foreign language (4 billion
> worldwide);
>
> * who interpret the cultural meaning of certain colors variously (every
> culture is slightly different) or are, to some degree, colorblind (500
> million worldwide); and,
>
> * with disabilities (550 million worldwide).
>
> Everyone is different from everyone else, as are his or her individual
> wants, needs, preferences and abilities to access information
> infrastructures. In fact, this was the catalyst that sparked the evolution
> of today's one-to-one marketing philosophy.  Markets of billions have
> evolved into billions of markets of one. In order for our businesses to
> succeed in a culturally, technically and economically diverse world we
need
> to meet the demands of this incredibly diverse global marketplace.   It is
> to this end that we dedicate this awards program.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Steve Jacobs, Chairman
> 2001 International Access Engineering Awards Program
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----------------
> The purpose of the Awards:
>
> The purpose of ICAES' 2001 International Access Engineering Awards Program
> is to recognize significant innovative technical contributions to the
access
> engineering profession.
>
> Eligibility:
>
> Any product feature, process or service; by any company, individual or
> organization; in any industry, worldwide, which makes a significant
> contribution to the advancement of access engineering.
>
> What the winners receive:
>
> The winners will have their products and services featured in the course
> materials being developed by ITTATC. Publicity will also be issued to the
> media.
>
> Judging the Submissions:
>
> The judges will include a panel of acclaimed designers, researchers and
> consumer advocates who are recognized experts in universal design.
>
> Notification of Winners:
>
> All nominators and nominees will be notified of the results of this award
> program by no later than June 10, 2001.
>
> Judging Criteria:
>
> All entries will be judged on innovation, creativity, scope of benefit to
> consumers and the universality of the product and/or service based on the
> adherence to universal design principles (if applicable).
>
> Definition of Universal Design (UD):
>
> UD is the design of mainstream products and/or services that are
accessible
> to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible on a global
basis,
> in a wide variety of situations, to the greatest extent possible...
without
> the need for special adaptation or specialized design.
>
> The Principles of Universal Design:
>
> Principle One: Equitable Use
> The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
>
> Principle One: Guidelines
>
> * Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever
possible;
> equivalent when not.
>
> * Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
>
> * Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available
> to all users.
>
> * Make the design appealing to all users.
>
> Principle Two: Flexibility in Use
> The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and
> abilities.
>
> Principle Two: Guidelines
>
> * Provide choice in methods of use.
>
> * Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
>
> * Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
>
> * Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
>
> Principle Three: Simple and Intuitive Use
> Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's
> experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
>
> Principle Three: Guidelines
>
> * Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
>
> * Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
>
> * Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
>
> * Arrange information consistent with its importance.
>
> * Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task
completion.
>
> Principle Four: Perceptible Information
> The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user,
> regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
>
> Principle Four: Guidelines
>
> * Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant
> presentation of essential information.
>
> * Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its
> surroundings.
>
> * Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
>
> * Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy
> to give instructions or directions).
>
> * Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by
> people with sensory limitations.
>
> Principle Five: Tolerance of Error
> The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or
> unintended actions.
>
> Principle Five: Guidelines
>
> * Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements,
most
> accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
>
> * Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
>
> * Provide fail-safe features.
>
> * Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.
>
> Principle Six: Low Physical Effort
> The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of
> fatigue.
>
> Principle Six: Guidelines:
>
> * Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
>
> * Use reasonable operating forces.
>
> * Minimize repetitive actions.
>
> * Minimize sustained physical effort
>
> Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use
> Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation,
> and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
>
> Principle Seven: Guidelines
>
> * Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or
> standing user.
>
> * Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing
user.
>
> * Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
>
> * Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal
> assistance.
>
> Entrant Eligibility:
>
> The competition is open to everyone. Entrants may submit more than one
> entry; however, each entry must be entered and packaged separately. A
family
> of products used together may be submitted as a single entry.
> Deadline: Entries must be postmarked no later than May 15, 2001.
>
> Award Categories:
> (please select one of the following award categories)
>
> Access Integration Award
> This award covers new or newly integrated access features like voice
> activation on cell phones or voice output TV remote controls or newly
added
> features to computer games.
>
> Innovative Access Award
> This award covers new, never before seen, products.  It could include
> products that have incorporated significant access features, like a video
> telephone that also provides real-time sign language capability, a talking
> ATM, or kiosk that is accessible to persons with disabilities. Assistive
> technology (AT) which shows strong promise of being migrated into
mainstream
> marketplaces, like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and the telephone,
> may also be nominated in this category.
>
> Policy and Process Award
> This award goes to companies that have made significant efforts to address
> accessibility for customers or employees with disabilities.  This could
mean
> integrating universal design into a product, the integration of universal
> design topics into college course curriculum or training customer care
> representatives on how to communicate respectfully with people with
> disabilities.
>
> Collaboration and Coordination Award
> This award recognizes national, international or industry efforts to
> prevent, resolve, or address compatibility and interoperability.  For
> example, an effort to address TTY standards, develop a common IR access
> interface, or to develop a HAC neck-loop that will work on all phones.
>
> Outreach and Communication Award
> This award is for marketing, advertising, or other outreach efforts and
> could be received by companies or organizations for efforts to encourage
use
> of technology by people with disabilities, develop new products or
> communicate the concept of accessible design and disability in a positive
or
> innovative way.
>
> Eligibility:
>
> Membership in ICAES is not an eligibility requirement for being a
nominator
> or nominee.
>
> Nomination Process:
>
> All award nominations must include a fully completed Nomination Form,
> Citation and a Rationale for Nomination.
>
> Citation:
>
> A brief statement, not to exceed 100 words, giving the major
accomplishments
> for which the award is being made. This will be used if the nominee is
> selected as an award recipient.
>
> Rationale for Nomination:
>
> A statement, not to exceed 700 words, on why the candidate is being
> nominated for the award.
>
> Nominations should not include voluminous materials or numerous
> recommendations.  Clear, concise statements of achievements are of more
> value. Information from public sources such is helpful, but should be
> supplemented by information as to specific contributions.
>
> Award Nomination Deadline:
>
> All award nominations must be received by ICAES no later than May 15, 2001
>
> Nominee Information:
>
> This section must include the following 16 pieces of information:
>
> 1. Name of product, individual or company being nominated:
> 2. Name of Award being nominated to receive:
> 3. Individual's name (individual being nominated or representative of
> product and/or company):
> 4. Organization/Institution:
> 5. Department/Office:
> 6. Address:
> 7. City:
> 8. State:
> 9. Zip:
> 10. Country:
> 11. Phone:
> 12. Fax:
> 13. TTY
> 14. E-mail:
> 15. Citation:  A brief statement, not to exceed 100 words, giving the
major
> accomplishments for which the award is being made. This will be used if
the
> nominee is selected as the awardee.
> 16. Rationale for Nomination: A statement, not to exceed 700 words, on why
> the candidate is being nominated for the award.
>
> Nominator Information:
>
> This section must include the following 12 pieces of information:
>
> 1. Name:
> 2. Organization/Institution:
> 3. Department/Office:
> 4. Address:
> 5. City:
> 6. State:
> 7. Zip:
> 8. Country:
> 9. Phone:
> 10. Fax:
> 11. TTY:
> 12. E-mail:
>
> Other rules and deadlines:
>
> You may submit more than one nomination. All nominations must be received
by
> 5:00 PM, May 15, 2001.
>
> Submission of nomination forms:
>
> Completed nomination forms and accompanying documentation should be sent
to
> ICAES via one of the following three methods:
>
> 1. E-mail to: sjacobs2 @columbus.rr.com
>
> 2. U.S. Postal Service: ICAES Award Nomination, Attention: Steve Jacobs,
> 2809 Bohlen Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026
>
> 3. Fax to: +1 (212) 618-0205
>
>
> -----------------
> Note 1:
>
> About The International Coalition of Access Engineers and Specialists
> (ICAES)
> ICAES invites participation from individuals and organizations dedicated
to
> the research, development and deployment of accessible technologies. Our
> activities and goals include:
>
> * Promoting technology accessibility, usability, compatibility, and
> interoperability
>
> * Facilitating an ongoing and international dialog among the disability,
> research, industry, government and public sectors regarding the
> accessibility and usability of technology;
>
> * Providing a forum and coordination point for discussions regarding
access
> and usability related issues, problems, developments, recommendations and
> solutions;
>
> * Fostering liaison between the disciplines involved in accessible and
> usable technology, and to connect developments in other areas of science,
> technology, and service delivery.
>
> * Facilitating the creation of a body of knowledge for the design,
> development and deployment of usable and accessible[1]  ok to use
accessible
> and usable?     If it is usable first, it must already be accessible.....
> technology
>
> * Encouraging the development of techniques and standards, where
appropriate
>
> For information regarding membership please send an e-mail with your name
> and contact information to Jim Tobias, ICAES Secretary,
[log in to unmask]
> or visit our website at: http://www.icaes.org.
>
> For further information on our organization, activities and calendar, we
> encourage you to visit our website or to write to any of our board members
> directly.  Here is a listing of ICAES Board Members and their e-mail
> addresses:
>
> Judy Brewer [log in to unmask]
> Christian Buehler [log in to unmask]
> Alexandra Enders [log in to unmask]
> Gunnar Hellstrom [log in to unmask]
> Steve Jacobs [log in to unmask]
> Bill LaPlant [log in to unmask]
> Linda Nelson [log in to unmask]
> Susan Palmer [log in to unmask]
> Paul Schroeder [log in to unmask]
> Jim Tobias [log in to unmask]
> Gregg Vanderheiden [log in to unmask]
>
> Note 2:
>
> Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC)
> The ADA has resulted in many changes in access to employment, to public
> accommodations and to the built environment, but it has lagged behind in
> creating access to the rapidly changing electronic environment.  Sections
> 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Section 508 of the
> Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998, are the two most
significant
> legislative measures that address this realm.  They have the potential to
> ensure that people with disabilities will have full access to the
> information tools that others rely on for more productive lives.
>
> The effective implementation of both Sections 255 and 508 will require
more
> than addressing the engineering and design departments within information
> technology companies.  The engineering and design professionals within
> technology companies will need to understand how people with disabilities
> function in many ways and in many contexts.  In a corporate environment,
> some of this basic understanding should come from interaction with
consumers
> and employees with disabilities.
> Many companies do not know how to create a corporate culture that is
> "disability friendly".  It will be important to investigate and document
the
> best practices of those companies that have embraced this culture and
build
> this knowledge into the training and technical assistance provided by the
> ITTAT center.
>
> A priority of the center is to assist corporations in management of
> marketing, design, engineering and manufacturing so that the project
design
> process is broadened to include consumers with differing abilities. We
will
> develop training directed at senior management and marketing managers that
> informs them of the needs and market potential of the aging and disabled
> population.  The aging population is the fastest growing segment of the
> American population and has the largest disposable income.  We all will
most
> likely become disabled, be it temporarily or permanently, as we age.  Even
> if accessibility is not an issue for ourselves, a growing number of us
have
> concerns regarding an aging family member and their continued
independence.
>
>
> CRT and the Information Technology Association of American will organize
> three conferences each year for ITAA members and others who represent 400
of
> the largest information technology and communications firms.  These
training
> sessions will cover a broad spectrum of trans-generational and
accessibility
> issues that can impact product design and service delivery ultimately
> enhancing customer satisfaction and product sales. Our workshops will
> include a capacity building opportunity that will team each manager with a
> consumer so that the managers and consumers can learn about various issues
> surrounding product development and service delivery from divers
> perspectives.   Consumer advocates will be trained by the DBTAC's in
> techniques of working with managers to create new understandings that will
> lead to a culture that produces better products and services.
>
> ITTATC project partners:
>
> 1. Georgia Institute of Technology
> http://www.gatech.edu/
>
> 2. Georgia Institute of Technology Center for Rehabilitation Technology
> (CRT)
> http://www.arch.gatech.edu/crt/crthome.htm
>
> 3. Trace Center at the University of Wisconsin (TRACE)
> http://www.trace.wisc.edu
>
> 4. World Institute for Disability (WID)
> http://www.wid.org/
>
> 5. Community Options Inc. (COI)
> http://www.comop.org/
>
> 6. Inclusive Technologies, Inc. (ITI)
> http://www.inclusive.com/
>
> 7. Information Technology Association of America (ITAA)
> http://www.itaa.org/
>
> 8. Department of Education's Disability & Business Technical Assistance
> Centers (DBTAC)
> http://www.adata.org/text-dbtac.html
>
>
Adrian Higginbotham.

SURFACE  (Salford University, Research Focus on Accessible Environments).

tel:  (44_-161-2953949,
fax  (44)-161-2955011,
Email [log in to unmask]
textphone  (44)-161-2953599.

web:  http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/

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