Independence...

"bold, italicized, underlined and Capitalized." Those are Todd Stabelfeldt's remarkable words. I don't know Todd, but I certainly respect and appreciate his drive, ambition, and example. How many times have I heard from someone, "I am sorry," when they first learn that I use a wheelchair to navigate life. Often, my first response is, "Don't be sorry, I lead a very full and wonderful life." Society too often treats those living with a disability as persons who deserve/need pity; far from it. If you doubt what I say, pay closer attention to the language used to describe persons living with a disability. "He is confined to a wheelchair." "She suffers from paralysis." "They overcome their disabilities."

Okay, off the soapbox! Take time to read Todd Stabelfeldt's story. Be inspired. Use technology to make yourself more independent.

Robots here we come!

Okay, space exploration and going to the moon gave us Tang (the orange juice substitute that I never liked, but my mom always bought), but now I am reading that defense research is slated to help the disabled? I guess that makes sense; however, maybe if the human race decided that wars were not a smart answer to our conflicts, we'd have a lot fewer persons forced to live life with missing limbs, body parts and function. That aside, back to the focus of my entry today.

It seems the Japanese will will now begin budgeting for research on using defense technologies to solve problems of persons living with a disability.

Among devices envisioned by the ministry is a device for helping people with weakened muscles walk by making use of the application of robot-related technology, sources told The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Wow, what times we live in. Read the full article.

Standards Aid Accessibility Features of OS

In my professional experience, attention to providing accessible technology solutions is an imperative. Scanning my regular news feeds I just learned the Microsoft has taken a major step forward helping the disabled community by opening up its,

"usability specifications, the User Interface Automation (UIA), to the Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA), a group formed to develop standards for making user interfaces more accessible to people with disabilities."

This is great news and will assist all software developers to better address the needs of those living with a disability of most any type.

Read the full article.

Sample Podcast: The Power of Voice

An audio version of my January 2008 column in PN Magazine on podcasts; essentially it is me reading the article. It gives you an example of how Weblinks, images, music, and sound effects can be included in a podcast episode. I produced it on a MacBook Pro with Apple’s GarageBand software and a Plantronics headset.


The episode is best experienced in iTunes. Download the episode to iTunes now.

To get iTunes free for PC or Mac, visit: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Happy New Year, 2008

The Gratitude Campaign

The Gratitude Campaign is a way for people to say "thank you" quickly and easily to those who serve without even having to approach them.


Visit the site: www.gratitudecampaign.org

The Morphing Handcycle: What podcast's can bring you!

A focus of my January column in PN Magazine is podcasts; and today I'll be turning that written column into a podcast example for readers. Here's another perfect example podcast focused on technology, in this case a morphing handcycle, that readers may find interesting.

Here's the episode, a SolidWorks Podcast.

New Technology--New Issues

I subscribe to a number of news feeds and Google alerts that focus on technology and disability. Here's a story I have been reading about and because of my interest in the iBot--it has tangible ramifications for those like me living with a mobility impairment. Allow yourself to imagine the management at an amusement park saying, "no baby strollers allowed." The story...its about a disabled man who was asked to leave his mobility aid outside a nation-wide chain bookstore.

The conflict, which escalated with threats — by both sides — of calling the police, raises questions about how the increasingly popular device should be treated when used by those with disabilities.

Similar cases around the country are working their way through the courts as officials grapple with whether the Segway should be treated as a wheelchair.

Read the full article.