Internet for Independent Living

Independent Living Institute Newsletter 10/2000

Newsletter Index and Info

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.

Enjoy

Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D.
Director, Independent Living Institute

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New in the Library - Universal Design - Computers, Telecommunications, Internet
http://www.independentliving.org/library.html
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Here are just a few titles:

Accessibility on the Internet: Report on a Priority Theme
http://www.independentliving.org/docs5/UN-Report-accessibility-on-the-internet.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/docs5/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/docs5/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/docs5/gwencarleton.html
Universal design in Information Technology is slowly becoming standard in the industry.

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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
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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 us at admin@independentliving.org.

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Web Accessibility Resources
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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.html

United Nations Standard Rules: Accessibility
http://www.independentliving.org/standardrules/StandardRules2.html#anchor1370198
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.

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Don't forget to visit our other great on-line services below!
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Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/vacaswap.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.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.

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Upcoming Events and Conferences
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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: congress@ccrw.org
website: http://www.ccrw.org/

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Get Published
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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.

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The Previous Newsletter
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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

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Forthcoming Issue of the Newsletter
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In our next newsletter we take up the theme of "Work and Disability". Send your articles, references to useful resources, reviews, etc. to: admin@independentliving.org

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