On a Mission to Give the Disabled the Moon
Years after developing one of the first reading machines for the blind, Jim Fruchterman founded Benetech, a non-profit that helps people with disabilities access new technologies. He talks about making digital books free for students with low vision, equal Internet access and the future of mobile phones.
Dr. Scott Rains parlayed his disability and love of travel into a role advising countries on inclusive tourism. He talks about the changing face of travel, making the World Cup accessible and safaris in South Africa.
Rich Donovan, the founder and chairman of LimeConnect, an organization that sources qualified people with disabilities, talks about what Obama should do to remedy his Special Olympics gaffe, how companies can benefit from hiring more qualified people with disabilities, and why recruiting should start even younger.
Very few companies market to the
disabled, but this demographic is “a marketers’ dream come true,” says Nadine Vogel, founder and president of Springboard Consulting.
The American with Disabilities Act is more powerful than ever before. Attorney Michael Soltis talks about how companies can protect themselves while giving workers with disabilities a method to make the strongest case possible for their accommodation needs.
Dan Hubbell, technical evangelist for Microsoft, says the next generation of assistive technology will be life-changing for people with disabilities, especially in the areas of customization and portability.
