By Suzanne Robitaille CNN’s Gary Tuchman reports about Mark Barlet, founder of The AbleGamers Foundation, which seeks to make games accessible for people with disabilities. Barlet and AbleGamers.com assistant editor Steve Spohn tell CNN about the complex but exciting world of accessible video gaming, which includes adaptations like a Wii controller for the head, large-button switches, [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille Intel and General Electric are creating a new company that will provide medical care and assistive technologies to the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, according to BusinessWeek. Intel and GE hope to bring more health care devices into homes, which they say will help lower health care costs and increase the [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is offering $2.3 million to fund Add Us In, a program that works to increase the ability of businesses owned, operated and controlled by minorities to employ more people with disabilities. The minority groups include African Americans; Asian Americans; Latino or Hispanic Americans; members [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille A new policy aims to help soldiers minimize the effects mild traumatic brain injuries, or mTBI. The U.S. Army says that any soldier who sustains a direct blow to the head or loss of consciousness, or is within 50 meters of a blast must undergo a medical evaluation, followed by 24 hours of [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille President Obama’s remarks at the White House on Monday celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act were eloquent, passionate and memorable. Speaking after performances by Patti Labelle and Marlee Matlin, Obama thanked the champions of the original ADA — signed by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 — for [...]
Working with the Department of Justice, President Obama announced two final rules that will amend Americans with Disabilities Act regulations that relate to Title II and Title III of the law. The changes will improve access to programs and services for people with disabilities, such as at baseball games and public swimming pools. Under the [...]
The Braun Corporation, a maker of wheelchair-accessible vans, ramps and wheelchair lifts, has debuted two new vehicles, the 2010 Honda Odyssey Entervan and the 2011 Toyota Sienna Rampvan XT. The company now offers a lowered-floor conversion for the three most popular minivans in the U.S. market. With BraunAbility accessible vehicles, wheelchair users have the option to [...]
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced a critical step forward in providing an easier process for Veterans seeking health care and disability compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with the publication of a final regulation in the Federal Register. “This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille Disney is improving access to its theme parks for guests with visual disabilities with a GPS-based handheld device that provides detailed audio descriptions of outdoor areas at Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts. Audio descriptions have been available on these wireless devices since 2009 for around 50 rides and attractions, including Magic Kingdom’s Haunted [...]
By Suzanne Robitaille For the disability community, the passage of healthcare reform has brought a collective sigh of relief. While not perfect, the law has nailed many important facets of coverage for disabled Americans — including expanding the pool of people with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid. It introduces critical provisions that no longer permit [...]
