From the Blog

South Korean firm develops graphic tactile display for people with vision disabilities

Tactisplay Corp. located in South Korea has developed a prototype of graphic tactile display for people who are blind. This device has individually actuated 3,072 cells configured in 64 column with 48 rows. With this configuration, it can show graphic information in raised tactile dots.

graphic tactile displayThere is an internal image processing engine which summarizes the image and extracts crutial graphic information for the display. When this device is connected to USB camera, image captured by the USB camera is displayed in the tactile pin array after image processing. When this device is connected to PC or notebook using ethernet cable, monitor screen image is automatically transferred to the device for people who are blind to touch and feel what PC monitor is showing.

In this way, this device can be used as a mechanical eye for people with vision disabilities. There is no dangerous surgical operation required. User just need to carry the bag containing the device slung over the shoulder and clip USB camera to his/her eyeglasses to see the view.

This device, named TACTISPLAY Walk, is designed to be portable and be used outdoor. It has large battery inside which enables the device to operate 10 hours continuously. Its frontal area is little bit smaller than A4 paper and its thickess is 53mm (about two inches). Its weight is 2.5kg.

Pricing is not confirmed but they said that price will be under $7,000. It normally requires at least $20,000 for similar device.

They are planning to deliver commercial version of the device in two month. If you order today, you will be the owner of TACTISPLAY Walk in two months.

 

Webinar series helps health care providers better serve persons with disabilities

The has a new series of webinars to help health care providers understand CMS’ Disability-Competent Care Model.

This model helps improve the quality of health care for adults with disabilities and address barriers to getting care they may face.

Webinars will take place every Wednesday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time from May 6 – June 24, 2015.

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Email for more information.

Students develop ‘Gesture Vocaliser’ to help people with hearing disabilities

KOCHI, INDIA: A group of girl students of BTech final year Electronics & Communication Engineering of Holy Grace Academy of Engineering, Mala, has  developed a ‘Gesture Vocaliser’ to help people with speech disabilities communicate through sound.

S. Deepthi, Delna Domini, Minu Varghese and Nimya Varghese say their system enables people who are deaf and mute to talk with others.

“The device-based body positioning technique (mainly hand gestures) is used here. The aim of this system is to make a simple prototype by taking the gestures and converting it into audio and visual form so that it can be understood by everyone,” said Minu Varghese .

The  model consists of an input part, a control section and the output part. “A hand glouse attached with sensors (bend sensor to determine the bending of fingers and accelerometer to measure the tilting of hand) contributes the input part. The obtained values from the sensors are given to the control section.  Arduino UNO is the control section used to compare these values with the reference values of standardized sign language and produce the corresponding pre-recorded output messages, both the audio and display. An audio processor attached with a speaker and an LCD display contributes the output section for both audio and visual outputs,” says Delna.

She said that this introduced model is a modification of ‘microcontroller and sensor- based gesture vocaliser,’ a paper published in Cambridge University in 2008.

“This system consisted of three micro-controllers for the controlling section which is said to be the main disadvantage. The use of three micro-controllers caused high power consumption and low efficiency. The hardware as well as the software section was very complex. Our system is able to do away with all that. Ours is a small portable one which works on 9V small radio battery,” Delna said.

Source: Deccanchronicle

Gaza university launches programs for people with hearing disabilities

A group of female students with hearing disabilities sits at one of the cafeteria tables at the Islamic University in Gaza to discuss their engineering drawings after one of the lectures offered as part of the creative technology diploma designed for students with hearing disabilities. The only difference between these students and the others at the university is that they express their points of view by moving their fingers and hands. They are part of the first batch of students with hearing disabilities pursuing university education in the besieged Gaza Strip.

When I met with some of the deaf students, Israa Sersawi was the only one who spoke a few words welcoming me. Hearing disability comes in various degrees. While I sat with them, the conversation was carried out in sign language and in words that I barely understood. I made a few signs, and Israa wrote down the words she understood, but we could not maintain the conversation for long. One of the teachers agreed to help by translating for us.

“My father enrolled me at university to obtain a diploma in creative technology. At first I was afraid. I knew nothing about university life, but the anxiety and stress quickly faded, and I am now happy to be a university student.” said Israa

Hassan al-Amirin, deaf programs coordinator at the Assistive Technology Center for People with Disabilities at the Islamic University, told Al-Monitor, “After one year of planning, the Continuing Education Deanship created a special diploma for people with hearing disabilities for the first time in Palestine. A hundred and twenty male and female senior high school students started registering in December 2014 to obtain the diploma. The academic year started in March 2015, following admissions interviews and teacher training.”

Amirin added, “Most female students, four batches of them, enrolled in the creative technology diploma, while one batch of male students preferred the second diploma, maintenance for computers and smart technological devices.”

After Israa finished ninth grade, no private or public school admitted her so she could complete her secondary education. This was the situation for all the deaf children in Gaza. Unable to finish high school and go on to university, Israa worked at a hair salon. She preferred not to sit at home. She was then admitted to the Mustafa Rafii School after it opened in 2011.

Hearing disability — mild, moderate, severe as well as profound impairment — affects 1.2% of the population in Gaza, while overall 7% have some sort of disability, according to a 2011 report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Some 90% of the disabled population do not work, and 42.2% have never been enrolled in school.

Khaled Abu Feddah, deputy director of the General Administration of Guidance and Special Education at the Ministry of Education, told Al-Monitor, “Before the opening of the Mustafa Rafii School, the first high school for students with hearing disabilities in Palestine, students with hearing disabilities were unable to enroll in public high school. Their studies were restricted, only through the ninth grade in some of the private centers affiliated with deaf rehabilitation and education organizations. After the ninth grade, these students were doomed to either enroll in vocational education or become unemployed.”

He added, “In 2010, the Ministry of Education founded the Mustafa Rafii School and provided competent teachers specialized in sign language to teach hearing-impaired students to complete the 10th and 11th grades and then the 12th grade for the first time in 2014. This was preceded by a harmonization of the curriculum applied in public schools, which is of course designed for ordinary students, to make them easier for students with hearing disabilities.”

Suhair al-Hajjar, who teaches a computer course for the creative technology diploma, said, “Students with hearing disabilities show great enthusiasm toward university education, especially toward the computer course, as they feel it is the most suitable for them and easier to learn than the Arabic or English languages.”

During the English-language lecture, the hall was filled with enthusiasm as students hastened to answer the teacher’s questions about electronic icons, including some from social media. Holding up their hands, some make muffled sounds, while others tap on the table to let the teacher know they want to participate.

Siba Audi, the English teacher, told Al-Monitor that she mainly explains the lecture in Arabic Sign Language, which has been unified across Arab countries. She explained that she also teaches words in English sign language, shows videos of American Sign Language to help them communicate and prepares students to deal with the labor market in case they decide to work in their fields of specialization.

Pursuing university studies is not the only dream for these students. Many want to get a job after university. Israa said, “I want to become an official employee. I am tired of the numerous programs designed by our civil institutions. I want to achieve my dream by pursuing a bachelor’s degree and working in the field of computers, which I love.”

Huda Naim, a Hamas parliamentarian, said, “After Hamas’ victory in the 2006 elections, the movement sought to activate the Palestinian law specifying a 5% quota of people with disabilities for civil service positions.” Naim confirmed the Legislative Council’s supervision over implementation of the law, but added that “difficult economic conditions resulting from the siege and the consensus governments’ failure to assume its functions lowered the employment rate in general, which affected people with disabilities.”

Despite the milestone achieved by students with hearing disabilities pursuing the creative technology diploma, economic and living conditions continue to prevent a number of deaf people from being able to afford university fees. Amirin said, “Arab and international donors promised to support the diploma and provide financing to students, but reconstruction and internal political division has hindered the fulfillment of these promises.”

Deaf students have yet to fully integrate into the university, which allocated them their own section, which prevents them from interacting with the rest of the students. Their dream of social integration through employment opportunities requires government intervention, which is unlikely under the current political circumstances.

Source: Al-monitor

Sign Language Week a chance to celebrate

NEW ZEALAND: Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner encourages people from all walks of life to celebrate, communicate and connect with New Zealand’s Deaf Community during the upcoming New Zealand Sign Language Week.

“New Zealand Sign Language Week is a chance to celebrate one of our three official languages, and one that is used by over 20,000 New Zealanders every day,” Ms Wagner says.

“Hundreds of events have been arranged across New Zealand, including tours of art galleries and museums, comedy festival shows, and talk shows – all of which will be facilitated by a NZSL interpreter.

“There will also be over 800 free NZSL taster classes run in schools, businesses and healthcare facilities.

“I am looking forward to attending the NZSL In Action Awards on Saturday night, where businesses, schools, community leaders and individuals will be recognised for their contribution to NZSL over the past 12 months.

“I would like to congratulate Deaf Aotearoa and the many community groups, businesses, schools and individuals who are making this week possible,” Ms Wagner says.

New Zealand Sign Language Week runs from 4-10 May. Further information about New Zealand Sign Language events can be found at

Database for persons with disabilities

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The government has floated a draft proposal to create a national database for people with disabilities. The proposal seeks to link the unique disability identification card – a smart card for all people with disabilities – to a central database to “ensure homogeneity and uniformity and streamlining the tracking of physical and financial progress of benefit delivery at all levels”.

The ministry had in October last year floated the idea of a unique identity card for the disabled which would record information on their personal details, identity, employment details, education and bank account number in one smart card.

The card, which, according to officials would reach around 22.6 million people with disabilities by March 2016, would act as a one-stop document for them to access government benefits.

According to the proposal by the ministry of social justice and empowerment, persons with disabilities can upload all personal information on the database and then apply for a disability certificate, which enables them to apply for benefits, and the smart card. If they already have a smart card, they can use it to log onto the database to register themselves.

“A national database… is essential in order to cover each and every person with disability and encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering the government benefits… at all levels…” the proposal says.

The database, to be created by the social justice ministry’s department for disability, would also help weed out fake certificates.

As of now, only 10.5 million people with disabilities have disability certificates. An estimated 16.2 million are yet to apply for their certificates, keeping them outside the purview of government schemes.

Source: Telegraph India

Concerns raised over Disability Act gaps in Ghana

ACCRA: Professor Nii-Adziri Wellington, professor of Architecture and Heritage on Wednesday raised concerns over gaps in Ghana’s disability act and urged government to revise it now to conform to international standards and ensure inclusiveness in society.

He said persons with disabilities, particularly autistic persons, face a lot of barriers in the society which calls for a law to comprehensively protect them and address their social and economic needs.

Prof Wellington made the call during an inaugural lecture organized by Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) on the theme: “Architecture for autism – a technical response with mind and heart to a dire human need”.

The lecturer outlined how the topic evolved following a family request for a design of a special residential facility to manage and take care of a young adult member of a family with an extreme condition of an autism spectrum disorders.

He said the condition that characterizes the member is found to be a harrowing experience and there is a manifestation of multifaceted forms of disabilities.

The disabilities ranged from the medically induced seizures and self-destructive tendencies to hyper-sensitivity to physically environmental sensory inputs.

Prof Wellington said though there is no statistics about the condition of autism in the country, there are about five centers located in Accra, while the situation is also said to be prevalent among males.

Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors.

However, symptoms and their severity vary widely, according to medical experts.

Prof Wellington said the symptoms are very important to allow architects to develop and design the right buildings to manage the condition of autistic persons.

He called on the government to press on the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to abide by building regulations and put up structures that would respond to the needs of persons with disability.

Prof Akilkpa Sawyer, President of GAAS described the lecture as stimulating, saying the presentation demonstrated that architecture goes beyond design and building.

He said it meant the application of science and technology to improve the living environment of human conditions.

Source: Spyghana

Saudi Arabian Airlines to introduce flight guide in Braille

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will introduce a comprehensive flight guide in Braille for  passengers who are blind or have love vision.

The guide will be available on both domestic and international flights, Abdul Rahman Al-Fahad, director general of Saudia, said.

He said that the integrated services now offered by the airline aims to enable passengers with disabilities to travel comfortably, starting from booking and ground services to services aboard planes, including special meals and distinctive services that meet their particular needs.

Al-Fahad said that Saudia is among the world’s best airlines in providing services for disadvantaged people and, in consideration of this, has received a number of awards.

The airline offers all of its services for to people with disabilities and disadvantaged through trained and well-qualified staff, in addition to elevators, special meals and. “Now, menus, safety procedures and magazines printed in Braille in-flight.”

Interestingly, the Saudi Arabia Airline Company has imported a state-of-the-art Braille printer to transform all of its lists and applications into Braille as part of this new move.

Source: Arabnews

UN Calls for Critical Disability Rights Reforms

The Croatian government should urgently heed the calls by United Nations disability rights experts to improve its disability rights record, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 17, 2015, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommended that the Croatian government should do more to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including legal reform and ensuring that everyone with a disability who is in an institution has the opportunity to move into the community.

“The UN review leaves no doubt about the steps Croatia has to take to protect the rights of people with disabilities,” said Shantha Rau Barriga, disability rights director at Human Rights Watch. “The question now is whether the Croatian government will act quickly to carry out these reforms.”

The committee, a UN monitoring body consisting of 18 independent experts, scrutinized Croatia’s record on disability rights as part of its mandate to review governments’ compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Croatia has been a party to this treaty since 2008, and the committee review was a response to Croatia’s initial report to the committee.

While the committee recognized that the Croatian government has made some progress in protecting the rights of people with disabilities, domestic legislation still does not fully reflect a human rights model, the committee found. It directed the Croatian government to initiate a comprehensive review of existing legislation and bring it in line with the treaty.

Although Croatia has a “deinstitutionalization” plan to move people out of residential institutions and reintegrate them into the community, the committee criticized Croatia for excluding private institutions, wards for long-term care in psychiatric institutions, and foster homes for adults from those efforts. Human Rights Watch found that more than 8,200 people in Croatia remain in segregated institutions, many of them without their consent. In particular, the committee voiced concern about the “high rate of child abandonment and institutionalization of children with disabilities.”

“The Croatian government needs to step up its efforts to ensure that everyone with disabilities trapped in state or private institutions, long-term care in psychiatric hospitals, and foster homes without their consent is part of the deinstitutionalization process,” Barriga said. “Croatia should invest in community-based housing and support so people with disabilities can live on their own with dignity.”

The committee also raised concerns about one of the most fundamental aspects of the treaty: the right to legal capacity. Human Rights Watch research found that roughly 18,000 people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities are placed under guardianship in Croatia, and denied their legal capacity – the right to make decisions about basic rights, such as to marry and form a family, to sign an employment contract, or to hold property. A significant majority live under full guardianship, under which guardians – often nominated by the state – make all decisions for them.

The committee urged the Croatian government to abolish this guardianship regime and “provide a wide range of measures which respect a person’s autonomy, will and preferences, including with respect to a person’s right, to give and withdraw their own individual informed consent for medical treatment, to access justice, to vote, to marry, to full parental rights, and to work.” It also recommended taking tangible steps to introduce systems for supported decision making, such as training social workers, legal professionals, and public authorities on the rights the treaty enshrines.

The committee urged Croatia to repeal laws that permit involuntary commitment of people with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. The committee also raised concerns about “the frequent use of involuntary treatment and restraint measures as well as other forms of degrading treatment” and said Croatia should immediately end involuntary treatment and the use of restraint measures.

In 2010 and 2014, Human Rights Watch documented abuses of the rights of people with disabilities in Croatia, including many cases of prolonged detention without consent, treatment without consent, prolonged seclusion, and the use of physical and chemical restraints. Human Rights Watch remains concerned that the newly adopted Croatian Mental Health Law does not require written consent for treatment if the person is deemed “not capable” of giving their consent and the treatment is judged to be in their “best interests.”

The committee said the Croatian government should prohibit the sterilization of people with disabilities without the person’s free and informed consent and provide people with disabilities with support to make informed choices and decisions regarding medical procedures and interventions. The country’s Mental Health Law permits sterilizations if parents or guardians make the request.

“The committee’s assessment serves as a stark reminder of the many shortcomings that mark the Croatian government’s disability rights record,” Barriga said. “The UN committee has provided a clear road map for reforms, and Croatia, the newest EU member state, should quickly carry out its recommendations.”

Source: Human Rights Watch

Applications open for Sign Language fund

NEW ZEALAND: Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner announced that applications are being sought for grants from the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund.

“New Zealand Sign Language is incredibly valuable for the more than 20,000 New Zealanders who use it to communicate with their loved ones,” Ms Wagner says.

“These include people who are deaf, non-verbal people and their families and friends.

“The NZSL Fund has been established to support projects that enable people with hearing disabilities and NZSL users to promote and maintain the Language.

“New Zealand Sign Language is one of our three official languages, along with English and Te Reo Māori, and I encourage New Zealanders to share their ideas about how to promote the Language for future generations,” Ms Wagner says.

Applications close on 26 May, and decisions will be notified to applicants in June. There is $900,000 available for projects this year.

Information about the fund and how to make an application can be found at and can be viewed in New Zealand Sign Language at .