The European Championships Munich 2022 will take place from August 11 – 22 2022 where more than 4,700 athletes from Europe will compete against each other in nine Olympic sports – Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Sport Climbing, Table Tennis, and Triathlon. 

Organizers are taking this opportunity to raise awareness around need for increased accessibility everywhere by building wheelchair ramps using recycled Legos. The initiative, “Count & Last” aims to collect 22,000 Lego bricks by end of September to build these ramps on October 10. It is to be noted that the colorful Lego bricks ramps will be used only to highlight the importance of accessibility and will not be a substitute for proper ramps.

So far, 1,500 bricks have been collected. Those in Europe can drop off their recycled Legos at the Munich 2022 office at LOC European Championships Munich 2022, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 22, 80809 Munich, Germany. The bricks can also be shipped from anywhere around the world to the same address. If you live in Munich and are donating more than 1 kg of bricks, you can also schedule a pick up by emailing countandlast@munich2022.com.

The ramps will be built on October 10 at Olympiapark München, Olympiahalle east entrance from 10 AM to 5 PM. If you are in or around Munich, go help build these wonderful ramps!

Curious about how others have built wheelchair ramps using Legos? Watch the videos below.

Source: Munich 2022, Inside the Games

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If you’ve ever been to one of the few Amazon Go stores, you have experienced “contactless shopping” – you walk in, grab the items you need and simply walk out! The store is equipped with cameras and sensors and the entire system has the ability to identify what you grabbed. Once you walk out, you get a receipt for the items you shopped for.

Amazon Go has always been considered an experimental “art of the possible” experience but the same technology will be implemented very soon at two Whole Foods stores in Sherman Oaks, CA and Washington DC. Starting next year, customers shopping at these two locations will be able to shop for their items and skip checkout lines entirely. What does this mean for people with disabilities? No more fumbling for credit cards, cash or ID at the checkout counter, especially for those who may not have good motor skills, hand tremors or other disabilities that may make the checkout process uncomfortable.

All it takes is scanning a barcode on the Amazon or Whole Foods app at the entrance so it knows who the customer is. For those who are unable to don’t want to scan the barcode, there will be an option to scan a person’s palm using the Amazon One palm scanning payment device. Those wanting to go through a checkout experience will still have access to checkout counters to pay with cash, pre-paid cards, Whole Foods gift cards or EBT and will receive a paper receipt.

Want to see what this shopping experience is like? Check out the video below.

Source: Supermarket News

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Whenever we need information, we reach for our phone. Have you ever wondered if just like our phones, every day objects could help us provide that same experience – touch a jacket sleeve or an arm band and it performs an action for us on our phone? Instead of swiping the touch screen, we swipe the fabric! As sci-fi and unrealistic as it may sound, this technology already exists.

Jacquard by Google takes wearables to the next level by weaving a digital experience into everyday objects we wear, use, and love. The Jacquard is a tiny (half the size of a pack of gum) and discreet yet powerful device that’s hidden in the fabric and interacts with the Jacquard app on the phone. Your interaction, like a simple brush of your cuff, can control music on your phone, announce your next appointment, take a selfie, and do so much more.

Early this year, Google worked with Champions Place, a shared living residence for young adults with disabilities in the Atlanta area. Residents tried the Jacquard Levi’s Commute Trucker Jacket and experienced a simple and unobtrusive way to access technology on the go. For example, making an emergency call for assistance with Jacquard was much more discreet and far less obtrusive than with a device they typically wear around their neck.

Inspired by that experience Google is continuing to make tech accessible for everyone, Google has created a soft, interactive patch/sleeve that allows access to digital experiences with simple gestures. This patch can be worn or placed on any surface, per needs of the individual. Garrison Redd, a powerlifter and advocate in the disability community has been providing input to make this fabric accessible for everyone.

This is an ever evolving technology and Google is constantly making improvements to it. If you had access to Jacquard, how would you use it? Let us know in the comments below!

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2022 is still a few months away but one exciting thing to look forward to next year is Kellogg’s new accessible packaging for cereal boxes that will make it really easy for people with visual impairment to quickly read important information on a box.

Beginning in January 2022, all Special K cereal boxes will have a new type of printed code called NaviLens  that are made up of high contrast colored squares on a black background. You may have seen retail packaging have QR codes on them for similar function but unlike QR codes, that require the phone camera to be really close to them in order to be in focus properly, NaviLens codes can be easily read from up to 3 meters away when the phone is pointed in their general direction.

NaviLens was first trialed in the UK last year on Kellogg’s Coco Pops boxes. From the trial, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) found that 97% of the participants would like that feature on grocery packaging in the future. Typically, vital information on packaging is found in really small print, making it very difficult for people with visual impairment to access that information. This new technology has given them the same level of freedom and easy access to information as sighted people. 

We hope this feature becomes a permanent feature on retail packaging and is more widely adapted by every manufacturer. See the video below to see how it works.

Source: Packaging Europe

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Just a few days ago, Google released the Android 12 beta and with that, the beta version of Android Accessibility Suite app version 12.0.0. One really cool feature that they slid into this version is controlling the phone with facial features!

In the Accessibility Services Suite, there is now a new option to use “Camera Switches” – using several facial gestures to perform various actions without touching the screen. In the beta version, Camera Switches support a few gestures though this list may expand in the future. Facial gestures currently supported are: Open mouth, smile, raise eyebrows, look left, look right, and look up.  These gestures can be associated with several actions like pause camera switch, toggle auto-scan, reverse auto-scan, select, next, previous, touch & hold, scroll forward, scroll backward, home, back, notifications, quick settings, and overview.

This update should roll out to everyone very soon and should be able to help amputees, someone with paralysis, ALS or anyone else who cannot use their hands to control their phone because of their disabilities.

Let us know what you think of this new ability in the comments below!

Source: XDA

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In 2020, as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s Disease and this number is expected to nearly triple to 14 million by 2060.

Alzheimer’s causes memory loss that disrupts daily life, makes it difficult to complete daily tasks, and causes confusion and poor judgement. Many times, these signs result in adults wandering off and getting lost. Not only that, because of disorientation and confusion, a lot of these adults are targeted by predatory scammers and robocalls to obtain financial information.

To help individuals with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or other intellectual disabilities communicate easily with their loved one and to keep them safe from scammers,  RAZ Mobility has created the RAZ Memory Cell Phone – a one touch dial picture phone that keeps everything really simple for seniors. The main screen displays up to six contacts with big pictures – pressing and holding that person’s picture dials their number. The same screen has a large 911 button on the top that the user can press in case of an emergency. 

Contacts on the primary screen can be added and removed by a caregiver through an easy to use portal. The same portal can be used to track the person’s phone/location, disable the power button so the phone stays on all the time, and restrict calls only from contacts, preventing calls from scammers and robocalls. 

For an optional subscription, the 911 button can be made to dial RAZ emergency services first to reduce unwanted 911 calls. Through this service, a RAZ representative determines if the individual is really in need of help, and calls 911 on behalf of the user.

Watch the video below to learn more about RAZ Memory Cell Phone and its simplicity for adults living with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or other intellectual disabilities.

Website: https://www.razmobility.com/

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New solution delivers web accessibility for people with disabilities, helps marketing teams, web developers and business owners achieve ADA and WCAG compliance for their websites

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – August 10, 2021 – Equally AI , a web accessibility solution delivering a world-class, secure, convenient, and modern accessibility experience for businesses and beneficiaries, today announces its platform launch.

According to a recent  Pew Research Survey , more than 80 percent of US adults use the internet daily. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that  97.4 percent of websites are not fully accessible , putting more than one billion people with disabilities at a disadvantage and creating a digital divide that’s harming people and businesses.
“Our belief is that everyone, regardless of ability, should experience the web equally,” said Ran Ronen, co-founder of Equally AI. “Our solution was developed in partnership with Migdal Or – which translates to ‘Lighthouse’ in English – one of the nation’s largest organizations for the community of people with blindness or visual impairment. After studying the web experience pains one-on-one extensively, and involving the community in the solution design, we believe we can provide the best possible experience for our solution’s beneficiaries.”
The company is also co-founded by Dani Zeevi, a tech industry veteran who previously managed a software team in an elite intelligence unit of the IDF. On the company’s mission, Zeevi shares: “Equally AI is committed to closing the digital divide caused by inaccessible websites. The company began exploring solutions two years ago by meeting with people with full blindness to observe their experiences and better understand the challenges associated with using the web.”
 
Building their solution around the ultimate beneficiary experience, the company now provides an automated web accessibility solution that allows businesses, web developers, content creators, and marketers to make accessibility a streamlined part of the brand experience while achieving ADA and WCAG compliance. At Equally AI, any website that becomes accessible is reviewed by the Migdal Or team to make sure it’s fully compliant and has a simple experience for blind and visually impaired people.
 
“Digital accessibility is essential for independent living and integration in the community and vocational market for blind and visually impaired people. Therefore, we’ve established in Migdal Or a unique team of SW expertise in digital accessibility and legally blind experts in assistive technology that provides a truly comprehensive service to ensure full compliance and seamless user experience. We are thrilled with the opportunity of expanding our impact on digital accessibility by the cooperation with Equally AI,” said Gabi Cohen, the Head of Digital Accessibility Unit, Migdal Or.
 
Moving forward, it’s clear that web accessibility will be a determining factor in people’s ability to participate in the global economy and increasingly digital-first professional environment. Equally AI’s solution now makes it easier for brands and the marketers that manage their content to more easily integrate a better experience for people with disabilities.
 
Equally AI’s founding team collectively brings years of tech experience to the mission, allowing the company to create scalable solutions that make the web not just equally accessible but also a seamless and personalized experience.

About Equally AI
 
Equally AI is an automated web accessibility solution committed to people with disabilities with a simple web experience. Founded by a team of tech veterans, Equally AI delivers a world-class, secure, convenient, and modern accessibility experience for beneficiaries and businesses.
 
Visit  Equally.AI  for more information and follow the company’s updates on  LinkedIn .

 
About Migdal Or

Migdal Or – part of the  Northern Goals Association  – is a nationwide multi-service center engaged in functional, vocational, emotional and social rehabilitation of people with blindness or visual impairment. Migdal Or’s vision is that every individual with blindness or visual impairment can successfully realize his or her potential.
 

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Are you familiar with Guides on Apple Maps? A feature introduced with iOS 14, Guides allow you to make a collection of places based on interests or needs. For example, you can create a Guide of all bookstores in your city or hidden gems no one else knows of!

Recently, Gallaudet University, the world’s only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students, partnered with Apple and launched new Guides in Apple Maps that deaf people will find helpful. The new guides, titled The Gallaudet Neighborhood ; Deaf-Owned Businesses in the D.C. Area ; All About Gallaudet ; and Deaf Schools and Programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have been introduced not only to promote ASL vibrancy and equity for the Deaf community but also to magnify the importance, cultural significance and economic strength of the Deaf community for the larger hearing population. Click the links above to access these Guides in Apple Maps or browser.

These Guides are publicly available in Apple Maps for everyone to use. If you think similar Guides need to exist in your city that promote accessibility and equity, you can certainly create your own following these instructions and sharing them with your loved ones and community members.

What kind of Guides will you create for your communities? Let us know in the comments below!

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Since the stirring and sterling release of his debut album, And the Moon Rising, Canadian musician Trevor Owen has been keen to incorporate American Sign Language into his music videos. The time has finally arrived, and the complete 10-track set of his ASL-enhanced music videos are available now!

The brimming double-handful of videos — including “Not the Only One,” “Fire Moon,” and the album’s title track, “And the Moon Rising” — feature actress and Deaf rights advocate Dawn Jani Birley, who Owen ultimately connected with through the Canadian Hearing Society.

“It turned out to be more involved than I had imagined,” Owen revealed of the process of finding the right translator for the job. “A common response I received was ‘I don’t do music.’

“Indeed, I could not find anyone who would do it.”

Birley, however? “She said, ‘I’d love to,’” he recalls.

It was a perfect fit from the start. Thanks to Birley’s adroit and emotive signing, Owen’s lyrics are elevated to another level of expression. The delicate swoon of “Sweet Bitter,” for example — originally sung in Owen’s soothing rasp — lays out lyrics such as ‘Is it possible to take the truth/In any story, fiction is the truth/The truth is in the story’ in a translation that directly targets the tear ducts.

“As you might imagine, I was thrilled with Dawn’s work,” Owen enthuses, noting this realm is her forte. “She does ASL interpretation in the arts, like theatre performance.

“Though I’ve been a happy participant at signing classes in the past, my own capabilities with American Sign Language are halting, at best; I thought it would be a matter of translating the lyrics, but it is more than that — like gesture, for instance, and responding to, and conveying a sense of the music. As a producer I know noted, there is a certain peculiarity in the process of developing a Deaf audience for my music; it was the ASL interpretation I sought.

“ASL is a different kind of language, and gesture plays a large part in conveying meaning,” he continues. “For my part, I see it as integral to the meaning conveyed, and I hoped its warmth and heartfelt nature might come across.”

And the Moon Rising was produced by Marcus Vichert, and features fellow veteran Toronto musicians Donavon LeNabat, Jamie Bird, Jeff Beauchamp, and Owen Sound’s Keira McArthur alongside Owen’s vocals and distinctive guitar. The release was engineered by Braden Sauder at Marquee Sound in Toronto, and the record was mastered by Stephen Stepanic at João Carvalho Mastering.

As a young schoolboy, Owen made the decision to drop out of school back in the 1960s in order to pursue a career in music. He started playing in Yorkville clubs and pubs before landing gigs all across Canada. He played cover sets, his own original music, with bands and many other acts, until finally recording and releasing And the Moon Rising in 2020. His long-lasting career ended up paying for a post-secondary education, which resulted in him becoming a teacher in Toronto.

The complete set of ASL-enhanced music videos for And the Moon Rising are available now.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0DSWzKpZ0_-3–3mJNie-A/featured

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While in the bathroom, something as simple as reaching for the toilet paper can be tricky and sometimes painful for people with physical disabilities. Toilet paper holder is not always installed at the most convenient location in bathrooms – sometimes it’s too far away or in a weird corner that makes you turn back to get to it. If you have back pain or movements like twisting and reaching are limited because of disabilities, this supposed simple task can become quite daunting.

To help with this issue, Ruben Scheimberg invented Extend-A-Roll – a nifty toilet paper accessory that extends toilet paper from any tricky spot in the bathroom. The arm extends up to 22 inches and the holder pivots for easy extraction. Once done, the arm can be pushed back for storage. This eliminates the need for someone reaching out or twisting and turning to get access to toilet paper.

Not only can this be used at homes but also in medical facilities, assisted living facilities, rehab center, and hospitals. If you are traveling in an RV or any vehicle with a toilet, you can install Extend-A-Roll in them too to get the same level of ease and relief when going to the bathroom!

Watch the videos below to see how it works. Extend-A-Roll can be ordered from their website and Amazon.

The post Extend-A-Roll Is An Extendable Toilet Paper Holder That Can Help People With Physical Disabilities appeared first on Assistive Technology Blog.

Mary Lou and Anthony Cancellieri’s grandson Louis is on the Autism spectrum. When they saw Louis get really anxious during a recent visit to the hospital, they decided to do something to help children like Louis who may have difficulty coping with anxiety inducing situations. They immediately founded a grassroots Autism charity called RVC Blue Speaks and donated several “mobile sensory stations” to their local hospital. They named these machines “Louie” after their grandchild.

Louie is meant to provide sensory relief to a child in an environment that may make them anxious. Louie has various soothing lights, sounds, music, bubbles, and colors that are controlled by the child. Using all these controls, the child can create a calming and soothing environment for themselves that will help them relax.

Vecta Deluxe Mobile Sensory Station

So what exactly is Louie? Even though the source article doesn’t mention what exactly Louie is and where one can buy it, a little research will tell you that it’s the Vecta Deluxe Mobile Sensory Station which “turns any room into a relaxing, distracting and empowering Multi Sensory Room”. Its compact size makes it ideal for classrooms, bedrooms, medical facilities, and any other location that may cause sensory overload for a child on the spectrum. It consists of a bubble tube that has a calming flow of bubbles and changing colors that creates captivating visuals and a projector with color wheels that can project calming visuals on the wall. Attached also are colorful and sparkly Fiber Optic Tails that create calming effects while also helping with fine motor development. Finally, it comes with an aromatherapy diffuser that can make the environment smell nice.

The Vecta Deluxe Mobile Sensory Station costs $6,249 and can be ordered on the Special Needs Toys website. There’s also a Vecta Jr. Sensory Station at Rehabmart.com for $3274.95 at the time of writing this post.

Watch the video below to see how it works and read the user guide to learn more.

Kulture City Mobile Sensory Station

Kulture City also makes Mobile Sensory Stations(MSS for short) that is similar to the Vecta Jr. – much more compact and easy to use in locations that may not have the adequate space for dedicated sensory rooms.

Do you think you can use these mobile sensory stations where you work or live? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: CBS New York

Researchers are testing a new way of making science, especially chemistry, accessible for blind students. This method involves creating edible and non-edible gummy version of models of molecules that can be felt by students with their tongues.

Many science books have detailed and stunning imagery of completed structures of molecules. However, students with visual impairment miss out on seeing all the intricate details offered by these images.

Inspired by his 13 year old son who lost one eye to Retinoblastoma, a cancer that starts in the retina, lead author of the study, Bryan Shaw begin a new study and experiment that would enable blind students to learn about molecules via tactile sensations in the mouth. For this experiment, researchers created two versions of bite-sized 3D models – an edible version made from “gummy bear” gelatin and a non-edible version made with non toxic resin. The non edible version has a string attached to it which the kids hold with their finger as they feel the structure with their tongue. They then asked 281 college students and 31 grade schoolers to identify these molecule models with their tongues.

Fig. 1 “Small” and “smaller” molecular models: Highly portable and encodable with flavor. (A) Smaller nonedible 3D-printed models of calmodulin (CaM) and carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) are comparable in size to a popcorn kernel or grain of rice. Array of protein models fabricated and tested in this study from (B) biocompatible resin (top: small size; bottom: smaller size) or (C) gelatin (flavor-coded or uncoded). (D) Small nonedible model with a safety lanyard threaded through the integral eyelet. (E to G) Smaller nonedible models can be coded with flavor and transported in high volume. (E) Shrink-wrapped array onto a standard index card and (F and G) packed into common containers of candy (shown for demonstration purposes). Photo credit: Jordan C. Koone, Baylor University; Bryan F. Shaw, Baylor University; and Elizabeth Shaw.

According to the results, the participants could identify the molecules with an accuracy of 85.59%! It was also found that 41% of the participants were able to remember the structure if they had felt it in their mouth at some point than just seen and felt it with their hand. How is the tongue so effective in identifying these molecule structures you may ask? It’s because the tongue consists of many packed muscle tissues that transfer easily between small areas, enabling the person to examine the intricacies of the molecule. When the tongue senses the composition, it sends a signal to the brain to create a visible picture.

The typical technique used to introduce blind students to molecules is through very large hand held models which can be as big as a baseball bat. It is not always practical to carry them around and transport. Many institutions may not even be able to afford them.

Even though this was a successful experiment, it might take some time for us to see these “candy molecules” in the market. But one thing these candies have done is reduce barrier to entry by encouraging youngsters with visual impairment to not be afraid of science and explore STEM opportunities with confidence.

The source links below have amazing details on the study if you want to read further. You can also read the full article published recently in Science Advances.

Source: Nerdist, My Droll

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Back in October 2020, Cognoa, a company that makes digital therapeutics and diagnostic tools, submitted an Artificial Intelligence powered tool for FDA approval that aims to help diagnose Autism in children. Just last week, Cognoa received approval from FDA for it’s Canvas Dx software and will begin to market this software later this year.

The app asks parents to answer a questionnaire related to their child’s behavior patterns and also upload videos of their child in their natural environment. Once submitted, the responses and videos are sent to a trained professional who observes the responses and videos and provides their own input. The child’s pediatrician also provides their responses about the child’s behavior.

On average, most kids are diagnosed around the age of four but the goal is to diagnose them much sooner – at the age of eighteen months, so they can have access to services like speech therapy as soon as possible. The current system is unable to provide early diagnoses to many children and families.

The FDA approval comes after an evaluation done on 425 kids aged 18 months to five years across diverse a group of patients in terms of race, gender, education, and socioeconomic status.

Head to the post from last year to learn more about this app. You can also sign up to get updates on Canvas Dx.

Source: PR Newswire, MedCityNews

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Reaching out for help in case of emergency requires that we call 911, an option that doesn’t work for deaf and hard of hearing. Even though there are some states that recently introduced texting/SMS service to 911, it is not available everywhere. This is where Rescu could be helpful for the deaf and HoH community.

Rescu, a non verbal communication based service, just launched an app with emergency service around the US, partnering with government first response agencies. Unlike 911, the request is made through the app with a couple of clicks and does not require talking to a dispatcher. As soon as the request is submitted, help is dispatched. Not only does it send help, it also notifies contacts set up in the app so they know you are in an emergency situation. Another important feature is that Rescu works from anywhere. Even if you are traveling and someone at home needs help, you can ask for assistance through the app from your current location. This is something that caregivers of disabled adults who live by themselves may want to look into.

Rescu has its own private dispatch center that meets stringent regulations and has partnered with over 30,000 city and county emergency agencies across the US to dispatch ambulance, fire and police with a touch of a button. Rescu is certified by Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety certification company.

Rescu is a subscription based service that costs $7/month or $59/year. Currently, Rescu is available only in the US.

Watch the video below to see how Rescu works. Does your country have a similar service? Let us know in the comments below!

Website: Elderly & Senior Emergency Alert Communication Devices | Rescu (rescusaveslives.com)

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Jason Barnes took a liking for drumming when he was a little boy – banging on whatever he could get his hands on as soon as he started listening to music! However, in 2012, when he was 22, a work accident caused his right hand to be amputated. This, in theory, meant that Jason couldn’t play drums so well anymore. Although a setback, Jason was determined to find a solution that will help him continue his passion for drumming in the future.

Jason did drum initially with what’s called a body-powered prosthetic. It didn’t have any electronics or robotic controls so he had to use a lot of shoulder and elbow to get the hits he wanted. There were two issues with this prosthetic though – it was exhausting and limited how fast he could play. To fix these issues, he had an idea to develop a robotic drumming prosthetic. Since 2013, Jason has been working with Gil Weinberg, a renowned roboticist and founding director of the Georgia Tech for Music Technology to create what’s possibly the world’s most advanced robotic drumming arm using artificial intelligence.

When Jason reached out, Gil immediately knew what he wanted – he wanted to sense more of his muscles and control the bounce of the drumstick. In short, play the drums as humanly natural as possible with a prosthetic arm. As they started working on this project, they realized that there were a lot of complex steps they had to take care of. One of the biggest concern was latency – the delay that occurred between Jason making a hit and the prosthetic actually recognizing it. Even a 50 millisecond lag was noticeable. In addition, it also mattered how the drumstick was gripped and bounced off a drum – these were elements that were hard to calibrate.

The team then decided to use EMG or Electromyography . This method consists of sensors in the prosthetic that pick up electric signals from Jason’s residual limb. Using these signals, the team was able to recognize complex patterns with machine learning and then map them to specific movements. TensorFlow, Google’s open source AI platform, does this in real time – no latency anymore! When Jason flexes his muscle, it tightens his grip on the stick and loosens it when he extends his muscle, just like it would with a normal hand.

This revolutionary robotic drumming arm has opened up many doors for research in accessibility especially in music, enabling many disabled musicians to continue to make music easily without hitting many limitations.

Watch the video below to learn Jason’s story and what all went into making this drumming arm a reality!

Jason is on Instagram as Cybernetx and his music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.

Source: Google, Google

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According to WHO, there are 285 million people worldwide that are visually impaired and 90% of this population lives in poverty. It goes without saying that visually impaired people face challenges on a daily basis. However, it is also refreshing to see makers and individuals out there building solutions that make a meaningful impact on disabled people’s lives.

One such individual is Aadhar Bhalinge. Aadhar and his team are in the process of building “Audible Vision”, a mobile app that is meant to make life easier for blind individuals by helping them with day to day activities. This app, powered by artificial intelligence does a variety of things.

1. Smart Text: When pointed at an object, will identify what it is. It even identifies stores when pointed at signage.
2. Expiry Date: An incredible feature that detects expiry date on products! This is the only app that does this.
3. Pandemic Safety: Is able to identify how crowded (or not) a person’s immediate surrounding is. This is especially important for blind people since they may want to be socially distanced from others and may not want to be in an environment where social distancing is not possible.
4. Mask Detector: Detects if a person is wearing a mask or not.
5. Document: Reads books or text documents
6. Barcode: Reads barcodes on products to identify them.
7. Voice controlled: Voice interface on the app allows the user to control the app with voice commands. Responses from the app are also voice and sound based.

In case you’re wondering, artificial intelligence will do all the video and image processing when it comes to detecting objects or people in the immediate environment.

Aadhar’s team is working hard to make Audible Vision a reality. They are determined to make this app available for free with no ads and are currently looking for people to fund this project. The beta app will launch in June 2021, followed by the Android version in August 2021.

Easy access to technology has enabled several makers like Aadhar to make a positive impact by providing useful solutions for the disabled community. If you want to support his vision and project, head to Audible Vision’s Indiegogo page to make a contribution.

Watch the videos below to learn more about Audible Vision.

Excited for this app? Let us know in the comments below!

Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/audible-vision-app-discover-the-world-via-voice#/

Website: http://audiblevision.quarkbytes.com

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The Alzheimer’s Association’s Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter and Edgewood Healthcare will present a series of virtual programs designed to shed light on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia beginning in May and continuing through July 2021. The “Six Million Reasons” educational series is open to all and will be presented on Wednesdays throughout the spring and summer.

“Edgewood is proud and honored to partner with our friends and leading Alzheimer’s and dementia experts at the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Robert Ford, Jr, President of Edgewood. “With over 6 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, we have 6 million reasons to continue the fight. Now more than ever we need to educate our communities on the early warning signs of the disease, and ensure they know where to find help and how they can join us in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.”

The six-part series will cover a variety of topics including understanding Alzheimer’s and dementia-related behaviors, effective communication strategies and brain health.

According to Heidi Haley-Franklin, Vice President of Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter, this series will feature specialists who work in Alzheimer’s education and awareness, health providers who offer services and caregivers who assist family members with their needs. “We’re excited to join together with Edgewood and provide these presentations that have proven to be so helpful to individuals and their families impacted by Alzheimer’s,” she said. “We know firsthand the importance of dementia education and providing resources about risk reduction and early detection and diagnosis.”
 
The virtual series will be presented on Zoom, 12:00-1:00 p.m. CDT on selected Wednesdays.  Registration is available online at: https://mailchi.mp/edgewoodhealthcare/alzheimerseventseries or by phone: 701-330-2626.

The complete list of scheduled dates and topics include:

May 26 Ten Warning Signs

Alzheimer’s and other dementias cause memory, thinking and behavior changes that interfere with daily living. Learn about common warning signs of Alzheimer’s and what symptoms to look for in yourself and others. Hear from health care providers about the importance and benefits of early detection. 

May 26 Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s; the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia; stages and risk factors; current research and treatments available for some symptoms; and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

June 9 Healthy Living for Brain and Body

Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to incorporate into a plan for healthy aging.

June 23 Dementia Conversations

This program provides tips for breaking the ice with family and loved ones to address some of the most common issues that are difficult to discuss: going to the doctor for a diagnosis or medical treatment, deciding when to stop driving, and making legal and financial plans for future care.

July 7 Effective Communication Strategies

As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. This presentation will explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimer’s, help decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and identify strategies to help communicate at each stage of the disease. This session will also feature a panel of caregivers.

July 21 Understanding and Responding to Dementia Related Behaviors

Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. Learn how to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers and utilize strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

About Edgewood Healthcare:
Edgewood houses over 3,000 well-trained staff members in over 60 communities in 7 states, designed for their 4,500+ residents to receive various living and healthcare options. Edgewood Healthcare provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and healthcare services such as in-home physicians, therapy, home health and hospice in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho. As a leading operator of senior living communities in the upper Midwest since 1992, Edgewood offers an array of living options partnered with unique, in-house ancillary services, such as restorative therapy, personalized care, and wellness programs. 
 
About the Alzheimer’s Association:
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. The Association’s vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Free care and support programs are available including care consultations, support groups, a 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900 and resources at alz.org . 

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This guest post was written by Madhav Lavakare. Madhav is a young entrepreneur from New Delhi, India. He has had a passion for tinkering, creating, and innovating from a very young age, and has a keen eye for solving problems. With TranscribeGlass, he aims to solve the biggest problem he’s tackled yet: bridging the communication gap between the D/deaf and Hard of Hearing community and mainstream society.

TranscribeGlass is an affordable, wearable device for people including the d/Deaf, Hard of Hearing (HoH), and elderly, who want to read captioned speech and conversations while watching the speaker in order to improve their comprehension of what is being said. TranscribeGlass shows closed captions from a source on a comfortable heads-up display in the user’s field of vision in near-real-time, so that the wearer can read the captions while looking at the speaker. Caption sources include Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), live human captioning (CART/stenography), and subtitle files. 

The user launches the TranscribeGlass mobile app and connects to their preferred caption source (e.g. Google’s speech-to-text API, or a portal that is streaming real-time captions). The captions received from the source are displayed on the mobile app and also transmitted via Bluetooth to the TranscribeGlass heads-up display.

TranscribeGlass can be retrofitted on most spectacle frames, allowing users to use the device as a hardware add-on/accessory.  

Over the last 4 years, I’ve worked obsessively on designing and programming the product and collaborating with organizations for the deaf/HoH for testing it with real users. I’ve built 4 proof-of-concept prototypes, filed a patent for the device, and successfully run an early crowdfunding campaign. I’ve done validation/feedback testing with over 150 d/Deaf/HoH people in India, demonstrated the device at the National Association of the Deaf in India and the US, Gallaudet University, MIT, several organizations for the DHH and d/Deaf in India, as well as conducted detailed interviews with potential early customers. I’ve also got feedback from other stakeholders including caption service providers, caption streaming platforms, heads of accessibility at corporates, universities, entertainment venues like movie halls and theatres. The feedback so far has been very encouraging, and I’ve been able to build a small team and raise some grant funding.

We are now planning to launch an early version of the product (TranscribeGlass Beta) in the fall of 2021. We’re taking reservations from early users on our website (www.transcribeglass.com/reserve.html) and will be shipping out devices to the first 100 people who sign up to purchase the Beta! 

Please get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more about TranscribeGlass, and please follow us on social media to stay tuned for updates (@TranscribeGlass on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!)

Image gallery:

The post TranscribeGlass For Deaf & Hard of Hearing: How It Generates Real Time Captions appeared first on Assistive Technology Blog.

This is an exciting week for all of us. Why you ask? Microsoft Ability Summit 2021 is this week, that’s why! The two day virtual event will bring all sorts of diverse people together and enable them to “Imagine, Build, Include, and Empower” and create an inclusive future for everyone.

Ability Summit takes place on May 5 and 6 this year. Over two half days, there will be sixteen breakout sessions covering various topics – from designing for inclusion and improving learning outcomes to inclusive hiring and gaming accessibility. Experts from Microsoft and various industries will be presenting these sessions which will be recorded and offered on demand for later consumption also.

Here are five things you can do to get the most out of this amazing summit!

Register

Even though this is a FREE virtual event, you will still have to register. Head to the Ability Summit 2021 Registration page to register for this two day event so you can access all the sessions and information without trouble.

Sign Up for Sessions

Once registered and logged in to the event website, you will see two options to the right on the “Home” page. Click the ‘“Access Session Scheduler” to see a list of all the sessions and their timings. Clicking “Sign up” next to the ones you want to attend will get you a spot for those sessions and also send you a calendar invite for each session you sign up for. If the list of sixteen sessions seems daunting to scroll through, filter your sessions by the Build, Empower, Imagine, Include tracks.

Not sure what tracks to attend? Here’s a description of each track from the Summit website to help you decide which ones you may want to attend based on your interests!

Imagine: Innovating new technologies, leveraging AI, Assistive technology and Inclusive Design.

Build: Making accessibility easier to achieve through tools, best practices, and knowledge sharing.

Include: Growing base of talent with disabilities in the workplace to bring expertise to life in our culture.

Empower: Telling the accessibility story effectively and connecting it to our company mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

You will see all the sessions you signed up for under “My Sessions”.

Access Session Decks In Advance

From the Home page, if you click the “Access Event Platform”, you will get to another page that has a “let’s get started!” message from Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer and a demo of how to register for this event, sessions, etc. Right below the video is a list of all the sessions. Clicking “Join the Session” will take you to that session’s respective page. If you scroll all the way down, you will see the “Session presentations and resources” section. Clicking view presentations and resources will take you to a page that lists not only the description of the sessions but also links to the session deck (if available) that will be used by the presenters. This is quite useful if you like to know the content in advance.

Watch Sessions From Ability Summit 2020

Last year’s Ability Summit was also virtual and consisted of some really amazing sessions. To get a feel of what the Ability Summit is like (and to learn some really cool stuff from last year!), watch sessions from Ability Summit 2020 below.

Learning Paths

Microsoft has already created some really useful learning paths for a few topics covered during Ability Summit 2021. If you are interested in learning and implementing these principles, you will find the following learning paths useful.

Accessibility Fundamentals
Design with inclusivity in mind
Learn inclusive marketing principles

Conclusion

Microsoft Ability Summit 2021 will be an amazing event with a lot of content, great discussions and a whole lot of empowerment and enablement for everybody. If you are an able bodied person, there is a lot of interesting and enlightening content for you here. This is a great opportunity for all of us to pave a path that leads to a more inclusive future for everyone.

What are you most looking forward to from Ability Summit 2021? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image Source: Ability Summit Website

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If you are like me, you love memes! You can sometimes go down a meme rabbit hole very easily, guffawing as a cat or  Gene Wilder makes some sassy statements by making references to ‘90s pop culture. Often times, you may also speak in memes – sending them to your friends on iMessage and letting them know how you really feel. Who even uses words anymore?

The one thing about memes is that they are all visual since they are in the form of images or gifs. You need to be able to see them to understand the joke. However, the Internet is full of images without alt text – the tag that’s used by screen readers to describe an image. Because of the lack of this extremely vital information, people with visual impairment miss out on the fun and are unable to use memes in their daily conversations and be a part of this cultural phenomenon. To take care of this issue, Will Butler, VP of community at Be My Eyes, has started a new podcast called Say My Meme which literally describes memes to blind people. In each episode, cohost Caroline Desrosiers describes some famous memes to Will, who is legally blind. So Will and the audience get the same experience of getting in on this cultural expression at the same time! 

The lack of alt tags in memes stems from the fact that they are created by regular people who may not always be aware of this very important accessibility feature. Besides describing memes to blind audience, Butler also hopes to raise awareness among the sighted on the importance of alt-tagging.

Check out this really cool and hilarious podcast on Apple Podcasts and Say My Meme’s website.

Here’s a taste of what these episodes are like:

Meme: Some Pig

Classic Art Meme (my favorite collection of memes on the Internet!)

Source: Fast Company

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