Presented by Presented by

Debra RuhDebra Ruh

Founder & PresidentFounder & President

TecAccessTecAccess

Promoting Assistive Solutions for Persons with

Disabilities

Innovative and Advanced Assistive Technologies

Consider this question…Consider this question…

What percentage of the world’s population do you think has a disability and could benefit from

assistive technology?

3 to 5%3 to 5%

6 to 10%6 to 10%

11 to 15%11 to 15%

15 to 20%15 to 20%

Consider this question…Consider this question…

What percentage of the U.S. population do you think has a disability or limitation that might affect

their ability to use technology products?

3 to 5%

6 to 10%

11 to 15%

15 to 20%

There are more than 750 million people with disabilities worldwide.

Over 60 million people who self-identify as having a disability live in the United States and about 40 million in Europe.

Around the world, when you consider age related disabilities and hidden disabilities, it is estimated that well over 20% of the population has a disability.

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New Directions, New PossibilitiesNew Directions, New Possibilities

Meet Rose!

Though Rose cannot speak or use her hands, she…

travels the world. participates in adventure sports. has her own column in an award-winning newspaper. is a high level manager at an IT firm.

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Rose uses assistive technology.

Rose uses instant messaging, email, chat forums, blogs, and social networking.

Rose takes advantage of the movement towards greater accessibility and universal design in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Rose leads C-suite executives from all over the world on a regular basis.

Technology Makes It All PossibleTechnology Makes It All Possible

“Without assistive technologies, I couldn't be a productive member of society.  Without the use of a head-pointer, I couldn't work, pay bills, or shop on my own.  I'd be a vegetable."

~~Rosemary Musachio

“Without assistive technologies, I couldn't be a productive member of society.  Without the use of a head-pointer, I couldn't work, pay bills, or shop on my own.  I'd be a vegetable."

~~Rosemary Musachio

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New Directions, New PossibilitiesNew Directions, New Possibilities Meet LaMondre!

Though LaMondre Pough has a severe disability, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, he…

serves as a popular radio personality.

is a highly regarded inspirational speaker.

regularly outperforms his peers as a top sales person in the competitive IT field.

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LaMondre uses voice recognition software to send e-mails and instant messages, surf the web, and create documents.

LaMondre seeks out businesses and organizations that recognize the value of accessible design and who have taken the necessary steps to purchase and use technology that work with his assistive technology.

Technology Makes It All PossibleTechnology Makes It All Possible

“As a person with a disability, I’m just that – a person – I have a full life, a complete life, but I do use systems or tools like screen readers to level the playing field in the areas that I have difficulty accessing. This allows me to have a bigger impact in the world..”

-LaMondre Pough

“As a person with a disability, I’m just that – a person – I have a full life, a complete life, but I do use systems or tools like screen readers to level the playing field in the areas that I have difficulty accessing. This allows me to have a bigger impact in the world..”

-LaMondre Pough

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The Big PictureThe Big Picture One in four computer users has low

vision or is blind.

One in four computer users has a dexterity difficulty or impairment.

One in five computer users is deaf or hard of hearing.

Regardless of disability, EVERY computer users benefits from greater usability.

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The Big Picture The Big Picture continued…continued…

Our population is aging, and an increasing number of people are acquiring disabilities for the first time in their lives.

An increasing number of disabilities and impairments are associated with the aging process.

Disabilities are not confined to traditional definitions anymore.

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What’s Around the Corner?What’s Around the Corner? People with

disabilities are gaining recognition as a significant and growing market for products and services. This will only strengthen as we turn the corner.

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What’s Around the Corner?What’s Around the Corner? People with disabilities are now

making their needs and expectations known.

Now that people with disabilities have emerged as an untapped spending and voting power, this population is directly positioned to lead the future development of more universally designed technology.

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What’s Around the Corner What’s Around the Corner continued…continued…

Personal computers (PCs) and assistive technology for people with disabilities are improving fast.

The number of people with disabilities wishing to learn to use this technology is increasing year by year.

Businesses, organizations, and communities are now implementing very simple and cost effective strategies to include people with disabilities in the community and to hire people with disabilities in anticipation of setting themselves apart – creating a market differentiator.

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The Future…The Future…

Ask a person with a disability! They hold the key.

Disability can become one’s greatest asset, as people with disabilities are now positioned to use their first-hand knowledge of facing accessibility challenges to in turn help make the world more user-friendly for all.

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The Future…The Future… Promote better – and more – AT!

Assistive Technology (AT) is defined as, “Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities” (The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education, 2008).

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In text-to-speech programs, files are copied into the program and then are spoken by the computer. Commercial programs offer many options, including more natural sounding voices.

Free programs offer fewer options, but many provide the basics of translating digital text into speech very well.

Narrator, a free program bundled with Windows, is one such program. Narrator is designed to work with Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs, Internet Explorer, and Windows desktop.

AT Examples: Text-to-Speech AT Examples: Text-to-Speech ReadersReaders

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Web-to-speech readers, similar in purpose to Text-to-Speech Readers, have the capability of directly reading aloud content displayed in Web Browsers.

Many of these programs not only read the text on the screen, but can identify links and read hidden captions for pictures.

For example, BrowseAloud, from Texthelp Systems is a free download. BrowseAloud enabling a web site helps comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as international standards, that states that all citizens must have equal access to information online.

AT Examples: Web-to-Speech AT Examples: Web-to-Speech ReadersReaders

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InternetSpeech, a California-based international leader in voice Internet technology has launched a special effort to significantly increase the accessibility, as well as bridge the digital and language divides, using netECHO® Voice Internet Technology that allows anyone to access the Internet using any phone and user´s voice, without the need of a computer.

The core "rendering" feature of voice Internet technology provides content from any website through short, precise, easily navigable audio in real time. Thus, many users (including many people who cannot read or write) are able to enjoy all Internet content using any phone by

just talking and listening.

AT Examples: Voice Internet AT Examples: Voice Internet

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InternetSpeech´s voice Internet service is ideal for a variety of market segments, including:

People who don´t own a computer, or who don't have one readily available; and

WAP or other small screen-based phone users who want to hear real Internet content versus reading limited, pre-packaged online information on a tiny screen

Mobile business professionals who need access to data while out of the office;

Those with disabilities, particularly the visually-impaired and blind; Senior citizens who have difficulty in using computers or viewing small

screens or using a phone key pad

AT Examples: Voice Internet AT Examples: Voice Internet continued… continued…

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People with intellectual disabilities, as well as survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), are excellent candidates for handheld devices that can help them through the day

The DynaVox Co-Pilot by AbleLink Technologies, a comprehensive GPS-enabled personal digital assistant (PDA) featuring a simplified desktop, is one example. It provides audio and visual prompting needed to make decisions, follow directions, complete tasks and manage one’s schedule.

Other examples: People with disabilities are communicating with Proloquo2Go and the iPhone and iPod touch.

AT Examples: Handheld DevicesAT Examples: Handheld Devices

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The key to using the right handheld device is finding ones that ease cognitive demands on the language system with contextually rich images (digital photographs imported to the device) depicting people, places, objectives, activities, events, situations, and experiences of significance to the end user in relation to each other.

AT Examples: Handheld Devices AT Examples: Handheld Devices continued…continued…

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New Possibilities!New Possibilities!

With new technology there are new possibilities – and appropriately, people with disabilities are leading this change.

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Disability as ChoiceDisability as Choice

Unemployment, seclusion, doubt, and inactivity are indeed paralysis of the spirit.

With improvements in assistive technology, accommodations, and attitudinal barriers, we now can choose NOT to be disabled.

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Disability as ChoiceDisability as ChoiceWhen faced with a disability,

options are clear:

Find or create alternatives

And

Use assistive technology to take those abilities we do to a

higher level.

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What You Can Do!What You Can Do!

When you leave this presentation today, I encourage you to remember these

success stories, and to look within your respective environments.

Think about what you can do for the field of accessible technology and find creative ways to make it happen.

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Contact Contact

Debra RuhFounder & CEOTecAccess Rockville Commerce CenterBuilding A, Unit 12410 Granite Ridge RoadRockville, VA 23146Phone: (804) 749-8646Fax: (804) 784-7493www.TecAccess.net

SOME OF OUR SERVICES:

Section 508 Compliance Assessment Planning

Accessibility Testing

Training

Engineering and Reengineering Services

Assistive Technology and Access Interfaces

Focus Groups

And much more!