This year’s INARF Conference is titled INARF 2.0: Intellectual Stimulus Package. The event will be held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites from March 10-12, and 29 exhibitors will be present.
Participants can expect to network with over 500 of their peers, increase their knowledge through various education sessions, and learn about products and services available to people with disabilities.
To register or learn more, visit the INARF website.
Power Up 2010 is the title of this year’s assistive technology conference and expo in Missouri. The Holiday Inn Select in Coumbia will be hosting the event. Participants can expect to see exhibits and demonstrations for assistive technology vendors such as Clarity, Benetech/Bookshare, United Access, DynoVox Mayer-Johnson, and TextHelp. The conference will also have interactive assistive technology sessions, a hands-on lab, adaptive computers made readily available, a silent auction, and even a Powerchair soccer game.
The opening keynote speaker will be Don Johnston, founder of Don Johnston, Inc. Johnston will discuss his own personal battles with learning difficulties and how he overcame them through the use of assistive technology, and how we can make assistive technology universally accessible.
The endnote speaker will be Michael Karpovich. Karpovich is a humorous motivational speaker diagnosed with “brain damage” as a young child. He has co-written five books and has spoken to several thousands of individuals at schools, corporations, and associations.
Register by March 15th to receive an early registration discount. Otherwise, the deadline to register is April 15th. Rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Select for $62 a night. Communication accessibility accommodations for the conference can be made if requested by April 15th.
For more information, visit Power Up 2010.
Farming is dangerous work. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately 120,000 farm related injuries occur each year. Thanks to the AgrAbility Project, assistance is available to anyone working in the field of agriculture with a disability. Services provided include on-site visits, assessments, training, and technical assistance. Assistive technology, such as extra steps and handholds for a tractor, is also made available.
Tractor
Who qualifies for the program? The AgrAbility Project helps anyone who suffers from physical, cognitive, or illness-related disabilities. Some of these include cerebral palsy, arthritis, hearing impairment, back injury, diabetes, visual impairment, and cancer. 27 states have their own State Projects with the same 3 objectives:
Indiana’s state project operates under the Breaking New Ground Outreach Program (BNG). The BNG staff spread awareness of their programs by exhibiting at health fairs, field days, and machinery shows. They have a Rural Assistive Technology Demonstration Van fully equipped with adaptive aids for improving independence, support group meetings, and more. To get in touch with the BNG program, call (800) 825-4264 or email them at bng@ecn.purdue.edu.
Money Calc and Communication Device
A Learning Disability is a neurological disorder that affects the way a person learns, making it difficult to process information. Some common problems associated with learning disabilities include difficulty in reading, writing, speaking, grasping math concepts, and language comprehension. According to LD Online, fifteen percent of the U.S. population, or one in seven Americans, has some type of learning disability.
The INDATA Project recognizes that learning disabilities can complicate an individual’s way of life, and pledges to resolve such issues by providing resources for the necessary assistive technology. Our Loan Library offers many learning disabilities devices including:
Be sure to check out other learning aids available at the INDATA Loan Library. What kinds of assistive technology can you link to learning disabilities? Share your thoughts!
The next time you clean out your attic or basement, consider donating some of your used belongings to a good cause. INDATA is currently accepting second-hand assistive technology (AT) for our equipment reutilization program. Donated AT is sanitized, repaired, and given to Indiana residents with disabilities in need. This is a free service that prevents waste from going to a landfill, and can really make a difference in someone’s life!
At Easter Seals Crossroads, we strive to improve the lives of people who struggle with daily activities. AT can give them back their independence they need in order to read their mail, stay organized, or fill out a job application. Read the inspiring story of artist Justine Horlander in the AT Connection 2009 Winter Newsletter and learn about how she overcame the issues revolving around her disability.
Examples of reusable AT include: crutches, walkers, computer monitors, canes, wheelchairs, pill organizers, and magnifiers. INDATA does not accept items like hearing aids, which are usually custom made. For more information on what is acceptable for donation, contact Mike Garberg at mgarberg@eastersealscrossroads.org or 317-466-2013.
This equipment reutilization operates under the guidelines provided by the Pass It On Center, a collaboration of AT Reuse programs in the United States.
Wheelchair
Checkers board game
Games are a necessary part of human development. They encourage interactions with others, provide opportunities to work on teams, teach the importance of following rules, and perhaps most importantly they build problem solving skills. Not to mention, they are a fun way to take a break from work or school!
Think about one of your favorite games. Yahtzee? Checkers? A specific video game? Imagine the challenges you might face if you had limited mobility in your hands, or your low vision made it difficult to read small print. Fortunately, advances in assistive technology have made many popular games more accessible so that everyone can enjoy them. Let’s look at some examples.
