Copyright 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved

October 2011

Save the Date

Hold the Date! IHCD's Sessions at Build Boston

IHCD will be hosting, as part of Build Boston, a set of five special workshops on November 17th on Socially Sustainable Design (B02, B21, B 41, B61, B81). A reception will follow, hosted at the IHCD office (200 Portland Street, Boston). On November 18th, IHCD's New England ADA Center and the U.S. Access Board will host a special half day morning session (C07) from 8:30 am to Noon on ADA Updates: Introducing the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Registration is OPEN!

Details on sessions and international speakers coming soon!

______Five More Years of Funding Awarded to New England ADA Center at IHCD

IHCD is delighted to announce that the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research made an award announcement on Friday, September 30th for the next five years of funding for the New England ADA Center. Our

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 1 team of Project Director Dr. Oce Harrison and Director of Training and Technical Assistance Kathy Gips will continue to lead the project.

New England ADA Center, one of ten regional ADA Centers that comprise the ADA National Network, is a leader in providing information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local & regional levels.

Questions about the ADA? Call 1-800-949-4232 (voice/tty), or email the Center at [email protected] or you may submit your question online. Visit the FAQ page.

______Products & Technologies that Change People's Lives: Universal Design & Assistive Technology in Massachusetts

Photo Above: Governor Deval Patrick speaking to presenters on the Home panel, Steve Saling and Barry Berman of the Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea. Photo by JK Event Photography.

On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we extend a sincere thanks to the exhibitors, presenters, the design competition jury and competitors, members of the Planning Committee, Senior Advisors and all who attended the events of September 23rd! We had over 1400 people visiting the over 100 exhibitors at the Expo, about 560 people attending the conference portion of the day and five exciting winners of the design competition.

We expect that the energy and excitement of the day will generate fresh ways of thinking about inclusive solutions for Home, Work, Learning and Fitness/Recreation/Sport. Please explore the website for images of the event, the winning designs from the competition and the presentations from the conference.

www.changepeopleslives.org

The Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) unveiled a pair of low-key monuments to the neighborhood's rich public-art environment: interactive guides to public art, located at the Esplanade's north and south ends. The identical tables, located in Rockefeller Park and Wagner Park, map out 20 public artworks that are either owned by the BPCA or on land leased from the BPCA within the neighborhood's 92 acres. The two art tables (one pictured above), designed by Coco Raynes Associates in collaborating with IHCD, highlight the BPCA's contribution to the public environment as recognized by a 2002 Doris C. Freedman Award, which is given each year to an individual or organization for "a contribution to the people of the City of New York that greatly enriches the public environment."

Using visual and Braille locators, the tables act as guides to artworks on public display in Battery Park City, specifying their locations, explaining a bit about their backgrounds, and providing an audio tour called the Raynes Rail that is embedded in the tables' steel frames. Each table stands approximately three feet tall and nine feet long.

Read more from this article. Read more about Coco Raynes Associates, Inc.

______UD 2012 Oslo

Five ministries and several civil service departments are behind an initiative to arrange an international conference on universal design in Oslo June 11th to 13th, 2012.

The main goal of the conference is to create an attractive meeting place for researchers and practitioners at which the participants obtain up-to-date knowledge of what has been achieved and where the challenges lie in the work of creating a more accessible society. The subjects discussed will be related to politics, legislation, planning, housing/buildings, outdoor areas, information and communications technologies (ICT) and public transport.

Universal design in public space is the main focus of the conference. The

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 3 three days of the conference will each have a main theme: Planning for the Diversity of Tomorrow, Good Practice - the interplay of regulations, research and practice and Added Value - the benefits of mainstreaming universal design.

Learn more about the conference.

______2012 Paul G. Hearne AAPD Leadership Awards Call for Applications

This year, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will once again recognize outstanding individuals personifying leadership, advocacy, and dedication to and for the disability community at large. Two individuals, emerging as leaders in the cross-disability civil rights movement will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress as leaders and further connect their work with the national grassroots of AAPD. The recipients of the 2012 Hearne Leadership Awards will also have an opportunity to meet and network with national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC in March 2012. U.S. residents with any type of disability are eligible to apply.

Submissions are due November 1, 2011 For more information or to apply visit www.aapd.com/leadershipawards

______OKI and AAJD Release Free SOS Placard Support Tool in 15 Languages for Use in Emergencies by the Hearing Impaired

OKI (OKI Electric Industry) and AAJD (Architectural Association of Japanese DEAF) have created SOS Placards that allow the hearing impaired or foreigners who do not speak Japanese to point to illustrations on a placard to indicate their status in the event of emergencies, including natural disasters

Designed for use in emergencies, the SOS Placards include letters, icons and pictograms, based on OKI's universal design know-how and expertise. The icons and pictograms were designed by OKI Workwel, an OKI Group company that specializes in the home employment of the physically challenged. Anticipating use of the placards in face-to-face communications with emergency life guards, the cards also feature Japanese script readable from the opposite side. Users can prepare for emergencies by downloading image files to their mobile phones and smartphones from the AAJD homepage.

In an experiment involving actual use of the SOS Placards, Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals were able to communicate 20% faster and 20% more accurately using the cards. Users surveyed also indicated they felt more confident when carrying the cards.

______Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month

Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month is an outreach effort on all levels, operating simultaneously within and across institutions, within and across communities. It is an opportunity for professionals and institutions to raise public awareness about making art and culture a part of life for adults and children affected by sight loss. During Awareness Month, parents, teachers, school administrators, recreational counselors, librarians and museum staff can be educated about the benefits of art education and museum visits for children and adults with sight loss; for example, art can be a powerful tool in fostering Braille literacy.

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 5 The collaborative seeks to empower community institutions to create long- lasting visual arts programming, by offering proven methodologies, by training staff on accessibility and sensitivity, and by inviting local blind and sighted people to participate in educational and inclusion activities.

Learn more about Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month.

______CSUN 2012 Call for Papers

The The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference invites submissions of papers for this conference to be held February 27 - March 3, 2012 at the San Diego Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel. The CSUN conference is the world's longest-running and largest conference of its kind on the topic of assistive technology and the positive impact on persons with disabilities. The conference draws more than 4,500 persons annually who attend sessions, visit the exhibit halls, and participate in affiliate meetings and informal gatherings.

The Call for Papers has been extended to Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Visit the CSUN website for more information.

______Call for Papers: 12th Annual Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion & Disability

Experience Understood in Image, Poetry, Narrative and Research

The theme for the Twelfth Annual Multiple Perspectives, "Experience Understood in Image, Poetry, Narrative and Research" reaches across disciplines, professions and modes of knowing for a fuller understanding of disability. The theme facilitates the twelve year exploration of disability as a reflection of the human condition seen through the lenses environmental, theoretical and social constructs as well as personal experience.

Preference will be given to presentations that encourage conversations across the typical divisions (medical and social, education and employment, research and practice, business and government, rights and charity ...) or focus on the parallels, distinctions and intersections with race, gender and ethnicity.

Past programs and conference updates as they become available can be found at: http://ada.osu.edu/conferences.htm

To be on the mailing list for the conference, send e-mail to [email protected]

______Registration & Call for Proposals: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity

(Formerly called the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities)Living to our Complete PotentialMarch 26 & 27, 2012 | Honolulu, HI | Hawai'i Convention Center

The Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai'i cordially invites you to submit a proposal to the 28th Annual Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity on March 26th & 27th in Honolulu, Hawai'i. In the tradition of Pac Rim, the 2012 conference will

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 7 revisit familiar themes and explore new directions through scholarship, best practice, and international networking. The 2012 Pacific Rim International Conference program design has been reorganized into three broad, thematic, areas: Foundation, the topical areas the Center for Disability Studies (CDS) has been or is currently engaged in; Exploration, probing topics that CDS has not previously addressed but have impact on the security and well-being of all people with disabilities; and Innovation which seeks to showcase new theories, concepts, solutions, ideas and applications that can benefit people with disabilities during this economic downturn. Learn more and register!

______U.S. Trans. Sec. Ray LaHood Takes Action to Make Websites and Kiosks Accessible to Air Travelers with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in its ongoing effort to ensure equal access to air transportation for all travelers, proposed a new regulation that would require airlines to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities and ensure that their ticket agents do the same. DOT also proposed that airlines make automated airport kiosks at U.S. airports accessible to passengers with disabilities. U.S. airports that jointly own, lease or control such kiosks with airlines would also have responsibility for ensuring the accessibility of automated airport kiosks. Comments on the proposal are due within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register. The proposal is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2011- 0177. In addition, the Department has partnered with Cornell University's eRulemaking Initiative (CeRI), Regulation Room, designed to improve the public's ability to understand and participate in this rulemaking process. A goal of the CeRI team is to make Regulation Room as accessible to as many users as possible. People wanting to discuss and learn about this proposed rule should go to www.regulationroom.org.

On the opening day of the fourth Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) announced the receipt of a grant of AUD 1.2 million (USD 1.28 million) from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). This grant provides ongoing support for grantmaking to disabled persons' organizations (DPOs) in the Global South to advocate for their rights.

Utilizing the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD), DRF supports the human rights advocacy of DPOs in the Middle East, Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union and the Global South. The Disability Rights Fund is a unique organization advised by a global panel whose members come from five continents and reflect a broad cross- section of the disability community. Advisors work with donors to oversee the grantmaking process. Read more about DRF.

New IHCDstore Product

Omhu Canes: a walking stick with an attitude!

The Omhu Cane is a walking stick with attitude. Inspired by Scandinavian furniture, bicycles, hockey sticks and skateboards, this joyful design brings style and performance to mobility aids. The generous birch handle has grip strips for better hold, and doesn't slip when leaned against a wall.

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 9 The wood is hand-finished with Livos oil, an all-natural, non-toxic, plant-based finish. The light-weight, high-strength aluminum shaft is finished in American bicycle paint. Our patent-pending tip made from the same material as high performance athletic shoes provides cushioning, traction and support.

The Omhu Cane is available in six colors (turquoise, creme, black, green, orange, and purple) and three standard sizes: Small (31 inches); Medium (34 inches); and Large (37 inches). Custom sizes are available upon request for an additional $10.

Omhu canes available at IHCDstore 200 Portland St., Boston

Shop @ IHCDstore today for products that look as good as they work!

Featured Publications

21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in our Times

'Innovating with people - The business of Inclusive Design' was published in May 2010 and gives readers an introduction as to how Inclusive Design can be used as a strategy for better business. The idea behind the book is to inspire, motivate and to show how industrial and commercial enterprises can integrate a people-centred approach in their own design and development processes. It is a practical guide and manual that contains the basic information you need to understand, debate and practice Inclusive Design.

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 10 The content is compiled by individuals who have had extensive, practical experience in working with Inclusive Design in a business context. The book shares insights and learnings gathered over the years and presented in an easy-to-read format. Case studies and examples explain how other companies have benefited from Inclusive Design. A practice-based guide details nine research techniques for engaging with people and bringing their points of view into the design process. The book is aimed at business leaders, managers, marketers and designers who are involved in design, development or specification. It explains the Inclusive Design process, making the case for it both commercially and creatively, and provides a practical guide to techniques for applying it.

Read more of the book's description here.

The book is available for purchase through IHCDstore. Please contact IHCDstore to place your order.

October Newsletter Sponsor

Copyright © 2011 Institute for Human Centered Design, All Rights Reserved 11 Dustin Hankinson (left) will receive Compassion & Choices' 2011 Hugh Gallagher Award for his leadership in advocating for improved care and expanded choice at the end of life. Hankinson, a 35-year-old living with muscular dystrophy in Missoula, Montana, has worked for the rights of persons with disabilities for a decade. Also active in democratic, progressive and discrimination issues, he is most proud that Death with Dignity is still legal in his beloved home state.

Dustin will accept the award at the grand-opening event for the organization's newest office, in Washington, D.C., on October 4, 2011. The award commemorates the significant contributions of Hugh Gallagher, a national leader in disability and terminal patients' rights, who used his writing to educate the public about injustices, to promote understanding among diverse communities including individuals with disabilities and other populations, and to further the cause of dignity and choice.

Your Support

We invite you to consider IHCD in your giving plans. We are a 501 (c) 3 non- profit organization so your full donation can be taken as a tax deduction. A great deal of work, especially those projects working on inclusive design with low-income communities in the US and developing nations around the world, are not supported by contract or foundation support.

Your gift can help keep that important work alive. IHCD welcomes your support at any level and can accommodate gifts of both cash and other forms of assets. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Gabriela Sims at [email protected] or she can be

Thank you for your consideration!

Sponsorship Opportunities

E-Newsletter Sponsorship

IHCD's electronic newsletters feature news, recent presentations by IHCD staff, upcoming lectures and events, publications, and new IHCDstore products. Sponsors of the newsletters will receive prominent, exclusive placement.

Please contact Eliza Kaye for more information on how to become a sponsor:

Eliza Kaye 617-695-1225, x235 (v/tty) [email protected]