[Irl-dean] Centre for Excellence

[Gerry Ellis]

Hi,

I also attended a meeting in the NDA with Scientific Generics.

I found their approach that the more disabled a person is the bigger the problem they are a bit off-putting. I forget the actual term they used, but they had a pyramid of function loss with people with complex disabilities at the top. this is different from what I understand Design for All to be about: that is, fix the environment and the disability is less relevant.

Having said this, the session was interesting and well worth atending.

One suggestion was that they would not simply go off and develop what they thought was the solution, but would set up a consultative group to help develop the plan. I think that IrlDean could support this idea in the short term while it is getting its thoughts together for the longer term.


Take care,

Gerry Ellis
t/a Feel The BenefIT

Tel   (+353-1) 282-7791
Mob   (085) 716-8665
email gerry.ellis at feelthebenefit.com

If you don't know where you're going,
How will you know when you get there?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joshue O Connor" <joshue.oconnor at ncbi.ie>
To: <irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie>
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Irl-dean] Centre for Excellence


> I feel that the Centre could have a very "real" contribution to make but 
> I am concerned that it doesn't duplicate work already being done. As 
> Mark already suggested, through looking for a "gap" and attempting to 
> fill it, we can thereby improve and compliment existing services.
> 
> I attended a meeting in the NDA with Scientific Generics and they asked 
> what "we" would like "them" to do for "us".  I found this rather broad 
> question difficult to answer without prior time for reflection and 
> discussion, but one suggestion I made was research into areas that "we" 
> (the collective), are not in a position to do. One example would be a 
> study of the high degree of Assistive Technology device abandonment, why 
> does it happen? what can be done to reduce it etc? Many of us are not in 
> a position to look at this area so maybe they could undertake this and 
> other similar research, which would hopefully have a practical 
> application and help all of us, in the long run, provide a better service.
> 
> The development of this centre is certainly food for thought, as it's 
> not every day we are given carte-blanche, so we do need to discuss it in 
> depth and come up with come coherent suggestions.
> 
> I like your idea Henry about the development of a "virtual library" 
> where developers could access accessible code for web/software 
> applications. Also
> 
> > research on the accessibility
> >implications of new technologies before they are introduced. Currently there
> >is no commercial incentive to this kind of thing.
> >
> your suggestion is similar to my previous one. Research into these, and 
> other related areas, would be valuable and many of us are not in a 
> position to undertake it. The better the ground work that we do at this 
> point in order to point them in the right direction, the greater 
> possibility for success. So, in many ways this is a great opportunity 
> and we should put it on the agenda for the next Irl-Dean meeting. What 
> do you think Hugh?
> 
> Josh
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Henry Poskitt wrote:
> 
> >It would be good to give some practical suggestions OK.
> >
> >How about developing generic accessible templates for common interactive
> >components used on public sector sites would be a quick way of making a real
> >difference. I'm thinking searches and list returns, contact forms,
> >publications lists or an accessibility page template. They would be tested
> >and checked by people like CFIT and then made freely available online. It
> >would also allow smaller agencies to get access to top notch code.
> >
> >The other thing that would be good is research on the accessibility
> >implications of new technologies before they are introduced. Currently there
> >is no commercial incentive to this kind of thing.
> >
> >Henry
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Irl-dean mailing list
> >Irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie
> >http://list.eeng.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/irl-dean
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
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