[Irl-dean] FW: [Retrieved]EDeAN Newsletter, Issue 12 - January 2008

[Hugh O'Neill]

-----Original Message-----
From: Marco Billi [mailto:m.billi at ifac.cnr.it]
Sent: 25 January 2008 09:14
To: 'Marco Billi'
Subject: [Retrieved]EDeAN Newsletter, Issue 12 - January 2008


++++EDeAN Newsletter, Issue 12 - January 2008
European Design for All eAccessibility Network

This newsletter is based on feedback from EDeAN members (November - December, 2007).  If you have any 

comments or queries regarding the newsletter, contact the EDeAN Secretariat at secretariat at edean.org.

+++Issue 12, January 2008 contents:
- Section One: EDeAN Network news;
- Section Two: Events, Conferences, Calls for papers;
- Section Three: Other news, information, useful links;
 -Section Four: About this Newsletter.

+++Section One: EDeAN Network news.

++01: The EDeAN Secretariat moves to Spain for 2008.

The Institute of Applied Physics 'Nello Carrara' (IFAC) of the Italian National Council of Researches (CNR), that held the 

EDeAN Secretariat for 2007, is pleased to announce the move of the Secretariat from Italy to Spain. The National 

Centre for Personal Autonomy and Technical Aids - CEAPAT will bring the charge for the year 2008. We wish Cristina 

Rodriguez-Porrero Miret and her staff at all the best for 2008.

Holding the secretariat in Italy has been a pleasure, and we would like to thank all EDeAN members for their 

collaboration through the year 2007, essential for the work done.

Pier Luigi Emiliani.
EDeAN Secretariat 2007.
IFAC - CNR.
Italy.
http://www.ifac.cnr.it/
http://hci.ifac.cnr.it:81/joomla15rc3/ 

++02: News from Cyprus.

Application for NCC for Cyprus.

On 15 October 2007, the Cyprus Neuroscience & Technology Institute submitted its application as National Contact 

Centre - NCC for Cyprus, The application was accepted by the Commission. We warmly welcome the CNTI and its 

president Dr. Yiannis Laouris as NCC for Cyprus.

++03: News from  Czech Republic.

+Examples of universities that do something above average for handicapped students.

University of Economics, Prague has a specialized study space for visually impaired students. The university offers 

them special software and hardware that allows them studying documents, browsing Internet. The students also 

participate in development of new software that can help them.

Metropolitan University Prague (private university) opened a study program called "Program of help to handicapped 

students" . It is more focused on physical handicap. The building is barrier-less and equipped according to their needs. 

The university also actively searches for employment possibilities of its handicapped graduates. They are offered 

courses in ECDL finished by ECDL international certificate.

++04: News from Finland.

+EU for all? Forum discussed the accessibility of the European Union.

Finnish Design for All Network together with European Parliament's Information Office and European Commission 

Representation in Finland organized a forum with some 50 participants on eAccessibility and eInclusion on 30th 

November 2008. The forum was connected to the "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All".

A special topic of the seminar was how to improve the acquisition of knowledge and possibilities to influence EU with 

the help of IT and communication technology. Speakers representing both users as well as institutions offered 

valuable view points on the issue. 

Read more:
http://dfasuomi.stakes.fi/FI/Ajankohtaista/Tapahtumat/foorumi07_raportti_en.htm.

+Finnish Design for All Network gets together in February.

The next meeting of the Finnish DfA Network will be held on the 13th of February in Helsinki. Circa 25 representatives 

from member organisations around Finland are expected to participate.

The meeting is hosted by one the network's members, The Finnish Rheumatism Association, who launched EASY TO 

USE packaging project in 2007. The project promotes the ease of use of packaging in accordance with the Design for 

All principle.

Read more, EASY TO USE survey on the ease of opening packaging by strength-impaired consumers (PDF doc):
http://www.helppopakkausonetu.com/Tulokset/ETU_results_summary.pdf.

The Finnish DfA Network has 39 member organisations. Members host network meetings in turns, thus giving them 

the opportunity to present their Design for All related work and projects to other DfA specialists within the 

community. List of members: 
http://dfasuomi.stakes.fi/EN/members/index.htm.

+Accessibility of cultural services - share your solutions!

The Culture for All service in Finland is collecting positive solutions relating to the accessibility of cultural services. 

These solutions will become a feature of their web service's homepage, offering the visitor a different positive 

example every day. 

A positive solution could be e.g. a new good accessibility tool that a museum has included to its services or a plain 

language music programme on the radio. Send your input to: Ms Sari Salovaara (sari.salovaara at fng.fi) or Ms Aura 

Linnapuomi (aura.linnapuomi at fng.fi). 

Culture for All web service: 
http://www.cultureforall.info/ .

Culture for All web service is maintained by the Community Relations and Development Department KEHYS/Finnish 

National Gallery, member of the Finnish DfA Network.

+Conference on accessibility.

The Accessibility Project which is owned by the Finnish Association of People with Mobility Disabilities (FMD) 

organizes every year an open conference on accessibility. 
Next conference will be held on the 14th of February in Tampere, Finland. The topic of this year's conference is: "The 

Work of the Ombudsmen of Accessibility and their Strong Role in Promoting Accessibility". The conference language is 

Finnish.

Unfortunately, we don´t have the webpages in English yet, but here is the link to our Finnish website: 
http://www.esteeton.fi .

++05: News from Greece.

+e-ISOTIS participation in the NavigAbile project.

e-ISOTIS participation in this project is unique, as there is no other like it in Greece today. NavigAbile will provide a 

strong method for people to communicate on an international level, regardless of the Augmentative Alternative 

Communication (AAC) tool being used.

e-ISOTIS completed the localisation of the platform in the Greek language, targeting the Greek speaking communities. 

It is only a matter of time before the first Greek Language page of Navigabile will be online. e-ISOTIS has started the 

evaluation process with the End Users and professional working people, who work with learning difficulties. In 

addition to this pilots of the platform with PDA's and mobile phones is about to. begin

NavigAbile is an internet-based system aimed to provide an innovative way to access web content to people affected 

by motor and communicational disabilities. It offers a bundle of services designed, on one side, to enhance web 

interface and accessibility to contents and, on the other, to supply communication tools. These services are tailored 

to support disabled people, mainly young ones and those accustomed to use Augmentative Alternative 

Communication (AAC). NavigAbile currently supports the use of PCS, Bliss and natural photos.

The system is customised according to the personal preferences of the user, providing each user with a personalised 

version by selecting several options. NavigAbile provides several services such as news, educational contents 

containing educational and didactical materials, web pages presented in the NavigAbile format and all internet 

services we are all accustomed to, such as e-mail management and forum discussions.

Navigabile is an initiative of the Accenture Italian Foundation that doesn't have any profit purposes and aims, the 

current European phase of NavigAbile project is carried out in partnership with Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus 

(FDG) in Italy, DART in Sweden, Universidad de Valencia Estudi General (UVEG) in Spain and e-ISOTIS in Greece. 

++06: News from Ireland.

+World Usability Day.

Irl-Dean organised an exhibition in November to coincide with World Usability Day entitled 'worlds designed for 

everyone'. This exhibition showcased research into design-for-all. Exhibitors included NCBI's Centre for Inclusive 

Technology, IBM, Queens University Belfast, the Central Remedial Clinic and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Over 

100 people attended.  

http://www.design-for-all.ie/wp-content/seminars/worlds_for_everyone/designweek.htm.  

+Internet Association conference.
The Irish Internet Association is running a one-day conference focused on user experience, accessibility and inclusive 

design for the public sector on 22nd January in Dublin. The title of the conference is "Creating the Perfect Public 

Sector Website". Further details can be found at: https://secure.iia.ie/events/event/138/user-experience-conference/ 

.

+EGM to discuss plans for the year.

Irl-Dean has organised an EGM to discuss plans for the year, as well as the future direction of the Irish network. This is 

due to take place in the Alexandra Hotel at 3.30pm on Thursday the 17th of January.

++07: News from Italy.

+Technical Innovation for the Social Inclusion: Ambient Intelligence.

In the frame of the activities of the "European Design for All eAccessibiliy Network (EDEAN)" and under the high 

patronage of the Minister for Public Administration Reform and Innovation, the Italian network of EDeAN organized 

the workshop "Technical Innovation for the Social Inclusion: Ambient Intelligence", in order to discuss with all the 

relevant stakeholders some of the crucial problems of eInclusion: technological developments, their foreseen uptake 

in products, services and applications and the research needed; how to improve communication among industry, 

research and end users; the best practices in organisational models for eInclusion; the desirable and possible 

normative and legislative supports.

The workshop, was held on November the 26th, in Rome. 

Among the speakers, including well known personalities from industry, research, associations of disabled people: the 

deputy-minister for Reforms and Innovation in P.A. Sen. Beatrice Magnolfi and, via teleconference, Paul Timmers, 

Head of Unit eGovernmen, European Commission.

For additional details please visit:  
http://www.it-edean.ifac.cnr.it/EDEAN/_initiatives/wkshop.xsp.

+Live DVD "So.Di.Linux for All".

ITD-CNR (Institute for Educational Technology of the Italian National Research Council) in cooperation with AICA 

(Associazione Italiana per il Calcolo Automatico) have produced the Live DVD "So.Di.Linux for All".
 
It aims both at fostering the use of Open Source educational software in Italian schools and at supporting the 

e-inclusion of all students in mainstream educational activities. 

 "So.Di.Linux for All" contains and gives full and immediate access to a collection of around 140 Open Source 

educational products. In order to use the DVD, a Linux based machine is not required since it contains the operating 

system which can be run by booting directly from the DVD drive and nothing is automatically installed on the hard 

disk.

One of the most interesting aspects of the collection is that all the available products are documented not only from 

the educational and technical point of view but also with respect to their accessibility features.

In addition, the DVD itself has been designed and implemented following the basic principles of the "Design for all" 

and it also offers access to the main assistive technologies provided by the ORCA suite such as Screen Reader, 

Magnifier, Braille support.

"So.Di.Linux for all" is based on the Ubuntu 7.04 distribution (Feisty Fawn, DVD version), developed by Canonical Ltd 

and can be freely downloaded at:
http://sodilinux.itd.cnr.it/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=13&Itemid=30.

More information at:
 http://sodilinux.itd.cnr.it/sdl4all/ .

++08: News from Lituania.

+NCC Web page actualization.

VITI is the member of EDeAN (European Design for all e-Accessibility Network), which is assigned to fulfil the functions 

of National Contact Centre (NCC):
- The Contact Centre of EDeAN Network which disseminates the eInclusion, eAccessibility and assistive technologies, 

provides the support and actively assists to its country institutions in the fields of Universal Design "Design for All" 

improving the usage of e. Accessibility.
- VITI is responsible for the development of EDeAN National Network.

Our information about Universal Design, news about eInclusion and eAccessibility, organizational and other tools 

could be found in:
 http://edean.viti.lt/ . 

+The researches in the fields of  the project "Design for all".

VITI accomplished the work (ordered by the Information Society Development Committee of the Parliament of the 

Republic of Lithuania): "Foreign countries practice, Europe and world standardization organization/society standards, 

formulated according "Design for all" principles, preparation of analyses and recommendations". The detailed action 

plans are being prepared.

Lithuanian National Union of Students implemented the research "Disabled students in Lithuanian Higher education 

institutions (HEI) 2006 - 2007". The conclusions which have not been published yet, shows that Lithuanian Higher 

education institutions every year pays more and more attention to the students with disabilities. The services of 

special computer equipment, the individualization and adaptation of the studies, the consultations to the teachers 

and to the students with disabilities as well, the scanning and printing services are provided. (More about it at the 

close of the news from Lithuania: Disabled students in Lithuanian Higher education institutions (HEI) 2006 - 2007).

+The projects in the fields of "Design for all".

Lithuanian National Science and Study Fond department approved "Lithuanian multimodal voice service" projects and 

principals started to execute a plan. The results of half-year shows the progress in the fields of  "Total conversation".

+Services.

The functionality of "Universal informational system of persons with disabilities rehabilitation and integration" 

(UNRIIS) is being expanded with a view to meet the requirements of persons with disabilities. 

+Publications.

July - was given article for HCI International 2007 conference: Algirdas Juozenas, Pijus Kasparaitis, Kastytis 

Ratkevicius, Darius Rudinskas, Algimantas Rudzionis, Vytautas Rudzionis, Saulius Sidaras. DfA Implementations for 

People with Vision and Hearing Disabilities: Application and Development for Information Society. Proceedings 

Volume 5, LNCS_4554, ISBN: 978-3-540-73278.

October - was given article for the 9th International Conference "Information Society: Innovative Technologies for 

Business and Education" (Vilnius, 23-24 October 2007): Saulius Sidaras (VGTU), Povilas Padribonas (VITI). State of the 

Art and Strengthening eInclusion, Accessibility in Lithuania for the next generation communications and services. In 

this report it was presented some of results of benchmarking State of the Art eInclusion, eAccessibility in Lithuania, 

new possibilities with next generation communications and services, proposed some plan of primary importance 

tasks to promote eInclusion, eAccessibility in Lithuania.

+Disabled Students in Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions (HEI) 2006 - 2007.

This research was implemented by Lithuanian National Union of Students in order to find how accessible Higher 

education is for disabled people in Lithuania. There were analyzed the answers from 36 HEI (in Lithuania there are 51 

all in all). 

In Lithuania there are 640 disabled students though this number is not the final one, according to the situation that 

we do not have disabled students registration system in national level. Comparing, with the previous academic year 

2005 - 2006, disabled students number has increased 23%. 

There does not exist the system of students with disability representation and everything depends on HEI 

individually. At the moment there are no fully accessible Higher education institutions for disabled though the 

situation is getting better. In general, students with disability are getting special allowances from the government, in 

some of HEI there are disability coordinators and special services. Meantime, HEI started to take care more about 

physical and informational environment accessibility. There is a tendency that Higher education is more accessible in 

the governmental HEI. 

In HEI could be noticed arisement of these special services for disabled students: consultations during the study 

period, assistance in the library, flexible lectures timetable, longer exam time; studies individualization and 

adaptation, special computer equipment services etc. For example, Vilnius University has established special centre 

for visually impaired students; Vytautas Magnus University has special rehabilitation room for disabled. In the College 

of Vilnius the sign interpreters help is available. The College of Siauliai has established special "Career centre for 

disabled".
 
The conclusion could be made that at the meantime HEI in Lithuania more attention is giving to increasing the 

environment accessibility for those who has  mobility impairments (Vilnius, Vytautas Magnus, Siauliai universities 

and e.t.c.), though there are few examples, where all types of impairments are being treated equally (Vilnius and 

Siauliai colleges). 

There are being given some privileges for disabled students in Lithuania as well. For example, sometimes they do not 

have to pay a study fee or to pay for a Campus; there exists special allowances or there are special services. 

24 from 36 HEI has named the concrete plans, how they will be working with bettering studying possibilities for 

disabled. There will be implement physical environment accessibility projects in 15 HEI, the others will be taking care 

about students with disabilities problems and special education for academic community will be done. Some of HEI 

had mentioned the plans to establish working places for disability coordinators and giving the informational services.