Accessibility and Technology Geek

Latest technology news for people with disabilities.

January 4, 2013
by holly
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Tinnitus is evil

I am going to write this post quickly because talking about tinnitus seems to make my own tinnitus worse…

Tinnitus, otherwise known as ringing in the ears, is a common condition induced by excess ear wax, hearing loss, or noise exposure.  Other causes can be identified by a physician.

Most people find it a nuisance, but it doesn’t affect daily life for the most part.  You probably have heard ringing in your ears after being in a loud movie theater or concert.

In the case of hearing loss, tinnitus can range from mild to severe, often interfering with the ability to hear and communicate.  It can create the effect of hearing nails on a chalkboard when listening to speech, TV, and other outside sounds.

It is characterized by ringing, roaring, hissing, popping, and similar sounds.  I often call it a symphony playing in my ears.  I’ve even compared it to a siren going off.  Not fun.  It is based in the brain, not the ear itself—related to blood flow or muscle contraction on top of damaged nerves.

There aren’t any definitive ways to cure tinnitus, but there is a lot of research being done on it.  There are some at-home treatments such as masking it with other white noise or music.  I find that soft, instrumental music helps.  Stress can aggravate it, so stress relief techniques such as yoga might ease the symptoms.  Dietary changes such as limiting, or eliminating salt, caffeine, or alcohol have been reported to show improvement.  Not sure I’m ready to give up caffeine though!

When I lost my hearing in one ear 15 years ago I suffered severe tinnitus in that ear until I got the cochlear implant last year.  I still get it, but nothing like I did prior to my CI surgery.  Having auditory stimulation on that side is probably a major reason why it has improved so much.  Now, I primarily experience tinnitus in the other ear that currently has a hearing aid.

The point of this post is to give a basic idea of what tinnitus is, and to describe possible ways to help treat it.  For more complete information and diagnosis, check with an ear, nose, and throat physician.  They can identify the cause and provide a proper treatment method.

If you want to learn more about tinnitus, check out the American Tinnitus Association’s website at: http://www.ata.org/.

Take care of your ears.  Tinnitus is your brain’s way of saying…this is too much!  Turn the music down, wear ear plugs in extremely noisy situations.  You know the drill.

January 3, 2013
by holly
0 comments

People with disabilities face major barriers in finding employment

According to the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities in 12.7 percent.  Take into account that the percentage of people with disabilities participating in the workforce is 20.7% as opposed to 69.2% participation for people without disabilities.  These numbers are for November, 2012.  For more information on disability employment statistics, please see the US Department of Labor website.

Drawing from my own personal observations and experience in the workforce, there are lots of people with disabilities are perfectly able to work.  They just don’t know what resources to tap into for help finding a job, or they can’t get past the stereotype that someone with a disability can’t do such and such task.

In most cases they can perform said task, but require additional accommodations such as a screen reader or magnifier to complete the task.  These accommodations are expensive, but there are agencies that can help provide the services.  That’s what Vocational Rehab is for.  Each state has their own division.

There are also staffing agencies that are geared towards employing people with disabilities.  Here are a few examples, not meant to be an exhaustive list:

One issue with these types of organizations is that they don’t have that many opportunities for disabled workers with graduate degrees or are in specialized fields.  I fit into that criteria.  I have a master’s in library science.  Library science encompasses a huge variety of specialized areas such as academic, school media, public, and corporate.  From there you can break it down to different areas of the library.  There are also opportunities outside of the library that a library science degree is useful for such as technical writing or research facilities.  I ended up doing most of my job search myself because the disability staffing agencies I worked with are just not equipped to help with my area of expertise.

Transportation and mobility is another barrier that deserves its own post.  But, I will say that mobile technology and teleworking is playing a bigger and bigger role.  I’ve found several freelance and part time projects that allow me to work from home.  The lines between assistive technology and mainstream technology are blurring rapidly.  I think that the future holds a lot of great opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce.  Working remotely with the right technology can put disabled workers on an even playing field with their non disabled counterparts.

The economy has been tough on everyone, but I think that it is time to think outside of the box, tap into both the resources available for both companies and employees, and work towards creating a friendlier work environment for people with disabilities who are fully capable of working.

January 2, 2013
by holly
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Happy 2013!

2013 has arrived, and I just want to take a brief look at what might happen this year in the accessibility world.

I think that we’ll see a slow, but steady progression towards more accessibility in mainstream technology.  For example, Apple’s accessibility features will continue to improve with new iOS updates and product generations.  Another example is the ereader sector.  Amazon is finally acknowledging that the Kindle is inaccessible, and has added new features to the Kindle Fire.

Mobile technology such as tablets, and smartphones will continue to take more and more of the market share.  Virtual learning is expected to become a major player in education.

There has been a lot of speculation about hologram-like technology.  Rumors suggested that the iPhone 5 would have a projection keyboard—basically typing on air.  This didn’t happen, at least not to my knowledge, but this type of technology seems to be picking up speed, and trends are suggesting that it will be the successor to touch screens.

So, what could this mean for accessibility?  Screen readers will have to be attached to it somehow.  That shouldn’t be too much of a hardship since projection screen still requires some sort of physical gadget to keep it going.

I think that hologram technology would be very helpful for people with low vision who need to enlarge the text on the screen.  The screen size would not be restricted by physical device sizes.  That is a major issue for me.  it is very difficult to enlarge text big enough for comfortable reading without crowding the contents of the screen.

Fascinating stuff.  We’ll see what happens.

Pretty cool to be living in a time where things that always felt futuristic or a product of science fiction is now on the verge of becoming reality!

 

December 21, 2012
by holly
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Cheers for 2013!

This will be my last post for 2012.  The world didn’t end after all, so we can look ahead to 2013 now.

Lots of exciting developments in the accessibility world this year.  I can’t wait to see how well-received the new MED-EL all-in-one CI processor is.  No more annoying cords and heavy processors sitting on the ear.

New breakthroughs in vision that were once a distant dream are now closer to reality.  When I was younger, being able to hear out of my deaf ear was never a tangible thing until this year.  I feel like it is only a matter of time before they make similar strides with vision.

One trend that I am really excited about is the rise of virtual learning.  This will be a great way to reach out to people who can’t get out to a physical classroom.  Virtual learning also slashes transportation costs.

Tablets and smartphones are working towards becoming more accessible…let’s hope this keeps going in the right direction.

For this blog, I hope to continue to write on a regular basis.  To explore more disability issues and new technologies in more depth.  If you have a book or product related to disability that you would like for me to review please email me at accesstechgeek at gmail dot com.  I give an honest reviews and can get the word out there.

Cheers for a safe, and hopefully much calmer 2013!

 

December 19, 2012
by holly
1 Comment

2012 shows accessibility progress, but still a long ways to go

Accessibility for people with disabilities is starting to get some much-needed attention, and popular tablets, smartphones, and e-readers are slowly jumping on the accessibility bandwagon.

Apple is still the leader on accessibility features with VoiceOver, Zoom, and Guided Access.  The Nook for iOS app is taking advantage of these features by supporting VoiceOver and Zoom.

Amazon is finally responding to the complaints from the disability community and from the National Federation for the Blind and American Council for the Blind by adding new accessibility features to the Kindle Fire.  The regular Kindle still does not have any accessibility built in.

As far as web accessibility goes, there have been strives towards making WordPress accessible with the WP Accessibility plugin and support built in to WordPress 3.5.  HTML5 is picking up speed in the area of accessibility.

Assistive technology used to be a completely separate entity.  People who are blind or partially sighted had to buy expensive magnifiers and screen reader software.  Now both of these are available as an app on the iPhone and iPad, as well as Android tablets and smartphones.  There are a number of free or very inexpensive magnification apps.  There is also a good CCTV app called See It.

VoiceOver is a worthy competitor to JAWS.  I like the voice better on VoiceOver than JAWS, and it is fairly easy to learn.  It took me awhile to get used to the hang gestures, but I was able to complete the tasks I needed to, as long as the apps supported VoiceOver.

Now that the line between “regular” technology and “assistive” technology has blurred almost completely, it would make sense to include accessibility as a part of the product development cycle.  It might add a little more time and expense in the short run, but in the long run, the product will be open to more consumers.  That could outweigh the initial expense.

Now that it is possible to build accessibility into modern technology, it is all that more important to make sure disabled consumers do not get left behind.  2012 has seen progress, and I hope that we keep heading in the right direction towards universal accessibility.

December 17, 2012
by holly
0 comments

Fumbling through the medical office maze

There was a post on the VisionAware.org blog a couple of weeks ago called Losing Patience with Being a Patient by Stephanie Stephens Van that I thought was spot on.  It discussed the issues that visually impaired people face when getting treated at medical facilities.

I just wanted to reiterate a few points and follow up with a few of my own from the perspective of someone who has both low vision and hearing loss.

Exam rooms are often set up in a maze of hallways without any clear directions on how to get out of it.  There are so many times I’d be walking around like an idiot not knowing where to get back out to the waiting room because no one took the time to show me out.

Medical offices need clearly labeled signs that can guide someone out if no one is around to assist them.

Nurses and other medical professionals should make sure that the patient is directed to where they need to go.  Just pointing to a door at the end of the hall doesn’t cut it.  I for one, can’t see that far.

The perception of someone with a disability either goes in one extreme or the other.  As the author in the VisionAware article noted, they either think you’re more disabled than you are, or they ignore it altogether.

The medical professional can ask what the patient needs, and the patient can be their own advocate, telling the medical professionals straight up what they need.  This eliminates any confusion and frustrations on both sides.

I don’t know what it is that is so hard about being your own advocate.  I am guilty of just “trying to get by.”  I forget to mention that I am deaf to someone I am speaking with on the phone, and that leads to frustration all around.  I forget to tell people I can’t see very far.  To me it is just something I am used to.  To others, it isn’t that obvious.

Medical professionals are trained to say certain things.  For example, before being wheeled in the OR, they’re required to record, “this patient will be getting a cochlear implant in their right ear.”  Everything has to be documented in case there’s an issue later.

The same type of training should be applied for working with people with disabilities.  Something like: I see that you have “name of vision loss,” what can I do to make this appointment easier for you, or something along those lines.

For me personally, the biggest issue has been with my hearing.  A nurse is asking me questions while looking at a computer. A receptionist is irritable on the phone because I can’t understand what they’re saying.  The nurse or doctor runs through the list of questions really quickly.  When someone else is with me, they tend to speak to that person instead of me.

Look me in the eye and speak clearly and a little more slowly.  Do NOT raise your voice.

Thankfully, the CI took care of these issues for the most part, but talking on the phone is still like pulling teeth.

With input from both sides, health care can be a much smoother, more efficient experience for both the patient and their medical professionals.

 

 

December 14, 2012
by holly
0 comments

Benefits of everything “mobile”

Mobile is the word of the day in the technology world.  We’re constantly connected on a global scale.  We have the ability to work, make friends, play games, and even bank all from our phones, tablets, and computers.  It can definitely get overwhelming at times.

Wells Fargo just introduced mobile banking for personal banking customers.  This is huge for someone who can’t get to an ATM very easily.  I also tested the iPhone Wells Fargo app with VoiceOver, and was able to complete the task.  I would be interested to see how easy-to-use it is for people who don’t have any visual cues to work with.

Checking out ebooks from the library or Amazon reaches out to those who can’t make it to a physical library branch.  Amazon does have some work to to do in the accessibility department though.  You can always check out books on EPUB and read them on other devices.

I am grateful to work in a field that supports teleworking.  It hasn’t really taken off yet, but virtual library reference services is on the cusp of becoming a big deal.  You can ask a librarian a research, technical or circulation question right from the comfort of your computer or even cell phone.

Distance learning is making is possible to get a degree online.  There are also free online course sites such as Coursera that offer a variety of courses from prestigious institution including Duke University.

All of these examples are making it easier than ever before to perform tasks that previously required going o a physical place.  Keep in mind though, that unless accessible features are included, none of these options would be worth using.  So, let’s keep the advocacy going and help spread accessibility awareness.

Lastly, I just want to mention a letter that the AbleGamers Foundation wrote to Mercedes-Benz asking for a van.  They have a vision to create a mobile gaming lab to reach out to people with disabilities who can’t get to gaming conferences and events, or can’t get access to games that are accessible period.

Read the letter on their website, and if you have Twitter, tweet the letter and spread the word: Help Us Make this Vision Real.

December 13, 2012
by holly
0 comments

Review of Solo-Dx, an audio description service for the blind

There is a common misconception that if you’re blind, you can’t watch movies or TV because you can’t see them.  That is not true.  With the right mix of audio descriptions and the existing dialog and sound effects, people who are blind can enjoy movies and TV shows as much as their sighted counterparts can. Audio descriptions are often built into DVD or provided as a headset in theaters.

Solo-Dx is a new audio description service developed by experienced entertainment professionals at Hollywood Access Services.  This company provides audio description services for theme park attractions, museums, and entertainment such as movies and TV shows.

The primary factor that Solo-Dx apart from other audio description services is that it is accessible from the get-go.  The purpose of this new service is to allow the blind to independently access movies and TV shows without the help of their sighted peers.  For other services they have to rely on sighted peers to turn the settings on in the DVD.  In movie theaters, the most common problem is that you could end up with a headset that doesn’t work.  I know that drill with using hearing devices in theaters.  One time I was given an audio description headset instead of one for hearing.  So I missed the entire first act of the play.  Mix ups are possible, especially if the ushers or movie theater personnel aren’t familiar with the devices.

Solo-Dx consists of an mp3 file that you can download on your phone or tablet to listen along with a movie via streaming, video-on-demand, or DVD.  The service currently offers descriptions for hit movies like the Hunger Games and Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The company is working on providing descriptions for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The Princess Bride.   The list of offerings is pretty small right now, but has a lot of potential for growth.

Once you download the audio file, follow the verbal instructions for syncing the movie with the audio.  If they get ahead of one another, pause the movie or mp3 file and let the one lagging behind catch up.  This might get confusing.  I hope that as Solo-Dx improves there will be smoother ways to keep the audio and video in sync.

I tried the Solo-Dx file for The Hunger Games.  Since I still have some vision, and I’ve already seen the movie, as well as read the book, I listened to the mp3 track without the movie.  It did a good job of describing the traits of the characters.  If you are familiar with the Hunger Games, you’ll know that some of the characters are quite…eccentric.

I could also follow the scene set ups and sign messages.  Katniss goes into the words and encounters a sign that warns about the high-voltage fence that separates the woods from District 12, for example.  The narrator’s voice was fast-paced, but still fairly easy to understand.  Now, keep in mind that is coming from the point of view of someone with a hearing loss.  If I don’t have problems hearing it, then someone with normal hearing shouldn’t either.

Solo-Dx is offered on iTunes, Amazon and other major file download services, as well as on the official website.  You can visit their website at www.solo-dx.com.  The website is designed for accessibility and includes a set of FAQ’s for anyone who has questions about Solo-Dx.

I like where this service is going, and I look forward to see how it evolves in the future.  Hopefully one day there will be no barriers for the blind when accessing entertainment.  Get the word out there!

 

December 12, 2012
by holly
0 comments

Lesson learned while updating to WordPress 3.5

I updated to WordPress 3.5, the newest version of WordPress just released this past week.  I ignored the warning about disabling plugins before doing the automatic update.

Well that came back to bite me.   I went back to try to post a new post and I couldn’t add tags, images, or links.  At first I thought it was a bug in 3.5, but after googling the issue and checking the WordPress forums I realized it was most likely a plugin interfering with the new update.

So I had to go back and disable my plugins and re-enable them one by one.  Turns out the offending plugin was EasyToolbox, a social media and SEO plugin that hasn’t been updated since last year.

A word of advice, check your plugin pages periodically to see if they’re maintained often to accommodate the new versions of WordPress.  Also, it can be easy to let inactive plugins just sit.  Clean these out.  Don’t let them take up much needed storage space.

I also did a bit of cleaning and rearranging while I was at it.  This blog is set up with a Responsive Design template so it should react to the slew of screen sizes available out there.  Let me know if there is anything that is creating issues with reading and navigating the blog.

December 11, 2012
by holly
0 comments

Dr. William House, the pioneer of cochlear implants dies at 89

Dr William House, the man responsible for developing the cochlear implant, a revolutionary device that changed the lives of many in a profound way.

Read his full obituary here: http://newsroom.hei.org/pr/hri/obituary-dr-william-f-house-89-241691.aspx.

A cochlear implant has made it possible for me to hear and interact with others about as well as someone with normal hearing can.  I wouldn’t trade that for anything.