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Subject: Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 12/2001
Disability Culture
- Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 12/2001
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CONTENTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER
* Editorial: What is Disability Culture?
* New in the Library
* Books about Disability Culture
* Websites about Disability Culture
* Other Services Offered by the Institute
* Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL: WHAT IS DISABILITY CULTURE?
I cannot begin to count the number of times I've been asked
this question in the past decade or so. Some people desired a
one-sentence response, others a one-paragraph answer and still
others just wanted to argue about or mull over the idea. In
the past five years or so, there have been hundreds of
documents discussing disability culture being distributed.
Don't believe me? Well, for the first time in a year or so I
just did a couple of searches. Entering the keywords,
"disability culture," Yahoo returned 2020 web page matches;
Google 2600 matches; and Alta Vista delivered 1272 matches.
Why such interest in the idea of a disability culture. From
the international perspective the word "disability" has
different connotations to diverse cultures, just as the word
"culture" does. The definition of disability that may have
become the most known is that of someone who has a major life
impairment preventing them from participating easily in a
major activity, such as walking, seeing, hearing, thinking.
But that definition is one of only dozens in the United States
alone. Worldwide there may be hundreds, if not thousands of
definitions of disability and I would venture the same applies
to the idea of culture. Any word that has such historical and
contemporaneous significance will create controversy and
interest. Put two such words together and the interest is
magnified. This is what's happened with disability culture.
To return to a definition, here's my one paragraph definition,
the shortest I can come up with, published in a 1996 issue of
MAINSTREAM magazine that I still use:
People with disabilities have forged a group identity. We
share a common history of oppression and a common bond of
resilience. We generate art, music, literature, and other
expressions of our lives and our culture, infused from our
experience of disability. Most importantly, we are proud of
ourselves as people with disabilities. We claim our
disabilities with pride as part of our identity. We are who
we are: we are people with disabilities.
Those of us working the field of disability culture probably
all agree on several basic points. First, disability culture
is not the same as how different cultures treat different
disabilities. Instead disability culture is a set of
artifacts, beliefs, expressions created by disabled people
ourselves to describe our own life experiences. It is not
primarily how we are treated, but what we have created.
Second, we recognize that disability culture is not the only
culture most of us belong to. We are also members of
different nationalities, religions, colors, professional
groups, and so on. Disability culture is no more exclusive
than any other cultural tag. Third, no matter what the
disability or location of the person with the disability we
have all encountered oppression because of our disabilities.
Fourth, disability culture in the southwest of the U.S. may be
very different than in the northeast U.S. or Europe or Africa,
but all of us have the similarities described in the first
three points. Finally, we who have worked, researched,
studied and written about disability culture have most often
begun in the arena of cross-disability culture, meaning all
disabilities and cultures. We're aware they're may be
nuances, or even larger differences between some of us, but
we've had to start somewhere. If we consider all the
possibilities of all disabilities and all cultures it's
probably more accurate to say that there are "cultures of
disabilities."
Why is any of this important? I believe there are two
significant factors. First, how will we or anyone else know
how to relate to us if none of us are aware of our cultural
background. For example, most disabilities come with some
sort of pain and/or fatigue. How will mainstream society ever
be able to incorporate us into itself if neither we nor it
recognize pain and/or fatigue as part of who we are.
Secondly, and maybe even more importantly, for years we have
discussed integration like it was our business to fit in with
mainstream society. As we become more aware of our own unique
gifts some of us have also become more convinced that this is
a backwards perspective. It is absolutely not our job it fit
into mainstream society. Rather it is our destiny to
demonstrate to mainstream society that it is to their benefit
to figure out that we come attached to our wheelchairs; our
ventilators; our canes; our hearing aids; etc. and to receive
the benefit of our knowledge and experience mainstream society
needs to figure not how we fit in, but how we can be of
benefit exactly the way we are.
That's disability culture, at least from one person's
perspective.
Steven E. Brown, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Institute on Disability Culture
------------------------------------------------
NEW IN THE LIBRARY: ARTICLES ABOUT DISABILITY CULTURE
Finkelstein, Vic, "Disabled People and our Culture
Development." DAIL (DISABILITY ART IN LONDON) MAGAZINE
ANTHOLOGY: THE FIRST FIVE YEARS (London: DAIL Magazine, 1992),
3-6.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/finkelstein87a.pdf
Finkelstein, exiled from South Africa in 1968, journeyed to
England where he became a psychologist, retired tutor in
Disability Studies at the Open University, UK and Visiting
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Disability Studies, Leeds
University, opened the 1987 London Disability Arts Forum with
a brief speech on why disability culture is a crucial
component of the disability rights movement.
Finkelstein, Vic, A PERSONAL JOURNEY INTO DISABILITY POLITICS,
First presented at Leeds University Centre for Disability
Studies, 7th February 2001.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/finkelstein01a.pdf
Finkelstein, exiled from South Africa in 1968, journeyed to
England where he became a psychologist, retired tutor in
Disability Studies at the Open University, UK and Visiting
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Disability Studies, Leeds
University, reviews the development of radical British
disability organizations and his own personal history in their
evolution and in that of his own thinking.
Gill, Carol J., "A Psychological View of Disability Culture,"
DISABILITY STUDIES QUARTERLY 15 (4), (Fall 1995), 16-19.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/gill1995.html
Gill, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Director of
the Chicago Center for Disability Research, University of
Illinois, and foremost proponent of disability culture in the
1980s provides an excellent perspective of why the need for a
culture, what it is, and what it means for those of us who
feel the need to be categorized in it.
Longmore, Paul K., "The Second Phase: From Disability Rights
to Disability Culture," DISABILITY RAG & RESOURCE, 16 (5),
(Sept./Oct. 1995), 4-11.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/longm95.html
Longmore, Professor of History and Director of the Institute
on Disability, San Francisco State University, described how
the American disability rights movement moved in the mid-1990s
from a focus on rights to a quest for collective identity.
Morrison, Elspeth and Vic Finkelstein. 1993. Broken Arts And
Cultural Repair: The Role Of Culture In The Empowerment Of
Disabled People, First published in Swain, J., Finkelstein,
V., French, S., and Oliver, M., DISABLING BARRIERS - ENABLING
ENVIRONMENTS, (London, Sage Publications, in association with
the Open University, 1993).
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/finkelstein93a.pdf
Morrison, former editor of Disability Arts in London magazine,
freelance writer and theatre director, and author of the
Independent Theatre Council's book on Theatre Practice and
Disability and Finkelstein, exiled from South Africa in 1968,
journeyed to England where he became a psychologist, retired
tutor in Disability Studies at the Open University, UK and
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Disability
Studies, Leeds University, discuss how human beings come
together in groups to confirm their identity and how
disability arts and culture enable people with disabilities
find their way in mainstream culture.
Oliver, Michael J. 1999. "Capitalism, disability and
ideology: A materialist critique of the Normalization
principle." First published in Flynn, Robert J. and Raymond
A. Lemay, A QUARTER-CENTURY OF NORMALIZATION AND SOCIAL ROLE
VALORIZATION: EVOLUTION AND IMPACT, Ottawa: University of
Ottawa Press, 1999).
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/oliver99.pdf
Oliver, Professor of Disability Studies, University of
Greenwich, London, England, and well-known disability rights
advocate, sociologist, and author of many titles, including
UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE, argues that
the oppression that disabled people face is rooted in the
economic and social structures of capitalism and that
materialist social theory offers disabled people the
opportunity to transform their own lives and in so doing to
transform the society in which they live into one in which all
roles are valued.
Pfeiffer, David, "The Disability Movement and its History.
First published as "Hip Crip 101," MAINSTREAM: MAGAZINE OF
THE ABLE-DISABLED, 19, 4 (Dec-Jan 1994-95), 32-37.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/pfeiffer95.html
Pfeiffer, Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii,
past president of the Society for Disability Studies, present
editor of Disability Studies Quarterly and an early leader of
the U.S. disability rights movement while a full time faculty
member at Suffolk University in Boston, explores the history
of the American disability rights movements through what he
considers some of its most classic texts.
Creating a Disability Mythology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
REHABILITATION RESEARCH, 15, (Winter 1992), 227-33.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown92a.html
An attempt to reframe how people look at disability from a
perception of pride rather than negativity. With a focus on a
few heroes the author describes a mythic journey of the
disability experience.
Brown, Steven E., "Deviants, Invalids, and Anthropologists:
Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Conditions of Disability in One
Academic Discipline: A Review of Disability and Culture,
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION: AN INTERNATIONAL,
MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, 18 (5) (May 1996), 273-75.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown96d.pdf
A critical review of the book DISABILITY AND CULTURE, edited
by Benedicte Ingstad and Susan Reynolds Whyte.
Brown, Steven E., "Disability Culture: A Fact Sheet," (Las
Cruces, NM: Institute on Disability Culture, 1996).
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown96a.pdf
A two-page description of the evolution of disability culture
through the mid-1990s.
Brown, Steven E., "Dis-ing Definitions," MAINSTREAM:
MAGAZINE OF THE ABLE-DISABLED, 21 (10), (Aug. 1997), 22, 26-
27, 29.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown97b.html
An attempt to reframe what the language about disability means
and how people with disabilities do or do not fit into the
"norm."
Brown, Steven E., "'Poster Kids No More:' Perspectives About
the No-Longer Emerging (In Fact, Vibrant) Disability
Culture,"; DISABILITY STUDIES QUARTERLY, 18(1) (Winter 1998),
5-19.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown98a.pdf
This article attempts of put into perspective the author's
view of changes in the ideas and implementation of the
disability culture concept. Includes many quotes from
previous writings.
Brown, Steven E., "We Are Who We Are... So Who Are We?
MAINSTREAM: MAGAZINE OF THE ABLE-DISABLED, 20 (10), (Aug.
1996), 28-30, 32.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/brown96b.html
After years of being asked for a short definition of
"disability culture" this article attempts a one-paragraph
definition and discusses the treacherous nature of definitions
in general.
------------------------------------------------
SONG LYRICS
Crescendo, Johnny. "The Ballad of Josie Evans." 1993.
[Recorded by Johnny Crescendo and the P.O.P. Squad] On PRIDE
[Cassette] Derbyshire, England, 1993.
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/evans93.html
An eloquent, heart-wrenching story of a woman who is abandoned
by her government and everyone else to a solitary, but
dignified, life and death in a nursing home.
Field, Jane, "The Fishing is Free," THE FISHING IS FREE.
(Available while supplies last from the Institute on
Disability Culture, 2260 Sunrise Point Rd., Las Cruces, NM
88011, $10.00 plus S&H).
http://www.independentliving.org/docs3/field1994.html
Field, a Canadian singer and songwriter with a disability is
the only singer I know of who consistently uses humor in her
tales of disability.
------------------------------------------------
BOOKS ABOUT DISABILITY CULTURE
Brown, Steven E., FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: INDEPENDENT LIVING
HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY (Houston: ILRU, 2000; Available from
2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77019,
http://www.ilru.org).
Brown, Steven E., INVESTIGATING A CULTURE OF DISABILITY:
FINAL REPORT (Las Cruces, NM: Institute on Disability
Culture, 1994).
Charlton, James I., NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US: DISABILITY
OPPRESSION AND EMPOWERMENT (Berkeley: California, 1998).
Crutchfield, Susan and Marcy Epstein, eds., POINTS OF CONTACT:
DISABILITY, ART, AND CULTURE (Ann Arbor: University of
Michigan, 2000).
Fries, Kenny, STARING BACK: THE DISABILITY EXPERIENCE FROM
THE INSIDE OUT (NY: Plume, 1997).
Gallagher, Hugh Gregory, BY TRUST BETRAYED: PATIENTS,
PHYSICIANS AND THE LICENSE TO KILL IN THE THIRD REICH (New
York: Henry Holt, 1990).
Gallagher, Hugh Gregory, FDR'S SPLENDID DECEPTION (New York:
Dodd, Mead, 1985).
Hevey, David, THE CREATURES TIME FORGOT: PHOTOGRAPHY AND
DISABILITY IMAGERY (London: Routledge, 1992).
Jacobson, Denise Sherer, THE QUESTION OF DAVID: A DISABLED
MOTHER'S JOURNEY THROUGH ADOPTION, FAMILY, AND LIFE (Available
from Creative Arts Book Company, 833 Bancroft Way, Berkeley,
CA 94710, 1999, $24.50).
Kailes, June Isaacson, DISABILITY PRIDE: THE
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF SELF-WORTH, SELF-EMPOWERMENT, &
DISABILITY CULTURE (Houston: Independent Living Research
Utilization, 1993).
Keith, Lois, ed., "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?" WRITING BY DISABLED
WOMEN (New York: New Press, 1994).
Linton, Simi, CLAIMING DISABILITY: KNOWLEDGE AND IDENTITY (NY:
New York University, 1998).
Longmore, Paul K. and Lauri Umansky, eds., THE NEW DISABILITY
HISTORY: AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES (New York: NYU Press, 2001).
Mairs, Nancy, WAIST-HIGH IN THE WORLD: A LIFE AMONG THE
NONDISABLED (Boston: Beacon, 1996).
------------------------------------------------
WEBSITES ABOUT DISABILITY CULTURE
Centre for Disability Studies: University of Leeds
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studiesg
Disability Studies Quarterly
http://www.cds.hawaii.edu
Disability World Ezine
http://www.disabilityworld.org/
Institute on Disability Culture
http://www.dimenet.com/disculture/ (text)
http://hometown.aol.com/sbrown8912/index.html (graphics)
Johnny Crescendo
http://206.244.52.52/
London Disability Arts Forum
http://www.dail.dircon.co.uk/
Mobility International
http://www.miusa.org
National Disability Arts Forum (UK)
http://ndaf.org/
Vsa Arts
http://www.vsaarts.org/
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Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such
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Many persons with extensive disabilities use paid workers for
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cannot do by themselves. Our referral service matches
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Global Networking now has 300 organizations from around the
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Check out our ever-growing full-text on-line library
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With these themes:
Universal Design
Personal Assistance
Networking
Human Rights
Travel
------------------------------------------------
(c) 2001 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
E-mail: admin@independentliving.org
Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph. D. Director
Terry Skehan, Administrator
Steve E. Brown, Ph.D., Editor
Sebastian Ferrer, Links Manager
Miles Goldstick, Ph.D., Web Services
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◆Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2001 14:19:12 +0200
From: admin@independentliving.org
Reply-To: admin@independentliving.org
To: INDEPENDENTLIVING@LSV.PI.SE
Subject: Newsletter from Institute on Independent Living, 2001-06-08
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Dear colleague
Since you visited our website or are interested in disability issues,
we would like to inform you of recent developments at
http://www.independentliving.org
Personal Assistance Network
We just finished our project "Personal Assistance Network". During
the 3-year project period we built a full-text internet-based library with
documents about personal assistance for persons with extensive
disabilities and related themes. Visit the project's site at
http://www.independentliving.org/PANetwork/index.html
and read the executive summary of the final report at
http://www.independentliving.org/PANetwork/panmars2001.pdf
Disability Radio Worldwide
New on the site is Jean Parker's Radio Disability Worldwide. Jean is
a well-known disability rights activist with years of experience
working in the movement. Jean's list of program guests reads like a
"Who's Who" of the disability community leadership around the
globe. Almost all of the guests on Disability Radio Worldwide are
people with disabilities and experts in their field(s), discussing the full
spectrum of issues related to advancing the human rights of people
with disabilities around the world.
Jean broadcasts her programs on short wave from Costa Rica's
Radio for Peace International. Now you can listen online to a number
of her shows on our site with streaming audio at
http://www.independentliving.org/radio/index.html
Online services of interest to the disability community
We've also developed interactive online services for
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- worldwide networking among organizations and companies
working in the disability field with over 300 entries at
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We also run a number of projects that are not web-related such as
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◆Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 04:03:24 +0100
From: Mowbray Jones
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Greetings!
If you wish to see this Newsletter on our website, please go to:
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Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 10/2000
Internet for Independent Living
--------------------------------------
Contents
Editorial
New in the Library
Books on Web Accessibility
Web Accessibility Resources
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Other Services Offered by the Institute
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
Editorial
Falling through the Net ?
Technology is neither good nor evil - it depends on who uses it for what
purposes. The Internet and related technology is surrounded by a lot of
hype. Every day highly paid prophets paint an ever rosier picture of the
promised land ahead of us. According to my observations, the less they know
about our real living conditions, the greater their enthusiasm over
virtual cure-alls against social isolation and unemployment and for better
education and more personal independence.
With access to the new technology our group stands to gain great
opportunities for joining the mainstream. But without access many of us will
be left even further behind.
We cannot afford to reject the possibilities offered by technology, but
neither can we afford to uncritically embrace technology. We need to make
sure that we have a decisive influence on how it can be accessed. To succeed
in this we need to use the political process, boycott companies with
inaccessible goods and services and recruit allies.
In this edition of our newsletter you will find some tools for our
never-ending struggle for inclusion.
Adolf Ratzka
Enjoy
Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D.
Director, Institute on Independent Living
*********************************************************************
New in the Library - Universal Design - Computers, Telecommunications,
Internet
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents1o.html
*********************************************************************
Here are just a few titles:
Accessibility on the Internet: Report on a Priority Theme
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/UN-Report-accessibility-on-the-inter
net.html
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the existing international
web accessibility initiatives with numerous
links to useful resources for the practitioner.
IIA Warns SOGOC: Disability Web Decision Puts Businesses on Notice
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision-press-release.html
In the wake of the court decision against the Sydney Olympics organizers,
Australian businesses and authorities oversee
their websites' access.
Sydney Olympics 2000 Website Accessibility Decision: Bruce Lindsay
Maguire vs Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games: Reasons for
Decision of the Hon. William Carter QC, Inquiry Commissioner
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision.html
Sydney Olympics organizers were taken to court for having an inaccessible
website, which is in violation of the Australian
Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, and lost the case.
Making Technology Accessible To All
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/gwencarleton.html
Universal design in Information Technology is slowly becoming standard in
the industry.
**************************************************
Books on Web Accessibility
Click here to see all kinds of great books related to Web Accessibility!
Also, check out this new book!
Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible
to All
**************************************************
Through our new affiliate, Amazon.com, the Institute's Bookstore offers a
selection of books directly related to Disability
and Travel. If you've recently read a book you think is relevant to the
Institute and would like to offer a short review, please
contact our web-editor.
**************************************************
Web Accessibility Resources
**************************************************
We have compiled a comprehensive list of web accessibility resources to help
you locate what you want!
Just go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/links/links-computers-internet-disability.h
tml
United Nations Standard Rules: Accessibility
http://www.independentliving.org/STANDARDRULES/StandardRules2.html#anchor137
0198
Although the United Nations Standard Rules imply no legally binding
responsibility, it has become an important
instrument in the hands of the disability community to demand full access as
a human right. Read Rule number 5 on
Accessibility as a target area for equal participation.
Internet Access & the Digital Divide
http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/internet/divide.html
A Digital Divide is threatening people with disabilities. This site contains
resources to bridge it.
Current Research on Web-Based Distance Learning: Web Resources on
Distance Learning
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/webnet98.html
This website contains links to all aspects of web-based distance education,
from online courses, courseware, and exams to
funding, current awareness, educational technology, best practices,
web-based learning sites, and much more!
Policies Relating to Web Accessibility
http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Policy
Would you like to know what the policy is for web accessibility in a
particular country? This website lists links to foreign
government bodies and their policies regarding web accessibility for people
with disabilities.
**************************************************
Don't forget to visit our other great on-line services below!
**************************************************
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such destinations
as France, Egypt the UK or Canada. We
have over 100 attractive offers waiting for you! Our base of participants
lists the accessible features of their homes and
dates they wish to travel.
Assistant Referral Service
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
Many persons with extensive disabilities use employed workers for such daily
tasks as getting bathed and dressed,
shopping, driving their car or anything else which they cannot do by
themselves.
Our ambition is to match assistance users and assistants in their
hometown, within their country or in other parts of the
world. For example, if you as an assistance user plan to take a trip abroad,
you might want to put in an ad offering a
position in that city you will be visiting. In this case, you might want to
use English. If you need an assistant in your
hometown, use your own language. In this case it is easier to match your
request.
Assistance users can find assistants through the Personal Assistance
Exchange, while assistants can regularly check the
site for job openings.
Global Networking
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
Global Networking now has over 240 organizations from around the world
offering information to partner organizations
for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training
or technical assistance, for study visits, internships
or other cooperation including funding. Add your organization now.
Our Online Library!
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/content2.html
Check out our ever-growing on-line library containing hundreds of
independent living articles, resources and subjects of
interest for all people with disabilities! We add new articles all the time
on such subjects as: Universal Design, Human
Rights and Disability, Women with Disabilities, the latest in Assistive
Devices, National Policies of various countries, and
much more, so check back often!
Discussion Forums
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
Current threads under the Access/Universal Design Forum are:
looking for suggestions of books, articles, or interior design ideas,
relating to Cognitive Disability.
invitation to join the accessibuilt mailing list hosted by mailbase and run
by the SURFACE research team at
Salford university.
help needed working on a project to build a Universal Design apartment
complex in Tokyo, Japan.
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate
discussion forum that allows you direct contact with
the thousands of visitors to our site each month. Among the variety of
themes such as human rights; personal assistance;
and relationships, sexuality & family, there is also one for personal
assistance.
**************************************************
Upcoming Events and Conferences
**************************************************
World Congress - Inclusion by Design - Planning the Barrier-Free World
Hosted by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work from June 1-5,
2001 in Montr饌l, Qu饕ec, Canada (Palais
des Congr鑚 de Montr饌l).
There are three major themes:
1.Inclusive Employment;
2.Inclusive Communities;
3.Universal Access.
The main objective of the event will be to look at inclusive policies which
can be developed and implemented through
government, corporate and community infrastructures. Senior Canadian and
international representatives are invited to
attend this truly unique and progressive event. Delegates comprised of
policy makers, educators, professionals,
organizations and individuals will focus on implementing inclusive policies
and programs, universal design and equal
access for all people.
They are inviting all interested people to participate in this unique event
by either presenting your work and contribution in
support of inclusive employment, inclusive communities & universal access or
attending the Congress to listen to others
and develop future policies.
Deadline for the submission of papers is November 3, 2000.
Inclusion by Design is a call to the world to stop, think and take action.
Come and share your expertise!
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
500, University Avenue, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 1V7
Tel: (416) 260-3060 ext.231 or 1-800-664-0925 ext.231
Fax: (416) 260-3093
email: congress@ccrw.org
website: http://www.ccrw.org/
**************************************************
Get Published
**************************************************
http://www.independentliving.org/Publish.html
Expose your articles, reports, training manuals or other resources to people
with disabilities, researchers, service providers,
government officials and policymakers all over the world.
**************************************************
The Previous Newsletter
**************************************************
Our previous newsletter on Accessible Travel is archived at:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/8_00.html
Click on back issues of our other newsletters containing these
interesting themes!
Universal Design
Personal Assistance
Networking
Human Rights
**************************************************
Forthcoming Issue of the Newsletter
**************************************************
In our next newsletter we take up the theme of "Work and Disability". Send
your articles, references to useful resources,
reviews, etc. to: editor@independentliving.org
==================================================
You are receiving this mail either because you registered directly with the
Institute, or because of an expressed interest in
independent living or disability issues.
If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list, (if you
have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the list
itself) send email to: ILNewsletter.
==================================================
ｩ 2000 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Dr. Adolf Ratzka, Director
ratzka@independentliving.org
Terry Skehan, Administrator
admin@independentliving.org
Malcolm D. Wald, Web Editor
editor@independentliving.org
Mowbray Jones, Web Services and Webmaster
E-mail Web Services: service@independentliving.org
E-mail Webmaster: webmaster@independentliving.org
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 04:03:24 +0100
From: Mowbray Jones
Reply-To: service@INDEPENDENTLIVING.ORG
To: INDEPENDENTLIVING@LSV.PI.SE
Subject:
Greetings!
If you wish to see this Newsletter on our website, please go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/11_00.html
***************************************************************
Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 10/2000
Internet for Independent Living
--------------------------------------
Contents
Editorial
New in the Library
Books on Web Accessibility
Web Accessibility Resources
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Other Services Offered by the Institute
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
Editorial
Falling through the Net ?
Technology is neither good nor evil - it depends on who uses it for what
purposes. The Internet and related technology is surrounded by a lot of
hype. Every day highly paid prophets paint an ever rosier picture of the
promised land ahead of us. According to my observations, the less they know
about our real living conditions, the greater their enthusiasm over
virtual cure-alls against social isolation and unemployment and for better
education and more personal independence.
With access to the new technology our group stands to gain great
opportunities for joining the mainstream. But without access many of us will
be left even further behind.
We cannot afford to reject the possibilities offered by technology, but
neither can we afford to uncritically embrace technology. We need to make
sure that we have a decisive influence on how it can be accessed. To succeed
in this we need to use the political process, boycott companies with
inaccessible goods and services and recruit allies.
In this edition of our newsletter you will find some tools for our
never-ending struggle for inclusion.
Adolf Ratzka
Enjoy
Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D.
Director, Institute on Independent Living
*********************************************************************
New in the Library - Universal Design - Computers, Telecommunications,
Internet
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents1o.html
*********************************************************************
Here are just a few titles:
Accessibility on the Internet: Report on a Priority Theme
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/UN-Report-accessibility-on-the-inter
net.html
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the existing international
web accessibility initiatives with numerous
links to useful resources for the practitioner.
IIA Warns SOGOC: Disability Web Decision Puts Businesses on Notice
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision-press-release.html
In the wake of the court decision against the Sydney Olympics organizers,
Australian businesses and authorities oversee
their websites' access.
Sydney Olympics 2000 Website Accessibility Decision: Bruce Lindsay
Maguire vs Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games: Reasons for
Decision of the Hon. William Carter QC, Inquiry Commissioner
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/sydney-olympics-blind-accessibility-
decision.html
Sydney Olympics organizers were taken to court for having an inaccessible
website, which is in violation of the Australian
Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, and lost the case.
Making Technology Accessible To All
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/gwencarleton.html
Universal design in Information Technology is slowly becoming standard in
the industry.
**************************************************
Books on Web Accessibility
Click here to see all kinds of great books related to Web Accessibility!
Also, check out this new book!
Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible
to All
**************************************************
Through our new affiliate, Amazon.com, the Institute's Bookstore offers a
selection of books directly related to Disability
and Travel. If you've recently read a book you think is relevant to the
Institute and would like to offer a short review, please
contact our web-editor.
**************************************************
Web Accessibility Resources
**************************************************
We have compiled a comprehensive list of web accessibility resources to help
you locate what you want!
Just go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/links/links-computers-internet-disability.h
tml
United Nations Standard Rules: Accessibility
http://www.independentliving.org/STANDARDRULES/StandardRules2.html#anchor137
0198
Although the United Nations Standard Rules imply no legally binding
responsibility, it has become an important
instrument in the hands of the disability community to demand full access as
a human right. Read Rule number 5 on
Accessibility as a target area for equal participation.
Internet Access & the Digital Divide
http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/internet/divide.html
A Digital Divide is threatening people with disabilities. This site contains
resources to bridge it.
Current Research on Web-Based Distance Learning: Web Resources on
Distance Learning
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/webnet98.html
This website contains links to all aspects of web-based distance education,
from online courses, courseware, and exams to
funding, current awareness, educational technology, best practices,
web-based learning sites, and much more!
Policies Relating to Web Accessibility
http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Policy
Would you like to know what the policy is for web accessibility in a
particular country? This website lists links to foreign
government bodies and their policies regarding web accessibility for people
with disabilities.
**************************************************
Don't forget to visit our other great on-line services below!
**************************************************
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such destinations
as France, Egypt the UK or Canada. We
have over 100 attractive offers waiting for you! Our base of participants
lists the accessible features of their homes and
dates they wish to travel.
Assistant Referral Service
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
Many persons with extensive disabilities use employed workers for such daily
tasks as getting bathed and dressed,
shopping, driving their car or anything else which they cannot do by
themselves.
Our ambition is to match assistance users and assistants in their
hometown, within their country or in other parts of the
world. For example, if you as an assistance user plan to take a trip abroad,
you might want to put in an ad offering a
position in that city you will be visiting. In this case, you might want to
use English. If you need an assistant in your
hometown, use your own language. In this case it is easier to match your
request.
Assistance users can find assistants through the Personal Assistance
Exchange, while assistants can regularly check the
site for job openings.
Global Networking
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
Global Networking now has over 240 organizations from around the world
offering information to partner organizations
for joint projects, events, sharing resource persons for lectures, training
or technical assistance, for study visits, internships
or other cooperation including funding. Add your organization now.
Our Online Library!
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/content2.html
Check out our ever-growing on-line library containing hundreds of
independent living articles, resources and subjects of
interest for all people with disabilities! We add new articles all the time
on such subjects as: Universal Design, Human
Rights and Disability, Women with Disabilities, the latest in Assistive
Devices, National Policies of various countries, and
much more, so check back often!
Discussion Forums
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
Current threads under the Access/Universal Design Forum are:
looking for suggestions of books, articles, or interior design ideas,
relating to Cognitive Disability.
invitation to join the accessibuilt mailing list hosted by mailbase and run
by the SURFACE research team at
Salford university.
help needed working on a project to build a Universal Design apartment
complex in Tokyo, Japan.
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate
discussion forum that allows you direct contact with
the thousands of visitors to our site each month. Among the variety of
themes such as human rights; personal assistance;
and relationships, sexuality & family, there is also one for personal
assistance.
**************************************************
Upcoming Events and Conferences
**************************************************
World Congress - Inclusion by Design - Planning the Barrier-Free World
Hosted by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work from June 1-5,
2001 in Montr饌l, Qu饕ec, Canada (Palais
des Congr鑚 de Montr饌l).
There are three major themes:
1.Inclusive Employment;
2.Inclusive Communities;
3.Universal Access.
The main objective of the event will be to look at inclusive policies which
can be developed and implemented through
government, corporate and community infrastructures. Senior Canadian and
international representatives are invited to
attend this truly unique and progressive event. Delegates comprised of
policy makers, educators, professionals,
organizations and individuals will focus on implementing inclusive policies
and programs, universal design and equal
access for all people.
They are inviting all interested people to participate in this unique event
by either presenting your work and contribution in
support of inclusive employment, inclusive communities & universal access or
attending the Congress to listen to others
and develop future policies.
Deadline for the submission of papers is November 3, 2000.
Inclusion by Design is a call to the world to stop, think and take action.
Come and share your expertise!
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
500, University Avenue, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 1V7
Tel: (416) 260-3060 ext.231 or 1-800-664-0925 ext.231
Fax: (416) 260-3093
email: congress@ccrw.org
website: http://www.ccrw.org/
**************************************************
Get Published
**************************************************
http://www.independentliving.org/Publish.html
Expose your articles, reports, training manuals or other resources to people
with disabilities, researchers, service providers,
government officials and policymakers all over the world.
**************************************************
The Previous Newsletter
**************************************************
Our previous newsletter on Accessible Travel is archived at:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/8_00.html
Click on back issues of our other newsletters containing these
interesting themes!
Universal Design
Personal Assistance
Networking
Human Rights
**************************************************
Forthcoming Issue of the Newsletter
**************************************************
In our next newsletter we take up the theme of "Work and Disability". Send
your articles, references to useful resources,
reviews, etc. to: editor@independentliving.org
==================================================
You are receiving this mail either because you registered directly with the
Institute, or because of an expressed interest in
independent living or disability issues.
If you need to get in contact with the owner of the list, (if you
have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the list
itself) send email to: ILNewsletter.
==================================================
ｩ 2000 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Dr. Adolf Ratzka, Director
ratzka@independentliving.org
Terry Skehan, Administrator
admin@independentliving.org
Malcolm D. Wald, Web Editor
editor@independentliving.org
Mowbray Jones, Web Services and Webmaster
E-mail Web Services: service@independentliving.org
E-mail Webmaster: webmaster@independentliving.org
Dear friend or colleague,
The Institute on Independent Living, under funding from the European
Union, maintains a full-text online library with documents on all
aspects of Independent Living. One of our areas of particular interest
is Personal Assistance.
We try to make our selection of texts on personal assistance as
extensive and complete as possible. We collect and publish articles,
manuals, research reports and personal accounts about legal, funding and
organizational aspects, training and support issues as well as the
interpersonal dimensions of the user-assistant relationship.
If you or your organization have produced materials of no commercial
value or know of relevant resources elsewhere, we can help in making
them available to a large public through our website which presently
receives close to 500 visitor a day from all over the world. With full
credits and links to authors and copyright owners, of course. Please,
contact our
webmaster Kris Walmsley, at mailto:k.walmsley@swipnet.se. You too can
empower personal assistance users.
Through the year we've received a number of comments - both critical and
complimentary - about our website. When possible, we try to accommodate
requests or implement suggestions. As we head into a new year we're
happy
to present a new look for the website of the Institute on Independent
Living. Webmaster Kris has done a fine job.
The homepage offers now a clear and comprehensive overview of the site's
contents. Latest additions to the Library are headlined, as are
world-wide events (calls for papers,
conferences, etc.). Especially exciting is the addition of a regular
columnist. We begin this feature with Karen Stone, who takes the pulse
of the disability community, and notes the best and worst influences
affecting people with disabilities in the 1900's.
The Library now contains over a thousand pages of relevant materials on
independent living, personal assistance, universal design, legislation,
advocacy, and many other related topics. We're in the process of
providing
descriptive annotations for each article, report, or commentary.
Our free on-line services continue to grow. Aside from new subject
headings in our Discussion Forums, you'll also notice that the
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange contains now 100 objects, and that we
updated the Assistant
Referral Exchange with its list of persons seeking work as personal
assistants and those looking for assistants.
We changed the name of DisOrgNet (Disabilities Organizing Network) to
Global Networking to better reflect the purpose of this service: to
facilitate networking among organizations both of and for persons with
disabilities in
their search for partner organizations for joint projects; events;
sharing resource persons for lectures; training or technical assistance;
for study visits, internships or other cooperation, including funding.
Finally, we'd like to remind you to subscribe to our Newsletter, either
by adding your email address in the form on our homepage or by sending
a mail to
mailto:il-request@lists.canit.se
with
"subscribe"
in the body of your email message.
We look forward to your visit and hope to continue hearing from you.
All the best in 2000.
Cordially yours,
Adolf Ratzka
ratzka@independentliving.org
Director, Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Important references:
Full-text Library
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents.html
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Assistant Referral Service
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
Global Networking
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
Discussion Forums
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/indliv/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
INSTITUTE ON INDEPENDENT LIVING NEWSLETTER 3/99
==================================================
Seven Tools for Going Global
----------------------------
After research, business and government, the new information technology
has now reached the field of Human Rights. Never before has the
disability community had such tools for communication and joint action
on the national and international level. Never before have we had such
means of rapid dissemination of facts and figures, arguments and
examples of good practice. Never before have we had such fast and
inexpensive ways of consulting with each other, pooling our resources
and winning allies for our cause across the globe.
Are you and your organization prepared for globalization? The Institute
on Independent Living can assist you with its wide international
exposure. Presently our website receives over 90,000 hits or 12,000 user
sessions a month, with each user staying in our site on an average of 15
min.
We offer you the following seven tools:
[note: long URLs may have to be copied and pasted into your browser's
address (location) bar.]
Tool 1
**************************************************
Disability Organizations Network
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
**************************************************
DisOrgNet is an on-line database designed to give your organization
world-wide exposure. Presently, some 150 organizations from all over the
world are registered with information about mission, philosophy,
activities, fields of specialization, resources in terms of experts and
published materials, capacity for accommodating study visits,
internships and traineeships, interest in participating in joint
projects with groups or organizations in other parts of the world.
Tool 2
**************************************************
Independent Living Virtual Library
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents.html
**************************************************
We publish texts about your organization, its mission and activities,
achievements, needs and plans in our full-text virtual Library. To have
something published on our site, free of charge, contact
http://www.independentliving.org/Publishframe.html
Throughout the Library, you will find directories to other disability
organizations, and resource kits for networking with them. We also have
a growing section called, Organizations & Networking at:
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents14.html
Particularly interesting for networking and coalition building are the
following resources:
Centers for Independent Living and National Associations of Independent
Living
Possibly the most current and comprehensive listing on the Internet
today of CILs/ILCs from around the world. Where available, the list
includes e-mail, web and postal addresses.
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/CILs.html
DAA Resource Kit: Organisation Building
Disability Awareness in Action's (DAA) Organisation Building Resource
Kit assists organisations of disabled people to improve their structures
and the way they work.
http://www.independentliving.org/DAA/DAAKit41.html
DAA Resource Kit: Media Information
Disability Awareness in Action's (DAA) Media Information Resource Kit
offers concrete methods to change the structures of society and
attitudes, and to support your cause through traditional media.
http://www.independentliving.org/DAA/DAAKit1.html
Inter-American Institute on Disability
The Inter-American Institute on Disability (IID) is a private,
non-profit entity whose purpose is to interface between public and
private organizations and associations of and for people with all types
of disabilities.
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/iid.html
Tool 3
**************************************************
Have your e-mail address posted for colleagues to contact you and your
organization. Review our current list at:
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/mailaddress.html
**************************************************
Tool 4
**************************************************
Expose your articles, reports, training manuals or other resources to
disabled people, researchers, service providers, government officials
and policymakers all over the world by contacting:
http://www.independentliving.org/Publishframe.html
**************************************************
Tool 5
**************************************************
Discussion Forums
http://www.independentliving.org/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/indliv/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
**************************************************
Have a question about housing?
Want to comment on disability legislation?
Need to advertise a service or product?
Looking for somebody with experience in direct payments?
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate
discussion forum that allows you direct contact with the thousands of
visitors to our site each month. Among the variety of themes such as
human rights; personal assistance; relationships, sexuality & family,
there is also one for Networking/Joint Projects.
Tool 6
**************************************************
New "Events" section
http://www.independentliving.org/newsframe.html
**************************************************
Send us information about your meeting, conference, protest action or
whatever. We'll keep it posted until the date of the event, and, if
appropriate, follow it up with a text in our Library. Contact Kris
Walmsley at mailto:k.walmsley@swipnet.se.
Tool 7
**************************************************
Books on networking from a disability perspective
http://barnesandnoble.bfast.com/booklink/click?sourceid=256763&is_search=Y&keyword=disability+networking&match=exact&options=and
**************************************************
The Institute's Bookstore offers a selection of books directly related
to networking and disability.
If you've recently read a book you think is relevant to the Institute
and would like to offer a short review, please contact our webmaster.
**************************************************
The previous newsletter
-----------------------------
Our previous newsletter on Human Rights was well received as evidenced
by the resulting surge in our visitor statistics. We have an extensive
library with legal texts of national and international documents easily
searchable by topic, country and author at:
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents27.html
Most popular were the United Nations Standard Rules and the national
reports about their compliance. The Institute on Independent Living is
the only website where you can read the official country report about a
country's compliance with the Standards and compare it to the reports
written by NGO's about the same country's compliance or lack of it with
the Standards. Fascinating reading at:
http://www.independentliving.org/STANDARDRULES/index.html
Coming issues of the newsletter
--------------------------------------
In upcoming newsletters we take up themes such as Universal Design,
Personal Assistance and Assistive Technology. These issues determine to
a large degree the quality of our every day life. In order to improve
our situation, individually and as a group, nationally and
internationally, we need better information about legislation,
financing, design solutions and user support. Send your articles,
references to useful source of information, reviews, etc. to
mailto:ratzka@independentliving.org
**************************************************
Don't forget to visit our other on-line services
**************************************************
Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such
destinations as France, Egypt the UK or Canada. We've got close to 100
attractive offers waiting for you! Our base of participants list the
accessible features of their homes and dates they wish to travel.
Assistant Referral
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
People with extensive disabilities can find personal assistants in their
hometown or other parts of the world which they plan to visit. And
personal assistants can advertise their need for work.
Personal Assistance Network
http://www.independentliving.org/PANetwork/index.html
Provides discussion forums and full-text library with information,
examples of good practice, advice and support for personal assistance
users.
==================================================
ｩ 1999 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Dr. Adolf Ratzka, Director
mailto:ratzka@independentliving.org
Terry Skehan, Administrator
mailto:skehan@algonet.se
Kris Walmsley, Webmaster
mailto:k.walmsley@swipnet.se
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 11:55:07 +0200
From: Mowbray Jones
Reply-To: service@INDEPENDENTLIVING.ORG
To: INDEPENDENTLIVING@LSV.PI.SE
Subject: Independent Living Newsletter August
Greetings!
If you wish to see this Newsletter on our website, please go to:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/8_00.html
***************************************************************
Accessible Travel
Institute on Independent Living Newsletter 8/2000
Accessible Travel
--------------------------------------
Contents
Editorial
New in the Library
Books on Disability and Travel
Disability Travel and Leisure Resources
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Other Services Offered by the Institute
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
Editorial
Travel Anyone?
On the Northern hemisphere we are enjoying summer now, a time to enjoy
the outdoors, take vacations and travel. This is also the time when we are
reminded of the limitations imposed on us by handicapping environments. As
we leave our familiar territory and venture off to new places we face more
obstacles, frustrations and expenses than the average person: no matter
where we live or visit, we are still far away from equal opportunities in
infrastructure and cultural and social life.
In a number of countries Tourism for All can be used as a backdoor to
Universal Design. With the increasing number of retired persons in
industrialized countries tour operators the world over increase their market
by offering accessible and comfortable facilities. Today*s seniors are more
affluent and enterprising than ever before. They are leaving the confinement
of resort hotels and cruise ships to experience the culture and nature of
their host countries. In the future, Universal Design in all infrastructure
will be an area of competition among cities and countries depending on
tourism.
No matter which approach we use - Universal Design as a human right
or Tourism for All as good business - we, disabled people and our
organizations, need to be in the forefront of this development to make sure
that our needs are taken into account, in a functional and dignified
fashion.
In the meantime, there are a number of organizations and resources
that can make traveling easier for you. We added a completely new section of
resources on travel and leisure to our site and posted full-text articles on
this theme in our virtual library.
Enjoy
Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph.D.
Director, Institute on Independent Living
**************************************************
New in the Library - Recreation & Travel
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/Library_Contents25.html
**************************************************
Here are just a few titles:
What is a Jo・ette?
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/Joelette.html
Read about how one parent's invention made travelling easier and more
pleasant for his son, despite the latter's disability.
The Jo・ette in Action: A Trip to Peru
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/Peru1997.html
See how travelling with a disability just got easier with the Jo・ette in
action on a trip to Peru, where even the toughest
terrain can be conquered with this wonderful invention!
Ethics challenges: Health, safety and accessibility in International Travel
and Tourism
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/Richter.html
Enormous increases in international travel by public sector employees and
others, along with incidents of terrorism, accidents and disease, raise a
variety of ethical issues not normally covered in the training of public
personnel administrators or in the standard administrative ethics course.
Issues of accessibility for individuals with disabilities take on new
dimensions when they travel abroad. This paper provides an overview of
trends and issues, explores their ethical dimensions and identifies relevant
strategies to prepare public administrators to deal appropriately with these
concerns.
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Books on Disability and Travel
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=independentliv05&keywo
rd=disabled+travel&mode=books
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Through our new affiliate, Amazon.com, the Institute's Bookstore offers a
selection of books directly related to Disability and Travel. If you've
recently read a book you think is relevant to the Institute and would like
to offer a short review, please contact our web-editor.
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Disability Travel & Leisure Resources
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We have compiled a comprehensive list of Disability Travel and Leisure
resources to help you locate the right vacation for you!
Just go to: http://www.independentliving.org/Links3.html#anchor20
United Nations Standard Rules: Accessibility
http://www.independentliving.org/STANDARDRULES/StandardRules2.html#anchor137
0198
Although the United Nations Standard Rules imply no legally binding
responsibility, it has become an important instrument in the hands of the
disability community to demand full access as a human right. Read Rule
number 5 on Accessibility as a target area for equal participation.
Buses for All (Europe): Update
http://www.independentliving.org/LibArt/access/buses3.html
Buses for All (Europe) is a small group of volunteers who have a strong
interest in buses being accessible for all people with disabilities. Buses
for All (Europe), along with disability organisations and other allies, have
been pressing the European Commission, the European Parliament and the
European Council of Ministers to make full access a compulsory part of the
design rules. Read the latest news in Buses for All's campaign to gain
universal access to all buses in Europe.
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Don't forget to visit our other great on-line services below!
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Accessible Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/VacationHomeSwap.html
Swap your home during your next vacation with somebody in such destinations
as France, Egypt the UK or Canada. We have over 100 attractive offers
waiting for you! Our base of participants lists the accessible features of
their homes and dates they wish to travel.
Assistant Referral Service
http://www.independentliving.org/assex/index.html
Many persons with extensive disabilities use employed workers for such daily
tasks as getting bathed and dressed, shopping, driving their car or anything
else which they cannot do by themselves.
Our ambition is to match assistance users and assistants in their hometown,
within their country or in other parts of the world. For example, if you as
an assistance user plan to take a trip abroad, you might want to put in an
ad offering a position in that city you will be visiting. In this case, you
might want to use English. If you need an assistant in your hometown, use
your own language. In this case it is easier to match your request.
Assistance users can find assistants through the Personal Assistance
Exchange, while assistants can regularly check the site for job openings.
Global Networking
http://www.independentliving.org/donet/index.html
Global Networking now has over 240 organizations from around the world
offering information to partner organizations for joint projects, events,
sharing resource persons for lectures, training or technical assistance, for
study visits, internships or other cooperation including funding. Add your
organization now.
Our Online Library!
http://www.independentliving.org/Library/content2.html
Check out our ever-growing on-line library containing hundreds of
independent living articles, resources and subjects of interest for all
people with disabilities! We add new articles all the time on such subjects
as: Universal Design, Human Rights and Disability, Women with Disabilities,
the latest in Assistive Devices, National Policies of various countries,
and much more, so check back often!
Discussion Forums
http://www2.independentliving.temp.pi.se/cgi/forum/bbs_entrance.cgi
Current threads under the Access/Universal Design Forum are:
looking for suggestions of books, articles, or interior design ideas,
relating to Cognitive Disability.
invitation to join the accessibuilt mailing list hosted by mailbase and run
by the SURFACE research team at Salford university.
help needed working on a project to build a Universal Design apartment
complex in Tokyo, Japan.
Regardless of what you have on your mind, you'll find an appropriate
discussion forum that allows you direct contact with the thousands of
visitors to our site each month. Among the variety of themes such as human
rights; personalassistance; and relationships, sexuality & family, there is
also one for personal assistance.
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Upcoming Events and Conferences
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World Congress - Inclusion by Design - Planning the Barrier-Free World
Hosted by the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work from June
1-5, 2001 in Montr饌l, Qu饕ec, Canada (Palais des Congrﾋs de Montrﾈal).
There are three major themes:
1.Inclusive Employment;
2.Inclusive Communities;
3.Universal Access.
The main objective of the event will be to look at inclusive policies
which can be developed and implemented through government, corporate and
community infrastructures. Senior Canadian and international representatives
are invited to attend this truly unique and progressive event. Delegates
comprised of policy makers, educators, professionals, organizations and
individuals will focus on implementing inclusive policies and programs,
universal design and equal access for all people.
They are inviting all interested people to participate in this unique
event by either presenting your work and contribution in support of
inclusive employment, inclusive communities & universal access or attending
the Congress to listen to others and develop future policies.
Deadline for the submission of papers is November 3, 2000.
Inclusion by Design is a call to the world to stop, think and take
action. Come and share your expertise!
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
500, University Avenue, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5G 1V7
Tel: (416) 260-3060 ext.231 or 1-800-664-0925 ext.231
Fax: (416) 260-3093
email: congress@ccrw.org
website: http://www.ccrw.org/
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Get Published
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http://www.independentliving.org/Publish.html
Expose your articles, reports, training manuals or other resources to people
with disabilities, researchers, service providers, government officials and
policymakers all over the world.
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The Previous Newsletter
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Our previous newsletter on Universal Design is archived at:
http://www.independentliving.org/newsletter/1_00.html
Click on back issues of our other newsletters containing these interesting
themes!
Personal Assistance
Networking
Human Rights
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Coming Issues of the Newsletter
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In our next newsletter we take up the theme of 的nternet for Independent
Living*. Send your articles, references to useful resources, reviews, etc.
to editor@independentliving.org
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If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please got to:
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Here you will find the means to alter your subscription.
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ｩ 2000 Institute on Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
Dr. Adolf Ratzka, Director
ratzka@independentliving.org
Terry Skehan, Administrator
admin@independentliving.org
Malcolm D. Wald, Web Editor
editor@independentliving.org
Mowbray Jones, Web Services
service@independentliving.org
Max Eriksson, Webmaster
webmaster@independentliving.org
Independent Living
http://www.independentliving.org
REV: 20160622