Assistive Technology News – October 2022 round up
Clive Gilbert | 25 Oct 2022Assistive technology news, policy and events. 
DispATches is written by Clive Gilbert, freelance research consultant and specialist writer in public policy, social affairs and technology.
Born with cerebral palsy, Clive is an extensive user of assistive technology and has first-hand experience of the transformative potential that technology can bring to the lives of disabled people.
Born with cerebral palsy, Clive is an extensive user of assistive technology and has first-hand experience of the transformative potential that technology can bring to the lives of disabled people.
Policy and Campaigns
- Netflix's new Director of Product Accessibility, Heather Dowdy, has spoken about how growing up with deaf parents has shaped her approach to the job. Heather also recently joined AbilityNet for a webinar where she shared her insights into accessibility at Netflix. Watch the webinar recording here.
- The government has published a paper outlining its plans to make the most of the future benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles - including for older and disabled people.
- Six housing associations and local councils from across the UK have been awarded grants of £75,000 to test which technologies and digital services work best for older people and explore why.
- Legislators in the United States Congress have introduced a bill that would require all websites and software applications to meet accessibility standards.
Tech Developments and Innovations
In an accessibility first, Amazon's new line of Fire HD Tablets allows people with speech impairments to interact with Alexa by tapping the screen rather than by speaking.- Scientists are building a robotic sleeve to help children with cerebral palsy to perform everyday tasks without assistance by reducing involuntary movements and restoring control.
- Orcam Learn is a new handheld assistive device for people with reading difficulties that can be used to read out loud anything from a single word to a full page of text via a simple-point-and-click selection.
Training, Events, and Professional Development
AbilityNet TechShare Pro, 15-17 November 2022
- AbilityNet hosts Europe's largest gathering of accessibility and inclusive professionals and their allies. You’ll also be able to hear from me at TechShare Pro as I take part in the panel for TechShare Pro’s Media representation of disability session.
Brain-Computer Interface as an AAC Access Method, 10 November 2022
- A free webinar exploring technologies that use people's thoughts to restore their ability to communicate.
CENMAC's Thursday Thirties, October to November 2022
- A series of short webinars about educational assistive technologies taking place on Thursdays.
Training discount for dispATches readers
Use the code Dispatches10 to get 10% off AbilityNet's Accessibility and Inclusive Design training, including 'PDF accessibility', 'Accessible social media', and more.
Use the code Dispatches10 to get 10% off AbilityNet's Accessibility and Inclusive Design training, including 'PDF accessibility', 'Accessible social media', and more.
Calendar
- Our Accessibility and assistive technology calendar lists free webinars, training, awareness days and other events.
Tech Tip
How to turn on the Night Light on Android 13
- After a busy day, the bright lights of a computer screen can be jarring, disrupting your relaxation time and potentially interfering with your sleep. This can be even more problematic when you rely on technology to be independent, in which case powering down may simply not be an option. Luckily, most devices allow you to change your display settings to warmer colours and reduce the amount of blue light screens emit. Read about how to use the Night Light feature on Android 13 smartphones on AbiltyNet's My Computer, My Way website.
Get in touch
- Email Clive if you have a comment about the stories in this newsletter - or to suggest a contribution for next month.
Further resources
- Join our dispATches mailing list to receive the latest news and events from the world of assistive technology.
- Read Clive's blog article on 'Twenty years of inclusive innovation at Apple'
- Find out more about AbilityNet's free live webinars.
- Discover more AbilityNet training.
- Unsure where to start with digital accessibility? Speak to our experts for help.
AbilityNet provides a range of free services to help disabled people and older people. If you can afford it, please donate to help us support older and disabled people through technology
