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The 2010 Texas Statewide Independent Living Conference
2010 Statewide Independent Living Conference
"Independent Living the Next Decade: Revitalize, Reorganize, Rejuvenize"
Dallas, Texas ~ March 7 - 9, 2010
For more information please click here
Information and Recruitment for Doctoral Study
Unique Opportunity to Participate in a Research Study and Win an I-pod You are invited to participate in a doctoral research project at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee on evaluating factors that are most important to individuals with impairments when they purchase and use medical devices. To participate in this study you have to be at least 18years of age. As a participant in this study, you can enter into an I-pod raffle, the results of which will be released in April 2010. The information obtained from this survey will enable us to provide information to medical device designers and manufacturers about features that should be included in medical devices so they are usable by persons with disabilities.
To access this survey, click on the following link http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/221239/medical-device-questionnaire
All survey information will be anonymous. Answering this survey will provide us with vital information that will be used to improve medical device design for people with disabilities. Your survey responses are completely anonymous. If you have any questions related to the survey, please call Rochelle Mendonca at 414-229-6803 or email her at r2d2-mendonca@uwm.edu. All emails and calls will be responded to within 24 hours.
Local Committee members and Community Supporters
We would like to see if you can help us with outreach to artists with disabilities in Texas. Each year, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities takes the opportunity to recognize the efforts of employers to hire and retain employees with disabilities. In conjunction with that promotion and the awards ceremony, the Committee also spotlights the Texas NDEAM Poster, which is distributed to more than 2,000 businesses throughout the state. Each year, the artwork for the poster features the original art of a Texan with disabilities.
This year, we are asking for your help in getting the word out to artists throughout the State of Texas. There is no entry fee, but the artist who is chosen must agree to donate the original art to the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. If you know of local artists in your community who might be interested in a submission, will you please ask them to contact me for the Submissions Guidelines and Entry Form? Those are not up on our website yet, but will be soon. If you would like me to send you both of those documents by email, please let me know – I can’t send them in this mass email as an attachment. You can see the 2009 NDEAM poster and read about Andrea La Vigne, the artist, on our website.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the email or phone listed below. Thank you for your help and for supporting artists with disabilities.
Jo Virgil, Community Outreach and Information Coordinator
Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
P.O. Box 12428 | Austin TX 78711
512.463.5740 - Phone | 512.463.5745 - Fax | Dial 711 for Relay Services
jo.virgil@governor.state.tx.us | http://governor.state.tx.us/disabilities/
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Download Free File Flyer 361 KB
News about Mobile Arm Supports
ZoncoArm designs and manufactures top quality innovative Mobile Arm Supports to assist people with disabilities in managing tasks such as feeding, brushing teeth, using a computer, and controlling the joystick of their power wheelchair. The Zonco Mobile Arm Valet has recently been improved to make it easier to adjust, more functional, and more comfortable to use. It is covered by Medicare (HCPCS code number L3968), and most major insurance companies. You can see a short demonstration video, and get more information at: www.zoncoarm.com You can also find out how to arrange for a free 2-week trial of any of our products.
AAC Community Survey for the FCC
The FCC is encouraging me to gather information on a new free telephone assistance service (except for the usual long-distance charges) especially designed to help people with speech disabilities, who use the telephone either with AAC or their own voice. Video-Assisted Speech-to-Speech (VAS) will allow you to go to a website and signal a Communication Assistant (CA) that you want to make a phone call. Your computer will need a microphone and a video camera. You and the CA will see and/or hear each other; she/he will watch you type on your device or be able to use visual cues from your lips, facial expressions, etc. and will wait patiently, so that you will have plenty of time to type or speak. The CA will ensure that the other party waits until you signal "go ahead" and keep them on the line before they begin to respond. The advantage of VAS over traditional STS is the visual input that you and the CA receive from each other.
Would you please answer the following survey to help the FCC determine how VAS can be best designed to best benefit the speech disability community?
Click on the following link to get to the Survery: Survey Link
THE STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL NEEDS YOUR INPUT
Your voice is important in helping to build a better Texas for People with Disabilities. Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey and share your thoughts about issues affecting independent living and what progress is being made. Your view will help the Council assess where Texas is today, evaluate the effectiveness of the current State Plan for Independent Living, and shape priorities for the years ahead.
The survey can be:
- Sent to Regina Blye, State Independent Living Council (SILC) Executive Director by regular mail (5555 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite K103, Austin, TX 78751), fax (512-371-7370) or Email admin@txsilc.org
- Completed on line at the SILC website www.txsilc.org
- Turned in at the annual SILC conference.
You can download and print the survery by clicking on the following link: spil_survey.doc 45 KB