Assistive Technology on the YouTube

YouTube videos can be a great way to lose track of an afternoon, but they can also be a fantastic source of information for all things assistive technology.

Of course there's the UATP channel where you can find archived webinars on a variety of AT topics, presented by field professionals: UATP YouTube Channel.

And here are some of our other favorite YouTube channels for AT information:

• Assistive Technology Center: Watch stories of people successfully using all kind of assistive technology. Good source for an overview of available AT.
• Family Center on Technology and Disability: The 'AT in Action' series shows school-aged children using AT to make school and home life more accessible. Good source for teachers and parents.
• INDATA Project: The Indiana AT Program offers short demos and introductions to many kinds of AT devices.
• ICATER UIowa: The Iowa AT Program channel is the holy grail of app demos and reviews. 
• LIW Accessible Productions: Channel of the DATT show (Disability and Assistive Technology Today) hosted by wheelchair user and AT enthusiast Jeremy Murray. 

What are your favorite YouTube channels for getting the scoop on assistive technology? Share it with us so we can pass it on! Tweet us @utahATprogram or email us at utahatp@gmail.com. 

In the news: UATP director talks 25 years of the ADA

In case you missed these informative pieces from UATP director Sachin Pavithran regarding the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, here they are archived online:

UATP director, Sachin Pavithran

Utah Public Radio, Aug. 11: Access Utah: 25 Years of the ADA

Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 8: Op-Ed: Today's Congress lacks the resolve that created the Americans with Disabilities Act

Accessibility survey participants needed

A study determining accessibility of accomodations in facilities is being conducted by the College at Brockport of the State University of New York. 

Dr. Lauren Lieberman and Dr. Ozkan Tutuncu from the Department of Kinesiology, Sport Studies, and Physical Education are conducting a study to determine the accessibility of accommodation facilities with the life experiences of people with disabilities. 

They are ready to send the questionnaire out to people with disabilities, their families and traveling companions. It should take about 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire. Results are expected to help improve the accessibility of tourism facilities.

The survey can be accessed at http://www.gumus.com/survey/. 

After the ADA: Poverty for people with disabilities still a problem

There is no question after 25 years, that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has helped people with disabilities have better access to employment and education. 

However, poverty is still linked with disability in America. From bureaucratic barriers to transportation barriers to social barriers, obtaining employment and maintaining a base of financial savings for people with a disability is difficult to say the least.

Former football player Emeka Nnaka of Oklahoma tells NPR (full story below) that before he had an adapted van, he used to spend three hours a day in transit to get to work.

There is an estimated employment rate in Utah for adults aged 21 to 64 with a disability of 42.2 percent. This is in contrast to 77.5 percent among people without a disability in Utah.

There are multiple ways to combat unemployment for people with disabilities, and one of them is providing access to adaptive technology like Nnaka's van. Accessibility to transportation, communication devices, computers and more, break down many barriers and increase independence of people with disabilities. 

The Utah Assistive Technology Foundation helps people with disabilities get the technology they need with a loan and grant program. So far this year, UATF has provided 62 grants to Utahans with disabilities to purchases devices ranging from hearing aids to iPads. 

UATF is working to increase funds available for these grants, and contributions can be made to the fundraising campaign through Razoo. All donations support the UATF grant program, helping make Utahans with disabilities independent.