August 2007 Archives

"When the ax entered the forest, the trees said, 'Look, the handle is one of us!' " - Turkish saying

Jerry Lewis has made a comic dynasty out of being outlandish. His physical humor, facial dexterity, and non-stop tongue have won him adoring fans around the world and in multiple languages.

The limited exposure I have had to his work has been through my own choice. Some of his classic comic scenes evoke the same response in me as coming across a puppy being abused. I choose to find my entertainment elsewhere.

Ditto for his annual telethon which will, sadly, air again this weekend.

It would take no effort on my part to repeat the well-documented criticisms of Jerry's anachronistic attitudes toward disability. They will pass when he does - although they will continue to do damage in the meantime. It seems more worthwhile to present my reasons for wanting to redeem someone who publicly announced on CBS Sunday Morning, May 20, 2001, "Pity? You don't want to be pitied because you're a cripple in a wheelchair? Stay in your house!"

Jerry, with that you stepped out of your celebrity domain and into commentary on travel and disability.

Craig Gimes, of Accessible Barcelona, is on his way for an extended stay in Nicaragua. You can follow his preparations and later his travelogue at Accessible Everything. Meanwhile, as he plans, packs, and double-checks he is looking for insight from seasoned travelers:

If anyone has traveled in this part of the world and has any useful information regarding tips for disabled people I would very much appreciate it.

He has already tapped the breadth of experience that Gordon Rattray has to offer at Accessible Adventure Travel. You can catch up with Craig at Planning for Nicaragua 1 and Planning for Nicaragua 2

One year after Katrina there is evidence that the lesson has been learned that post-disaster reconstruction must incorporate best practices in Universal Design and Livable Community planning. It is encouraging to hear the clear voice of leadership. Ironically it is not from any US official but from Wilson Michael Urtecho of Peru speaking of the reconstruction of Pisco, Ica, Cañete y Huancavelica after the August 15 earthquake.

"Es indispensable que las nuevas obras que se diseñen, planifiquen y construyan se realicen de manera accesible para discapacitados. Eso quiere decir que los planos y proyectos que se usen para la reconstrucción se adecuen a todas las normas técnicas de accesibilidad para favorecer a las personas con discapacidad."

"It is absolutely necessary that the new projects that they design, plan, and construct be implemented in a way that is accessible to people with disabilities. That is to say that the plans and projects used in reconstruction meet all accessible building codes for the benefit of people with disabilities."

World Responsible Tourism Day supported by the UNWTO on Wednesday
14th November 2007, is the first opportunity for travel and tourism to
become one powerful and unifying force. A chance to make a real
difference that will keep our beaches clean, preserve our stunning
scenery, save wildlife and glory in our historic buildings and precious
heritage.

There is a responsibility too to help local people wherever they might
be, provide them with shelter, jobs, clean water, food and education.
Protect them from exploitation, corruption and deceit.

Making the difference personally and corporately is what WTM's World
Responsible Tourism Day (WTM WRTD) is all about.

Patricia E. Bauer has a long list of journalistic accomplishments. She has recently started a blog on disability-related news issues that looks like it will tackle a breadth of issues.

Here is a link to a story on trails access in Vermont. For a little spice try "I Hate Motivational Cripples" where she quotes BBC's Disability Bitch challenging a blind motivational speaker named Miles after he did aerial stunts in a fighter jet:

It wouldn’t bother me - if you want to do aerobatics, go ahead - but why do all these motivational cripples have to be doing things which are so outlandish. I have a new challenge for Miles: go to any major city in the UK during rush hour and get from one end to the other on public transport. Go on.

Rebecca Hinde of the Disabilities Network of New York City has asked for donations to launch a series of Forums on Accessible Transportation to reverse a situation where only 81 of the city's 13,000 cabs are wheelchair accessible.

Some of the most innovative Inclusive Destination development that I have encountered in my travels, Devil's Playground in Tasmania, depends on the world-girdling nomadic "backpackers' economy." Grandparent of that niche is the hostels movement.

This September I plan to dip into that terrestrial jet stream of cultural diversity along the California coast. Take a look at Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel and Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel. They form end caps on the trek along California's spectacular Bug Sur Coast.

Brazilian Senator Eduardo Azeredo exerts leadership for people with disabilities as president the Brazilian Senate's Subcommission on Social issues for People with Disabilities. This week he held hearings on Inclusive Tourism in Brazil giving further mindshare to Brazil as a destination of choice for travelers with disabilities.

The closer the opening of DPI's World Assembly the more I regret that I will be unable to attend.

Presenters have been writing in giving updates on what they will be presenting in Seoul, South Korea next month. With keynotes, workshops, poster sessions, a film festival and -- don't forget -- tours this promises to be a historic event for the disability community internationally.

Hoje Projeto Viaja Mais Melhor Idade inicia vendas de pacotes. Veja www.viajamais.com.br

Os pacotes e o treinamento das agências participantes tomam conta da inclusão?

When you run into facile assurances that "things are better for people with disabilities than they used to be" ask if the speak knows that the world's largest business federation is now on record opposing the ADA Restoration Act of 2007.

The U.S. Access Board will sponsor a public hearing on
"Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas":

September 6, 2007

2:00 to 5:00 pm
The Madison Hotel
1177 Fifteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Barbara Knecht has posted a few times at Planetizen I liked the lead to her latest post:

“I have always thought that design can be a form of social activism,” says Don Meeker, environmental graphic designer and co-creator of “Clearview” typeface. This small but radical quotation was buried in an article from the 8.12.07 NY Times Sunday magazine on the redesign of highway sign typeface. Meeker, James Montalbano, and a team of collaborators understood that it was the design of highway signage that was contributing to highway fatalities. They applied an understanding of human psychology and function to the solution of a “civic issue.”

Radical idea. It’s called Universal Design. Or social activism.

Adaptive Environments is a world-class resource on inclusive design. Their online book, Building a World Fit for People: Designers with Disabilities at Work, is just one example of their work.

From the book:

Taide Buenfil Garza has evolved her work as an architect in several private and public agencies, with increasing focus and passion for accessible design. In December 2000, the newly elected president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, appointed her to be director of citizens' projects in the Office of Representation for the Social Promotion and Inclusion of Disabled Persons. Taide explains, "This is the first time that we have had an office especially for disabled persons. Before this there were specialized but disconnected programs in the health department or social security, but not everywhere where we needed to be."

"We have to explain accessibility to everyone, and how that must become the basis for universal design. This is the way to have the whole country working on the type of new society that we are trying to make, a society of inclusion."
- Taide Buenfil Garza

Inclusive Tourism was well represented during the Feiratur conference on rural tourism. Here the speakers all gather at Marcelo de Arrechea's Decthird booth.

Dr. Frank Bowe passed away August 23, 2007. Dr. Bowe directed the first cross-disability consumer advocacy organization in the United States, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD). Through his visionary leadership te coalition was pivotal in gaining passage of Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, the world's first civil-rights provision for persons with disabilities.

Dear Friends,

As a volunteer working with the folks at [with]tv I have recently been honored with the title “blog master”. In that capacity I am writing to disability bloggers I know and respect to ask for support. I (we) are hoping you would be willing to either write a post, submit a post you’ve already written, or even join us as a “columnist” and submit posts whenever the mood strikes.

Posts can be submitted to my attention at articles@with-tv.com. This blog is a work in progress and I (we) sure would appreciate your support. While you’re here, please sign the Guest Book and let us know what you think. We’re working hard to spread the word. Anything you can do to help would surely give us a boost!

Thank you,

Connie Kuusisto
Blog Master, [with]tv

P.S. A person need not be a blogger to submit articles to [with]tv or to sign the Guest Book. Anyone interested in the topic of disability is encouraged to participate.

São Paulo vai aumentar em 7% o repasse destinado a entidades ligadas a pessoas com deficiência ou mobilidade reduzida. A informação é do governador José Serra que participou nesta quinta-feira, 23, no Jardim Paulista, zona Oeste da Capital, do fórum sobre Estatuto da Pessoa com Deficiência organizado pelo Instituto Social Democrata (ISD)...

Para o governador, a inclusão dos portares de deficiência tem ocorrido nos últimos anos de forma gradual. O avanço, observou Serra, deve ser atribuído a mobilização dos próprios interessados “e dos setores mais conscientes da sociedade”. Serra também lembrou que a tecnologia, sobretudo a informática, se tornou aliada nesse processo. “Enormes possibilidades estão sendo oferecidas com a tecnologia. Mas há muito que ser feito para promover a equidade”, completou o governador.

Clive Gilbert writes, "Despite a new European law to prevent airlines from discriminating against disabled people, planning a holiday can be a fraught exercise for a wheelchair user." Read his observations at "Ticket, passport, wheelchair..."

The theme of CWUAAT 2008 from the 13-16 April, 2008 is "Designing Inclusive Futures: Creating a better balance of work, living and leisure, for disability and ageing.” A call for papers have been announced. See the 4th Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access (UA) and Assistive Technology (AT) site here.

Here's a new policy "design statement" that I hope every country in the world adds to their wardrobe this Fall -- monthly Barrier-Free Days. Maybe we ought to coordinate it so that the wave of inclusion flows from China all the way around the world at a pace that allows for Barrier-Free World Travel.

Imagine, start in China on the 16th of the month. Swing through Southeast and into South Asia on the 17th through the 24th as various countries strut their national inclusivities. End the month on an upswing through Africa into Europe as Barrier-Free Days ripple across the calendar and across borders. Start the next month hopping from Barrier-Free Day to Barrier-Free Day on a path back to China. Create a new Barrier-Free Silk Road and go around the world in 30 days!

The Beijing government has decided to make every 16th of the month the “barrier-free” day from this August. A special theme will be set for every 16th of a month. August 16th is hotel barrier-free day, September 16th the hospital barrier-free day, October 16th the transportation barrier-free day, November 16th the scenic spots barrier-free day, December 16th the supermarket barrier-free day.

The themes and main activities of the barrier-free day in 2008 will be scheduled according to the working task and the preparation for the Olympic Games.

http://designingaccessiblecommunities.org/about/k_jensen.shtml

Malaysia has an informed and articulate Universal Design and disability rights community. Unfortunately some of the conversation escapes English-only speakers around the world. That is one reason why the blog by Naziaty Yaacob (Nazy) Inclusive Design for Malaysia is so important.

The other reason is simply because it is a well-done and thoughtful blog!

One example - humor & advocacy in My Office is Not Accessible.

Another example - engaging the international dialog on Inclusive Heritage Tourism

Loren Worthington has several new reviews up at his blog Access Arizona. Take a virtual trip and plan a vacation with:

Montezuma Castle
http://accessarizona.blogspot.com/2007/07/montezuma-castle.html

Mogollon Rim - Lakes Vista Trail # 622
http://accessarizona.blogspot.com/2007/06/mogollon-rim-lakes-vista-trail-622.html

Happy Jack Lodge & RV
http://accessarizona.blogspot.com/2007/08/happy-jack-lodge-rv.html

Pinetop-Lakeside Interpretive Trail
http://accessarizona.blogspot.com/2007/08/pinetop-lakeside-interpretive-trail.html

Tonto Natural Bridge
http://accessarizona.blogspot.com/2007/08/tonto-natural-bridge.html

It's official. It's a megatrend! Universal Design, Visitability, lifespan architecture have broken the generational delimiters and surmounted the stigmas of age an disability. But don't believe me that, "Barrierefreies Leben ist nicht nur für ältere Menschen wichtig - auch Jüngere bevorzugen den Komfort, den diese Wohnungen bieten." Read the opinion of Thomas Beyerle, chief researcher at Allianz-Immobilientochter Degi, in the Financial Times Deutchland article, "Ohne Treppen und Schwellen".

For a strong dose of reality therapy and the bracing slap of gimp humor sidle on over to "Chronic Holiday." It gives a new meaning to the concept of vacation (and outs everyone who thinks their effusions of good intention, malice, projection, or self-consumed pity are received equanimously.)

(Visual description of a black and white photo A nurse is pouring liquid into a spoon and looking outward at the viewer. A though bubble next to her contains the words, "You have a laissez-faire attitude toward healing." At the bottom of the photo are the words, "Get Well Soon.")

From author Donimo's profile on the site:

United Spinal's travel service -- Able to Travel -- offers some useful tips on travel with a disability.

Combine that with their helpful brochure on air travel for UK citizens and Candy Harrington's classic reference, Barrier-Free Travel, and you will be well outfitted with information!

Ananth Krishnan reports in The Hindu on the questionable air travel policy and policy development procedure that is currently being challenged throughout India. On the positive side the regulation, specifies:

According to the new requirements, “no airline shall refuse to carry physically challenged or incapacitated persons or persons with disabilities,” as long as they “do not pose a threat” to the safety of other passengers or the evacuation procedure for the aircraft.

Airlines will also not be permitted to limit the “number or types” of disabled passengers on a particular flight, except “where required for operational reasons.” The procedure for limiting disabled passengers will also be documented. Airlines will now also have to run “sensitisation and developing awareness” training programmes for staff.

Disability rights experts in transportation are providing their colleagues in India with curricula and resources to develop best-of-class trainings drawing from worldwide experience.

by Linda Crabtree

GRIMSBY - My husband loves that new car smell. I’ll take the heady aroma of a new house any day. That mixture of sweat, sweet wood, paint, glue, and heaven knows what else gets my blood stirring and I love it. And when that home is accessible, well, guess who’'s in seventh heaven.

A recent trip to Quality Homes in Grimsby had my mind swimming with possibilities. Don’t get me wrong, I love our 18-year-old fully accessible home, but there are so many new things to see and the folks at Quality know disability. They have anticipated, for the most part, what I need, and are open to anything else I might want to accommodate my disability.

Right now you might be shaking yourself -- a house builder who actually invites people with disabilities to take part in the design of their home? You bet.

http://www.designingaccessiblecommunities.org/movies/talkingsigns/ECBS5atFIVEKPHO.mpg

The government of India has invited comments on proposed Civil Aviation Requirements and amendments. Follow this link. Comments are due today! Yet this monumental policy, with international impact, is being promulgated without input from the Indian disability community.

Here are thoughts to consider when reviewing the draft policy:

1. The draft DGCA policy does not acknowledge that persons with disabilities has the same right to travel by air as any other passenger – instead the draft reads "Carriage of Physically Challenged Passengers"

2. The policy includes derogatory statements and apparently deputizes lay persons to pass medical judgements – Example - "obvious abnormal physical or mental conditions observed and reported by airline personnel or industry-associated persons" – what is the meaning of "abnormal"?

3. There is ambiguity in the use of terminology – Example – "Physically Challenged Passenger means a passenger with physical or mental disability or incapacitation; or with a medical condition which requires individual attention or assistance" – This definition is not in any way connected with the definition of 'Disability' that has been used in India's Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995

4. The policy in its present form can be used to the airline to deny persons with disabilities from traveling by air independently. Section 4.3 of the policy says "that a person with severe mobility, hearing and vision impairment should be accompanied by an escort who will be responsible for enplaning and deplaning" This goes against the spirit of the PWD Act and is in violation of the rights of persons with disabilities to travel independently and make independent choices; a limitation of civil rights.

5. At present all passengers (disabled or not) who us the assistance at the airport are seated on a chair with wheels that makes it impossible for persons to propel independently – so all users are severely disabled by design. What are the basis/ criteria to judge persons with 'severe' disability – who decides?

It is so encouraging to see the topic of Inclusive Travel breaking out beyond our specialized conferences , academic writing, and policy papers to broadcasting, narrowcasting, books, blog carnivals, and radio!

Jennifer Justice has a piece on Unsicht-Bar in Berlin over at the [with]TV blog. Curt & Chris's AttitudeTV interview with Bonnie Leukowicz is posted below as she works on a follow-up book to her "A Wheelchair Rider's Guide." Watch for Candy Harrington's upcoming book on inclusive travel destinations "101 Accessible Vacations" this October.
Connie Kuusisto, now Blog Master at the [with]tv blog, is taking leadership on a new Disability Blog Carnival on the heel's of Andrea's recent edition on travel.
Way off in the future I will appear on Atlanta AM radio 1620 with the Trip Chicks Wendy Swartzell and Ann Lombardi

Earlier, in Portuguese, I announced the panel on Inclusive Tourism to be held at Brazil's Rural Tourism Conference in Sao Paulo, FeiraTur. Presenters, all speaking from their direct hands-on experience include:

• Marcelo de Arrechea of Argetina's Decthird inclusive travel agency
• Joedson Nunes and Ricardo Shimosakai of Brazil's Turismo Adaptado
• José Fernandes Franco owner of the Hotel Fazenda Campo dos Sonhos e Parque da Aventura in Socorro, SP

The older leadership of the disability rights movement has been reminding the gerontology profession and senior care industry that we are "beta testers for aging." Changes to policy, product, legislation, and lifestyle that we have achieved over the past 30+ years have become so mainstream that AARP could hold a conference on diversity touting Universal Design, lifespan homes, Visitability and never once mention the word disability or include a PwD as a presenter!

An article in Myrtle Beach Online talks about seniors bringing their attendants on vacation with them. Will we delay in order to reinvent the wheel or are lifestyles and strategies of resilience and self-efficacy developed by the Disability Community about to become legitimized?

At the core of Disability Culture is an affirmation that life is communitarian; that interdependence is more adaptive, sustainable, and resilient than popular images of independence. Does Disability Culture scale?

In the past, some vacationers with disabilities hired medical transport services to assist them with air travel, such as moving through airport security and getting on and off the plane. But now, "it has absolutely broadened," says Elinor Ginzler, who oversees projects on mobility and housing for AARP in Washington, D.C. Now nurses are not only helping travelers on plane trips; they also are staying in hotels or cruise ships with them - often in the same room.

Inclusive Destination Development is the systematic use of Universal Design in the creation or modification of a tourist destination. The City of Imperial Beach has taken one of its foremost tourism assets and made it a place of inclusion through the purchase of two beach wheelchairs from Hotshot Products of Torrance, California. Field testing the single passenger model here was an experience in speed. These things are zippy!

Read this month's Disability Blog Carnival at Andrea's site "Andrea's Buzzing About" for stories on travel & disability here:

http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/on-holiday-disability-blog-carnival-20/

eTurboNews reports:

The United States Court of Appeals upheld a lower Federal Court's ruling against American Airlines. The airline forced an elderly woman to check her bag along with necessary medical devices.

In this film clip by Aventura Especial we follow founder Dada Moreira as he accompanies a trip down the level 3-4 rapids of Jacarepepira River near Brotas in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Respeitar as diferenças, dar importância à acessibilidade e promover a inclusão social, estas foram as principais bandeiras de lutas apresentadas ontem (08), às 20h, na abertura do Congresso Nacional de Hotéis (Conotel), "Inteligência Competitiva" .

When I visited South Korea in March I was surprised to learn that Hyundai has been running cruises into the archetypal center of the historic Korea -- which lies inside North Korea. The site, Mount Geumgang, has a bit of tourism infrastructure built up. Other plans for tourism include a much-delayed passenger train to leave from near where this photo was taken in South Korea and proceed into the North.

We will have some eyes and ears in Rio de Janeiro for the 2007 Parapan American Games in a few days. The only question is, will they they remember to submit their stories to the Rolling Rains Report or will they disappear onto the beaches, Kosta?

For the first time ever, in 2007 the Parapan American Games will take place immediately after and in the same city of the Pan American Games. Organized by CO-RIO in partnership with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, and following the rules of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Parapan American Games Rio 2007 will be held between August 12 and 19, 2007.

http://www.rio2007.org.br/data/pages/8A488A8F12D856280112D88C1AA973E0.htm

Education will be high on the agenda of the new Ms. Wheelchair America. Universal Design will be part of her curriculum.

According to the Voice of America report, "[Alana ] Wallace is the founder and artistic director of Dance Detour, Chicago's first professional physically integrated dance company. She is also a founding member of Bodies of Work, a disability arts and cultural festival."

I’ have lived in the Bay Area for a couple decades now and there still are lots of places I have yet discovered. So when the opportunity arose to play a role as a local tour guide, I couldn'’t pass the opportunity.

With my beautiful and intelligent international guest, Mariana Coelho, I would discover and re-discover many things that I didn’'t know about my own local area.

O Seminário de Turismo Rural e Acessibilidade conta com a coordenação do painel e palestra da Executiva Social Cristiane Ecker Fornazieri, da (AVAPE) Associação para Valorização e Promoção de Excepcionais que fala sobre “Acessibilidade no Turismo: tecnologia, leis, perfil do cliente”. Também estará presente neste painel inovador:

* Marcelo de Arrechea da Decthird agência de viagens especializada “Accesible sin Barreras -Accesible Tourism”, da Argentina, que vai abordar sobre as experiências positivas para o turismo acessível, desenvolvidas através de uma rede de agências no mundo.
* Joedson Nunes da Consultoria Turismo Adaptado abordará sobre o Turismo Rural Adaptado e Ricardo Shimosakai sobre a Deficiência X Turismo Rural: Vivências na adaptação.
* E ainda José Fernandes Franco, proprietário do Hotel Fazenda Campo dos Sonhos e Parque da Aventura em Socorro, abordará o Modelo de Acessibilidade em Turismo Rural e Turismo de Aventura.

Drs. Tanya Packer and Jennie Small continue to pioneer the field of disability and travel. Their latest study, reported on below, examines the travel behavior of blind travelers and will result in training modules for the industry.

This professional hiatus has been quite productive. It seems about time to hit the lecture circuit.

Recently you saw announcement of my new column at [with]tv on Travel & Disability. Today I provided Korea's Cowalk magazine with a piece entitled, "Get Out and Discover Korea – Then Tell the Global Disability Community." Yesterday I completed "Inclusive Destination Development: Tourism as a Tool in Peace Building” for the 25th anniversary edition of ECOT's Contours magazine.

Deborah Kaplan has passed along, for my embellishment, an article we are co-authoring for National Council on Aging about the natural affinities between the aging and disability movements - especially as our leadership ages. Work proceeds apace (meaning, in this case, with large doses of procrastination) on a piece for a special edition of Dr. Sunil Bhatia's emerging journal, Design for All. Up next, a proposal to the Abe fellowship to bring some academic closure to the inclusive Tourism work of Ichiro Kusanagi and Topong Kulkanchit hopefully in association with professor Takeo Ogawa's foundation in Fukuoka.

Laurel van Horn of the Open Doors Organization and co-author of "Toward a History of Inclusive Travel" presented the following paper at the 2007 TRANSED Conference. I share it here with gratitude for her permission to do so:

The purpose of this paper is to report and compare the salient findings of recent research on travel by Americans with disabilities. Until 2002, when Open Doors Organization (ODO) sponsored its first nationwide study on travel by adults with disabilities (ODO 2002), conducted by Harris Interactive, there had never been a major, statistically reliable survey on the US disability travel market. No one could say with any assurance what percentage of adults with disabilities were traveling, how frequently, what modes of public transportation they used or how much they spent. This meant that corporations in the travel industry had no data on which to base investment decisions and thus little incentive to do more than the minimum required under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In 2002 the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) carried out its own Transportation Availability and Use Survey (BTS 2002 cited in BTS 2003) which explored not only travel by public transportation but also private vehicle. Its sample was divided evenly between disabled and non-disabled respondents of all ages. The motivation was the “critical lack of information...[on] transportation use by people with physical, mental or emotional disabilities,” but the goal in this case was “to create an information source for transportation planners and policy makers…” rather than the private sector (BTS 2003, p.3). While it focused primarily on local transportation, the BTS study also covered long distance travel. Findings from this survey have been released in several reports including Freedom to Travel (BTS 2003) and Travel Patterns of Older Americans with Disabilities (Sweeney 2004).

Press coverage continues on the new European Air Act.

Hmm, do you really want to debate this point Marcelo?

From a press release:

According to the World tourism Organization (WTO), only Europe has nearly 36 million people with disabilities that are able to, wish to, and have the economic and physcial means to travel.

Recife is a beautiful city. Of course, you could probably guess that if I told you that one of the peripheral cities it has absorbed is called "Olinda!" ("Oh, how pretty!")

For several years I have known of Recife's efforts in accessibility, corresponding with local and regional leaders about their initiatives. So it was with great interest in this latest escalation of their work that I received the following notice of the Second Workshop on Accessibility. They have left no stone unturned here exploring social inclusion and Universal Design!

Topics include tourism, public transit, education, design, media, architecture, and attitudes.

As projects like [with]tv generate new online video content and user generated content continues to expand at places like YouTube and google Video the question of accessibility remains. Project readOn provides a very appealing free online resource for making video accessible through captioning.

The Travel section of the [with]tv blog has been launched -- after much procrastination on my part and good humored patience on the part of others.

Yesterday's post, "Welcome to Travel Programs at [with]tv" sets a theme of travel as transformation. Whether that is the intellectual transformation gained by such stellar programs as MIUSA's student exchanges, the personal transformation gained from a good vacation, or the systemic transformation of projects from disability & development organizations such as Rosangela Berman Bieler's Inter-American Institute on Disability & Inclusive Development (Instituto Interamericano sobre Discapacidad y Desarrollo Inclusivo) it is still true that travel transforms.

Today I am finishing an article for ECOT - the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism on the topic "Tourism as a Tool in Peace Building" - a subject that will no doubt also find its way into the [with]tv blog. For someone with the skill, time, and interest there is a volunteer web master position open at [with]tv. It's not travel but being part of this new media outlet offers the promise of more than a little social transformation.

http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=56034174.5564281.1499095.173165.31473502.510&aID2=115306

http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_6383090

http://www.knbc.com/news/13670963/detail.html

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/8451407.html