Representantes del mundo académico reclamaron este martes introducir el diseño universal y la accesibilidad para todos como asignatura obligatoria en la Universidad. Así lo pusieron de manifiesto durante el Congreso Internacional "DRT4ALL" que se celebra en Madrid, organizado por la Fundación ONCE.

Durante la mesa redonda "Diseñando una realidad tecnológica para todos", Miguel Ángel Valero, del departamento de Ingeniería y Arquitecturas Telemáticas (Diatel) de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, señaló que "si nos creemos el para todos y queremos defender los derechos de todos, la formación debe ser trasversal en la fase de grado, y no específica de máster". 

En este sentido, propuso que en la formación de grado, y en particular en todas las ingenierías, exista una asignatura nacional sobre esta materia, independiente de asignaturas específicas. "Tenemos tiempo de incorporar de forma transversal todas estas demandas", añadió. "Los profesores necesitan más formación y los alumnos también deben descubrir que esto no es una moda si no algo fundamental para promover la calidad de vida de muchas personas". 

Por su parte, Alejandro Rodríguez, del departamento de Inteligencia Artificial de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Informática de la UNED, aseguró que en los últimos años se han ido incorporando asignaturas que tienen que ver con accesibilidad. También coincidió en subrayar la necesidad de que los profesores reciban mayor formación en materia de accesibilidad y herramientas accesibles. 

Durante la mesa redonda, también se puso de manifiesto la importancia de identificar cuáles son las necesidades de cada una de las universidades para atender las demandas de las personas con discapacidad. 

Según Daniel Guash, director académico de la Cátedra de Accesibilidad, Arquitectura, Diseño y Tecnología para Todos de la Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, en la mayoría de los centros docentes se ha ido progresando y se ha invertido en infraestructuras y herramientas más accesibles. Sin embargo, en su opinión, existe una gran desigualdad entre universidades. "Hay diferentes visiones de la accesibilidad". 

"Estamos empezando una nueva etapa y todos los estudiantes que serán arquitectos en el futuro, irán incorporando el diseño universal", aseguró Guash. 

Por último, durante el encuentro también se abordó la necesidad de que el diseño universal se incorpore en la fase de diseño de cualquier producto tecnológico. En este sentido, Jaime López, catedrático de la Facultad de Matemáticas, Informática y Tecnologías de la Universidad de París 8, aseguró que "es muy caro rehacer un producto mal concebido desde el principio".

López consideró, a este respecto, que es fundamental que dentro de las cadenas de concepción de productos tecnológicos existan personas que tengan integrada la concepción de diseño universal.

Finalmente, Alberto Jardón, del departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y Automática de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, se refirió a la importancia de que se cumpla la normativa vigente en este ámbito, a través agentes que velen por su cumplimiento.

Además, Jardón destacó la necesidad de fomentar la sensibilización por parte del profesorado "que son quienes plantan la semilla para que las nuevas generaciones diseñen para todos".

El IV Congreso "DRT4ALL" se celebra hasta el 29 de junio en Madrid y aborda el acercamiento y la penetración de la tecnología en todos los ámbitos de la vida cotidiana.

International leaders in sport, government and social rights organizations commit to work together to find development opportunities, through sport, to improve lives of people with intellectual disabilities

ATHENS, GREECE – 27 June 2011 – Today, for the first time in the history of the Special Olympics Movement, leadership from all corners of the global sports community gathered in one room at Special Olympics World Summer Games ATHENS 2011 to address how Special Olympics utilizes the power of sport to create social change and inclusion and to promote development and peace.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, told Special Olympics Chairman and CEO, Tim Shriver, “We are just in the first steps of this movement you call a revolution,” said Lemke.  “I’m a marathon runner and I know that we are not more than 1000 meters in a long run to bring persons with disabilities to the forefront.  Lemke continued with conviction that “We all have to have these people in the center of our society and not exclude them!  We see you and your powerful work and of course I tell everybody in the world wherever I am that you can believe me that this is one of my priorities, to work to bring these people to the center of our society. The joy and the happiness and the pure joy of sports, that is the core of the meaning that I can see here in Special Olympics - that is the reason why you can be absolutely sure, Tim, that the United Nations family will follow you on your way!”

Special Olympics called for key partnerships with international organizations, such as the UN, and with the global sports community, specifically with International Sport Federations, to help to collaborate in their contribution towards the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.  “We (Special Olympics) started with a social goal and then sport emerged as the means to right an injustice,” said Shriver.

Shriver and Lemke were joined by an impressive group from the worldwide sports community including Don Porter, International Softball Federation (ISF) President and Chair of SportAccord’s Spirit of Sport Award Committee, Ingrid Beutler, SportAccord, Manager, Sports' Social Responsibility, Liza Barrie, UNICEF, Chief, Civil Society Partnerships, Edwin Moses,  Multiple Olympic Gold Medal Winner and  Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman, Federico Addiechi, FIFA, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Loretta Claiborne and Special Olympics Board Member and athlete.  The press event was emceed by Olympic medalist and Special Olympics Board of Directors Vice-Chair Bart Conner.

Porter spoke about the need for the international sports community to rally together behind Special Olympics.  Also on-hand at the event was Kevin Dornberger, President of the World Tenpin Bowling Association, with whom Special Olympics signed an official proclamation with yesterday.  Porter will sign an ISF proclamation with Special Olympics tomorrow and said “There really ought to be a movement with all the international sports federations. Let's try to find a way to help Special Olympics.  It’s one of the best kept secrets in the world.’ 

Panelists explained their organizations varying support of Special Olympics - Moses spoke to Laureus’ long-standing commitment to Special Olympics, particularly with Unified Sports; Beutler recognized Special Olympics recent win of the prestigious SportAccord ‘Spirit of Sport’ Award and recognized that there is a revolution in the sports world, where sports organizations have to consider the societal aspects of their events; Addiechi spoke to FIFA’s support of Special Olympics around the FIFA Football for Hope initiative, particularly with Special Olympics Namibia; and Barrie called attention to the MOU signed between Special Olympics and UNICEF earlier today.

Finally, as Conner said, they “saved the best for last” and Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics legendary athlete and member of Special Olympics International Board of Directors, spoke inspiring words.  “It wasn’t about a dollar for me.  In 1966, I started running and I still run today.  I have more miles on my feet than some of you have on your cars,” joked Claiborne, before turning serious.  “Sport is about being better every day.  It teaches discipline.  Improves health.  I know through sport it’s what you can do.  Sport changes lives and unites people.”

Also in the room to support the cause were basketball legend and humanitarian Dikembe Mutumbo, Walter Trogär of the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Gold Medalist and Special Olympics International Board Member Nadia Comaneci, Senator the Honorable Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers and The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Minister of Social Solidarity, Maria Fernandes.

The event showcased that Special Olympics transforms communities from closed to open from intolerant to accepting ones and by using sport to accomplish this, has come to represent the goodness, power and true spirit of sport. 
 

Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 are happening 25 June – 4 July.  For the next 10 days, more than 7,000 Special Olympics Athletes from nearly 180 countries around the world will compete in the largest international multi-sport event of the year, featuring 22 Olympic-type sports.
 

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.  Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard.  Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on:Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq, andspecialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.
 

World Games website:  www.athens2011.org
World Games Press Twitter:  www.twitter.com/athens2011media

New for 2012, the Universal Design Project Recognition Program is available to all Contractor of the Year (CotY) contractor entrants. Participants meeting specified criteria based on the CotY category entered will be recognized for meeting universal design standards regardless of CotY winning status. With the launch of this program, the existing Residential Universal Design category will be retired, thereby allowing entrants the opportunity to enter into the appropriate category as well and obtain recognition for universal design work.

There is nothing to purchase in advance. Download the Universal Design Project Recognition forms by accessing the link below, complete the forms, and send in with your CotY entry by the entry deadline, December 1, 2011

NARI Universal Design Recognition Program

Questions? Email Awards@nari.org or call 847-298-9200

What is Universal Design?

Universal Design is a design approach that seeks to create environments, objects, and systems that can be used by as many people as possible. To this end, Universal Design is the process of embedding choice for all people in the things we design.

Universal Design is a user-centered process that evolves as designers and users broaden their own understanding, perspectives and experience by working with the range of users in a variety of environments. The more you know about the subject, the more you realize there is to learn about it. As such, Universal Design is like the horizon; it recedes as you move towards it. Universal Designing is a lifelong learning opportunity and process.  We become better Universal Designers as we learn more about people and the choices they may wish to exercise as they interact with the environments in which they operate. Because of this, no one knows it all. We can all learn from each other about how to better design things for all people.

The term "Universal Design" has evolved from "Barrier Free Design", "Accessible Design", "Transgenerational Design", and "Adaptable Design". It is now considered to be synonymous with "Design for All" and "Inclusive Design." Several institutions and individuals have contributed to the definition and advancement of the movement:

The 13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons 'TRANSED 2012' is taking place in India this time. TRANSED2012 provides an ideal platform for an organization like yours to explore and share a wealth of experiences gathered over the years.

We are happy to announce the call for abstracts for TRANSED 2012 scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India from September 17-21, 2012. Abstracts may be developed for either a paper or a poster.

Hosted by Svayam in partnership with Ministry of Transport, Government of Delhi and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the conference is co-sponsored byTransportation Research Board (USA). The theme of the Conference is "Seamless Access for All: Universal design for transport systems and infrastructure as a key element in the creation of livable cities" and sub-themes are: 

A.   Role of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

B.   Best practices and innovationsSir

C.   Accessible tourism: Conservation, access to the historic and natural heritage

D.   Environmental impact, sustainability, and accessibility of integrated multimodal systems

E.   Accessible Public Transport (Bus Rapid Transit, Metro, Para-transit systems etc.)

F.    Highway design and safety

G.   Pedestrian mobility & safety for livable communities

H.   Rural access and mobility

I.     Implementation, monitoring and enforcement

J.    Potential of Technology in Accessibility for all (Information Technology, Accessibility aids, etc.)

K.   Others

Important Dates:

31 October 2011 - Notification to Authors of acceptance of abstract as Paper/ poster

30 March 2012 - Deadline for submission of full papers/posters by authors.

17-21 Sep 2012 - Conference Dates for TRANSED 2012, New Delhi, India

We request you to put in an abstract for this important conference independently or in collaboration with other professionals. Also, please feel free to encourage your associates or any other parties who might be interested in submitting an abstract or attending the conference.   For details please refer:http://www.transed2012.in/Call%20for%20Abstracts/M__22

Please note that the registration for early bird is going on now; the last date to avail the same is Feb 15^th 2012. For individual or group registration please refer:http://www.transed2012.in/Registration/M__8

For more information on the TRANSED2012 please log on to www.transed2012.in

Michael D. Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, discusses the goals of Harvard House Renewal. Stephen Kieran, FAIA, of KieranTimberlake, discusses the design concept for the Old Quincy Test Project.

Universal design is based on seven principles, which "go beyond good design principles to be more inclusive design principles," explains Abir, one of the collaborators who helped develop these guidelines. "Enjoyment, or usability, is a fundamental design principle," he states. "Everybody should be able to use it with equal or similar benefits; no one should be disadvantaged."

That's not to say everything should be designed to purely accommodate certain disadvantaged individuals, either. One of the misconceptions about universal design, Abir notes, is that universal means one solution. But, "if everything was lowered to accommodate wheelchair users, then able-bodied people would be disabled," he explains. Instead, he says, universal design is about having options so that everyone has the opportunity to use an item or area.

 The Railways may boast of doling out a number of concessions to differently abled persons, but there are initiatives that can still be undertaken to facilitate travel for this category of passengers at Charbagh station.

The first set of facilities, which passengers feel needs an improvement in, is the placement of disabled-friendly coaches on the platforms. Currently, with these coaches being put either next to the engine or at the end, the coaches remain outside the platform area, making it extremely difficult for physically challenged passengers to reach them.

Source:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-15/lucknow/29545411_1_platform-number-charbagh-station-disabled-passengers

When TOI team visited Charbagh station on Tuesday, it found that many disabled passengers were facing problems due to the anomalous positioning of coaches. In an instance, the coach for the disabled in the Ganga-Sutlej Express at platform number 3 was outside the platform area.

From www.UniversalDesign.com

AXIS Dance Company will appear on FOX's nationally broadcast television show
So You Think You Can Dance!
 
Thursday, June 30^th @ 8/7c
FOX TV
 
Don't miss dancers Sonsherée Giles and Rodney Bell perform an excerpt of choreographer Alex Ketley's Isadora Duncan Award winning duet To Color Me Different.

Why Perform Home Assessments?

Checklists for aging in place are fairly easy to come by. As the staff at Dynamic Living researched what the 'experts' recommend, we realized that most of the checklists were really lists of solutions. If these are the solutions, then what are the problems? That's where we decided to start, with a list of probing questions that will help you identify problem areas so that you can plan your new home or your remodel to be a more effective solution for your specific needs and budget.

AdaptMy.com's Home Assessment Surveys are designed to collect information about the people who live in the home and how they get things done. The idea is to be proactive rather than waiting to react when life throws you a curveball, like a fall, a sudden illness or the need for a mobility device.

Once the survey is completed, home improvement and design modifications are considered to remedy issues, make things easier, or simply keep the future in mind while updating a room.

Templates for Home Assessments

Our templates are available in two formats: PDF & Word. Clicking on the links below will open the assessment file in a new window. Once the file is open you can save it to your computer's hard drive.

Find the templates here:

http://www.adaptmy.com/article/home-assessments/#clear

Educators Called Upon to Send Students with Disabilities Abroad
We really want to change the image of who an exchange student is, MIUSA
CEO Susan Sygall explains in the May/June 2011 International Educator
magazine. Sygall is one of five individuals profiled in an article about how
study abroad can expand a person's worldview. For Sygall, studying in
Australia for a year was so life-transforming that she questioned why there
weren't more people with disabilities having similar experiences. In
response to her own question, Sygall ultimately co-founded MIUSA, which
administers the NCDE.

With the support of the NCDE, Sygall believes education abroad
professionals can help increase the participation of people with
disabilities in their international programs. "I want to see them recruiting
disabled people the way they do everyone else. I'd love to see the next
generation of young people, no matter what their disability, thinking this
is something they could do.

Visit the NAFSA website to access the PDF article in the International
Educator.
Links: http://www.nafsa.org/_/File/_/ie_mayjun11_coverstory.pdf
http://www.miusa.org/ncde/aboutncde/infoquestionnaire

Elegant Insights Braille Creations offers a way to add fashion to your wardrobe, your service animal, or your luggage.

As people with disabilities have asked ceaselessly since the rise of Universal Design in the 1970's, "How can a new city become an international economic engine without basic public services?"

In this city that barely existed two decades ago, there are 26 shopping malls, seven golf courses and luxury shops selling Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs shimmer in automobile showrooms. Apartment towers are sprouting like concrete weeds, and a futuristic commercial hub called Cyber City houses many of the world's most respected corporations.

Gurgaon, located about 15 miles south of the national capital, New Delhi, would seem to have everything, except consider what it does not have: a functioning citywide sewer or drainage system; reliable electricity or water; and public sidewalks, adequate parking, decent roads or any citywide system of public transportation.

What can holarchies, holons, and Ken Wilber reveal to us about Universal Design?

What to do with a video like this except to show it and let wheelchair riders draw their own comparisons to getting around on all four:

DEPUTADA ROSINHA DA ADEFAL REPRESENTA AS COMPANHIAS AÉREAS QUE OPERAM NO BRASIL, REIVINDICANDO ACESSIBILIDADE NOS AEROPORTOS

Here's the pitch from Parkat.com:

We are the leading airport parking specalist within the UK.  Partkat compares thousands of airport car parking spaces to offer you the best car parking deals

 available. Mega savings can be made when you pre-book you're car parking space online before you travel... It's not just the airport parking price we take into consideration, we include the finer details which make a difference such as car parking security, disabled facilties and much more. 

So don't throw away your money away on expensive airport parking when  because you can save you up to 60% at any airport in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Take a look at some of the trusted airport parking suppliers and providers we compare car parking prices with below:

http://www.parkat.co.uk/

• What happens at security and customs?
• Airport travel Advice for deaf passengers or persons with reduced hearing.
• Disabled passengers carrying medication.
• What help is available at the airport?
• What to do before you arrive.
• Return journey help.
• Passengers with visual impairments.
• Help at the car park.
• Travelling with Autism.
• Guide Dogs & PETS.

Más de 1,000 millones de personas sufren de algún tipo de discapacidad, lo que constituye aproximadamente el 15% de la población mundial, y de ellas una quinta parte se enfrenta a grandes dificultades en su vida diaria, según reveló hoy un informe conjunto de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS9 y el Banco Mundial (BM).

El informe, que es el primero que se realiza de manera global sobre este problema en 40 años, destaca que muy pocos países cuentan con mecanismos adecuados para responder a las necesidades de las personas con discapacidad.

Además el número de discapacitados va en aumento en el mundo, lo que se debe al envejecimiento de las poblaciones y al incremento de los problemas de salud crónicos asociados a una discapacidad, como es el caso de la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares o las mentales.

En México existen 5 millones 739,720 personas con discapacidad. El 58.3% de ellos se encuentran inhabilitado para caminar o moverse; en segundo lugar, el 27.2% de ellos presenta alguna dificultad para ver y el 12.1% tiene problemas en su capacidad para escuchar, según el censo de población y vivienda 2010 realizado por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía.

Las causas de discapacidad de esta población están relacionadas con alguna enfermedad en el 39.4% de los casos, seguida por edad avanzada en el 23.1% y por enfermedades congénitas en tercer lugar con 16.3 por ciento.

Entre 110 y 190 millones de los discapacitados se enfrentan abarreras que van desde el estigma y la discriminación hasta la ausencia de adecuados servicios de atención sanitaria y rehabilitación, así como sistemas de transporte o edificios inaccesibles.

"Debemos hacer más para romper las barreras que segregan a las personas con discapacidad, en muchos casos forzándolas fuera de la sociedad", señaló la directora general de la OMS, Margaret Chan.

Debido a los problemas que encuentran, las personas con discapacidad gozan de peor salud, tienen menos éxito en los estudios y menores posibilidades de empleo, al tiempo que sufren mayores tasas de pobreza que las personas sin esta condición, indica el informe.

Por ello, la OMS y el BM instan a los gobiernos a acelerar sus esfuerzos para permitir a los discapacitados acceder a los servicios básicos, así como a invertir en programas especializados que permitan a estas personas desarrollar sus potenciales.

El estudio subraya que en los países de bajos ingresos los discapacitados tienen un 50% más de riesgos suplementarios de tener que enfrentarse a gastos sanitarios catastróficos.

Además, los niños con discapacidades son menos susceptibles de ir a la escuela y tienen menos posibilidades de mantenerse escolarizados que los niños sin este problema.

En los países de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE) la tasa de empleo de las personas discapacitadas es del 44%, lo que representa un poco más de la mitad del de las personas sin incapacidad, del 75 por ciento.

El estudio da cuenta de algunos ejemplos en el mundo que permiten a los discapacitados acceder a servicios, información o trabajo.

Uno de ellos, es Curitiba Brasil que cuenta con un sistema público de transporte integrado que facilita el acceso de los discapacitados adoptando un diseño universal y sensibilizando a los conductores y otro personal.

En Mozambique y Tanzania, talleres con información en el lenguaje Braille y de signos garantizan que los mensajes de prevención contra el sida lleguen a los jóvenes con discapacidades.

The World Report on Disability will be launched later today, June 9 2011, at the United Nations Building in New York, USA in the presence of high-level representatives from Member States, celebrities with disabilities, together with representatives of disabled people's organizations, professional groups and non-governmental organizations.

Mandated by the World Health Assembly Resolution 58.23, and jointly published by WHO and the World Bank, the World report summarizes the best available scientific evidence on disability. Its main goal is to provide governments and civil society with a comprehensive description of the importance of disability, rehabilitation and inclusion. Besides, the report offers an overview and an analysis of the responses provided so far in different countries and it sets forth recommendations for action to support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

WTO has supported inclusion in tourism. Will it manifest as better accommodation of people with disabilities in this partnership with West African nations?

International development banks, UN agencies, and intergovernmental organizations have pledged to support the sustainable development of tourism in a network of parks spanning ten countries in West Africa. Commitments to the West Africa Parks Project came out of a UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Donor's Conference held in Dakar, Senegal (May 27-28, 2011), chaired by the Prime Minister of Senegal, Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, and attended by Ministers of Tourism of West African countries. 

"Today, major international organizations have pinpointed tourism as one of the most effective tools for Africa's economic growth and development," said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, opening the conference, "With their support, sustainable tourism can flourish, generating jobs and income for local communities, while protecting the region's rich biodiversity." 

The West Africa Parks Project brings together ten West African countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Sierra Leone - sharing a network of parks and protected areas, to ensure means for its conservation and jointly promote the region as a tourism destination.

Participants at the Donors' Conference included the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), both of which made concrete commitments to the project. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the French Cooperation Agency (Coopération française), and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which funded the initial feasibility study, pledged to support the project through funds and/or technical expertise. 

Recommendations coming out of the conference praised the project as a vehicle for "sub-regional economic integration" and called on the governments and managers of the parks and protected areas to involve local communities in its implementation. It was also recommended that private-sector participation in developing the common area be strengthened.

My neighbor, friend, and (metaphorically speaking) fellow traveler Liz has outdone herself today at Travels with Pain. No holds barred, she takes on Paul Theroux's article, Why We Travel," with an athletic intensity. Humor, grit, and a clear-eyed position on her own embodiment as a person with a disability marks Liz Hamill Scott's writing as a voice-that-will-be-heard. 

The joint initiative, to be executed over the next four years, was launched yesterday by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Chris Sinckler.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday May 19, 2011 - The Barbados government says it's doing all in its power to ensure the country is ready to face the challenging times ahead by embarking on a Competitiveness Programme. 

The joint initiative, to be executed over the next four years, was launched yesterday by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Chris Sinckler. US$11.8 million has been earmarked to facilitate implementation of the progamme.  Some US$10 million is being provided in the form of a loan by the Inter-American Bank (IDB), while Government will provide the remaining US$1.8 million. 

Sinckler emphasised that in the wake of the global economic realities, Barbados had to change its way of doing business in order to compete effectively. 

"We have to move hastily to reform our domestic business and financial environment; improve our human resource capacity; develop our technological infrastructure; embrace innovation; strengthen our instruments and institutions of oversight and to generally modify our modus operandi," he said.

The Finance Minister pointed out that the 2010 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum, placed Barbados higher than any of its regional counterparts at number 43 out of 131 countries. 

Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/business/430411.html#ixzz1OQoAePfS

The medium-term Competitiveness Programme will also support an initiative to improve and introduce a geographical concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions in the form of a cluster model. The model is expected to lower operating costs, stimulate innovation, promote research and development, encourage training, and facilitate market penetration and economy-wide competitiveness and growth.

The programme aims to support business development in the country by improving logistics and trade facilitation, lowering the cost of the movement of goods and people, rationalising the incentive system and regulations, and enhancing access to infrastructure through public/private dialogue. 

Image via Wikipedia

Most pedestrian pathways in Delhi are ill-designed from the perspective of their usability by Elderly, Children & the disabled. Curb cuts at intersection are missing and so is the proper alignment of street infrastructure. 

Similar is the situation in other countries in Indian sub-continent and other less developed countries in the world. What do you think is the solution? What are your experiences of using street infrastructure and pedestrian pathways. 

Wherever, policy exist, it is in favour of an accessible pathway, however, there are no monitoring mechanisms to ensure that what is constructed actually benefits the endusers. The standards on built infrastructure are to be enforced by municipal agencies/ panchayats/ Public Works Dept. However they themselves do not enforce this on the private contractors who construct the infrastructure. 

If you think this concerns you, TRANSED-2012 (13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and disabled persons, 17-21 Sep 2012, India) provides you an international platform to address such issues.We invite your views under "Theme G- Pedestrian mobility & safety for livable communities" to address these concerns. For details visitwww.transed2012.in 

Image via Wikipedia

Having a particular interest in Barbados right now I cannot help but wonder what standards of accessibility  Regatta Travel Solutions adheres to in the OTA it has implemented for the island. While i wait for colleagues to run the site through their tools I took a moment to see the quality of the content posted about the hotel rooms offered. While the site does not yet have any depth and thus the standards used for assessing accessibility are not published I discovered that the first htel listed claimed to be accessble:

Parabéns a política pública da cidade, que trabalha para melhorar a acessibilidade, recebendo o reconhecimento da ONU como referência mundial em acessibilidade.

Vídeo apresentado por uma das musas da natação paraolímpica, a  Letícia Lucas

Produced jointly by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, this publication reviews evidence about the global situation of persons with disabilities, and offers directions for policy and practice to address exclusion. The report will be launched at UN Headquarters on 9 June 2011. In anticipation of the report, WHO will launch a series of promotional videos on the theme "What is Disability to Me?"

According to the Times of India global standards of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are driving employment of people with disabilities in India -- that includes in the tourism industry:

Indian corporations are increasingly realising that they have much to lose by not following CSR norms. However, it is not easy to adopt these practices. "Only about 30 Indian companies bring out sustainability reports as compared to about 2,000 or 25% of the 8,000 listed companies in Europe when India has the same number of listed companies," said a report by Ernst & Young.

Another driver towards CSR for Indian companies is their global ambitions. To acquire companies abroad or even set up operations abroad, sustainability reports are becoming a must.

While one [multinational corporation] has certainly set the ball rolling by employing differently-abled youth as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR), a similar effort is being pursued by a tour operator. Considering that as per the census 2001, Rajasthan has 16,40,868 people with speech impairment and another 12,61,722 with hearing disability, this spells hope for the differently-abled youth in a state that thrives on tourism.

"Plans are in the pipeline for Shaping Lives' an auxiliary organization with the Le Passage to India (LPTI) that would train people who are differently- abled and employ them in the industry. And, besides work opportunities that we would offer, they would also have the option to pick work anywhere they wish to," said Khalid Khan, executive director, LPTI.

SHAPING LIVES
Towards our commitment to Corporate Social responsibility, we believe in shaping lives of the less fortunate of our society through the Le Passage Travel Foundation, launched in December 2010. Le Passage Travel Group has its strength in its strong employee base, its SBUs (Strategic Business Unit), its trade partners and the strong foundation that helps shape the lives of many. These strengths give us the confidence to believe that we can make a difference through SHAPING LIVES.

We believe the innocence of a child is priceless and through our Travel foundation we take this as our responsibility to give back to our nation and we strive to shape the lives of the innocent, lost in poverty or misery. Currently the foundations supports initiatives like India Bear Rescue in partnership with Wildlife SOS working towards rescuing Indian Sloth Bear and Project Arman working for Ragpicker children with NGO Chintan, amongst the many other initiatives in the cities of Delhi, Jaipur & Goa.

Through this endeavor, we certainly hope we can create a model foundation for the Indian Tourism Industry to emulate.

Le Passage Travel Foundation - Vision: A Smile on every Child's face Mission: To facilitate change for the less privileged through the travel industry

Goals: Education, Health & Hygiene, Life Skills, Vocational Skills, Protection from abuse & trafficking

Values: Through our responsible leadership role in the travel industry, we wish to become pioneers of change in the lives of the less privileged. We commit to total transparency and accountability and also dedicate our deeds and actions, towards fulfillment of our mission, vision and goals.

Image via Wikipedia

The Costa Coffee outlet in South Delhi's Green Park market is quieter than other cafés. Apart from the conversational murmur of guests, there's little noise behind the counter.

Shaan Ahamed, 23, and Preeti Bhot, 21, the two baristas on the morning shift, cheerfully take customer orders, make coffee, serve tables and everything else that comes with the job - all without a single word uttered between them.

Both are deaf and the outlet is among the few ones in the Costa network where the entire team has been staffed with deaf workers (except for the shift manager and his assistant).

Full story:

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-20/news/29565041_1_costa-coffee-deaf-workers-deaf-people