Evelyn Brezina – That's how she rolls
13/01/2021
Vienna from a wheelchair perspective – this is how Evelyn Brezina captures all the beauty in her surroundings in her photos. Because she really loves taking pictures. What assistive devices she would like to have for this passion, who she would like to ask as many questions as possible and how she otherwise rolls, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
Participation for people with mobility impairments
12/01/2021
The project "mobisaar – Mobility for everyone" has passed the acid test. The Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Transport has granted follow-up funding following a decision by the Saarland state parliament. For mobisaar, this means that regular operations will start in 2021.
Exo-suit donation to support stroke survivors
12/01/2021
ReWalk Robotics, a manufacturer of robotic medical devices for individuals with lower limb disabilities, announced it has donated one of its ReStore Exo-suits to Brooks Rehabilitation, located in Jacksonville, Florida. The ReStore will be utilized by the therapy team in one of the specialized Neuro Recovery Centers to conduct gait training sessions with patients seeking post-stroke rehabilitation.
Kim Cremer – That's how he rolls
16/12/2020
Kim Cremer is a doer, he doesn't let anything stop him. And even though he doesn't need a wheelchair himself, he sees where society still has a lot to catch up when it comes to accessibility – both in everyday life and in people's minds. Who has always encouraged him in his doer mentality, how this mentality fits in with his big dream and and how he otherwise rolls, he tells us on REHACARE.com.
An application that allows blind people to enjoy Christmas lights
14/12/2020
The Human Language and Accessibility Technologies (HULAT) research group at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has developed and validated a mobile application that allows people with visual impairments to enjoy Christmas lights in the city of Madrid.
The promise of mobility – even during the coronavirus pandemic
01/12/2020
We learn to live without certain things during a global pandemic. Yet some things are fundamental, even if it might not seem like it at first – enter a person’s mobility. People with disabilities have difficulties ensuring their freedom of movement even without an ongoing pandemic. Companies that specialize in vehicle conversions can offer solutions. Some of them sum up this unprecedented year.
Accessible travel: How the industry has survived its first summer of COVID-19
01/12/2020
The Coronavirus pandemic has hit the hospitality industry especially hard - including hotels that are accessible and cater to people with disabilities. After they have survived the first summer of the pandemic, hotel managers can now look back and draw early conclusions: How did they fare this year, and what are their hopes for the coming year?
Smartwatch app alerts d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing users to different sounds
09/11/2020
Smartwatches offer people a private method for getting notifications about their surroundings – such as a phone call, health alerts or an upcoming package delivery. Now University of Washington researchers have developed SoundWatch, a smartwatch app for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing people who want to be aware of nearby sounds.
Mobility: Safe travels with adapted motor vehicles
03/08/2020
Anyone who permanently relies on a wheelchair after a traffic accident typically wants to regain their mobility and independence and drive a car. Specialized driver safety training in adapted vehicles makes this a reality and allows people with disabilities to drive safely.
Digitization: Harnessing the power of inclusion to create more accessible workplaces
02/07/2020
They can be technical, structural, or mental in nature – people with disabilities often face a barrage of barriers in the workplace. Coworkers and employers can help in overcoming them. Digital trends likewise promote inclusion strategies and accessibility at the workplace.
Labor force participation: "Breaking down mental barriers is more important than auxiliary aids and services"
02/07/2020
Competent and tough – Anja Winkler works at the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) and by virtue of her own disability is in charge of multiple accessibility and inclusion aspects. In this REHACARE.com interview, she describes the auxiliary aids and services that help make her workday easier and explains how she overcomes the barriers she occasionally faces as a blind staff member.
Overcoming hurdles: accessibility in the workplace
02/07/2020
Digitization and the coronavirus are currently buzzwords that determine the labor market and have a lasting impact. How does this development affect the professional participation of people with disabilities? Can digitization – whether corona-conditioned or not – also bring about opportunities? Learn more in our current Topic of the Month July: Overcoming hurdles: accessibility in the workplace.
Accessibility: Paving the way for disability inclusion in the workplace
02/07/2020
Labor force participation is a human right. Yet there is still a need to overcome considerable barriers – both technical and mental in nature – to protect the rights of people with disabilities. How can targeted information and best workplace practices help companies to take all the right steps? REHACARE.com asked.
Accessible travel: Hotels for everyone
02/04/2020
When people with disabilities plan a trip, accessible accommodations are typically a critical aspect to consider. Both the hotel room and the surroundings should offer all the typical amenities, but also address the person’s special needs. REHACARE.com showcases three hotels that want to facilitate comfort and ease, especially for people with mobility disabilities.
Accessible travel for people with disabilities: A quick review
02/04/2020
Frankly, it’s not an easy feat to write about (accessible) travel as the Coronavirus outbreak rages on and travel restrictions and quarantines put a damper on some of the best-laid travel plans. Yet despite all the somewhat dire news, there are still some exciting travel news to report. So get ready: Once SARS-CoV-2 loosens its grip, let the (accessible) journey begin!
Technology-based assistance systems: Aging in place
07/01/2020
Whether it is sensor systems for fall detection or stand assist beds – technology-based assistance systems provide safety and create independence in your own home. The AAL Living Lab carefully studies and even designs new systems like these. That’s because there is a growing demand for so-called Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies.
Smart and accessible living
07/01/2020
In addition to structural issues, the question of digital accessibility is becoming an increasingly important topic. Problems such as the protection of privacy or questions of usability are not only occupying the manufacturers of smart home products, but also researchers in the field of Ambient Assisted Living. You can find out exactly what all this means in our Topic of the Month.
Safe smart living and aging in place
07/01/2020
Our living space reveals a lot about us. It undergoes many changes as the years go by and – with any luck - adapts to our circumstances. Sooner or later accessibility becomes an important issue for all of us. When it comes to our own four walls, this may consist of technology that enables us to live a self-determined life or may involve smart home devices and assistance systems.
Smart Living: Gerontechnology centers on people
07/01/2020
Living independently in their own homes for as long as possible – many older adults want to make this dream come true. Smart assistance solutions and other assistive technology increasingly help people age in place. The German Society for Gerontechnology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gerontotechnik, GGT) aims to foster this development and help shape its future.
Standing Ovation facilitates mobility at the workplace
12/12/2019
Sitting while standing up – Standing Ovation makes this oxymoron possible. The rail system with its C-shaped seat bar and seat lifting unit allows Austrian chef Peter Lammer to sustain his job despite an 80 percent disability rating pertaining to his legs. With REHACARE.com he talked about the invention that brought back his zest for life and the feedback he received at this year's trade fair.
Mobility: Overcoming barriers with Wheelblades
28/11/2019
Whether they are on vacation in the mountains or brave winter weather at home – people with mobility impairments want to take precautions to arrive safely at their destination. Patrick Mayer is personally affected by disability and developed two products that enable wheelchair and walking aid users to master these situations: Wheelblades and the SafetyFoot.
SmAccLab: Smart auxiliary means for everyone
28/05/2019
Accessible and realistic – that’s how auxiliary aids should be in the eyes of Professor Carsten Zahout. Students at the Smart Accessibility Laboratory (SmAccLab) are working on technical solutions that fulfill these requirements and lead to increased participation for people with disabilities. REHACARE.com found out how product engineering and inclusion join forces.
Self-determined living: careunities creates flat sharing for people with physical disabilities
24/01/2019
For many people, living in a shared accommodation is a matter of course. But how well does this work if you have a physical disability and require assistance? This is where careunities comes in. The online platform matches people up with future roommates and also plans to retrofit buildings for accessibility, thus creating more shared living spaces.
Tourism for All: "Traveling is not just about physical access"
19/07/2018
Tourism is for everybody. The aim of the British organisation Tourism for All is to make travel accessible. Whether travelers, policy makers or companies, Tourism for All wants to operate with and for everyone. REHACARE.com asked, how the attitude of companies and politicians towards people with disabilities has changed and what the European tourism market has to offer.
M-Enabling Forum: "The best assistive technologies cannot be useful if our digital environment is not accessible"
21/06/2018
Self-determined living needs accessibility. This does not only apply to step-free entrance for wheelchair users, but also for the digital environment. For example, when blind people surf the internet with a screen reader, they need web sites that are accessible. But reality often looks different. Reason enough for the M-Enabling Forum to focus on this topic at this year's REHACARE.
TTC Wheel-Trans: Accessible transport for people with disabilities in Toronto
17/05/2018
In Canada, the North Americans are far ahead of us Germans when it comes to accessibility. If you are a guest in Toronto, you not only have the possibility to travel with the usual public transport, but you can also opt for the 100 percent accessible alternative and use Wheel-Trans.
"At the TUECHTIG coworking space, people with and without disabilities are working together – and not just next to each other"
22/03/2018
Maximum flexibility to encourage ideas, effectively sharing office space: coworking spaces have become a part of many major cities. In 2017, Berlin featured about one hundred of them, but none of them were comprehensively accessible. That’s something Stefanie Trzecinski from KOPF, HAND + FUSS gGmbH wanted to change. That was the moment, the idea for "TUECHTIG – Raum für Inklusion" was born.
"At FullAccess, the 'Accessibility All Areas' slogan says it all"
15/02/2018
Two music enthusiasts were fed up with the lack of leisure activity choices and programs for people with disabilities. That’s why Christina Riedler and Martina Gollner decided to set up their own business with FullAccess and try to make concert promoters aware of people with disabilities as prospective customers and thus contribute to making society more tolerant.
Self-guided museum visits for visually impaired people
18/01/2018
Visually impaired and blind people can now enjoy stunning visits to the City Museum Trier thanks to audio tracks, tactile reproductions, and replicas. Together with students who participated in the "Cross Media" seminar as part of their studies at the University of Trier, Design Professor Christopher Ledwig developed a one-of-a-kind multimedia service in Germany: the so-called "blind kit" trolley.
"Inclusive communication design is both accessible and attractive"
15/06/2017
For many, recognizing and understanding characters is an important prerequisite to social participation. Inclusive communication design helps people with visual impairments to accomplish this. REHACARE.com spoke with designer and expert of the German Association for Blind and Visually Impaired People, Florian Adler. He has developed a digital guide to inclusive communication design.
"Hardly any texts by famous authors are specifically written in Simple Language"
20/04/2017
Literature should be accessible to all – including people who depend on texts written in Simple English. A project in Frankfurt, Germany, now wants to make this possible. REHACARE.com spoke with Hauke Hückstädt, the director of the Literaturhaus Frankfurt about the "Frankfurt, deine Geschichte. Literatur in Einfacher Sprache" project.
"Horse riding is a sport people with and without impairments are able to experience together on equal footing"
20/04/2017
More self-confidence and independence – things you can learn from horse riding for example. People with disabilities can take this important step with "Rolli auf Trab" (English: Trotting with Wheelchairs). REHACARE.com spoke with Sandra Glöckler of "Rolli auf Trab" about the lust for life that horse riding inspires and the interaction and experiences with the animals.
Books for the blind: "IT corporations lead the way. They consider accessibility a selling point"
16/02/2017
A wizarding student who triumphs over evil. A girl who meets the love of her life. Literature has many facets and captivates us with wonderful stories day in and day out. Yet not everyone has access to these texts because accessible books for blind or visually impaired people are few and far between.
Accessibility: "We need a shift in awareness in the retail sector"
22/12/2016
Shopping with a disability is no easy feat: almost every store is not accessible. But what does accessibility in retail actually mean? REHACARE.com spoke with Patrick Dohmen of the EUKOBA Association about the idea behind the LernLaden (English: Learning Store) and the awareness and sensitization project for retailers, employees and apprentices.
Inclusive storyteller: "You can definitely make a difference and change things"
24/11/2016
There are some unique and interesting stories about accessibility and disability. Martin Habacher is someone who tells these stories. His goal is to find and then share them with the world on his YouTube channel. REHACARE.com spoke with Martin Habacher about his most beautiful story and his motivation to look beyond what he sees.
Accessibility should be considered from the start for medical practices
28/04/2016
Disabled parking spaces, lower counters, stair lifts, and elevators – those are just a few of the provisions of an accessible medical practice. Yet many physician offices don’t meet these requirements. To make it easier for people with disabilities to find available accessible medical practices close-by, the "Accessible Practice" project has created a directory.
If you buy them, some smartphones are already accessible
14/04/2016
A quick check on your smartphone to see when the next bus leaves or letting your friend know via WhatsApp that you are running late: those are mundane situations for many people. Yet how accessible are smartphones actually for visually impaired and blind people? REHACARE.com spoke with Simon Janatzek. He is visually impaired and tells us which apps are helpful in everyday life.
"Suse" helps abused and battered women and girls with disabilities
23/02/2016
Representative studies show: women and girls with disabilities face significantly more violence than women without disabilities. Yet they rarely seek help since their disability often makes access to therespective support systems difficult. The "Suse" Project offers affected persons accessible support services, for instance in the form of Easy English.
"PIKSL focuses on the removal of digital barriers"
26/01/2016
Digital transformation does not only cause problems for persons with disabilities. Companies are also facing digital barriers they need to overcome. The PIKSL Lab makes digital inclusion its priority: together, individuals with and without disabilities work on removing digital barriers. In this interview with REHACARE.de, Project Manager Tobias Marczinzik explains the PIKSL concept.
"Comprehensive accessibility would benefit all of us"
12/02/2015
What is it like when you have to manage everyday life in a wheelchair? And what effects do age-related limitations have on mobility? Interested parties can experience this with the help of a wheelchair course and an age simulation suit. REHACARE.com spoke with Hedwig Reiffs from the Self-Help Organization of Physically Disabled Persons Bonn, who recently attended this kind of adventure day.