European Disability Forum
Web Accessibility Directive: better feedback mechanism, more expertise needed
20/03/2023
An evaluation report by the European Commission reported on the first three years of application of the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD). The period of the review overlaps with the accelerated digital transformation brought on by the pandemic.
DC_Studio
Neural prosthesis uses brain activity to decode speech
06/03/2023
Researchers from HSE University and the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry have developed a machine learning model that can predict the word about to be uttered by a subject based on their neural activity recorded with a small set of minimally invasive electrodes.
envato/LightFieldStudios
Living with dementia: practical tools make daily living easier
13/02/2023
Forgetfulness is often one of the first recognizable signs of dementia. In its early stages, the condition initially affects short-term memory and gradually progresses to more long-term memory loss. Yet there are many accompanying symptoms that make daily living for people with dementia challenging.
Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann
TREFFPUNKT REHACARE 2022: Highlight topics from the expert forum
12/12/2022
TREFFPUNKT REHACARE is your central platform for lectures, panel discussions, and the exchange of information and experience. Topics included the digitization of the workplace and recreational environment, technical assistance and vocational rehabilitation with a focus on exoskeletons, job coaching, and rehabilitation for people living with long or post-COVID conditions.
Rido81
Brilliantly digital: tech applications in physio and rehab
12/10/2022
Increasingly, manufacturers are offering digital solutions for different needs in the fields of rehabilitation and physiotherapy – be it customized training programs or fun exercise games. In this Topic of the Month, you can find out what innovative options are already available today and what can still be expected for the future.
Dot Incorporation
People with vision impairments: The Dot Pad bridges the information gap
21/04/2022
The new Dot Pad is not only smaller and lighter, but also much cheaper than conventional tactile displays – making them more affordable and accessible for people with vision impairments. Dot Inc makes the online world of images more accessible and aims to improve other areas as well. In our interview the Senior Manager Mergel Takam talks about the advantages and technology behind the Dot Pad.
Friedrichstadt-Palast; Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Small, smart, connected: hearing solutions and smart home applications
28/10/2021
The latest communication technology trends also affect hearing systems: These tiny hearing amplifiers are getting smarter and can sometimes be connected to other systems. REHACARE.com recaps the latest trends in hearing aid technology, explains the present limitations and explores other applications for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
dzb lesen
Touch, hear, participate: Assistive technology helps conquer visual impairment
28/10/2021
Blindness or visual impairment means a loss or partial loss of the sense of sight. What it doesn't mean is that those who are impacted by this must aim lower or feel inferior. An abundance of vision aids does a fantastic job of replacing the sense of sight in the best way possible.
iuvas medical GmbH
Better swallowing and understanding: Sophisticated aids from the field of speech therapy
15/06/2021
Some aids may play a minor role in life, but they make everyday life much easier. These include products from iuvas medical: on the one hand, the transparent mask miama, which makes communication in the pandemic clearer. On the other hand, the sippa drinking aid, in which the contents are kept constantly at the top by a membrane so that people with dysphagia can swallow more easily.
opta data Abrechnungs GmbH
Corporate social responsibility: diversity is an asset
31/05/2021
Accessibility, participation, and inclusion are buzzwords associated with people with disabilities. The notion that we should focus on people’s abilities, not their disabilities is a lesson that is not yet fully understood by most - especially when it comes to labor force participation. We took a closer look at the role companies and their social responsibility play in spurring social changes.
LIFEtool
Computer-aided communication: assistive technology promotes participation
29/04/2021
Whether it is voice recognition with or without eye tracking technology, educational or speech recognition software – assistive technology builds bridges that allow people to get in touch with their surroundings.
Andi Weiland | Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Building bridges - communication software in focus
26/04/2021
Communication is an important cornerstone for social participation. It is therefore all the more important that the communication aids that are available are adapted to the people who need them. In our Topic of the Month, you can find out who is responsible for this and what difficulties still exist today, but also what is encouraging.
Andi Weiland | Boehringer Ingelheim, Gesellschaftsbilder.de
Assistive devices in the workplace: Making communication accessible
26/04/2021
Especially for blind and visually impaired people, the lack of or non-working augmentative communication devices frequently means that they have no prospect of participating in the workplace. We discussed with Bruno Behrendt from Papenmeier why screen readers are sometimes nothing more than pretty tools and learned why technical support is THE perennial issue when it comes to customer service.
Sheffield Hallam Universität
Head support system HeadUp Collar: Communication at eye level
22/04/2021
Head support systems for ALS patients are often not sophisticated and resemble neck braces. The University of Sheffield developed the HeadUp Collar, which can be individually adapted to the needs of the patient. REHACARE.com asked Anita Ogale, Product Manager at ProWalk, what makes the new head support system so special.
Inferics GmbH
More self-determination thanks to smart technologies
14/01/2021
Everyone wants to live a self-determined life, but it isn’t always easy to implement – especially if you are an older adult or live with a disability. Fortunately, there are systems that help promote autonomy and independence in your own home. Size doesn’t always matter as even little smart helpers can give users peace of mind and a feeling of security as they navigate everyday life.
PantherMedia/AndreyPopov
Smart Living: more independence thanks to voice control
14/01/2021
The way we live is becoming increasingly more modern and connected. And while some people are skeptical about smart technology, other target groups welcome the great new opportunities it affords. Control units allow people with disabilities and older adults to control and monitor their connected home devices, which allows them to continue living a self-determined life at home.
Drory Handels GmbH
"TiPY is designed to accomplish the same things with one hand as you can with a standard two-handed keyboard"
25/10/2018
Microsoft has led the way and launched an adaptive controller to enable people with physical disabilities to have nearly the same complete gaming experience as people without disabilities. Mattheaus Drory achieved a similar result. In this interview with REHACARE.com, he admits that he initially didn’t necessarily have people with disabilities in mind when he developed his one-handed keyboard.
ichó systems - icho-systems.de
"ichó brings people with and without dementia together and provides a way to share stories, experiences, and impressions."
22/04/2018
Like the golden sphere in the fairy tale of the Frog King, ichó (Greek for echo) is meant to bring back lost motor skills and cognitive functions to people with dementia. The project of four former graduates of the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences aims to offer individual support through a person’s favorite music or fairy tale.
Felix Huening/Capjob
Capjob: "People with severe disabilities assist job seekers with severe disabilities"
13/07/2017
Modern and user-friendly: job seekers are able to indicate their type of disability on the Capjob.de employment portal and search for jobs that are right for them. REHACARE.com spoke with founder Felix Hüning about the unique features of Capjob and why virtually all parties could benefit from an inclusive employment landscape.
Tim de Gruisbourne
"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.
panthermedia.net/michaeljung
Concept for caregiver workload relief: "Empathy is a fundamental part of being human"
15/09/2016
Caregivers encounter many different emotions in their jobs. Patients are in pain, have questions about their own mortality or they pass away. The empathy-based relief concept empCARE was founded to better handle these emotional experiences. With the help of training courses, caregivers are taught to learn how to prevent an empathic emotional overreaction.
MPI-INF/MMeyer
Will software automatically describe movie plots in the near future?
18/07/2016
In order to understand the plot of a movie an audio version is very helpful for visually impaired people. Authors watch the whole movies and describe what happens in each scene. But wouldn’t it be possible for a computer software to do this kind of work? Researchers work on developing a program which automatically generates movie descriptions and reads them out.
beta-web/Günther
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.
PIKSL
"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.
Laura Gentile - That's how she rolls
03/06/2015
Like for many other young women fashion is an important everyday topic for Laura Gentile. That is why she shows on a regular basis in her blog that fashionable clothing and a wheelchair are not contradiction. But the Austrian woman also dreams of changing the world and more respect. Who made her the person she is today, she tells us on REHACARE.com.
"Speech-to-text interpreters assist in equal access communication"
26/03/2015
There is an alternative for hearing impaired or deaf persons, who are not able to or don’t want to communicate with the help of sign language: so-called speech-to-text interpreters reproduce spoken words into a text format onto paper, computer monitors or screens. REHACARE.de inquired with the German Association of Speech-to-Text Interpreters and gained some insight into this profession.