New Report On Closing the Digital Divide

For several years, scholars and pundits alike have used the term "digital divide" to describe the technology access differential between individuals of varying socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic groups. But people with disabilities also face a digital divide in access, despite the transformational effects technology can have in their lives.

FROM MOBILE FUTURE COALITION:

The Mobile Future Coalition just released an important report on wireless technology, and how it is being used every by Americans with disabilities entitled "Mobile Ability: The Transformational Impact of Wireless Innovation for People with Disabilities". Here are a few of the highlights:

* For the nation’s 37 million adults who experience trouble hearing, new technologies have the capacity to translate spoken word into text in real time.

* For those who have difficulty seeing, new mobile apps can use smartphone cameras to scan labels and announce the contents of grocery items, their nutrition labels, and even pill bottles.

* For the 6 to 8 million Americans who have problems speaking, there are many low- or no-cost cell phone apps that convey typed words into audible speech.

The full report is available here:
http://www.mobilefuture.org/content/pages/mobile_ability

Blind UCLA Grad Can Use AT for Bar Exam

SAN FRANCISCO- Northern District of California Judge Charles Breyer ruled in favor of Stephanie Enyart, a Blind graduate of the UCLA Law School, who will be allowed to use her preferred assistive technology on her upcoming Bar exam in late February. The National Conference of Bar Examiners previously denied her request due to concerns that the integrity of the text could be compromised. The Bar also noted that Federal disability law "does not require testing organizations to provide disabled examinees with their preferred accommodations." Nonetheless, the judge ruled Enyart’s request reasonable, noting she the Bar should permit her to use the assistive technology she is accustomed to. Ms. Enyart is currently employed with

SOURCES:
Disability Rights Advocates, an organization based in Berkeley, California. Court Rules in Favor of Visually-Impaired Grad
http://www.dailycal.org/article/108028/court_rules_in_favor_of_visually-impaired_grad
Sounds Fair: Court Says Blind Law Student Can Use Software For Blind On Bar Exam
http://www.businessinsider.com/court-says-blind-law-student-can-use-software-for-blind-test-takers-for-bar-exam-2010-2
Blind student wins computer aid for bar examhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/30/BARA1BPRQF.DTL