We would like to acknowledge the following contributors to this month's STAE issue.
The Sterling Creations accessibility team, Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison who are our resident business consultants, Scott Savoy our managing editor, Christian Robicheau our assistant editor, and Donna J Jodhan our president.
We are especially delighted to have both Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison as part of our magazine staff and as our resident business experts because of their in depth knowledge and expertise as special needs business consultants.Both Jeff and Kerry have written many articles and they released their newest hot selling book called "Untapped Wealth Discovered."This book was released in mid August and it has already begun to fulfill promises of being dynamite, explosive, and seismic and we are very sure that many of you will find it extremely valuable, useful and informative.Both the U.S and British governments have already given their blessing to this book and several business experts have also jumped on the band wagon.Marquis and Harrison are off to a flying start.
We believe in this book because it is unique in that it can help you to get back on your feet if you suddenly find yourself without a job, if you are looking for ways to put money away for your kids' education, or if you need extra income to help you live more comfortably.
Here are just a few quotes from some U.S government officials and experts to peak your interest.
"Block buster material.This book has the potential to change the way we reduce our costs, increase our revenues, expand our customer base, and stay ahead of our competition."
"If you are looking for safe ways to protect the future of you and your kids then you should pick up a copy of Untapped Wealth Discovered."
"Marquis and Harrison have affectively provided their readers with logical and common sense ways to generate and create business ideas that will work because they are based on markets that exist.Moreover these markets are going to be around for a very long time to come."
"This book is meant to help the little guy.It's a book for almost everyone.The woman, the entrepreneur, the small business owner, and even the retiree and the college student."
"If you want to avoid those get rich quick schemes and keep your money safe then Untapped Wealth Discovered is an absolute must read for you."
Mr. Marquis is a motivational speaker and a highly paid consultant to both the U.S and British governments.He has over 20 years of special needs business consulting and is absolutely delighted to be co-authoring "Untapped Wealth Discovered" with Ms Harrison.His time is filled with speaking engagements, consulting, and traveling around the world to help set up new ventures.
Ms Harrison also has over 20 years in the special needs business-consulting field and her expertise is constantly in demand and among other things she works as a consultant to the U.S government, she is a motivational speaker, and she finds time to work on other projects for large corporate clients, small businesses, and even entrepreneurs.
Hello there!This month we would like to publish an article that focuses on GPS technology.We hope you find it valuable and interesting.
GPS Technology for the Blind, A Product Evaluation
by the NFB's Access Technology Staff
Braille Monitor, February 2006
From the Editor: Global Positioning Systems are more and more common in our
technology-laden world. It is a measure of the progress that the blind
community has made that we now have three accessible systems to choose
among. In the following article the staff of the International Braille and
TechnologyCenter of the NFB Jernigan Institute (IBTC) briefly explain GPS technology and
evaluate the three current systems. This is what they say:
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is a valuable asset to the United
States military, aiding soldiers in determining their positions in combat.
Commercial and private boaters use GPS technology to track their coordinates
while they are out on the ocean or big lakes. Many automobiles are now
equipped with GPS systems. A driver can get turn-by-turn directions to any
destination nationwide. Furthermore, if an individual calls 911 from a
GPS-ready cellular phone, emergency personnel can easily locate the caller.
In all of the situations mentioned above, GPS technology proves useful. With
the advancement of GPS technology blind people can also use many GPS-ready
devices as travel aids. Currently blind consumers can choose from three GPS
products: the Trekker produced by HumanWare, a portable GPS system that
connects to a personal data assistant; a GPS system from the Sendaro Group for
HumanWare's BrailleNote portable notetaker; and a GPS system for PAC Mate
produced by Freedom Scientific. When using these GPS-ready products, a blind person
can preplan travel routes without leaving the house. With GPS a traveler can
explore the surrounding area by searching for a specific business or other
point of interest. Whatever means of travel is used-car, bus, train, or shoe
leather-blind travelers can be reasonably well informed.
Unfortunately, as with all technology, there are a few drawbacks. As
advanced as GPS technology is, a traveler must realize that no machinery can
function 100 percent of the time. In order for a GPS system to provide accurate
information to a traveler, it must be able to receive a signal from a
minimum of four satellites. Inclement weather or tall buildings can interfere with
signal reception. Another disadvantage of GPS is its dependence on battery
power.
Even though using a battery enables a GPS system to have portability, a
battery can fail without warning. All three of the GPS-ready products
mentioned above use digital commercial mapping from a third party, and maps become
obsolete if not updated periodically. A GPS receiver cannot inform a blind
traveler of a drop-off on the sidewalk or a rise in elevation; therefore a blind
pedestrian will not be able to use GPS to determine ordinary obstacles that
may lie ahead or let him or her know when it is safe to cross the street at a
busy intersection.GPS technology has other disadvantages worth mentioning. The largest
drawback is that the system does not work everywhere blind people want to
travel. The GPS signal is sent as a low-powered radio signal from 20,000 kilometers
(12,400 miles) out in space. By the time the signal passes through free
space, the stratosphere, ionosphere, and the troposphere, not much power is left to
carry the signal to the user. It is said that by the time the signal reaches
a user its power is equivalent to that of two Christmas tree light bulbs
mounted on the satellite seen by a watcher standing on the surface of the
Earth.The signal strength transmitted to today's GPS receivers is not enough to
penetrate all useful locations.
A GPS signal cannot penetrate many of the ordinary objects around us. It
cannot pass through dense materials such as stone, concrete, metal, dirt, or
thick trees. This can be bothersome, since most travel is not done in large open
spaces but indoors or on city streets. Another barrier for the GPS signal is
water. While it seems implausible that water would impede the GPS signal for
a person walking down a street, most of the human body is made of water. So
our own presence causes signal blockage. When a system is mounted on a
person, the antenna is usually mounted on the shoulder. A person's head,
which is full of water, will block the signal. Fortunately for us, it is only
blocking about half of the sky so some satellites can still be reached and
used to navigate. Impractical but effective, the best place to put a GPS antenna is
on the head.
A GPS receiver actually provides very limited data. Its primary function is
to relay three elements: position, velocity, and time (PVT). These three
elements are the building blocks of basic navigation. The GPS receiver does nothing
more than make constant PVT calculations.
Navigation software also uses maps to pinpoint a person in the context of
surrounding geographical references. Unfortunately maps are not always
accurate.Changes frequently occur to structures, streets, curbs, and objects on the
ground. Where no mailbox was on the corner yesterday, one appears today.
This type of information is not updated in the map database. The piece of lumber
that fell off a truck onto the crosswalk a few minutes ago will not be in
the database either. It would not make sense to add it since, one hopes, it will
be gone in a few hours. Thus a GPS system cannot guarantee safety for a
blind traveler; only good mobility training and independent traveling skill can.
However, no doubt anyone with good basic travel skills can benefit from the
advancement of GPS technology.
Since GPS technology is useful to just about any traveler, engineers and
scientists constantly try to advance this technology. For example, a project
currently underway will map not just roads, but also the centerline of each road, the
curbs, and much more, to an accuracy of less than ten centimeters (four
inches).
This will greatly improve the accuracy of GPS. While completion of this
project is several years away, it will certainly arrive.
In Fairfax County, Virginia, updated mapping has already been implemented
using high accuracy GPS receivers in a few places. They have created a GIS
(Geographic Information System) map not only of every road, but also of every manhole
cover, storm drain, road sign, telephone or power pole, fire hydrant,
walkway, sidewalk crack, and much more. Think of how useful it would be to a blind
traveler to know that not only is a telephone pole just ahead on the right,
but there could be a large crack in the sidewalk that may not have been repaired
yet.
During GPS demonstrations and testing conducted at our annual National
Federation of the Blind conventions, we have observed great interest in GPS
technology.More and more mobile computing/communication devices such as cellular phones
are equipped with GPS receivers for the general public. As more blind people
travel for business and leisure, the use of GPS among the blind community
will increase too. Blind people need to be educated about which devices are
accessible.
What follows is a product evaluation by the staff of the International
Braille and TechnologyCenter for the Blind of the GPS technology for the
blind which is currently available for purchase in the United States.
A Review of Trekker Bluetooth, Version 2.7
Steven Booth, IBTC access technology specialist, holds the Trekker
Bluetooth, Version 2.7
Trekker software, Version 2.7, is supplied by HumanWare, Inc., as a
stand-alone system on a PDA (personal data assistant). HumanWare supplies a
PDA compatible with this software. Maestro software can be added to create a
full-functioning talking PDA. In this review we concern ourselves with the
Trekker option only.
The recently released Trekker Version 2.7 is more compact than its
predecessor. It has a PDA with a tactile keyboard, a RoyalTek Bluetooth
wireless GPS receiver, an external speaker, and a strap to attach the receiver speaker
and PDA. The system includes a power splitter enabling the charging of the
batteries in the PDA, speaker, and GPS simultaneously. Each unit contains its own
rechargeable battery, so no extra power pack is necessary. A cradle is
provided to download and install software and can be used to charge the battery in
the PDA. Because the Trekker incorporates Bluetooth wireless technology, no
cable is required from the GPS receiver to the PDA. This is convenient because
there are fewer cables to attach and get in the way. The GPS receiver and
speaker are handheld devices and come with carrying cases. The PDA is portable and
lightweight and has its own carrying case. All of the units may be worn on
the strap or on a person's clothing or belt. Using the external speaker requires
a cable.
The traveler can wear the strap over the shoulder or around the neck. It is
also possible to attach the small units to clothing without using the strap.
The system includes the traveler's choice of one regional map, which is
installed on a digital storage card. For an additional cost more regional
maps may be purchased. Currently only one map may be installed at a time.
One basic function is obtaining one's position with the GPS and then
tracking streets and points of interest as one walks along a route. Trekker
automatically provides pedestrian route details including whether the street is a two-,
three-, four-way (or more) intersection with cross streets on either side.
When traveling in a vehicle, the traveler may select "motorized route," which
provides less detailed information, so it is easier to keep up with the rate
of travel. In motorized mode the Trekker will announce highway exits and
intersections. The free mode is useful in parking lots, on large campuses,
and on waterways. In this mode points of interest are announced along with
direction heading and other useful information. "Browsing online" allows the
traveler to explore nearby streets using the arrow keys on the keyboard to move along
a route. "Browsing off line" is available to research points of interest and
streets in an area or explore a route before using it. "Points of interest"
are provided from the maps, or the traveler can create his or her own points
and even record a short message describing the point. Points of interest are
organized by categories such as restaurants, shopping centers, recreation,
and so on. Routes may be created, saved, and deleted.
The keyboard is arranged with a set of Braille keys at the top. Arrow keys
are arranged in a cross pattern for navigation, and function keys are
located along each edge. A handy help mode can be entered at any time to learn the
function of any key. Entering Braille is slightly different because dots are
entered one at a time and each letter is verified with the press of a
button. While this sounds cumbersome, after a bit of practice the user can
enter the Braille quickly. The system allows for the entry of contracted (Grade
Two) or uncontracted (Grade One) Braille.
Trekker uses Eloquence for speech, which is quite clear when using the
external speaker. Using ear buds is not recommended because, though it may
enhance speech quality, it may also interfere with safe travel. Trekker is currently
a speech-only output system. It has user settings for speech rate, volume,
and the other usual speech options to suit individual needs.
We find Trekker easy to use with some practice. We like the description of
street intersections noting three-, four-, or more way crossings and whether
the street changes name or is only on the right or left side of the
intersection. The menu system is familiar to those used to Windows menus on
a PC. The
key describer mode is easy to use, and many functions may be toggled on and
off by holding down keys. Hot key functions are available for common tasks.
Improvements we recommend for future versions would be the ability to load
more than one map at a time, which the company is working on; adding more
Bluetooth
GPS receiver support; and adding the ability to print and email created
routes. According to HumanWare the list of supported receivers is growing.
For those who want a speech access GPS solution, Trekker may be the right
choice.
To purchase Trekker, visit the HumanWare Web site at <www.humanware.com> for
the name of a distributor in your area, or call HumanWare toll-free at (800)
722-3393.
A Review of PAC Mate GPS
The PAC Mate GPS system is comprised of three components: a Bluetooth GPS
receiver; Destinator, GPS software that can also be installed on
conventional PDAs used by sighted travelers; and StreetTalk, proprietary nonvisual
interface software. All are sold by Freedom Scientific.
Mike Tindell, IBTC access technology specialist, displays the PAC Mate GPS.
The GPS receiver and Destinator software can be purchased from a mainstream
commercial supplier, but only Freedom Scientific and its dealers sell
StreetTalk.
If preferred, the buyer may purchase the entire package from Freedom
Scientific, including all maps for the United States and Canada. A socket
Bluetooth card is required for the GPS receiver and the PAC Mate to communicate. In
either case the buyer must install the separate components in this order:
Bluetooth drivers, Destinator, StreetTalk, then maps. We recommend that maps be
installed on a compact flash card to be inserted in the PAC Mate. In order
to activate Destinator and StreetTalk, a user will need access to the Internet.
Basic features of the PAC Mate GPS are the ability to create a route from
one address to another as well as create a route from the current position
of the traveler to an address or point of interest. One unique feature of this
system is that the route created can be emailed, printed, or embossed. The
GPS can operate in two modes-navigation mode and planner mode. Navigation
mode is used when the GPS receiver is tracking satellites. Planner mode is
used when a traveler wishes to create a route or find points of interest when the
GPS isn't available.
When the GPS receiver is tracking satellites, speech output can alert the
traveler when to make turns along the created route. The PAC Mate will give
directions such as "turn left" or "turn right." The only time cardinal directions are
given is when the journey begins.
Currently the traveler cannot create a pedestrian route in the same way that
one can with the Trekker and BrailleNote GPS. Strictly speaking, the PAC
Mate GPS program can create vehicular routes only. Moreover, only one region of
the United States maps can be running at one time. Therefore a user can't
create a continuous route from New York to California because they are in different
regions. When the GPS is tracking satellites, it can determine speed,
direction, distance traveled, distance left to travel, latitude, longitude, and
altitude. When the GPS receiver isn't tracking satellites, the user can
create routes, but the PAC Mate GPS will not report which streets are in the area, not even
cross streets along the way. The GPS will say, "Turn right at Baker Street,"
or, "Turn left at University Avenue," but nothing else. A route can be
created only from an origin to a destination. Once the route is created, it
can't be reversed. The user must manually create another route in reverse order.
When using GPS for PAC Mate, the traveler needs to initiate only the
StreetTalk program. When the program is launched, Destinator is running in
the background.
StreetTalk has four menus. They are routes, favorites, toggle modes, and
utilities. In the routes menu, the traveler can find out where he or she
currently is by accessing the "where am I" option, and, if the system is tracking
satellites, the traveler can query the system for cross street information.
A route can be created from origin or current location or point of interest to
destination. The destination may also be a point of interest. If desired, a
traveler can retrieve a saved route.
StreetTalk has an interesting feature called a breadcrumb route. This means
that electronic breadcrumbs will be dropped the first time the traveler
explores a route, and the next time the traveler wants to go to the same place, the
traveler can reuse the breadcrumb route.
A traveler has the option of using a current GPS location or a specific
address to create a point of interest and can later delete it. Another
useful feature allows the traveler to give the new point of interest a name using his or
her own voice. If desired, as the traveler moves, StreetTalk will announce
upcoming points of interest automatically. The distance can be set to announce the
points of interest when the traveler is a certain number of feet away. If
the point of interest is not found, the distance can be expanded to search for
it.
Improvements we would recommend for future upgrades are the ability to
create pedestrian routes and the capability for a traveler to preview
walking a route.This should include information on cross streets and points of interest in
the same way as the other two GPS systems provide.
To purchase the PAC Mate GPS system, visit the Freedom Scientific Web site
at <www.freedomscientific.com> or call (800) 444-4443.
A Review of BrailleNote GPS
Anne Taylor, IBTC director of access technology, demonstrates the
BrailleNote GPS
Sendero Group is the manufacturer of the GPS application used in the entire
BrailleNote family of products. The Bluetooth GPS receiver will work only
with BrailleNote Bluetooth-compatible products such as BrailleNote PK and the
BrailleNote MPower, while a regular GPS receiver will work with the
BrailleNote Classic. The BrailleNote GPS software package includes a GPS receiver, eight
CDs with maps of the United States, and a one-gigabyte compact flash card.
This card contains the GPS software with ample room left over to install
multiple maps. Sendero also provides an MP3 tutorial to introduce a buyer to
the various features of the GPS application. BrailleNote GPS is the only GPS
application that allows the buyer to install and pre-load multiple maps in
multiple regions. BrailleNote GPS also provides a context-sensitive help menu which
is already familiar to BrailleNote users.
In the BrailleNote GPS Version 3.3, a traveler can create, store, and delete
both vehicle and pedestrian routes. A reverse route feature is also
available.
A traveler can choose to have every cross street on the route announced or
just the turning points.
The heading mode (also known as travel direction) can be set according to
the individual's preference. The traveler may choose headings using
clock-face navigation or the standard right or left. BrailleNote GPS offers both GPS
mode for tracking while traveling and a virtual mode for route planning when
no GPS signal is detected.
If a traveler is unfamiliar with a city or town, the street name mode can be
set to short or long to enhance understanding of the route. For example, if
one travels on I-695, when the street name mode is set to short, I-695 is
the only information spoken. But if a traveler wants to inquire whether
I-695 is the Baltimore Beltway, the street name mode should be set to long.
A traveler can search for the nearest points of interest while traveling or
search for them in virtual mode while planning a route. The points of
interest are arranged in categories such as restaurants, hospitals, or hotels. A
traveler can jump quickly from one point of interest to another. When
desired, a traveler can obtain the address and other detailed information about a
particular point of interest with a single keystroke. A traveler can set a
desired point of interest as a destination and create a route to it from the current
location. While moving, the GPS system reports speed status, latitude and
longitude, altitude, and directions. A look-around mode can be turned on so
that the system will announce every point of interest and cross street on
the route. With the BrailleNote GPS, a traveler can add a new waypoint or create
a new point of interest when needed.
Of the three systems we examined, the Sendero Group product offers the
greatest flexibility in features and ease of use. Currently the GPS system
cannot print or emboss a created route. We hope that this feature will be
implemented in a future version. For pricing details on the BrailleNote GPS,
visit the Sendero Group Web site at <www.senderogroup.com> or phone (530) 757-6800.
For additional product evaluation details on any of these three GPS devices,
contact the NFB's Access Technology staff at <nfb@nfb.org>, or call (410)
659-9314,
extension 5, for the technology answer line (during business hours, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Eastern Time).
Business commentary
The importance of creating an online presence
March 2006
By Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison
Hey there!This month we would like to focus on the importance of creating an online presence.Whether we like it or not, it appears that these days most of us are using the Internet to do background checks on potential employees and associates and this is it would be important for you to create an online presence but there are some tips that we would like to pass on to you.
First, if you frequent chat rooms then you should not use your own name, do not refer to your family or friends, and stay away from mentioning relevant information that can tie you to your real name.
Second, create a website and fill it with useful, valuable, and relative information on yourself.Create a website that looks good, clean, and is easy to read and understand.Ideally, if you are seeking to impress employers then your website should look professional and well put together.Stay away from glitzy graphics, crazy looking icons, and those drop-down and pop-up menus that often serve to turn off those who are only looking for the meaty stuff on you.
Your information should be made up of such things as:Achievements, education, employment history, awards, hobbies, community work that you are presently engaged in if any, objectives and goals, aspirations, and other related information.Serious employers are looking for serious websites and they are particularly interested to see how you portray yourself.They are also very interested to see what types of hobbies you have and if you are engaged in community work.You should build a website that best portrays who you are.It's like using a resume but instead of presenting a hard copy you are now presenting an online presence and this time you can be sure that many more people are going to see you, meet you, and hopefully they will want to know more about you.
In previous years we used to use a paper resume to catch the eye of potential employers.We used to spend endless hours perfecting it and making it look good.We used to spend hours ensuring that headings stood out, columns lined up, and that the most relevant information made it on to the page.This has now changed to using an online presence but the same type of criteria still exists and should be followed.So, if you are looking to impress those serious potential employers, stay away from those haphazard looking websites and stick to the well-put together and professional ones.
From the soap box
Is there a glass ceiling for women in the corporate world?
March 2006
By Scott Savoy
Hello there!My beef for this month centers on a very hot topic and that is the question of whether or not there is a glass ceiling for women in the corporate world.There are many prominent corporations that will argue that there isn't.However, many women and women's groups would also argue quite forcefully that there definitely is.I believe that the majority of experts would also agree with this second opinion and I am going to support the latter as well.
When I look back at some of the business headlines for last year I see that there were thousands of law suits filed by women employees against Wall Mart for gender discrimination and there were also some unpleasant rumblings within Morgan Stanley towards the end of last year.I fail to see how one could miss the boat when it comes to the argument that there is definitely a glass ceiling for women in the corporate world and added to this there is definitely discrimination against women in the corporate world.
According to CNN news some top execs were dismissed at Morgan Stanley late last year because they had apparently taken some of their clients to strip or men's clubs and the defense for this was that the men were not supposed to do this in any way, shape, or form.This pleased me to no end because as a whole women normally don't take their male clients to those types of clubs so why should the men be allowed to do it.In the case of Wall Mart there have been rumblings for the past few years that this powerful corporate giant has been guilty of discrimination against many of its women employees.
A survey published late last year showed that in Canada when it came to the top five positions in the top 100 Canadian companies there were only about 4.6% of women holding down any of these positions and in another survey published in the United States it was revealed that only about 25% of women make up most of the MBA classes.I don't believe that the glass ceiling is just a North American thing; it exists globally and has existed for too many years.I personally know several women execs who have been told by their companies that their career aspirations should be tempered to not exceed a certain exec level because the upper echelons of the corporate world are primarily for men.I do also recall that there was a certain company last year that was accused of offering better starting salaries to men over women because they felt that women employees were not as committed as their men counterparts.
I have daughters and several of my friends also have daughters and I would definitely like to see my daughters take their rightful places in the boardroom if they indeed deserve it and have worked for it.It's time for women to voice their opinions and objections more loudly.Women have a part to play in the business world be it in the corporate or small business world and us men would do well to start taking note of this.
The president's feature
A campaign by a disabled person
March 2006
Sponsored by Donna J Jodhan
Hello everyone, this month I would like to publish a submission by one of our readers.I chose this article because it inspired me and I hope that it does the same for you.It is filled with grit and determination on the part of Susan Drew, and it surely highlights the plight of our disabled community in Britain and indeed around the world.
Disabled campaign seeks end to 'daily humiliation'
By Cahal Milmo
The Independent (UK), January 30, 2006
Susan Drew remembers when chip and PIN first reduced her to tears. It was
not because, like others, she had forgotten her four-digit number. The cause
was a shop assistant who refused to accept her disability.
The 59-year-old nurse, who has Parkinson's disease, was left unable to pay
for her shopping when staff at a supermarket insisted she key her PIN into a
machine.
The hand tremors caused by her illness mean that Mrs Drew is unable to use
the keypads, which become compulsory in stores next month. When, a few
months later, she was confronted with the same problem - after dozens of
similar confrontations - Mrs Drew could take no more. She went home and
tried to take an overdose.
She said: "People do not realise the effects of having to explain in front
of a queue of people that you have a disability and cannot use a system like
chip and PIN, only to then be told I have no choice. I've had my card
refused, been told to hurry up and told there is no other way to pay. It is
a daily humiliation. One day it all became too much and I tried to overdose.
Fortunately my husband caught me after four pills." But today Mrs Drew and nine other people with physical and mental
disabilities are to lead a #1.2m advertising campaign, launched by the
Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the government-funded disability
watchdog.
Posters and radio adverts outlining the shabby treatment of disabled people
every day will highlight what the commission says are rising levels of
unfair treatment, poverty and exclusion faced by the 10 million people in
Britain who have a disability or a long-term health condition.
The campaign, carrying the slogan "Are we taking the dis?", will highlight
the fact that just 17 per cent of people with learning disabilities are in
work and disabled people earn 10 per cent less on average than their
able-bodied colleagues.
Bert Massie, the DRC's chairman, will accuse the Government today of "lazy
fatalism" in its policies towards the disabled.
He will warn that unless equality for those with disabilities is given
greater importance, Labour will miss its targets for reducing poverty and
increasing the number of people in work.
A report by the Rowntree Foundation last month revealed that a third of
disabled people in Britain of working age now live in poverty, on less than
60 per cent of the average income. The study also found that an able-bodied
person with no qualifications was twice as likely to be employed than a
disabled person with a university degree.
Mr Massie will launch the campaign alongside David Cameron, the Conservative
Party leader, after Tony Blair declined an invitation to attend the event.
He said: "Successive governments have failed to break the culture of low
expectations that holds disabled people back - including the present
administration.
"There is a lazy fatalism that too often shapes the perceptions that
politicians have of disabled people. In important areas, the distance
between the living standards, opportunities and life-chances of disabled
people and the rest of the population has widened."
The DRC, which will cease to exist in 18 months when it is merged into the
Commission for Equality and Human Rights, is calling for new measures to
increase the representation of disabled people, including a requirement for
political parties to have a disabled candidate on their shortlists for every
parliamentary seat. The body also wants a target of 20 per cent for the
number of disabled people on public bodies.
Campaigners point out that discrimination and prejudice remains endemic,
ranging from ignorance of rules that allow those unable to use chip and PIN
to sign for their goods to the Government's insistence on the use of phonics
to teach literacy - a system that deaf children cannot use. The ads focus on
10 people who have suffered exclusion, ranging from a bakery assistant
sacked because she had diabetes to an arthritis suffer who was stopped from
appearing on a BBC television game show because of her condition.
Mrs Drew, from Gloucester, said she continued to face requests to use chip
and PIN machines despite having payment cards which informed cashiers that
the holder should be asked for a signature. She said: "It got to the point
where my bank sent me a letter which they wanted me to take out every time I
wanted to buy something. Why would they think that is acceptable? Why should
I have to apologise for my illness every time I want to go shopping?
"So many decisions in our society are taken without considering their impact
One in every 17 babies born in the world has a serious birth defect, a
hidden epidemic of global proportions, according to a revealing new study.
Almost eight million children annually suffer from a birth defect, including
3.3 million who die and another 3.2 million who live with severe mental and physical disabilities that often condemn them to a life of poverty and suffering.
"This is a serious, vastly unappreciated and underfunded public health problem," said Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes, which commissioned the report.
Birth defects principally involve deformities of the heart and spine, and blood disorders, but as many as 70 per cent of the conditions are preventable with simple public-health measures and basic medical technologies, Dr. Howse said.
While the vast majority of children being born with birth defects are in the developing world, the problem also exists in wealthy, developed countries.The new report is the first to catalogue the extent of birth defects on a country-to-country basis, and shows that the prevalence ranges from a low of 39.7 per 1,000 live births in France to a high of 82 per 1,000 in Sudan.Canada ranked 14th among 193 countries, with a prevalence of 45.5 birth
defects per 1,000 live births.
Arnold Christianson of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg,
South Africa, said the research team identified a staggering 7,000 types of
birth defects, though there were five of genetic (or partially genetic) origin that accounted for a large number of the total, including: congenital
heart defects; neural-tube defects such as spina bifida; blood disorders
such as thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia; Down syndrome and glucose-6
phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD).
Dr. Christianson said there are social and environmental factors that also
explain why a significant proportion of birth defects occur.For example, most neural-tube defects are due to dietary deficiencies.
Canada has virtually eliminated conditions like spina bifida by fortifying
flour with folic acid. Similarly, adding iodine to salt can slash the rate
of hyperthyroidism, a leading cause of mental retardation.
Dr. Christianson said consanguineous (blood-relative) marriages greatly increase the risk of birth defects. For example, in the malaria belt, a higher proportion of the population carries one copy of a gene that confers protection against malaria, but also increases the risk of sickle-cell, thalassemia and G6PD. That problem could be curbed with basic genetic
counselling, he said.
The risk of having a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age, and that can be addressed by improving access to birth control, Dr. Christianson said. Even basic vaccinations against conditions like rubella could eliminate grave conditions like congenital rubella syndrome.
The report notes that only about 50 per cent of birth defects are accurately
diagnosed, even in wealthy countries.The new data focus largely on genetic and dietary factors known to cause specific birth defects, because they are easiest to track. But Dr. Christianson noted that there are other social factors like smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy that are taking an enormous toll.
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