We would like to acknowledge the following contributors to this month’s STAE issue.
The Sterling Creations accessibility team, the Sterling Creations research 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.
Meet Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison
Our resident experts with over 45 years of business consulting experience between them. These two are the authors of several books, articles, and newsletters. They are highly paid consultants to the US, British, and Canadian governments and they continue to “Walk the talk” on a daily basis.
They and their team of consultants work tirelessly to produce daily blogs that are jammed packed with up to the minute news wires and headlines from around the world, business news and trends, and current strategies. Marquis and Harrison are also motivational speakers and are booked solid till the end of 2008. They and their team also help countless businesses and individuals to research and write complaints and editorials so that the voices of their clients can be heard.
Their books include:
Secrets to Financial Success, Untapped Wealth, and Untapped Wealth Discovered first and second editions. They are presently at work on other books.
You can purchase a copy of any of their best sellers from www.amazon.com, or from any other large bookstore. You can check out their daily blogs on the business desk page at www.untappedwealth.com as well as at:
Online classroom to help rural blind, deaf students
September 2007
By the Sterling Creations accessibility team
Hello there! This month we’d like to respond to a question sent to us by Heather Ratsky of Santa Maria California. Heather wanted to know whether or not the needs of blind and deaf students are being met especially so in rural areas across America and in other countries as well.
In answer to your question Heather, we believe so. We can’t speak for other countries but we came across an interesting article from Australia and here the Australians seem to be doing some very good things. We hope that this article answers your query and we thank you for writing to us.
Online classroom to help rural blind, deaf students
ABC News, Australia, April 23, 2007
Blind and deaf children living in regional Australia will now be able to
communicate with expert teachers in online video classrooms.
The "teleschool" was developed by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind
Children after widespread reports that children in regional Australia with
those disabilities were not getting enough support.
It will be open to high school students as well as young children.
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children manager of children's services
Jan North says parents and children will be able to communicate with expert
teachers from their family home.
"So that's quite innovative and it's a very exciting prospect for us to work
directly into family homes in country Australia," she said.
The institute hopes to roll out the service to 120 regional families by the
end of the year.
Ms North says the service will provide vital support to isolated families.
"When you see that there are children out there who we know haven't been
able to fully realise their capabilities and you feel confident that the
service you're able to provide is going to probably deliver almost the same
service ultimately that the city children are getting, you feel really great
Hello out there! Fall will soon be here and we hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer. This month we’d like to add our voices to a growing call for the disabled to join the ranks of teachers.
The following though it pertains to Scotland, should be used as a springboard to encourage other countries.
Call to encourage more disabled into teaching
By ANDREW DENHOLM
The Herald (UK), April 17, 2007
Caption: JOINT APPROACH: Linda Arnot, who was Scotland's first blind teacher
of sighted children, with classroom support worker Kathleen Hamilton.
Picture: Colin Mearns
Ministers were last night urged to do more to encourage people with
disabilities into the teaching profession in Scotland.
The call came after new figures showed there were only 421 disabled teachers
in Scotland out of nearly 53,000.
At the same time, the percentage of disabled people entering teacher
training has fallen from 8.8% in 1999 to just 4.5%. Estimates suggest that
about 20% of Scotland's population of five million have some form of
disability.
The figures were obtained by Leonard Cheshire Scotland, a charity
representing disabled people, through freedom of information legislation.
Ryan McQuigg, policy officer with Leonard Cheshire, has written to Hugh
Henry, Education Minister, asking him what action he intends to take to
address the imbalance.
"While realising that universities focus on individual recruitment
strategies, we believe that the executive should be taking steps to set the
mood and direction on promoting equal access for disabled people to enter
the teaching profession," he said.
Mr McQuigg said disabled people benefited the teaching profession by raising
awareness of the nature of disability as well as challenging negative
attitudes and expectations in society.
A spokesman for Leonard Cheshire went on to stress the importance of having
more teachers with disabilities in the light of the executive's policy of
mainstreaming - introducing more pupils with learning and behavioural
difficulties into state schools.
"Mainstreaming has meant that disabled pupils are not uncommon in today's
state schools but what these statistics starkly illustrate is that it's
still unusual for a disabled person to be sitting at the head of a Scottish
classroom," he said.
Linda Arnot, a French teacher from Rosshall Academy in Glasgow, who was the
first blind teacher of sighted children in Scotland, believes attitudes
towards teachers with disabilities are changing.
The 39-year-old wanted to be a teacher from her early teens but did not
think it was possible because she did not know of any blind person who was a
teacher.
Instead, she studied French and Russian at Strathclyde University intending
to be a translator or an interpreter. However, she heard about a blind girl
who had trained to be a teacher in Sheffield and decided to follow suit.
"I applied to Jordanhill but they said there was no point because I wouldn't
be able to get a job afterwards. Things have changed a lot these days and
Jordanhill are much more positive but that was the attitude then," she said.
After her training she went to teach French at Penilee School in Glasgow,
which has become Rosshall. Although she has found the job hard work at
times, she believes the training at Sheffield stood her in good stead.
"The first time I was in a class observing a lesson the children had been
promised a video to watch if they behaved, but when their teacher left the
room they all got out of their seats and started shouting," she said. "I
couldn't let that carry on. I got up and shouted at them and said that if
they didn't behave and sit down they wouldn't get their video. They all sat
down and were quiet and I was amazed.
"I knew if I couldn't control a class I wouldn't be able to be a teacher. I
think if that first experience had been a negative one, I might have thought
twice about teaching but because it was positive it gave me the confidence
to go on."
Ms Arnot said she now rarely shouts at her class because other discipline
strategies are much more effective, including the close working relationship
she has with Kathleen Hamilton, a support worker who tells her what is going
on in the classroom.
"Where a sighted teacher would glare at a child or signal them to do things
such as sit down, Kathleen does this and then tells me about it later.
"If children ignore her or she is constantly signalling then she will tell
me and I would then step in. Pupils occasionally try to take advantage of
the fact I am blind but it is nothing personal and is the kind of thing that
can happen in any class."
Ms Arnot said she would encourage those with disabilities to enter the
teaching profession. "You have to have determination, be prepared to put
more work in to keep pace with sighted colleagues and fight for the support
you need, but if you are prepared to do this then the job is worth it."
Well, good for Bill Gates! This is what I like about this fellow. His ability to stimulate, motivate, and encourage others. We need more of this from other companies. Too many of our large conglomerates are much too busy making money and not spending enough time helping others. For it’s by helping others that we are able to move the economy along. We need more Bill Gates types around. Here’s the article on Mr Gates’s efforts.
Gates offers $3 software for students
By Andrew London and Liu Baijia
China Daily, April 20, 2007
Extract: "Speaking at Tsinghua University, where he received an honorary
doctorate, Gates said:"Software isn't just for a few but really about
empowering everyone - whether they are displaced or migrant workers or the
visually impaired trying to use a computer."
Bill Gates Thursday promised to offer a $3 Microsoft software package to
poor students both in developing and developed countries.
Caption: Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a speech during The
Microsoft Government Leaders Forum in Beijing April 19, 2007. [Reuters]
Addressing the Microsoft Government Leader Forum in Beijing, he said the
world's largest software company aims to increase the number of people with
access to computers from the one billion today to two billion by 2015. This,
he said, is part of the US Millennium Development goals.
"Education is the most important investment for the future," Gates said on
his 10th visit to China. His pledge comes five months after Intel Chairman
Craig Barrett said during his China visit that the global giant would start
selling computer chips for $300 in the country from this year. Like Gates,
Barret's aim, too, is to help poor people access IT.
Starting from the second half of this year, the world's largest software
firm will provide its software, including Windows XP Starter, Microsoft
Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Math 3.0, Learning Essentials 2.0
for Microsoft Office and Windows Live Mail desktop for $3.
Countries interested in the program, however, will have to pay at least half
of the cost of the computers for the students.
The program does not include only developing countries, but also developed
ones that want IT access for their poor students, Microsoft Vice-President
Will Poole said.
Professor Mohammed Yunus, founder of the famous micro-credit organization,
Grameen Bank (Rural Bank) in Bangladesh, and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner,
agrees that IT plays a key role in alleviating poverty.
Speaking at Tsinghua University, where he received an honorary doctorate,
Gates said:"Software isn't just for a few but really about empowering
everyone" - whether they are displaced or migrant workers or the visually
impaired trying to use a computer.
Contrary to Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin's claim, Gates said he has
no intention of venturing into space. Instead, the world's richest man wants
China's poorest to one day enjoy the benefits of the digital revolution.
"We want to make sure digital advances are available to all," Gates said,
referring to Microsoft's links in China, specifically Beijing-based
Microsoft Research Asia (MRA), a creative research lab that focuses on
cutting edge advancement in computer technology.
"We've only just scratched the surface of the digital revolution," he said.
One day, people should be able to enjoy all TV programs online, and a
digital tablet, connected without a wire to the Internet, could replace
classroom textbooks, Gates said.
Tsinghua University has been one of the talent breeding grounds for the MRA
since 1998. It was set up after Gates visited China and was impressed by the
"talent, enthusiasm and creativity" of Chinese university students.
Gates also announced a new joint venture between the university and the MRA:
the Tsinghua-Microsoft Special Pilot CS Class, a faculty exchange program.
Hello all. Well, it’s September and fall is on its way. I personally like the fall weather and hopefully you do too. This month I’d like to focus on a very interesting article that I found some time ago while browsing the Internet. I’ll let you be the judge of it all as I don’t want to influence anyone with my own opinion.
Sexuality and disability as social policy
The Toronto Star , Apr. 14, 2007
Is it time for people with disabilities to invite government into their
bedrooms? Is this the year we should - whoa, Nelly - get public policy
legislators working on sex?
I think so.
Time to shine light on the fact that one of the keys to well-being, namely
sexual fulfilment, is not and never will be a private thing for many people
who move and/or process information differently from the so-called norm.
In a world that routinely stigmatizes people with disabilities as asexual,
how does someone with cerebral palsy summon the courage to ask for what is
delicately known as "facilitation?" How can a woman who uses a wheelchair
feel comfortable expressing her sexual preferences? When is a man with an
intellectual disability competent to make decisions relating to sex?
How do personal assistants fit into the picture? Should government funding
cover sexual services?
None of these questions is high on the public policy agenda but they should
be.
"Several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden,
have well-established professional sexual services for the disabled," says
Anne Abbott, a Toronto artist who has cerebral palsy. "Sex is a natural,
wondrous experience; it should be open to everyone."
Slowly but surely North America is starting to wake up.
The latest issue of San Francisco State University's Sexuality Research and
Social Policy journal is entirely devoted to sexuality and disability. You
Hey there! This month I’ve chosen an article that would have you practically buzzing. If the findings here are true then we’re in a bit of trouble. Let’s take a look.
Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?
Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony
collapse' of bees
By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
The Independent (UK ) , 15 April 2007
It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists
suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food
shortages, as the world's harvests fail.
They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile
phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre
mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that
pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which
started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain
as well.
The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees'
navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way
back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this
up.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive's inhabitants suddenly
disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian
Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home.
The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind
when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.
The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all
American states.
The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee
population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast.
CCD has since spread to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and
Greece. And last week John Chapple, one of London's biggest bee-keepers, announced
that 23 of his 40 hives have been abruptly abandoned.
Other apiarists have recorded losses in Scotland, Wales and north-west
England, but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs insisted: "There
is absolutely no evidence of CCD in the UK."
The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world's crops
depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared,
"man would have only four years of life left".
No one knows why it is happening. Theories involving mites, pesticides,
global warming and GM crops have been proposed, but all have drawbacks.
German research has long shown that bees' behaviour changes near power
lines. Now a limited study at Landau University has found that bees refuse to
return to their hives when mobile phones are placed nearby. Dr Jochen Kuhn, who
carried it out, said this could provide a "hint" to a possible cause.
Dr George Carlo, who headed a massive study by the US government and mobile
phone industry of hazards from mobiles in the Nineties, said: "I am convinced the
possibility is real."
The case against handsets
Evidence of dangers to people from mobile phones is increasing. But proof is
still lacking, largely because many of the biggest perils, such as cancer, take
decades to show up.
Most research on cancer has so far proved inconclusive. But an official
Finnish study found that people who used the phones for more than 10 years were 40 per
cent more likely to get a brain tumour on the same side as they held the handset.
Equally alarming, blue-chip Swedish research revealed that radiation from
mobile phones killed off brain cells, suggesting that today's teenagers could go
senile in the prime of their lives.
Studies in India and the US have raised the possibility that men who use
mobile phones heavily have reduced sperm counts. And, more prosaically, doctors have
identified the condition of "text thumb", a form of RSI from constant texting.
Professor Sir William Stewart, who has headed two official inquiries,
warned that children under eight should not use mobiles and made a series of safety
recommendations, largely ignored by ministers.
Helpful tips
September 2007
By the Sterling Creations research team
Greetings all! It’s September and here are our tips of the month.
Helpful tips for September:
How can you tell if the fish that you're about to purchase is fresh?
Take a look at the eyes. If they're clear then the fish is fresh.
If the flesh is firm then it's definitely fresh.
What's this about bottled water?
It's just a big hipe!
It's nothing but bottled water that has been distilled from the tap.
Most bottled water companies are now stating this on their labels in big print for you to see.
Best way to cook shrimps?
Doesn't matter if you boil or stir fry these little guys.
No more than two minutes.
Any longer than this then they become tough just like erasers.
What to look for when choosing lamb in the supermarket?
Make sure that it looks iether pink or bright red.
This signifies that the lamb is fresh.
How can you tell if clams are not good after boiling them?
If the shell does not open up after you've placed them in boiling water, then throw it out.
On the whole, after you've placed your clams in boiling water, their shells are supposed to open up.
What's this about your purse?
According to the health experts, your purse believe it or not can be the carrier of practically millions of germs.
Think of it! Whenever you go anywhere with your purse and you sit down for a break, don't you almost always place your purse on the floor?
When you go shopping and your purse is on your shoulder, doesn't it quite often rub against various surfaces?
99.9% of the time your poor old purse is exposed to germs whenever you leave the house with it.
So, don't put your purse on your bed, on your dining-room table, or on your chair.
Looking for a home recipee for making your very own sour cream?
Use the following measurements:
Three quarters of a cup of plain yogert, one third cup of butter.
Mix well and refridgerate.
What's this about purchasing second hand play pens for your kids?
Don't purchase any type of second hand play pen.
They are not safe.
Accessibility news
Chattering chips enliven Tokyo stroll
September 2007
By the Sterling Creations research team
Hey again! For our second go around, we’ve chosen a very interesting article that brings you news from Japan. We find it very exciting. Hope you find it of interest.
Chattering chips enliven Tokyo stroll
By Yuri Kageyama, AP
Canada.com, March 05, 2007
Caption: University of Tokyo professor Ken Sakamura shows a portable device
with an earphone plug and a screen showing a sample image of his wine store
before the start of a test walk of the Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project
in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district Monday, March 5, 2007. The 1 billion yen
(US$8.7 million; 6.6 million euro) Japanese government-backed project, led
by Sakamura, makes for a jabber-filled downtown stroll - getting deluged by
chatter over earphones from some 1,200 tiny computer chips. Photograph by :
AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara
Downtown strollers looking for directions, store guides or historical
tidbits will be able to get an earful without talking to anyone - thanks to
1,200 computer chips embedded around Tokyo's Ginza shopping district.
The information can be heard through earphones that pick up signals from
chips stuck in cement, lampposts and subway-station ceilings. The 1 billion
yen ($8.7 million) government-backed Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project
spans several blocks.
University of Tokyo professor Ken Sakamura says the effort gives a glimpse
into the future, when such chips will become so widespread that government
offices and private businesses will use them to zap information to
passers-by.
"This project is to build an infrastructure for the 21st Century," Sakamura
said during a demonstration Monday.
Similar experimental efforts are under way elsewhere in Japan.
During a tour, reporters wearing the earphones and a portable media player
strolled around the shopping district. The player, which is worn around the
neck, also features a small video screen.
In front of Mitsukoshi Department Store, a voice explained how a statue of a
lion has long been the store's trademark. Cross the street to Nissan Motor
Co.'s showroom, and the gadget automatically switched to a chip at the
showroom.
"Welcome to Nissan Ginza gallery," says a woman who appears on the video
screen.
By pushing buttons on the device, the user can see additional information,
such as a map or a historical photo.
U.S. cities have expressed interest in the technology, Sakamura said.
Japan is hoping the technology can be used to help to guide the elderly, the
blind and the handicapped through city streets, Sakamura said.
It also sees potential in the service - now available in Japanese, English,
Chinese and Korean - to help tourists get around, he said.
Hello! Here are this month’s letters to the editor.
From Taiko Osaka of Tokyo Japan:
I’m Taiko and I like this magazine much. My English is not good but I try. Many of my friends read this magazine much. We enjoy much the articles and hope to visit Canada one day soon.
Thanks very much.
From Fred Biggs of Washington DC:
As far as I’m concerned the ADA legislation has done very little to improve the plight of blind Americans. Who are we fooling? Unemployment among blind Americans has not changed for decades! We need more teeth to be put into the ADA.
From Michelle Nadeau of Montreal Canada:
Way to go Donna! I’m delighted to see that finally you are taking the big step to write editorials. It’s long overdue.
From Simon Gratfield of Liverpool England:
I like how this magazine continues to publish articles originating from Britain. We’re doing lots here to improve accessibility and I hope that it continues.
From Brian Thomas of Chicago:
Donna, I was sorry to read about your loss in the July issue. I lost my brother last year to cancer and I can empathize with you.
Good luck.
From Wayne Lewis of Princeton New Jersey:
Hey! Can anyone tell me where I can apply to for jobs in website accessibility? I’m blind and have the skills. However, it’s quite sad to see that most companies are using sighted people to develop accessible websites. What a joke!
Please send your submissions to info@sterlingcreations.ca. We love receiving your comments and letters and would be delighted to publish them as long as they do not contain offensive language.
Editorial
September 2007
By Donna J Joddhan
Can the playing field really be made level for special needs persons?
In my humble opinion, the playing field for special needs persons has never been level and many argue that the playing field is becoming more and more slanted and daunting for special needs persons. True it is that we have seen several positive changes within the past two decades. Technology is allowing and enabling more and more special needs persons to keep abreast of information through the Internet. There are some corporations and governments that are making efforts to include special needs persons in their labor forces. However, there's still much to be done.
After two decades, statistics still show that the unemployment rate among
blind and visually impaired persons are above 80% and that about 70% of special needs persons live below the poverty line. There are still barriers to employment, to housing, and to services. Special needs persons still face financial barriers, but most of all they continue to be challenged by attitude.
The United Nations has been making noises about strongly encouraging its members to be kinder and gentler towards their special needs populations. Each year in early December they set aside a day to remember the disabled but unfortunately it's not enough. Many leading world governments are still not doing enough to help special needs persons. The United States recently celebrated the 17th anniversary of the ADA legislation and for all of its good intensions many advocates are still very much dissatisfied with the results. In Canada, many refer to the government as mean spirited as there is still no legislation in place in that country that would force companies and agencies to treat special needs persons with equality. In Britain and Europe as a whole, there seems to be some concerted effort towards improving the lives of special needs persons but the same can't be said for the rest of the world.
We need to see governments take more affirmative action. Governments need to start setting the example and they also need to start taking more responsibility. For as long as special needs persons pay taxes, then they are entitled to equality and entitled to receive equal accessibility to information be it through websites, by phone, or anything else. If governments take the lead then it's almost a certainty that companies will follow along with the rest of the mainstream population.
Finally, we need to see governments take a firm stand towards those so-called agencies that continue to fill their pockets with donations from well-meaning members of the public, instead of using these donations to better the lives of those who they say they're helping. Too many agencies continue to get away with not providing adequate services to special needs persons.
Have a great September.
Notes
If you would like to contribute an article to our magazine then please contact us at:
Comments to the editor can be submitted free of charge.
All submissions are reviewed and you will be notified if yours is chosen. If your submission is chosen we will print it upon receipt of payment.
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Then look no further. For all translation and transcription services to and from English, Spanish, French, Cantonese, and Mandarin; please go to www.translationpeople.com and there you will find translation and transcription services to suit your needs.
Are your customers constantly complaining that your website is either too difficult to navigate or access? Are they saying that they have to wait for such a long time when trying to access your website? Or are your cell phone customers unable to access your website with their cell phones because there are just too many icons or graphics?
If you are looking for ways to improve access to your websites, improve the content of your documents, emails, faxes, letters, and proposals, then visit www.sterlingcreations.ca.
If you are looking for skilled and creative writers to help you craft and write your ideas, proof read and edit your documents then visit www.sterlingcreations.ca and go to the ghostwriters’ page and there you will find a variety of services that are designed to help you.
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If you are looking for new business ideas for yourself, your kids, or even a friend then visit www.untappedwealth.com and there you will be treated to a collection of free ideas and information and you will have an opportunity to purchase either a hard or electronic copy of “Untapped Wealth Discovered” written by Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison. You will also find up to the minute information on the business desk page, a list of very informative articles on some really important strategies on the top business strategies page, plus much more.
