Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
More children living in persistent poverty in Northern Ireland than Great Britain | Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Event in Dixon Playing Fields as part of National Tree Week.
From: Sean
Dear colleague
As part of our ongoing volunteering programme we have arranged with our partners in Belfast City Council and Conservation Volunteers NI to hold a tree planting event in Dixon Playing Fields as part of National Tree Week. The event will take place on 28 November 2009, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm and follows on from last weekend’s bulb planting in Victoria Park which was both hugely successful and enjoyable with over 2,500 bluebell and snowdrop bulbs planted.
The event in Dixon Playing Fields will hopefully be as much fun and we would like to see as many people there as possible. It is suitable for all ages and abilities and CVNI will be there to provide expert guidance and assistance with planting a range of native trees. I have attached a poster advertising the event and would appreciate it if you could ensure that this poster reaches as wide an audience as possible.
Sean Brannigan
Sean Brannigan
Community Engagement Officer
Connswater Community Greenway Project
274 Newtownards Road
Belfast
Telephone 90467930
Monday, November 16, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
AbilityNet Newsletter 09 28 "You Cant always get what you want"
"You Cant always get what you want" wailed Mick and the Boys, unless what you want is a regular zingy newsletter of all the latest news and information from the world of accessibility and assistive technology. In which case he should have sung "You can get exactly what you want just by subscribing to the weekly AbilityNet Newsletter ooooooh Yeah" Testify MIck, just testify
Newsletter tested for mobile browsing
Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter - view it on your mobile - every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access - what more could you ask for ?
Contents
AbilityNet News
AAC Resouces launched online
AbilityNet’s “Exploring AAC” Website Launched
Please take a look at our web resource and tell us what you think. Feel free to tell your colleagues and clients.
AbilityNet at Technology World 09
AbilityNet will be attending Technology World 09 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK. Technology world 09 is the UK's larest "Speed dating" event for companies with an interest in technology. If you are attending and would like to meet to discuss any aspect of accessible computing email us asap. Contact kareem.monem@abilitynet.org.uk to organise an appointment
YouTube Playlists Updated
Thanks for feedback on the YouTube playlists and how we could make them more useful
New playlists are being compiled as we speak on specific assistive technologies such as Screenreaders and Magnifiers - Find out more at www.youtube.com/abilitynet
History of AT Presentation on Slideshare
David Banes' take on the "History of AT" presentation from BCS InclusivITy day can be found uploaded at Slideshare at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet
Access News
Visually impaired gamer sues Sony
Hot off the presses of many major gaming and technical news outlets is a story about a visually impaired gamer who is suing Sony online entertainment for game ... accessibility as demanded by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA).
Interesting look at the beginnings of the HTML img tag
Why do we have the img element? An interesting glimpse from 1993 when it was first being discussed
Free browsers for vision impairment
Links to 8 browsers designed with vision impaired users in mind, following on from an article on Disaboom
Using NVDA to evaluate web accessibility
Testing web content with a screenreader is essential for highlighting issues that may not be uncovered as part of a standard WCAG2 review. This guide will help you use the open source screenreader, NVDA, to test your website
W3C Cheat sheet
Useful quick access to W3C accessibility tips
Best of YouTube
Google Wave Made Simple
Google has developed a new open source program called "Google Wave." http://wave.google.com Put simply, Google Wave is just like Google Docs for e-mail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9AbePnE08
Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking as an assistive technology
Don Oliver has had multiple sclerosis for 40 years and is wheel chair bound. Dragon is a critical part of his every day life. What does he use Dragon for? "I use it for everything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsZo1p_5-o4
Android Accessibility
This is just a quick video on where we are with accessibility for Android
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaLQt35H_10
All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.
What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y
Microsoft says speech is the next touch: http://ow.ly/yY6o
Second Life and #Disability: Interview with University of South Australia's Denise Wood: http://ow.ly/yYaq
Living with Asperger's syndrome: http://bit.ly/1dP4L6
How to be a leader with assistive technology http://bit.ly/3kvMK4
Special Offers
E-learning
1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT
Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details
Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days
Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan
HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.
Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.
Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?
Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Courses
The Autumn Course programme is released
Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007
Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications
More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course
Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations
Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively
More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course
Mobile Access Solutions
Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology
More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course
Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia
Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties
More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course
Web 2.0
Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies
More information and booking for Web 2.0 course
Windows 7
Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7
More information and booking for Windows 7 course
And there’s MORE
Stay in Touch with AbilityNet
Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks...
Access IT 2009
Technology World 09
23rd and 24th Nov, 2009
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us
Across the Web
Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet
Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet
Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
It will soon be available for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes
AbilityNet Newsletter 09 28 "You Cant always get what you want"
"You Cant always get what you want" wailed Mick and the Boys, unless what you want is a regular zingy newsletter of all the latest news and information from the world of accessibility and assistive technology. In which case he should have sung "You can get exactly what you want just by subscribing to the weekly AbilityNet Newsletter ooooooh Yeah" Testify MIck, just testify
Newsletter tested for mobile browsing
Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter - view it on your mobile - every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access - what more could you ask for ?
Contents
AbilityNet News
AAC Resouces launched online
AbilityNet’s “Exploring AAC” Website Launched
Please take a look at our web resource and tell us what you think. Feel free to tell your colleagues and clients.
AbilityNet at Technology World 09
AbilityNet will be attending Technology World 09 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK. Technology world 09 is the UK's larest "Speed dating" event for companies with an interest in technology. If you are attending and would like to meet to discuss any aspect of accessible computing email us asap. Contact kareem.monem@abilitynet.org.uk to organise an appointment
YouTube Playlists Updated
Thanks for feedback on the YouTube playlists and how we could make them more useful
New playlists are being compiled as we speak on specific assistive technologies such as Screenreaders and Magnifiers - Find out more at www.youtube.com/abilitynet
History of AT Presentation on Slideshare
David Banes' take on the "History of AT" presentation from BCS InclusivITy day can be found uploaded at Slideshare at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet
Access News
Visually impaired gamer sues Sony
Hot off the presses of many major gaming and technical news outlets is a story about a visually impaired gamer who is suing Sony online entertainment for game ... accessibility as demanded by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA).
Interesting look at the beginnings of the HTML img tag
Why do we have the img element? An interesting glimpse from 1993 when it was first being discussed
Free browsers for vision impairment
Links to 8 browsers designed with vision impaired users in mind, following on from an article on Disaboom
Using NVDA to evaluate web accessibility
Testing web content with a screenreader is essential for highlighting issues that may not be uncovered as part of a standard WCAG2 review. This guide will help you use the open source screenreader, NVDA, to test your website
W3C Cheat sheet
Useful quick access to W3C accessibility tips
Best of YouTube
Google Wave Made Simple
Google has developed a new open source program called "Google Wave." http://wave.google.com Put simply, Google Wave is just like Google Docs for e-mail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9AbePnE08
Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking as an assistive technology
Don Oliver has had multiple sclerosis for 40 years and is wheel chair bound. Dragon is a critical part of his every day life. What does he use Dragon for? "I use it for everything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsZo1p_5-o4
Android Accessibility
This is just a quick video on where we are with accessibility for Android
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaLQt35H_10
All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.
What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y
Microsoft says speech is the next touch: http://ow.ly/yY6o
Second Life and #Disability: Interview with University of South Australia's Denise Wood: http://ow.ly/yYaq
Living with Asperger's syndrome: http://bit.ly/1dP4L6
How to be a leader with assistive technology http://bit.ly/3kvMK4
Special Offers
E-learning
1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT
Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details
Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days
Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan
HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.
Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.
Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?
Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Courses
The Autumn Course programme is released
Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007
Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications
More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course
Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations
Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively
More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course
Mobile Access Solutions
Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology
More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course
Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia
Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties
More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course
Web 2.0
Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies
More information and booking for Web 2.0 course
Windows 7
Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7
More information and booking for Windows 7 course
And there’s MORE
Stay in Touch with AbilityNet
Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks...
Access IT 2009
Technology World 09
23rd and 24th Nov, 2009
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us
Across the Web
Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet
Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet
Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
It will soon be available for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The bare facts – the top to bottom of walking statistics Living Streets
The bare facts – the top to bottom of walking statistics
Walking, and high quality street environments, links to so many different policy areas it can be quite hard to separate out the information you’re looking for.
We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible by putting our key facts and stats into different categories, linked to below. If you have any other queries, please contact Anna Powell, Press Officer
Statistics for the new Living Streets Website
- General walking
- Walking and health
- Walking and the environment
- Road safety (including 20mph)
- Walk to school
General walking
Nearly a quarter of people (24%) walk for 20 minutes less than once a year, or never Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
Twice as many women (15%) walk to work as men (7.3%) Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
69% of commuting trips are made by car and only 11% are made on foot. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
On average, commuting trips by car take 24 minutes, by bus 40 minutes, rail 66 minutes and on foot 17 minutes. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
Over 1/5 of trips less than a mile are made by car Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
A quarter of all shopping trips are made on foot Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
On average, females make 15% more walking trips than males, making 261 trips a year compared with 228 for males. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
Walking and health
A third (33%) of adults say walking for more than 10 minutes is their only form of exercise in a typical month Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
Walking for just 30 minutes a day during the working week means reaching the Government’s recommended level of daily activity needed to transform your health.
An estimated 70% of adults do not do enough exercise to benefit their health Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, 2006
Only 37% of men and 24% of women in the UK are sufficiently active to gain any health benefits Health Survey for Session 2003–04, Department of Health, 2004
Nearly a quarter of all adults in the UK are obese Department of Health, Health Profile of England, 2007
Walking one mile in 15 minutes burns about the same number of calories as running a mile in eight and a half minutes NHS, Walk your way to health, 207
Walking one mile (1.6km) can burn up at least 100kcal (420kJ) of energy and walking two miles (3.2km) a day, three times a week, can help reduce weight by one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
By 2050 almost 60% of the UK population could be obese with the economic cost reaching £49.9 billion at today’s prices Government Office of Science, Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices, 2007,
95% of adults agree that walking is a good way to stay healthy Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005
82% of adults agree that walking is a good way to loose weight Department of Health
Regular physical activity improves mood, helps relieve depression, and increases feelings of well-being. A survey carried out by the charity Mind found that 83% of people with mental health problems looked to physical activity to help lift their mood
Walking and the environment
The school run accounts for 18% of car trips by residents of urban areas during term time at 0845am Department for Transport National Travel Survey 2006
Cars consume most fuel and pollute more at the start of their journey when the engine is cold, therefore, walking for short journeys will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by a disproportionate amount Institute for European and Environmental Policy 2007
The average commuter driving an average car, covering the average commute distance will produce almost one tonne of CO2 per person per year. With 25 million people in the UK commuting, that is the equivalent CO2 emissions that would fill almost 50 billion one litre water bottles every day, or enough to fill 89,000 typical three-bedroom homes, which is a city of some 200,000 inhabitants Workwise UK, 2007
If all commuters left the car at home one day a week this would save enough miles in a year to drive to the moon and back 35,000 times. This is the equivalent emissions reduction of taking over 1.7 million cars off the road and would reduce the UK's total CO2 emissions by almost 1 per cent. Energy Saving Trust
Road safety (including 20mph)
Britain has one of the worst road safety records in Europe for child pedestrians and almost 20% of casualties occur on the way to or from school Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, ‘School Assembly Plans Using Road Safety Themes’
People living in the 10% most deprived areas of England are almost one-and-a-half times as likely to be killed or injured on the roads as people living in the 10% least deprived areas. Department for Transport Road Casualties Great Britain: 2007
A pedestrian hit by a car at 40mph has only a 15% chance of surviving. At 30mph this chance increases to 55%. But at 20mph the chance of survival increases to 95%.
In 2008, 572 pedestrians were killed and 28,481 injured on our streets Department for Transport, Road Casualties Great Britain, 2007
20mph schemes in Europe and the UK have cut the number of adult pedestrians killed or seriously injured by 50% and child pedestrians by 61% Transport Research Laboratory, 2003, Review of 20mph zones in London Boroughs
The equivalent of 60 classrooms full of children were seriously injured or killed on our roads last year. There were 1784 child pedestrians killed or seriously injured in Great Britain last year. Based on the average of 30 children per classroom, the number of classrooms of children killed or seriously injured is 60.
In 2005, the National Centre for Social Research found that 74% of people wanted 20mph in residential areas, including 72% of drivers.
Driving at 20mph rather than 30mph reduces stopping distance by 134% and therefore reduces the risk of collision considerably. DfT, 2001, Calculation based on thinking and braking distances taken from Think! leaflet
In the UK, 20 mph zones have been found to drastically cut the number of pedestrians killed and seriously injured (KSI) on our streets. Pedestrian KSIs as a whole are reduced by 50%, and child pedestrian KSIs are reduced by 61%. Transport Research Laboratory, 2003, ‘Review of 20 mph zones in London Boroughs
Road deaths and injuries cost the NHS £470 million and the UK economy £18 billion every year. DfT, 2005, Highways Economics, Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties
The Commission for Integrated Transport’s 2001 study found that where cities have 20mph speed limits covering between 65% and 85% of the urban network, they are transformed “from being noisy, polluted places into vibrant, people-centred environments”. Commission for Integrated Transport, 2001, Study of European Best Practise in the delivery of integrated transport
Child pedestrians from our lowest socio-economic groups are currently a staggering 21 times more likely to die on our roads than those at the top.6 Department for Transport, Trends in Fatal Car-occupant Accidents: 2007
Walk to school
Among primary school children, 54% of girls travel to school on foot, compared with 49% of boys Department for Transport, National Travel Survey 2006
A higher percentage of boys go to school by car, with 44% travelling by this method compared with 38% of girls Department for Transport, National Travel Survey 2006
An 11-year-old starting secondary school is almost twice as likely as a 10-year-old at primary school to be killed or seriously injured in road collisions Department for Transport, Road Casualties, 2006
In 1971, 80% of seven and eight-year-olds travelled to school without an adult, in 2006 it was down to 12% of seven to 10-year-olds Department for Transport, 2006
Nearly 30% of children aged two to 15 were classed as overweight or obese in 2006 Department of Health, Obesity General Information
The average cost of the school run by car per primary school child is £367, which equates to £612 million for transporting all primary school children to school per year. Centre for Economics and Business Research (cebr), 2008, based on ONS, DfT, and AA figures
Living Streets Recent tragedies highlight need for 20mh
Two recent tragedies where pedestrians have been killed by car drivers mounting the pavement, have highlighted the need to take action to make our streets safer for all road users.
In Ashford, Kent, on Sunday 27th September, two pedestrians were killed and several injured. On Friday 25th September a group of schoolchildren in Worlingham, Suffolk, were knocked down by a car as they walked on the pavement: nine required hospital treatment, including a broken leg and pelvis. These incidents highlight the human cost of lack of respect on our roads, and Living Streets calls upon the police and CPS to do everything to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.
While incidents like these are fortunately rare, they are symptomatic of a more general imbalance in the protection afforded to pedestrians, as the most vulnerable road users. This is why Living Streets champions 20 mph speed limits in all areas where people live, work and play. A default 20mph limit would have an immediate impact on the community, drastically cutting road casualties and helping to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets for all.
A pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 97% chance of survival. As speeds increase that chance falls steeply, and by 35 mph half of all pedestrians hit will lose their lives.
Now is the time for government to take action to improve road safety in England and Wales, and you can help by taking part in our 20 mph campaign. You can download our free campaigning pack from our Resources section today, and get 20mph made a reality where you live.
Published on: 29/09/2009
Rob Cann
Minister rewards coastal clean up volunteers
Volunteers dedicated to cleaning up Northern Ireland’s coastline were honoured at Stormont when they were presented with prestigious Clean Coast Awards by Environment Minister Edwin Poots. The inaugural Coca-Cola Clean Coast Awards, managed by TIDY Northern Ireland, are part of the Clean Coast Programme and are designed to recognise the outstanding contribution of individuals and groups involved in cleaning and protecting our rural beaches, from Benone on the North Coast to Cranfield Beach in the shadow of the Mournes.
Since the beginning of 2009, 875 volunteers have registered on the programme, spending almost 1,700 hours removing 540 bags of rubbish from our beaches. In addition to the commonly encountered plastic bags, confectionary wrappers and marine debris, items removed have included trousers, cutlery, fridges, a bed and even a boxing glove.
See the winners and read more at www.communityni.org/news/minister-rewards-coastal-clean-volunteers.
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