Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies

Dear Wireless RERC Visitors,

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Online Accessibility Information Resources

In response to consumers with disabilities unsure about which wireless devices and services best fit their needs and abilities, the Wireless RERC developed “Your Guide to Choosing a Cell Phone” in 2004.

Today, all of the major wireless manufacturers and service providers, as well as some third party resources, maintain websites offering accessibility information.  These websites are powerful tools for gathering and comparing information about available products and services for customers with disabilities.

At the same time, navigating these sites, and the sheer amount of available information, can be intimidating.  Following a consumer study, the Wireless RERC compiled the following list of links to accessibility resources.

Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech Students Create New Ideas for “Getting Wireless”

During the 2011 spring semester, 64 industrial design students at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) participated in the Wireless RERC’s second annual “Getting Wireless” design exercise. Teams of 3-4 students were assigned one of three customer personas based on data collected through the Wireless RERC’s Survey of User Needs (SUN).

At the conclusion of the 2-week exercise, each team presented design strategies to meet the needs of their persona, while also considering the impact of these strategies on the other two personas and on wireless customers without disabilities. Jim Mueller of the Wireless RERC served on the jury for the students' final presentations.

"Getting Wireless" (2011) - Exploring Universal Design in Wireless Technologies

Quick Links

• Survey of User Needs (SUN) - A survey to help us understand how people with disabilities use wireless products like cell phones and text messengers.

SOT Proceedings

The Wireless Emergency Communications  2009 State of Technology Conference Proceedings are available.

The conference had 65 speakers on panels and sessions that discussed the accessibility of emergency communications and alerts for people with disabilities. Among the topics covered were technological solutions, user needs, policy and regulatory aspects, social networks, emergency management, and deployment strategies to ensure that people with disabilities are included in the development of next generation emergency communications.

Speakers at the conference included representatives from the Federal Communications Commission, FEMA, GEMA, Department of Homeland Security headquarters, CTIA-The Wireless Association, Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), Gallaudet University, National Emergency Number Association, Cambridge University, Research in Motion, National Council on Disabilities, National Organization on Disability, and the WGBH National Center for Accessible Media.

Wireless Emergency Communications in American Sign Language

Participants discuss the benefits and challenges of sending videos in American Sign Language (ASL) to cell phones for public emergency alerts during focus group on February 28, 2009. Participants were deaf and conversant in ASL. Interpreters help Wireless RERC staff communicate with participants.

RERC Community Outreach

Visitors to the RERC’s booth at the Mexican Consulate's Binational Health Week in Atlanta wear eye shades, earplugs and gloves to experience some of the challenges people with disabilities confront when using wireless devices.