Spinal cord research

        Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson presented a check for $2 million from the Centers for Disease Control last week to actor Christopher Reeve, to launch the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center in Short Hills, N.J.

        Spinal cord injury affects millions of Americans, and for many, the most difficult aspect of adjustment is knowing where to turn for information and support.

        The center will pull together specialists in spinal cord injury, who will coordinate a comprehensive library, Web site, educational materials, referral services, and self-help information for people with paralysis and their caregivers. The first phase of the project will be to conduct an interactive surveyof people with spinal cord injuries to determine greatest needs for improving quality of life. To participate, log on to www.paralysis.org.
       A $3.5 million grant was awarded to the University of Washington by the National Institute on Disability, Rehabilitation, and Research for an effort to make technology accessible to everyone.

        Labeled AccessIT (for Access Information Technology), the project promises to establish a nationwide network of trainers making technology accessible to all students and employees with disabilities.

        Computers, Web pages, telecommunications software, fax machines, copiers, and other technology is often not usable by all. For those who cannot hear prompts, who cannot see or read visual indicators, or who are not functionally able to operate a conventional keyboard or mouse, technology in educational institutions and government agencie is more frustrating than efficient.

        AccessIT, which will receive$3.5 million annually for the next five years, will coordinate expertise to adapt existing information technology and develop a network of trainers to teach people with disabilities to use it.
       The Department of Education and the National Institute on Disability, Rehabilitation and Research have awarded $2.25 million to Sendero Group and HumanWare Inc. to develop global positioning technology (GPS) and wayfinding technology for blind and visually impaired people. Many cars are equipped with global positioning that can chart a course or tell drivers where they are. Since March, , similar technology has been made available commercially with speech synthesis.

        The purpose of this project is to incorporate aspects of GPS and other wayfinding technology, and make results accessible to blind and visually impaired people.

        Spread out over five years, the project coordinates engineers, designers, orientation and mobility specialists, and professionals in education and rehabilitation of people who are visually impaired.

        Over the next five years, the goal is to develop products that can announce such information as present location, interpret traffic signals, give distance and direction information — in an affordable package that talks.

        Contact Deborah Kendrick by phone: 673-4474; fax: 321-6430; e-mail: dkkendrick@earthlink.net.

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