Panel Discussion at 8:30 a.m. Pacific, Nov. 15

 

A panel of three researchers will speak at Virtual Ability’s International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 15. The panel includes Nicholas Lesica, Aldo Faisal, and Sahrish Panjwani-Charania.  First, Nicholas Lesica is Professor of Neuroengineering at the Ear Institute, University College London (UK). His research group develops tools to aid individuals with hearing loss. Second, Aldo Faisal is Professor of AI & Neuroscience at the Department of Computing and the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London (UK). He uses principles from engineering to research the brain. One application uses wearable AI to track the progression of muscular dystrophy.  Third, Sahrish Panjwani-Charania is an educator and graduate student in science education. She has reviewed the use of AI for students with learning disabilities.  The panel members’ diverse research interests will allow them to discuss the utility and impact of AI on three different types of disabilities: motor, mental, and sensory. You can attend the panel discussion in Second Life at the Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island or watch the session Live Streamed on YouTube. 

Accessible Voting for Everyone

It’s important that all eligible voters vote in every election. Not only do voters need to know about voting accessibility features, but so do pollworkers and other polling place staff. Here are some resources to ensure that everyone, whether or not they have a disability, can vote in local, state, and national elections.

For US voters:

• Find the accessible voting options in your state - https://accessiblevoting.net/
• Find out how to vote in your state (also available in plain language and in Spanish) - https://www.aapd.com/voter-info/

For US election officials:

• ADA Checklist for Polling Places - https://www.ada.gov/resources/polling-places-checklist/
• Introduction to Resources for Poll Workers and Voters with Disabilities - https://gpadacenter.org/accessible-elections/ (includes good hints about what to say or not say)
• National Coalition on Accessible Voting’s Voter Access Guide - https://accessiblevoting.net/voter-access-guide-for-election-officials

Voting Outside the US:

• Elections Canada Accessibility - https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=spe&document=index&lang=e
• Voting / Elections information from Communication Disabilities Access Canada - https://www.cdacanada.com/resources/accessible-businesses-and-services/barriers/voting-elections-2/
• Assistance with voting for disabled voters (UK) - https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/full-guidance/guidance-returning-officers-assistance-voting-disabled-voters
• Blind People Can’t Vote in Secret Without This… (UK video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms4Vi-p_CAQ
• Accessibility information from Australian Electoral Commission - https://www.aec.gov.au/footer/accessibility.htm
• Information for people with disability or mobility restrictions (Australia) - https://www.aec.gov.au/assistance/
• Political participation of people with disabilities - new developments (EU) -  https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2024/political-participation?page=3

 

Denis Newman-Griffis at 7 a.m. Pacific, Nov. 15

Denis R. Newman-Griffis will be the opening speaker at Virtual Ability’s International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference at 7 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 15.  Dr. Denis Newman-Griffis is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor of Data Science at the University of Sheffield in the UK. Their research focuses on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in practice, especially on health and disability.  The title of their talk is “Artificial intelligence and disability data justice: Representing human function and disability in AI systems.” You can attend their presentation in Second Life at the Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island or watch the session Live Streamed on YouTube.

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for November 2024

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. In Second Life, click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24 

**AI and Climate Change: Opportunities 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

**AI and Climate Change: Challenges
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

**Climate Change, What Climate Change?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22




What defines community?

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

Why is community important to people with disabilities? 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs (CRPD)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

The role of organizations for people with disabilities
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

10 Facts About People with Disabilities in Canada
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

**These 3 displays are about AI and climate change. Some of their content relates to the upcoming IDRAC conference on Nov. 15. The webpage about the conference is listed here:  https://virtualability.org/idrac-2024/