Thinking your way around

People with paralysis may soon be able to shop, socialize and walk around the virtual world in Second Life simply by thinking.

"In a recent demonstration, Junichi Ushiba, an associate professor at Keio University and head of the project, showed how electrodes attached to the scalp can pick up the electrical changes associated with brain activity.

The data can be interpreted by a computer, allowing a user to manipulate his or her on-line persona, or avatar, around the streets of Second Life without using a keyboard or mouse." - via reuters.com

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Grocery stores. ADA mediation. Speaking of thinking your way around, check out this recent roundup of the latest ADA mediation results released by the Department of Justice in October 2007l

" In New York, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that a grocery store consistently allowed nondisabled individuals to use the accessible parking spaces. The store agreed to monitor use of the spaces and, in the future, to tow unauthorized vehicles at the owner’s expense if they do not respond to a public address announcement that they move the vehicle.

In Texas, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that a grocery store did not have signage for its accessible parking. The manager installed the appropriate signage and agreed to train his employees to reserve the spaces for authorized users.

In Oregon, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that the checkout aisles of a supermarket were inaccessible and the cash register designated as accessible did not always have a cashier present. The complainant also alleged that food stamp card readers could not be used by people who use wheelchairs without exposing their password to the cashier and other customers. The supermarket widened one cash register aisle to provide access and also changed the height of the cash register counter to make it easily reachable for people who use wheelchairs. To make the card reader accessible for both people who use wheelchairs and other customers, the supermarket installed a temporary portable reader at the accessible register and placed a shield over the reader for password protection. In addition, the supermarket adopted a policy of keeping the accessible register open at all times.

In Georgia, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that the check-out aisles of a grocery store were not accessible and that store employees refused to assist him when he was unable to use the check-out aisle. The grocery store made all check-out aisles accessible, and the complainant agreed to participate in quarterly staff meetings to provide disability sensitivity training to employees.

In California, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that a local grocery store’s accessible checkout aisle was not staffed and no other checkouts were accessible. The store made all checkout aisles accessible and added an ADA component to personnel training. The complainant will work with the grocery store to provide input and information on serving customers with disabilities.

In Maine, a person who uses a wheelchair complained that a path used by customers between two competing supermarkets was inaccessible because of curb construction, broken pavement, and a physical barrier. Both supermarkets agreed to remove the barriers and to construct an accessible path of travel between the two supermarkets."
-via Dept of Justice site

ADA mediation is a voluntary program used to resolve complaints. According to the DOJ, 78% of complaints submitted to the process are successfully resolved.

The Disability Rights Online News, published on the DOJ website, contains other recent ADA decisions and news about accessibility issues.