AT&T, Berkeley Center For Accessible Technology Host "Connect Ability" Tech Challenge Developer Day To Empower People Living With Disabilities

Local developers urged to create software, wearable solutions and other tech to enhance lives of people with disabilities

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AT&T Inc.

Jun 15, 2015, 01:00 ET

BERKELEY, Calif., June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AT&T and the Center for Accessible Technology co-hosted a workshop for developers creating apps, software, and other technology to help people with disabilities. During the workshop, developers connected with community members living with disabilities to learn about their challenges and the types of technology that would most benefit them. The session took place at the Center for Accessible Technology at Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, itself a landmark facility designed for universal access and named for a pioneer in the Bay Area independent living movement. 

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, AT&T* and the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley are working with the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) and New York University's ABILITY Lab to find ways technology can enhance the lives of people with physical, social, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. To do this, they're challenging developers in the Bay Area to take part in the first-ever Connect Ability tech innovation challenge. Developers are invited to design software, wearables and other technology solutions as part of this virtual challenge. On July 26th, $100,000 in prizes will be awarded to winning developer teams in a variety of categories.

"Recent technological advances can remove barriers for people with disabilities in ways we couldn't have imagined 25 years ago when we first passed the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California.  "We're thrilled to partner with the Center for Accessible Technology to attract Bay Area innovators to the accessible technology space, and to help make these new tools a reality for the nearly 3.8 million Californians living with disabilities today."

"The Bay Area, and Berkeley in particular, has been at the forefront of the disability community's independent living movement since the 1970's," said Dmitri Belser, executive director of the Center for Accessible Technology. "Just as the Bay Area is leading the world in the mobile tech revolution, we can and should lead in accessible technology as well. That's why we're helping developers connect with local folks in the disability community to help spark new and innovative ideas rooted in real obstacles they face every day."

Today's developer day event featured a group of "exemplars"—members of the disability community who volunteered to talk with developers about the challenges they face and provide feedback and insight on the developers' various projects. Developers will be able to speak with exemplars confidentially, in virtual and in-person meetings.

Local Bay Area exemplars include:

  • Ann Cupolo-Freeman, a retired Hospital Social Worker who works with people with a wide range of disabilities, including people with physical disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, and people with long-term disabilities such as MS.  Ann is a wheelchair user.
  • Erin Lauridsen, who helps people with a wide range of disabilities access technology. She is the Assistive Technology Educator at Independent Living Resource Center SF.  Erin is blind.
  • Margie Cochran, the Residential Access Coordinator at the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, where she provides various home modifications for low-to-moderate income residents of Berkeley. She was previously a carpenter and has built many wheelchair ramps in the Berkeley area. Margie is hard of hearing.

Developers participating in today's event received feedback on a range of tools in development, including:

  • a connected device designed to help people with autism, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome
  • a mobile app to help people with rare disabilities or diseases track their symptoms and progress
  • a mobile keyboard designed to improve the smartphone typing experience for people with visual impairments

Today's event is one of a series of Collaboration Sessions hosted by AT&T and RESNA across the country to give developers a chance to meet and interact with local exemplars.  

Additional sessions are taking place across the country during May and June in the following locations:

  • Cambridge, Massachusetts, with help from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Assistive Technology Club
  • New York City at the NYU ABILITY Lab
  • Durham, North Carolina at the American Underground, with support from students and faculty from Duke University
  • Denver, Colorado, at the RESNA 2015 annual conference
  • Dallas, Texas, in collaboration with disability employment services nonprofit LaunchAbility

ChallengePost is powering the challenge. A panel of experts from the engineering, technology and disability communities will judge the submissions, which are due at 5 p.m. on June 24th.  

Connect Ability Challenge winners will be announced July 26th, on the 25th Anniversary of the ADA. For more information or to register, visit http://connectability.challengepost.com/.  Follow the latest news on Twitter using the hashtag #ConnectAbility.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

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