A friend sent this my way: <div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ---------- <div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"> <div> I thought this might interest you. But particularly the part about “Raising the Floor” about which you can learn more here: <a href="http://raisingthefloor.net/" target="_blank">http://raisingthefloor.net/</a> (web/computer accessibility for people with disabilities in developing countries) <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"> From: AccessInfo [mailto:<a href="mailto:AccessInfo@fcc.gov" target="_blank">AccessInfo@fcc.gov</a>] Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 11:07 AM </div></div> Good Morning All: Today the FCC, the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, and Raising the Floor, an international coalition of individuals and organizations who promote internet accessibility for people with disabilities, launched a challenge to the public to submit short multimedia presentations on their visions of how cloud computing can create new opportunities for people with disabilities. The challenge is part of Chairman Genachowski’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative, announced last July, which brings together parties who have a stake in helping improve communications for the disability community. The most inspiring visions will be posted on the Commission’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative website: <a href="http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation" title="http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation" target="_blank">http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation</a>, and will be considered for the Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility. In addition, the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities will award $1,000 for the best presentation that addresses the interests of people with cognitive disabilities, and Raising the Floor will award $1,000 for the best presentation that addresses the interests of people in developing countries. The challenge, entitled “Lifted by the Cloud: Visions of Cloud-Enhanced Accessibility,” is the first one the FCC has launched on GSA’s new platform, which was unveiled at Gov2.0 in September. The platform allows the U.S. Government and the public to bring the best ideas and top talent to bear on our nation’s most pressing challenges. “We are very excited to launch this challenge today and to tap into the creativity and ingenuity of the public, including students, developers, filmmakers, and industry representatives,” said Pam Gregory, the Director of the FCC’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative. “We believe that these kinds of challenges can help broaden awareness and help stimulate innovative solutions for people with disabilities.” The challenge will run from October 22, 2010, to May 1, 2011. Submissions will be accepted at any point during that time period. Public voting will occur on Challenge.gov from May 2-31, 2011. The winner of this voting will be recognized as “the popular choice.” The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities is affiliated with the University of Colorado, Boulder. Its mission is to catalyze and integrate advances in science, engineering and technology to promote the quality of life and independent living of people with cognitive disabilities. More information on the Coleman Institute can be found at: <a href="http://www.colemaninstitute.org/" title="http://www.colemaninstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.colemaninstitute.org/</a>. Raising the Floor is an international coalition of individuals and organizations working to ensure that the Internet is accessible to people experiencing accessibility or literacy problems, even if they have very limited or no financial resources. The goal is to ensure that individuals who need special interfaces are as free and able as everyone else to use the new and emerging Internet tools and resources to live more independently and productively, and to achieve their life's goals. More information on Raising the Floor can be found at: <a href="http://raisingthefloor.net/" title="http://raisingthefloor.net/" target="_blank">http://raisingthefloor.net/</a>. Further information about the Chairman’s Accessibility and Innovation Initiative is available at the Broadband.gov’s website, <a href="http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation/" title="http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation/" target="_blank">http://www.broadband.gov/accessibilityandinnovation/</a> . -- FCC -- </div></div></div>