Internationally Known-Wireless RERC Research Goes to Seoul

Wireless RERC Project Director Maureen Linden traveled to Seoul, South Korea from November 5 – 11, 2018.  While there, she gave a lecture at South Korea’s National Rehabilitation Center, presented research at the 12^th Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of (Korea RESKO) Technical Conference, represented the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Society of North American (RESNA) at the International Alliance of Assistive Technology Professional Organizations (AT Alliance) working meeting, and spoke in a panel discussion with other AT Alliance representatives. 

Ms. Linden’s invited lecture at South Korea’s National Rehabilitation Center summarized her research in wireless emergency communications, as well as on accessible education for people with disabilities. Ms. Linden provided an overview of the Wireless RERC and its mission and spoke about development projects on the Wireless RERC’s Inclusive Emergency Lifelines Project focusing particularly on the accessibility of the notification signals and messages of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) for people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities. Twenty-five researchers and clinicians from the National Rehabilitation Hospital attended. 

On November 8, 2018, Linden presented a scientific platform session on “The Accessibility of Wireless Emergency Communications: Updates from the Wireless RERC” at the RESKO Conference.  The presentation was made to twenty conference attendees and focused on the accessibility of the notification signals and messages of WEAs for people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities. 

Finally, Maureen represented RESNA in her role as President-Elect at the AT Alliance working meeting.  During this meeting, Chapal Khasnabis, Technical Officer of the World Health Organization (WHO), charged the AT Alliance organizations with assisting WHO with their initiative to improve access to assistive technology around the globe.  On November 9, 2018, Maureen and five other AT Alliance members discussed these proposed efforts during a RESKO plenary session to an international audience of approximately 125 conference attendees.