[Travelandtourism] Fwd: Announcement: Walt Disney World Unveils New Outdoor Audio Description Produced by WGBH

Wed Jun 23 21:52:27 UTC 2010

did I not post this this morning on the this list.

Cheryl Echevarria
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 3:58 PM
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Fwd: Announcement: Walt Disney World Unveils New 
Outdoor Audio Description Produced by WGBH

>From: Mary Watkins <mary_watkins at wgbh.org>
>
>Disney Unveils First-of-its-Kind Outdoor Audio
>Description Technology for Guests with Disabilities
>
>National Association of Professional Engineers
>Names Handheld Assistive Technology Device "New Product of the Year"
>
>LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., June 22, 2010 -
>Beginning June 27, guests with visual
>disabilities will be able to explore Walt Disney
>World theme parks in a whole new way through an
>enhanced Disney-designed device that provides
>detailed audio description of outdoor areas and
>fits in the palm of a guest's hand.
>
>"Disney Parks have long been at the forefront of
>providing accessibility for guests with
>disabilities," said Greg Hale, chief safety
>officer and vice president of Worldwide Safety
>and Accessibility for Walt Disney Parks &
>Resorts. "We are pleased to build on this legacy
>with new technology that enables us to do
>something that has never been done before -
>provide rich audio description in moving rides and outdoor environments."
>
>Link to a demo of the outdoor environment audio description:
><http://ncamftp.wgbh.org/disneyareadx/MK_AreaDX_Demo_Short.html>http://ncamftp.wgbh.org/disneyareadx/MK_AreaDX_Demo_Short.html
>
>Via an interactive audio menu, the newly
>enhanced Assistive Technology Device lets guests
>choose the type of information they would like
>to receive about outdoor areas, from
>architectural elements to the location of the
>nearest restroom. The 7.2-ounce device, which
>utilizes wireless technology to pinpoint its
>location and take pre-programmed actions also
>offers guests at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort:
>
>    * Detailed audio description of key visual
> elements, including action and scenery, for more than 50 attractions;
>    * Amplified audio for most theater-type
> attractions for guests with mild to moderate hearing loss;
>    * Handheld captioning that enables guests to
> read captions while enjoying specific rides; and
>    * Activation of closed captioning in
> pre-show areas where television displays narrate the upcoming experience.
>
>
>"I know of no other public space in this country
>- or anywhere else for that matter - that is as
>welcoming and accessible to people with
>disabilities as Disney's theme parks," said
>Larry Goldberg, director of media access at WGBH
>Boston, which is considered a pioneer in
>developing multimedia and new technologies that
>make media accessible for the disabled. "With
>their captioning systems for guests who are deaf
>or hard-of-hearing and now outdoor environmental
>description for guests who are blind or visually
>impaired, Walt Disney World is now more
>inclusive than ever. WGBH is proud of our role in helping make this 
>happen."
>
>WGBH teamed up with Disney to deliver outdoor
>audio description, marking the latest
>collaboration between the two organizations,
>which began with the installation of WGBH's Rear
>Window® Captioning system in Disney's theater-based attractions in1996.
>
>Disney has patented and licensed the assistive
>technology, which could serve a wide variety of
>retail, commercial and industrial applications.
>The technology is already being used at the
>World of Coca Cola Museum, The Hall at Patriot
>Place and the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and will
>receive the National Society of Professional
>Engineers 2010 "New Product Award" next month.
>
>"We are particularly excited to make this
>technology available beyond Disney Parks and
>extend accessibility where it was previously
>impractical," added Hale. Softeq Development
>Corporation is licensed to make the technology available beyond Disney 
>Parks.
>
>Other examples of Disney Parks' services for guests with disabilities 
>include:
>
>    * Accessible Experiences - From vehicles at
> Toy Story Midway Mania! that enable guests to
> remain in their wheelchair during the ride to
> American Sign Language interpretation at live
> shows, the focus is on providing accessible experiences.
>    * Recreation Devices - Specially designed
> vehicles, such as an adaptive golf cart and
> sand and aquatic wheelchairs, enable guests to
> experience leisure activities throughout the resort.
>    * Guide maps for Guests with Disabilities -
> Theme park-specific maps provide an overview of
> services and facilities available for guests
> with disabilities. Braille guidebooks are also
> available to assist guests during their visit.
>    * Resort Access - Resort hotels at Walt
> Disney World Resort offer special equipment and
> facilities for guests with disabilities such as
> phone text, visual indicator door knocks and sloped-entry pools.
>
>
>The Handheld Assistive Device is offered at no
>cost with a refundable deposit at Walt Disney
>World Resort and Disneyland Resort theme parks.
>Audio description of outdoor areas will be
>available at Disneyland Resort next year. For
>further information about services for guests
>with disabilities, guests should visit the Walt
>Disney World Web site at disneyworld.com
><<http://www.disneyworld.com/>http://www.disneyworld.com/>
>or contact Walt Disney World Information at
>407-824-4321 (voice) or 407-827-5141 (TTY).
>
>*U.S. Patents 6,785,539 and 7,224,967 may apply.
>
>Media Contact: Zoraya Suarez, Walt Disney World
>Manager of Media Relations, 407-828-3814.
>WGBH Media Contact:  Mary Watkins,
><mary_watkins at wgbh.htm>mary_watkins at wgbh.org, 617-300-3700
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>- Release Date: 06/23/10 01:36:00

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry, dandrews at visi.com
Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
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