Conferences & Events

14 Winners of Accessible Innovation Awards at CEO 2023 in Las Vegas.

January 31, 2023 by Debbie Austin

A helpful toilet lifter, stabilizing smart makeup applicator, wearable navigation system for visually impaired individuals, and self-driving powerchair service have all been recognized at the prestigious CES 2023 Innovation Awards.

Taking place annually, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest global stages for companies to showcase their latest and greatest technology innovations. The show covers a wide variety of sectors including automotive, robotics, gaming, wearables, sports technology, and accessibility. CES is organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

AT Today has rounded up all 14 Honorees and Best of Innovation award winners in the accessibility category at the CES 2023 Innovation Awards. See the list here.

Accessible Destination of the Month: Lancaster

January 31, 2023 by Debbie Austin

Photo of old brick building in Lititz, PA with flowering tree and old fashioned outdoor clock — **Lititz, PA in Lancaster County**

Lancaster, PA, is the epicenter of Amish Culture in the United States and there’s so much to do for visitors with disabilities. Click here Discover Lancaster County, PA

Canada’s First Convention Center Certified for People on the Spectrum

January 31, 2023 by Debbie Austin

Officials with the Niagara Falls Convention Center said that having the center certified by KultureCity, a non-profit organization that offers products and training to accommodate people with sensory needs, and not just those with autism, is part of the center’s commitment to make the facility more accessible and inclusive to everyone attending an event.

To receive this certification, the Niagara Falls team was trained by leading medical professionals to better recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle sensory overload situations — enabling the center to offer an accommodating and positive experience for all visitors.

In addition to staff training, the building is now outfitted with dedicated quiet spaces and provides sensory bags that people can borrow during an event.

TravelAbility Insider Insight: Convention centers that host events for the local community, such as auto shows, Comic Con and others, can now receive a torrent of local media and a reputational boost at the same time. Additionally, with meeting planners now including accessibility in their RFP’s for venue selection, having a convention center certified for all types of disabilities can be a differentiator that can result in more business as well reputational boost through articles such as this. Read more.

Is L’Oréal’s New Robotic Lipstick applicator just Lip Service?

January 31, 2023 by Debbie Austin

Today, many people with disabilities face a sense of exclusion when they browse the cosmetics aisle. There are often few, if any, products designed for someone with limited fine motor skills. L’Oréal has introduced a robotic lipstick applicator designed for people with limited hand and arm mobility.

“Hapta is essentially a miniature robotic arm that requires lots of machine learning and complicated algorithms. Combine that with our sense of purpose and drive around inclusion, I truly believe this is the result of the marriage of these two forces.” said Guive Balooch, the global chief of L’Oréal’s technology incubator.

TravelAbility Insider Insight: While there have been other accessible personal products developed by major brands for people with limited arm and hand mobility, Degree Inclusive deodorant comes to mind, this may be the tip of the beauty-industrial complex iceberg as robotics and advanced AI such as CHATGPT, may portend a future of robotic cosmetologists providing on-demand automated makeovers. However, today, it provides a welcome layer of independence for those with cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease. Read More.