News

SPEECH ACCESSIBILITY PROJECT AIMS TO MAKE VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEMS MORE USEFUL FOR PEOPLE WITH SPEECH IMPAIRMENT - added 02/06/2024

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign recently announced the Speech Accessibility Project in collaboration with some large tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, as well as other not for profit organizations whose communities will benefit from this initiative.

Voice Assistants (Alexa, Siri, etc.) and other speech recognition systems today don’t do a good job of identifying voice commands from people who have diversity of speech patterns resulting from Lou Gehrig’s disease or Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, and Down syndrome. UIUC researchers will recruit paid volunteers to collect speech samples from individuals who have these speech patterns. There is heavy use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in speech recognition systems and these new speech samples will be used to train machine learning models more effectively and accommodate speech patterns representing people with speech impairment.

So why are all these companies joining hands? Because they all create solutions that use voice recognition so instead of duplicating efforts, they are all working together to create a common dataset that can be used by all. The belief that inclusive speech recognition should be a universal experience is the core fundamental driving this one of a kind collaboration.

Sign up for this research if you or someone you know is interested in participating in this multi year research project. Frequently asked questions are available if you want more information about this initiative. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Vaccine information is complicated; it may even feel overwhelming at times. We want to help consumers get connected to information about the vaccine, find the answers they are looking for to encourage their decision to become vaccinated and support for the disability community.

 

Do you…

 

Need a vaccine at your door?

Need help with a barrier that is keeping you from getting vaccinated?

Need help finding vaccination information?

Need assistance with ensuring a vaccine clinic is accessible?

We will assist with peer support, information & referral, transportation barriers, finding factual information, connection to medical professionals for questions/answers, and more!

 

Call or 330-392-3325 or info@wrilc.org

 

*We cannot provide medical advice.

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Our offices are now fully reopened reopened.

Monday– Friday

8am– 4PM

Walk ins welcome!

Come Visit us today!

330-372-3325

 

Our Independent Living Specialists and professionals are available to you for in-person appointments Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.!
Please call or email your support professional to set up an appointment if needed.

You can reach us by phone at 330-372-3325.
Please visit our website www.wrilc.org to find staff members’ EMAIL if you wish to reach them that way or you can CONTACT US here.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

For a limited time get unlimited talk, text and 10 GB of Data PLUS a Free Smartphone when you sign up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program!

 

But wait, there’s more! AND get a tablet for just $10.01 when you qualify. Apply now to unlock your one-time discount on a brand-new tablet!

For the last 35 years, the FCC has made it possible for low-income consumers to receive access to free or heavily discounted communication services. The service originally started with home phone access, but as they saw the needs change over time, they expanded the program to provide wireless phones. Federal law requires telecommunication companies to contribute to the Universal Service Fund which in turn pays for the cell phone program, administered by USAC.

StandUp Wireless is a provider of Lifeline, a government benefit program. Qualifying individuals enrolling in Lifeline with StandUp Wireless will receive free minutes, text and data. Customers qualify through programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, Federal Public Housing and Veterans Pension, or based on your household income.

Our service works on most GSM handsets. To see if your phone is compatible, click here.

If you qualify for Lifeline, you also qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Your online Lifeline application will give you access to apply to both programs automatically to ensure that you are maximizing your benefit. If you would like to apply for Lifeline or EBB only, just give us a call at 1-800-544-4441.

Cruise Self-Driving Car Survey for Wheelchair Users
Cruise is a self-driving car company based in San Francisco. We are developing ride-sharing and delivery services that will be accessible to all. 
We’re seeking anonymous feedback from people who use wheelchairs to inform and improve products. If you have a moment, please complete a short survey (no more than 5 minutes). 
Please feel free to forward this survey to friends, family, or colleagues who want to participate. 

 

New Behavioral Health Resources for Ohio’s Deaf Community


The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Disparities and Cultural Competence (DACC) Advisory Committee has released new behavioral health resources for Ohio’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The DACC Committee partnered with Ohio Association of the Deaf, Inc. to record videos in American Sign Language that focus on alcohol and drug addiction, suicide prevention, and the impact of trauma on lifelong wellness. Click the following to view/listen to the videos.

  • What is Drug and Alcohol Addiction: Audio
  • What is Drug and Alcohol Addiction: Video
  • Suicide Prevention: Audio
  • Suicide Prevention: Video
  • Traumatic Events can Impact Wellness: Audio
  • Traumatic Events can Impact Wellness: Video

 


Pediatricians Should Look for Risk Factors Linked to Teen Suicide


The American Academy of Pediatrics has released new guidelines for Pediatricians that include looking for risk factors linked to teen suicide. The guidelines were first published in 2007, and were updated this year. Risk factors that are included in the guidelines include substance abuse, a history of physical or sexual abuse, mood disorders, identifying as LGBT, and bullying. To see more, click 
here.

 
Read our Newsletter online
Reader accessible newsletter
Calendar of Events
 

 
 

About Us


Western Reserve ILC is a local 501-C-3 non-profit agency servicing the needs of persons with disabilities in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. 

 

Contact Us


Ph: 330-372-3325
Fax: 330-373-1826
info@wrilc.org

Toll free 1-855-260-4084

Follow Us


© 2020 / All Rights Reserved