Hello. My name is Ellen Perlow. For my dissertation, I am researching the preferences and perceptions of people with accessibility needs concerning accessibility-related descriptors or terms used to describe people with accessibility needs. As a self-identifying individual with accessibility needs from birth, I am most interested in learning what other self-identifying people with accessibility needs think about the American English terminology that is used to describe us, and the opportunity to empower ourselves as a class through determining the terminology with which we prefer to be described. If you consider yourself an individual with an accessibility need and are 18 years of age or older, your participation in this research, which I believe will benefit us as a class, would be most appreciated. I invite members of this discussion list to participate in this study. As part of of the required preliminary informed consent procedure, participants will need to 1) voluntarily self-disclose as being 18 years of age or older; and 2) voluntarily self-identify as an individual with an accessibility need (without any further elaboration, inquiry, or recording as to the reason for such self-identification). Alternative formats, including large print, Braille, accessible electronic format, audiotape, and sign language interpretation, will be available for documentation and communication involved in the study. The maximum total required participant time commitment involves approximately 30 minutes: 1) to read and sign informed consent documents (5 minutes) 2) to rate in terms of relative positive, neutral, or negative quality, and to indicate preference or lack thereof for a randomized set of fifty [50] selected accessibility-related descriptors (10 minutes) 3) to respond to five [5] open-ended accessibility-related questions/activities (10 minutes); and 4) to return documents via U.S. mail to the researcher in a postage-paid envelope (5 minutes) Your identity will be disclosed only in the Informed Consent to Participate in Research and, if audiotaping is employed, in the Informed Consent to Audiotape documents, both which will be kept separate from all data collected and kept strictly confidential in a secure, locked cabinet at the principal investigator’s home, accessible only to the principal investigator. Except for these informed consent documents, no identifying information is asked, collected, or reported as part of this research. Audiotaping will be available for use by participants for accessibility reasons, once express informed consent is given . This consent provides permission for the principal investigator to listen to and fully transcribe the contents of the audiotape. In the case of participants who communicate in sign language, the voice of the interpreter will be recorded. The researcher realizes that accessibility-related terminology describing people with accessibility needs varies among nations and cultures and has changed and continues to change over time (Yuker, 1988, p. xiii). Because this particular study focuses on accessibility-related terminology in current (2005) American English discourse, the language of the questionnaires, presentation, and supplemental materials, such as directions, will be in current American English. Sign language interpretation, as needed, will be provided. American English need not be participants' primary or native language. Documentation will be available in alternative formats, including large print, Braille, audiotape, sign language interpretation, and accessible electronic format (a 3 1/2" diskette, IBM formatted with document files in accessible ASCII text format). Since mobility and transportation are among the chief concerns of people with accessibility needs, including the principal investigator, and an issue in accessibility-related data collection (Nosek, et al., 2004, p. 8, 19), data collection will take place at a number of assistive technology conferences which the principal researcher will attend over the course of the data collection period, June 2005-March 2006. Attendees at these conferences who voluntarily complete and sign the Informed Consent to Participate in Research document are welcome to become participants in the study. Notice concerning the data collection points at the conferences will be posted (also in alternative formats) at the conference sites and on this electronic discussion list. Accessibility/Assistive Technology Conferences and dates of these conferences that the Principal Investigator will attend as of the date of this e-mail message, November 6, 2005: - Tuesday-Friday, November 8-11, 2005: Accessing Higher Ground: Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in Higher Education, University of Colorado, Boulder http://www.colorado.edu/ATconference - Thursday-Saturday, December 1-3, 2005: World Congress & Exhibition on Disabilities: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA; http://www.wcdexpo.com/ - Thursday-Saturday, December 8-10, 2005: Society for Public Health Education [SOPHE] Annual Meeting, Philadelphia Convention Center : http://www.sophe.org/ - Wednesday-Saturday, January 18-21, 2006: Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference, Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort & Convention Center, Orlando, Florida: http://www.atia.org/ - Saturday-Tuesday, January 21-24, 2006 – American Library Association 2006 Midwinter Meeting, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX: http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2006/home.htm - Wednesday-Monday, February 1-5, 2006: International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence, Hilton Hotel, St. Petersburg, Florida: https://secure.phhp.ufl.edu/icadi/2006/ - Monday-Sunday, March 20-26, 2006: California State University-Northridge Assistive Technology Conference, Los Angeles [Airport]: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm From June 2005-March 2006, the principal investigator also will attend Deaf community events in the North Texas area. See for instance: http://www.deafnetwork.com/ . In addition, individuals interested in participating in the research, although unable to attend one of the events listed above, may contact the principal investigator via e-mail at [log in to unmask] to inquire about and to arrange alternative meeting locations and times, as well as alternative data collection methods accessible to a particular individual, during the June 2005-March 2006 data collection period. During the entire research process, you are welcome to contact the principal investigator with any questions or concerns about the research at the addresses provided below. Your involvement in this research study is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Thank you very much for your interest in participating in this research. Ellen Perlow, Principal Investigator [log in to unmask] P.O. Box 424244 Denton, TX 76204-4244 Tel.: 940-484-2770 References: Nosek, M. et al. (2004, January-March). The meaning of health for women with physical disabilities: a qualitative analysis. Family & Community Health, 27(1), 6-21. Yuker, H.E. (1988). Attitudes toward persons with disabilities: progress and prospects. In: Yuker, H.E. Ed. Attitudes toward persons with disabilities. (pp. xi-xiv). N.Y.: Springer Publishing Co. --------------------------- Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi Online courses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm Check the EASI Library Web http://www.rit.edu/~easi/lib.htm >>> Error in line 8 of AXSLIB-L.MAILTPL: unknown formatting command <<< -> . . . . . . . . . <-