New Year, New Look for the National Center on Accessibility (NCA) at www.ncaonline.org

The NCA now has a new look to its website with new interactive elements that enable users to chat and network with peers. Check out the February Poll to share your opinion or login to the NCA Forum to share your experience and even post photos.

Long Beach Woman Rowing Her Way into History Books

Angela Madsen, a woman with paraplegia, is attempting to across the Atlantic Ocean with Franck Festor, a man with an amputation. They left the Canary Islands on December 2, 2007, and were due to arrive in Antigua at the end of January 2008. Angela is also on the U.S. Adaptive Rowing Team, has 5 World Championship gold medals, and will be rowing in the 2008 Paralympics. She is the founder and director of the California Adaptive Rowing Program in Long Beach (www.carplb.net).

For more information and to find out details about their trip, go to http://www.rowoflife.net/.

Sidewalk Videos from U.S. Access Board Available Online

A four-part video series on accessible sidewalks that illustrates issues and considerations in the design of sidewalks is now available online through the Access Board's website. The videos are open-captioned and incorporate running descriptive audio.

To access these videos, go to: http://www.access-board.gov/news/sidewalk-videos.htm.

Online Directory of Adapted Physical Education/Activity Professional Preparation Programs, National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID)

NCPERID maintains this undergraduate and graduate higher education program online directory at http://www.ncperid.org/directory.htm. It is designed to assist NCPERID members, students, parents, organizations, and others who seek information about adapted physical education/activity professional preparation programs. You may also update or add your program information by going to http://www.ncperid.org/survey.htm.

For more information, contact Rick Mikat at mikat.rich@uwlax.edu.

Assistive Technology Research Experience for Undergraduates, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Application Deadline: March 1, 2008

This program in assistive technology is a joint collaboration between the University of
Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and focuses on the development and evaluation of new technologies and procedures to improve the mobility and quality of life for individuals with disabilities and older adults.

To download an application or for more information, go to http://www.qolt.org/Education/REU.jsp or http://www.herlpitt.org/education.htm or contact Mary Heshberger, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, hershbergerm@herlpitt.org, 412-365-4892.

Post-Graduate Programs, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

For more information, go to http://www.shrs.pitt.edu/RST/, call 412-383-6558, or email the following:

• PhD or MS with a concentration in Rehabilitation Science and Technology
  
  • Dan Ding - dad5@pitt.edu
• MS with a concentration in Prosthetics and Orthotics
  
  • Ray Burdett - rgb@pitt.edu
• MS with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling
  
  • Don Angelone - angelone@pitt.edu
• Certificate in Assistive Technology