Access Technology Evangelist and Director of David Banes Access and Inclusion formerly CEO of Mada Center in Doha, Qatar

europe and middle east
Joined June 2008
Global Symbols is seeking donors and sponsors who share our belief that communication access should be available to everyone, everywhere: goodhub.com/go/globalsymbols
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Independence can sometimes be measured in very small things: closing your own curtains, answering the door or adjusting the heating without asking someone else. Wearable technology could make those everyday actions easier to control. homebrace.com/en/blog_16.php #Homebrace
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Inclusion depends on more than good intentions. It requires accessible design, effective policy, sustainable funding, inclusive procurement, practical implementation and disabled people at the heart of decision-making. Read the latest News davebanesaccess.medium.com/a… #Inclusion #AXS
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Too often, AAC is treated as a product. In practice, it is a system of support. The Global Symbols blog explores why successful AAC implementation depends on an ecosystem approach. globalsymbols.com/news/2026-… #AAC #GlobalSymbols #CommunicationMatters
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For many AAC users, symbols are not extras. They are essential tools for communication, literacy, learning and inclusion. Support our work here: goodhub.com/go/globalsymbols
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AAC works best when everyone around the person understands their role. Families, teachers, therapists, support staff, peers and communities all help create the conditions for communication to grow. Read more: globalsymbols.com/news/2026-…
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For someone with limited movement, even small actions such as turning on a light, opening a door or changing the TV can require assistance. Wearable environmental controls could return those everyday choices directly to the user. homebrace.com/en/blog_16.php
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Delighted and honoured to be appointed President-Elect of ISAAC, the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. I look forward to working with the global AAC community to advance communication rights, inclusion and access for all. #AAC #ISAAC
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Support free, open and inclusive AAC resources. Donate to Global Symbols and help us ensure that more people have access to the symbols they need: goodhub.com/go/globalsymbols
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Wearable navigation systems could provide spoken, visual, or vibration-based directions without requiring someone to hold or constantly operate a phone. That could make independent mobility simpler and more intuitive. homebrace.com/en/blog_16.php #AccessibleMobility #Navigation
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AI is already changing how health services are planned, delivered and evaluated. But what does this mean for disabled people? This blog explores the benefits, risks and implications for access, inclusion, governance and rights. davebanesaccess.medium.com/a…
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Accessibility, assistive technology and digital inclusion are no longer separate conversations. They sit at the centre of how we design services, regulate technology, support participation and shape innovation. davebanesaccess.medium.com/a…
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Effective AAC is not just about choosing a device, app or symbol set. It depends on a wider ecosystem of people, tools, training, support, language, culture and opportunity. Read the Global Symbols blog on why an AAC ecosystem matters: globalsymbols.com/news/2026-… #AAC
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Smart glasses, watches and body-worn sensors could increasingly become accessibility tools. The important question is not how clever the technology is, but whether it gives people greater choice, participation and independence. homebrace.com/en/blog_16.php #Accessibility
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Google is bringing real-time sign-language-to-text capability to consumer smartphones. What happens when accessibility capabilities move from specialist AT into mainstream devices? More in the September roundup: medium.com/@davebanesaccess/…
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Head, wrist, or finger movements could become a way to control a powered wheelchair. Wearable sensors are opening new possibilities for people who cannot use conventional controls or whose movement changes during the day. homebrace.com/en/blog_16.php #WheelchairTechnology
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