HP Assistive Technology Vendor News

HP will also be demonstrating our new SeniorPC Offering in the EnableMart booth (Marriott Hotel Ballroom - booth #275 & 276.)  

We will also have representatives from our HP Developer Solutions Partner Program (DSPP) available if you have any questions.  

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• Microsoft Accessibility Resource Center Partnership -- HP computers are used to demonstrate Microsoft Ease of Access features at each of the Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers.  See Accessibility Resource Centers and Microsoft & HP Collaboration articles for more details.

• HP hardware featured in Microsoft's Accessibility Showroom – HP technology will be featured in the new Microsoft Accessibility Showroom at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington (second half of 2008).

• SeniorPC Offerings -- HP and Microsoft worked together to bring the SeniorPC Offerings to market.

• AIA Partner -- HP is a founding member of the Accessibility Interoperability Alliance initiated by Microsoft.  For complete information, read the AIA press release and visit the AIA Web site

• Consumer Electronics Show (CES) -- HP and Microsoft demonstrated the SeniorPC offering in the HP booth at CES 2008.

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Are you finding opportunities in the over-65 market?  People who are affected by age-related limitations appreciate the benefits of assistive technologies that make their computers easier to use.  What’s more, this is a market segment with the financial means to spend.  According to the Federal Reserve-sponsored Survey of Consumer Finances, people aged 65 and older control one-fourth of the total personal net worth in the United States.  That’s an aggregate net worth of $14.5 trillion.

HP has already partnered with several companies to deliver solutions aimed at the senior market.  Two such solutions are the SeniorPC Offerings and the HP Printing Mailbox with Presto Service.

The SeniorPC is a computer packages tailored to the needs and interests of seniors.  People can choose a desktop or notebook HP computer running Windows Vista and user-friendly software designed to help them manage their prescriptions, finances and household tasks, as well as puzzles and games to sharpen their memory.  The SeniorPC packages come with an HP color printer and seniors can choose a larger keyboard or trackball mouse for easier typing and mouse pointing.  A Spanish-language PC is also available.

The HP Printing Mailbox with Presto Service is designed for people who do not use a computer or are not online.  Using any email account, family and friends can send email and photos to the HP Printing Mailbox user.  The Presto Service converts regular email and photo attachments into Presto Mail—beautiful, easy-to-read color printouts that are automatically delivered to the HP Printing Mailbox on a daily schedule, just like letters.  The solution uses a customized HP printer that is designed with low maintenance needs for the novice user.

If you have a product or solution that is well suited to the senior market, send an email with details about your offering to HPATV@hp.com .  We’d like to feature your solution on the HP Web site.

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Google AdWords System – Targeted Google AdWords campaigns help you generate leads and sell more.  With AdWords, you pitch only to those people who are actively searching for information about your company.  You can offer free trial downloads, white papers, case studies or newsletter subscriptions.  Or, sell them your application or product immediately.  You can do it with just a few low-cost AdWords, and a landing page designed specifically for your target audience.  This system – designed specifically for DSPP members – delivers immediate, measurable results at a fraction of the cost of print advertising.  There are several AdWords packages to suit your budget and needs.

Get more information about Google AdWords System.

Co-branded Merchandise – Get your exclusive promotional and trade show items, co-branded with both your logo as well as HP’s logo.  Discounts are offered on monthly specials.  Now is the time to order promotional items for give-away at the March CSUN conference and exhibition!

Get more information about co-branded merchandise.

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Overall, participants reported that the cost of accommodating workers with disabilities was minimal. Types of accommodations included stools for check out lanes, special lighting, computers with large print, and use of a sign language interpreter.  According to the study, the average cost for workplace accommodation was $313, and the maximum cost was $1500.  Despite minimal costs, participants expressed that some managers still fear that costs associated with accommodating workers with disabilities are high.

In addition, participants shared that there are numerous benefits to hiring people with disabilities.  Among this group, participants noted low absenteeism rates and long tenures.  They also described their employees with disabilities as loyal, reliable, and hardworking.

This study validates the importance of including the story of “low cost of accommodation for maximum company benefit” when marketing your assistive technology solutions to employers.

Read the entire Costs and Benefits of Workers with Disabilities report.

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"The program is meant to cover a couple of specific populations; employees with disabilities working within DoD or in the 65 federal partner agencies we support, and our war-wounded active duty service members," says Dinah Cohen, CAP Director.  CAP is there to make information more accessible to federal workers or service members with disabilities and remove roadblocks to employment opportunities.  It supports people with cognitive or communication disabilities, people who are blind or have low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and people with dexterity disabilities.

Before purchasing the assistive technologies, CAP conducts a needs assessment to ensure the proper assistive devices and training are provided.  The assessments are done on a case-by-case basis because disabilities are not "cookie cutter" conditions.  The CAP staff looks at the individual, their job and possible solutions when conducting the assessment.

"By fulfilling the mission of providing real solutions for real needs, CAP is helping to make the Federal government the model employer for people with disabilities," said Cohen.  Since its inception, CAP has filled over 61,000 requests for job accommodations and continues to grow every year.  Fifty percent of users have some form of dexterity disabilities, 30 percent have visual disabilities and the other users are deaf or hard of hearing.

This program represents an opportunity for your company to have your products and solutions put into the hands of the federal employees who need accommodations.  Learn more about the CAP program.

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According to the American Foundation for the Blind, an estimated 1.3 million Americans are legally blind.  Horizons for the Blind estimates that 13 million Americans are visually impaired.

The National Association of the Deaf estimates that 28 million Americans are deaf or hard of hearing. They represent about 10% of all Americans.

The National Center for Deaf-Blind says that approximately 40,000 Americans are deaf-blind.

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