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Charles Silverman

he, him

Contract Instructor
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Disability Studies

 I’m the author of CapScribe, which started out as a free Macintosh captioning and video description editor for web video. For the last several years, Rob Harvie, Antonio Gamba-Bari, and I have been involved  in a major re-creation of CapScribe

I have also been a Contract Instructor the School of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University since 2000, with a focus on accessibility, assistive technologies, and inclusive design practices. 

Rob Harvie and I co-founded Inclusive Media and Design Inc, a for-profit company providing post production and live captioning, video description, and sign language for web media, as well as web accessibility audits, AODA Information and Communication consulting and training. One thing I discovered about myself during this time was I'm much more of an activist than an business person.

 In the 1990s, I worked CAST, Center for Applied Special Technology, in Boston, Massachusetts. Among other things, CAST created the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) model. My activities at CAST related to accessible communications and literacy. One project involved Scholastic's Wiggleworks, the first accessible digital book reading series created by a mainstream company. 

I should also mention that I have a severe to profound hearing loss, so it’s no accident that wherever possible I push for good, human-driven real time captioning, smarter hearing devices, and related technologies.

 

Sessions in which Charles Silverman attends

Monday 27 May, 2024

Time Zone: (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
8:50 AM
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM | 10 minutes
Session plénière

Dear Attendees, We cordially invite you to the esteemed Quilig Lighting Ceremony, a pivotal moment of our gathering. Whether joining us within the warmth of our venue or from the comfort of your digital screen, your presence is integral to the commencement of our shared experience.Please be seated or connected by 8:55 AM to ensure a seamless transition into the ceremony's tranquility. Please talk softly and relax while you wait. The illumination will commence at 9:00...

9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | 1 hour
Plenary Session

Indigenous Welcome: Elder Mary-Lee Anayok Concordia Welcome: Sandra GabrieleOCAD U Welcome: Jutta TreveranusThe lighting of the quiliq will begin promptly at 9:00. Please arrive promptly. Late arrivals please go to room EFG or enter AB/CD quietly and wait at the back of the room until the end of the ceremony to find a spot at a table. 

11:30 AM
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | 1 hour
Who and What are We Missing?

What is the impact of climate change on people with disabilities and how do we prepare?  Provocateur: Mike Gifford - ZoomFacilitator: Rachel Gorman - Zoom A useful resource: https://webs.uab.cat/gda/English Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-am-ConcurrentSession4-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?ev...

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | 1 hour
Innovation in Standards and Policy

What are the questions to ask and community research we must do before we can design and implement effective disability regulations?    Provocateur: David LepofskyFacilitator: Bonnie L. BraytonEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-am-ConcurrentSession2-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-am-ConcurrentSession2-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.c...

1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | 1 hour
Accessible and Equitable Communications

What would a media strategy for the disability community look like?   Provocateur: Peter Slatin Facilitator: Corry StuiveEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession1-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession1-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EgiBV6LCbS8ygYtJ5kbCVFlcnw08hWk_UntT1vc1Vqs/edit?usp=sharing

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | 1 hour
Who and What are We Missing?

How can we make sure that there is dignity in living before we offer dignity in dying?  Provocateur: Catherine Frazee -- ZoomFacilitator: Raihana Hirji-KhalfanEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession4-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession4-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7BfKY9VniPyoC4igEgrQQs-EIIGBWoJa_2-...

2:45 PM
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | 1 hour
Inclusive Decision-Making

How can we shape generative AI to address accessibility barriers? Provocateur: Greg FieldFacilitator: Sambhavi ChandrashekarEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession2-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Monday-pm-ConcurrentSession2-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T2Eya_ZyN2I2VjZDtngXoAS66mjq58KiylV8p...

4:15 PM
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM | 15 minutes
Plenary Session

The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with DisabilitiesIntroduced by: Raihana Hirji-Khalfan  English Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-MondayInsightClosing-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-MondayInsightClosing-French

Tuesday 28 May, 2024

Time Zone: (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | 15 minutes
Plenary Session

Jutta TreviranusRaihana Hirji-KhalfanIngrid PalmerEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpeningPlenary-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpeningPlenary-French

9:15 AM
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | 1 hour
Plenary Session

Panellists: Bianca Wylie, Abhishek Gupta, Heather WalkusEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpeningPlenary-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpeningPlenary-French

10:15 AM
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | 45 minutes
Plenary Session

Panelists:   Stephanie CadieuxPhillip RizcallahMichael GottheilModerator: Pina D'IntinoEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpeningPlenary-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-TuesdayOpening...

11:30 AM
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | 1 hour
Inclusive Decision-Making

How do we create a reliable assistive technology ecosystem? Provocateur: Alex Dunn - ZoomFacilitator: Ian WhiteEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-am-ConcurrentSession3-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-am-ConcurrentSession3-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a38eurIaOvHqkUTGXmz5T_wCTHRdhGPwLJolEjcrPf8/edit?usp=sharing 

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | 1 hour
Accessible and Equitable Communications

What tools do participants believe employers need to increase their DEIA maturity?Provocateur: Alec Farquhar --ZoomFacilitator: Francis Fung - Zoom English Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-am-ConcurrentSession1-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-am-ConcurrentSession1-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pnWVOTe7YR4K3fRBg78WGPh0YsTbhgtTqTm_aGegHUo/edit?usp=shar...

1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | 1 hour
Innovation in Standards and Policy

How can we achieve long term systemic change in our design and implementation of standards and policy? Provocateur: Lisa SniderFacilitator: April D'AubinEnglish Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-pm-ConcurrentSession3-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-pm-ConcurrentSession3-FrenchSession Notebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Z-pCcLY2c1s8NtRmRx2txJCMWS4v_3Gjv5__uX4WrE/edit?usp...

2:45 PM
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | 1 hour
Inclusive Decision-Making

"Birds of a Feather" format session:  designed to connect attendees with similar interests and facilitate open discussions on current topics relevant to the community. Bring your questions, ideas and topics and share. Facilitator: Sambhavi Chandrashekar & Stephen Downes English Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-pm-ConcurrentSession2-EnglishFrench Captions: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=ACAW-Tuesday-pm...

4:15 PM
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM | 30 minutes
Plenary Session

Summaries from the sessions: Ingrid Palmer: Theme 1: Who and what are we missing?Sambhavi Chandrashekar: Theme 2: How do we support inclusive decision-making?John Willis: Theme 3: How can we develop accessibility standards that are responsive, inclusive and effective?Peter Slatin: Theme 4: How can we promote the incl...