Accessibility in the News—06/02/2017. Inclusion is a strong focus in today’s accessible world, all the way from gaming, to mapping applications. Striving to include individuals regardless of their disability is what many businesses and people have focused on in this week’s news stories: Some ways that companies are becoming more inclusive is by eliminating technology barriers. Social inclusion in elementary schools all the way to colleges is also giving our future generations the mentality and compassion[…]
READ MORE about Disability Inclusion is Becoming Prominent Across All Age GroupsMicroassist's Accessibility in the News
Microassist's Accessibility in the News is a widely read, free weekly newsletter curated by Jack McElaney. Newsletter sections include a compilation of accessibility articles and blogs, a list of accessibility conferences and training, accessibility job announcements, and a listing of accessibility resource pages.
Featured by Wall Street Journal, its sole purpose is to educate people interested or involved in accessibility related to the Americans with Disabilities Act Title I, II, or III, and Sections 504 and 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. It also covers numerous international topics from all over the world.
Past issues of Microassist's Accessibility in the News are archived and searchable on this website.
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Gains in Inclusivity for People with Disabilities, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2017
Accessibility in the News—May 26, 2017 From airlines and apps to architecture and much more, this week’s news covers notable strides (including the “most accessible meeting ever“) that will ease or have eased many situations for people with disabilities. Some initiatives enable even those with profound disabilities to attend sporting events. Progress stems from greater awareness and inclusive initiatives across various sectors (education, tech, government, theater, gaming) and across U.S.-based and international communities. Global Accessibility Awareness Day, observed the[…]
READ MORE about Gains in Inclusivity for People with Disabilities, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2017Global Accessibility Awareness Day, AccessU 2017
Accessibility in the News—5/19/17. Whether its an election’s website accessibility, the mortgage industry’s website accessibility or even segregation due to a disability, it is important to consider the barriers that people with disabilities encounter when interacting with organizations online. Designing for all abilities in both the digital and physical worlds is a task that many governments and businesses have struggled with. But many individuals and organizations push forward with innovations, new policies, and awareness activities[…]
READ MORE about Global Accessibility Awareness Day, AccessU 2017Accessibility Improvements Urged for Transportation, “Smart” Cities; Higher Ed Pursues Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—May 5, 2017 The need for transportation and related infrastructure accessibility improvements took the spotlight this week, with New York being the prime focus. Recent lawsuits say the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the subway system throughout New York City, is responsible for running the least accessible subway system out of all major U.S. cities. And, at the Smart Cities NYC conference, nonprofit and technology groups addressed the risk of developing high-tech government service delivery[…]
READ MORE about Accessibility Improvements Urged for Transportation, “Smart” Cities; Higher Ed Pursues InclusionGovernment Forcing Accessibility Standards Implementation
Accessibility in the News—04/28/17. Government is the driving force for disability rights in every country. Without government, there would be no laws protecting disability rights or enforcing accessibility standards. This week’s news articles have a large focus on government laws, litigation, and accessibility lawsuits, particularly in the higher education space. At The University of California Berkeley, a Justice Department decision prompted the university to remove 20,000 digital lectures due to[…]
READ MORE about Government Forcing Accessibility Standards ImplementationAccessible Travel: Up in the Air and Down on Land
Accessibility in the News—4/21/17. This week brought up travel accommodation issues for many with disabilities. There’s the transportation aspect — For instance, how well do planes, trains, busses or cars meet the needs for people with mobility or visual disabilities traveling from one city or country to another? But what about enjoying the actual destination? This week includes news on tools that help identify facilities with accessible features. That’s the[…]
READ MORE about Accessible Travel: Up in the Air and Down on LandHigher Education and Accessibility: Tackling Facilities Access, Online Access, and Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—4/13/17. Colleges and universities have been in the accessibility spotlight recently, and this issue showcases a host of initiatives and needs within that sector. Here’s some of the goings on with higher education and accessibility: In Cincinnati, the student body is pursuing more immediately accessible digital content for both its websites and elearning programs. In New York, Cornell has documented its commitment to web accessibility and continues to[…]
READ MORE about Higher Education and Accessibility: Tackling Facilities Access, Online Access, and InclusionAccessibility Litigation: Essential for Complete Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—4/07/17.. Litigation due to accessibility inclusion has been a large focus in this week’s Accessibility in the News. Litigation is shown in all fields of accessibility such as digital access, and building/facility access. Some restaurants are even having lawsuits filed due to inaccessible kiosk design. National News (U.S.) | International News AITN Quote of the Week “People didn’t always see a person with a disability who had to[…]
READ MORE about Accessibility Litigation: Essential for Complete InclusionTwo Website Accessibility Suits Dismissed; Int’l Symbol of Access Prompts Guidance
Accessibility in the News—3/31/17. This week, we doubled our accessibility news content, opening the gates for more in-depth coverage of U.S. and international news. We’ll be experimenting with this format over the next few weeks, so if you have feedback or questions, please let us know. Skip to National News (U.S.) | Skip to International News AITN Quote of the Week “The worst thing about a disability is that people[…]
READ MORE about Two Website Accessibility Suits Dismissed; Int’l Symbol of Access Prompts GuidanceMaking a Splash! Tactile Coding, Fitness for Mobility Impaired, Water-Friendly Prosthetics
Accessibility in the News—3/24/17. The Importance of Accessibility When dealing with technology day in and day out, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees: In the end, technology serves people. Individuals. Humanity. Accessible technology is no different, and the importance of accessibility comes from its impact on enhancing independent living, online or off. This week’s stories are heavily focused on the people factor: The former[…]
READ MORE about Making a Splash! Tactile Coding, Fitness for Mobility Impaired, Water-Friendly Prosthetics