Accessibility in the News — 6/7/19.

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“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

― Henry Ford

National News (U.S.)

Hiring disabled people is a trillion-dollar business opportunity

May 29, 2019 | Source: City A.M. |

Government figures show that over the past five years, some 930,000 disabled people have found employment – an increase of 7.4 per cent, compared with 3.8 per cent for non-disabled people. That serves a heady shot of optimism for people like me who live and work with a disability, especially when you consider that globally, disabled people are 50 per cent more likely to experience poverty. As Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd rightly said: if you’re not recruiting disabled talent, your competitors probably are. And about time too…

Raising A Disabled Child Creates Employment Challenges You Might Never Have Considered

May 30, 2019 | Source: Forbes |

Laura Moore’s son William was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy and visual impairment. His condition means he can’t sit or stand without support, is unable to walk, can’t talk and has very little control over his body. He requires constant care, as he can’t eat, drink, use the toilet or take his medication without help. He’s now 10, and Moore has spent the years since his birth navigating the challenges of raising a son with special needs while trying to earn a living…

No way in: a look into accessibility on campus

May 31, 2019 | Source: The Daily Princetonian |

One afternoon this past December, Naomi Hess ’22 received a text from her friend, Emily Weiss ’22, asking if Hess wanted to play Cards Against Humanity in Weiss’ six-person suite later that night. Although it only takes Hess two minutes to reach Weiss’ suite in Gauss Hall from her own dorm in 1976 Hall, Hess couldn’t go — the building does not have an elevator and is not accessible for wheelchair users like Hess, who has muscular dystrophy. Hess is a staff writer for The Daily Princetonian…

CalFresh cards to be made more accessible to people with disabilities

May 31, 2019 | Source: Daily Californian |

Starting Saturday, electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, cards will be made available to campus students and community members with disabilities who had previously been ineligible for them. EBT cards, which help low-income state residents in the CalFresh program buy food, have historically not been available to Californians who receive cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment, or SSI/SSP, a federally funded program that assists low-income individuals who are blind, disabled or at least 65 years old…

Diagnosed with ALS at 14, she’s now a disability lifestyle influencer

May 31, 2019 | Source: CNN |

Lauren “Lolo” Spencer was that rambunctious girl you’d see on the playground: She loved running, street hockey and dancing. But when she turned 14, she started feeling fatigued and became concerned after noticing that her muscles had begun to weaken. “One night, I reached up to grab a plate out of the cupboard, and my hand dropped to the counter. My arm just completely dropped.” Doctors diagnosed her with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease…

Examining perceptions of accessibility symbols

May 31, 2019 | Source: Medical Xpress |

Recent research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Occupational Therapy has assessed individual comprehension and perceptions of nine existing and newly created accessibility pictograph symbols, and it identified one that represented universal access to fitness equipment. Symbols are used to convey messages in a clear, understandable manner, without the use of written language. The most widely recognized symbol used to denote access for persons with disabilities is the International Symbol of Access, or ISA;…

Universal Design Increases In Style, Availability and Luxury

May 31, 2019 | Source: Forbes |

Universal design. Accessible design. ADA design. These terms all convey images of unattractive, institutional spaces required by law and disability. As more Americans move into their senior years, more face challenges to their ability to live independently, which the vast majority prefer. AARP put it this way: “87 percent of adults age 65-plus want to stay in their current home and community as they age.” It isn’t just older users who face independent living challenges…

Disabled Student Pushes For More Accessibility At Florida State University

May 31, 2019 | Source: WFSU (Podcast) |

Florida State University came under scrutiny when a student began a twitter thread calling out what she says is a lack of accessibility for disabled students on campus. Mitchell hosts a disability awareness week in October to try educating students about accessibility, but the turnout is low. “Students. Peer to peer. I think that is the best way you learn,” Mitchell says. “We can say things, I can say things until I’m blue in the face. But I think it resonates more when it’s coming from your peers.”…

Interview: Designer Reveals What to Expect Inside the New Statue of Liberty Museum

May 31, 2019 | Source: My Modern Met |

he Statue of Liberty is one of the United States of America’s most admired landmarks. Every year, 4.5 million people flock by ferry to see the iconic sculpture, which has stood as a symbol of independence since 1886. In addition to ascending Lady Liberty’s 354 stairs for a sweeping view of the New York City skyline, many of these guests hope to gain a better understanding of her history in an immersive, interactive, and accessible way—a concept at the core of the new and improved Statue of Liberty Museum…

Accessible Theatre: the work that still needs to be done

June 2, 2019 | Source: The Boar |

“We’re sorry the tour is running a bit late, we just need to work out how to get wheelchair access to the stage.” I’d taken a friend’s daughter to a touch tour for the visually impaired at a regional theatre only to be welcomed with these words. The possibility of a wheelchair user turning up to their event for disabled people simply hadn’t occurred to them, and last minute preparations were holding us up. Herein lies the intrinsic problem with accessibility in theatres: the motivation is present but the execution is poor…

At least 40 students say Brigham Young University discriminates against those with disabilities

June 2, 2019 | Source: Salt Lake Tribune |

When Kendra Muller called the accessibility center at Brigham Young University last year, she said, she was told the school didn’t have enough van accessible parking stalls for her to be assigned one. The Provo campus has only a handful of reserved spots for those in wheelchairs, she recalled the staffer saying. And, the woman added, “whoever is the most disabled gets one.” Muller, who has been paralyzed since she broke her neck at 14, had finally saved enough money to buy a special van that she could drive to class…

Why People Hide Their Disabilities at Work

June 3, 2019 | Source: Harvard Business Review |

Work is stressful. If you’re hiding a disability, the daily grind of early mornings, deadlines, and office politics is compounded into a far heavier burden. You live in fear of being discovered. You work overtime to mask your authentic self. But you aren’t alone. In the Center for Talent Innovation’s “Disabilities and Inclusion” study, we discovered that a full 30% of the professional workforce fits the current federal definition of having a disability — and the majority are keeping that status a secret…

Wineries Struggle with ADA Website Compliance in Wake of New York Class Action Lawsuits

June 3, 2019 | Source: Wine Industry Advisor |

When Scott Osborn, owner of Fox Run Vineyards near Seneca Lake in upstate New York, first heard that winery websites should be addressing the needs of visually impaired people last October, he said he and his team immediately began to work on “getting our site up to standard.” In January he got sued. And his business wasn’t the only one. According to the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, last fall, 26 wineries from Long Island and the Hudson Valley were named in a class action lawsuit and another 12, including Fox Run Vineyards, in January…

Trailblazing Toward a More Inclusive World

June 3, 2019 | Source: SMA News Today |

I recently spoke at an event called “OutWiGo Girls” for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the enchanting woodland area of Kettle Moraine State Forest. Held in celebration of gals of all ages who share a love of exploring nature, the event’s agenda revolved around an array of outdoor topics. There were scheduled speaker sessions throughout the day and interactive activities such as guided hikes, paddling, campfire cooking demos, backpacking demos, and horseback riding…

Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles Can Give Disabled People Independence

June 3, 2019 | Source: Times of San Diego |

When Eastlake resident David Taylor was a teenager, his parents bought a van and some dirt bike ramps to help their son get around town in his wheelchair. The ramps were steep and often slipped. David, who was paralyzed from transverse myelitis at three years old, was always scared going up those ramps. After graduating from San Diego State University, David relied on public transportation to get to work. It took him two hours each way. There had to be a better way…

One Billion Disabled People Just Hit The Business Radar

June 3, 2019 | Source: Forbes |

Oh wait, that was in Canada, which has a large-scale public campaign promoting accessibility and full inclusion of people with disabilities called Everyone Everywhere. The movement was founded by athlete Rick Hansen and their mission statement reads, “We’re going to rally an entire nation and we won’t stop until everyone can go everywhere.” The campaign’s stated goal is to maximize the potential for everyone to have physical freedom and opportunities…

Meet Mia Ives-Rublee: An Endorphin Junkie Who Made The Women’s March Accessible

June 3, 2019 | Source: WUNC |

Mia Ives-Rublee grew up surrounded by adults who were worried about her well-being. She has Osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic bone disorder more commonly known as brittle bone disease, and uses a wheelchair to get around. From a young age she pushed back against others’ worries about her body and continuously challenged her own physical limitations. She played competitive sports and competed at an international level in wheelchair track, fencing and adaptive CrossFit…

Accessible art: Different ways to show paintings, photos to blind people

June 4, 2019 | Source: Allentown Morning Call |

As people at the American Alliance of Museums’ trade show passed their hands along the raised figures in touchable versions of a Vietnam War photograph, small metal sensors touched off recordings to explain whose picture they were touching and what had happened to him. At a nearby booth was a flat reproduction of a Van Gogh self-portrait with slightly raised, slicker areas to show both outlines and how brush strokes swept or swirled within those outlines…

3-D photographs? Technology makes museums more accessible

June 4, 2019 | Source: Christian Science Monitor |

From zoos to history museums, curators worldwide are using new technology to make their collections more welcoming to diverse audiences. Amplified audio tours and 3-D photographs are just two ways people with disabilities can enjoy exhibits in new ways. As people at the American Alliance of Museums’ (AAM) trade show passed their hands along the raised figures in touchable versions of a Vietnam War photograph, small metal sensors touched off recordings to explain whose picture they were touching and what had happened to him…

Bristol Virginia school leaders developing improvement plan

June 4, 2019 | Source: Bristol Herald Courier |

Four days after City Council requested a plan to improve city school buildings, Superintendent Keith Perrigan presented a draft version to the School Board. The council and board met last Thursday to discuss short- and long-term needs at the city’s six school buildings regarding accessibility, safety and general condition. They agreed to reconvene July 1, and the council asked for recommendations on how best to bring buildings into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as how to meet other pressing needs…

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose launches initiative for accessibility and inclusion of visitors of all abilities

June 4, 2019 | Source: InPark Magazine |

Visitors of all abilities will now have additional options for accessing and enjoying Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose with the launch of the museum’s Access and Inclusion Initiative. New automated internal and external doors with universal design are being installed and a new program for children or adults with disabilities was recently introduced. “Afternoons for All Abilities” is designed to serve children and families of varying abilities on the second Tuesday of each month, during a less crowded and quieter time…

Hot Off the Presses: New Cases in CA and NY Strike Blows at Boilerplate ADA Complaints

June 4, 2019 | Source: Steptoe |

Retailers and other companies have been increasingly caught up in an explosion of boilerplate claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), focusing on both websites and physical stores. While the plaintiffs’ bar has had a strong run with these claims in recent years, recent decisions in the Southern District of New York, as well as a new complaint filed by the Riverside District Attorney, have given hope to companies defending against the (unfortunately common) frivolous claims in this space that the tide may be finally turning…

Businesses: Be sure your accessible parking spaces meet ADA requirements

June 5, 2019 | Source: Missoula Current |

It is once again summertime in Montana and for many businesses that means time to reseal and/or re-stripe their parking lots. Before taking on this task, however, there is one very important aspect of this process that I feel the need to bring to the attention of business owners – ensuring that accessible parking spaces meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are usable by people with disabilities…

Judge: Lawsuit against MTA over lack of subway elevators can move forward

June 5, 2019 | Source: WABC-TV & CBS & amNY & Queens Daily Eagle |

A judge ruled Wednesday that a class-action lawsuit against the MTA over a lack of elevators in the subway system can move forward. Advocates were eager for their day in court, while the city and MTA hoped the judge would dismiss the case. Demonstrators held another protest outside the courthouse, just as they did a few weeks ago before the last hearing. “We can’t get to work, doctor’s appointments, shopping or social and cultural events quickly and on demand like everyone else,” activist Monica Bartley said…

Is BYU disability rights advocates’ approach effective?

June 5, 2019 | Source: The Daily Universe |

Current and former BYU students advocating for disability rights believe they are making a positive impact on disability access on campus. However, university administration believes a report the group created detailing recommendations for improvement is overstated and biased. A group organizer has acknowledged some claims may have been exaggerated, “but the facts remain that disabled students are unable to access restrooms, have been denied accommodations, refused parking passes and left stranded in buildings during fire drills.”…

$243K approved for ADA updates

June 5, 2019 | Source: Columbia Daily Herald |

The Anderson County Commission recently approved $243,000 for Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations in and around county buildings, which has been spurred on by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Anderson County Commissioner Jerry Creasey, of Oak Ridge, described it as $18,000 per year for about 15 years. At a recent League of Women Voters-sponsored Lunch with the League meeting, Creasey announced this funding. He said Anderson County commission approved it during a recent meeting…

San Diego helps disabled veterans with home improvements

June 5, 2019 | Source: KUSI (Video) |

San Diego has a long, proud history of supporting the United States military, and is called home to over 100,000 active duty military personnel and approximately 240,000 veterans. Many of these brave men and women have made sacrifices to keep our nation safe. Some of nearly 35,000 disabled veterans in San Diego now require accessibility improvements in their homes. To improve the quality of life for disabled veterans, the City of San Diego is offering up to $1,000 for home improvements…

Brighter possibilities for treating blindness

June 5, 2019 | Source: Science Daily |

Advances in preclinical research are now being translated into innovative clinical solutions for blindness, a review published in the 10th Anniversary Series of Science Translational Medicine depicts. The review authored by José Sahel, Jean Bennett and Botond Roska summarizes recent therapeutic strategies for treating blinding diseases which are very encouraging. Gene replacement or gene editing strategies could potentially reverse vision loss and lead to close to normal visual outcomes…

People Are Suing For Being Born — And Winning

June 5, 2019 | Source: 10 Daily |

Should you be entitled to compensation when, if but for the negligence of another, you would not have been born? This is the question underpinning a number of civil cases often called ‘wrongful life’ actions. Wrongful life cases commonly involve a severely disabled plaintiff suing a doctor for failing to provide information about a risk of disability to their mother. The action is usually seeking monetary compensation for a life of disability, which could have been avoided if a mother had knowledge prior to conception or had exercised her right to an abortion…

Cutting-Edge Hearing Testing Technology Allows for Easy, Low-Cost Testing

June 5, 2019 | Source: UNCO |

Studies by the University of Northern Colorado show that a new portable device can detect hearing loss without the need of a sound booth. The new technology was developed with grant funding from the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovative Research program and developed in partnership with Creare Inc., an engineering research and development firm. Deanna Meinke, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences (image at right), was the principal investigator on the project and worked with Creare engineers to design and test the wireless, automated hearing test system…

As Summer Approaches, the SDNY Once Again Provides Hope for Businesses Exhausted by Repeated Website Accessibility Lawsuits

June 6, 2019 | Source: The National Law Review |

While businesses have long grown weary of the plaintiff bar’s seemingly endless stream of website accessibility lawsuits, it appears that judges in the SDNY may be increasingly feeling the same way. For the second time this spring, following on the back of the decision in Mendez v. Apple, a judge in the SDNY, in the case of Diaz v. The Kroger Co., 18-cv-7953 (KPF), has granted a business’ motion to dismiss a website accessibility lawsuit. While decided on multiple grounds, the Court’s decision is primarily based on mootness…

Jack Fact — According to the World Health Organization, a little over 400 million people have some level of hearing loss – 34 million are children.

Hit The Road Jack — Kerala eases access to the disabled at tourist hotspots

International News

Halifax graphic designer showcases ability through traditional printmaking

May 30, 2019 | Source: Globalnews- Canada |

The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design’s (NSCAD) print shop in downtown Halifax is full of old-fashioned print and book-binding materials. But where others see relics of the pre-digital era, graphic designer Geoff Cwiklewich sees tradition and craft that merits preservation. “I see a way to create, especially in our computer age,” he said in an interview, “a way to create with our hands still and get more of a visceral experience than what I experience when I’m designing on a screen.”…

Online training in digital accessibility for visually impaired people opens doors to new job opportunities

May 31, 2019 | Source: NewzHook- India |

The National Association for the Blind is organising online programmes on digital accessibility training for visually impaired people. This is important given the potential growth of job opportunities companies need people who can test websites and other digital mediums to ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities. With information technology accessibility (ICT Accessibility) among the key mandates of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act), digital accessibility is offering many promising employment opportunities for people with visual impairments…

Note to NaMo: specially-abled India hopes for inclusive development and stricter implementation of policies

May 31, 2019 | Source: Your Story- India |

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team take over, close to 70 million people with disability are hoping that the new Indian government will not only be inclusive, but would also proactively implement the polices that advocate accessibility for them. Arman Ali, Head of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), tells YourStory: “The Election Commission took the first step of declaring this election with the theme of ‘Accessible Elections.’…

Cultural attractions still fall short on accessibility, finds report

May 31, 2019 | Source: ArtsProfessional- UK |

More than half of the UK’s top 100 visitor attractions do not have all their staff trained in disability awareness, according to the findings of a new report ranking the accessibility of venues. The document adds that three quarters of these attractions are not equipped with hoists – described as “an indispensable item for many disabled visitors”. The Revitalise Accessible Tourism Report surveyed the 100 most-visited UK attractions in 2018, as compiled by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA)…

Government of Canada funds projects that improve accessibility and inclusion for everyone through Canada’s built environment

May 31, 2019 | Source: NewsWire- Canada |

Today, as part of National AccessAbility Week, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, announced support of more than $14 million as of April 1, 2019, to 88 organizations and municipalities across Canada under the small and mid-sized projects components of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF). In the Atlantic provinces, over $2.2 million of this funding is going to eight accessibility projects…

How Dubai Is Building a More Accessible Educational Environment for Special Needs Children

May 31, 2019 | Source: Scoop Empire-India |

According to a newly released report by Dubai’s School Inspection Bureau, thousands of children with special needs have enrolled to study in Dubai’s private schools. In this past year alone, the number of disabled children increased by an additional 3,500 students, according to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA). The rise in numbers directly correlates to an improved educational environment specialized to cater to the needs of ‘people of determination’, who now account for about six percent of the 278,794-strong school population…

Peppa Pig’s Newest Character Is an Inclusive Win for Children With Disabilities

May 31, 2019 | Source: Global Citizen- UK |

The British animated show Peppa Pig wants to reflect every aspect of being a kid, and that means depicting disability. Back in April, the show announced a new character, Mandy Mouse, who is a star basketball player and uses a wheelchair. On Thursday, Mark Baker, co-creator of the show shared with Teen Vogue why his team chose to introduce Mandy this season. The British animated show Peppa Pig wants to reflect every aspect of being a kid, and that means depicting disability. Back in April, the show announced a new character, Mandy Mouse, who is a star basketball player and uses a wheelchair…

Japan struggling to ramp up accessibility efforts ahead of Paralympics

June 1, 2019 | Source: Kyodo News Plus- Japan |

A shortage of wheelchair-accessible hotel rooms remains an issue for Tokyo 2020 organizers who say they are committed to using the Paralympic Games to make Japan a more inclusive place. As the clock ticks down to the Aug. 25, 2020, Paralympic opening ceremony, the Tokyo metropolitan government admits that by its own estimations it is still about 300 rooms short of the projected 850 accessible rooms needed each night during the two-week sporting festival…

Resolution: Airlines Commit to Improve Travel for Passengers with Disabilities

June 2, 2019 | Source: Mirage News- South Korea |

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) unanimously approved a resolution to improve the air travel experience for the estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide. The AGM confirms the commitment of airlines to ensuring that passengers with disabilities have access to safe, reliable and dignified travel, and calls upon governments to use IATA’s core principles for accommodating passengers with disabilities…

SA begins shift to accessible websites

June 3, 2019 | Source: The Mandarin- South Australia |

South Australia released a new online accessibility policy and digital toolkit last month to assist organisations to create more accessible digital platforms. The guidelines help people with disability navigate the internet, but they also ensure websites are user-friendly for everyone. And things are now starting to change, with the first compliant school website recently published for the Whyalla Special Education Centre. SA Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said it is critical government websites are developed to ensure no one is left behind…

South Korea’s websites ‘unfriendly’ to people with disabilities: survey

June 3, 2018 | Source: The Korea Herald- South Korea |

Most South Korean websites have designs that are too complicated for disabled people to navigate, a government study showed Monday, despite mounting calls for the government and companies to ensure equal access to internet use. According to research by the Ministry of Science and ICT on 1,000 websites operated by private entities in 2018, about 75 percent of them failed to meet the government’s standards for web accessibility. The standards aim to remove barriers for disabled people when they access websites to search for information…

Despite few glitches, city fares well for disabled persons

June 3, 2019 | Source: The Tribune- India

While the guidelines under the Right of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 mandate all private and government institutions and establishments to ensure barrier-free spaces and services for differently abled persons, still there are buildings that disregard them while sparing no thought about accessibility despite awareness regarding the same through Accessible India campaign. Though most of the major government hospitals in the city are equipped with ramps for physically challenged, the absence of wheelchairs at entrance are a big trouble for them…

East Lothian schoolgirl takes disability sign fight to Commons

June 5, 2019 | Source: Edinburgh Evening News- Scotland & Herald- Scotland

Grace Warnock was inspired to create ‘any disability’ signs for toilets and other public spaces after her own experience of Crohn’s Disease. The Grace’s Sign campaign began after the 14-year-old began receiving negative comments from adults when she was seen using disabled bathrooms. Preston Lodge High School pupil Grace said the goal was for the sign to be recognised by the British Standards Institute (BSI) as the accepted sign for accessible facilities, including toilets, parking spaces and assistance points…

What does accessibility best practice look like?

June 5, 2019 | Source: Mirage News- Australia

The Centre for Accessibility’s inaugural Australian Access Awards are open for nominations. A chance for your organisation to be recognised for its commitment to inclusion of people with disability in the digital space, the Awards will celebrate accessibility best practice across websites, apps and other digital initiatives. There are nine categories for the Awards, including:…

Why aren’t new homes fully accessible for older and disabled people?

June 5, 2019 | Source: The Guardian- England & THIIS- England & Scottish Housing News

Accessible housing postcode lottery revealed

June 5, 2019 | Source: Home Care Insight- England & Access and Mobility Professional

Six years ago a House of Lords inquiry concluded that the UK government and society were “woefully under-prepared” for the needs of the ageing population. It was meant to be a wake-up call, a prompt for action, but new evidence shows that we continue to drift negligently on the crucial issue of housing. If older people are going to live longer in their own homes, avoiding costly residential care, those homes must be suitable for the limitations of later life or capable of easy adaptation…

Martin Whitfield MP: We need new signage to reflect any and all disabilities

June 5, 2019 | Source: PoliticsHome- UK

We all recognise the wheelchair sign; the conventional static wheelchair is the symbol of what constitutes a disability. It is the International Symbol of Access and it implicitly defines what it means to be disabled. The disability charity Scope estimate that there’re 13.9m people in the UK who are disabled, yet just 10% of those who are, are wheelchair users. We often therefore unwittingly discount the range of ‘Invisible’ Disabilities that often restrict the lives of a significant number of people in the UK…

Rethinking cities to include disabled people

June 5, 2019 | Source: Financial Times- UK

The work under way on the Royal Hill Park development in Redhill, just south of London, looks much like construction for any other newly built housing. Yellow diggers rush around the site, preparing the foundations for the 102 buildings that will be erected by Countryside, one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders. Yet a closer inspection reveals how Royal Hill Park will feature a range of adaptations for disabled people found almost nowhere else in the UK…

RBI committee on digital payments makes a strong case for financial inclusion of disabled community

June 6, 2019 | Source: NewzHook- India

Cast a look at most events and conferences on disability in India and all too often it’s the aspects of education, employment, health and technologies that get talked about. Few talk about financial inclusion, which is an oversight given that at 70 million people, India’s disabled community are a sizeable presence. The oversight is not for the lack of a noise. Be it banking services or digital payments, the access hitches have been raised time and again by the community…

‘We’re just trying to get the train like everyone else’: why public transport needs to be more accessible

June 6, 2019 | Source: The Bolton News- UK

When Fiona Anderson, 30, from Heaton, arrived at Bolton train station on Monday morning, she discovered the lift was out of order. As a wheelchair user, she was unable to get the platform she needed any other way and, instead, had to travel in the opposite direction, go to a different station and change platforms there. The delays cost Ms Anderson 45 minutes, but she says this is typical of what people with access needs have come to expect. Ms Anderson, a Muscular Dystrophy UK campaigner, said: “Being a wheelchair user, I always set off around half an hour earlier, anticipating transport problems…

Jerusalem’s Old City accessible for visually impaired on’Blind Day’

June 6, 2019 | Source: The Jerusalem Post- Israel

The Tower of David Museum and the Center for the Blind in Israel launched initiatives that will make the Old City of Jerusalem accessible to the visually impaired through audio technology and interactive tours in honor of Blind Day. A new phone application released by the Center for the Blind in Israel on June 3, just days before national Blind day, will provide guided tours and routes for the visually impaired, easily accessible by mobile phone…

Even with Success, Disability Advocates and Allies Face a Long Hard Road

June 6, 2019 | Source: NPQ- Canada

According to Statistics Canada’s 2017 Survey on Disability, some 22 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 have at least one disability that limits their everyday activities. Canada has various existing frameworks for protecting the rights of citizens with disabilities (including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act), as do the provinces. (Some even have their own accessibility legislation, such as the AODA in Ontario.) But fundamental issues of accessibility and exclusion are, to varying degrees, a daily challenge for more than six million Canadians.

Accessibility Blogs and Information

“Accessibility is our responsibility”: Students expand their knowledge of best practices and technologies as part of Study Away Silicon Valley- University of Washington

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Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming

Accessibility Statements

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