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Accessibility in the News- September 15, 2017

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Accessibility in the News — 9/18/17.

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AITN Quote of the Week

“If disabled people were truly heard, an explosion of knowledge of the human body and psyche would take place.”

— Susan Wendell

National News (U.S.)

 Lainey Feingold: Negotiating better access for the disabled

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  ABA Journal

The word compliance is frequently used in legal matters related to the Americans with Disabilities Act. But Lainey Feingold says simply meeting the law’s standard is not enough. “We have to go beyond compliance. It’s about integrating technology, web development and usability,” says the Berkeley, California, sole practitioner, whose work centers on digital accessibility for people who are blind. “When technology becomes a compliance issue, our creativity is lost, our enthusiasm is lost, and things get stuck in the law office.” Rather than litigation, Feingold finds solutions through structured negotiation, a collaborative dispute resolution method. Businesses like it because the process is cheaper and often faster than litigation, she says…

Are websites and apps the new ADA lawsuit frontier?

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  AZ Big Media

This summer brought a rise not only in temperatures, but also in developments concerning businesses’ obligations to make their websites and mobile applications accessible to individuals with disabilities.  Business owners and operators may want to pay close attention to these developments to ensure their businesses comply with their obligations and avoid liability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and its state law counterpart, the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (AzDA) require businesses that offer goods and services to the public to make their goods, services, and facilities accessible to persons with disabilities…

Campus Construction Impacts Accessibility

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  The Blue Banner

Renovations on Highsmith Student Union and construction of the new residence halls directly impact the accessibility of buildings for students, staff and visitors. Founders Drive and the bridge into Highsmith closed during the summer, further limiting access to the buildings. “The campus population in general and how we move around has been affected by construction,” said David Todd, associate vice chancellor of campus operations. “I think we’ve made concerted efforts to focus specifically on people that have any kind of different or special need for their mobility concerns to try to address that.”…

Lawsuits over website accessibility for the blind, disabled on the rise nationwide

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  Cook County Record

Lawsuits claiming business websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities have spiked nationwide in the last two years, surging from at least 57 in 2015 to at least 432 in 2017, according to a count tabulated by the Chicago-based law firm of Seyfarth Shaw. Such lawsuits typically argue that websites, like all other public places, are supposed be accessible to everyone under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which stipulates that everyone must have equal access to “all public and private places that are open to the general public.”…

Voices heard during East Hawaii disability forum

September 9, 2017   |  Source:  Hawaii Tribune Herald

Those are things policymakers can change with laws, funding and administrative rules. Thursday’s third annual East Hawaii Disability Legislative Forum for people with disabilities helped connect them with government officials and was considered a “great start.” “There’s nothing like this on the island. This is direct participation by the community,” said Jesse Floyd, program specialist at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. A forum announcement at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo included the tagline, “You can’t have inclusion without us.” That set the stage for attendees. They plan to keep communicating with elected leaders and government representatives — until their voices are truly heard, Floyd said…

Public transportation is a lifeline

September 9, 2017   |  Source:  SW News Media

Most American adults the thought of not having access to a car or not having the ability to drive is nearly unconscionable, but for Americans who are elderly or disabled, this is a concept they have to learn to adapt to on a daily basis. So assuming one doesn’t have access to a car or simply doesn’t have the ability to drive, how does one adapt to perform daily functions such such as going to work, getting to medical appointments or maintaining a social life?  The easiest way to adapt is utilizing public transportation. Every day, city buses and trains provide affordable, reliable transportation services to thousands of Minnesotans who need to get to work; right here in Carver County, Southwest transit provides transportation services through their stations in Chanhassen, Chaska and Carver…

Students cite concerns with academic success center’s new location

September 9, 2017   |  Source:  The Torch

The Academic Success Center (ASC), among many other offices within the university, have been moved from the first floor to the tenth floor of the Auditorium Building. One of the issues with this space is that it is way too small. The students that use this space sometimes take up more room. It is very difficult fitting in this space without being in the way. Being in a wheelchair, it is very tight to navigate. Having more than one wheelchair in the office at the same time has already been a major issue. Courtney Tenner, a student at Roosevelt since 2014, who uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility, realized that the ASC was moving during the past spring semester. There is simply not enough room,” she said…

Bumpy sidewalks, curbs, historic architecture all deter access in downtown Olympia

September 10, 2017   |  Source:  The Olympian

‘I’m sure I never even thought about it.” That’s what Tom Bradley said about how aware he was of accessibility problems facing people with disabilities just five years ago, before both of his legs were amputated at the knee because of diabetes complications. He has used a wheelchair and below-knee prosthetic legs since. “I’m the same way,” said Mary Ellen Bradley, Tom’s wife of 53 years. “As long as I could get in, it just never would occur to me.” Now, they both have mental maps of all the best disabled parking spots in Olympia. If they’re going somewhere new, Mary Ellen will often scout out the area ahead of time, checking the size of bathrooms, the width of doors and the presence of parking…

New Arizona laws will impact individuals with disabilities

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  AZ Big Media

New laws recently enacted by the Arizona Legislature will make life for men, women and children with disabilities both easier and a little more challenging.  On the positive side, SB1239 makes it illegal for anyone to park on the striped access aisles next to an accessible parking spot, even someone with an accessible placard.  “People with disabilities need that area to exit their vehicles,” said Sarah Kader, staff attorney at the Arizona Center for Disability Law.  “Even if you have a disabled person parking placard, you cannot cover those stripes or you’ll get a ticket.” SB 1269, or the “Emergency Prescription Refill Bill,” allows a pharmacist under specific circumstances to issue a one-time emergency refill of a non-controlled medication used to treat an ongoing medical condition…

Countless voice and language applications are flourishing

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  IT Portal

There’s no escaping devices, applications or services that use voice and language technology as a user interface. From banks to cars, to mobile personal assistants, voice technologies have brought both convenience and productivity to daily life. It’s hard to think of a place where we can’t simply use our voice to get the most out of technology today. Twenty years before though, when Dragon NaturallySpeaking made its debut, things were very different. In 1997, we introduced an innovative computer software solution for converting speech to text, and it left an indelible mark on the technology industry – setting forth the next generation of voice-enabled applications, devices, cars, healthcare systems – that we see today…

Lawsuits vs Ace Hardware, Empire Today, Kmart, add to litigation over website accessibility for the blind

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  Cook County Record

A blind woman is alleging in Chicago federal court that three major retailers are denying her, and similarly vision-impaired people, access to their websites in violation of federal law. Kayla Reed, who lives in the Los Angeles area, filed suits Sept. 8 in U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois against hardware retailer Ace Hardware, flooring retailer Empire Today and discount store chain Kmart. The companies are based in suburban Chicago, with Ace in Oakbrook, Empire in Northlake and Kmart in Hoffman Estates…

Fitness Isn’t Very Accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, but These Women Are Trying to Change That

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  Self

When 29-year-old Katie Winder joined a new gym recently in her hometown of Orem, Utah, she received a free personal training session. She was excited for the one-on-one time—especially since she’s a trainer herself, and she was curious to be on the other side of things, getting a client’s perspective. But when she met the trainer and he realized that she’s deaf, he freaked out. As in, sped-off-like-a-cartoon-rabbit freaked out. Another gym-goer knew sign language and was working with a different trainer, so she got shuttled over to them while her original trainer disappeared. The experience wasn’t entirely surprising for Winder, who was born with profound bi-lateral deafness, but it was definitely disappointing…

Google Gets Serious About Mapping Wheelchair Accessibility

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  CityLab

If there’s one thing Google’s got at its disposal, it’s a global army of avid map users. Now the company is leveraging that power to make its Maps feature more useful for people with mobility challenges—a group that often gets overlooked in the world of transit and urban innovation. Google Maps already indicates if a location is wheelchair accessible—a result of a personal project by one of its employees—but its latest campaign will crowdsource data from its 30 million Local Guides worldwide, who contribute tips and photos about neighborhood establishments in exchange for points and small prizes like extra digital storage space.

Many towns fall short on accessibility requirements

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  Worcester Telegram

The athletic field at Kiwanis Beach recreation area was busy. Soccer and lacrosse games filled the grounds on weekends, adding to demand for parking on the site from the adjacent baseball field, basketball court, tennis courts and beach. A parking lot near the beach’s Pratt Pond waterfront held 64 spaces, but town officials saw a need for a new lot, at the top of a steep slope, with better access to the sports field. Besides, according to a Dec. 7, 2015, letter of support from Upton Recreation Commission Chairman Rich Gazoorian to the chairman of the Planning Board, there had been complaints over the years about the inaccessibility of the upper field to people who have limited mobility…

As senior populations rise, Seattle turns to tech

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  StateScoop

The City of Seattle is asking local technologists for help with its surging senior population and all the associated care and social issues that come with aging. On Sept. 22 through 24, Mayor Ed Murray announced the city will hold a hackathon in which developers, scientists, policy experts and urban planners can collaborate on potential solutions for the city’s growing elderly population. Driven by the Information Technology Department (Seattle IT) and the National Day for Civic Hacking, the “A City for All Hackathon” is hoped to crowdsource digital products that can make Seattle streets and services more accessible for the elderly…

Campus made more accessible through top-notch resources

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  Virginia Tech Collegiate Times

I have always thought that if I ever injured something that hindered my mobility while at Virginia Tech, I would take a gap semester. The idea of keeping up with my regular schedule while navigating this campus with its many hills, uneven walkways and staircases seems next to impossible. And yet, every day I see students — stronger than I am — getting around using wheelchairs, knee scooters, crutches and other physical aids. What is it like to be reliant on these devices on this campus? What challenges do students who use them face? Sarah Shaver, a sophomore studying human development, faced this challenge during her first semester at Virginia Tech…

Building accessibility for people in need

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  KGAN

A Corridor organization, the Wheelchair Ramp Accessibility Program (WRAP) is working to make life a little more accessible. For most people walking out of the house to grab the mail or get to the car is a simple task but if you have a walker or wheelchair it’s not so easy. The steps outside Craig Havrans front door weren’t made for a walker. “I couldn’t get my walker out the door by myself I had to have somebody here to help me get it in an out that doesn’t exactly free you up,” says Havran. His mobility issues make simple tasks difficult to do…

Borough Council Approves VisitAbility Ordinance

September 12, 2017   |  Source:  State College News

State College Borough Council on Monday approved an ordinance designed to make some newly constructed properties more accessible to individuals with disabilities. The VisitAbility ordinance applies to new construction of single-family and duplex homes to be used as rental housing.  Four requirements are included in the ordinance. Houses included under the ordinance will be required to have at least one zero-step entrance, doors with 32 inches or greater passage space to accommodate wheelchairs, at least one bathroom with a toilet on the main floor that is wheelchair accessible, and a pathway of at least 40 inches in the kitchen area…

Syracuse becomes latest college to make diversity a priority for its library

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  The College Fix

In an effort to increase its advocacy for the disabled and other minority groups on campus, Syracuse University has added an Inclusion and Accessibility Librarian to its staff. The new librarian, Kate Deibel, will start in October and “help students and other constituents as they seek alternative, accessible formats for research and study,” according to a university webpage. The New York-based institution is just the latest among a string of universities that have created positions within their library systems dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion…

This cofounder made his app more accessible to vision-impaired users in honor of his blind father

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Business Insider

When Justin Rosenstein co-founded the productivity software company Asana in 2008, his father had one request: that he, as a blind person, could someday use his son’s creation. On Tuesday, Rosenstein honored that request, with the announcement of a new Asana update, which includes enhanced support for VoiceOver, the Apple accessibility feature that aids visually-impaired people in using their iPhones and iPads without seeing the screen. The app update will be available on September 19, when Apple releases its iOS 11 update to all iPhones and iPads as a free download…

What Businesses Should Know About Website Accessibility Lawsuits Under The ADA

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  JD Supra

Serial plaintiffs are suing businesses in alarming numbers alleging that websites and/or mobile applications are not accessible to persons with disabilities. This checklist reviews compliance obligations and the potential legal risks. The prevailing view is that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites and requires that they be accessible to the public on desktop computers as well as laptops, tablets, smart phones, and other devices. However, some courts have ruled that websites must have a nexus to a physical place in order to be covered by the ADA. The obligation may be construed broadly, as some courts have ruled that businesses have a legal obligation to require third-party vendors to make their applications accessible even if they operate only within the businesses’ websites…

Anderson University’s website adjusts to ADA accessibility laws

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Andersonian

Based on new guidelines provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), AU has recently been adapting its audio, video and written web content to become accessible for those who are hearing or vision-impaired. “It has never been our intent for content to be out of reach for anyone. Each time we learn how to do better, we adjust to do so,” says Murray. “[Anderson.edu] will not need to be redesigned or recreated in order to meet these needs.” As of July 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) website accessibility regulations under Titles II and III of the ADA is listed on the Unified Regulatory Agenda’s 2017 “inactive actions” list…

Town of Madison Updates Personnel and ADA Policy

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Zip06

In an effort to stay on top of federal policy, continue to provide services to all residents, and keep the town eligible for certain grant programs, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) adopted an updated personnel policy and appointed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator for the town. The new personnel policies were unanimously adopted meeting at the Sept. 11 BOS meeting. Town officials said the updates have more to do with complying with updated federal regulations than the town trying to get creative with the policy. One such update, which involves incorporating ADA into the town personnel policy, requires that an ADA coordinator be named…

Illinois companies must make sites accessible for blind, visually impaired, lawsuits say

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Chicago Tribune

Three Illinois companies are accused of maintaining websites visually impaired consumers allegedly can’t use in an age when online shopping is as important as walking into a store. A California woman has filed lawsuits against Kmart, Empire Today and Ace Hardware, alleging that running websites and mobile apps that blind and visually impaired people can’t read also means denying potential customers products and services, a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The three retailers named in the suits, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago, join a growing list of big-name companies that have faced similar allegations, including Target, Netflix, and Illinois-based Grubhub and McDonald’s…

Equal Access in the Digital Age: OCR Ramps Up Investigations into Website Accessibility

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  JD Supra

Consider the fact that we now live in a digital age, with limitless information at our fingertips, accessible (to many of us) with a few keystrokes or a simple voice command into our now ubiquitous cell phones. Now consider that, upon their passage, neither Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (“Section 504”) nor the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) (passed in 1973 and 1990, respectively) anticipated the explosive growth and everyday reliance we now, almost unconsciously, place upon that accessibility to information through the internet.  As noted in an earlier post, the juxtaposition of these realities have spurred the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) recently to launch hundreds of administrative investigations into allegations that educational institutions’ websites and web-based applications are inaccessible to individuals with disabilities…

Disability Rights Coalition of Vassar College envisions broader dialogue

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Miscellany News

The Disability Rights Coalition of Vassar College (DRC) is taking aim at issues of disability, accessibility and inclusion both on campus and in the greater Poughkeepsie community. One of the many Vassar student organizations with a mission centered around activism and intersectionality, the DRC welcomes all interested students regardless of ability. The DRC was founded last semester, replacing ACCESS, the previous org with disability and inclusion as its focus. According to the DRC’s Facebook page, “[The group rebranded itself with] the intent of advocating for students with disabilities and educating the community on issues pertaining to disabilities as a whole and their intersections with other identities.”…

Why Now is the Time to Create Accessible Video Games

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Voices

It’s normal to think that a new game’s success or failure hinges on spreading awareness of the product to the right people: People who are not only interested in your characters and storyline, but are willing to pay for the chance to become immersed into your world. But what happens if your target customer, the one who is most excited to enjoy the fruits of your labor, can’t play, simply because the way the video game is formatted makes it inaccessible? As a Sound Designer and founder of Smash Clay Audio, Adriane Kuzminski is especially passionate about accessibility in the video game world. Specifically, she’s encouraging designers and developers to reconsider how they regard the role of audio elements…

 “Chess for Success”

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Mountain News

I’m a full-time mountain resident and the creator of the new, totally free scholastic chess program, “Chess for Success.” My chess credentials include: Arena International Chess Master, internationally credentialed chess coach, organizer, soon-to-be arbiter, delegate to the U.S. Chess Federation from Southern California, member of the U.S. Chess Accessibility and Special Circumstances Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee for the Creation of Guidelines on the Treatment of Differently-abled Chess Players. I’ve enjoyed well over a decade of scholastic and professional chess and, without wanting to appear immodest, during my scholastic chess years, I dominated the vast majority of local and regional chess tournaments and was a perennial top-seed at many major national and international scholastic chess events…

New Florida law helps businesses protect against frivolous ADA lawsuits

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Miami Herald

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the 1990 civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities, has spurred many changes in building codes across Florida to make offices, schools, restaurants, hotels and other public and private places more accessible to the disabled. Despite its net positive effect on the lives of millions of Floridians and visitors to the state, an unintended consequence has been the proliferation of frivolous lawsuits aimed primarily at racking up attorney and expert-witness fees against Florida businesses and property owners. These lawsuits are sometimes filed by lawyers who recruit clients to blanket entire city blocks of businesses with demand letters posing an ultimatum to either pay a quick settlement or face the threat of an ADA lawsuit…

City not ADA compliant, report says

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Hudson Valley 360

In the city, urgent voices may be kept from having a seat at the table because of a lack of accessibility for residents with disabilities. But some organizations are hoping to change that. The Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley Inc., 802 Columbia St., which serves and advocates on behalf of people with emotional, social, learning, sensory and physical disabilities at its satellite office in Hudson, is encouraging the city to appoint an American with Disabilities Act coordinator to address the needs of disabled residents. In a recent survey, 74 percent of 156 city, town and village governments in the state, including Hudson, were out of compliance with the American Disabilities Act, according to the Disability Rights of New York…

 

Jack Fact — According to U.S. Census Bureau data, there are about 35 million people age 15 or older in the U.S. who have a disability that limits their movement. More than half of Americans age 65 and older have a disability.

International News

 Tiny Girl Meets Disfigured Veteran, Leaves Him Struggling To Hold Back Tears

September 6, 2017   |  Source:  ShareTap- UK

 Many of us give to charities or volunteer in our free time, but it’s rare that we actually get to meet the people these organizations help! Such was the case for five-year-old Temperance Pattinson. Temperance has been participating in a charity organization to help war veterans since she was just three years old and she never got the opportunity to meet with a real war hero. That was, until now…

 Bendigo looks to make city more accessible for people with disabilities

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  Bendigo Advertiser- Australia

Bendigo businesses were slowly becoming more accessible for people with disabilities, but the lack of incentive and the sheer cost of the necessary changes was problematic, a local advocate says. Chairperson of the City of Greater Bendigo Disability Inclusion Reference Committee, Sara McQueenie, said local infrastructure was changing for the better, however changing perceptions was of equal importance. “Business don’t see us as part of the economic majority – but we are,” she said. “There’s no incentives for businesses to make themselves more accessible, and that’s statewide – it’s not just a local scenario…

Accessibility for all

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  Public Technology- UK

Local authorities across the country are under pressure to increase modal shift by convincing more citizens to ride the bus. At the same time, the onus is on public transport departments to enhance customers’ journeys through a range of initiatives, whether that includes making improvements to bus routes or revamping bus stations and stops. This issue came into particular focus recently during the journey towards the Bus Services Act 2017, which officially came into existence in April of this year. When first introduced, as the Bus Services Bill 2016-17 in May 2016, the proposed legislation intended to give councils such as ourselves new powers to deliver better journeys for passengers…

How I’m denied social inclusion for the mere fact that I’m a wheelchair user

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  DAWN- Pakistan

Karachi isn’t just a city. It’s an experience. Anyone who’s lived in Karachi knows that there isn’t a city that offers better biryani. The chai dhabas here are unparalleled. We have our own lord and saviour, guarding us against the mighty ocean, whose brother protects the nearby island of Manora. Simply, once you go to K-town, the other towns let you down. Not always though. And certainly not for people living with disabilities. I recently came back from the US after having spent a semester there, during which I also had the privilege to travel across the country and visit many cities. I have actually seen more of the US than Pakistan, where I spent 23 years of my life before going anywhere abroad…

Rangers net Autism Friendly Award after Ibrox Stadium improvements

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  Glasgow Live- UK

Rangers have picked up an Autism Friendly Award – five months after opening a sensory room at Ibrox Stadium. The Scottish Premiership side has been praised for improving accessibility for autistic supporters in recent months. In April the Glasgow club unveiled Broxi’s Den – a facility dedicated to helping fans with complex learning difficulties and sensory challenges such as autism. The aim of the room, launched in partnership with the fans, is to create an enjoyable matchday experience…

Academic accommodations aren’t academic advantages

September 8, 2017   |  Source:  Queen’s Journal- Canada

As an educator employed at a university, Professor Bruce Pardy has an unusual attitude towards student success. It’s one based on survival of the fittest, or in this case, survival of the those without disabilities. The opinions held by Pardy —  who works at the Queen’s Faculty of Law — were published in the National Post. In his article, Pardy shows a deep misunderstanding of exactly what academic accommodations are for and what a learning disability is. He argues throughout the article that accommodations for learning disabilities and mental illnesses give the students who struggle with them an unfair academic advantage over their peers…

Microsoft promotes inclusive learning through digital technology

September 9, 2017   |  Source:  Business Mirror- Philippines

Access to education is one of the challenges being experienced by Filipinos. The lack of infrastructure is one main factor why many Filipinos are being deprived of education. However, the emergence of digital technology has lessened the gap, as more and more Filipinos nowadays can access learning without requiring them to travel to distant places. Being a technology company, Microsoft Philippines Managing Director Bertrand Launay is doing its share to spread the benefits of learning by sharing the tools that will empower the country’s youth and children with special needs…

Accessible Morocco: visiting Essaouira on a mobility scooter

September 7, 2017   |  Source:  Disability Horizons- Morocco

My name is Tracey Ebbs. I live in rural northern Buckinghamshire and work as a freelance copywriter. I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurological condition that mainly affects my mobility. I have, what I call, ‘wobbly leg syndrome’. Disabled passenger Tracy EbbsI can walk short distances very slowly with the aid of a stick or rollator (walking frame), but for anything more than a few metres I use a wheelchair or Luigi, my trustworthy mobility scooter. Last year, I found myself unexpectedly flying alone to Essaouira, Morocco. The trip was originally planned with my friend Pip, but due to an emergency at home, she was unable to travel with me. I had a tough decision to make; whether to go it alone or cancel the holiday…

Offices to be made accessible to PwDs: Kipgen

September 10, 2017   |  Source:  Nagaland Post- India & Web India 123- India

Manipur social welfare minister Nemcha Kipgen Saturday said that the state government is in the process of making thirty government office buildings easily accessible for the persons with disabilities. Speaking at the 44th foundation day of Government Ideal Blind School at Takyel, the minister asserted that her department was implementing various social security schemes for the persons living with disabilities under state plan. Scholarship for the students with disabilities, unemployment allowance to the educated unemployed persons with disabilities, financial assistance to the PwDs, marriage incentive award, grant-in-aid to the organizations formed by the persons with disabilities or parents of severe disabilities were being implemented in the state, said Kipgen while urging the bonafide beneficiaries to avail the benefits of the schemes…

Accessible pub crawl opens door to better disability access

September 10, 2017   |  Source:  ABC Online- Australia

A few quiet beers after work on Friday masked the serious mission of finding out how well local watering holes catered for the needs of people with disability. The Accessible Pub Crawl in Rockhampton brought together people with disability and workers from across the disability support sector to assess local venues for potential access pitfalls. Organiser Des Ryan, who is on the board of Spinal Life Australia, has been running the event since the late 1980s. He said they ran through common activities for a night out, like browsing the menu, ordering a drink, and going to the toilet, to see if the venue catered for people with different access needs…

Vote for most accessible premises on the Isle of Wight

September 10, 2017   |  Source:  Isle of Wight County Press- UK

Mobility scooter users have been urged to nominate accessible shops and businesses for an award. Boots, Newport, has become the first shop to receive an accessibility award from Isle of Wight Shopmobility, which loans mobility scooter users for people to shop in Newport. Following the introduction of the 2010 Equality Act, shop owners are required to make reasonable adjustments to steps, doors, lifts, toilet and parking facilities to ensure their premises are accessible to disabled people…

Disabled accessibility law gathering support

September 12, 2017   |  Source:  Otago Daily Times- New Zealand

Canadian disability advocate David Lepofsky believes there is growing political backing to pass “accessibility” legislation in this country. “Accessibility legislation can only help, if it’s done right,” Mr Lepofsky said in Dunedin recently. New Zealand could adopt what he termed a “buffet” dining approach, by picking up aspects of Canadian accessibility legislation that had worked well, to improve access for people with disabilities to buildings, public transport, as well as information and services. The best ideas could also be gleaned from other sources. New Zealand had much to gain by passing legislation which clarified what was needed to achieve accessibility…

How one wheelchair-racing athlete is using her notoriety to give back

September 11, 2017   |  Source:  Disability Horizons- Africa

My job is incredible; I get to travel and race in marathons all over the world. I am incredibly lucky. But I know that there are a lot of people who aren’t. So, after a few years of competing, I realised that I could put my career to good use and start fundraising for good causes. But there are so many causes I care about, I wasn’t sure where to start. I wanted the money I donated to be used efficiently; to make the biggest positive impact on people’s lives for as little money as possible. I spent a few weeks researching organisations, trying to figure out which I would support. I also read an amazing book called Doing Good Better, which explains how to most effectively help others, to guide my decision. After days of deliberation, I decided I wanted to help the Walkabout Foundation…

Løkkegaard MEP: Amended Accessibility Act should pass in Parliament

September 12, 2017   |  Source:  EURACTIV- Europe

The European Accessibility Act – a landmark piece of legislation for Europe’s 80 million people with disabilities – goes to the European Parliament’s for a plenary vote on Wednesday (15 September) after lengthy and sometimes heated debates. With the latest amendments passed in the past week, Danish MEP Morten Løkkegaard (ALDE), who is the rapporteur for the Act, is confident it will be endorsed in Parliament, though further debates are likely when the Council of the EU gets a say. Løkkegaard spoke to EURACTIV.com’s news editor Zoran Radosavljevic in a telephone interview. After the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) approved the Act on 25 April, disability groups were very unhappy, as well as some political groups in Parliament. What do you expect this week?…

TIFF needs to pressure producers to make their movies accessible, advocates say

September 12, 2017   |  Source:  CBC News- Canada

TIFF organizers say they strive to make the festival lineup more accessible year-after-year but they say it’s the producers and the studios — not the festival itself — who decide whether they’ll provide deaf and/or blind viewers with closed captioning and descriptive audio. That’s not good enough for some critics, who say the festival doesn’t do enough to cater to people with disabilities and it should push the people who make the movies to provide more accessibility.  CBC Toronto sat down with film critic Michael McNeely, who happens to be hearing impaired and visually impaired due to a rare genetic disorder. After making several of his complaints about the festival’s accessibility last year, he says he has given up on TIFF 2017…

Yonge and St. Clair moves toward full accessibility for the blind

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Inside Toronto- Canada

With increasing buy-in from local businesses, the Yonge and St. Clair area is fast becoming the most accessible neighbourhood in Toronto – if not all of Canada – for the blind and visually impaired. With a new Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) hub opening in June, the neighbourhood has seen an influx of blind visitors, and to help make the entire area cater more to their needs, many local businesses are installing beacons to help those with vision loss navigate their shops. The beacons work with BlindSquare, a smartphone app, allowing users to hear directions as they approach or enter a store. “Google Maps or a GPS can get you to the front door, but they don’t help you once you’re in the front door,” said Kat Clarke of the CNIB.

Paralympic Athlete’s Vacation Highlight Ruined By Wheelchair Inaccessibility At Fort St. Angelo

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Lovin Malta- Italy

An Italian woman who has visited Malta every year since she was 11 had this year’s trip tarnished by a negative experience that’s hard to shake. Lilly Tolu, 58, is originally from Italy but considers the island to be her home. With annual visits every summer, Lilly spends her cherished time on the island reminiscing on beautiful moments spent here, particularly the times she spent dancing in the open air discos held at Birgu’s stunning Fort St. Angelo. Four years ago, Lilly became wheelchair-bound. While this hasn’t deterred her from making the journey with her niece Mina Tolu, her options for touring the island became significantly limited due to the level of wheelchair inaccessibility across Malta…

Ontario’s AODA progress

September 13, 2017   |  Source:  Canadian Employment Law Today- Canada (Subscription)

The accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) has been in effect for more than five years now, with certain parts for less. HR lawyer Pamela Chan Ebejer looks at how well Ontario employers have adapted and what questions still remain. When the first wave of compliance requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), came into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, many employers feared an overwhelming set of new compliance requirements to meet. Employers were kept on their toes with the staggered deadlines year after year, as well as the comprehensive accessibility standards that spanned five areas including customer service, information and communications, employment, and the design of public spaces. At the same time, the AODA has faced questions and criticisms about how the legislation would be enforced given that it lacks an individual complaint mechanism…

Mada launches accessible mural

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Gulf Times- Qatar

As part of the organisation’s commitment to the people of Qatar, Mada, (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) has launched the first accessible online mural expressing love and support for His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. With Mada’s accessible online mural, individuals with different accessibility requirements can now log onto Mada’s official website and choose the message they want to share and sign their name through the virtual online mural. “At Mada, we believe in empowering people with disabilities through assistive technology. We are proud to launch the first accessible mural online for people with disabilities in Qatar. At Mada we strive to provide tools to people with disabilities, as this ensures that they can become citizens that equally participate within the local community” said Maha al-Mansoori, CEO, Mada…

Halifax earns AbilityNet seal of approval

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Finextra- UK

Halifax has become the first business to have its website and mobile app simultaneously accredited by accessibility specialists AbilityNet. This is the first time an organisation in the UK has received the accolade across its digital platforms and is just one component of the bank’s commitment to providing accessible digital services for all its customers. AbilityNet works with organisations to ensure their digital content is accessible by the 13 million people in the UK with a disability – those who may have sight, literacy or other needs which make it more difficult for them to access online content. As part of the project and ongoing partnership with AbilityNet, Halifax worked with users with disabilities to identify how to create a better experience on its website and mobile app…

MEPs approve Accessibility Act, ready for talks in Council

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  EURACTIV- Europe & EDF & Digital Europe– (PDF)

The European Parliament approved on Thursday 14 (September) the proposed European Accessibility Act, a major piece of legislation meant to make life easier for the elderly and people with disabilities, adding that it is ready for potentially tough member states negotiations. “More than 80 million people living with disabilities will benefit from today’s vote in Parliament,” MEP Morten Løkkegaard (ALDE), the lead rapporteur, told the Parliament, which approved it by  537 votes to 12, with 89 abstentions. “From the beginning, it has been my aim to strike a balance between innovating more accessible products and services, whilst ensuring that we do not create new burdens for businesses all over Europe. The vote today proves that this balance is possible,” the Danish MEP said…

New Program Helps Ontario Business Connect with the Right Talent

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Ontario Chamber of Commerce- Canada

Today, the Honourable David Onley, Special Advisor to the Government of Ontario’s Minister Responsible for Accessibility, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (The OCC) and the Discover Ability Network partners launched a new program and online portal that will connect persons with disabilities seeking employment directly with Ontario businesses looking to meet their talent requirements. The portal is a key feature of Access Talent: Ontario’s Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, a comprehensive plan focused on connecting more people with disabilities to rewarding jobs and more employers to new talent to help grow their businesses…

How the new £10 note has been designed with accessibility in mind

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Evening Times- UK

Following the release of the polymer £5 note last September, the new £10 note is the most accessible yet. The new note retains tiered sizing and includes bold numerals and a similar colour palette to the current paper note. In addition, the polymer £10 notes will each include a tactile feature created by a series of raised dots, making it easily distinguishable from the £5 note which has none. he Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has worked closely with the Bank of England on developing accessible notes, offering guidance on what the new bank notes should look and feel like…

Fergus pianist to perform at Invictus Games in Toronto

September 14, 2017   |  Source:  Wellington Advertiser- Canada

A Fergus pianist will be performing at the Accessibility Innovation Showcase later this month as part of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017. Kara Shaw, 28, has been playing the piano since she was two and a half years old, yet she’s never seen the keys. She was born at 23 weeks and because of the 100 per cent oxygen needed to keep her alive in the incubator,  her vision was lost before she ever had a chance to see. “They’ve found a way around that now,” said Kara’s mom Lynda Shaw. “Premature babies don’t go blind anymore, but they did when Kara was born. “We were just happy she was alive.”  Kara was adopted by the Shaw family shortly after birth and when she was two and half a social worker suggested Kara might be able to distinguish the difference between black and white if she had any sight at all… 

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Our digital and web accessibility services cover

  • Accessible Elearning Development — Does your online training reach all learners, whether they’re your employees, resellers, students? Let us help you design effective, engaging training that works for everyone.
  • Accessible Website and Application Development — An inaccessible website or application is increasingly seen as violating the ADA. Let’s talk about creating an online presence that reaches all your customers and reduces your litigation risk.
  • Audit and Testing Services — A thorough accessibility audit against recognized accessibility standards will show you where you may be under-serving your customers and putting your organization at risk.
  • Accessible Document Services — Digital assets such as Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and audio and video files need to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, too. We can help you establish creation processes or remediate historical documents so that they meet accessibility standards and are usable by people with disabilities.
  • Remediation Services — Whether for a time-sensitive response to a legal action, or for proactive remediation, we can fix what doesn’t meet accessibility standards.
  • Accessibility Training — Contact us to get your teams introduced and informed about accessibility best practices.

Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.

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