Accessibility in the News—2/3/18.

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National News (U.S.)

The DAISY Consortium Releases Ace, the Free EPUB Accessibility Checking Tool, Ace by DAISY, which equips the publishing industry with a tool which can test their ebooks against internationally recognized standards for accessibility. This open source tool is designed to be flexible, and customized into publication development workflows, helping to achieve the shared goal of ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to publications.

New policy: Yale websites should be accessible to those with disabilities

January 26, 2018 | Source: Yale News | Digital Accessibility, Inclusion, Awareness

Yale has adopted a new policy requiring university websites and web applications to be accessible to people with disabilities. The Web Accessibility Policy (officially Policy 1605) was announced on Jan. 24 by Provost Ben Polak in an email to the campus community. It is effective March 1, formalizing a practice that has been in effect for several years. “Yale University is committed to making information, programs and activities on its websites and web applications accessible to people with disabilities,” wrote Polak…

We’re only beginning to make games more accessible

January 28, 2018 | Source: VentureBeat | Gaming, Accessible Design, Inclusion

Games are played by more than a billion people, and games have become a $116 billion industry. But that doesn’t mean they are as accessible as they should be. I dipped into this topic in a tour of the Microsoft Inclusive Technologies Lab back in October, and I found it’s a field that is just getting started. At the diversity symposium at Casual Connect USA 2018 in Anaheim, California, a panel of people have thought a lot about inclusivity addressed the issue of making games more accessible…

Serial ADA litigant strikes hotel

January 28, 2018 | Source: Pad Daily Post | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Discrimination

A quadriplegic attorney notorious for filing lawsuits that accuse small businesses not complying with the American with Disabilities Act has targeted a Mountain View boutique hotel, according to court documents. Carmichael attorney Scott Johnson filed the suit against Hotel Avante alleging that the three-star hotel doesn’t have adequate handicapped parking spaces. Johnson also claims that while the hotel has wheelchair-accessible rooms, they aren’t distributed among the different classes of available accommodations and there aren’t wheelchair-accessible rooms with two beds, violating the ADA…

Breaking down barriers to computer science for students with disabilities

January 29, 2018 | Source: The Daily- University of Washington | Higher Education, Mobility, Digital Accessibility

In the early 1980s, Sheryl Burgstahler met a 6-year-old boy named Randy who had a congenital condition called Arthrogryposis, which caused the paralysis of both his arms and legs. He wanted to move from a special education first grade class to a general education class but wasn’t allowed to because he was unable to write. Burgstahler began to work with him on learning to write with an Apple II computer. He put a stick in his mouth and used it to hit keys. She worked with an engineering student to create a device that would aid his typing…

Officials examine website accessibility amid federal disability investigation

January 29, 2018 | Source: GW Hatchet | Digital Accessibility, Education, Accessible Design

As the Department of Education investigates GW for alleged disability discrimination based on the accessibility of its websites, officials say they’ve formed a task force to examine the issue. The complaint, which launched an investigation that began in April, has prompted a federal probe of the University’s policies and procedures regulating online accessibility. Experts said the inquiry may require GW to change how it manages website features so that students with disabilities aren’t put at an academic disadvantage…

Credit Union Prevails in ADA Case

January 29, 2018 | Source: Credit Union Times (Subscription) | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation

Herndon, Virginia-based Northwest Federal Credit Union prevailed Friday in a lawsuit brought against it over the accessibility of its website, according to documents filed in a Virginia District Court. District Judge Claude Hilton ruled that credit union websites are not public places of accommodation and that that plaintiff had no standing in the case because we wasn’t eligible to join the credit union. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination in public accommodations based on disability…

Michigan Credit Union League files amicus brief supporting American 1 Credit Union in ADA litigation

January 30, 2018 | Source: CUinsight | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Digital Accessibility

The Michigan Credit Union League has filed an amicus brief in Federal Court supporting American 1 Credit Union as it combats a frivolous lawsuit alleging non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Specifically, MCUL’s brief is in support of a motion to dismiss that was filed by attorney and counselor Michael M. Bell of the law firm Howard & Howard. In the absence of controlling rules by the Department of Justice, the lawsuit is the latest in a series brought by trial attorneys seeking judicial interpretation of the ADA as it applies to website accessibility…

4 Ways Touchscreen Kiosks Can Improve Local Government

January 30, 2018 | Source: Government Technology | Government, Innovation, Technology

Overcrowded message boards. Outdated directories. English-only menus. Walk into almost any courthouse or government office across the country, and you’re likely to encounter all of those headaches and more. But not in San Francisco. What’s the Golden Gate city’s secret? Touchscreen kiosks. Recently, San Francisco prototyped digital kiosks to be installed in its city hall. Now, instead of using static directories to navigate the building, San Franciscans can use the kiosks to search through listed rooms, change languages and see upcoming events…

Kiosk accessibility: the law is paying attention

January 30, 2018 | Source: LF Legal | Legal, Accessible Design, Digital Accessibility

Website accessibility is important. Website accessibility is something that receives significant attention in the legal space. But digital accessibility is not just about websites, and the law is taking notice. This post highlights cases about kiosk accessibility. I use the term “kiosk” broadly to include tablets and any piece of technology offering services, products, and information. Who will use that technology? People — and that means disabled people. And that means the technology has to be usable by everyone, including people who cannot see a screen, hear a video, or use a mouse…

West Brightonite who’s legally blind appointed to new City Access post

January 30, 2018 | Source: SILive.com | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Digital Accessibility, Education

The borough seems to be a hub for individuals or organizations continuously focusing on new challenges and exploring new possibilities. West Brighton resident Holly Bonner is the latest borough residents deserving of such recognition: City Access New York has recruited her to be its Director of Accessibility Services. In her new role, Bonner, an Advance Woman of Achievement in the Class of 2017, will be responsible for coordinating the organization’s educational and digital accessibility practices…

Fate of ADA Lawsuits Hazy for CUs Despite Virginia Decision

January 30, 2018 | Source: Credit Union Times | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Government

Recent news of Northwest Federal Credit Union’s successful challenge to an ADA lawsuit may seem like an omen for the industry, but it doesn’t mean similar cases against other credit unions will necessarily end the same way — or that new suits won’t arrive, one industry attorney has warned. Herndon, Virginia-based Northwest Federal Credit Union, which has $3.3 billion in assets and about 251,000 members, is one of over 70 credit unions around the country that have been sued in recent months over the ADA accessibility of their websites…

Specialized CBT Program May Help College Students with ADHD

January 31, 2018 | Source: ADDitude | Cognitive, Higher Education, Awareness

A specially designed cognitive-behavioral program called ACCESS may help young adults with ADHD learn how to manage their treatment, schedules, assignments, and complete health in college, according to a small study published this month. The transition from high school to college often comes as a shock — and a wake-up call — to students with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD). After two decades of support from parents who help manage medications, direct homework, and provide emotional support, many teens stumble and fall in the tumultuous first months of college…

Texas State students build wheelchair ramp for therapy program

January 31, 2018 | Source: Texas State University- The University Star | Mobility, Building/Facilities Access, Accessible Design

Last fall, students volunteered after noticing a need at a local nonprofit which has reaped the benefits since. In November, students in Texas State’s Service-Learning Excellence Program and the Safe at Home initiative, an organization aimed at improving in-home accessibility to handicap individuals, crafted a wheelchair ramp for SOAR-Horseback Riding for All. The wheelchair ramp was needed to improve accessibility for riders of all abilities and riding levels. It replaced an older, smaller installation that proved to be a nuisance over time…

Yorkville School District to draft guidelines for teachers’ social media usage

January 31, 2018 | Source: Kendall County Now | Education, Digital Accessibility, WCAG

If you’re a parent in the Yorkville School District, you might start seeing your child’s teacher online more often starting next school year. District officials want teachers to start being more active on social media and on the web in interacting with students and parents, but they are drafting guidelines to keep everyone on the same page. Anything the district puts on its official websites must now comply with new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act…

Making the outdoors more accessible

January 31, 2018 | Source: Sequim Gazette | Mobility, Accessible Design, Inclusion

Sequim is peddling its way to becoming one of the first cities in the U.S. to have a wheelchair bike program in its backyard. The Sequim Wheelers, a nonprofit started last November by local bicycle enthusiast Nicole Lepping said it’s the first program of its kind in Washington state and fifth in the nation. “I felt like we have a lot of retirees in Sequim and that it would be a great addition to our community,” Lepping said. “I personally like to bike so it was easy to get excited about this program.”…

Known serial disability discrimination litigant files again in California

January 31, 2018 | Source: Northern California Record | Discrimination, Lawsuits/Litigation, Accessible Parking

A disabled woman suing a California hotel over claims of discrimination has filed dozens of lawsuits in that state and others in Arizona. Theresa Brooke, who is from Arizona, most recently claimed the Liberty Inn Bakersfield failed to comply with the national and state standards in designing accessible parking spots. But Brooke is better known for filing suits against hotels over the lack of pool lifts for disabled individuals, including 70 over a six-week period in 2016…

ADA, 508 and WCAG Compliance: What Do You Need to Know?

January 31, 2018 | Source: Business 2 Community | ADA, WCAG, Awareness

From website accessibility standards for the blind to considering the effects of flashing graphics on those prone to migraines, your business can’t afford to ignore website compliance concerns. Yikes, even thinking about the word “compliance” sounds like an unpleasant topic, but as a business owner, you need to make sure every aspect of your business is as accessible as it can be for your audience. Considering your website’s approachability and practicality is no different…

Design Eats the World: Are the UW’s courses accessible to all?

February 1, 2018 | Source: Dailyuw | Inclusion, Accessible Design, Education

Being on a campus that generally identifies as an open and welcoming space, it can be easy for dominant narratives to paper over cracks in inclusivity. One of the areas that can easily be looked over is accessibility. Broadly speaking, accessibility can be understood to be design specifically for people with disabilities. And at the UW, the provisions made for and gaps left in accessibility efforts make for an interesting case study, especially when it comes to the design of coursework…

Zion-Benton removes board-meeting videos while adjusting to complaint over access for disabled viewers

February 1, 2018 | Source: Chicago Tribune | Education, OCR, Discrimination

School board meeting videos are no longer available on Zion-Benton Township High School District 126’s website. The move was triggered by a complaint filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights over the accessibility of Vernon Hills-based Community High School District 128’s website, according to Audrey Liddle, Zion-Benton’s business manager. The complaint against District 128 was filed about a year ago and raised concerns about the accessibility of the website for people with disabilities, district spokeswoman Mary Todoric said…

Why Is Disabled Voter Turnout on the Decline?

February 1, 2018 | Source: Governing | Voting, Mobility, Awareness

For decades, Kathy Hoell has struggled to vote. Poll workers have told the 62-year-old Nebraskan, who uses a powered wheelchair and has a brain injury that causes her to speak in a strained and raspy voice, that she isn’t smart enough to cast a ballot. They have led her to stairs she couldn’t climb and prevented her from using an accessible voting machine because they hadn’t powered it on. “Basically,” Hoell said, “I’m a second-class citizen.” The barriers Hoell has faced are not unusual for the more than 35 million voting-age Americans with disabilities…

Emotional Support Peacock Barred From Flying on United Airlines

February 1, 2018 | Source: Smithsonian and National Geographic and People | Travel, Discrimination, Disability Rights

Over the weekend, a United Airlines passenger named Dexter was getting ready to board a flight from Newark to Los Angeles. He had his ticket ready. He was, incidentally, looking pretty great. But Dexter was not allowed to board the plane. Dexter, you see, is a peacock. According to Daniella Silva of NBC News, the peacock, which is reportedly an emotional support animal, and his human were turned away from their flight at the Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday…

All Dogs Are Emotional Support Animals

February 1, 2018 | Source: Outside | Mobility, Awareness, Disability Rights

few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I was pushed out of the business I’d spent seven years building by someone I once considered a friend. Making maters much worse, I badly injured myself in a motorcycle crash, and it took me three months of hard work to be able to walk again. The worst part, though, was that losing my business meant that I’d lost my health insurance. On top of the never-ending pain, and watching my life’s work swirl into the toilet, I was dirt broke, and badly in debt with medical bills…

Jack Fact — According to the Open Doors Organization, there are approximately 48.9 million Americans with some form of disability. People with disabilities spend over $17.3 billion annually on travel, and the economic impact is at least double that figure since many of them travel with at least one or two other adults. The vast majority of them use the Internet to plan and book travel.

International News

Making Portugal accessible for all

January 25, 2018 | Source: The Portugal News- Portugal | Travel, Accessible Design, Inclusion

Disability is a word loaded with negative connotations, however in reality there are very few people who go through their entire lives without encountering some form of personal physical or mental disability. Whether a person has a permanent or temporary disability, it is important to make life as accessible as possible for everyone and this new feature from The Portugal News aims to examine accessibility in Portugal. According to the United Nations: “Those who remain healthy and able-bodied all their lives are few…

Rights Activists Want ICT To Be Made More Inclusive for Persons With Disabilities

January 26, 2018 | Source: The Wire- India | Advocacy, Inclusion, Technology

Disability rights activists have called for a stringent policy to ensure persons with disabilities are able to access with ease both the software and hardware when it comes using information and communication technology (ICT). With the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issuing a consultation paper on ‘Making ICT Accessible for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)’ on December 20, 2017, and seeking comments from the stakeholders by January 22, 2018, a number of disability rights groups have made their submissions…

The future is relaxed: making theatre accessible to all

January 27, 2018 | Source: Varsity Online- UK | Leisure/Entertainment, Inclusion, Accessible Design

Last year, Cambridge Arts Theatre put up three relaxed performances of their Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk. Two shows were for local schools, and one for the general public. During the course of last year, they also performed relaxed versions of two other shows, The Gruffalo and Awful Auntie. Relaxed performances are generally created for autistic audiences, although they are often extended to include those with Down’s syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome, and other developmental disabilities…

Optus Stadium defends access for disabled

January 26, 2018 | Source: The West Australian- Australia | Sports/Entertainment, Inclusion, Advocacy

A key consultant on disability issues at Optus Stadium has rejected concerns parking restrictions will make it hard for disabled people to attend. Crispin Roberts, who was a member of the stadium’s Access and Inclusion User Group, said the venue had the best access and amenities for handicapped people of any stadium in WA — and probably Australia. “I’d like to think its better than most of the places in the southern hemisphere that I’ve been to, and potentially the northern hemisphere too,” he said…

Voters with disabilities eye ‘Accessible Elections’ in Nagaland

January 27, 2018 | Source: Morung Express- India | Voting, Accessible Design, Inclusion

Disability rights activist Diethono Nakhro said voters with disabilities are looking forward to the first accessible elections in Nagaland. Speaking on behalf of People with Disabilities (PWDs) at the 8th National Voters’ Day (NVD), she said the theme for this year’s observation of NVD ‘Accessible Elections’ was especially significant for the community and particularly when the state is in the middle of the electoral process. “For too long voters with disability have been ignored and marginalised…

Deals on tax, supplies may boost PWDs’ jobs

January 28, 2018 | Source: Sun.Star- Philippines | Workforce, Government, Awareness

To encourage more companies to hire persons with disabilities (PWDs), more incentives aside from tax breaks and a simpler process for claiming them might help. That’s one of the recommendations Christian D. Mina raised in “Employment Profile of Women with Disabilities in San Remigio and Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines”, published in December 2017 by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS). Mina also recommended an award for private employers who have consistently hired PWDs and complied with the Accessibility Law…

Disability groups seeks better disaster planning

January 28, 2018 | Source: Radio New Zealand- Fiji | Inclusion, Building/Facilities Access, Advocacy

The head of the Pacific Disability Forum in Fiji says recent natural disasters in the region have highlighted the need for aid agencies to realise how vulnerable people with disabilities can be during emergencies. Setareki Macanawai says stories of how some disabled people have struggled during cylones, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis were shared at a recent regional conference in Fiji and he hopes more inclusive plans will help in future disasters…

Hong Kong’s wheelchair users face many obstructions – even at the best hotels

January 29, 2018 | Source: Free Press- Hong Kong | Mobility, Discrimination, Advocacy

When Siu Leong Ko, a wheelchair user with paraplegia, went to a restaurant in 2015, he was greeted by reluctant staff who refused him entry. They insisted that they would set up a table outside for him. The restaurant had enough room for his motorized wheelchair, but they did not allow him inside because they feared his wheelchair might take up space that would otherwise be available for other customers. Ko who is now working as an advocate for the rights of people with disability wants society to show more respect to handicapped people…

Local authorities: are disabled people being represented?

January 29, 2018 | Source: Disability Horizons- UK | Housing, Government, Disability Rights

Local authorities are supposed to represent the mix of people in the local area. With an estimated 13 million disabled people in the UK, you’d assume that part of local authorities’ workforces are made up of disabled people. So, are disabled people being represented? For the last three hundred years, local authorities have been the backbone of our communities. They have provided governance, support and services integral to many aspects of daily life, from street maintenance, schools, social care, social housing, parks and more…

Protests as Irish Rail rolls out Dart accessibility improvements

January 29, 2018 | Source: Irish Times and Irish Rail and Independent- Ireland | Accessible Design, Disability Rights, Inclusion

A small number of disability campaigners held a picket at Connolly Station this morning as Irish Rail rolled out its pilot scheme of accessibility improvements on the Dart network. The new system will see customer service officers operate out of 13 hub stations in Dublin and Wicklow, from where they can be deployed to nearby stations to operate ramps upon request. Irish Rail says this has allowed it to cut the period of notice that disabled and sensory impaired customers must give to four hours from the previous standard of 24 hours…

Creating a more inclusive workplace for persons with disabilities

January 29, 2018 | Source: Human Resources Online- Singapore | Workforce, Business, Inclusion

Experts from Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) bring out ways for employers to create opportunities for employees with disabilities. Progressive organisations understand the importance of leveraging the strengths of a diverse workforce. While 3.4% of residents aged 18 to 49 in Singapore have a disability, they make up only 0.55% of the resident labour force. How can employers create opportunities for employees with disabilities?…

Egypt’s archaeological sites to be made more accessible to people with disabilities

January 29, 2018 | Source: Ahram Online- Egypt | Travel, Accessible Design, Mobility

Egypt’s antiquities ministry has launched a project to make archaeological sites and museums more accessible to people with disabilities, starting with improvements to Luxor Museum and the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Sherif Abdel Moneim, supervisor of the ministry’s Development of Archaeological Sites department, told Ahram Online that the project will bring improved mobility for those in wheelchairs, as well as making information more accessible to those with impaired sight and hearing…

Group questions LRT accessibility for visually impaired

January 29, 2018 | Source: CBC- Canada | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Transit/Transportation, Disability Rights

Just when Ottawa’s new light rail system will be up and running remains an open question, but some blind and visually impaired transit users are already raising concerns the trains won’t be properly equipped to meet their needs. City officials will meet Monday evening with the local chapter of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians to discuss those concerns. Alliance president Peter Field said the group has already heard about some features of the new train cars that might be difficult for passengers to operate, including buttons to open doors…

Disabled groups challenge accessibility of new Swiss trains

January 29, 2018 | Source: Swissinfo- Switzerland | Mobility, Transit/Transportation, Litigation

A legal challenge by groups representing Swiss wheelchair users is likely to put a spanner in the rollout of new double-decker trains by Swiss Federal Railways. The news that the association Inclusion Handicap external link has filed a legal complaint against Swiss Federal Railways was reported on Monday by the ‘10vor10’ current affairs programme of Swiss public television, SRF. According to its report, disabled representatives attending a demonstration of the new trains in December 2017 discovered that the ramps to get on and off the train were too steep, and wheelchair users could not access without some assistance…

Schools to become more accessible to the disabled

January 30, 2018 | Source: BVI News Online Source- British Virgin Islands | Education, Accessible Design, Inclusion

The Ministry of Education has said all schools in the British Virgin Islands will be rebuilt or repaired with facilities that make them more accessible to students with disabilities. Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Marcia Potter made the announcement during a public meeting in the Eighth Electoral District yesterday, January 29. Dr Potter did not give a timeline as to when all schools will become disabled-friendly. She, however, said donors who are funding the rebuild of local schools had a big part to play in the initiative…

NK lacks accessible infrastructure for disabled persons: expert

January 31, 2018 | Source: Yonhap News- South Korea | Discrimination, Building/Facilities Access, Disability Rights

The U.N. Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, has pointed out the inadequacy of infrastructure for persons with disabilities in North Korea, a U.S. broadcaster reported Wednesday. The expert made the point in a pre-report on her visit to North Korea in May last year, which she submitted to the 37th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council set for late next month, Voice of America said. Devandas-Aguilar visited Pyongyang and South Hwanghae Province at the North’s invitation from May 3-8 to get a grasp on the situation of persons with disabilities in the poverty-stricken country…

Disabled transit users pitch ideas for Uber accessibility cash

January 31, 2018 | Source: CBC- Canada | Transit/Transportation, Inclusion, Disability Rights

People with physical disabilities want to see $450,000 collected from Uber used to improve Para Transpo service, but city staff warned them not to set their expectations too high. Two dozen people with disabilities shared their ideas at City Hall Tuesday for how to spend the fund to improve accessibility. The money was collected as part of a deal city council struck with Uber when the city first agreed to license the company in April 2016. Rather than make its services available for people with disabilities, which is what Uber does in Toronto, the company agreed to pay the city a 7-cent fee for every ride it provides in Ottawa…

Doncaster theatre Cast aims to improve accessibility by scrapping ‘proof-of-disability’ demand

January 31, 2018 | Source: The Stage- UK | Leisure/Entertainment, Inclusion, Disability Rights

Cast in Doncaster has announced that it will no longer demand audience members claiming free carer tickets for proof of disability. Free tickets have been available for patrons who require a carer since the theatre’s opening in 2013. However, until now Cast has asked customers to submit proof they are eligible for disability benefits before being able to access the additional ticket. Providing this proof is the practice at many theatres that offer carer tickets free of charge, but Cast said it is removing the requirement to “deliver a gold standard of accessibility in the arts”…

Veterans ask Supreme Court if Canada has a special obligation to those disabled in service

January 31, 2018 | Source: The Globe & Mail | Disability Rights, Inclusion, Awareness

Six disabled Afghanistan veterans are asking the Supreme Court to determine the nature of the relationship between Canada and its military personnel and to define what the government owes to those who are injured in the line of duty. The members of the Equitas group, who have been fighting their legal battle against Ottawa for nearly seven years, have filed an application for leave to appeal a ruling of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. It asks the Supreme Court to decide whether the inadequate compensation of disabled vets would breach Canada’s “solemn obligation” to those who have served their country…

‘Rip Off Britain’ sparks charity to call for access improvements in tourism sector

January 31, 2018 | Source: Access and Mobility Professional- UK | Travel, Advocacy, Accessible Design

A disability charity has drawn on a recent episode of BBC One’s ‘Rip Off Britain’ as evidence that the travel industry needs to be doing more to cater for disabled consumers. Revitalise, which helps disabled people and their families or carers to enjoy respite, wants the tourism sector to take the requirements of disabled holidaymakers more seriously and invest more in solutions. It made the call after an episode of the hit BBC One show investigated the alleged failings of tourist and travel operators to provide a good service for disabled customers…

Becoming All Inclusive

January 31, 2018 | Source: Hotel Owner- UK | Inclusion, Disability Rights, Travel

If I was to tell you that your hotel is neglecting to appeal to a customer group that is worth £12bn pounds a year I’m sure I’d have your attention. I am of course referring to those with a disability, and this figure, (estimated by VisitEngland), represents the annual UK spend on overnight stays for disabled guests and their travel companions. Another recent study revealed that 72% of disabled travellers found that hotels did not meet their accessibility requirements, which further demonstrates that many hotels are failing to see the benefits of providing accessibility, despite the power of the ‘purple pound’…

The view from a wheelchair

February 1, 2018 | Source: Independent- Ireland | Mobility, Awareness, Technology

After a rail-access launch left Dart passengers stranded, Eileen Daly, a 42-year-old woman who has lived with disability since birth, reveals in her diary the reality of being disabled in Ireland today. Monday – I lie in bed and wait for my personal assistant Laura. The alarm clock buzzes at 6.30am. I lie in bed and wait for my personal assistant Laura and the day begins. Laura assists me with my active and busy lifestyle. As a 42-year-old woman who has lived with disability since birth, I use a wheelchair and a myriad of other equipment and technology to facilitate my mobility…

Disabled Community Disappointed With Budget

February 1, 2018 | Source: News Click- India | Discrimination, Disability Rights, Government

The passage of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPD Act) had ushered in great hopes and expectations among the disabled community who continue to be on the margins, NPRD said. However, the miserly outlays for the various positive provisions contained in the Act point to the utter lack of sincerity on the part of the government to implement its provisions it pointed out. The total outlay for the department for the empowerment of persons with disabilities shows a marginal increase of Rs.215 crore as compared to last year…

Children with disabilities in West Africa experience violence from the day they are born

February 1, 2018 | Source: Scienmag- Africa | Discrimination, Education, Disability Rights

Disabled children in West Africa experience significantly greater violence than their non-disabled peers and all experience violence from they day they are born, finds a study published in BMC Public Health by Janet Njelesani, assistant professor of occupational therapy at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. “It’s unfair that children with disabilities are four times more likely to experience violence than their non-disabled peers when they have the same right to grow up safe,” said Janet Nielesani…

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