Accessibility in the News — 5/14/2021.
NOTE: To get news like this every week in your inbox, before it hits our website, subscribe to our Accessibility in the News e-newsletter. There are no ads or graphics, and we never send spam. Just use the sign-up form on this page to subscribe and stay up to date!
Skip to National News (U.S.) | Skip to International News
More Accessibility Resources on this Page
Accessibility Blogs and Information | Accessibility Announcements and Products
Accessibility Fourms, Tips and Gaming | Accessibility Statement Pages
Microassist Accessibility Services
AITN Quote of the Week
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius
18th Annual John Slatin AccessU Conference
Feature Stories
Blind people, advocates slam AccessiBe for claiming to make websites ADA compliant
May 9, 2021 | Source: NBC News
Avoid AccessiBe & other companies claiming quick & easy AI accessibility
May 5, 2021 | Source: YouTube
Accessibility Advocates Sign Open Letter Urging People Not To Use AccesiBe and Other Overlay Products
May 13, 2021 | Source: WordPress Tavern
Throughout the pandemic, as blind people, like everyone else, became increasingly dependent on websites to purchase goods, one of the fastest-growing companies that works with clients like Oreo cookies and Energizer batteries to make their websites more accessible has been engulfed in an increasingly contentious relationship with blind people. Many blind people say its product is making it harder for them to navigate the web. In recent months, blind people and disability advocates have been speaking out on social media and suing companies that use AccessiBe…
National News (U.S.)
Bill would expand anti-discrimination protections to digital sphere
May 6, 2021 | Source: The Nevada Independent
In the 1960s and ‘70s, equal rights protesters fought for public accommodations laws — anti-discrimination statutes that now protect individuals from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or gender expression in public spaces, including most businesses. But in Nevada and many other states, those protections do not explicitly extend to the digital realm. During a Senate Commerce and Labor Committee meeting, Assemblyman Howard Watts (D-Las Vegas) said he is looking to change that with AB207, a bill clarifying that Nevada’s public accommodations law also applies to e-commerce…
Central Texas College of Killeen, Justice Department reach agreement to Improve Access for Students with Disabilities
May 6, 2021 | Source: KXXV
Central Texas College of Killeen and the Justice Department announced a signing of an agreement to remove barriers experienced by people with disabilities, including veterans. Part of this agreement, CTC will remove barriers for more accessibility in facilities across campus. It will also require that physical modifications be made to ensure that parking, entrances, restrooms, service counters, drinking fountains, and routes to and within buildings are accessible to people with disabilities…
New lawsuit challenges Rehoboth’s accessibility
May 7, 2021 | Source: Cape Gazette
A lawsuit has been filed against Rehoboth Beach claiming the civil rights of the plaintiffs have been violated because the city doesn’t provide them the accessible parking needed to have reasonable access to the shops and restaurants on Rehoboth Avenue. City commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for Monday, May 10, to conduct a strategy session on the issue. In a case filed April 12 in U.S. District Court, plaintiffs Brigitte Hancharick, Ilse Payne and Robert Payne claim the city does not provide sufficient accessible public street parking on Rehoboth Avenue and the blocks abutting it…
Lawmakers Say It’s Past Time OMB Issued IDEA Act Guidance
May 7, 2021 | Source: Nextgov
More than two years after Congress passed a law requiring federal programs to meet minimum usability standards for their websites and digital services, lawmakers are asking the Biden administration to give agencies real implementation guidance. The 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act, or IDEA Act, passed in 2018 during the Trump administration, has seen little implementation across government. Deadlines outlined in the text of the law came and went without agencies receiving guidance from OMB, preventing any formal metrics or uniform implementation plans…
The Disabled Community Is Unhappy With Nike’s Hands-Free GO FlyEase Sneaker
May 7, 2021 | Source: HYPEBAE & Yahoo
Back in February, Nike launched a new sneaker silhouette dubbed the GO FlyEase – an innovative design that can be worn and taken off without using your hands. Upon its release, the shoe received much attention for contributing to the Swoosh brand’s accessibility efforts. However, resellers have been defeating the purpose by putting the $120 USD sneaker on the market for as high as $2,000 USD. Social media user Louie took to TikTok to point out that sneakers like the GO FlyEase should be accessible for all…
People with visual impairments struggle with unemployment — largely due to a lack of job opportunities
May 8, 2021 | Source: WBIR
Advocates estimate that 70% of blind and visually impaired people across the U.S. are unemployed due to lack of opportunities, with employment itself being just one of the many barriers they face. Once study citing the American Community Survey says that figure has lowered in recent years to roughly 44% before the pandemic economic crisis — which is still very high compared to average unemployment rates. A Knoxville woman who has been blind for years is fighting to change this on several levels…
Virginia to now provide accessible absentee voting option for voters with print disabilities
May 9, 2021 | Source: WTKR
Virginia will now permanently make its elections accessible and safe for voters with print disabilities. Starting with the June 2021 primaries, those who cannot mark a paper ballot privately and independently due to disabilities such as blindness can now cast their ballot more accessibly with a secure remote absentee voting option. In August 2020, Virginia agreed to provide an absentee ballot option that is accessible and can be marked electronically so that voters with disabilities could safely vote in the November 2020 general election…
Disabilities Advocates Cite Unequal Access to COVID-19 Vaccine, Ponder Remedies
May 10, 2021 | Source: Youth Today
Alex Hanson, 20, has cerebral palsy, a breathing tube, two feeding tubes and round-the-clock nursing care. More than a month into her home state of Minnesota’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, Hanson’s able-bodied mom was alerted that, as one of her child’s official caregivers, she was in a class of essential workers eligible to get that shot. But her daughter still wasn’t eligible. “She gets pneumonia easily and she’s on the ventilator at night … We were terrified,” said Kyle Hanson, Alex’s father, referring to the coronavirus. “Alex was, basically, the prime candidate of somebody who would die if they got it.”…
McDonald’s and National Federation of the Blind Collaborate on Self-service Kiosks
May 10, 2021 | Source: National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind, America’s civil rights organization of the blind, and McDonald’s USA announce a collaboration to make McDonald’s self-service kiosks in company-owned, U.S. restaurants even more accessible to customers who are blind. McDonald’s USA’s company-owned restaurants will implement these enhancements by December 31, 2021. Using new and advanced technology, enhancements to existing accessibility features include screen-reading software, tactile keypads and the ability for customers to connect their headphones or ear buds to the kiosk and independently place their orders by responding to audio prompts…
Oklahoma man says he was denied an Uber because he’s blind
May 10, 2021 | Source: KFOR
An Oklahoma man who is blind says he missed his first court appointment as a lawyer because he was denied ride-sharing services. KFOR first brought you James Blaise’s story after he passed the bar exam. A new challenge has arisen for Blaise. James Blaise said he requested an Uber around 8 a.m. Thursday to get to the Oklahoma County Courthouse. “I requested it at 8:25, but the driver didn’t accept until 8:35,” said Blaise. “I got an alert saying your driver will be there between 24 to 25 minutes.”…
Blind patients hope landmark gene-editing experiment will restore their vision
May 10, 2021 | Source: OPB
Carlene Knight would love to do things that most people take for granted, such as read books, drive a car, ride a bike, gaze at animals in a zoo and watch movies. She also longs to see expressions on people’s faces. “To be able to see my granddaughter especially — my granddaughter’s face,” said Knight, 54, who lives outside Portland. “It would be huge.” Michael Kalberer yearns to be able to read a computer screen so he could get back to work as a social worker. He also hopes to one day watch his nieces and nephews play soccer instead of just listening to them, and move around in the world without help…
How temporary disability is a battleground for workers
May 10, 2021 | Source: Fast Company
Much of the discussion about disability at work centers around the 61 million adults in the U.S. that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies as disabled. This is a significant part of the population (about one in four Americans). And despite the fact that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been in place for nearly 30 years, most companies are still behind in building inclusive workplaces for people with disabilities. While there is still a lot of work to be done for people with long-term disabilities, another group is fighting a different battle: those with short-term or temporary disabilities…
Visit Mesa offers ‘Hidden Disabilities Sunflower’ lanyards, bracelets
May 11, 2021 | Source: Your Valley
Visit Mesa, the city of Mesa’s destination marketing organization, is offering Hidden Disabilities Sunflower complimentary lanyards and bracelets. When worn, the sunflower serves as a visual cue to trained visitor industry staff throughout Mesa who will then be able to recognize if that traveler, or traveler’s companion, would like additional support during their visit, according to a release. Developed and launched in the United Kingdom, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a recognized icon that accessible travelers can utilize to discreetly be identified as having a disability…
What Your Disabled Friends Want You To Know About ‘Going Back To Normal’ Post-Vaccine
May 11, 2021 | Source: Huff Post
As more people are getting vaccinated and many states are lifting closures and restrictions, people with disabilities are urging non-disabled people to learn lessons from the coronavirus pandemic to create a safer, more inclusive world. Many people are understandably relieved to move past the worst of the pandemic in the United States and have begun to talk about the prospect of going “back to normal” after being vaccinated. But such talk has spurred concern among people with disabilities, who see a return to pre-pandemic times as going back to facing unnecessary risks of people spreading illness and exclusionary practices at work and beyond…
Why The Mobile Industry Is So Central To Inclusion Worldwide
May 12, 2021 | Source: Forbes
Yet as we accelerate our adoption of new digital technologies to help us live and work more effectively, we must also put accessibility front and centre, particularly as we approach Global Accessibility Awareness Day on the 20 May. While the adoption of new technology has undoubtedly been very useful for many – and that includes the disabled community in many cases – still far too many businesses don’t factor accessibility into their products, services and communications; whether that’s knowing how to enable closed captions on video calls to support those with hearing impairment, or making websites accessible…
Stroke care accessibility in EBR is limited
May 12, 2021 | Source: WAFB
Every minute matters when someone is having a stroke. According to the CDC, someone has a stroke in the US every 40 seconds and someone dies every four minutes. That’s why having the appropriate care nearby is crucial. “My left side became paralyzed and my speech shortly thereafter,” said Mark Napier, a Denham Springs stroke survivor. “I mean, I couldn’t say. It was unreal.” Napier was experiencing the symptoms of a stroke in August 2020. He knew it was crunch time getting to the hospital…
Voters with disabilities speak out against state voting bills
May 12, 2021 | Source: Hudson Star Observer
Two Wisconsin voting bills are a source of concern for disability rights advocates, including a local Hudson man. Ramsey Lee joined other advocates for those with disabilities in speaking out against the voting bill being considered by the Wisconsin Legislature during a press conference on Wednesday, May 12, held by the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition. Bill 203 would require that an absentee ballot be returned by mail or turned in by the voter, a member of the voter’s immediate family or the voter’s legal guardian…
Employers Advised to Make Careers Websites Accessible, Despite Recent ADA Ruling
May 12, 2021 | Source: SHRM
Employers with careers websites likely must make them accessible to people with disabilities despite a recent ruling under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that a grocery retailer’s website wasn’t covered by the law. Title III applies to public accommodations—businesses open to the public—while Title I of the ADA covers employers. “Title I prohibits covered employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in employment, which includes the application and hiring process,” said Michael McClory, an attorney with Cable Huston in Portland, Oregon…
Man Who Is Paralyzed Communicates By Imagining Handwriting
May 12, 2021 | Source: NPR
An experimental device that turns thoughts into text has allowed a man who was left paralyzed by an accident to construct sentences swiftly on a computer screen. The man was able to type with 95% accuracy just by imagining he was handwriting letters on a sheet of paper, a team reported Wednesday in the journal Nature. “What we found, surprisingly, is that [he] can type at about 90 characters per minute,” says Krishna Shenoy of Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute…
Be seen, heard and validated: Creating a workplace that welcomes those with disabilities
May 12, 2021 | Source: Benefits Pro
One of the key priorities among HR departments this year is DEI–diversity, inclusion and equity. From company culture to hiring practices, more businesses are looking for ways to be more welcoming to a range of talented individuals. Though racial and gender equity tend to receive the lion’s share of attention, they’re not the only areas that employers should be considering in their policy and procedure rewrites. Carolyn Cannistraro is assistant vice president, executive relationship banker at J.P. Morgan–she also has multiple sclerosis…
This manager is working toward diversity in Hollywood — and that includes those with disabilities
May 13, 2021 | Source: Los Angeles Times
After her first experience of the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, talent manager Eryn Brown wanted to end her nascent Hollywood career. Attending film markets such as Cannes can be grueling for most attendees, with parties and meetings held in busy hotels, restaurants, theaters, even aboard yachts. For Brown, who has a congenital, unidentified disability and uses leg braces to walk, accessing many of the buildings and events was a struggle. At the iconic red steps at the Palais des Festivals, where women are expected to wear high heels, Brown either had to be carried or use a side entrance and be separated from her clients…
A Deaf Person Can’t Lipread Through a Mask: How to Make Vaccine Sites More Accessible
May 13, 2021 | Source: POPSUGAR
Katie Norton is a powerlifter who is hard of hearing and is passionate about advocacy for the deaf and hard of hearing. While she was very grateful to be able to get her first COVID vaccine, she noticed that communication wasn’t as clear and easy as it could be. She posted these two TikTok videos to offer tips on how to make vaccine sites more accessible to the deaf or hard of hearing. One of her tips was to have a piece of paper with the questions, so the person at the vaccine site could point to the questions instead of having to relay solely on verbal communication…
Some people with color blindness report improved color vision after psychedelic drug use
May 13, 2021 | Source: PsyPost
A new report published in Drug Science, Policy and Law suggests that psychedelic drugs may improve symptoms of color blindness. The study discusses 23 anecdotal reports describing improved color blindness after taking drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (also known as “magic mushrooms”). Anecdotal and historical reports have long contended that psychedelic drugs can alter color vision. Researchers JEC Anthony and colleagues say that barriers to conducting research on these drugs have slowed down the study of this topic…
‘A Million Little Things’: Network TV Needs to Abandon the Tragedy Model of Disability
May 13, 2021 | Source: Indie Wire
“A Million Little Things” — an ABC drama about a friend group that becomes closer in the wake of an unexpected suicide — has covered many important issues for marginalized communities during its three seasons on air, from racism to immigration issues to depression. Creator DJ Nash explained that many of the storylines are based on real-life experiences, and most are handled with the care they deserve. At the beginning of Season 3, which concludes in the next few weeks, we learned that Eddie Saville (played by able-bodied actor David Giuntoli) has an unspecified spinal cord injury after getting hit by a car…
Disability rights advocates push back against GOP voting legislation
May 13, 2021 | Source: Wisconsin State Journal
Disability rights advocates on Wednesday pushed back against a number of Republican bills proposing changes to Wisconsin’s absentee voting process that they say would make it more difficult for people with disabilities to cast ballots. Disability Rights Wisconsin and voters with disabilities in particular took issue with two bills the Republican-controlled state Senate passed Tuesday. One would make changes, including some new restrictions, on how absentee ballots can be returned, and another would prohibit local election officials from filling out incomplete information on a voter’s absentee ballot certificate, such as missing witness address information…
Jack Fact — According to Statista, in 2019, about 16.5 percent of the American population was 65 years old or over; a figure which is expected to reach 22 percent by 2050. This is a significant increase from 1950, when only eight percent of the population was 65 or over.
Hit The Road Jack — Accessible Ireland: A guide to a wheelchair-friendly holiday
International News
Ukraine’s inaccessible cities
May 6, 2021 | Source: Atlantic Council- Ukraine
A first-time visitor to Ukraine could be forgiven for concluding that there are very few people with physical disabilities in the country. Indeed, it remains relatively rare to encounter physically disabled Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv or other major cities. This lack of visibility disguises a grim reality. During the past three decades of independence, Ukraine has failed to create the kind of inclusive infrastructure that physically disabled Ukrainians require in order to participate in daily city life…
Renovations: Make your home more accessible-May 7, 2021 | Source: Vancouver Sun- Canada
Comment: Stannah’s inclusive home design expert on the importance of futureproofing homes
May 7, 2021 | Source: THIIS- UK
Smart home edits and simple solutions mean you don’t have to sacrifice design for function in order to make your home more accessible right now and for the future. “I love transforming spaces to make them more functional but also more beautiful,” says Brandy Kawulka of Wood Be Art Renovations in New Westminster. This includes making a home more accessible for someone with mobility concerns, as well as changes so a homeowner can age in place with comfort…
World Run ambassador Edwina Makgamatha fights for people with disabilities
May 8, 2021 | Source: Sowetan LIVE- Africa
Wheelchair-bound Edwina Makgamatha, who will participate in the Wings for Life World Run on Sunday, has become an activist for disabled people. The mother of two already runs a company distributing medical consumables required by disabled people, and she’s close to completing her degree in industrial psychology, which she will use to fight for the rights of disabled people in the workplace. “Disabled people are usually just sidelined or placed at a certain position because someone thinks that’s all they can do,” the bubbly 36-year-old said…
Wheelchair accessible bench idea not anti-homeless, says councillor
May 10, 2021 | Source: Irish Examiner- Ireland
A Galway City councillor has described suggestions that her proposal for wheelchair accessible benches were anti-homeless as “a slur”. Fine Gael councillor for the Salthill area Clodagh Higgins tweeted a picture of a bench which has the middle seat removed to make way for a wheelchair. She said she had brought the request to the council on foot of representations from families of children with additional needs. However, the response online was that the benches were hostile to homeless people as they would not allow rough sleepers lie down on them…
Hearing impaired designer thrives in inclusive environment
May 10, 2021 | Source: The Star- Malaysia
Marco Bizzarri, chief executive officer of Gucci, once said, “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the centre of what we do.” These words are more prevalent now than ever as organisations seek creative solutions to position themselves within a post-pandemic world. When an organisation intentionally builds an inclusive workplace as well as welcomes and fosters diversity, the outcome and quality of work become exciting and fresh…
Accessibility and outdoor socialising: ‘I feel unwelcome in my own city’
May 12, 2021 | Source: BBC News- England
There’s probably quite a nice vibe on your high street at the moment, with tables outside restaurants and bars as people catch up with each other face-to-face for the first time in months. People are enjoying a little bit of normality again by making the most of the UK’s pavements and pedestrianised areas, since lockdown rules eased to allow people to socialise outdoors. But it’s not been great news for everyone. Some disabled people, especially wheelchair users, have seen reduced access to certain streets and parts of their hometown…
RQM unveils its Queens Municipality Accessibility Plan
May 12, 2021 | Source: Toronto Star- Canada
The Region of Queens Municipality (RQM) council approved a draft document at its meeting April 27 outlining a new accessibility plan for the municipality to cover the next 10 years. The new Queens Municipal Accessibility Plan 2021-2030 outlines numerous projects that need to be undertaken to improve the accessibility of municipal-owned buildings and properties. “I feel our accessibility coordinator and her committee did an extraordinary job on creating that draft accessibility plan, which is now available for public viewing,” said RQM mayor Darlene Norman…
Deaf care worker urges people with disabilities to consider a caring career
May 12, 2021 | Source: Homecare- UK
A profoundly deaf care worker is calling on people with disabilities to put themselves forward for a career in care. Nikki Healy, a care assistant working for home care firm Bluebird Care North Hampshire and West Berkshire, doesn’t let being deaf get in the way of her life and her job and wants to encourage others to join the care sector. While some people who are profoundly deaf communicate through speech, lipreading, assistive technology and communication support, others use sign language…
Improving Building Designs for Vulnerable Territorians
May 13, 2021 | Source: Mirage News- Australia & Scoop
The Territory Government is working towards improving the lives of Territorians who are ageing or living with disability and those who support them. At the latest Building Ministers Meeting, the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics voted with the majority of State and Territory Ministers to include accessibility provisions for residential housing and apartments in the National Construction Code 2022. There are 3.8 million seniors and 4.4 million Australians with mobility-related disability and with significant growth expected in the number of Australians remaining in their homes as they age…
How BC’s accessibility act will change life for the deaf, hard of hearing community
May 12, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada
This week, a new piece of legislation in B.C. aimed at improving accessibility for those with disabilities will go through a second reading. If passed, the accessible British Columbia Act will remove barriers and create accessibility standards throughout the province, which according to the B.C. government, would help 900,000 British Columbians. Lisa Anderson, who is part of the B.C. Deaf Accessibility Caucus and helped work on the legislation, said the deaf community doesn’t identify as disabled, but would like to be recognized as a cultural linguistic group…
The Moral Model of Disability Is Alive and Well
May 12, 2021 | Source: Psychology Today- Africa
Ways of thinking about disability differ across cultures and can be classified into three general models : the moral model , the medical model , and the social model (Olkin & Pledger, 2003). Under the moral model, people are thought to be morally responsible or to blame for their disability, as a retribution for sin or a manifestation of evil. The medical model characterizes disability as an abnormality of the mind or body intrinsic to the individual. However, the medical model frames disability as an individual problem and does not recognize the role of social and cultural factors…
“There’s No Room for Discrimination Against People With Disabilities”: CUPE Ontario and Joel Harden Call for Consultation and Revision of Triage Protocol
May 12, 2021 | Source: Yahoo- Canada
The Ontario Government’s draft plan to ration access to at-capacity critical-care is discriminatory and must be revised immediately, said the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario and Joel Harden, NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre and the Critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities. “The fact that the draft plan says that doctors will look at your short-term mortality risk or your capacity for self-care to decide if you get access to limited intensive care units is nothing more than blatant discrimination against people with disabilities,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario…
Disability Alliance BC worried pending accessibility legislation lacks teeth
May 13, 2120 | Source: CBC- Canada
A bill aimed at improving the lives of British Columbians with disabilities is before lawmakers in Victoria this week but a provincial advocacy group is calling on the government to pause the process and consult some more with the individuals it will effect. The Accessible British Columbia Act, also known as Bill 6, is currently scheduled for a second reading in the B.C. Legislative Assembly. If passed, it will remove barriers and create accessibility standards throughout the province, which according to the B.C. government, would help 900,000 British Columbians…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- How to Host an Accessible Online Gathering or Meeting- Duke Today
- Long Covid may need to be treated as a disability, lawyer warns- Personnel Today
- Adapting Back to the Classroom in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community- WNYC
- Disability claims backlog will get worse before it gets better, VA warns- Federal News Network
- COVID-19 and Employment for People With Disabilities- National Conference of State Legislatures
- Online learning brings different accessibility challenges for UGA students with disabilities- Red and Black
- As Colleges Strive for a Return to Normal, Students With Disabilities Say, ‘No Thanks’- The Chronicle of Higher Education
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Diverseability Magazine
- We can do better- Castanet
- Who Is Included?- University of Toronto Magazine
- WCAG 3.0 (Silver) Guidelines (Visual contrast of text)
- Building Accessible Mobile Apps- The Xamarin Show
- JAN ENEWS: Volume 19, Issue 2, Second Quarter 2021
- Why Audio Description is Never a Bad Idea- IMC Grupo
- First Steps To An Accessible Website (Part 4)- Jeff Singelton
- Accessibility testing as a screen reader user- Isabel Holdsworth
- Retirement, Disability or Death—Are you prepared?- BizTimes
- GSA leads rise in automation projects governmentwide- FedScoop
- WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices 1.2 W3C Editor’s Draft 04 May 2021
- Apprenticeship for All Podcast- Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship
- Office of Disability Employment Policy- First 100 Days Accomplishments
- Retirement Security Becomes More Accessible Under Proposed Law- 401kTV
- New Tool From Wix Helps Improve Website Accessibility- Search Engine Journal
- 7 Accessibility FAQ on the Winn-Dixie ADA Appeal Decision (2021)- Glenda Sims
- Minor hiccups aside, United strives to be accessible for the blind- Runway Girl Network
- Staff Raise Accessibility and Privacy Concerns Over New ctcLink Program- The Watchdog
- What is an RTT call? How the text accessibility feature lets you send real-time text messages- Insider
- ‘Empathy and strength’: Ian Parker was an early accessibility advocate on campus – and beyond – University of Toronto
- A Design Day project with vision: Students create improved screen reader for the visually impaired- Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- 19 handicapped-accessible spots in Asheville
- Notice of Amtrak Claims Fund Under the ADA
- TikTok Is Reportedly Testing A Recruitment Tool
- The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail now more accessible
- The Forge Announces Expanded Guest Accessibility Options
- Pennsylvania State Senate Improves Accessibility with ENCO
- AudioEye (AEYE) Reports Q1 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates
- New kart makes racing more accessible for kids at local raceway
- 7 Game-Changing Beauty Products You Can Use With One Hand
- Chattanooga State To Host Accessibility Awareness Summit May 20
- Blackboard ‘Ally’ tool aids course design for students with disabilities
- Koller launches new portable wheelchair winch for accessible vehicles
- $2.1 million earmarked for inclusive playgrounds at Erie County parks
- The DPM Weekly News Update: Instagram Improves Story Accessibility
- 3Play Media Adds David Mendels and Frances West to Board of Directors
- BOCES Wins Champions Of Change Award For Creating Accessibility Tool
- Nahant residents call for Town Meeting accessibility for those with disabilities
- These Ex-Oracle Execs Are Democratizing the Web for Millions of Overlooked Users
- Savaria Announces 2021 Q1 Results: Revenue up 27% and Adjusted EBITDA up 40%
- Learning disability service receives £2,000 donation to revamp accessible outdoor space
- Local Motors debuts new accessibility features to aid US Veterans in partnership with SCVTA
- New ADA Transition Plan Will Guide City Of Sioux Falls’ Future Accessibility Updates, Improvements
- The Chromecast With Google TV Makes Watching Television More Accessible In More Ways Than One
- New Book ‘Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics’ Explores the Impact of Accessible Design
- Ontario.ca Consultation: Initial recommendations for the development of health care accessibility standards
- RRD Helps Organizations Ensure Compliance and Support Digital Inclusivity With PDF Remediation Solution
- Disability podcast series Eyeway Conversations highlights importance of creating accessibility in physical and digital spaces
- InnoCaption Updates Application To Enrich Telecommunications Accessibility To the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
- Milwaukee Rep’s Tammy Belton-Davis Receives Governor’s Tourism Award for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Get image descriptions on Chrome
- How XBOX Is Getting Accessibility Right
- Did you know that your Apple iPhone can do this?
- How to hear your screen read aloud in Android 11
- Resident Evil Village Has An Accessibility Problem
- How to Avoid Flashing and Strobing Lights on Android
- Examining The Ugly History Of Accessibility In Gaming
- Tech Features Your eCommerce Business Should Possess
- Microsoft is testing Xbox party chat accessibility features
- What is Sound Recognition in iOS 14 and how does it work?
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’s Accessibility Options, Explained
- Accessibility key to strengthening diversity, inclusion in gaming
- Tech over 60: Get to know your smartphone’s accessibility features
- Resident Evil Village Accessibility Features Are “Under Consideration”
- Raven Software shares ways accessibility will be improved in Warzone
- Call of Duty: Warzone Shares Accessibility Updates From Player Survey
- Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Accessibility Options Won’t Affect Trophies
- How to Make Interfaces More Accessible for People With Visual Impairments
- Unpacking Returnal’s UX design: Gameplay-first UI, retro-futuristic tech, and accessibility
- What is an RTT call? How the text accessibility feature lets you send real-time text messages
- Control TikTok with Your Voice to Swipe Through Videos, View Profiles & More on Your iPhone
Accessibility Statements
- Finastra
- ProFlowers
- Fallingwater
- Terrell Tribune
- CHEMnetBASE
- Syracuse University
- Memorial University
- Maryland Daily Record
- Finance and Commerce
- Home Furnishings News
- Accessibility in the News: Accessibility Statement Pages
Microassist Digital Accessibility Services
Have you received an accessibility demand letter because of your website or application? Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.
Services include:
- Accessible Website and Application Development— We rely heavily on accessibility best practices and using HTML5 and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) standards to build WCAG-compliant and human-tested accessible environments. Our teams are proficient in open source technologies such as WordPress, Drupal and Moodle, as well as custom frameworks in .NET, PHP, AngularJS, and other frameworks. Our Learning and Development team can also help you create accessible custom training.
- Accessible Document Services— Whether you’re dealing with a few or a warehouse of Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, or other files, there are several ways Microassist can enable your team to offer documents and materials that meet stringent accessibility standards.
- Accessibility Remediation— Our accessibility remediation services help you fix existing materials so that they conform to WCAG, Section 504 and 508, Department of Education OCR, and ADA Title II/III requirements. We remediate websites, applications, documents, and elearning, recommending re-creation when that is more efficient and economical. Especially for website and applications, to find out what is in need of remediation, we’ll start with an Accessibility Audit.
- Accessibility Training— With several courses available for developers, testers, and content creators, your team can become equipped to consistently and expertly produce accessible digital products and online environments.
- VPAT®Evaluation Services— Primarily used by government purchasers and government vendors during the procurement and sale of ICT products and services under Section 508, a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template® (VPAT) attests to the accessibility of a given product or service. Contact us to make sure the VPAT you write or review is accurate and meaningful.
Learn More About Digital Accessibility
Our Digital Accessibility Digest blog covers our Accessibility in the News archives as well as expert commentaries on digital accessibility issues.
Our most popular commentaries include:
- The WCAG 2.1 Update: A Brief Look at What’s Changed
- Introducing VPAT®0, the More Stringent Accessibility Reporting Tool Required for Government IT Procurement
- Accessibility in the News, Legal Edition: Updates on ADA Title III News and More
- What Lawyers Need to Know: A Primer on Digital Accessibility Terms and Today’s Legal Landscape
Subscribe to Accessibility in the News
Stay informed! Get your weekly update on digital accessibility standards, private and public sector trends, litigation, events, and more.