Accessibility in the News— 09/13/16
In this issue of Accessibility in the News (AITN), media covers the rise in ADA accessibility lawsuits filed (advocacy groups weigh in, focusing on collaboration), universities in violation of ADA for digital content (not all of the free course and lecture content are fully accessible to individuals with hearing, visual or manual disabilities), and accessible cybersecurity course modules (one company’s mobile-responsive training meets Section 508 requirements for digital accessibility).
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Hospitality Industry Should Welcome Web Accessibility: Compliance can be challenging, but the gains can be significant
8/31 | Source: Metropolitan Corporate Counsel
The hospitality industry is ever more dependent on the internet and mobile applications. With this growing reliance on websites and apps, web accessibility should be a priority. Unfortunately, as in most other industries, this simply isn’t so. Indeed, in many cases, hospitality professionals don’t even know what web accessibility is. Unfortunately, the hospitality industry is increasingly finding out about web accessibility in the worst possible way – by being on the wrong end of claims, government enforcement actions and lawsuits. Working with clients on web accessibility matters, we have seen that the hospitality industry is one of the prime targets of a surge in demand letters and litigation. Based on our experience, companies that don’t take a proactive approach to web accessibility will find themselves particularly vulnerable…
How to make your website user friendly
9/8 | Source: Raconteur
Accessibility is about ensuring that your website can be used by disabled visitors.
The Global Economics of Disability Annual Report 2014 estimated the global population of people with disabilities at 1.3 billion. This equates to almost 18 per cent of the world’s population or one in five people. With a combined disposable income of more than $1.2 trillion, it’s a significant market to exclude…
Disability advocacy groups weigh in on hundreds of ADA lawsuits
9/9 | Source: kxan
Two Texas disability advocacy organizations are drawing attention to hundreds of Americans with Disability Act lawsuits that have been the focus of KXAN Investigations.
John Deutsch, who uses a wheelchair, and his attorney, Omar Weaver Rosales, have filed nearly 400 lawsuits in Austin. The pair’s suits, which checker South and East Austin, have hit everything from famed local restaurants to tattoo parlors, women’s clothing stores, self-storage lots and even an adult novel publishing company.
“The ADA has been law for almost 30 years. We’re here fighting these cases and without the work, nobody cares and the work won’t get done to make the buildings compliant,” Rosales told KXAN in a previous interview…
The Four Principal Causes of Blindness
9/10 | Source: National Geographic
Worldwide, some 285 million people suffer from vision loss that interferes with daily activities; 39 million of them are totally blind. Multiple diseases can afflict the same eye. Three common and treatable diseases occur in the front of the eye. There currently is no cure for age-related macular degeneration, which occurs in the back of the eye near the retina…
One In Six Eligible Voters Has A Disability
9/12 | Source: FiveThirtyEight
Of all the insults Donald Trump has lobbed during the 2016 campaign, one has risen to the top: his mocking of a reporter with disabilities at a rally in Florida last fall. (Trump has denied he was mocking the reporter.) A Bloomberg poll showed voters found that moment more disturbing than any other, including his attacks on a Muslim soldier’s parents in July.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign and supporters have jumped on that moment, hoping to rally voters with disabilities and their families to her cause. Footage of Trump’s comment has appeared in Democratic attack ads, and Clinton has staked out support for ending a loophole that allows companies to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage. She also issued a plan to support children and adults with autism…
Give visually impaired better internet access
9/12 | Source: Miami Herald
It is ironic that in an age when technology could erase many barriers for the blind and visually impaired, private and public entities are not paying enough attention to accessibility of their online services. In addition to preventing access to highly receptive consumers — more than seven million blind and visually impaired persons in the U.S. alone — such organizations unknowingly may not be in compliance with federal statutes.
Federal standards on access to electronic and information technology (Section 508, Americans With Disabilities Act) require keyboard-enabled interfaces. In addition, all graphic elements on Web pages must have a textual description and online forms must be accessible…
Wombat Security Mobile-Responsive, 508 Compliant Modules to Increase Training Flexibility and Accessibility for End Users
9/13 | Source: PR Newswire
Wombat Security Technologies (Wombat), the leading provider of cyber security awareness and training, today announces an update to their platform that provides users with the flexibility to train anytime, anywhere and on any type of connected device, with the release of seven mobile-responsive modules. Included in the mobile responsive offerings are two new mini-modules: Protecting Against Ransomware and USB Device Safety.
Additionally, these mobile-responsive modules conform to the U.S. Section 508 standard and the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA standard, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wombat-security-announces-mobile-responsive-508-compliant-modules-to-increase-training-flexibility-and-accessibility-for-end-users-300326712.html
A statement on online course content and accessibility
9/13 | Source: Berkeley News
UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education Cathy Koshland issued this statement today:
UC Berkeley has long been committed to ensuring equal access to students, faculty and staff with disabilities. Despite the absence of clear regulatory guidance, we have attempted to maximize the accessibility of free, online content that we have made available to the public. Nevertheless, the Department of Justice has recently asserted that the University is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because, in its view, not all of the free course and lecture content UC Berkeley makes available on certain online platforms is fully accessible to individuals with hearing, visual or manual disabilities…
To receive this “Accessibility in the News” curation via email, please send a subscription request to [email protected]. Each issue, we bring you accessibility news stories curated from around the web. Topics vary, but generally focus on digital accessibility standards and implementation, accessibility compliance and accessibility litigation, and other online access issues.
Additional Accessibility Information
Digital Accessibility Digest
One of our three industry blogs, Microassist’s Digital Accessibility Digest is the “umbrella” for much of our accessibility content. It features commentary, guidance, curated news, and event information. Accessibility in the News is a regular feature of the Digital Accessibility Digest.
Microassist Accessibility Services
Outlining a host of accessibility-related services, Microassist Accessibility Services: Barrier-Free Digital Development, provides background on Microassist expertise and the various offerings available for digital content and platforms. Services cover accessible elearning, website, and application development, audit and remediation services, and accessibility testing across various formats. Content is available online and as an accessible PDF for printing.
Have Questions?
Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.
Library Reading Room image by Dr. Marcus Gossler-Own Work Wikimedia.commons.org
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