Accessibility in the News — 12/13/2024.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” ― W. C. Jones
Feature Stories
Accessible Tiny Homes May Be an Affordable Alternative to Assisted Living
December 9, 2024 | Brain and Life Magazine
Finding a place to live can be difficult for anyone, but for people with disabilities—about 13 percent of Americans—securing the right living space can be especially challenging. Only 5 percent of housing in the United States is accessible, and only 1 percent can accommodate wheelchairs, according to a hearing of the bipartisan Senate Special Committee on Aging in July 2023. With such a housing shortage, many people may opt to adapt or retrofit their existing spaces to accommodate their disabilities, a process that can be expensive, or move into assisted living facilities or nursing homes, which have their own drawbacks…
Adult and Aging Services says there’s a lack of accessible housing for those with disabilities
December 12, 2024 | KFYR
If you’re looking for a place to live, you may know how troublesome it can be to find affordable, appropriate housing. Now imagine how much harder that would be if you needed it to be accessible for a disability. With how the housing market is, it can be tempting to snatch up whatever is available, but it’s not that simple when you need to use something like a wheelchair. Protection and Advocacy Project Attorney Micah Olson said there are quite a few problems that tend to pop up again and again…
National News (U.S.)
States Go After ‘Claim Sharks’ that Charge Vets for Help with Disability Claims
December 6, 2024 | Military
For-profit consultants across the country make millions each year by charging military veterans for help in filing their disability claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The practice exists in a legal loophole: It’s illegal under federal law for companies that aren’t accredited by the VA to charge veterans fees for helping file their disability claims, but there’s no criminal penalty for breaking the law. Recent attempts to regulate this for-profit shadow industry have stalled in Congress…
Disabled Yoga Teachers Have Something Truly Crucial To Offer
December 7, 2024 | HuffPost
I’ve been a yoga teacher for decades, but when I first became disabled, I feared that chapter of my life was over. I couldn’t do the poses. I couldn’t lie on my back. I couldn’t even sit for very long. I kept going to classes, but I mostly just stood in the back and swayed, trying desperately to get quiet enough to hear what my body wanted. I knew there were teachers who specialized in working with disabled people, but they were all young and “healthy” — exactly who most people think of when they think of yoga…
Visit Vacaville grows travel accessibility programs
December 9, 2024 | The North Bay Business Journal
The North Bay’s biggest tourism draws may be the famous Wine Country counties of Napa and Sonoma, but a nearby destination’s focus meets visitors where they are. Solano County’s Visit Vacaville is one of few destinations in the state that has been growing its accessibility travel programs for visitors who need extra assistance. The organization’s programs help people with seeing, hearing, physical or developmental challenges that ordinarily might make them wary about traveling, said CEO Alyssa Pardini…
U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Agreement With Hudson and Morris County Boards Of Elections To Ensure Polling Place Access To Voters With Disabilities
December 9, 2024 | U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey and RLS Media
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has secured agreements with the Hudson and Morris County Boards of Election to ensure that the counties provide accessible polling places to voters with disabilities, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. The agreement resolves the United States’ investigations into both counties’ compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state or local government in its programs or services…
Duckworth Discusses Rail Accessibility and Improvements with Metra Leadership
December 9, 2024 | River Bender
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Metra leadership to discuss ongoing rail improvements throughout the Chicagoland area, including Metra’s work on expand ing services to O’Hare International Airport and the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization. Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and Metra Deputy Executive Director Janice Thomas, who provided updates on their work on accessibility improvements made possible through the All Station Accessibility Program (ASAP)…
Internet cocreator on how to make the internet more accessible
December 10, 2024 | McKinsey and Company (Podcast)
Internet pioneer Vint Cerf suggests that software designers need more exposure to accessibility issues to make the internet more usable for all. int Cerf codesigned the foundational architecture of the internet. He’s a renowned computer scientist, Google’s chief internet evangelist, and today’s guest on this episode of the At the Edge podcast. Cerf speaks with McKinsey senior partner Lareina Yee about the genesis of the internet, the need to improve online accessibility, and the importance of accountability…
Cracker Barrel apologizes after turning away students with disabilities
December 9, 2024 | Today
Cracker Barrel dismisses 3 workers after ‘unacceptable’ handling of special education students December 12, 2024 | USA Today
A group of students with disabilities visited a Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland and were refused service, according to school officials, leading to community outcry and a planned protest. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) superintendent Maria V. Navarro wrote in a Dec. 5 statement that 11 students with disabilities and seven staff members visited the restaurant on Dec. 3. The field trip was part of a community-based instruction program meant to hone life skills, including interacting with others in public spaces like retail shops and restaurants…
Lego Increases Disability Inclusion In Its Product Line
December 10, 2024 | Disability Scoop
Lego is introducing new characters outfitted with an internationally recognized lanyard designed to quietly indicate that a person has a hidden disability and might need some extra support. The company said this month that it is adding the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard to characters in a variety of sets. People can also create their own minifigures wearing the special Sunflower symbol at all 55 Minifigure Factories around the world “to give fans additional opportunities to design the character they want to see themselves, a friend or family member represented as.”…
Adirondack Park Agency’s proposed amendments strike balance between accessibility, wilderness
December 10, 2024 | Adirondack Explorer
For more than a decade, in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has allowed people with disabilities to apply for a permit to use what are known as “other power-driven mobility devices” (OPDMDs) to visit state-owned Adirondack Park “Wilderness” land s where motorized vehicles are otherwise largely prohibited. (Wheelchairs have always been allowed in the Wilderness, but they simply can’t provide safe access in some locations.)…
Ozzy Osbourne’s son Jack says he was declared an ‘insurance risk,’ couldn’t get work after MS diagnosis
December 10, 2024 | Fox News
Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack Osbourne, is sharing how his multiple sclerosis diagnosis affected his career. While speaking at Steel City Con in Monroesville, Pennsylvania, Friday, the 39-year-old media personality explained that, following his diagnosis with MS in 2012, he was declared an “insurance risk” and he “couldn’t get hired on productions” for a while. “Professionally, it was a problem early on,” Jack shared at the convention, according to People. “They were like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s too dangerous. … So, I did lose work, and I found that really insulting.”…
Delaware poll accessibility improved for voters with disabilities in 2024
December 11, 2024 | News From The States
Emmanuel Jenkins drove past a dimly lit school on Election Day in November. His assigned polling place, the Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center in Greenwood, had no signs, few cars and even less people — it was probably closed, he thought. Jenkins, a community relations officer with the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, drove to the nearest polling place, a fire station, where he was told he had to return to the school and drive around the back, toward the gymnasium, where voting was taking place…
How “Wicked”‘s Accessibility Coordinator Made the Land of Oz More Inclusive
December 11, 2024 | Popsugar
Even if you didn’t spend all of high school as a certified theater kid, there’s no way you’ve missed ads this season from the box office blockbuster “Wicked.” The movie’s stars, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grand e, Jonathan Bailey, and Marissa Bode shine on screen in what’s shaping up to be the most popular movie musical of all time. What’s even more special is that beyond the enchantment in front of the camera, there’s some additional magic that went on beyond the scenes…
Room for Improvement: A Look at Accessibility for Voters with Disabilities
December 12, 2024 | Dallas Weekly
A Rutgers University report out of the Program for Disability Research estimated that nearly 40.2 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote in the 2024 election, comprising about one-sixth of voters. This is 5.1 percent higher than in 2020. Though a number of laws, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Hand icapped Act (VAEHA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA), codify protections to ensure people with disabilities have the ability to cast a ballot, challenges still persist…
Delta Boosts Accessibility For Travelers With Disabilities
December 13, 2024 | Disability Scoop
A major U.S. airline is making updates to one of its most popular in-flight features in an effort to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Delta Air Lines is introducing a new flight map offering high-contrast visuals, a color-blind palette, large text and icons, clearer labels and the ability to zoom and pan. “No one better connects the world than Delta,” said Ekrem Dimbiloglu, managing director of customer experience for in-flight entertainment, Delta Studio and Wi-Fi…
Jack Fact — Researchers from the Swiss Fedreal Institute of Technology and Water Sciences Eawagmore estimate that more than 4.4 billion people in poorer countries lack safe drinking water, a number more than twice as high as some other estimates.
Hit The Road Jack — Inclusive Outdoor Adventures and Revealed: Europe’s most accessible cities and Tourist Accessibility in South Moravia Evaluated by Wheelchair Users
International News
Barriers to Accessibility in Public Spaces: Findings from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability
December 3, 2024 | Statistics Canada
This study uses the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability to explore the experiences of barriers to accessibility in public spaces among persons with disabilities aged 15 years and over. More closely examining the barriers encountered by persons with disabilities as they navigate their environments is important in furthering progress towards an accessible and inclusive Canada. The descriptive statistics show that over half of persons with disabilities experience barriers in public spaces and that the proportion experiencing barriers in this domain varies by disability-related and sociodemographic characteristics…
City of Sarnia celebrates community contributions to accessibility
December 6, 2024 | The Sarnia Journal- Canada
The City of Sarnia paid special recognition on December 3 to those community members who have helped create a more accessible, inclusive community. To mark the International Day of People with Disabilities, the City of Sarnia and its Sarnia Accessibility Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted their 12th annual Accessibility Awards, recognizing the organizations and individuals who lead by example to make our community more welcoming for individuals living with a disability…
Lack of accessibility features in films: Delhi HC seeks response of Centre, movie makers, OTT platform
December 6, 2024 | The Indian Express- India and Deccan Herald
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought responses from the Union government, production houses, and the OTT platform of Amazon on a plea by visually challenged lawyers seeking to incorporate audio description and other accessibility features in movies released on OTT platforms and big screens. The petition was moved by Akshat Baldwa, a final-year student at National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, and disability activist Rahul Bajaj…
New ACC building ‘exemplar’ for accessibility
December 7, 2024 | Otago Daily Times- Canada
It will still be about a year until the public can enter Dunedin’s new Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) building, but the Crown entity is already giving details about what it will be like on the inside. As part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, ACC disability lead adviser Ben Lucas outlined the ways the 8000sq m building had been designed to make it more accessible. He said doors with automatic sensors would be on all the main entrances, there would be accessible reception desks with lowered desk heights, and wide corridors and spaces between desks and walls to allow wheelchair users and guide dogs to pass easily…
Rural Albertans with disabilities positioned to benefit from accessibility legislation, NDP says
December 7, 2024 | Ponoka News- Canada
The UCP may be misreading the needs of rural Albertans with disabilities, said a shadow cabinet minister planning to introduce an accessibility bill this session. Accessibility limitations can be particularly acute in rural Alberta because of travel distances, limited infrastructure and the centralization of services in larger centres, said Marie Renaud, the NDP’s community and social services critic. She noted that delivery of government services often involves filling out online forms, which means a lack of reliable internet in some rural areas compounds obstacles for people with disabilities…
Two fifths of UK workers with disabilities faced workplace bullying or harassment in the past year, survey finds
December 8, 2024 | People Management- UK
Nearly 40 per cent of employees with disabilities, chronic conditions, or neurodivergence experienced workplace microaggressions, harassment or bullying in the past 12 months, according to a Deloitte study. The Disability Inclusion at Work report, based on a survey of 10,000 disabled workers across 20 countries, including 500 from the UK, found that 23 per cent of UK respondents faced negative assumptions about their abilities, and 24 per cent reported being overlooked for promotions…
‘Everybody needs to help’: Londoners with disabilities call for better accessibility in snow
December 8, 2024 | CBC- Canada
Londoners with physical disabilities are calling on the city and community to make sure streets and sidewalks are easier to navigate in the snow. Icy sidewalks and snow piles along street curbs are just some of the challenges people with mobility disabilities said they face in the wintertime. “Walking is always going to be difficult, even if you’re using a walker or wheelchair,” said Madeline Goldhawk, who has a rare disorder that causes a lack of balance and coordination…
Corner Brook’s courthouse is not accessible. An articling law student can prove it
December 9, 2024 | CBC- Canada
A western Newfoundland man who’s training to be a lawyer says his first obstacle to getting to a day in court is just getting in the building. Blair Curtis, who graduated from law school at the University of New Brunswick in June, is now an articling law student in Corner Brook where he said the courthouse is not accessible. He said the exterior ramp to the Danny Williams Building — the court complex named after the former Newfoundland and Labrador premier — is too steep for him to get up on his own with his wheelchair…
House of Lords peer and Paralympian criticises inaccessibility of UK rail network
December 9, 2024 | New Civil Engineer- UK
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has criticised the inaccessibility of Great Britain’s rail network, a week after the rail sector marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Rail accessibility has risen up the agenda because of the underperformance of Network Rail’s Access for All step-free station upgrades programme. In addition, in August 2024, Paralympian and House of Lords peer Grey-Thompson was forced to “crawl off” a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train at King’s Cross station…
Trafford Council: Co-production to improve the accessibility of the built environment
December 9, 2024 | Local Government Association- UK
In 2019, Trafford established a Disability Access Task and Finish group, with the aim of drawing on the lived experience of members and staff to address the inaccessible built environment, both within the council and the borough. Councillor Shirley Procter was initially asked by the Leader about the accessibility of the town hall. Taking co-production as a model, she reached out to the disabled staff network and found a long list of unresolved disability issues, which she was able to use her leadership position to highlight and resolve…
U.S. Embassy and Dominican Museums launch accessibility and inclusion manual
December 9, 2024 | Dominican Today- Dominican Republic
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo and the General Directorate of Museums in the Dominican Republic unveiled the “Accessibility and Inclusion Manual for Museums” aimed at creating more inclusive and accessible cultural spaces. The event also featured the opening of the art exhibition “Stories That Unite Us: Let the Bell of Freedom Ring!” showcasing the work of nine prominent Dominican artists. Located at the Museum Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration, the exhibit will be open until January 2025…
‘Like a jail’: A disability can make rural Alberta unlivable
December 10, 2024 | St. Albert Gazette- Canada
A vast majority of people with disabilities in Canada face accessibility barriers, according to new data from Statistics Canada. For rural Albertans with disabilities, these hurdles can make their hometowns unlivable. Fifty-nine per cent of Albertans with disabilities reported barriers to accessibility in public spaces, slightly higher than the national average. Within this group, the degree of inaccessibility is tied to the severity of disability. About one-third of people who reported having a mild disability experienced accessibility barriers, compared to 87 per cent of people who said their disability is very severe…
Ottawa galleries are hard at work making art accessible
December 11, 2024 | Capital Current- Canada
Dave Fortier, a local artist, is colour-blind. He says he uses his disability as a tool for creation, a way to push for advocacy and to make a difference in the art community. “Because somebody might not be set up as a typical person, doesn’t mean they should be held back in any capacity. … Some things that might be a challenge for other people might be a superpower for others,” says Fortier. Fortier has been painting for most of his life but began to see it as a career in 2013…
‘I couldn’t see Wicked due to accessibility – the theatre needs to do better
December 12, 2024 | Manchester Evening News- UK
A woman has been left disappointed after being left unable to see her favourite musical due to accessibility problems, despite booking her ticket over a year in advance. Danielle Maycox, who uses a wheelchair, had been looking forward to seeing the matinee performance of her favourite musical Wicked at the Palace Theatre on December 7. After taking a taxi to the venue, Danielle was horrified to find out that she would not be able to access her seat…
New Digital Stand ards Enhance Access to Government Services
December 13, 2024 | OpenGov- Australia
Starting 1 January 2025, newly launched government websites in Australia will be required to adhere to three new stand ards aimed at enhancing accessibility, simplifying access and ensuring consistent, high-quality user experiences. These stand ards are part of a broader initiative by the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), which published the Digital Experience Policy in July 2024. Alongside the Digital Service Stand ard, which came into effect in July 2024, the new guidelines aim to establish a unified approach to digital services across government websites…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos
- It’s time to Rethink Disability- Johny Cassidy
- Accessibility, On Clothes and Paper- Civic Media (Podcast)
- Rethinking Accessibility In The Age Of AI- Swati Kirt
- Almost, But Not Quite, Entirely Unlike…- Léonie Watson
- Digital Asset Accessibility Under ADA Title II- Microassist
- 2024 Festive accessibility quiz- Kelly Clarkson and Samantha Merrett
- Accessibility Fail Friday: 1 for YES and 0 for NO- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- Changing the image of disability campaign- Business Disability Forum
- Accessibility and inclusion in our workplace- Arsenal in the Community
- State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities for 2025- NASCIO (PDF)
- Is Your Office Holiday Party Accessible? Most Work Events Aren’t- Inc.
- Inclusive City Hub aims to make the world’s cities more accessible- BMZ
- A look into accessibility for UMich faculty and staff- The Michigan Daily
- Natural text-to-speech language models can improve accessibility – News9 Live
- The Role of Generative AI in Transforming the American Disabilities Act- Crowe
- Essential Strategies for Creating Accessible Social Media Content- US Access Board
- I May Be Autistic, But I’m Not A Bad Actor, No Matter What Sia Says- Mickey Rowe
- 4 Tips For Global Companies Navigating The European Accessibility Act- Gus Alexiou
- 2024 News items – Hybrid event on disability inclusive trade- World Trade Organization
- Opinion: Compsci Must Go Hand in Hand With Accessibility- Rachel F. Adler, The Fulcrum
- Inaccessible Venue Forces Disabled Person to Be Inspiring Again- Kayla, The Squeaky Wheel
- Accessible holidays tips from the Northwest ADA Center- John Dorris, Northwest ADA Center
- Disability Employment Webinar Series: Accessible Job Postings- Iowa Workforce Development (YouTube)
- OCR clarifies language access requirements for certain individuals- American Hospital Association
- K-12 digital education must involve inclusion and accessible design- Rachel F. Adler, The Fulcrum
- These Disability Doulas Are Helping People Navigate Life More Comfortably- Tracey Anne Duncan
- Accessibility Services Helps Museums Like This One Become Disability- United Spinal Association- Steve Wright
- The Ultimate ADA Compliance Employer Checklist: A Guide for Businesses with 15+ Employees- AccessAbility Officer
- Renegades- This documentary series showcases the lives and cultural contributions of little-known historical figures with disabilities- PBS American Masters
Federally Speaking
- A global affirmation of disability rights- Taryn M. Williams
- How AI, Security, Inclusion Redefined Government in 2024- Governing
- Headaches with FCC Reporting on Captioning Problems Per CVAA- Equal Entry
- A Proclamation on Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2024- The White House
- Phasing out pay inequity for workers with disabilities- Taryn M. Williams, Kristin García
- Employment of Workers With Disabilities Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Stand ards Act- Federal Register
- Justice Department Sues South Carolina for Violating Americans with Disabilities Act- U.S. Department of Justice
- Michael Edward Hogg Improves Accessibility For Veterans Through Innovation – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- NDEAM 2024 Event – Good Jobs Change Lives: Helping Disabled Workers Get Ahead- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- 508 Compliance for Health Assessors: Creating Accessible Word Documents- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (YouTube)
- FCC Seeks Comment on Petition for Expedited Retroactive Extension of Waiver of Accessible Emergency Information Requirement (PDF)
- Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People- Center for American Progress
Higher Education Blogs and Information
- Accessibility Advice for Using AI Tools- Portland State University
- Breaking barriers in travel and tourism – University of Miami News
- A deep dive into accessibility for UMich students- The Michigan Daily
- Updates to Title II Regarding Website Accessibility – SUNY Brockport
- 2024 Disability Champion Awards – Inside WFU – Wake Forest University
- UVM lab spotlights gadgets that make independent living safer and easier- VTDigger
- Robots Designed to Improve Campus Accessibility Arrive on Campus Sunday- UTEP
- Brock Accessibility Advisory Committee presents ambitious plans for 2025- Penticton Herald
- MSU hosts first Disability in Higher Education Summit- MSU Today – Michigan State University
- University of Iowa creates task force to update digital assets for accessibility- Iowa Capital Dispatch
- New Spring 2025 Accessibility Reading Group to discuss Against Technoableism- Purdue University
- “That’s not true inclusion:” For disabled students, full campus accessibility remains elusive- Calvin University Chimes
- Inclusive App Accelerator Launches Grant Program to Empower Individuals with Disabilities- Pitt Health Sciences – University of Pittsburgh
- nTIDE December 2024 Jobs Report: Employment for People with Disabilities Plateaus Near Record High- Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire
Legal Blogs and Information
- Accessibility Act Update: Government Of SK Releases Accessibility Plan- MLT Aikins
- Federal Judge in New York Rules that an Online-Only Website is Not a Place of Public Accommodation Under Title III of the ADA- Hinshaw and Culbertson
Accessibility Announcements
- Accessible Travel Press Board members wanted
- City of Sarnia honours leaders in accessibility and inclusivity
- SC State Museum to host accessibility morning with holiday twist
- Have your say! Join Durham Region Transit’s Accessibility Forum
- Small sight loss charity’s website rated most accessible in UK sector
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability Training for Peace Officers
- NEADS Red Vest Accessible Training Program Debuts at TD Garden
- ICAO, ACI and IATA align on priorities for improving air travel accessibility
- KSC grapples with maintaining accessibility on campus- The Keene Sentinel
- Mumbai’s Five Gardens to Enhance Accessibility for People with Disabilities
- Oakville’s commitment to accessibility recognized by Rick Hansen Foundation
- Amtrak completes renovations at G.K. Butterfield Station to enhance accessibility
- Tech Innovators Wanted: Help Shape the Future of Accessible Digital Workspaces
- Yorkshire Accessibility Campaigner Publishes First Book on TGA Mobility Scooter
- Needy Cases 2024: Community Access Unlimited strives to create an accessible world
- iQIYI Introduces ‘Extra Large Font’ Function to Enhance Accessibility for Senior Users
- Washoe County launches live transcription tool during Board of County Commissioner meetings
- MTA Announces Gates Av J Z Station to Be Made Accessible as Part of 2020-2024 Capital Plan
- Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour:” Accessibility At Wembley Stadium, London – 2025
- New Contentsquare Foundation report shows that only 7 percent of websites score highly for digital accessibility
- LEGOLand ® Dubai Resort Achieves Certified Autism Center™ Status, Advancing Dubai’s Accessibility Vision
- Evinced Secures $55M Series C to Drive Global Lead in AI-Driven Digital Accessibility and Evinced’s Navin Thadani Talks Latest Funding, Digital Accessibility In New Interview
Accessibility Products and Services
- Collective Speakers
- 2024 Disability Holiday Gift Guide
- Time Shift highlighting accessibility for the blind
- Santa Reads Braille- Letters from Santa Claus in Braille
- LG Electronics Expand s Accessibility with Six New Comfort Kit Products
- Google Brings ‘Emotion To Captions’ With New Expressive Captions Feature
- Google Introduces PaliGemma 2: Making AI That Can “See” More Accessible
- Google rolls out major and roid 15 update with new AI and accessibility features
- December Pixel Drop Has Expressive Captions, More New Accessibility Features
- Govia Thameslink Railway Enhances Accessibility with Free Sign Language App
- Rocks, tree roots and stairs are no match for BCIT-built BEAST power wheelchair
- The App Store’s Major Allure Always Has Been, and Always Will Be, Accessibility
- GNOME 46.7 Improves Accessibility of Quick Settings’ Keyboard Backlight Toggle
- Introducing the Kind Mind Co.(TM): Introducing Accessible Art Tools for All Abilities
- Air Serbia Partners with Union of the Blind to Unlock a Future of Accessible Air Travel
- Autonomous cab company launches Houston pilot program for wheelchair-accessible rides
- Projects funded by state tourism office are designed to lure more visitors to Southern Colorado
- Adelaide Oval unveils new sensory and changing facilities, enhancing accessibility for disabled fans
- How ALBA Robot’s fully autonomous robotic wheelchair tech is advancing accessibility and inclusivity at airports
- CurvaPen Inc. Introduces Innovative Hand writing Tool, Designed for Accessibility, Comfort, and Therapeutic Support
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Advent of iOS Accessibility
- EA Just Made Two Accessibility Patents Open-Source
- How to use the WAVE extension and start manual accessibility testing
- Sony Releases ‘Game Changers’ Short Film About Accessibility In Video Games
- From Vision to Reality: The Access Controller’s Impact on Gamers One Year Later
- Are video game companies doing enough for players with disabilities? Expert weighs in
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle accessibility options let you tweak how many enemies you face
- Bethesda declares Indiana Jones and the Great Circle an approachable and accessible game with a new outline of accessibility features, but not everybody is happy
Accessibility Statements
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- Castlemain
- Gomez Law
- Civil Rights Corps
- National University
- British Red Cross Store
- Congressman Tony Wied
- Employment Security Department- WA.gov
- National Federation of Independent Business
- NYS Office of Children and Family Services
- Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England
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
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