Accessibility in the News — 6/03/2022.
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Feature Stories
Life Made Accessible: National Accessibility Awareness Week set to explore accessibility in a changing world
May 27, 2022 | Source: The Record- Canada
“When my brother was paralyzed …” said Jessica Sealey, taking a breath, “one of the big things that we had to look for in a clinic was that it was accessible … not very many of them are.” Sealey became a strong advocate for accessibility after her brother suffered a motor vehicle accident. A registered massage therapist with nearly a decade of experience, Sealey is the owner of downtown Galt’s Evidence Based Pain Therapies, a massage and chiropractic clinic, where she empowers people in their journeys to mental and physical rehabilitation…
Regent Park is a challenge for people with disabilities. A new partnership is trying to change that
May 28, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
Victoria looks at increasing the amount of accessible parking new developments must provide
May 28, 2022 | Source: Saanich News- Canada
Canada’s unions call for fast-tracking of Canada Disability Benefit
May 28, 2022 | Source: Canadian Labour Congress- Canada
Statement by Minister Qualtrough on National AccessAbility Week
May 29, 2022 | Source: Yahoo- Canada
This election is the most important one in 20 years, say accessibility advocates
May 29, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
DARTS fires back at Hamilton over ‘bullying’ safety audit that pulled dozens of vans off the road
May 30, 2022 | Source: The Hamilton Spectator- Canada
City of Nanaimo says it’s ahead of provincial legislation on accessibility and inclusiveness
May 30, 2022 | Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin- Canada
City launching public consultations on new accessibility plan for Peterborough
May 30, 2022 | Source: The Peterborough Examiner- Canada
Adaptive equipment, accessibility needs part of the package for athletes with a disability
May 31, 2022 | Source: Canadian Paralympic Committee- Canada
AccessibleBC plan removes barriers
May 31, 2022 | Source: BC Gov News- Canada
Canadians want architects to help create more inclusive and accessible communities
May 31, 2022 | Source: Canadian Architect- Canada
There is a big demand for accessible housing in Ontario. Few can find it
May 31, 2022 | Source: Toronto Star- Canada
Investments to Improve Community Accessibility
June 1, 2022 | Source: Government of Nova Scotia- Canada
Stratford highlights intersection of heritage and accessibility through National Accessibility Week video series
June 1, 2022 | Source: The Stratford Beacon Herald- Canada
Accessibility For Manitobans Act: New Information and Communication Regulation
June 1, 2022 | Source: MLT Aikins- Canada
Slow progress on accessible community garden frustrating says Sudbury advocate
June 2, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment Launched for Canadian Employers
June 2, 2022 | Source: Business Wire-Canada
New funding boosts accessibility in B.C. communities
June 2, 2022 | Source: BC Gov News- Canada
Disability, seniors advocates call for accessibility improvements across the region
June 2, 2022 | Source: Fort Mcmurray Today- Canada
National News (U.S.)
Report: 33% of orgs don’t have a digital focus on accessibility
May 27, 2022 | Source: VentureBeat
According to the Valuable 500, 54% of companies have an active disability inclusion accessibility policy. The disabled community is no minority, estimated at 1.3 billion people, yet people with disabilities are routinely facing a growing list of discriminations, from shrinking wages to escalating living costs. Disabled workers were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, and now millions of disabled workers face a living standards emergency – with lower pay than non-disabled workers, but higher energy and transport costs…
Q&A: Improving Access in Rural Alaska with Ms. Wheelchair USA Contestant Kristie Lent
May 27, 2022 | Source: Daily Yonder
Alaska has always seemed enchanting to me, and people who know me know that I’ve been completely obsessed with dog sledding since 2019 when I drove a team of my own through the sparkly forests of northern Wisconsin. (Not Alaska, but about as close as I can easily get.) Of course, it’s easy for me, a person without physical disabilities to frolic in the snow without a second thought. When Kristie Lent, an Alaskan contestant in the Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant, reached out to our newsroom wanting to speak about the experience of disabled people in rural Alaska, she invited me to consider these spaces in an entirely new way…
“Winnie the Pooh” accessible to all children project
May 27, 2022 | Source: KDVR (Video)
We introduced you to Richard Rieman, the Founder and CEO of the Denver non-profit Imagination videobooks a few months ago about their project to make “Winnie the Pooh” accessible to blind and deaf children. The group did exceed its original goal of $10,000 kickstarter fundraising goal for the project, but now they have a new “stretch goal” and there’s only a few days left. Their next project is the “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” with an all blind or low vision cast…
Little Rock adding 64 fully accessible housing units, first two finished
May 27, 2022 | Source: FOX16
“Universal Living” is the idea behind a series of fully accessible units set to pop up across Little Rock for those who are wheelchair-bound or can’t easily get around. The project years in the making is the brainchild of Apple Castle Homes, the City of Little Rock, and Springer and Springer LLC – who have teamed up to create 64 universally accessible units throughout the city using lots from the city’s Land Bank. From low loading washers and driers to handles designed for anyone to open, every detail has been thought of…
Dark Horse Comics’ Website Not Fully Accessible For Blind, Visually Impaired, Says Class Action
May 27, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
Avocado Mattress Hit With Class Action Alleging Website Not Accessible To Blind, Visually Impaired
May 31, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
ADA Class Actions Allege Websites Inaccessible to Blind, Visually Impaired Consumers
May 31, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
Dark Horse Comics failed to design, construct, and maintain its website in a way that would make it fully accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, a new class action lawsuit alleges. Plaintiff Rafael Cordero, a blind man, claims that the Dark Horse Comics website is not compatible with the blind and visually impaired screen-reading software to browse the internet. Cordero wants to represent a nationwide Class and New York subclass of blind and visually impaired individuals who have been denied access to the “equal enjoyment of goods and/or services on Dark Horse Comics’ website…
Breaking down barriers: An advocate helps improve handicap access in Pueblo
May 28, 2022 | Source: Pueblo Chieftain
Kristen Castor has seen accessibility issues from a lot of different angles. The 68-year-old Pueblo woman has cerebral palsy and has made the transition from crutches to a manual wheelchair to a motorized wheelchair in her lifetime. She has also spent nearly two decades working behind the scenes to help remove barriers that make life more difficult for the disabled. She is a non-attorney advocate for the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition and a founding member of the Pueblo Americans with Disabilities Act Committee…
TikToker in Wheelchair Shows ‘Accessible’ Entrance That Leads to Stairs
May 30, 2022 | Source: The Daily Dot
In a viral TikTok video, a creator shows her difficulty entering a building through an intended “handicapped entrance” that is not accessible for her or her wheelchair. The TikTok user @therealgailina pushes the button to open the door, however, it doesn’t open. She has to open the door by hand and push herself and her wheelchair through at the same time. “This is the second thing that didn’t work,” she says, referencing trying to enter the building another way previously…
Walk, run or roll: inclusive 5K helping those with disabilities find accessibility
May 28, 2022 | Source: WPTA21
Your walking speed could indicate dementia
May 31, 2022 | Source: CNN
What started as a need for a personal adventure, quickly evolved into helping others ‘redefine accessibility’. About six years ago, Kevan Chandler and his friends embarked on a journey across Europe. But before that, they had to find a solution to a major obstacle: Chandler’s wheelchair. You see, Chandler has a form of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) which impairs his ability to walk. Out of that challenge, Chandler developed a backpack which allowed his friends to carry him on trips across the world. Now, both his book, and non-profit are called ‘We Carry Kevan’…
Walker Art Center Offers ‘Sensory Sundays’ To Make Exhibits More Accessible
May 29, 2022 | Source: WCCO- CBS Minnesota
It’s a common characteristic of people who have been diagnosed with autism. The University of Minnesota estimates 1 in 42 children in the state have autism spectrum disorder. The Walker Art Center is adjusting their galleries so people with sensory challenges can comfortably explore. The lights, the sights, the sounds — the Walker Art Center can be a busy place in more ways than one. “Museums can be a challenging place to visit if you are someone who has sensory sensitivities,” Sarah Lampen, the Walker’s manager of lifelong learning and accessibility, said. “They can be busy, they can be loud.”…
Acmetonia Elementary student tackles inclusion, named finalist in video game design competition
May 29, 2022 | Source: Trib Live
An Acmetonia Elementary student is a finalist in a video game design challenge for a game he coded to raise awareness about accessibility in gaming. Video games were never a big part of Owen Gamble’s life until the pandemic happened. The 12-year-old would hop on his computer for a gaming session with friends on games like Roblox to socialize with them. But he encountered one problem — most games his friends would recommend playing were not accessible for Owen…
Is Making Aviation More Accessible Even Possible? The News
May 30, 2022 | Source: Reduced Mobility Rights
One of the most important developments in the aviation industry is to provide accessibility for all. This includes people with disabilities, elderly people, and those who travel with infants and young children. In this article, we will explore how accessibility can be improved in aviation. We will highlight gaps, and discuss the importance of making improvements and how they can improve safety and comfort for passengers with disabilities. Airplanes have been a popular mode of transportation for decades because they are convenient and fast…
Seniors Should Pick a Financial Ally Before Cognitive Decline Hits. Here’s How
May 30, 2022 | Source: Barron’s
Seniors often wait too long to simplify their finances, communicate financial goals, and eventually sign a power-of-attorney document that names someone to manage their money if they’re no longer capable. This delay can be costly, and it’s why researchers are urging seniors to choose a financial advocate and create a financial plan before they need assistance. Mild cognitive impairment, which often presages dementia or Alzheimer’s, affects 6.7% of people ages 60 to 64, according to the American Academy of Neurology…
Disabled accessibility in St. Louis set to get a $2 million boost
May 31, 2022 | Source: St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis is poised to spend $2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to make more of its public buildings and spaces accessible to people with disabilities. The money was part of a COVID-19 relief bill Mayor Tishaura Jones signed earlier this month and represents one of the largest one-time investments the city has made in boosting compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. “I think it’s wonderful that our city has identified this as a need and prioritized this money to help make St. Louis as accessible as possible with the resources that we have,’ said Kim Lackey, senior director of programs at Paraquad…
Summer camps must be accessible to children with disabilities. Here’s what to do if yours isn’t
May 31, 2022 | Source: 91.7 WVXU
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Ohio is putting dozens of summer camps on notice that they are required to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Downey, who oversees enforcement of the ADA, says it’s been a few years since Ohio has sent out a reminder. He mailed the flyer to all the summer camps he could get an address for — about 90 of them in Southern Ohio. “The ADA requires that summer camps (both private and those run by towns or municipalities) must provide reasonable modifications of their policies, practices and procedures…
Judge refuses to order that Newark polling places be made handicapped accessible
May 31, 2022 | Source: NJ.com
A state judge on Tuesday refused to issue an order compelling the Essex County Board of Elections to make all Newark polling places handicapped accessible for the June 7 congressional primaries and three city council runoffs on June 14. Capping a morning hearing in Superior Court in Newark, Judge Robert Gardner denied a request for the order made in a suit the City of Newark filed on May 20. It came after Mayor Ras Baraka and other officials said some voters were physically unable to cast ballots in the city’s municipal election earlier this month…
West Michigan employers leading the way in accessible workplaces
May 31, 2022 | Source: Second Wave Media
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is more than twice that of those without a disability. One major barrier to tapping into this often-ignored labor market is creating accessible workplaces that go beyond the basic requirements laid out under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Research from Accenture, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities, reveals companies that embrace best practices for employing and supporting more people with disabilities in their workforce have outperformed their peers…
DOJ Files Statement of Interest in Private Lawsuit Clarifying a School District Can Be Liable under Title II of the ADA for the Actions of School Resource Officers
June 1, 2022 | Source: ADA.gov & PDF
Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado in a private lawsuit brought by Plaintiff A.V., an eleven-year-old child with autism and a serious emotional disorder, who alleges that school resource officers violated his rights under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Statement of Interest clarifies that under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a school district is liable for discrimination in its programs, services, or activities even when it provides them through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements…
Film Festival Accessibility to Be Assessed in New Scorecard Initiative
June 1, 2022 | Source: Variety
A new “Accessibility Scorecard” launched this summer will aim to help U.S. and international film festivals assess and improve their accessibility measures, Variety can reveal. Developed by filmmaker and former International Documentary Association executive Cassidy Dimon in conjunction with the Film Festival Alliance and FWD-Doc, a collective of documentary filmmakers with disabilities, the Accessibility Scorecard will gather data from festival participants (such as speakers and filmmakers) and attendees that will be fed back to organizers in order to increase their awareness of how accessible their events are…
Study finds stuttering anticipation prompts unique activity in the brain
June 1, 2022 | Source: NYU & Neurobiology of Language
The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC) in the brain plays a key role in cognitive control—decision making, memory processing, task planning, etc. New research suggests that cognitive control underlies how stutterers respond to stuttering anticipation (the sense that upcoming speech will be stuttered), offering fresh insight into the brain’s processing and response to stuttering. “We’ve always known that stutterers anticipate stuttering, but no one has explored how the brain processes anticipation,” says NYU Steinhardt Assistant Professor Eric S. Jackson, lead author of the study…
Doctors Transplant 3-D Printed Ear Made of Human Cells
June 2, 2022 | Source: DNYUZ
A 20-year-old woman who was born with a small and misshapen right ear has received a 3-D printed ear implant made from her own cells, the manufacturer announced on Thursday. Independent experts said that the transplant, part of the first clinical trial of a successful medical application of this technology, was a stunning advance in the field of tissue engineering. The new ear was printed in a shape that precisely matched the woman’s left ear, according to 3DBio Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company based in Queens…
Making data visualization more accessible for blind and low-vision individuals
June 2, 2022 | Source: MIT News
Data visualizations on the web are largely inaccessible for blind and low-vision individuals who use screen readers, an assistive technology that reads on-screen elements as text-to-speech. This excludes millions of people from the opportunity to probe and interpret insights that are often presented through charts, such as election results, health statistics, and economic indicators. When a designer attempts to make a visualization accessible, best practices call for including a few sentences of text that describe the chart and a link to the underlying data table — a far cry from the rich reading experience available to sighted users…
The #1 Source of Diabetes, According to Science
June 2, 2022 | Source: Eat This, Not That!
Health experts warn that diabetes has become a silent epidemic in the U.S.—and a silent killer. For the last two years, deaths from diabetes have hit record levels. It doesn’t have to be this way. For many people, diabetes is preventable. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications like heart disease and stroke, so it’s important to take steps to avoid developing the disease if possible. That includes avoiding the #1 root of diabetes. Diabetes is the body’s inability to process sugar (glucose)…
The Hardest Part About Being a Deaf Hiker? Everyone Else
June 2, 2022 | Source: Backpacker
Hearing people often throw around the word “silence” when they talk about hiking. It’s common to frame the sounds of nature—waterfalls, birds, wind through the trees—as a form of silence, an escape from the noise of our urban, technology-heavy lives. But my experience with silence is a little different. After carrying myself up to the top of Vernal Falls in Yosemite Valley, I sat down on a boulder right next to the gushing cascade to let my knees recuperate before tackling the next set of stairs…
Deaf Catholics feel frustrated, seek spiritual help
June 2, 2022 | Source: Crux
Anna Wade often sits in a church pew on Sunday and “kind of spaces out a little bit” until it’s time for communion, and then, she said, “that’s it.” Wade’s lack of attention, though, has nothing to do with the Mass itself. It’s because she’s deaf, and the church she attends doesn’t have an American Sign Language interpreter – a problem she said exists throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where she lives, and a problem that others say exists in dioceses and churches across the country…
Jack Fact — According to University of New Hampshire, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics, 38.9% of disabled people worked for pay in 2019, compared to 78.6% of non-disabled people. Meanwhile, 25.9% of disabled people lived in poverty in 2019, compared to just 11.4% of non-disabled people.
Hit The Road Jack — Travelling with a disability has never been easy – but innovative companies are giving ‘all-inclusive’ holidays a whole new meaning & The Most Accessible National Parks in the U.S.
International News
Calls for Government to make KiwiBuild programme more accessible
May 28, 2022 | Source: Stuff- New Zealand
The Government should be taking more responsibility and using its power to “dictate the future of accessible housing stock in Aotearoa”, says a first home buyer. But the Government hasn’t prioritised people with accessibility, disability or mobility needs through the current KiwiBuild ballot system. Aych McArdle lives with the impacts of a traumatic brain injury. Although they and their partner don’t require mobility accessibility at this stage in their lives, “it was absolutely front of mind in our dreams, so that all our friends and family could visit”, they said…
Australian First Trial Improving Bus Accessibility
May 28, 2022 | Source: Star Mail- Australia
The Victorian Government has announced a trial that will provide bus passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility devices with a safer, more accessible journey with the roll-out of wheelchair restraints across a select number of metropolitan bus services. The wheelchair containment systems are part of a $157.8 million package of accessibility and safety works included in the Victorian Budget 2022/23, giving Victorians better access to public transport…
Lack of accessible housing leads wheelchair-user to design his own home
May 29, 2022 | Source: Stuff- New Zealand
When Maurice Flynn and his partner were looking for a house to buy, it was a “long process”. As a wheelchair user, he needed to find a house that would meet his access needs. The couple started their search in Hamilton, where they work, but soon found most houses had stairs which would require ramps to be installed, or that Flynn wouldn’t be able to get into the bathrooms because they were too small. Luckily, the opportunity to build a house “just came about”, although it meant a switch from Hamilton to Ngāruawāhia, 20 minutes away…
Workers with MS keep their condition quiet
May 29, 2022 | Source: The Islander- Australia
Many Australians living with multiple sclerosis do not disclose their condition to their boss because they’re worried they will be treated differently, a new survey says. About 40 per cent of people choose to keep their chronic neurological condition to themselves, while one in four believe the disclosure will jeopardise their employment. But an MS Australia survey released on Monday found 88 per cent of people who share their diagnosis have positive outcomes at work…
Is Making Aviation More Accessible Even Possible? The News
May 30, 2022 | Source: Reduced Mobility Rights- Europe
One of the most important developments in the aviation industry is to provide accessibility for all. This includes people with disabilities, elderly people, and those who travel with infants and young children. In this article, we will explore how accessibility can be improved in aviation. We will highlight gaps, and discuss the importance of making improvements and how they can improve safety and comfort for passengers with disabilities. Airplanes have been a popular mode of transportation for decades because they are convenient and fast…
Ministry urges more accessible infrastructure, jobs for disabled
May 31, 2022 | Source: Phnom Penh Post- Cambodia
A senior social affairs ministry official has urged all public and private institutions to gain a greater understanding and awareness of the capacities of people with disabilities, while also encouraging the construction of more physical infrastructure to help them in order to promote equality and their rights to participate fully in society. Em Chan Makara – secretary of state at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation who also serves as secretary-general of the Disability Action Council – made the call during a May 30 training seminar for the second-generation of national trainers on the subject of facilitating access to physical infrastructure.
Does the future of Europe include disability?
May 31, 2022 | Source: Social Europe- Europe
In March 2021, the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission agreed a joint declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe. This launched an ambitious public discussion on the needs and expectations of Europe’s citizens and the future objectives of the European Union, initiating the largest ever consultation across the continent as citizens shared their ideas. There were good grounds for such a process, given the vital task of reshaping the EU and adjusting it to the challenges ahead…
Protecting the welfare of the visually impaired
May 31, 2022 | Source: New Straits Times- Malaysia
The National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM) has helped many people with disabilities (PwD) to improve their skills in accessing accessible technology and publications. Its president Datuk Rosalind Chew said access to information was one of the basic rights of an individual, including the PwDs as stated in the Person with Disabilities Act 2008. “NCBM has been engaging with Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in our effort to make sure that the PwDs have access to information.”…
How accessible is charging an electric car?
June 1, 2022 | Source: Air Quality News- UK
If the UK is going to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, it’s crucial we move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. In 2019, the Government recorded that 27% of the UK’s total emissions came from the transport industry. Of this, 91% came from road transport vehicles such as cars, vans, and buses. Considering these figures, it’s obvious that to reach net zero in time something must change within the transport sector. Of course, the cleanest methods of travelling would be walking, cycling, and taking public transport…
New third-level access support for autistic students and students with an intellectual disability announced by Minister Harris
June 2, 2022 | Source: Government of Ireland
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today announced new initiatives to support autistic students and those with an intellectual disability access third level education. The proposals, which will form part of the proposed new National Access Plan, will allocate ring-fenced funding of €3 million a year to 2025 so higher education institutions can implement universal design and inclusive practices on their campuses, and enhance opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education…
Why disabilities in the workplace is still a taboo subject
June 2, 2022 | Source: The HR Director- UK
New research by Samsung UK has revealed attitudes to hidden and visible disabilities in the workplace. The findings show that we’re a nation uncomfortable talking about disabilities, with nearly half of the population (45%) admitting to not feeling comfortable saying the word ‘disabled’ or ‘disability’ in everyday conversations, creating a feeling of taboo about a condition that affects 14 million people in the UK. Over half of people with disabilities have tried to conceal their challenges from work colleagues due to the fear of stalling their professional progression or landing a promotion (almost 45%) or being judged and made to feel like an outsider (41%)…
Is the Europeana website working for a visually diverse audience? An investigation
June 2, 2022 | Source: Europeana Pro- Netherlands
I began my internship with the Service Experience team in February. During my internship, I built on Europeana’s previous research to examine the needs, motivations and experience of people using the website. I decided to invite eight visitors for a more in-depth study, aiming to learn more about their needs, experience with the website, and their suggestions for improving it. I chose to work with people with visual impairments because I believe that providing solutions accessible for this group would help not only people with disabilities, but everyone using the website…
Excessive heat can harm your eyes; follow these guidelines to keep them safe
June 2, 2022 | Source: Times of India- India
People are battling intense heat waves and the diseases that come with them as the mercury rises. The eyes are one of the most commonly affected body parts during summers. The scorching heat of the sun is extremely harmful to the eyes. While conjunctivitis is the most common, our eyes may also have to deal with dry eyes, stye, and eye allergies in the coming months. As a result, extra care and attention to the eyes are required during this time. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays during the summer months can increase the risk of cataracts and retinal damage…
WHO Primary Ear and Hearing Care Training in Samoa
June 2, 2022 | Source: The Hearing Journal- Samoa
In October 2021, Dr. Sione Pifeleti successfully delivered the World Health Organization (WHO) Primary Ear and Hearing Care (PEHC) training package to a group of 19 workshop participants in Samoa. This was the first time this course was delivered in our country. Dr. Pifeleti is a General/ENT Surgeon and the Acting Head of the ENT Department of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital in Apia, the capital city of Samoa. When he re-established the ENT Department in 2017, his dream was to simultaneously build the skills of health professional colleagues in primary ear and hearing care at the national level…
Japan’s Transit System Gets Serious About Disability Access
June 2, 2022 | Source: Bloomberg- Japan
In many respects, Japan’s extensive network of rail stations is a triumph of contradictions. Chaotic, yet possessing its own internal logic that provides a striking degree of order. Heavily trafficked, but still able to remain remarkably clean. This is perhaps most evident in how it serves riders who are disabled. For all its success as a modern marvel of high-speed mass mobility, Japan’s rail system has historically been perceived as inaccessible for those with physical disabilities…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- British Empire Medal for pandemic deaf champion- ELY STANDARD
- Massive 23andMe survey reveals who may be at the highest risk for long COVID- SFGATE
- Associations between Patient- and Provider Level Factors, and Telemedicine Use in Family Medicine Clinics- American Board of Family Medicine
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- What Makes Events Truly Accessible- Skift Meetings
- Designing for accessibility- Portland State University
- Accessible Typefaces, Fonts, and Text with Jared Smith
- The Inclusive Language List for Job Ads- Heather Barbour
- How Can a Blind Person Use Virtual Reality? – Equal Entry
- Bulldoze the Presidio to make accessible?- San Diego Reader
- Provide Accessible Content and Events- University of Minnesota
- The Disability Divide: Why The Modern PC Must Be Accessible- Forbes
- Accessibility Virtual Reality Meetup: What Is It Like in Spatial?- Equal Entry
- Expanding digital accessibility across federal agencies- Federal News Network
- How to make your emails more accessible – and why it matters- Marketing Week
- 3 Barriers To Web Accessibility That Impact Me As A Blind User- Lily Mordaunt
- 3 Strategies for Developing More-Accessible Software- Harvard Business Review
- ‘I just have such a thankful heart,’ says accessibility advocate- Collingwood Today
- How to Determine If a Company Knows About Digital Accessibility- Meryl Evans
- Students, faculty identify ongoing accessibility issues to combat- The Cavalier Daily
- How to Make State Government Websites More Useful to the Public- StateTech Magazine
- Digital Gaging: Embracing The Accessibility Afforded By Today’s Technology- Quality Magazine
- Destigmatizing Mental Health Part 5: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- Fun 4 The Disabled
- Accessibility Grows Among Federal Workforce, Correlates with EEO Complaints Rise- FEDmanager
- A Credibility Checklist for the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®)- Hiram Kuykendall
- Disability Debrief- Reader Rebrief: classifying disability, Russia, and digital media- Peter Torres Fremlin
- Stretching the Nexus Requirement: Can a Vending Machine be a Place of Public Accommodation?- Ken Nakata
- The opportunity at home – can AI drive innovation in personal assistant devices and sign language?- Ioana Tanase
- Engaging the Private Sector: States Employ Tax Incentives to Support Hiring of People with Disabilities- Anna Lucchese and Dalton Goble
- The New York Senate Bill S1852B 2021-2022 Legislative Session- Establishes the commission of the deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing; repealer
- VoxLens: Adding one line of code can make some interactive visualizations accessible to screen-reader users- University of Washington & ScienceDaily
- H.R.7676 – Home Modification for Accessibility Act of 2022 117th Congress (2021-2022)- To amend the IRS Code of 1986 to assist homeowners in making safety, security, and accessibility improvements to their homes
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Inclusive water park opens in Avon
- HBBTV – A Major Tool For Accessibility
- IA Labs aims to improve digital accessibility
- 1800Wheelchair enters shared economy space
- Microsoft reinvents the mouse for people with disabilities
- Barclay Bentley named director of Office of Accessibility
- Plymouth Argyle 22/23 Accessible Parking Booking Form
- Doha Festival City (DFC) promotes accessibility awareness
- Motionspot Brings Function and Form to Accessible Design
- AudioEye Announces $3 Million Stock Repurchase Program
- Parramatta’s Plan To Improve Accessibility Nears Finalisation
- Benetech Inclusive AI Initiatives Break down Barriers to STEM
- New chair at Ludington State Park makes outdoors more accessible
- New Website Shows Accessibility Performance At Secondary Schools
- Please participate in the 2022 Portrait of Travelers with Disabilities Study
- Student start-up makes 3D printed prostheses more accessible for amputees
- Minnesota State Parks to unveil ‘track chairs’ to make trails more accessible
- Accessibility Information for the 18 June ‘Demand Better’ March and Rally
- Summer Android updates bring Gboard, Play Store, and accessibility improvements
- McGowan Government making WA parks more accessible for people with disability
- ChromeOS 102 arrives with better note-taking, accessibility improvements and more
- Save the 100 Acre Wood: Storybook Island fundraises to make the park more accessible
- Accessible washroom trailers to be added to Kimberley’s Electrify the Mountains project
- Carnegie Museums hires vice president for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
- Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) adds TJay Middlebrook to Board of Directors
- ‘Northumberland County is committed to ensuring everyone has equal access,’ says warden
- A new Disability Action Plan is laying out the path to building a more accessible shire for all
- ONESIAM skywalk features Universal Design concept to enhance convenience and accessibility
- Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region Announces Partnership With Spinal Cord Injury BC
- City of Bloomington, Indiana to Update Street, Sidepath, Sidewalk and Accessible Curb Ramp Condition Data
- InMoment Demonstrates Commitment to Disability Inclusion With the Industry’s First Accessibility Compliance
- The Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (Dufferin and Orangeville) announced the recipients of this year’s Accessibility Champion Awards
- Raising awareness about accessibility- Barrhead’s Accessiblilty Coalition planning series of scenarios to demonstrate the difficulties of those with physical disabilities
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Alt writing
- Writing Useful Alt Text
- 4 PDF Accessibility Hacks
- Triaging WCAG 2.1 Level AAA
- Best games for accessibility on PS5
- Just How Long Should Alt Text Be?
- How to write user stories for accessibility
- Create slides with an accessible reading order
- How to use motor accessibility features on a Mac
- How to Enable Live Caption on Your Chromebook
- Colour Contrast in Web Design- Why It’s Important
- How to Fix: “Buttons Do Not Have Accessible Names”
- 6 Accessibility Issues That Google Lighthouse Can Miss
- How to Use Apple Fitness+ Audio Hints on iPhone and iPad
- Screen readers and drag-and-drop, part 1: draggable elements
- Deathloop’s Journey Towards Accessibility Is One Of Redemption
- How God of War Ragnarök Is Being Made More Accessible for All
- Website accessibility: Using the keyboard commands for the calendar feature
- Is Your Website Accessible? 10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Site’s Accessibility
- American Sign Language Xbox Channel on Twitch Is a Game Changer for Deaf Gamers: “We Can Finally Participate”
- Diablo Immortal will launch with native voice chat transcription and speech-to-text & Blizzard Is Hell-Bent On Bringing Accessibility To Diablo Immortal
Accessibility Statements
- Applause
- Mental Floss
- The Motley Fool
- 3S Tech & Talent
- The BAY 88.7FM
- The University of Iowa
- Education Cannot Wait
- Oprah Winfrey Network
- California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
- University of West Bohemia Department of Cybernetics
- 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
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