Accessibility in the News — 8/13/2021.

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Feature Stories

How Troy Kotsur Broke Barriers As A Deaf Actor, On Stage, On Screen And Now In ‘CODA’

August 8, 2021 | Source: NPR & Yahoo & BBC & Brisbane Times

Apple original ‘CODA’ will be the first ever feature film to include burned in subtitles in all theaters

August 9, 2021 | Source: 9TO5Mac

Marlee Matlin on Fighting for Inclusion 34 Years After Oscar Win: ‘Deafness Is Not a Costume’

August 9, 2021 | Source: Yahoo

Are Deaf Actors and Stories Finally Breaking Through in Hollywood?

August 11, 2021 | Source: The Wrap

Minnesota Academy for Deaf grad Daniel Durant ready to make a splash on screen with ‘CODA’

August 12, 2021 | Source: Finger Lake Times

The new film CODA premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and a record-breaking distribution deal with Apple. One aspect of the film that awed both audiences and critics was the supporting performance by actor Troy Kotsur. He plays a father and fisherman in the story, struggling to understand his hearing daughter’s dreams to sing. Prior to the film’s acclaimed Sundance debut, Kotsur has already been a pioneering star of stage and screen, honing his craft despite the structural limitations of an industry that hasn’t always recognized his gifts…

National News (U.S.)

The ADA at 31: Access to Housing and Health Care Must Meet the Rise of Disability in the U.S.

August 5, 2021 | Source: Center for American Progress

It has been nearly 50 years since disability activists in San Francisco took over a federal building for 28 days to force the signing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This legislation established the rights of people with disabilities against discrimination in programs receiving federal funds. By 1990, disability activists were literally crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demand civil rights legislation for disabled people. This resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which celebrated its 31st anniversary in July 2021…

Disability Access Hits Opposition in Senate Infrastructure Debate

August 5, 2021 | Source: Bloomberg

Washington’s infrastructure deal is a raw deal for the disabled

August 5, 2021 | Source: New York Daily News

Just days after the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment in the $1 trillion infrastructure bill aimed at boosting transit accessibility. Introduced in May by Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth as the All Station Accessibility Program Act, the legislation brought to the Senate floor Tuesday as an amendment to the infrastructure bill would require transit agencies that receive $1.75 billion in federal accessibility grants to create an explicit plan for how they would prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities…

In Pandemic’s Wake, Synagogues Address Accessibility

August 5, 2021 | Source: Jewish Exponent

From March to September 2020, Zoom’s revenue skyrocketed by 3,300%, according to a CNN report, and it’s no secret why. The application became a ubiquitous tool for connection and opened up new possibilities for synagogues to confront and navigate the question of accessibility for disabled congregants and community members. “During the height of a pandemic, I was largely unable to safely leave my home,” said Rabbi Julia Watts Belser, a professor of Jewish studies and disability studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University and a wheelchair user…

One law firm brought hundreds of website accessibility cases. One of their clients says they ‘beefed up’ her disability in more than a dozen lawsuits.

August 6, 2021 | Source: Business Insider

Frances Kalender is legally blind. She has a condition called retinitis pigmentosa that is eating at her peripheral vision. She can’t drive, and some things look blurry, but her central vision still works; she can read. But in 13 lawsuits, her lawyers gave a different impression, telling a judge that Kalender couldn’t browse the internet without text-to-speech software known as a screen reader. When Insider read portions of the lawsuits filed in her name, Kalender seemed confused. She doesn’t need a screen reader…

‘A project like this is generational’: New KCI terminal prioritizes accessibility

August 6, 2021 | Source: Missouri Independent

When flights get rescheduled or moved to another gate, the announcement usually comes through the airport’s audio system. Passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing don’t get the memo, forcing them to rely on others to relay the new information. Sometimes, it turns into a game of telephone. Micki Keck, a deaf woman who works with The Whole Person, once missed a flight after another person gave her the wrong gate number. She was forced to get a hotel for the night and catch a different flight the next day…

‘We’re making an accessible place public’: Autism Trail seeks to break down barriers to deep nature

August 6, 2021 | Source: WBFO

Deep in Letchworth State Park, Catherine Abida and her son Ali sat on a bench in a pine tree-lined oasis. “What do you like about this trail?” Abida asked him. “The rocks? The trees? The benches?” “The trees,” Ali responded. Ali is 14. He has autism and is minimally verbal. He and his mom live in Albany. It takes them about four hours to drive to Letchworth, but they wanted to see the soon-to-open Autism Nature Trail — also known as the ANT…

Predating the ADA, This Park County Camp Is A Prime Example Of Accessibility In Nature

August 6, 2021 | Source: KUNC

Through the pandemic, outdoor recreation has emerged as critically important to our state’s economic recovery. National and state parks here are reporting record visitation, and businesses that sell outdoor gear have gotten a shot to the arm thanks to all the extra interest. And while the pandemic might have driven much of the recent interest, the outdoor recreation industry has been growing a lot over the past few years. A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the outdoor recreation economy in the United States is bigger than ever before — and bigger than sectors like mining and agriculture…

Colorado passes new laws to support people with disabilities in “banner year”

August 8, 2021 | Source: The Denver Post

If it weren’t for his family and their support over the years, Mitch Routon doesn’t know what he would be doing now. The 41-year-old Colorado Springs man has intellectual disabilities, and is now an advocate for himself and others at The Arc of Colorado, an organization that promotes policies to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We can do the same thing as everyone else,” Routon said. “It just may be at a slower pace.”…

Why are disabled women so underrepresented in American politics?

August 9, 2021 | Source: The Fulcrum

Today, 25 percent of American adults experience some type of disability, and the Disabled community continues to grow. Research has shown the number of eligible Disabled voters increased by more than 10 percent between 2008 and 2016. Over the past few decades, the United States has passed many legislative bills supporting equitable voter access and signed the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Despite this, the number of disabled politicians is a staggeringly low 10 percent of sampled U.S. elected officials…

Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Brown University to Ensure Equal Access for Students with Mental Health Disabilities

August 10, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice

The Justice Department and U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island today announced a settlement agreement with Brown University to ensure that students with mental health disabilities have equal access to educational programs. The agreement resolves the department’s findings that Brown University violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not allowing students who took medical leave for mental health reasons to return to school even though they were ready to return to campus life…

Remote work made life easier for many people with disabilities. They want the option to stay

August 10, 2021 | Source: Action News Now

Gabe Moses prefers to work his eight-hour shift for a call center while lying on his stomach, resting on a mattress set out on the floor of his apartment. Moses uses a wheelchair because of conditions including dysautonomia, which arises from a dysfunctional nervous system and can affect major organs, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. A connective tissue disorder, EDS can cause chronic pain, muscle weakness and ruptured blood vessels. Before the pandemic, commuting to work and sitting up for hours at a time left Moses in pain and so fatigued, he sometimes lost his ability to speak…

Social Security Won’t Penalize Disabled People For Saving Stimulus Checks

August 10, 2021 | Source: HuffPost

People who still have stimulus checks and money from other pandemic programs in their bank accounts won’t face a loss of Supplemental Security Income benefits, thanks to a policy reversal from the Social Security Administration. The agency announced last week, with little fanfare, that stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, emergency rental assistance and other benefits won’t count against eligibility at all ― and that the agency would restore any benefits it had withheld…

Why US animal relief areas are ripe for improvement

August 11, 2021 | Source: Runway Girl Network

Over the last decade, animal relief areas have become a common amenity offered at US airports. Most travelers likely never give these areas anything more than a passing thought, but they can be a godsend for service animal handlers like myself. While animal relief areas may seem like a simple nice-to-have, the reality is that US federal regulations require airports to offer these amenities. Airlines, in conjunction with airports, have been required to offer escorts to service animal relief areas since 2009…

For People With Disabilities, Outdoor Dining Has Created New Opportunities — And New Hazards

August 11, 2021 | Source: WGBH

With its overflowing garden tucked away on a quiet street in Jamaica Plain, the outdoor patio at Tres Gatos is a welcoming place to enjoy a meal outside on a summer day in Boston. Built over the past year as outdoor dining became a lifeline for restaurants during the pandemic, this particular patio is welcoming in more ways than one — it is the “crème de la crème” of outdoor dining in terms of accessibility, according to disability advocate Michael Muehe…

Ride-hailing companies getting better on accessibility

August 12, 2021 | Source: City & State

When ride-hailing companies came cruising into New York, accessibility was not at the top of their agendas. But just as New York City slowly began to slap new regulations on those companies in recent years, so too has the city started to require more of companies like Uber, Lyft and Via when it comes to accessibility. Under a regulation from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission that went into effect in 2019, Uber, Lyft and Via – the dominant ride-hailing companies in the city – are able to fulfill the city’s requirements for wheelchair accessibility by meeting a certain percent of wheelchair-accessible ride requests within a certain time frame.

Richmond library for the blind is a ‘hidden gem’

August 12, 2021 | Source: WTVR

Melody Roane’s approach to life is never off key. “I remember taking art lessons. I do remember that,” said Melody. The woman from Richmond lives every day to the fullest. “I do a lot. I do,” she said. Melody always looks on the bright side, despite living in darkness. “I’ve been blind since I was eight years old,” said Melody. Optic Neuritis robbed her of sight. “It is an inflammation of the optic nerves,” explained Melody. “They have no idea how it happened.” Going blind had its challenges…

Deaf or hard of hearing? This program might be able to help your child

August 11, 2021 | Source: KSAT

Do you have a child who is hard of hearing? Three out of every 1,000 babies are born deaf or hard of hearing in the U.S. Those numbers are mirrored in our state statistics, as well, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Making the best decision on how to provide your child the best education can be overwhelming, but a school in San Antonio offers a place where kids with hearing impairment can go to get an education that meets their specific needs…

Jack Fact — In a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, “Prevalence of Visual Acuity Loss or Blindness in the US,” researchers estimate permanent vision loss and blindness in Americans of all ages, including people younger than 40 years old, and adults in group quarters, such as nursing homes or jails. Researchers found more than 7 million people are living with uncorrectable vision loss, including more than 1 million Americans who are living with blindness.

Hit The Road Jack — Greece: Accessibility certification and labelling in tourism & Accessible parks are new norm for Sahuarita, GV & 10 Handicap Accessible Hiking Trails in WNY

International News

The pandemic made university more accessible for disabled students – returning to campus could reverse that

August 6, 2021 | Source: iNews- UK

Despite the Government’s U-turn on the proposal that university students must be fully vaccinated, I’m convinced the initial push will increase the pace at which students return to in-person teaching. Those itching for a return to on-campus mingling with their peers may well welcome that outcome. Others may consider it relatively sensible. But for disabled students like me, it risks putting many people’s health at risk – as well as destroying the long-awaited progress made towards accessibility during the pandemic…

Departments must ‘improve IT accessibility and interoperability’, says Whitehall disability champion

August 6, 2021 | Source: Public Technology- UK

Work needs to take place across government to ensure IT systems are accessible and interoperable, according to civil service disability champion Sarah Healey. In a blog post marking the publication of the government’s National Disability Strategy, Healey – who is also permanent secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport – difficulties encountered by officials in securing workplace adjustments to allow them to better do their jobs are “unacceptable”…

Hearing Aid Accessory Inspired by Former Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s Ear Cuff

August 6, 2021 | Source: Tech Times- Canada

A Filipino-Canadian woman with hearing loss has been selling hearing aid accessories inspired by the culture of the Philippines. Ruzzelle Gasmen, a speech pathologist from Vancouver, has taken inspiration from the ear cuff that former Miss Universe Catriona Gray wore during the Miss Universe 2018 competition. One of the hearing aid accessories that Ruzelle Gasmen is selling takes inspiration from the ear cuff worn by Catriona Gray in the Miss Universe competition…

Pandemic-era patios still too often inaccessible, disability advocates say

August 7, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada

Accessibility changes are coming to Halifax patios this summer

August 11, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada

More than 16 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians with disabilities say many restaurant and bar patios that have been expanded onto streets and sidewalks to create more outdoor seating remain inaccessible to them. They say it’s bad for people with disabilities and bad for businesses. David Lepofsky, a law professor and chair of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance said the expanded patios pose two challenges. One is that the patios themselves are often inaccessible for people who have mobility issues, vision loss or hearing loss…

Progress of Accessible India Campaign slow: Parl panel

August 7, 2021 | Source: Daily Excelsior- India

Make all court buildings accessible for specially abled people: Himachal HC

August 12, 2021 | Source: Hindustan Times- India

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has said it is “constrained” to note that the progress of the Accessible India Campaign launched for people with disabilities has been “rather slow” and only 494 of the 1,662 identified buildings under the programme have been made accessible since 2015. The campaign, was launched in 2015, to make transport, public spaces, tourist places, international airports, railway stations and information and communication technology in India differently-able friendly….

Service dog refused entry into Bradford restaurant; incident leads to education around legislation

August 8, 2021 | Source: Barrie Today- Canada

“Any dog is not allowed,” repeated Ganesh Ponniah, owner of the Golden Taste of Asia restaurant in Bradford, while refusing a local pastor and his service dog entrance into his establishment last week. Lily, the two-year-old purebred golden doodle, is owned by Cory Kostyra, interim pastor at Bradford Community Church. Lily completed training with the Citadel Canine Society as a medical service dog in June 2020, pursuant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and in accordance with the standards of the Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers…

Meet the visually impaired Inverness woman fighting for change

August 8, 2021 | Source: Press and Journal- UK

She is quietly confident, and her determination grows as the conversation unfolds. For Sarah, who lives in Inverness, is on a mission to make a difference to youngsters across the Highlands. Were you to rush past Sarah in the street, you would perhaps not notice anything out of the ordinary. But for Sarah, a simple walk can be thwarted by obstacles, and she relies on a white cane to help her scan her surroundings. There was once a time when she had no issue with her eyesight, and could easily join in with other children at primary school…

Australia’s 2021 Census set to be more accessible deaf and blind people

August 8, 2021 | Source: Talking Disability- Australia & Innovation

The upcoming National Census will be the most accessible and inclusive survey yet, making it as easy as possible for everyone to participate, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This year’s National Census is set to take place on Tuesday 10 August, with extra resources and support available for people who are vision-impaired or hard of hearing. A range of assistive technologies on the Census website promises to offer extra support and resources for people who are deaf or vision-impaired and would like to submit their forms online without requiring additional help…

Housing Assistance for people with special needs

August 9, 2021 | Source: FBC News- Fiji

Persons living with disabilities will now be able to upgrade their homes to accessible standards through the new Housing Assistance Program. This as the Ministry of Housing and Community Development is now accepting applications for the new program that focuses on improving the accessibility of housing needs of persons living with special needs in the country. Housing Minister Premila Kumar says this programme will assist those Fijians living with disabilities with a maximum grant of up to $5,000.00 per applicant to upgrade their homes to accessibility standards…

Atkins to conduct accessibility audit of all UK rail stations

August 9, 2021 | Source: Infrastructure Intelligence- UK

Atkins has been appointed by the Department for Transport (DfT) to carry out an accessibly audit of all UK rail stations as part of a government programme to boost inclusivity across the transportation network. The audit, originally pledged in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, will help identify improvements and highlights existing areas of excellence. The findings will form a new public database so people can better plan their journeys and, along with input from disabled passengers, will shape future investment in accessible rail travel as part of the government’s National Disability Strategy…

The importance of offering digital accessibility options

August 10, 2021 | Source: Elite Agent- Australia

In broad terms, digital accessibility is the practice of making all your digital tools, such as websites and apps, usable and accessible by people who may have a disability. Challenges such as vision impairment, colour blindness and deafness can all have a significant impact on a person’s ability to engage with and consume digital information. It’s not simply a case of it being ‘nice to have’; it’s a legal requirement to ensure that your website is accessible, in the same way that building standards and codes require buildings in Australia to meet particular accessibility requirements…

iPads to help visually impaired children in Scotland use the internet

August 10, 2021 | Source: FutureScot- Scotland

Young people living with sight loss are being encouraged to apply for a smart device to help them enjoy the same benefits of being online as everyone else. The charity Guide Dogs has launched ‘Tech for All’ which provides free assistive technology to all children with visual impairment aged between three and 18 in the UK. The scheme aims to help 3,500 children and young people in the first six months and potentially 10,000 by the end of 2022, if the pilot is successful. So far, 89 youngsters in Scotland have signed up…

Disabled access: 32% of disabled sport fans feel unable to attend live events, says survey

August 10, 2021 | Source: BBC News- UK

Almost a third of disabled supporters feel unable to attend certain sports or sporting venues because of poor access, says a survey by Level Playing Field. The charity campaigns for equal access for disabled fans in England and Wales. The survey asked about fans’ matchday experience at live sport events. “There is clearly much that still needs to be done to ensure disabled fans have an equal matchday experience to non-disabled fans,” said Level Playing Field’s chair Tony Taylor…

HSBC joining the bank card accessibility push with new ‘vertical’ designs

August 11, 2021 | Source: AltFi- UK & Finextra

Banking giant HSBC is replacing all its UK bank cards with a new design that prioritises features to help customers with dementia, sight loss, learning difficulties and dyslexia. Its new cards are also made from 85 per cent recycled plastic, which HSBC says will save 30 *tonnes* of plastic waste per year. HSBC told AltFi that figure is based on the average number of cards it produces per annum, which some quick maths indicates that must be around 5-6m new bank cards…

Disability campaigner stranded after hotel shower fall

August 11, 2021 | Source: BBC News- UK & iNews

A disability campaigner was left naked and feeling vulnerable when she fell in a hotel bathroom where an emergency alarm cord was tied up out of reach. Jennie Berry, a wheelchair user from Hartlepool, lay on the floor for 20 minutes after the accessible shower seat broke in her room on Saturday. The 28-year-old managed to “wriggle” to a second alarm but when staff turned up they were unaware of how to lift her. The Mama Shelter London hotel has been approached for a comment…

With Events and Venues Pivoting to Online Experiences During the Pandemic, What Can We Learn To Make More Experiences Accessible in the Future?

August 11, 2021 | Source: Broadsheet- Australia

Earlier this year a wheelchair user named Joel Sardi was refused access to a Melbourne restaurant, because the venue’s staff thought his wheelchair would take up too much space. Every wheelchair user I know has similar stories. Even in venues where there are turning spaces, accessible bathrooms and no steps at the entrance, attitudinal barriers can still exclude us just as effectively as physical obstacles. Making a space more accessible is a multifaceted and sometimes contradictory endeavor…

Israel Seeking Third Delay in Making Its Buildings Accessible to the Disabled

August 12, 2021 | Source: Haaretz- Israel

The government is once again seeking to postpone its obligation to make its facilities accessible to people with disabilities, even though almost 20 percent of government buildings still aren’t in compliance with the law. The postponement is included in the Economic Arrangements Bill that accompanies the annual budget but which has yet to be passed by the Knesset. The delay is being sought by both local governments and national government ministries, including the Health Ministry…

AI-supported test can predict eye disease that leads to blindness

August 12, 2021 | Source: Imperial College London

In a clinical trial of 113 patients led by researchers at Imperial College London and UCL, retinal imaging technology called Detection of Apoptosis in Retinal Cells (DARC) was able to identify areas of the eye that were showing signs of geographic atrophy (GA) – a common condition that causes reduced vision and blindness. The researchers believe that this technology could be used as a screening test for GA and help advance the development of new treatments for the disease…

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