Accessibility in the News — 10/15/2021.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ― Christopher Robin
Watch Ken Nakata’s Digital Accessibility Legal Summit Keynote
Feature Stories
Biden Department of Justice Steps up ADA Title III Enforcement
October 11, 2021 | Source: Seyfarth Shaw
Legal Update: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Championing Digital Access
October 10, 2021 | Source: LF Legal
As we predicted in January, the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden Administration has been very busy. In the nine months since President Biden took office, the DOJ has issued a guidance on “long COVID,” filed Statements of Interest (SOI) in three ADA Title III (public accommodation) cases and three ADA Title II (state and local government) cases, and renewed its effort, dormant under the prior presidential administration, to pressure businesses to make their websites accessible to users with disabilities through threats of enforcement actions….
National News (U.S.)
Cinemas returning to ‘normal’ ends a golden age for accessibility
October 8, 2021 | Source: Digital Spy
“The year when people couldn’t go to the movies is over. Moviegoing has returned in force,” professed Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman. This proclamation came as part of a piece arguing that the day-and-date release of Dune on HBO Max in the US is “a mistake”. He justifies this stance by saying a same-day online release will result in lower profits for the studio and will cut down on the film’s “event status”; that the entire industry has a vested interest in the success of Dune to gauge the future of movie theatres and, ultimately, that the film just doesn’t play as well on a TV set…
Yadkinville man brings awareness to accessibility for the deaf
October 8, 2021 | Source: Spectrum News
Craig Blevins was born hearing and went deaf at 2 years old after contracting meningitis. Since then he’s needed to navigate the world in a way not many of us have experienced. “Compared to back then, there is so much better technology, nowadays … I feel like there is really no limits to access anymore,” he said. Now, Blevins is the president of the North Carolina Association for the Deaf and a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing at R.J. Reynolds High School in Forsyth County…
From Harlem To Hollis Adopts Zoning Rules To Advance Transit Accessibility
October 8, 2021 | Source: Harlem World Magazine & Mass Transit
Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Council, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the approval of Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility. A collaboration between the MTA, City Council, the Department of City Planning (DCP) and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to boost New York City’s push to make its transit system fully accessible. The initiative will allow the MTA to leverage planned private development to achieve a fully accessible transit system faster, while saving taxpayer dollars as the MTA faces financial challenges caused by the ongoing pandemic…
Personal mission and teamwork bring wheelchair-accessible glass-bottom boat to Silver Springs
October 8, 2021 | Source: WMFE
The glass-bottom boats head out from the dock above Mammoth Spring and cruise down the cypress-lined Silver River. The passengers all sit around the open center of the boat and look down at fish and turtles, sometimes even manatees. The captain spins stories about underwater statues, a centuries-old canoe and vents in the riverbed that churn sand and spew water from the aquifer. “We’re in real time,” he says, “seeing this crystal clear water and exactly where it’s coming from — as well as a lot of fish feeding off of some of the grass down here — and looking how limestone reacts to the light below us to give it this blue effect.”…
‘Relentless’: Chris Salas on a mission to help the disabled live happy, meaningful lives
October 8, 2021 | Source: San Antonio Express-News
The last time Chris Salas saw Sen. Ted Cruz, it was on a first-name basis. Salas was lobbying for disability rights — particularly housing accessibility — on Capitol Hill with the United Spinal Association, as he does every year, when the Texas Republican entered the room. Cruz made his way down the line, shaking hands with the several dozen people waiting to greet him. When it was his turn, Salas thought he’d break the ice with a joke: “This is like, the fifth time we’ve met — can I call you Ted?”…
Lawsuit Provides Blind Individuals with Access to New York State’s Emergency Mass Notification System
October 8, 2021 | Source: Legal Reader
People who are blind and use screen readers will now have independent access to life-saving information offered by “NY-Alert,” New York State’s Mass Notification System. Under a settlement agreement just reached between blind advocates and the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), the state agency will bring critical information on the NY-Alert website into compliance with web accessibility standards within six months, so that individuals who use screen readers can ensure they receive urgent emergency notifications, including time-sensitive alerts about dangers like hurricanes, floods, fires, and winter storms…
Paraplegic man pulled from car, thrown to ground by police in Ohio
October 8, 2021 | Source: NBC News
Police in Ohio forcibly pulled a paraplegic man out of his vehicle and threw him to the ground, despite his repeated appeals and him saying he has no use of his legs, according to body-camera video released Friday. The Dayton Police Department shared the video with NBC News that shows two officers commanding motorist Clifford Owensby to step out of the Audi he was driving during a traffic stop last week. The video was edited, and it’s not clear what happened before or after the video…
FSU PhD candidate receives NEH grant to improve visual accessibility
October 10, 2021 | Source: Florida Flambeau
Aaron Rodriguez, an English doctoral candidate in Florida State University’s History of Text Technologies program, has been awarded a $99,915 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH). According to the NEH, the $2.3 million in Digital Humanities Advancement Grants awarded supports the implementation of digital humanities projects which have successfully completed a start-up phase and proven value to the field. A number of 20 Digital Humanities Advancement Grants were awarded…
TWO AMERICAS: Accessible transit in Omaha comes with limitations
October 11, 2021 | Source: KMTV- 3 News Now
Logan Finn prides himself on being able to travel around Omaha. Through years of experience, he’s gained the skills and knowledge necessary to use public transit. “It’s trying at times, but again, with me being so mobile, I can pretty much conquer anything,” Finn said. Finn is one of many Omahans that use MOBY, Metro Transit’s curb-to-curb, paratransit service. Each month, anywhere from 7,000 to 13,000 trips are made using the fleet which consists of 30 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible vehicles and 25 drivers…
Disability Insurance: What Surgeons Need to Know
October 12, 2021 | Source: General Surgery News
When Robert Kaplan’s girlfriend entered her pediatric residency in the late 1980s, he wondered what kind of financial protections the institution had put in place for her and her colleagues. Mr. Kaplan, a certified public accountant at the time, soon discovered that the program did not provide residents with disability insurance—coverage that replaces a physician’s income in case of illness or injury. Becoming disabled poses a major threat to a physician’s financial stability, according to Mr. Kaplan, who currently lives in Encino, CA…
Want real inclusivity? Start hiring more people with disabilities
October 12, 2021 | Source: Benefit News
COVID has unveiled new opportunities for employees to shine and showcase their talents. But employers need to make some big changes if they want to tap into a population of millions of workers ready to contribute: employees with disabilities. One in four Americans live with a disability that impacts life activities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and of that population, just 17.9% are employed, compared to 61.8% of individuals without a disability, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data…
Marlee Matlin: The Rise and Journey of Oscar Winning Actress & Deaf Activist
October 13, 2021 | Source: Hollywood Insider
Many may know the actress Marlee Matlin due to the record-breaking academy award she earned for Best Leading Actress at the young age of 21 in her very first movie role, ‘Children of a Lesser God’. To date, she is the youngest winner within that category in addition to the only deaf individual to ever win an Oscar. Growing up in Chicago with her parents and two older brothers, she is the only deaf individual in her family. She completely lost her hearing at just 18 months due to illness and high fevers. Growing up, she never knew life any differently since her hearing loss spawned at just one-and-a-half years old…
Iowans with disabilities should receive the same access to inclusivity as other minority groups
October 13, 2021 | Source: The Gazette
Diversity, equity and inclusion have become common buzzwords in job applications over the past year and a half. That mainly has to do with a public outcry for better, more equitable practices and policies from employers to foster accountability. For employers, that looks like not only obtaining, but retaining a workforce which reflects the makeup of their surrounding environment and community. While people often think of race and gender in relation to DEI efforts, the scope of accountability expands much further beyond those demographics…
Sprouts settles disability discrimination lawsuits
October 14, 2021 | Source: Phoenix Business Journal
Sprouts Farmers Market Inc., the Phoenix-based specialty grocer, will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle lawsuits over allegations that the company discriminated against deaf people in its hiring practices. The lawsuits were filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Sprouts (Nasdaq: SFM) and the federal agency were able to settle the lawsuits on Oct. 14. As part of the settlement agreement, Sprouts will pay $280,000 to three deaf parties and provide other significant relief, according to the EEOC…
What’s it like to parent with a disability? This new book explores that reality in Louisville
October 14, 2021 | Source: Courier Journal
Everyone seemed to have an opinion about whether Donna Fox was fit to be a mother. Her rheumatoid arthritis hits every joint in her body from her jaw to her toes. With it came the kind of chronicpain that makes it more difficult to unbuckle car seats, twist off baby bottle tops, and lift children from the ground. It did not, however, make it more difficult for her to love and care for her two sons after she gave birth. The Louisville woman’s words are bold and proud as she shares her story in a recently published anthology from the Center for Accessible Living Inc. about families with parents who have disabilities…
I Couldn’t Afford Hearing Aids Until I Got a Six-Figure Book Deal
October 14, 2021 | Source: Slate
“Oh, Your Hearing Won’t Be Coming Back”
October 13, 2021 | Source: Slate
“Does my dress look ugly on me, Bella?” my older sister asked me as she turned to look in the mirror. We were in Manhattan for her final wedding dress fitting. I smiled big and nodded. “Yes,” I said. “It’s so perfect for you.”
I realized I’d misheard her question when her shoulders fell and she put her hands over her face to hide her tears. “You’re supposed to lie to me, Bella,” she said. “You’re supposed to say I look beautiful.” “I’m so sorry,” I told her. “You look gorgeous … stunning. Honest!”…
Former Anheuser-Busch employee admits $460k disability fraud
October 13, 2021 | Source: Saint Louise Post Dispatch
A former employee of Anheuser-Busch InBev has admitted fraudulently claiming $460,000 by falsely claiming to be disabled, the U.S. attorney’s office said Wednesday. Shannon Nenninger traveled nationally and internationally, went to concerts, did yardwork, washed her car, went fishing and attended various social events, all while claiming to be too disabled to work, prosecutors said. Nenninger pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to a conspiracy charge. She was one of at least a dozen people who were either indicted or pleaded guilty in the investigation…
What if we could end blindness forever?
October 14, 2021 | Source: The Hill
New Johns Hopkins center aims to end blindness
October 14, 2021 | Source: Baltimore Sun
I would be willing to bet you take seeing for granted. Unfortunately, an estimated 43 million people worldwide are not so fortunate. Today marks World Sight Day, an annual event launched to call public attention to the ancient scourge of blindness. The blind are constricted in ways the sighted could never really imagine. Virtually every step beyond the narrow confines of a memorized space is an adventure into the unknown, and even within those known spaces, chairs and table corners have a way of jumping out at you, making falls a common occurrence, along with cuts, scrapes, broken bones, and endless frustration…
‘This is not inclusive.’ Some students with disabilities are going without as districts scale back virtual programs
October 14, 2021 | Source: Chalkbeat
As the new school year approached, Susan Graham wanted to know: Would her California school district have a remote learning option for her fifth grader? State lawmakers put strict limits on virtual learning this year, so her son’s district wasn’t offering daily classes over Zoom anymore. Instead, the district had an “independent study” program. Graham hoped it could work as a stopgap until her 10-year-old, who has Down syndrome and a respiratory condition, could be vaccinated against COVID…
Jack Fact — According to the CDC, 61 million adults in the United States – or 26% – live with a disability. Of those individuals, 4.6% are vision impaired.
Hit The Road Jack — 5 easy ways you can be an ally to disabled travelers & Fall Guide: Frost trail is now accessible to everyone & Accessible Travel Press
International News
Disability advocate hopes to spark more accessible holidays in Western Australia
October 7, 2021 | Source: ABC News
A hazardous step, narrow doors or hidden dangers make holidaying in Western Australia for people with a disability so treacherous that 20 per cent of them just stay at home. The state has enjoyed a domestic tourism boom with a record number of West Australians wandering out yonder in 2020 and 2021, but those with a variety of disabilities have been discouraged to find their most basic needs were not met. Disability advocate Ben Aldridge cited the tourism statistic that one in five people with a disability do not holiday because it is just too hard…
Accessibility carries a simple business case
October 7, 2021 | Source: REMI Network- Canada
The premise of accessibility is the simple right to equal opportunity. From that impetus, many commercial real estate operators are making the simple business case for buildings that are functional for all potential users. It’s a quest that can begin with simple investigations, simple low-cost measures and simple mindfulness, whether at the design stage of new developments or in re-evaluating routine property management practices. A recent REALPAC-sponsored webinar exploring efforts to identify and alleviate barriers in the built environment touched on all those themes…
Accessible packaging | Special Report
October 8, 2021 | Source: Packaging News- UK
For so many of us, it’s a given that we can identify our favourite food products and read on-pack instructions. But for those who are blind and partially sighted, this information is inaccessible and it’s a problem. “I have been registered blind since I was a young lad,” explains Marc Powell, strategic accessibility lead at the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). “I’ve accepted that packaging is not accessible.” Despite this, the charity hasn’t stopped campaigning to make packaging and retail outlets accessible…
Plea in Madras HC seeks wide publicity to draft guidelines on accessibility
October 8, 2021 | Source: The New Indian Express- India & The Hindu & DTNext
‘Accessible India in force, but we keep facing issues’
October 11, 2021 | Source: Times of India
The Madras High Court on Friday issued notices to authorities concerned over a PIL petition seeking a direction to the central government to publish the draft “harmonized guidelines and standards for universal accessibility in India, 2021” in an accessible format and in vernacular languages. The petitioner also wanted the officials to make printed copies available for inspection at designated offices, provide wide publicity in print and electronic media about the same and invite public comments for a minimum of 30 days…
Disability-led consultations important for City of Regina accessibility efforts
October 8, 2021 | Source: Regina Leader-Post- Canada
After facilitating 20 focus groups on how to achieve accessibility and inclusion in Regina’s recreation and leisure sector, John Loeppky says one comment in particular stands out. “I don’t want to wonder if I’m welcome. I want to know that I’m welcome,” said one participant during consultations done in July. Loepkky is a member of the disability-led Listen to Dis’ Community Arts organization, which was contracted by the City of Regina to consult with members of the disabled community, and those in their support system, to help inform an Adaption Recreation Plan…
Hamilton parking lot and on-street patios create accessibility issues
October 8, 2021 | Source: The Spec- Canada
Susan Creer, a west Hamilton resident with mobility challenges and a longtime advocate for the disabled, hopes the City of Hamilton will stop its five-year-old on-street patio program in parking lots and street parking spaces across the city. In a presentation to a special meeting of the city’s Advisory Committee for Persons With Disabilities meeting Sept. 24, Creer said the patios take away parking spaces that provide important access for the disabled.
“I have said it from the beginning,” Creer told the committee…
Three Bridges man who lost the use of his legs in a crash appointed as accessibility lead for train company
October 8, 2021 | Source: West Sussex County Times- UK
Wheelchair user Carl Martin, who lost the use of his legs five years ago is the new accessibility lead for Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express. Carl believes ‘access to transport is access to life’. In recent years, the industry has been on a journey of improvement to ensure the railway becomes more accessible, ensuring that as many barriers as possible are removed and everyone can travel more independently. Carl’s determined to encourage more people to use the assistance and support the railway has to offer, Govia Thameslink Railway said…
The Last Leg’s Adam Hills Calls Out Channel 4 Over Ongoing Accessibility Issues
October 9, 2021 | Source: HuffPost- UK & Metro
The Last Leg host Adam Hills called out Channel 4 over the accessibility issues that have blighted the channel for the last two weeks. Last month, the channel faced outages following a mass evacuation at its broadcast centre, with Channel 4 and several other networks briefly going off the air as a result. In the two weeks since, Channel 4 has faced a number of technical issues, most notably a lack of subtitles, audio description or sign language support for viewers who require these services…
After 7 years, Disabilities Act to take effect Feb 14, 2022
October 9, 2021 | Source: Loop News- Jamaica
The disabled community in Jamaica has welcomed the passage of the regulations that will govern the Disabilities Act that was passed in 2014. The legislation will finally go into effect on February 14, 2022, said the Minister of Labour and Social Security Karl Samuda, as he piloted and led the debate on the regulations in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The Regulations were approved by Members of the House and will now enable the Disabilities Act and all its attendant parts to come into effect…
Disabled rail passengers will soon be able to virtually visit railway stations before their journey
October 9, 2021 | Source: LincolnshireLive- UK & RailAdvent
Northern Rail is creating a brand new virtual game to help its disabled customers. The first of its kind, the technology will allow passengers to explore their journey and the support they require in advance, from the comfort of their own home. Users will be able to experience trains, stations and interact with station and on-board staff in a realistic simulated environment on their own phones, tablets and PCs or even in low-cost VR headsets for a fully immersive experience…
UNESCO Supports Development Of A Guide On Mainstreaming Disability In The Prevention Of Violence Against Women In Zimbabwe
October 9, 2021 | Source: India Education Diary- South Africa
The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa within the Spotlight Initiative supported Deaf Women Included (DWI) to develop a guide for practitioners on mainstreaming disability in the prevention of and response to violence against women with disabilities in Zimbabwe. The evidence based guide is informed by the community dialogues and trainings on gender based violence (GBV) that Deaf Women Included coordinated in six Spotlight Initiative districts as well as their work with women and girls with disabilities in the fight against gender-based violence…
Defying the odds!
October 10, 2021 | Source: Jamaica Observer- Jamaica
The phrase “overcoming the odds” is an understatement for 24-year-old Joshua Burgess. Though born with congenital rubella syndrome, which has caused him to suffer from a number of health challenges over the years, he continues to break barriers. On September 28, Burgess participated in the prestigious UNESCO Information for All Programme’s (IFAP) Second Artificial Intelligence for Information Accessibility (AI4IA) Conference, where he spoke about ‘Openness and Inclusivity for the Disabled Community in a New Era’…
New tourist-friendly infrastructure, improved accessibility part of Tokyo’s Olympic legacy
October 11, 2021 | Source: TTG Asia- Japan
Improved sporting facilities, transport links and barrier-free access in Tokyo are among the legacies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), which has released its findings on the legacy of the Games for leisure and business travellers to Japan. Plans for the Games’ legacy began to be put in place when Tokyo was selected as host city, in 2013. Organisers and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government made “a commitment to use the Games as a catalyst for the development of new technology that would help make urban environments more sustainable and more accessible,” said a JNTO note…
Osterley becomes 89th step-free London Underground station
October 11, 2021 | Source: Rail Technology Magazine- England
The installation of new lifts at Osterley station has enabled step-free access from street level to the platform, becoming the 89th London Underground station to meet the accessibility measure. Two new lifts and improves signage will give passengers with accessibility needs better access to the station and wider transport network from Osterley, while boarding ramps will continue to be available to assist customers with boarding and alighting. The station also features tactile paving along the full length of both platforms…
Moving hearing impaired candidates from job seekers to job creators
October 11, 2021 | Source: Soweto Urban- South Africa
In end of the month of September which is also International Month for Deaf People, INMED South Africa partnered with the Deaf Empowerment Firm (DEF) to host an aquaponics training workshop. The workshop was for a group of individuals with hearing impairments at the INMED Aquaponics® Social Enterprise (INMED ASE) in Vanderbijlpark. The INMED ASE is a new type of incubator of entrepreneurial agro-enterprises for climate-smart food production…
Lack of Auslan interpreters at NSW press conferences ‘selective accessibility’
October 12, 2021 | Source: SBS- Australia
The Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has accused NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet of ‘violating’ the human rights of people with disability. Deaf and hearing-impaired residents expressed disappointment on social media after Auslan interpreters were missing from the state government’s two press conferences about the easing of COVID-19 restrictions this week. “Failure to provide this information in an accessible manner, in real-time, violates the human rights of people with disability and places them at great risk,” ALHR Vice President Natalie Wade said…
‘Deafness not a disability in agriculture’
October 13, 2021 | Source: The Nation- Nigeria
The World Foundation of the Deaf (WFD) has estimated that there are about 72 million deaf people in the world with a significant number of this is in developing countries. However, like in other countries, people with disabilities in Nigeria are believed to be incapable of farming. But this is changing with many of them running successful agro ventures. They are rising up to the challenge of increasing food production and attaining sustainable poverty reduction, Daniel Essiet reports…
Carrefour France Plans To Integrate Sign Language In Stores
October 13, 2021 | Source: European Supermarket Magazine- France & WebWire
Carrefour France has announced an action plan to offer the best possible experience to its deaf and hard of hearing customers. The retailer is launching a campaign to raise awareness and train its in-store staff in French Sign Language (LSF). The initiative is part of the group’s ambitions to create an inclusive environment in its stores. The retailer recently launched silent hours in stores for people with autism. It is estimated that there are four to five million hearing-impaired people in France, including 300,000 deaf people, according to the National Federation of the deaf in France…
Noise and seafarer’s hearing loss
October 14, 2021 | Source: Panay News- Philippines
Hearing loss is a serious medical condition for a seafarer as it impacts his physical and economic well-being. A seafarer’s hearing loss may be caused or aggravated by his working environment, like noise, entitling him to disability benefits. In the case of OSM Maritime Services v. Nelson Go (GR 238128 Feb. 17, 2021), the medically-repatriated seafarer was diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease, which is described as an incurable disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness, ringing sound in the ears, intermittent hearing loss, and feeling of ear pressure or pain…
17 hawkers do their bit to serve customers with swallowing difficulties in Smaller Bites campaign
October 14, 2021 | Source: The Straits Times- Singapore
For seven years, Madam Lina Ang prepared easy-to-chew food for her husband, who had swallowing difficulties after a stroke, until his death in 2011. Now, the 64-year-old hawker painstakingly does the same for customers who have problems swallowing, by cutting up noodles and ingredients in other dishes that she sells. The condition, medically termed dysphagia, affects mostly seniors and can arise from Parkinson’s disease, stroke or general ageing. In general, 15 per cent of the elderly population suffer from dysphagia, according to Alexandra Hospital (AH)…
Peter Rhodes on living with colour blindness – and not wanting to be cured
October 14, 2021 | Source: Express & Star- UK
What’s it like to be colour blind?
October 14, 2021 | Source: RTE- UK
I knew if I waited long enough, I would become a victim. Sure enough, moves are afoot to help those of us stricken with colour blindness. When I say “stricken” what I actually mean is that we do not worry in summer when our lawns turn from green to brown because, as any colour-blind person will tell you, brown and green are the same colour. Anyway, relief is at hand. Firstly, a new range of spectacles costing £200 is claimed to cure some cases. Secondly, football and rugby authorities are working to prevent colour confusion on the pitches by insisting on rival teams wearing light and dark kit…
Royal commission told of ‘heartbreaking’ abuse faced by women with disability
October 14, 2021 | Source: ABC- Australia
Alarming statistics about the violence and abuse experienced by women and girls with disability have been laid bare for a Commonwealth inquiry, including increased reports of strangulation during the pandemic. The disability royal commission was told 90 per cent of women with intellectual disability have experienced sexual abuse. And women with disability account for nearly half of all domestic violence victims in this country. Family and domestic violence consultant, Talie Star, said too often women were not believed…
FA aims to be ‘beacon for society’ as it reveals first disability football plan
October 14, 2021 | Source: The Guardian- UK
The Football Association has pledged to increase the number of people playing disability football in England by 50% in three years, as it announced its first plan to support the game. Currently 4.5% of people with disabilities play football, fewer than the 5.9% who play golf. The FA’s Football Your Way plan intends to create 2,800 new opportunities to engage in the game – from greater provision at schools to a new “recreational football offer” for adults. It also has broader ambitions to change the culture around football and disability…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- COVID-19’s Impact on Vision Loss Across Canada- Newswire
- Covid 19: Federal Disability-Specific And Other Related Guidance- SEED
- NPR poll: The delta surge pushed Americans further behind in all walks of life
- Disabled Student Union hosts hybrid protest for COVID-19 accommodations- Daily Bruin
- A record number of workers are quitting their jobs, empowered by new leverage- The Washington Post
- CDC: People With Disabilities Want COVID-19 Vaccines, But Struggle To Get Them- Disability Scoop
- Justice, Education Departments Issue Fact Sheet on Supporting Students at Risk of Self Harm during COVID-19 Era- U.S. Department of Justice & PDF
- Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Status, Intent, and Perceived Access for Noninstitutionalized Adults, by Disability Status- National Immunization Survey Adult COVID Module, United States, May 30–June 26, 2021
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Oak Hill’s NEAT Center
- October Newsletter
- ODEP at 20: Leading Voices – Dr. Roy Grizzard
- Making data visualizations more accessible- MIT News
- Accessible Social Media Practices for Your Brand- UsableNet
- UX Accessibility: How to Start Designing for All- Luis Talamantes
- Accessibility is vital for people of all ages- Isle of Wight County Press
- People With Disabilities A Valuable Workforce Resource- News Dakota
- Improving your Website’s SEO and Accessibility With Alt Text- UsableNet
- Busting myths: Solutions engineer talks truth about digital accessibility- AT&T
- Improve your mobile QA practices to improve your user experience- SD Times
- Dyslexia Awareness Month recognizes students’ need for accommodations- The Post
- Disability-Inclusive Peacebuilding: State of the Field and the Way Forward- ReliefWeb
- Today’s World Of Work Is All About The Employee Experience- Meg O’Connell- Forbes
- Students detail inadequate accessibility on campus, difficulty getting to classes- Daily Free Press
- Students with disabilities face disappearing accommodations in return to UW campus- Capital Times
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination- ADA
- More than 50% of disability hate crime victims have experienced direct verbal abuse- Disability Horizons
- Accessibility Awareness Month offers chance to offer input on inclusivity- Lancaster Commission on Disability
- Reframing Digital Accessibility As An All-Out Business Win, Not A Compliance Burden- Gus Alexiou- Forbes
- How to finance digital inclusion so universal access to the internet drives sustainable growth- World Economic Forum
- Edwin Albert Baker, CC, OBE, MC, co-founder of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind- The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Website Law Alert—Two Defenses That May (or May Not) Succeed Against an ADA Website Accessibility Claim- Cowan Liebowitz & Latman
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Google Improving Smartphone Accessibility
- Disabled access to OAED websites is in operation
- How Accessible Are Jamaica Plain’s Playgrounds?
- Disability: 9 digital solutions to improve autonomy
- Partial Waiver IP CTS and IP Relay Registration Rules
- National park in Tennessee opens accessible trail to cabin
- Linn County election workers make early voting accessible
- ColorOS 12 focuses on simplicity, accessibility and inclusivity
- New York Life Adds a Participating Individual Disability Policy
- Disability Network of Southwest Michigan welcomes new leader
- Monsido Announces Automated Accessibility Testing for WCAG 2.2
- Microsoft 365 accessibility features fall 2021 lineup: Here’s what’s new
- Latest Canvas LMS Includes Updates to Discussions, Studio, Catalog and Elementary
- UW Accessibility Committee Recognizes Contributions of Employees With Disabilities
- Microsoft launches UK’s first national digital billboard campaign featuring sign language
- Level Access Achieves FedRAMP Authorization for Accessibility Management Platform
- Gov. Lee Visits Leaders to Discuss Tennessee’s Progress in Serving Disability Community
- Apple is testing AirPods as possible hearing aids, posture improvers and in-ear thermometers
- PRIDE Industries Named a Leading Disability Employer by the National Organization on Disability
- AODA Consultation: Initial recommendations for the development of proposed postsecondary education accessibility standards
- AODA Consultation: Initial recommendations for the development of proposed Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) education accessibility standards
- Commission seeks feedback on public sector web accessibility- The two surveys are available in all EU official languages and will close on 25 October 2021
- Disability-Owned Businesses to Compete as Finalists in Disability:IN’s Virtual Pitch Perfect Challenge, Expanding Work Opportunities for Disabled Entrepreneurs
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Accessibility Tips
- Accessibility Awareness Videos
- Explaining WCAG Principles: Operable
- Explaining WCAG Principles: Perceivable
- New Xbox Accessibility Updates Announced
- How to Make Your Web Addresses Accessible
- Converting PowerPoint Speaker Notes to Tagged PDF
- How to enable AirPods Pro Conversation Boost feature
- Far Cry 6’s accessibility features fall just short of paradise
- How to Customize Accessibility Settings for Specific Apps in iOS 15 (Video)
- Soapbox: Joy-Con Aren’t Perfect, But They’re Great For Sick Day Gaming
- VR isn’t accessible enough. How can the medium’s platform holders fix that?
- Audio Radar is an accessibility tool that turns gaming PC sounds into light cues
- Google Chrome on Android will let you expand the text of each website independently
- ‘Far Cry 6’ System Requirements, Graphic Presets, Best Settings to Run the Game on Your PC
- Disabled Streamers Changes the Gaming Industry By Creating Communities and Teaching Acceptance
- Feature: Steven Spohn On Strides In Accessibility For Gaming, And Nintendo’s Room For Improvement
Accessibility Statements
- CBC
- Metrolinx
- EU-OSHA
- Sopra Steria
- University Hospitals
- Garden Communities
- NBA Media Ventures
- Bishop O’Dowd High School
- University of Maine School of Law
- India Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
- 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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