Accessibility in the News — 9/2/2022.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“If we are to achieve a richer culture, we must weave one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.” ― Margaret Meade
The Role of Litigation and Regulation in Web Accessibility
Emerging Litigation Podcast featuring Hiram Kuykendall and Ken Nakata
Feature Stories
Hy-Vee class action claims website inaccessible to blind, visually impaired users
August 25, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
L’Oréal hit with class action lawsuit over website being inaccessible to blind users
August 26, 2022 | Source: Global Cosmetics News
Chic Soul class action claims website inaccessible to blind, visually impaired users
August 31, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
Guess Hit With South Florida Website Accessibility Suit
August 31, 2022 | Source: Complaint (PDF)
Large RIAs sued over claims that websites are inaccessible to the blind
September 1, 2022 | Source: Citywire
Retailer Hy-Vee’s website is not accessible to legally blind people who use a screen reader in violation of the law, a new class action lawsuit alleges. Plaintiff Jasmine Toro filed the class action complaint against Hy-Vee, Inc. Aug. 24 in a New York federal court, alleging violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Toro is a visually impaired and legally blind person who requires screen-reading software to read website content using her computer, she says. According to the lawsuit, Hy-Vee has failed to design its website, shop.hy-veedeals.com, to be fully accessible to blind or visually impaired users…
National News (U.S.)
‘It was depressing’: Frustration mounts over gaps in handicapped-accessible transportation
August 23, 2022 | Source: WBTV
Charlotte residents who rely on public transportation to get around are being left behind all because of where they live. Michelle Faulkner is one of them. She qualifies for handicap-accessible transportation but cannot access it. “At first, it was depressing,” Faulkner said. She started losing her vision about six years ago. Now, legally blind and receiving regular dialysis for failing kidneys, Faulkner is no longer able to drive herself. “First, I relied on friends and family, which very quickly runs out because they have lives too and can’t dedicate every day to what I need,” she said…
Disabled man asks for improved accessibility at Adel post office
August 25, 2022 | Source: WHO13
The post office in Adel is legally compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but a wheelchair-bound man and a non-profit organization believe it should go one step further for accessibility. Robert Fisher said he has asked his local postmaster for a push-button door mechanism for months. Fisher is confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, and said he cannot easily open the post office’s doors on his own. “You have to have somebody open the door every time in the parking lot…they have to open the door,” Fisher said. “That is demeaning, I’m sorry, but it is demeaning for other people in wheelchairs.”…
Half of Moms of Kids With Autism Have High Depressive Symptoms
August 26, 2022 | Source: Neuroscience News
About 50% of all mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had elevated levels of depressive symptoms over 18 months, while rates were much lower (6% to 13.6%) for mothers with neurotypical children in the same period, UCSF researchers report in a new study published August 26 in Family Process. In addition, while past studies suggest having a parent with depression increases the risk that children will have mental health and behavior problems, this study found something different…
Student report prompts update to ADA Accessibility Master Plan
August 26, 2022 | Source: The Collegian
Students propose ways to address lack of accessible resources on campus
August 30, 2022 | Source: The Oracle
When a blind Fresno State student, Jordan Fitzpatrick, first notified administration about the lack of Braille signage in the Social Sciences Building, he was told the project would be completed by early March 2020. Fitzpatrick’s request was fulfilled two years later after numerous email exchanges and committee meetings. “Without there being Braille, it was really difficult for me to find my class, and I brought up the issue when I first noticed it and it was so hard to get anyone to make any changes, so that was kind of what inspired me to try to find out if there were other buildings that had issues,” Fitzpatrick said…
LoDo elevator closure may violate Americans with Disabilities Act
August 26, 2022 | Source: KDVR
One of the most decorated Olympians in Colorado history says new downtown elevator hours are making her life difficult. Amy Van Dyken, who won six gold medals in swimming, said the elevator at the 18th Street pedestrian bridge no longer runs 24 hours a day. The elevator hours were recently scaled back to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “Unfortunately, it’s been anything, but easy,” said Van Dyken, who has used a wheelchair since she was paralyzed in an ATV crash in 2014…
The Signs Of Hearing Loss You Shouldn’t Ignore
August 26, 2022 | Source: HUFFPOST
You may think that having hearing loss would be obvious — not being able to hear the TV or the sound of a neighbor knocking on your door seems like something you’d notice right away. But hearing loss is not always so easily perceived. It can present itself in unexpected ways (and you may even overcompensate in other ways to decrease the effects). According to Dr. Gavriel Kohlberg, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, hearing loss is really undiagnosed throughout the country, making it under-treated, too…
Why Getting More People With Disabilities Developing Technology Is Good for Everyone
August 27, 2022 | Source: The Good Men Project
Unless you’re blind or know someone who is, you might not know that blind people use the same smartphones as sighted people. In fact, many blind people use touch-screen smartphones every day. The secret is that smartphones have a screen reader, a tool that allows blind people to use a mix of gestures and taps, along with vibrations or audio feedback, to use their apps. Screen readers work on desktop computers as well as mobile devices. You can usually find the screen reader in settings under accessibility…
How airports can make travel more accessible for flyers with disabilities
August 27, 2022 | Source: PBS
Complaints from fliers with disabilities have more than doubled since before the pandemic. According to the Department of Transportation, the situation has gotten so bad that the department recently announced an airline travelers with disabilities’ Bill of Rights to help people understand their protections under federal law. But some airports are stepping up to help ensure that passengers have a smooth ride. Special Correspondent Megan Thompson reports…
Voters with disabilities face new barriers over Texas voting law
August 27, 2022 | Source: Courthouse News Service
Amy Litzinger votes in every election, even if sometimes she needs a little extra help. Born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, the 34-year-old Austin resident runs into challenges that able-bodied voters might not even consider. To get to a polling place, Litzinger, who doesn’t drive, needs a van capable of transporting her wheelchair. When she arrives, she might need help with tasks like opening doors or getting out her ID. Once in the voting booth, she needs help inserting her Scantron voting sheet, getting it out and putting it into a ballot box…
‘It’s very rare:’ Accessible Shine Music Festival returns for second year
August 28, 2022 | Source: CBS News
Saturday the universally accessible music festival returned to Denver’s Civic Center Park. Shine Music Festival was designed to make live music inclusive for those with various disabilities. CBS News Colorado is a sponsor of that event. “A lot of people with various disabilities don’t get to experience live music,” said Diane Perez, social media director for Shine Music Festival. Shine Music Festival returned for its second year, to break down barriers to live music access…
Lindsey Vonn’s mother dies 1 year after ALS diagnosis: ‘Grateful for every moment’
August 28, 2022 | Source: Today
Former Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn’s mother, Linda Krohn, has died one year after she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Vonn announced the news on her Instagram Saturday, August 27. She shared a series of family photos throughout the years and several photos of the mother-daughter duo posing together. On the first photo, a throwback of Vonn posing with her mom in her ski gear, the alpine ski racer added the text, “Lindy Anne Lund Mom 1942-2022.” In the caption, Vonn penned a lengthy message dedicated to her mother, explaining that she had lost her battle with ALS…
Islamorada Charter Boat Operator Makes Boating Accessible To The Disabled
August 28, 2022 | Source: Florida Keys Weekly Newspapers
Charter boat Captain Mick Nealey is all too familiar with the daily struggles confronting people living with disabilities. Nealey requires two crutches to get around, the result of contracting polio when he was 2 years old. “I realized that because of the polio, sooner or later I’m going to wind up in a chair, so I don’t want to get left stuck at the dock either,” said Nealey, explaining why he started offering inclusive and adaptive charters 30 years ago. Two years ago, Nealey teamed up with Ken Ostebo…
Striving to outrace polio: What’s it like living with the disease
August 29, 2022 | Source: NPR
A friend of Minda Dentler texted her the news article of the recent case of polio in Rockland County, New York that led to a patient becoming paralyzed. “I kind of was in shock and disbelief to see it in the United States,” she recalls. “We have all these resources and then to hear that somebody didn’t get part of the regular childhood vaccines and that person could get polio. It was shocking to me.” Dentler was born in Mumbai, India in 1978 and contracted polio at six months. She missed the wave of universal immunization in the country by several years…
New Accessible Festivals Grant Program Offers Free Tickets To Firefly, Rolling Loud, Other Fall Fests
August 29, 2022 | Source: Forbes and Pitchfork and Live For Live Music and Consequence Sound and The Hollywood Reporter
In 2007 Austin Whitney was injured in a car accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the waist down. After eight months battling depression and anxiety about living with a disability, he attended Coachella, his first music festival, and had a transformative experience. Six years later, in 2014, he founded Accessible Festivals, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making music and other recreational events fully accessible to people of all abilities. It’s a concept for which support has been steadily growing within the live events industry and hit the fast lane during the last few years…
LDS church offers online content for people with disabilities
August 30, 2022 | Source: Standard-Examiner
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday announced new online content designed to assist people with disabilities on their digital platforms. A “Disabilities” page has been updated at ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the content has been posted on the Gospel Library app in the Life Help section, which includes materials for individuals, parents, caregivers and leaders of those who are deaf or hard of hearing or have disabilities, according to church information…
Going out on a limb: regrowing human limbs is possible, although we can’t yet do it
August 30, 2022 | Source: ZME Science
Back in 2019, a paper published by researchers at Texas Aand M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) offered our first hints that mammals can regenerate lost limbs. That research was led by Ken Muneoka, a Professor at CVMBS, who also led the study we are discussing today. The new findings challenge current beliefs that mammals can only heal to a limited degree, and that our natural regeneration abilities are limited to tissues such as the skin or organs such as the liver…
Federal court blocks ruling limiting voting accessibility for people with disabilities
August 31, 2022 | Source: The Hill
A Wisconsin federal court on Wednesday blocked a state elections rule that would have forced voters with disabilities to cast their own ballots. U.S. District Judge James Peterson with the Western District of Wisconsin ruled that state officials violated the Voting Rights Act (VRA) because a 2021 ruling effectively prevented Wisconsinites with physical disabilities from casting a ballot in the upcoming midterm elections. “Voters shouldn’t have to choose between exercising their federal rights and complying with state law…
Five ways the metaverse could be revolutionary for people with disabilities
August 31, 2022 | Source: The Conversation
The invention of the world wide web in 1989 eventually brought about life-changing tools for everyone who can access it. Some of these tools, such as online banking, shopping and communication, have vastly improved the accessibility of daily life for people with disabilities, as well as older people. The concept of virtual mobility has long been used to describe how the internet can provide an accessible alternative to activities that usually require physical mobility. Virtual mobility was in full swing during the pandemic, as work, entertainment and socialising efficiently moved online…
Ruston grocery store increases employment accessibility for fully deaf cake decorator
August 31, 2022 | Source: KNOE
A Ruston grocery store has hired a woman who is fully deaf as its cake decorator, helping her take a step toward her lifelong dream. Tanisha “NeNe” Vernon-Vergara started her new job at Ruston Groceries early in August 2022. NeNe received on-the-job training with a training coach through a partnership between the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge and a local supermarket when she was a senior in high school. The Louisiana School for the Deaf is also where she met her husband, Josh Vergara, who is hard of hearing…
How one disabled hiker is clearing a path for others: ‘I didn’t see people who look like me’
September 1, 2022 | Source: USA Today
Syren Nagakyrie has always loved nature, but hasn’t always been able to enjoy the outdoors. “I just felt like hiking wasn’t something I could do because I didn’t see people who look like me,” they said. Nagakyrie, who is nonbinary and uses the pronouns they and them, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and several other medical conditions that make hiking tricky. “I deal with a lot of chronic pain, a lot of joint issues, a lot of chronic fatigue and some other internal issues.”…
DOE Releases First-Ever Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
September 1, 2022 | Source: U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released its first-ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan to underscore the Department’s commitment to creating a workplace that celebrates Americans of all backgrounds. The plan outlines Departmental actions to sustain an inclusive and accessible work environment by strengthening recruitment, retention and promotion, while removing inequitable barriers to advancement and development opportunities…
How Wifi Binoculars Could Help Make Birding and Nature More Accessible
September 1, 2022 | Source: National Audubon Society
On a brilliant August morning in Seattle, a man peers through a pair of binoculars, fixing his gaze on the shaggy bark of a Douglas Fir. Its impressive column rises alongside the wide, flat trail snaking through this vestige of urban forest, and a small knot of people are gathered beneath it, staring intently at iPads. “So are you looking at that hole in the bark there?” Krista Hanson asks the man with the binoculars. “I’m trying to take a picture of it,” Ed Dominguez replies as he fiddles with the heavy binoculars. “It’s the Brown Creeper nest.”…
Jack Fact — According to The Parkinson’s Foundation, nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease (or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). This is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030.
Hit The Road Jack — 5 accessible holiday destinations across the world and Getting from the Orlando Airport to Disney: Mears Connect Accessibility Review and 10 Accessible Beaches Across the US and Canada and Hilton Head’s free beach wheelchairs and overlook are making the ocean more accessible
International News
Ipswich station gets virtual tour to help passengers with accessibility requirements
August 25, 2022 | Source: Rail Business Daily- UK
Train operator, Greater Anglia, has launched an online virtual tour of Ipswich rail station to help people travel with confidence – which is especially useful for disabled customers wanting to check how accessible their journey is. The tour has been designed to support journey planning, give customers a clearer picture of the station before they travel and reduce anxiety about how they’ll get around from car park to platform to airport. Using the virtual station tour, people can find out how to get to all public areas of the station including the toilets, customer service desk, platforms and anywhere else they might need to visit at the station…
Practo asked to make its website, app fully accessible for the disabled
August 26, 2022 | Source: The Hindu- India and Live Law
The court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) on Wednesday ordered Practo, the online healthcare service provider, to make its website and app fully accessible for the disabled, affirming that legal requirements and guidelines on accessibility applied to private companies. “This court recommends that Respondent No. 1, i.e. Practo Technologies Pvt. Ltd. shall comply with the government guidelines and shall make necessary modifications within 6 months and not later than 9 months from receiving the copy of this Recommendation-Order, to its app and other Information and Communication Technology platforms…
Chau Chak Wing Museum in Australia offers color blind guests greater accessibility
August 26, 2022 | Source: InPark Magazine- Australia
Since April of 2022, museum guests who are red-green color blind can borrow special EnChroma glasses from the Chau Chak Wing Museum and experience exhibitions – for example the vast array of blue hues in the Coastlines exhibition – in clear, vibrant color for the first time. “The accessibility of art and design is always top of mind at the Chau Chak Wing Museum and we are very pleased to be the first venue in Australia to offer this technology through EnChroma’s Color Accessibility Program,” said Dr Paul Donnelly, Deputy Director of the Museum…
Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Commend Bangladesh on Incorporating the Convention in Domestic Law, Ask Questions on Infanticide and Employment Support
August 26, 2022 | Source: OHCHR
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Bangladesh on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Committee Experts commended Bangladesh for incorporating the Convention in domestic law, and asked questions on infanticide and on support for employment of persons with disabilities. Danlami Umaru Basharu, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, noted the tremendous improvements made in the field of human rights in Bangladesh…
CRPD takes action against Gżira local council following reports of accessibility issues
August 26, 2022 | Source: MaltaToday- Malta
Gżira council offered use of parish hall amid accessibility woes
August 27, 2022 | Source: Newsbook- Malta
The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability has taken action with regards to the inaccessibility of the premises of the. “The Commission requested the council to provide it with feedback indicating which actions have been taken to address this issue as well as requesting a plan of action, including a set of timeframes, which will indicate when and how remedial action will be implemented,” it said. On Thursday, the PN condemned discrimination against councillor Mario Azzopardi, who had to miss out on a council meeting and his swearing in due to accessibility issues at the Gzira council building…
Paris 2024: two years from the Paralympic Games, what are the challenges to be met regarding accessibility?
August 28, 2022 | Source: California18- France
In 732 days, Paris will become, for the first time in its history, the theater of the Paralympic Summer Games. Thousands of athletes have an appointment, from August 28 to September 8, 2024, in the capital for the biggest world event dedicated to parasport. With more than 3.4 million tickets on sale – a record for an edition of the Paralympic Games – the Organizing Committee (Cojo) hopes highlight the 23 disciplines included in the official program. But at the same time, at D-2 years, it must also guarantee the best reception conditions for all audiences, including people with disabilities…
Prince Mired, AIG CEO talk accessibility
August 28, 2022 | Source: Jordan Times- Jordan
HH Prince Mired, president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on Sunday met with Airport International Group (AIG) CEO Nicolas Claude to discuss modifying Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) to guarantee complete accessibility to people with disabilities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The prince stressed the need for a coordinated effort to ensure airport accessibility, highlighting stakeholder commitment as the cornerstone of rendering Jordan a regional and international model for empowering people with disabilities…
National construction code changes to add thousands of dollars to cost of new homes, builders say
August 28, 2022 | Source: ABC- Australia and Architecture and Design and The Guardian
From October next year, all new homes will need to meet accessibility and energy efficiency requirements in many parts of Australia. Queensland’s peak industry body, Master Builders, said they anticipated the changes would add an extra $30,000 to an average build. “$30,000 is a significant amount.” Under the changes, homes built in Queensland would need to meet a seven-star energy-efficiency rating and be more accessible with at least one step-free entry…
Improving Station Accessibility In Melbourne’s West
August 29, 2022 | Source: The National Tribune- Australia and Infrastructure Magazine
The Andrews Labor Government is improving accessibility across the transport network to ensure all Victorians can safely and easily get to where they need to go. Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll and Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne were at Newport Train Station today, where planning work will soon get underway to investigate improved accessibility as part of a $57.7 million package in the Victorian State Budget 2022/23. The works at Newport Station will help develop options and designs for potential accessibility improvements and upgrades…
(Ad)dressing the Inaccessible
August 29, 2022 | Source: RMIT University- Australia
RMIT Bachelor of Fashion (Design) graduate, Rachel Shugg, has been recognised for her accessible clothing designs in this year’s Design Institute of Australia’s Graduate of the Year awards. Currently working at the inclusive focused Australian clothing label, JAM the label, and has a residency with RMIT SITUATE, Shugg took out Graduate of the Year in Fashion Design in the Victorian and Tasmanian category. We spoke to Shugg about her mission to create more accessible fashions designs for people with disabilities…
Pender Harbour resident helps bring real accessibility to the Coast
August 29, 2022 | Source: Coast Reporter- Canada
Three years ago, Accessibility Standards Canada was born out of the Accessible Canada Act (the Act). Its mandate: create accessibility standards that remove and prevent barriers in areas under federal jurisdiction. Unlike most federal departments, a nine-member Board of Directors leads the organization. They represent the community well, as a majority live with a disability. All of them are accessibility allies. One of those members is Brad McCannell, from Garden Bay. He brings a lot of experience in the design and operation of the built environment…
How live music is improving accessibility for fans
September 1, 2022 | Source: Reader’s Digest- UK
Live music is an experience like no other. The feel-good factor of seeing your favourite artists live is hard to beat, but for some, it can also be hard to access. With one in six people suffering hearing loss in the UK, around one and a half million people with a learning disability, and one in four experiencing mental health problems each year, there are a lot of potential gig goers that could be missing out because their needs are not being met. Missing out could be down to ticket booking issues, a lack of access info or effective promotion of inclusive events, or anxiety and panic in large crowds…
Thousands of people with disabilities are waiting for an accessible home in B.C.
September 1, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
Kyle Jacques has one wish before his 29th birthday this month — to find an accessible home. Jacques uses a wheelchair and has spent the past nine months looking for an affordable, accessible home in Vancouver. At his current rental, he grapples with everyday tasks such as getting his wheelchair inside the house, cooking a meal and using the bathroom. “Some days I feel hopeless, other days I just keep pushing. I’m really trying to find something, but that’s difficult,” said Jacques, adding that he has contacted community groups and B.C. Housing for help…
Tech innovations for accessibility awarded
September 1, 2022 | Source: The Hindu- India
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri on Thursday awarded the winners of the Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards 2022, which included a literacy tool by Belagavi Smart City. The awards were an initiative of the National Institute of Urban Affairs and the United Nations in India for addressing the city-level challenges of accessibility and the inclusion for persons with disabilities, women and girls and senior citizens, a Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry statement said…
Accessibility pilot program targets local organisations
September 1, 2022 | Source: Australian Rural and Regional News- Australia
Guide Dogs Queensland have received a warm welcome in Mount Isa as it looks to pilot an accessibility program in the region. The program will allow organisations and community services to reach the one in six people who have a disability. Client engagement and collection dog officer Jonathan Hall said Guide Dogs Queensland had created an accessibility toolkit to assist organisations to create accessible content. Accessibility allows everyone equal opportunity and access to the same information, Mr Hall said…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- Life expectancy in the U.S. continues to drop, driven by COVID-19- NPR
- Benefits of Health Techs in Terms of Accessibility and Affordability- Digital First Magazine
- Looking ahead: What has the pandemic taught us about online access?- Open Access Government
- Why Concerns About Medical Debt Are Outpacing Concerns About Student Loan Debt Forgiveness- Forbes- Denise Brodey
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Accessible Travel Press – Issue #18
- WID Monthly Newsletter: August 2022
- Wheelchair Travel Newsletter
- August 31, 2022
- Why Is Web Accessibility So Important?- The Drum
- Search Off the Record: Let’s talk accessibility- Apple Podcasts
- Fitness with Friends: PWR! Moves Seated- Fun 4 The Disabled (Video)
- Review Sought of Accessibility of Agency Information- FEDweek
- We should celebrate accessibility tools, not hide them away- ITPro
- The cost of living crisis: disabled people’s stories- Disability Horizons
- Breadth and Simplicity of Accessibility in Health IT – Part 3- Andy Oram
- Celebrating the best in inclusive recruitment in 2022- Robin Christopherson
- New Accessibility Requirements for the B.C. Public Sector- Lawson Lundell
- Why Slack’s new accessibility manager says the work is never done- Protocol
- Nicole Kohr — Storytelling and Living with Cystic Fibrosis- Ability Magazine
- Why accessibility should matter more to your marketing and brand- Fast Company
- Best Highlights From The Age-Group And Adaptive Competition- CrossFit Games (Video)
- Prioritizing Accessibility in Public Spaces Is Better for Everyone- SMA News Today
- Voice recognition assistants help people with severe speech impairments- Clive Gilbert
- HR and Accessibility Best Practices – What do your team need to know about?- HR News
- Talking with Vendors about Accessibility- Usability and Web Accessibility- Yale University
- University of Windsor – Annual Accessibility Report 2020-2021 and Multi-Year Plan Update (PDF)
- The Manager’s Dilemma: How To Work With Brainy NonConformists- Forbes- Denise Brodey
- Seeing the Light: Alumnus Becomes Leader in Accessibility and Inclusion Practices- GW Today
- Language for RFPs, Contracts and Statements of Work- Usability and Web Accessibility- Yale University
- There Are 61 Million U.S. Adults Living with Disabilities—Here’s How Marketers Can Reach Them- Capterra
- Accessibility- How can we approach accessibility and inclusivity in sports in a way that empowers people with disabilities?- sportanddev.org
- DOJ Rules Coming on Web Accessibility for State, Local Governments; Businesses Should Pay Attention, Too- Corporate Compliance Insights
- Communication Around Digital Accessibility Must Improve: How Users And Businesses Alike Are Failing To Advance Digital Accessibility- Jeff Singleton
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Losing Music By John Cotter
- Accessible park grand opening in Monument
- Accessible Parking Permits now available online
- TTC And UsableNet: A Partnership For Accessibility
- How the Schoolhouse Hotel was designed for accessibility
- Community garden made more accessible with help of grant
- Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive
- Wheelchair user celebrates new lift at Birkenhead Park station
- App Tracks Cholesterol Level And Suggests Lifestyle Changes
- Amtrak advances accessibility improvements at New York Penn
- Manitoba spending $1.1M to improve accessibility at provincial parks
- Accessibility through audio description introduced at Disneyland Paris
- Google Maps Now Lets Users Easily Find Wheelchair Accessible Places
- Cincinnati Museum Center makes exhibit accessible for hearing-impaired
- Huron-Clinton Metroparks continues push for improving accessibility in parks
- Brattleboro Museum and Art Center receives $50K grant to improve accessibility
- Local nurses to provide accessible healthcare with in-home, telemedicine startup
- New all-abilities playground at Above and Beyond Children’s Museum in Sheboygan
- Campaign aims to create comprehensive guide to accessibility in Ann Arbor locations
- FCC Invites Membership Applications for Fifth Term of the Disability Advisory Committee
- Netflix Partners With RespectAbility on New Program for Disabled Children’s Content Writers and Animators
- Governor Hogan Announces Top National Ranking for American Sign Language Access During COVID-19 Press Briefings
- Did you know that 80% of talented, diverse brains (ADHD, autistic, dyslexic) are searching for a job? They deserve more. Let’s get these awesome folks hired now. Change starts with you. Start here: The Rebel Talent Blog
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- 10 influential accessible mobile games
- Fonts For Dyslexia: 10 Most Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts
- 6 Helpful Accessibility Features in the Amazo Kindle
- 5 ways that visual technology creates IDEA-friendly experiences
- Accessibility comes to Google Meet with mute toggles to keyboard
- The Last of Us Part I: full list of accessibility features and Verge and Games Reviews
- 4 exercises that can prevent (and relieve!) pain from computer slouching and more
- Are You Nearsighted or Farsighted? Here’s How to Make Windows More Accessible
- High-tech hats, remapped buttons: Gaming got more accessible to those with disabilities
- Turn Your iPhone into a Personal Sound Machine to Help You Focus, Rest, and Stay Calm
Accessibility Statements
- Aptem
- Coforma
- Equal Entry
- Texas Roadhouse
- Solihull Approach
- Auburn University
- American Cancer Society
- College of Central Florida
- Western Governors University
- Georgia College and State University
- 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 resources include:
- What is a VPAT®? A VPAT Primer
- Understanding Digital Accessibility in the Procurement Process
- 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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