Accessibility in the News — 7/9/2021.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“A bend in the road is not the end of the road. Unless you fail to make the turn.” — Helen Keller
The Digital Accessibility Legal Summit 2021
Feature Stories
11th Circuit Fields Case of Disability Rights Claimant Sanctioned in Serial Litigation
July 1, 2021 | Source: Courthouse News Service
The 11th Circuit on Thursday considered whether a civil court judge overstepped his authority by issuing fines and community service penalties against a man known for filing more than 130 lawsuits over disability access.
Alexander Johnson was once hailed by his now-suspended attorney as a crusader for deaf people’s rights. He and the lawyer, Scott Dinin, filed dozens of federal lawsuits over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law requiring the government and certain businesses to make their services accessible to disabled people…
NY Federal Judge Puts the Kibosh on 17 Reservations Website Lawsuits Filed by Same Plaintiff
July 7, 2021 | Source: Seyfarth Shaw
Last month, June 2021, Judge Sannes of the Northern District of New York dismissed 17 ADA cases brought by plaintiff Deborah Laufer for lack of standing. Laufer, a Florida resident with a disability, has been tormenting the hotel and lodging industry for years, bringing an impressive 614 lawsuits (including appeals) nationwide since 2018, including 63 in the Northern District of New York (NDNY). Her lawsuits are typically identical, alleging that the hotels violated the ADA and corollary state laws by failing to provide sufficient information about accessibility features and barriers at the hotels on their online reservation systems (ORS)…
National News (U.S.)
Commissioners recertify handicap accessibility of polling places
July 2, 2021 | Source: LebTown
Lebanon County commissioners approved Thursday the recertification of all 60 polling places as handicap accessible. Michael Anderson, director/chief clerk of Voter Registration, asked the commissioners to approve the 2021 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Polling Place Accessibility Report, noting that all voting locations throughout the county have been recertified as handicap accessible. “I would note that within the next year that we are going to go out and reassess all of these locations,” said Anderson…
Bay Area Historic Movie Theaters Move Towards Greater Accessibility
July 2, 2021 | Source: KQED
Angela Chan hardly misses a film at the Roxie Theater, even though she takes public transportation all the way from where she lives in Millbrae to get to the San Francisco Mission District venue. “When you get a membership, you’re going to want to see more than two movies a month,” the avid moviegoer says, crossing 16th Street on the way to catch a screening of Kid Candidate as part of the Roxie’s DocFest programming. “And patron members get free popcorn.” Chan is legally blind, and because she has scoliosis, she uses a walker…
Murky Rules Complicate ADA Compliance Online
July 2, 2021 | Source: Law360
During the COVID-19 pandemic, companies minimized or entirely eliminated consumers’ in-person experiences. To stay afloat and engaged with consumers, companies expended significant capital further expanding and developing their online presence, making their websites significant revenue drivers. And throughout 2020 and 2021, the number of website accessibility lawsuits filed under the American with Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, California’s equivalent of the ADA, did not abate. Rather, in Los Angeles County alone, nearly a dozen such lawsuits are now filed each day…
Philadelphia challenge looks to use AR to improve transit accessibility
July 2, 2021 | Source: Smart Cities Dive
The city of Philadelphia is seeking ideas on ways it can use augmented reality (AR) technology to make its Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) public transportation system more accessible for people with disabilities. The city’s smart city arm, SmartCityPHL, said the “SEPTA for All: Augmenting Transit with Augmented Reality” challenge seeks proposals that deal with any segment of a transit journey, like trip planning or traveling to a destination. Applications are due August 2…
Accessibility progress and next steps: A Q&A with a renowned disability advocate
July 2, 2021 | Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle
On July 26, 2020, the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) was celebrated. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. In addition, the ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and it established accessibility requirements for publicly used places and spaces. To commemorate this legislation, GCDD’s Legislative Advocacy Director Charlie Miller interviewed Mark Johnson, renowned disability advocate and former director of advocacy at the Shepherd Center…
Tennessee teen launches fundraiser to buy wheelchair-accessible van for little brother
July 3, 2021 | Source: WGN-TV & Illinois News & WFLA & MyHighPlains & WATE & KXAN
A Tennessee teen is on a mission to get the money for a new set of wheels for her brother who is in need of a wheelchair-accessible van. Rylee Linkous, 17, is raising money to buy the van for her brother, 9-year-old Xander Linkous. Xander was born premature and when he was 5 weeks old, Linkous said their mother, who had a drug addiction, smothered him, leaving him with brain damage. Nine years later, he is unable to walk, talk, eat or swallow.
His sister said despite the challenges he faces, he is outgoing, smart and brave…
Conway native’s startup advocates for accessibility in rental properties
July 5, 2021 | Source: The Cabin.net
Disability advocate, Conway native and Hendrix College graduate Lorraine Berry Woodward is the creator of Becoming rentABLE: a 2021 startup television and social media platform dedicated to advocating for and creating accessible short-term rental properties across the United States, per a press release provided to the Log Cabin. Woodward said she created Becoming rentABLE with the intent of generating awareness of what makes a short-term rental property fully accessible and to educate the public about the barriers that impede people of varying abilities from enjoying and using a short-term rental property…
Biden’s diversity and inclusion EO highlights struggling federal internship program
July 6, 2021 | Source: Federal News Network
It’s all hands on deck for federal agencies implementing President Joe Biden’s new executive order on diversity and inclusion, which the president signed during a recent Pride Month event. Federal employee groups and others see the new order as comprehensive and broad, one where everyone from the White House Domestic Policy Council to the National Institute of Standards and Technology has a role in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in government…
M&T Bank Makes Banking Accessible For All
July 6, 2021 | Source: LocalSYR
M&T Bank is on a mission to make banking accessible for all abilities and their new collaboration does just that. They’ve partnered with Magnusmode to create new digital guides that provide visual cues and step-by-step instructions to help people access fundamental banking services. The partnership comes with an inspiring story too. Magnusmode Founder Nadia Hamilton understands what it feels like to not have access to the tools necessary to achieve everyday tasks…
Norman disability community wants accessible transportation solutions
July 7, 2021 | Source: Norman Transcript
“Any solution is better than what Norman has in place right now.” That’s the view many in Norman’s disability community — including John High and Jeff Hughes, the executive director of Progressive Independence — have when it comes to the city’s accessible transportation issues. “This transportation issue has existed for a long time,” Hughes said. “It doesn’t just affect people with disabilities either — it also affects people who are elderly.” High, who uses a wheelchair, said because Norman does not have many options when it comes to accessible transportation for residents with disabilities…
New Laws Let Americans With Disabilities Vote Online. They’ve Also Resurrected The Debate About Voting Access vs. Election Security.
July 7, 2021 | Source: FiveThirtyEight
Since the dawn of the internet, someone has inevitably raised this question every election cycle: Why can’t we vote online? (The question was particularly apt in 2020, when states had to grapple with how to run an election during a pandemic.) And every time, election security experts dutifully answer that there is currently no technological way to guarantee a secure online ballot. Despite that, some Americans are able to vote online — namely, military and overseas voters — and they have been for more than a decade…
ADA Alert: Lawsuits targeting physician offices
July 7, 2021 | Source: California Medical Association
The law regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be complicated and difficult for physicians to navigate. However, it is increasingly important that physicians be aware of relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines to avoid being implicated in a lawsuit for unknowingly failing to comply with the ADA. The California Medical Association (CMA) has received reports that small and solo medical practices, especially in Southern California, have been sued for alleged violations of the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act…
Williamsport accused of violating agreement to make City Hall ADA compliant
July 8, 2021 | Source: Lock Haven Express & Williamsport Sun-Gazette
The city of Williamsport has been accused of violating terms of a consent decree to make modifications to City Hall so it complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Center for Independent Living of North Central Pennsylvania, the local chapter of ADAPT and four individuals Tuesday filed a motion in U.S. Middle District Court seeking to have the city held in contempt and sanctioned monetarily. The four individual plaintiffs are Jay Harner and Tina Cummings of Williamsport, Thomas Grieco of Lock Haven, and Marie Prince of Jersey Shore…
Could increasing telework make government employment more accessible?
July 8, 2021 | Source: FCW
Broadened access to telework across the federal government after the pandemic could be a big win for federal employees with disabilities. It’s one type of “reasonable accommodation,” or a change to the work environment that makes it easier for someone with a disability to do their job. The disability community is no monolith, but people who have mobility issues that make it difficult to commute; employees who are immunocompromised; or those whose chronic illnesses are subject to flare-ups are examples of those who might benefit from a teleworking accommodation…
More action is needed to improve accessibility for disabled people in Portsmouth
July 8, 2021 | Source: ITV News
Campaigners in Portsmouth are calling for action to be taken to make the city more inclusive for those with disabilities. They say life can be “difficult” for wheelchair users in the city, with one resident telling ITV News Meridian he has to wheel down a narrow path, cross a busy road and avoid crumbling curbs to reach his home. Local disability groups say action needs to happen now to improve the lives of disabled people in the city. They say that there are barriers in everyday life which could be easily resolved, and add that in today’s society everyone should be able to lead an equal life…
Enhancing Accessibility in US Elections
July 8, 2021 | Source: Center For American Progress
In 2020, voters with disabilities turned out in force in one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history. According to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 62 percent of disabled voters cast a ballot in the November 2020 election, compared with just about 56 percent of disabled voters who participated in the 2016 presidential election. 2020’s high turnout is demonstrative of disabled voters’ unwavering resolve to make their voices heard and to fully participate in American democracy…
New ADA accessibility in North Cheyenne Canon
July 8, 2021 | Source: KOAA
A kid named Daniel goes at the wheelchair equivalent of a run, up one of the newly installed accessibility ramps at Helen Hunt Falls in North Cheyenne Canon. Asked what he thinks of the falls, he gives a thumbs up. Daniel’s Mom, Esther said, “I just want to celebrate.” This is Daniel’s first time seeing the falls in Colorado Springs up close. Daniels’s a goer, but he can only go where his wheelchair goes. The family has driven by the falls before without stopping. This day is different. “It was a great surprise to see the parking and the ramps, and he was so excited to be able to get out,” said Esther…
Successes and challenges: Accessibility for those with disabilities in Scarsdale
July 8, 2021 | Source: Scarsdale News
Picture this: It’s a gorgeous spring day. Little League is in full swing — quite literally. A resident with a physical disability drives to a local field to catch the last part of her child’s game. But when she arrives, she finds the accessible parking spaces have been taken up by an ice cream truck. Should she go home or park farther away and risk her physical health? This is a situation that almost happened right here in Scarsdale, where an ice cream vendor actually refused to move from two accessible parking spaces during a 2021 Little League game at Crossway Field; however, it is not known whether any person with a disability was directly impacted…
A Personal And Literary Exploration Of Blindness And Sight
July 8, 2021 | Source: https://www.wnpr.org/post/personal-and-literary-exploration-blindness-and-sight WNPR (Audio)
At 10 years old, M. Leona Godin began losing her vision. Her experience with sight and blindness is detailed in her new book, There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness. In it she also explores blindness throughout literature, and through key figures and inventions throughout history. This hour, we’re joined by Godin to discuss “the vast, dappled regions between seeing and not-seeing, blindness and sight, darkness and light.”…
Judge David Tatel’s lack of eyesight never defined him, but his blindness is woven into the culture of the influential appeals court in D.C.
July 8, 2021 | Source: The Washington Post
When Judge David S. Tatel informed President Biden of his plan to step back from the federal bench this year, he closed his letter on a personal note: “My guide dog, Vixen, is pleased to know that First Dogs Champ and Major are also German Shepherds.” In nearly three decades on the appeals court in Washington, Tatel’s lack of eyesight has never defined him. But his blindness — and more recently the attentive German shepherd at his side — is now woven into the culture of the courthouse where Tatel has been at the epicenter of consequential cases affecting major aspects of American life…
This Newark educator returned ‘home’ to teach Deaf students. Now she’s the district’s Teacher of the Year.
July 8, 2021 | Source: Chalkbeat Newark
DeJanee Martinez has loved reading for as long as she can remember. And every school day, whether through a computer screen or in person, she tries to instill that love in her students at Bruce Street School for the Deaf. The 110-year-old school on Clinton Place in Newark is one of the oldest day programs in the country for Deaf and hard of hearing students ages 3-15. Yet many Newarkers — and even teachers in the district — learned about it only in June, when Martinez was named Newark Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year…
Jack Fact — A Pew Research Center finding revealed that only 41% of disabled adults have broadband at home, compared with 69% of those without a disability; meanwhile, 67% of disabled Americans between the ages 18 to 64 own a desktop or laptop computer, compared with 84% of the non-disabled.
Hit The Road Jack — Awesome Accessible Outdoor Adventures in the US & Accessible Travel News Service
International News
Stratford council set to approve new accessibility design standards for city buildings
July 2, 2021 | Source: The Beacon Herald- Canada
Should Stratford council approve the city’s new 130-page facility accessibility design manual, the construction or renovation of any new or existing city buildings would have to conform to a set of standards that go beyond legislated requirements in many ways. In consultation with Stratford’s accessibility advisory committee and accessibility design consultants from DesignABLE Environments Inc., city staff began working on the manual in 2018 to address accessibility requirements for the design and construction of new facilities, as well as for any retrofits, alterations or additions to buildings owned, leased or operated by the City of Stratford…
How accessible is Cork City Centre? Restaurant chairs vs Wheel chairs
July 3, 2021 | Source: The Cork- Ireland
Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central has welcomed news that the Irish Wheelchair Association, in conjunction with Cork City Council, are to carry out an accessibility audit on streets and parking in Cork city centre. Deputy Gould said: “This is an issue I’ve been highlighting for almost a year now. The pedestrianisation of streets has been such a positive step forward for many businesses and has created a real buzz around town…
MIQ booking system ‘inaccessible’ and ‘discriminatory’ — blind community
July 4, 2021 | Source: TVNZ- New Zealand
Auckland woman Martine Abel-Williamson was meant to be in Spain this week after becoming the first New Zealander elected as president of the World Blind Union. But she couldn’t get around a security check called CAPTCHA, built into the booking process. “It’s quite inaccessible to blind people because you’ve got to line up vehicles and bicycles and boats and there’s a lot of visual things to prove you’re a human, instead of just a question everyone could answer”, she said…
Disability commission proposes accessibility engineering programme in varsities
July 5, 2021 | Source: Guardian- Nigeria
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Commission for Persons With Disabilities (FCPWD), James Lalu, has disclosed a plan by the commission to push for the commencement of an academic programme in accessibility engineering to produce technical specialists in the area of accessibility for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD). This, he said, would move the country towards a disability-inclusive and overcoming difficulty in accessing public facilities like schools, train stations, airports and the neglect of persons with disabilities…
The pandemic has made arts events accessible to all: Why change that?
July 5, 2021 | Source: Irish Examiner- Ireland
As pilot events are well under way around the country, excitement is growing at the thought of going to a gig or taking a trip to the theatre. Finally, a return to something that resembles normal. After months on end of having no access to live events or cultural activities, the return of arts events is a light at the end of what has been a very long and very dark tunnel. But for a large section of society, a return to a pre-pandemic ‘normal’ would mean returning to a world without access to those same events…
First Zagreb Digital Literacy Centre for Blind and Visually Impaired Opened
July 5, 2021 | Source: Total Croatia News- Croatia
As Iva Badanjak/Novac writes, the very first Zagreb Digital Literacy Centre for the blind and visually impaired was put into function this week and is worth 165,000 kuna. Located within the premises of the Association of the Blind in Zagreb, which has about 1,500 members, this project will provide them with digital education that will make their daily lives easier and strengthen their competencies when entering the labour market. The president of the Zagreb Association of the Blind, Branimir Sutalo, said at the opening of this unique centre that this project should serve as an example of good practice for other associations of the blind and visually impaired…
Accessibility standards to be developed for UK’s EV infrastructure
July 5, 2021 | Source: AirQualityNews- UK & Motor 1 & Current & Transport Network
The government has partnered with disability charity Motability to set accessibility standards for the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) charge point infrastructure. With one in five people in the UK living with a disability, it is estimated that there will be 2.7 million disabled drivers or passengers by 2035, with 1.35 million expected to be partially or wholly reliant on public charging infrastructure. However, a lack of accessibility across the UK’s EV charging network has been identified by disability charity Designability as being a key problem area…
Municipal Autism Strategy ‘great first step’ — councillor
July 5, 2021 | Source: Sault Star- Canada
Sault Ste. Marie releases autism strategy
July 6, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada
The City of Sault Ste. Marie has completed its municipal autism strategy, developed in consultation with various community partners, and geared to assist families, caregivers and individuals dealing with an autism diagnosis and to assist them with accessing available services. “It is important for us to recognize that the City of Sault Ste. Marie is a trailblazer on this matter,” said Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen, chair of the Autism Strategy subcommittee. “Caring for an individual with an autism diagnosis can be challenging.”…
Why architect Aatika Manzar’s one-of-a-kind book cafe in Delhi is a space accessible to ‘all’
July 5, 2021 | Source: EdexLive- India
Delhi-based architect and interior designer Aatika Manzar ensures that every space she designs has a story to tell. Even when she is working on commercial spaces, her designs have a purpose. And that thought is what exudes through her latest project, a one-of-a-kind book cafe in Delhi called Merak, India’s first accessible-to-all book cafe. Merak was opened last year during the first wave of the pandemic in the NCR region and its aim is to fulfill the lack of recreational spaces for the differently-abled in India…
OKU dialouge highlights issues faced
July 6, 2021 | Source: Borneo Bulletin- Borneo
The need for a Person with Different Ability (OKU) Card as well as better implementation and enforcement of differently-abled parking and building accessibility were among the suggestions made during a dialogue with youth at Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Auditorium recently. This was shared by Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari as the chairperson of DBNS Youth Advisory Group during the session, organised by the National Youth Strategy and Policy (DBNS) Youth Advisory Group in collaboration with the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU)…
No New Public Buildings May Be Constructed/ Sanctioned Without Providing Access For Persons With Disabilities: Madras High Court
July 6, 2021 | Source: Live Law- India
To make public places disabled-friendly, the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Government to make sure that no new buildings in the state are constructed or sanctioned without ensuring access for persons with disabilities, including toilets and other facilities. “It is imperative that all public buildings, including Court houses, must have access that may be used by persons with disabilities. Toilets must also be installed in public buildings which may be used by persons with disabilities”, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy observed…
ORR guides improvements in passenger accessibility
July 6, 2021 | Source: Rail Technology Magazine- UK
The Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) annual consumer report shows it has worked constructively across the industry to deliver improvements surrounding refund rights and accessibility for passengers. ORR’s passenger research demonstrated that the improvements surrounding accessible travel have been welcomed, as delivery of assistance and passenger satisfaction increase, and the rail regulator has made substantial progress in making sure the delivery of commitments set out in its Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) guidance are carried out…
Not accessible for all: Many Bengaluru railway stations not disabled-friendly
July 7, 2021 | Source: The News Minute- India
Bengaluru’s Kengeri Railway Station is used by hundreds of people to commute in and out of Bengaluru city every day due to its affordability and convenience. However, it is not accessible to everyone. Deepak N, a regular Bengaluru-Davanagere commuter, recently shed light on the lack of disabled and elderly-friendly infrastructure at the Kengeri Station. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Bengaluru and the South Western Railway, also responded to the matter on Twitter…
What should organizations know about AODA compliance?
July 7, 2021 | Source: IT World- Canada
More now than ever, accessibility has become the top of mind for any organization. The Canadian Survey on Disability revealed that 22 per cent of Canadians–or over 6.2 million people–over the age of 15 has or had a disability. The four most common types include pain-related immobilization, flexibility, mobility, and mental health-related. Additionally, 5.4 per cent of Canadians have a seeing disability. It’s most prevalent in the elderly age bracket: almost 10 per cent of people 65 and older have trouble with vision. Of those with a seeing disability, 84 per cent use one or more aids or assistive devices…
Italy and Croatia Join Forces to Make Destinations Accessible for Tourists with Special Needs
July 8, 2021 | Source: Total Croatia News
‘Tourism4All – Development of a Crossborder Network for the Promotion of Accessible Tourism Destinations’ is a project aimed at developing and promoting a cross-border network of tourist destinations and designing a common approach and methodology for tourism promotion primarily for people with special needs, reports HRTurizam. Within this project, the Croatian Camping Association, as a partner in the Tourism4All initiative, invites all interested parties from the tourism sector to participate in the 2nd Cross-Border Seminar – Tourism4All: “Accessible tourism market and promotional strategies”, which will be held online July 14, 2021…
Airlines Launch Global Action Group to Improve Handling of Disability Mobility Aids
July 8, 2021 | Source: AviationPros- Switzerland
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of a global Mobility Aids Action Group to examine and improve the transport journey of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, with the objective of improving the handling of this vital equipment for travelers with disabilities. The Action Group will be the first of its kind aimed at tackling issues around the safe and secure transport of mobility aids—an issue of huge importance to a growing number of travelers…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- Entering The Next “New Normal”- Forbes
- Retaining accessibility in the marketing world after lockdown- The Drum
- Fed Agencies Must Build Inclusive Toolset for Hybrid Workforce- MeriTalk
- Accessibility Gains Must Become Lasting Learning Practices- Inside Higher Ed
- Harvard and MIT just made a face mask that can detect COVID-19- Kyle Schnitzer
- Rebuilding a digitally-inclusive society means helping those who need it most- WebWire
- Women and Work: Reinvestment, Return and Recovery National Online Dialogue- IdeaScale
- Why, as a disabled woman, I wanted face masks and social distancing to stay- Christian Today
- Teaching a blind student anatomy during the Covid-19 pandemic- American Association of Anatomy
- Vaccine Access Assistance for People with Disabilities!- The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
- Coronation Street highlights the challenges faced by disabled people working from home during the pandemic- Disability Horizons
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- CVS Pharmacy Inc. v. Doe
- Creating Accessible CSS Art- Alvaro Montoro
- Accessible British Columbia Act- Roper Greyell
- Digital Accessibility in the Workplace with EARN
- BC Accessibility Legislation Now in Force- Fasken
- Making Churches More Accessible- SMA News Today
- First public working draft of WCAG 3.0 released- Charlii Parker
- Remember Invisible Disabilities In Web Accessibility- Brielle Cayer
- Top 10 Tips to Avoid Housing Discrimination- Fun4thedisabled.com
- ODEP at 20: Driving Change Through Customized Employment- DOL
- How Accessible Is The Web?: An Interview with Sanjay Nasta- Torque
- Case: Disability Discrimination/Accessibility (NDNY)- Bloomberg Law
- Will Accessibility Become Increasingly Important for SEO?- David Oltean
- Executives highlight tech benefits in accessibility goals- Mobile World Live
- Making a Braille Note Accessible | Haben Girma x Stephen Curry- Knowbility
- How $10B In Design Spending Will Soon Be Up For Grabs Annually- Forrester
- Digital accessibility still important even as remote work wanes- University Times
- Apple’s design guide for inclusive technology is essential reading- Computer World
- How to Ensure Telehealth is Accessible for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing- Meryl Evans
- Web accessibility lawsuits on track to increase nearly 20% in 2021- Digital Commerce 360
- What is assistive technology? Understanding accessibility features and services- Business Insider
- Invisible Disabilities and the Workplace- Episode 4: Devin Boyle, Director of Communications for PIA
- NCBI Urges #Budget2022 To Prioritize Needs Of People Who Are Blind Or Vision Impaired- SPIN South West
- Gil v. Winn-Dixie: Eleventh Circuit Holds Websites Are Not Places of Public Accommodation Under ADA Title III- Burr Forman
- DOJ Settlements And Website Accessibility- How is the Department of Justice Addressing Website and ICT Accessibility?- PEAT
- FCC Reminds EAS Participants of Accessibility Requirements- Alerts for August 11 test must be accessible to those with visual and hearing impairments- TV Technology
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Brooklyn Park Talks ADA Compliance, Anniversary
- Massachusetts Wheelchair Accessible Trails and Maps
- TRS Compensation and Contribution Factors Approved
- FA Disability Cup gets most accessible live coverage yet
- Award-Winning Answering Service Launches New Website
- Cairo International Book Fair To Provide Accessibility Services
- Bureau Releases Report on the State of the Lifeline Marketplace
- Madison Parks receives $100,000 gift to address park accessibility
- Stark Lab introduces Stark for Chrome as Ontario’s AODA Kicks In
- City Transportation’s ADA Safety Review, Plan Open for Comments
- AND’s Accessible Procurement Taskforce launches ‘ICT Tender Tool
- iOS 15: Here are all of the new Accessibility features coming to iPhone
- Transreport secures additional government funding for accessible rail app
- Google Brings Captions And Cross-Domain Live Streams To Google Meet
- FCC Seeks Nominations for Communications Equity and Diversity Council
Accessibility Forums, Tips, & Gaming
- Designing a Music Venue for Accessibility
- Looking at WCAG 2.5.5 for Better Target Sizes
- Windows 11 Accessibility Settings and Features
- 7 Key Features to Look Out for in WordPress 5.8
- Savvy Senior: Top smartphones for tech-shy seniors
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ups the Ante on Accessibility
- 5 Myths About Screen Readers That Can Hurt Accessibility
- How to make text larger on your phone, tablet and computer
- How to Use Netflix’s Accessibility Features to Aid Your Viewing
- Nintendo Switch OLED is a Great Step Forward for Accessibility
- Apple’s design guide for inclusive technology is essential reading
- 5 Ways to Improve UX With Efficient Website Accessibility Practices
- Jefferson Hills resident with rare disease uses platform to highlight video game accessibility
- From Celeste To The Last Of Us Part II: Designing And Playing With Accessibility In Mind
Accessibility Statements
- Pangaia
- Sandvine
- A11Y Collective
- Legal Sea Foods
- Royal Roads University
- Northwestern University
- Arizona State University
- Loughborough University
- San Francisco Symphony
- Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses
- 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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