Accessibility in the News—8/18/17..

Lawsuits can be very effective in bringing about a greater level of disability awareness to the public. GrubHub is certainly more aware of web accessibility requirements now, as is a dentist in Dallas, and anyone of the 275 businesses sued for building access issues. But there are other ways advocates and allies are sounding the call that people with disabilities are integral contributors to our world, and that accommodations, whether mundane or remarkable, are beneficial to everyone.

Please read on for the Experience More campaign from AT&T, which celebrates people with blindness and low vision. “Accessibility Day” brings fun, and hope to people with disabilities, while the Jortfest combines indie rock with accessibility. In a world where near-perfect bodies are a prime requirement, fashion model Lyric Mariah Heard, who is missing one foot and has two disfigured hands, talks about her experiences in the industry. Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky is raising disability awareness about physical access needs and competing for the national title.

Accessibility in gaming is also becoming more prevalent. Nintendo just made one-handed gaming easier. Read Grant Stoner’s article to see why accessible gaming matters.

In international news, see how Singapore’s aging populace is increasing the need for more reserved parking spaces, and how Zimbabwe is advancing accessible banking. And, speaking of banking, did you know that the first braille telephone bills for blind customers debuted 26 years ago? You’ll also meet a man using technology to build a fully automated life.

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“The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”

— Tim Berners-Lee

National News (U.S.)

AT&T Celebrates All Who Experience More

Source: Webwire & AT&T | Inclusion, Awinternards/Recognition, Blindness/Visual Impairment, Disability Awareness

Across the nation, millions of people with blindness and low vision are experiencing more – regardless of the obstacles they face. How? Often, they’re empowered by technology. We’re celebrating some extraordinary individuals with our Experience More campaign. In honor of National Blindness Awareness Month, from now through October we’ll be spotlighting those who break barriers to get the most out of life. To celebrate, we’re inviting those impacted by low vision, blindness and beyond to share how you or your friends and family members Experience More in life. We want to see how you do this through your actions, passions and technology…

The hidden extra costs of living with a disability

July 25, 2017 | Source: The Conversation | Disability Rights, Disability Awareness, Inclusion

Disability is often incorrectly assumed to be rare. However, global estimates suggest than one in seven adults has some form of disability. The term “disability” covers a number of functional limitations – physical, sensory, mental and intellectual. These can range from mild to severe and might affect someone at any time across the lifespan, from an infant born with an intellectual impairment to an older adult who becomes unable to walk or see. What is perhaps less well-known is that studies consistently show that people with disabilities are disproportionately poor. They are more likely to become poor and, when poor, are more likely to stay that way, because of barriers to getting an education, finding decent work and participating in civic life.

An emerging legal threat to dentists

August 8, 2017 | Source: Dental Economics | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Disability Rights

Have you ever lied on your taxes? Misled the IRS? Said to yourself, “Chances are I won’t get audited. Who’s going to know?” Of course not. You try to run your practice as ethically and aboveboard as possible. However, what you don’t know is that your website could very well be violating federal law as you read this. Recently, I learned that a Dallas-area dentist (whose privacy is being withheld for obvious reasons) was threatened with a federal lawsuit by a military veteran. The veteran charged that the dentist’s website was inaccessible to people with disabilities and in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This has been an expensive endeavor for the dentist; it’s costing him thousands to settle this legal battle and make it go away. The kicker is that he still must make his website accessible…

Model’s birth defects, she says, ‘gave me a purpose’

August 11, 2017 | Source: Yahoo | Mobility, Advocacy, Fashion

At a first glance, Lyric Mariah Heard can be categorized as just another pretty face working in the fashion industry. But there is much more to her than meets the eye: Besides her obviously gorgeous looks, the model also has only one foot, and two disfigured hands. Heard is a fierce advocate for people with disabilities. The 21-year-old was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, a random, non-genetic birth defect that’s caused in-utero, and she sees it as a blessing to inspire others to live a fuller life…

A Beginner’s Guide to ADA Compliance for Websites

August 12, 2017 | Source: Search Engine Journal | ADA, Digital Accessibility, Web Design, Lawsuits/Litigation

Early this year, I was surprised to hear that a colleague of mine had been threatened with a lawsuit for having a website that was allegedly not ADA compliant. The lawsuit alleged that the website was not fully accessible to disabled users and the law firm that filed the suit would be willing to settle the matter for a small fee. This particular lawsuit amounted to nothing more than a shakedown for cash, as the current laws would make it difficult to win the suit in court (more about this later) but it prompted me to dive deeper into the issue of ADA compliance. Through my research, I discovered there are some new laws on the horizon that could make ADA compliance mandatory, which means web designers and digital marketers need to know how to prepare…

Advocate pushes Peoria to be more wheelchair accessible

August 12, 2017 | Source: Peoria Journal Star | Advocacy, Mobility, Building/Facilities Access | Illinois

Don’t tell Roger Sparks that you can’t fight City Hall. The 61-year-old Peorian filed a civil suit against the city in 2009 that complained, among other things, about a lack of access in City Hall for people in wheelchairs. That suit was settled in 2012 with the city agreeing to fix a number of the issues that Sparks raised. Relying on a wheelchair to get around, Sparks has firsthand knowledge of some of the problems. As a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Citizens with Disabilities from 2006 to 2014, he attended meetings in City Hall…

Santa Clara Valley Medical ‘Accessibility Day’ brings fun, hope to people with disabilities

August 13, 2017 | Source: The Mercury News | Health/Medicine, Inclusion, Disability Awareness| California

Michelle Southwick inched forward on the concrete in front of the Rehabilitation Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Saturday, focusing carefully on each step she took. An exoskeleton — a powered, wearable ambulatory device that allows for people with mobility disorders and limitations to experience limb movement — hugged her body from the chest down, giving her the endurance to move forward. Southwick has been in recovery mode since a tumor next to her spine hemorrhaged more than four years ago, compressing her spinal cord. Slowly, and, with the help of the exoskeleton, she’s regained strength in her muscles…

Congressman Jim Langevin gives thoughts on health care at community town hall

August 13, 2017 | Source: The Narragansett Times | Legislation/Policy, ADA, Health/Medicine

Dozens of Rhode Islanders filed into the Narragansett Town Hall Tuesday during a town hall with Congressman Jim Langevin. While the discussion returned several times to health care, issues including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, gun control and abortion were also among the numerous topics raised. Greeting community members and the congressman as they arrived, several members of The Woman Project stood on the front lawn, their massive, signature-filled petition on display…

Universal Design for Learning: Access for all

August 14, 2017 | Source: Colorado State University | Universal Design, Inclusion, Higher Education | Colorado

Colorado State University takes its mission as a land-grant university very seriously. When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862, for the first time in history, higher education became broadly open to people from all walks of life. CSU prizes diversity and the rich history that different populations bring to the academic community, and is proud to provide access to opportunity to anyone with the motivation to earn a degree. These ideas are also enshrined in The Principles of Community, adopted by the university in 2015, which highlight the importance of inclusion, integrity, respect, service and social justice to all interactions among members of the CSU community…

Judges expand ADA rule to include more websites

August 14, 2017 | Source: New York Post | ADA, Digital Accessibility, Blindness/Visual Impairment | New York

A gold mine for the plaintiff’s bar has recently gotten deeper and wider. Rulings this month by two New York federal court judges expanded the number of corporate Web sites that must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act — prompting a new rush of lawsuits against unsuspecting stores. The judges ruled that even companies that don’t have a physical store must operate sites that are compatible with screen-reading software for the visually impaired. Previously, courts have ruled that only brick-and-mortar stores had to comply with ADA — in essence, giving the same accommodation to online shoppers that they give to shoppers in their physical locations…

Atlanta Music Festival Fights For Accessibility, Goes Nonprofit

August 14, 2017 | Source: WABE 90.1 FM | Performing Arts, Arts/Entertainment, Nonprofit, Inclusion | Georgia

Carter Sutherland sings Miley Cyrus’ saccharine 2009 hit “The Climb” as he hefts a rolled-up handicap ramp through the front door of the Mammal Gallery in Atlanta’s South Downtown neighborhood. It’s a little unwieldy, but for a person living with a disability, it could mean being able to get into a venue to see their favorite band. The ramp was purchased with donations from 2016’s Jortsfest and can be used for free by individuals or venues around Atlanta to make a music or art show more accessible. Founded on the Georgia Tech campus in 2013, Jortsfest celebrates indie rock and accessibility, operating under the motto “Always Free, Always All-Ages, Always Accessible.” Co-organizer Sutherland said while the ramp may not get used every day, it’s being used…

Big problems to fix in New York City’s flawed taxi accessibility program

August 14, 2017 | Source: City & State NY Slant | Transit/Transportation, Discrimination, Mobility | New York

New Yorkers are right to be angry about a recent audit by Comptroller Scott Stringer that found the city failed to collect nearly $6 million to promote wheelchair-accessible taxis. But the comptroller’s findings are just the tip of the iceberg on a flawed accessibility program that is spiraling out of control under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s watch. New York City’s taxi industry has been trying for years to comply with an accessibility program that is fundamentally broken – $6 million will not save it. But it can be strengthened if the mayor and his Taxi and Limousine Commission make sensible reforms to support both taxi drivers and wheelchair users…

Local woman rolling her way to Ms. Wheelchair America

August 14, 2017 | Source: WPSD Local 6 | Mobility, Advocacy, Awards/Recognition | Kentucky

A crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, victory, triumph and honor – but for one local woman, it means much more. Beth Bryant was crowned 2017’s Ms. Wheelchair Kentucky. She has a birth defect and uses a wheelchair regularly. She is now using her disability and the crown on her head to help others. Bryant was born with Spina Bifida. “They were just going to let me die, and my dad was like no, you need to try and repair it,” said Bryant. Doctors did not expect her to walk, let alone survive. “They told my mom and dad I would be a vegetable, wouldn’t be able to talk or do things, 49 years later here I am,” said Bryant…

New Florida law designed to protect FL business owners from ADA lawsuits not ready for use yet

August 14, 2017 | Source: FOX 4 | Legislation/Policy, ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation | Florida

Call it a crippling epidemic for Florida business owners, so called ADA “testers” who drive by businesses only to drive up lawsuits that allege noncompliance. But nearly six weeks after a new law took effect in Florida giving thousands of business owners in the state the power to fight back, we’ve discovered the law isn’t ready to be used by business owners fearing they’ll be sued for ADA violations. “I fight these constantly,” said Bill McKnight, President of Florida Automated Petroleum, a Brandon-based company that leases and owns hundreds of gas stations across the state…

Grubhub Faces ADA Suit Over Website Accessibility

August 16, 2017 | Source: Law360 (Subscription) | ADA, Digital Accessibility, Lawsuits/Litigation

The parent company of online and mobile food ordering service Grubhub was hit Wednesday in Florida federal court with an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit that alleges the company discriminates against the blind and visually impaired. Open Access For All Inc., a Florida nonprofit whose members include individuals with sensory-related disabilities as defined by the ADA, said Grubhub Holdings Inc. is aware that it should provide full access to all visitors to its website, grubhub.com, but the site’s lack of auxiliary aids and services excludes the…

Settlement of civil rights complaint, Peter Pan Bus Lines details steps to make fleet handicap accessible

August 16, 2017 | Source: Mass Live & Western Mass News | Disability Rights, Accessible Design, Discrimination | Massachusetts

Peter Pan Bus Lines has replaced wheelchair lifts on all 230 of its motor coaches with more reliable models and has retrained staffers to better meet federal rules for disability access as a result of a federal civil rights complaint. Part of that training is a requirement that drivers test the wheelchair lifts on their buses every day regardless of whether someone asks to use them, just to make sure they work properly, said Chris Crean, vice president of safety and security for the Springfield-based carrier. On Wednesday the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston announced that the Justice Department and Peter Pan had reached a settlement in a federal civil rights complaint over disability access…

3D-printed Nintendo Switch peripheral is huge for gaming accessibility

August 16, 2017 | Source: Mashable | Gaming, Accessible Design, Inclusion

An engineer is helping to make playing Nintendo Switch a lot more accessible for gamers everywhere. Engineer Julio Vazquez created two 3D-printed peripherals for the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, allowing players who only have the use of one hand to play Switch games more easily. Two different models were showed off by the AbleGamers Charity on Twitter, demonstrating how the adapters work better in one hand than the standard Joy-Con grip. Vazquez created the design on the right in April, which puts the two Joy-Cons right next to each other, effectively closing the gap that the standard Joy-Con grip creates and making it easier for players to reach every button…

Uber and Lyft take off while leaving wheelchair users curbside

August 16, 2017 | Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | Mobility, Discrimination, Transit/Transportation

While Rochester rallied to take advantage of Uber and Lyft on June 29, wheelchair users were left waiting curbside. Uber and Lyft recently announced the city’s most popular drop-offs include Murphy’s Law, Frontier Field, Radio Social, Lux Lounge and the Amtrak station. But while Rochesterians flock to rideshare for wining, dining and having a good time, users can’t hail a wheelchair-accessible vehicle with either company. The state Legislature has passed measures and established a task force to put rideshare companies on notice, but until accessible vehicles are on the streets, wheelchair users will wait longer than the rest of Rochester for rideshare…

City Hall design winner to make it more special needs accessible

August 16, 2017 | Source: mySanAntonio.com & Next City | Accessible Design, Awards/Recognition, Inclusion | Texas

A plan by the San Antonio firm Beaty Palmer Architects featuring wide, gently sloping ramps is the winner of a design competition to make City Hall more accessible to people with special needs. A rendering of the design, with ramps cutting diagonally across the historic building’s front lawn to the main Flores Street entrance, was unveiled Wednesday on those steep City Hall steps that act as a barrier to those with physical and cognitive disabilities. “Access to city government is one of our greatest gifts as citizens,” said District 1 City Councilman Roberto Treviño, an architect who — along with the American Institute of Architects, the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation and H-E-B’s Tournament of Champions — has spearheaded the design competition since it was announced in March. “These front steps are a symbol of democracy. It is an essential civil rights issue.”…

Advocates continue to fight for gaming accessibility

August 17, 2017 | Source: The Duquesne Duke | Gaming, Advocacy, Inclusion

I pride myself on being a gamer. Despite my physical limitations, I have yet to let my disease prevent me from partaking in my favorite hobby. My consoles, handhelds and computer provide gateways to hundreds of realms, where none of my avatars have been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II. However, the progressive nature of my disability is slowly but surely taking away my virtual freedoms. 10 years ago, I could easily compete in a match of Call of Duty. Now, my PlayStation 4 is void of anything and everything related to first-person shooters. With each passing year, I have grown reliant upon developers and publishers to implement accessibility options within their games. Thankfully, I am not alone…

Disabling Code: Franchisors Should Ensure Digital Properties Are Accessible

August 17, 2017 | Source: JD Supra | Accessible Design, Digital Accessibility, ADA

Are we still in the dawn of the digital age, or have we moved on to mid-morning yet? Only time, and your company’s web site and applications, will tell. Unfortunately, when it comes to website accessibility, it is still dark as midnight before the dawn for some users. That’s evidenced by the rise in web and app litigation we’re seeing lately – a surge of claims citing Title III of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) violations. One Forbes contributor opines that California, Florida, Texas and New York are the states most burdened by ADA lawsuits, though the heyday of quick ADA settlements may be throttled with new legislation soon. The writer is referring generally to physical impediments to a disabled person’s use of a public facility…

Uber and its enemies unite against city accessibility mandate

August 17, 2017 | Source: Crain’s New York Business | Transit/Transportation, Mobility, Discrimination

The Taxi and Limousine Commission has done something industry observers considered impossible: It’s gotten ride-hail companies, corporate limo providers and liveries on the same page. Literally. Eight operators and trade groups have sent the agency a letter outlining their “united opposition” to proposed requirements for wheelchair-accessible service. Together the group comprises the entire sector of for-hire-vehicle operators, who pick up passengers through app requests or phone calls, not street hails. Some are natural enemies. Livery companies, for instance, compete for drivers with ride-hail services like Uber, which offer incentives that the mom-and-pops cannot match…

Nevada attorney general wants to weigh in on 157 ADA lawsuits

August 17, 2017 | Source: Las Vegas Review Journal | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Mobility | Nevada

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt wants permission to protect the public from Kevin Zimmerman and attorney Whitney Wilcher’s “potentially malicious” lawsuits that use the Americans with Disabilities Act to rake in the dollars. Zimmerman, who uses a wheelchair, has filed 275 lawsuits claiming his civil rights were violated by ADA design flaws in mostly small businesses. Soap dishes and towel dispensers are too high. A “Van Accessible” parking sign is missing. Dozens of design flaws are cited. The attorney general asked a federal judge’s permission to consolidate the pending cases and allow his office to intervene…

Staff, family members added in complaint over ADA lawsuits

August 17, 2017 | Source: News4JAX | ADA, Lawsuits/Litigation, Discrimination

An amended complaint was filed Thursday in regards to the attorney and disabled woman who have filed 40 lawsuits against small businesses in our area, accusing the businesses of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The I-TEAM investigators have been following these lawsuits and settlements since July. Lubi’s Hot Subs in Lakewood settled an ADA suit brought against the business by Robert Gibson and Wanda Moore. But earlier this month, countersued the pair alleging a scheme to make money without following proper law and procedure. Lubi’s claimed Moore was never in the restaurant and accused Gibson of providing false information to encourage a settlement…

Pressure Mounts For LIRR To Make All Stations Accessible To Disabled Riders

August 17, 2017 | Source: CBS New York | Accessible Design, Mobility, Transit/Transportation

Pressure is mounting to make the nation’s largest commuter rail system fully accessible for disabled riders. Several Long Island Rail Road stations leave people who use wheelchairs and walkers stranded, CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported. The demands first came from one disabled veteran, Raymond Harewood, who was stranded on his scooter high atop the Amityville train station, because there’s no elevator. Fire crews had to carry him down. “Put the elevators in. We need accessibility for everybody,” he told Gusoff…

Jack Fact — According to the UN, approximately 10% of the population — or 650 million people — live with disabilities, which makes for the largest minority in the world.

International News

A ‘learning disabilities commissioner’ without a learning disability is a waste of time

August 8, 2017 | Source: The Conversation- UK | Cognitive, Government, Disability Rights | United Kingdom

Calls to appoint a commissioner to look after the interests of people with learning disabilities have been growing louder since the shocking story of Ian Shaw became national news. Shaw, 34, was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year after spending nine years in secure hospitals where his condition wasn’t spotted. Now there is talk of installing a commissioner to “uphold the rights” of people with learning disabilities. But unless the government plans to give this job to a person who is actually learning disabled, then I believe this would be another dead end. Instead of being left out of the process, people with learning disabilities should be at the heart of the solution…

Park board rolls out beach accessibility mats

August 9, 2017 | Source: Vancouver Courier- Canada | Leisure/Entertainment, Accessible Design, Inclusion | Canada

One beach in Vancouver just got a little more accessible. Vancouver Park Board this week rolled out the city’s first accessibility mat at English Bay. The Mobi-Mat makes it possible for people with walkers, wheelchairs and scooters to make their way down onto the beach. Jacques Courteau, co-chair of the persons with disability advisory committee, said people with disabilities are often marginalized when it comes to outdoor activities…

Considering accessibility costs little and pays dividends for all travelers

August 11, 2012 | Source: ITS International- UK | Travel, Transit/Transportation, Inclusion | United Kingdom

Clearer understanding of the economic value of accessible transport is essential if we are to speed up the current slow deployment levels, according to the Paris-based International Transport Forum (ITF), which staged a 2016 round table on the ‘Benefits and Costs of Inclusion in Transport’. It wants to see greater availability of data on levels of actual and unmet demand for accessible travel – and on users’ experiences and journey times before and after implementation – and cites quality of passenger information at stops and stations as key for evaluation.

RBZ targets PWDs in new strategy

August 11, 2017 | Source: DailyNews- Zimbabwe | Banking, Inclusion, Mobility | Zimbabwe

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says the National Inclusion Strategy, will among other things, push to have people living with disabilities (PWDs) access banking halls and withdraw their money from Automated Tellers Machines (ATMs) without difficulties. This comes as the central bank noted that not all banks had the infrastructure that specifically catered for people with disabilities such as those confined to wheelchairs. RBZ deputy director, Bank Supervision Division, Norah Mukura, said there were various barriers that were stopping PWDs from accessing financial services, including infrastructure and other systems. There are barriers that are there or constraints that stop them from accessing financial services as people with disabilities…

Doing More For People With Disabilities Is Doing More For Canadians

August 12, 2017 | Source: Huffington Post- Canada | Inclusion, Disability Rights, Awareness | Canada

Most of us take for granted the ability to easily perform daily activities or engage in social interactions. We do not wake up each morning with debilitating pain, or require the assistance of a guide dog to leave our homes. For the over 3.8 million Canadians living with a chronic health condition or health-related problem, however, performing what some might consider routine tasks can be a serious challenge. Statistics Canada reports that as of 2012, 14 per cent of the country’s population is living with a disability. Take a moment to put a face to this number. These are our parents, our sons and daughters, our friends. As a country that takes great pride in being inclusive and kind, it is time we do more for people with disabilities…

From braille phone bills to visual interpreters – how modern tech is assisting blind people

August 12, 2017 | Source: BT.com- UK | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Technology, Innovation | United Kingdom

BT introduced the first braille telephone bills for blind customers 26 years ago this week, making it much easier for those with sight disabilities to understand their monthly rates. At the same time BT also made it possible to order bills with large print as an aid to partially sighted customers – the Royal National Institute for the Blind helped with both of these steps. Since then, technology has been assisting blind and partially sighted people in a multitude of ways. Voice-activated assistants like Siri and Alexa are helping to broaden accessibility, and a number of specialist projects are helping to ensure the tech revolution doesn’t leave the visually impaired behind…

Aberdeen airport access praised to skies

August 12, 2017 | Source: Aberdeen Evening Express- UK | Travel, Accessible Design, Inclusion | United Kingdom

Aberdeen International Airport is providing a good service for disabled passengers – but could do even better. That is according to a new report that considers how airports treat people in wheelchairs as well as travellers with other accessibility issues, such as visual impairments, autism and dementia. Regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said up to 70,000 of the 3.5 million passengers who use the airport annually seek special assistance to navigate the hub, and there may be thousands more who do not ask for help…

Barrier-free promotion law faces revision

August 13, 2017 | Source: The Japan Times- Japan | Policy/Legislation, Building/Facilities Access, Government | Japan

The infrastructure ministry plans to revise the law promoting the development of barrier-free environments to ensure the creation of facilities and areas easily accessible to the elderly and people with disabilities, according to informed sources. The ministry is discussing ways to encourage municipal governments to make it a priority to map out plans to develop barrier-free infrastructure in areas that host government offices and commercial facilities used regularly by such people. The agency plans to reflect the results of the discussions in a bill to revise the law. The bill will be submitted to the Diet next year at the earliest, the sources said…

Tamil Nadu: Digital India remains crippled

August 14, 2017- | Source: Deccan Chronicle- India | Digital Accessibility, Discrimination, Government | India

Syed Ansari, a 30-year-old visually challenged person was in a maze when he tried to download his hall ticket from the Union Public Service Commission website two years ago. None of the prominent screen-readers (including Jaws and NVDA) could read the Captcha (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) code, which was in an image form. Since he had no choice, he had to take his friend’s help to download the hall ticket. When the government services in the country are turning digital, it is unfortunate that the Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) still remain in darkness, due to the non-friendly features in websites. Syed’s turmoil is a regular scene for those belonging to the fraternity who are victims of the government’s inaction…

Disabled parking: Concern over insufficient accessible lots

August 14, 2017 | Source: The New Paper- Singapore | Accessible Parking, Inclusion, Disability Rights | Singapore

Across Singapore, there are at least 6,000 government-run carpark spaces reserved for the disabled, but this is hardly keeping pace with rising needs as the country rapidly ages, says the community. The number of new carpark label holders stood at 1,758 last year, up 38 per cent from 1,273 in 2012, according to Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) figures. This means that an increasing pool of people are entitled to park at these spaces, which are 1½ times the width of normal spaces and are usually nearer to lifts or exits…

Helping retailers in Ontario improve accessibility

August 14, 2017 | Source: Markets Insider- Canada | Building/Facilities Access, Inclusion, Government | Canada

As part of an EnAbling Change project with the Government of Ontario, Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has developed a retail-specific Workshop and Webinar series to help retailers know what they need to do to comply with legislation that aims to improve accessibility in areas that impact the daily lives of people with disabilities. With a compliance reporting deadline of December 31, 2017, the launch of the 2017 EnAbling Change for Retailers Workshop and Webinar series could not be more timely…

Students with disabilities disadvantaged at higher education level

August 15, 2017 | Source: Daily Maverick- South Africa | Higher Education, Discrimination, Accessible Design | South Africa

It has been widely reported that at school level, children with disabilities face serious barriers to accessing education. But at tertiary level the picture isn’t much better, with 80% of potential students with disabilities not attending a tertiary institution. It may be time to get a lot more creative in promoting inclusivity. If tertiary education is to become more accessible to students with disabilities, it’s time to go back to the drawing board, say activists and innovators. It’s a familiar story – the policy is in place, but the execution has a long way to go. The first problem: barriers to entry. The second problem: upon entry, individual needs are misunderstood…

Disabled commuter has to “crawl” on to Farnborough train

August 15, 2017 | Source: Eagle Radio- UK | Transit/Transportation, Discrimination, Mobility | United Kingdom

A disabled Blackwater man has had to “crawl” out of his wheelchair onto a train on his hands and knees. 49-year-old Dave McQuirk commutes from Farnborough to London Waterloo every day. He warns train companies 24 hours in advance that he’s making the journey, but sometimes he says they don’t turn up. “I sort of have to hop out the chair, sit on the edge of the train, pull the chair up behind me and then hop back into the chair – which is not an ideal start to your working day.” Wheelchair users are required pre-warn staff of their way, so that staff will be able to help them and provide ramps for them to get on…

Making it easily accessible for differently abled

August 14, 2017 | Source: The Hindu- India | Inclusion, Accessible Design, Health/Medicine | India

Realising the challenges posed by inaccessible buildings and other practical difficulties facing differently-abled people while obtaining driving licence, the district administration is considering easing the process by developing regional hubs into one-stop shops for simultaneously completing formalities from issue of medical board certificates to learner’s test. As a first step, a meeting of Social Justice, Motor Vehicles, and Health departments will be convened at Muvattupuzha on August 17 to explore the scope of making the Muvattupuzha Regional Transport Office (RTO) a hub for driving licence-related formalities for the differently abled hailing from Kothamangalam, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, and Muvattupuzha taluks…

‘There are few facilities for people with disabilities’

August 15, 2017 | Source: DAWN.com- Pakistan | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Higher Education, Discrimination | Pakistan

There are very few facilities for people with disabilities in Pakistan, says Shafaqat Ali, who is visually impaired. After graduating from the Punjab University, he went on to earn an M.Ed in special education and wants to start an M.Phil but is facing problems regarding access to computers. “I try to use computers in various computer labs, but it becomes a problem for me and other users. An accessibility centre has been established in the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) for special persons which has made research easier for me,” he said. Mr Ali suggested such facilities should be made available across the country and in all educational institutions so those with disabilities can benefit…

Paralyzed man building a fully automated life

August 16, 2017 | Source: CNN- UK | Mobility, Innovation, Accessible Design | United Kingdom

In their picturesque garden in a quintessential English village in Oxfordshire, Tom and Ellen Nabarro are making mint tea with leaves cut from a plant nearby. They’ve just surfaced after a late night in London, which Ellen attended almost straight off a plane having returned from vacation. But they are fresh and conversational, with no fretting over obstacles that could be in their way that day — or in fact, any day. It’s easy to overlook that Tom uses a wheelchair. He’s paralyzed from the neck down and has been for over a decade, after a snowboarding accident severed his spine. But he lives the way he wants to…

RNIB survey examines accessibility of the 2017 General Election

August 16, 2017- AOP- UK | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Voting, Government | United Kingdom

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has revealed that blind and partially sighted voters faced significant hurdles at the 2017 General Election. The charity has released the results of a survey of visually impaired voters in this year’s election that found only one in four voters said the present system allowed them to cast their vote independently and in secret. Half of those surveyed would like to see a change to the voting system that would allow them to vote online or by phone…

Inquiry report recognises accessibility for the disabled

August 16, 2017 | Source: Scoop.co.nz- New Zealand | Government, Mobility, Transit/Transportation | New Zealand

The Human Rights Commission says parliament’s Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee’s report on the “Inquiry into the future of New Zealand’s Mobility” recognises that accessibility for people with disabilities is crucial to the future of New Zealand’s mobility. Accessible transport is fundamental for disabled New Zealanders to contribute as citizens in their communities: both public and private transport must be as accessible as possible to a wide range of people with different needs as recognised in the report,” said Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero…

Listening to the unheard voices

August 16, 2017 | Source: The Hindu- India | Cognitive, Mobility, Discrimination, Advocacy | India

Madurai is known for its temple, palace, museum and eateries but of late a least expected spot has become the go-to place for people and is rapidly gaining importance and reputation. It is an exclusive space spread over 44 cents near the Bharathi Ula and Alagar Koil traffic intersection that has been beautifully converted into a fun and functional park for children with special needs. Till recently the place was a wasteland even as Mr.A.Chandrasekaran, retired UCO Bank Manager, was frantically searching for land and donors who would help to build a place where children with physical and cognitive challenges could go unencumbered for an active outing. Barely within a month of its inauguration, the park is abuzz with activity…

St-Lazare takes action on improving accessibility

August 16, 2017 Source- Montreal Gazette- Canada | Accessible Design, Blindness/Visual Impairment, Mobility | Canada

When Enzo Racine’s family decided to try sending him to summer day camp with his older brother last year, they weren’t sure if he would be allowed in. Enzo, now seven, is completely blind and does not speak or walk. He needs a wheelchair to get around. He needs someone with him at all times. But to the family’s surprise, St-Lazare’s municipally run day camp did not just allow Enzo to come this summer; they made him feel welcomed. Benoit Racine, Enzo’s father, said his son receives one-on-one attention from dedicated staff, and the town has purchased specialized equipment to help Enzo feel part of the group. New all-terrain wheelchairs help Enzo and kids like him join the other campers on walks through the forest trails…

The beat goes on: Projects keep advancing campus accessibility

August 16, 2017 | Source: Brock University- Canada | Building/Facilities Access, Architecture, Higher Education | Canada

The ongoing campaign to improve accessibility at Brock has been in evidence this summer, including walkway reconstruction and curb-cutting projects to make exterior pedestrian routes safer and more barrier-free. Taking advantage of quieter pedestrian flows during the off-term months, numerous campus sidewalks have been upgraded as workers install textured ground plates — known as tactile walking surface indicators — that help people with visual impairment know when they are approaching street crossings and other vehicle routes. This summer’s work is typical of upgrades the University has been undertaking for several years in order to improve accessibility and meet or surpass legislated standards, including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act…

Inside Barclays’ diversity and inclusion strategy

August 17, 2017 | Source: Human Resources Director- UK | Inclusion, Disability Rights, Awareness | United Kingdom

“A solution for one becomes a solution for many.” That’s the call to action that Barclays has rallied behind globally for the past several years when it comes to diversity & inclusion. It’s especially pertinent when that solution is designed and implemented for people who identify as having some form of disability. The Barclays D&I strategy globally has five pillars: gender, disability, LGBT, multicultural and multigenerational. In the UK, all of those pillars are led by senior leaders and direct reports to the company’s CEO, Ashok Vaswani…

Legislation would ‘move the needle’ on accessibility in NL: advocate

August 17, 2017 | Source: The Telegram- Canada | Advocacy, Legislation/Policy, Inclusion | Canada

The conversation about accessibility in our communities has been going on for decades, and it’s time for action through legislation, some advocates say. Debbie Ryan of CNIB Newfoundland and Labrador is among the members of Barrier-Free Newfoundland and Labrador, a group whose sole purpose is to lobby for accessibility legislation. The local chapter was formed in November, after Barrier-Free Canada co-chair David Lepovsky visited St. John’s as part of consultations on federal accessibility legislation…

Access for all?

August 17, 2017 | Source: Prince George Citizen- Canada | Building/Facilities Access, Mobility, Government | Canada

Within the City of Prince George, there are public buildings that are hard to access for those with mobility issues. Patrick Harris, Nancy Harris and Heather Lamb of Spinal Cord Injury B.C. took The Citizen on a walkabout to demonstrate how challenging it can be to access downtown buildings. The first stop was the Wood Innovation and Design Centre on George Street. “The steps are not marked with yellow and that’s a building code violation and there’s no hand rails,” Lamb said…

Toronto couple with service dog barred from Prince Edward County B&B

August 17, 2017 | Source: CBC- Canada | Blindness/Visual Impairment, Discrimination, Disability Rights | Canada

A Toronto couple were shocked when they were forced to leave a Prince Edward County bed and breakfast that wouldn’t accept their service dog. David Greenwood is visually-impaired and relies on Romy, his black Labrador, to get him around. “She’s basically my eyes,” he told CBC Toronto. But when Greenwood and his wife, Jill, arrived at Sunrise Bed and Breakfast in Bloomfield, Ont., this summer, they were told its no-pet policy extends to service animals — even though they showed the owners all of the proper paperwork…

New Commission for Rights of Persons with Disability offices will open by end of October

August 17, 2017 | Source: Independent Online- Malta | Government, Disability Rights, Architecture | Malta

The new offices for the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability is scheduled to be completed by the end of October, Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Agius Decelis announced at a press conference during a visit to the site. It was also revealed that the project will cost €78,000 and is on a ten-year rental contract. The large space, which consists of two floors and a garage, is located across from the Samsung and Fiat stores on Psaila Street in Birkirkara…

Travel streamlined for disabled passengers with EuTravel Project

August 17, 2017 | Source: International Airport Review- UK & Accomable signs up to EuTravel Project- | Source: TTG Media | Travel, Accessible Design, Inclusion | United Kingdom

Working with major GDS providers and transport companies, EuTravel Project will tap into existing mainstream IT travel reservation systems and sources of travel data. This will enable people to find and book complete door-to-door transport routes via multiple modes of transport, including air, rail, bus and ferry, to and from all countries within the EU using a single platform. EuTravel Project has brought on board Accomable, a pioneering global platform for finding adapted hotels and vacation rentals for disabled and elderly people…

‘A forward moving perspective’: Why one group is trying to update accessibility signs

August 17, 2017 | Source: CBC News- Canada | Awareness, Disability Rights, Inclusion | Canada

It’s universally recognizable – a figure sitting in a wheelchair against a blue background. It’s the accessibility sign that has been used for years. But accessibility activists in Ontario are pushing for a change. They painted new signs Thursday featuring a person in motion using a wheelchair on parking spots at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. This updated design was created by an American organization and is already used as the official accessibility sign in some U. S. states…

Accessibility Resources

Accessibility Blogs and Information

Teamwork is hard
Intro to Accessibility- Podcast
Taking Access To The Fringe
Accessibility features in PDFs
The Accessibility Switchboard– The Accessibility Switchboard is a project of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute with support from the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
AppTV: Instagram Accessibility- Video
Accessibility using Microsoft Tools– Videos
Inclusive Design posters from Barclays
Make a Visio Online diagram accessible
GoAnimate Character Accessibility Update
Inclusive Design 24 (#ID24) November 2017
Five Guys Grilled over ADA Website Accessibility
Your letters: Ontario must enforce its accessibility laws
Adding Sound Effect Information to YouTube Captions
National Trust needs a push to solve more serious problems
Microsoft adds major updates to Visual Studio and .NET Core
The Maintenance of Accessibility- Swimming pool accessibility
How to Make Your Phone Read Everything On Screen Out Loud
What I Learned about Accessibility During My Summer with IBM
How to Make Your Website Accessible to Visitors With Disabilities-Infographic
Windows 10 to Get Accessibility Upgrade with Eye Tracking Feature
FCC’s Request for Exhibitors for Annual Accessibility Innovations Exposition
New York Federal Courts Allow ADA Website Accessibility Claims to Continue
The Accessibility of Board Games with Mischa Lewis-Norelle and James Edward Gray– Podcast
Voter’s Choice Act – Sign Up for the Voter Education Workshops- Nevada County, CA

Accessibility Pages

Accessibility Announcements and Products

Accessibility Q&A and Tips

Microassist Digital Accessibility Services

Microassist Accessibility Services

Our digital and web accessibility services cover

Accessible Elearning Development — Does your online training reach all learners, whether they’re your employees, resellers, students? Let us help you design effective, engaging training that works for everyone.
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Audit and Testing Services — A thorough accessibility audit against recognized accessibility standards will show you where you may be under-serving your customers and putting your organization at risk.
Accessible Document Services — Digital assets such as Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and audio and video files need to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, too. We can help you establish creation processes or remediate historical documents so that they meet accessibility standards and are usable by people with disabilities.
Remediation Services — Whether for a time-sensitive response to a legal action, or for proactive remediation, we can fix what doesn’t meet accessibility standards.
Accessibility Training — Contact us to get your teams introduced and informed about accessibility best practices.

Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.

Digital Accessibility Digest

One of our three industry blogs, Microassist’s Digital Accessibility Digest is the “umbrella” for much of our accessibility content. It features commentary, guidance, curated news, and event information. Accessibility in the News is a regular feature of the Digital Accessibility Digest.

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