Accessibility in the News — 1/17/19.

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― Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Jr.

Feature Stories

Elizabeth Warren Opens a New Front in Disability Policy

January 10, 2020 | Source: The New York Times

How Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang Would Address Disability Rights

January 13, 2020 | Source: Yahoo

Elizabeth Warren: I’ll use the force of government to make tech work for people with disabilities

January 15, 2020 | Source: Fortune

Christine Motokane could get long-term care to help her with daily tasks like cooking. Matthew Cortland could marry his longtime partner. Christin Lucas could stop worrying that her son’s school might put him back in the isolated classrooms that made him suicidal. This is some of what is at stake in a newly prominent debate over disability policy. For months, Democratic presidential candidates have built on one another in this arena, culminating last week with a plan from Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts whose scope shocked many advocates…

National News (U.S.)

Mindset Matters: How Disability Will Influence The Next Decade Of Innovation And Shape The Business Of The Future

January 6, 2020 | Source: Forbes

This column is designed to be a clarion call for organizations to recognize that business, as usual, has changed. In this new decade cultivating a competitive advantage is as much about developing a well-defined business philosophy as it is about creating a superior product or service. For those companies willing to embrace this new culture change, they must be ready to integrate Disability as a critical component of not only their foundational business strategy but an essential piece in developing a pathway to innovation…

Feds launch probe into problem-plagued $41M Hunters Point library

January 9, 2020 | Source: New York Post & Patch

Books aren’t the only thing being checked out at this Queens library. The feds are now probing the problem-plagued new library branch in Hunters Point, The Post has learned. The US Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn hired an architectural expert to conduct a December survey of the $41.5 million book hub to look for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, new Brooklyn federal court filings in a lawsuit against the library reveal. An attorney for the city’s Law Department blew the lid off the probe in documents filed for the pending suit, saying they needed more time because they’re still awaiting the investigation’s results…

Bill would exempt tax on wheelchairs, home health-care products

January 9, 20202 | Source: Providence Journal

Wheelchairs, walkers, ramps and stair lifts would become less expensive under a proposal to exempt “home health-care products” that can prevent nursing home stays from the state sales tax. State Democratic Party Chairman and Rep. Joseph McNamara of Warwick said he got the idea to stop collecting sales tax on equipment that “assists an individual to remain living in their own home, as opposed to a nursing facility” from talking to constituents, including some who were taking care of elderly parents…

Easy On The Eyes. Easier On The Feet

January 10, 2020 | Source: News@Northeastern

Great ideas can come to you when you least expect it. Take the shower, for example. One minute you’re soaping up the loofah, the next you’re hatching an elaborate plan for the next multi-million dollar app. Or, if you’re Vidhan Bhaiya, the light bulb goes off at a family wedding, surrounded by brightly colored saris and the thumping of drums. “This started off—as all good things do—at an Indian wedding,” says Bhaiya, who is a chemical engineering student at Northeastern, and entrepreneur on the side—for now…

E-scooters are leaving people with disabilities behind. Lime wants to fix that

January 13, 2020 | Source: Fast Company

Uber’s Jump releases more accessible three-wheeled scooters

January 15, 2020 | Source: Mashable & Smart Company

If you live in the Bay Area, you may soon spot a new type of scooter cruising down the street: one with a seat. The e-scooter company Lime is testing an updated scooter for people with disabilities in pilot programs in Oakland and San Francisco. This comes on the heels of news that Lime has exited 12 markets and laid off about 100 people, or 14% of its workforce, as it aims to become profitable in 2020. So why invest in accessible scooters? On one hand, an accessible scooter is as oxymoronic as it sounds…

Staten Island Family Court Struggles With Disability Act Compliance

January 13, 2020 | Source: The City

For those seeking justice in Staten Island’s cramped Family Court, the decade closed as it began: with unfulfilled promises of a new home that would be accessible to all. The nearly century-old, two-story courthouse on Richmond Terrace has no elevator, making it nearly impossible for anyone who can’t climb stairs to reach courtrooms on the upper floor. People with mobility issues are often relegated to makeshift “courtrooms” in a parking lot trailer that’s been in use since 2010…

WOU launches first American Sign Language assessment service in western U.S.

January 13, 2020 | Source: Statesman Journal

Students and professionals wishing to evaluate their proficiency in American Sign Language now have an opportunity to do so here in Oregon. Prior to this year, comparable evaluation services were only offered in North Carolina, New York and Washington, D.C., making it difficult for sign-language speakers living in the Pacific Time Zone to be tested. As a result, programs on the east coast reported being overwhelmed with clients, especially people from California, Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon…

Voters with disabilities describe experiences at polls

January 14, 2020 | Source: Temple News

Jamie Ray Leonetti hasn’t always had an easy time voting in Philadelphia. Leonetti, the associate director of policy at Temple’s Institute on Disabilities, has difficulty being level a voting machine due to her mobility scooter. Whether using voting machines that are lever-operated or electronic, Leonetti said that poll workers she’s encountered don’t know how to make these devices accessible. “Numerous times, I had been at my polling place and had to wait extra-long because whoever was working was not aware of how to lower the machine, or we found that the machine was not in proper working order in terms of it being able to lower,” she said…

Unpacking The Spatial Implications Of Architecture’s Accessibility Failures

January 14, 2020 | Source: Archinect

There is a particular type of obliviousness to the built environment that most of us have the privilege of experiencing day-to-day. This obliviousness relates not to architecture’s aesthetic values, but rather to architecture’s accessibility out in the world. Built to Scale, an exhibition by artist Emily Barker currently on view at Murmurs Gallery in Los Angeles, is designed to knock you right out of it. And for designers and architects, it’s a must-see…

Accessibility Features for Older Households in Subsidized Housing

January 14, 2020 | Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies – Harvard University & PDF

As the overall population ages, the number of very low-income older adult households that qualify for HUD housing assistance is rising rapidly. Older adults tend to stay in subsidized housing longer than younger families. As a result, older adults make up a growing share of HUD-subsidized renter households. In the last ten years alone, the share of older adults in HUD-subsidized housing has risen five percentage points, and older adult households now make up over a third of all subsidized renters. In this paper, we examine whether the subsidized housing stock is suitable for aging in place…

The Shoe Fits: #RunForNFB Fundraiser

January 14, 2020 | Source: National Federation of the Blind

I am Terri Rupp, wife to Aaron, mom to Marley and Jackson, a marathon runner, and a lover of books, fresh air, good food, and quality time with family and friends. I have the opportunity to combine two of my favorite things: my love of running and my love of the National Federation of the Blind. Support #RunForNFB. My first memory of realizing I couldn’t see like the other kids around me was on this little carpet square in my kindergarten class. My nose was literally in the book, and a little boy put his face into his own book and asked, “Why do you read like this?” That was the beginning of learning to fake it…

Do You Know the 3 Main Causes of Blindness in the U.S.?

January 14, 2020 | Source: The Doctor Weighs In

Too Dark, Can’t See: 5 Eye Diseases That Cause Blindness

January 15, 2020 | Source: Vents Magazine

Study after study has shown that people fear vision loss more than they fear cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other serious health problems. But a new study shows that Americans are scared about an issue they know very little about. And what they don’t know is putting them at risk of vision loss, including blindness. A survey1 conducted by The Harris Poll shows that while 81% of adults say they are knowledgeable about eye/vision health, less than 1 in 5 (19%) were able to correctly identify the three main causes of blindness in the U.S., which are glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic eye disease…

MTA ignores Americans with Disabilities Act in planned renovations to Queens subway stops

January 15, 2020 | Source: New York Daily News

What’s Stopping The MTA From Reopening Its Locked Subway Entrances?

January 15, 2020 | Source: Gothamist

The MTA plans to spend at least $100 million to renovate a group of subway stations in Queens — but the expensive work does not include the installation of elevators or ramps, which advocates say is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “I guess the MTA wants to substitute its judgment for the ADA’s black-letter legal requirements,” said Michelle Caiola, a head attorney for the nonprofit Disability Rights Advocates. The agency last month sought contractors’ proposals for “station renewal” work on nine elevated stations on the No. 7 line…

IDNYC card adds braille for accessibility and updated perks for cardholders for fifth anniversary: exclusive

January 15, 2020 | Source: amNY

Five years since its inception, the IDNYC card is becoming more accessible and coming with new benefits. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the IDNYC program, the de Blasio administration is unveiling a much-needed upgrade to the IDNYC card, as well as slew of new perks that cardholders can receive. To further expand accessibility, all new and newly renewed IDNYC cards will be embossed with braille to help blind and low-vision individuals use the card, making it the first locally-used ID card in the country to include braille…

What should Chicago do to make the city more accessible for people with disabilities?

January 15, 2020 | Source: Streetsblog Chicago

In July 2018, the CTA unveiled its All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), which outlines a plan for making Chicago transit 100-percent Americans With Disabilities Act compliant by 2038. At the time of the program launch, about 70 percent of the system’s 145 rail stations were accessible, leaving 42 remaining stations to be upgraded within the next two decades. The total cost is estimated to be $2.1 billion over four phases. Given the political realities of how this project will be funded, this schedule is reasonable, according to Adam Ballard…

What People With Invisible Illnesses Want You To Know

January 16, 2020 | Source: Huffington Post

When you think about a disability, one that requires a mobility device or that’s visible in some form probably comes to mind. However, a majority of people who have a chronic health issue actually live with an invisible illness. “Invisible illness” is a catch-all term for a wide range of health conditions, including mental illnesses, diabetes, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders and many more. It’s estimated that a majority of people with an illness have one that most people can’t physically see…

Jack Fact — In the UK alone, disability charity Scope estimates that 13.9 million people live with a disability, with more than 3.7 million disabled people in work.

Hit The Road Jack — The 25 Best Accessible Trails in America

International News

Residents with disabilities stuck in small cities face ‘sense of isolation’

January 9, 2020 | Source: CBC- Canada

When Karina Cardona Claros moved to a small southern Manitoba city several years ago to help take care of her partner’s ailing grandfather, she never expected she’d also give up her freedom. Cardona Claros, 38, has a spinal cord injury that affects her mobility and requires her to wear a leg brace — and taking care of her basic needs in Winkler, Man., has become so difficult, she’s considering moving back to Winnipeg. “The sense of isolation that comes with feeling like I can’t just get out on my own to do things is very difficult,” she said…

Public sector boosts number of disabled employees

January 9, 2020 | Source: Daily Sabah- Turkey

In the latest bid for affirmative action for disabled citizens, Turkey announced the employment of 1,304 disabled citizens in the public sector. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a ceremony at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara Thursday to launch the employment scheme. With the latest appointments, the number of disabled people employed in the public sector since 2019 reached 3,200. The country has adopted a set of regulations in recent years to improve the lives of the disabled…

Shanghai Launches Accessible Cinema Project for Visually Impaired Moviegoers

January 9, 2020 | Source: China Film Insider- China

Starting from January 25, visually impaired people can go to the “Love Cinemas” in Shanghai to enjoy the holiday movie Lost in Russia with their family and friends. The project aims to help visually impaired people enter any movie theater and watch any films at any time. Theaters only need to install wireless earphones and transmitters to play special interpretation soundtracks, which make a film more “accessible” to visually impaired audiences. 50 movie theatres across the city and shopping centers have joined the project…

Social justice ministry ropes in pvt industries to extend reach of ”Accessible India Campaign”

January 10, 2020 | Source: Outlook- India

The social justice and empowerment ministry (SJEM), tasked with implementing the ”Accessible India Campaign” (AIC), has roped in private industries and is coordinating with them to extend the reach of the campaign, a senior official said on Friday. Department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPwD) Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin told PTI on Friday that the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) have joined the AIC…

Disabled passengers failed by poor airport accessibility services

January 13, 2020 | Source: Which?- UK

A survey of disabled people commissioned by Which? Travel found that lack of confidence in accessibility services has left almost half feeling that their disability has restricted their ability to fly in the last two years. Those who do fly are often enduring long waits for special assistance and, in some cases, are even at risk of harm because of failings by the services that are supposed to be looking after them. Our survey, carried out with the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC), found of those who had used special assistance at an airport, around a quarter said that they were dissatisfied…

Tech guru turns spotlight on accessibility

January 13, 2020 | Source: China Daily

After 11 years of running his own business in the field of technology, 45-year-old entrepreneur Cao Jun has complex feelings about being a role model to the visually impaired. Among the many blind people he knows, few are doing business other than in the field of massage. The few who tried to branch out unfortunately failed with their small businesses or startups and returned to the massage industry. “Do you consider yourself a role model?” “Actually, yes! I think I’ve done a great job, because my company has managed to survive since 2008,” Cao said…

Liverpool John Lennon aims to be the North of England’s most accessible airport

January 13, 2020 | Source: International Airport Review- UK

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) currently handles over five million passengers per year with flights to over 70 destinations in the UK and across Europe. With a growing range of destinations increasing passenger traffic, one million more passengers now choose to use Liverpool compared to four years ago. The airport is the award-winning ‘Faster, Easier, Friendlier Airport’ of choice for passengers from across the region and has been recognised for its relaxed, hassle-free environment and best-in-class operational performance including the UK’s only five-star airport rating for flight punctuality…

Airports slammed for inadequate airport accessibility

January 13, 2020 | Source: Access and Mobility Professional- UK & International Airport Review

Passengers with reduced mobility are sometimes being left humiliated, deprived of their dignity and in some cases even physically hurt when travelling through airports, putting them off flying altogether, it has been claimed. All UK airports must, by law, provide free support to any disabled passenger who needs it. The law also dictates that people with restricted mobility should have the same opportunities for air travel as anyone else…

Disabled people’s concerns have been pushed aside – nowhere greater is that failure than in British politics

January 13, 2020 | Source: Independent- UK

Over the past few years, the political agenda has been dominated by Brexit and the climate crisis; both incredibly important issues. But amid these dominating subjects, have the voices of disabled people been pushed aside? In the recent election, many issues were discussed, but little was mentioned about those whose disability not only impacts their daily lives but may have affected their ability to vote. Government data shows that there are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK, comprising a significant 22 per cent of the population – more than one in five…

Life As a Deaf Person in Kosovo

January 14, 2020 | Source: Transitions- Kosovo

A girl’s dress is drawn in chalk on a green board at the front of the class. Carefully annotated with all the dimensions and measurements, it looks ready to be transformed from chalk to material via the needle of a sewing machine and sent out into the real world. Seventeen-year-old Artina Berisha stands in front of the board in a classroom at the Mother Teresa Resource Center in Prizren. As she demonstrates the creative process of coming up with a new dress, her professional practice teacher, Gjyltene Kovanxhiu, keeps a close eye on her progress…

Government takes strides to ‘make democracy more accessible’

January 15, 2020 | Source: Access and Mobility Professional- UK

Disabled candidates standing in Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections will now benefit from fairer spending rules. For the first time, disability-related campaign expenses will be excluded from candidates’ spending limits. The Government has said the changes for part of its wider work to make democracy more accessible. The changes are hoped to help remove potential barriers that might prevent a disabled person from running for elected office. Minister for the Constitution, Chloe Smith, said: “Police and Crime Commissioners provide a vital public service, elected as voices for their local communities…

Award-winning student design offers a new take on accessible cabins

January 15, 2020 | Source: Runway Girl Network- Ireland

An award-winning adaptable wheelchair design by Irish designer Ciara Crawford offers a new take on accessible aircraft cabins, and aims to encourage airlines to make it easier for passengers with limited mobility to fly with dignity. The so-called Row 1 airport wheelchair system would allow passengers to use the same electrified wheelchair to get from the airport check-in desk to the aircraft to their destination, eliminating the need for multiple seat transfers. This innovative chair can be altered quickly on the aircraft by removing the larger wheels at the back. It is then fitted directly onto the passenger seat…

New report on prisoners with disabilities

January 15, 2020 | Source: Irish Health- Ireland

Prisoners with disabilities face a number of human rights issues within the Irish prison system, including limited availability of accessibility aids, isolation in cells and limited communication with family members, a new report has found. Making Rights Real for People with Disabilities in Prison was commissioned by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT). It addresses the experiences of prisoners with all forms of disability, including physical and/or mobility impairments, psychosocial (mental health) disabilities, intellectual and/or learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, hearing problems, and visual impairment…

Disability campaigners call on Boris Johnson to help improve access in Eastbourne

January 15, 2020 | Source: Eastbourne Herald- UK

Campaigners have taken their battle for more accessible public spaces all the way to 10 Downing Street. Eastbourne Access Group has handed in petitions to Boris Johnson, with a message of concern over shared space schemes which they say have isolated blind, partially sighted, disabled and vulnerable pedestrians. The group’s Ray Blakeborough said, “The purpose of our petition is to highlight the growing and worrying trend of East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council of designing disabled people out of our public spaces…

Victoria’s accessible housing is not accessible

January 15, 2020 | Source: The Martlet- Canada

Within the next few years, the City of Victoria plans to create accessible housing units, which will be priced at $875 per month for a studio apartment and $1 750 per month for three bedrooms. Despite asserting that Victoria is facing a housing crisis, the units the city is building will not be accessible for those who are in the most immediate need. In B.C., the minimum wage is $13.85 per hour. At 40 hours per week, this works out to be just under $30 000 per year gross…

Audio description services set to go live in July for ABC and SBS

January 15, 2020 | Source: Disability Support Guide- Australia

The Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) have been given $2 million of Federal Government funding to provide Audio Description (AD) services from 1 July 2020. Audio Description is a service that assists blind or vision impaired people to enjoy content such as television, theatre, or movies and provides verbal commentary to a program. It describes essential visual elements within the soundtrack of the program and explains things like settings, backgrounds, costumes, and actions…

The quiet epidemic of hearing loss in Ireland

January 16, 2020 | Source: Irish Times- Ireland

There is a quiet epidemic of hearing loss in Ireland, as many people ignore the problem or suffer in silence for years before getting their hearing loss treated. The Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists estimates that one in 12 people in Ireland will acquire a permanent hearing loss. And about 50 per cent of those over 75 say that they experience some hearing loss, according to the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Tilda). Yet the same study found that only about 20 per cent of those who say they have fair to poor hearing wear hearing aids…

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