Accessibility in the News — 11/12/2021.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“Life is like a river with its curves and torrents that carve out the canyons and shape the river bed. Some of the journey is a meandering pool of serene water reflecting the glistening sun, and other stretches are raging water under the ominous clouds above. It is those ever-changing experiences that define and shape our journey through the river of life.” ― Jack McElaney
Billion Strong- A Global Disability Movement
Feature Stories
Justice Department Sues Uber for Overcharging People with Disabilities
November 10, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice& Wall Street Journal& NPR
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. (Uber) for charging “wait time” fees to passengers who, because of disability, need more time to enter a car. Uber’s policies and practices of charging wait time fees based on disability have harmed many passengers and potential passengers with disabilities throughout the country. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination by private transportation companies like Uber…
National News (U.S.)
Disability Activist Dies After United Airlines Destroyed Her Custom Wheelchair
October 4, 2021 | Source: Newsweek& Yahoo
Engracia Figueroa, an impassioned activist for people with disabilities, died after complications from injuries she sustained in July when her custom wheelchair was destroyed by United Airlines. Figueroa’s passing was announced by Hand in Hand, a national network of domestic workers who advocate for dignified working conditions, of which she was a member of the California chapter. The organization described Figueroa as a joyful, fierce and creative leader who was an actor, animal rights activist, surfer, and devout vegan…
The Silver Tsunami- Older Americans are driving the need for housing to age in place.
November 4, 2021 | Source: National Association of Realtors- Steve Wright
The concepts of aging in place and universal design — that is flexible, durable design that is comfortable and accessible to all, including people with disabilities — are not some fancy flavor-of-the-month. They are essential needs backed by countless demographic studies by respected institutions. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65 — meaning one in five U.S. residents will be retirement age. U.S. Census numbers show that by 2034, there will be 77 million people over 65, compared to 76.5 million under 18 — a first in history that there are more elderly than youth…
Dad asks daughter who was born deaf if she can hear in her dreams: ‘[This] really choked me up’
November 4, 2021 | Source: Yahoo
Baby hears mom’s voice for the first time
November 10, 2021 | Source: Good Morning America (Video)
This TikTok parent asked his deaf daughter if she could hear in her dreams, and her answer was fascinating! TJ is a TikToker and parent who frequently shares fun and informative videos about learning American Sign Language alongside his daughter, Kylee, who was born deaf. Recently, TJ posted a TikTok where he asks Kylee if she can hear in her dreams, and her response is incredibly cool…
Olay Developed an Easy-Open Regenerist Moisturizer Lid for People With Limited Mobility
November 4, 2021 | Source: Self& Disability Scoop
“I literally had to Google how to open this jar.” That’s just one of the many complaints customers have written online about Olay’s range of face creams. Packaged in colorful jars with somewhat flat, circular lids, the brand’s star moisturizing lineup—Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer, Retinol 24 Face Moisturizer, and Collagen Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer—has never been all that accessible to people who have limited mobility…
Advocates must ‘keep pushing’ MBTA to make Newton’s commuter rail stations accessible
November 5, 2021 | Source: Wicked Local
MBTA Offers Public Update on Downtown Crossing Accessibility Project
November 7, 2021 | Source: The Scope – Boston’s
It has been more than 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, and all of Newton’s commuter rail stations remain inaccessible to those with mobility and other challenges. Jini Fairley, Newton’s ADA coordinator, said in a recent interview that although she has “eternal optimism” that the stations (Auburndale, West Newton and Newtonville) will one day be in compliance, “it is disheartening” that as of 2021, the project is still only in the initial design stages…
How Accessible Is the American Dream for the Disabled?
November 5, 2021 | Source: RIS Media
Home-buying can be a frustrating experience for buyers. It can be even more discouraging when clients feel like an agent doesn’t understand their needs. Real estate professionals suggest this may be the case for thousands—even millions—of people looking to enter the buyer’s market with some form of disability. With 61 million adults—roughly 1 in 4—living with a physical or cognitive disability in the United States, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, real estate professionals indicate this is an underserved demographic in the market…
It Pays for Auto Industry to Hire People With Disabilities
November 5, 2021 | Source: Wards Auto
There’s a solution to the shortage of workers in the U.S. automotive industry, but employers may assume it’s too hard to make this option work. There are job vacancies in automotive manufacturing, in parts making and at dealerships, even though 8.4 million Americans were registered as unemployed in August. Another 5.7 million not in the labor force may currently want a job, yet weren’t actively looking in August, when these latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures came out. But do you question the caliber and “appropriate fit” of candidates applying for roles in your workplace?…
Deafness, Therapies And Misconceptions About Hearing Loss
November 6, 2021 | Source: Emergency Live
What Kind of Hearing Specialist Is Right for Me?
November 10, 2021 | Source: AARP
It’s not talked about too much, but deafness or hearing loss is a widespread phenomenon. Many people are affected by the problem (even the great Beethoven, pictured), and no age group is exempt. The great strides that medicine has made in the treatment of this deficit are, unfortunately, still little known. Thus, prejudices about deafness remain: among these is the idea that, apart from the use of hearing aids, there are no other means of reducing or curing it. Hearing aids and surgery can restore good hearing in the majority of cases…
Infrastructure measure includes fund to ensure nation’s transit stations are accessible
November 7, 2021 | Source: The Washington Post
A $1.75 billion fund in the infrastructure package will aim to guarantee that transit stations are accessible, decades after campaigns by disability rights activists to demand lifts on buses helped to spur passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Almost a fifth of transit stations were not fully accessible in 2019, according to the most recent Federal Transit Administration data. The inclusion of the money in the mammoth infrastructure package, adopted late Friday on a bipartisan 228-to-206 vote, caps a campaign by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a double amputee who uses a wheelchair…
Cost and controversy are limiting use of new Alzheimer’s drug
November 8, 2021 | Source: NPR
The new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm isn’t reaching many patients. And doctors say reasons include its high cost, insurers’ reluctance to cover it, and lingering questions about whether it actually slows memory loss. “The pendulum of public opinion has swayed strongly against this drug,” says Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, an Alzheimer’s specialist at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., who has worked as an advisor to Biogen, which makes the drug.
Aduhelm is the first drug on the market able to remove amyloid, the sticky substance that builds up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients…
There are More Triathletes With Disabilities Than You Realize: Making Your Race and Club Accessible
November 8, 2021 | Source: Triathlete Magazine
At the USA Triathlon Together, We Thrive: Actions for Change Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Summit, coaches, race directors, and triathletes gathered for a panel on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to discuss how to make triathlon more accessible for triathletes with disabilities. The panel, moderated by Triathlete editor Susan Lacke, included Keri Serota, executive director of Dare2Tri and athletes with disabilities coordinator for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon; and Chris Murphy, ADA specialist with Rocky Mountain ADA Center, a member of the U.S. Paracycling National Team, and two-time Paralympian…
Advocates disagree on axing a tree wheelchairs can’t get past
November 8, 2021 | Source: Greenwich Time
A stately European linden tree in Old Greenwich now poses a dangerous safety hazard, and it is scheduled to be cut down. But members of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy want to save it — even as advocates for Greenwich’s residents with disabilities point out the possible dangers on West End Avenue. It is a danger that Joe Dowling knows all too well. A 44-year town resident and a leading advocate for improving accessibility, Dowling’s attempt to circumnavigate the large tree in 2019 ended in near disaster. The tree is too large for Dowling, who uses a wheelchair, to get past it on the sidewalk…
Marvel’s first deaf superhero shines, but “Eternals” has an accessibility problem
November 8, 2021 | Source: Salon& Time& Mass News
Chloé Zhao’s “Eternals” has made history in a number of exciting ways, from being the first MCU movie with a PG-13 scene, to featuring the MCU’s first openly gay superhero and his family. In addition, the movie includes the first onscreen deaf superhero, Makkari,and is played on-screen by deaf actress Lauren Ridloff, to great fan and critical acclaim. “Eternals” follows 10 immortal beings with supernatural powers who’ve defended Earth from creatures known as Deviants for over 7,000 years…
People With Disabilities Have Been Locked Out Of Spaceflight. But That Is Changing.
November 8, 2021 | Source: News @ Northeastern
As the airplane tilted steeply upward, Mona Minkara experienced gravity like never before. “It feels like a huge pressure is on you, and the skin of your face is being pulled over the bones of your skull,” she says. “It’s a really bizarre feeling.” And then, as the plane reached the top of its arc-shaped path, those pressures of gravity lifted. Minkara began to float as her body was introduced to the feeling of zero gravity. For Minkara, who is legally blind, such weightlessness could have easily been disorienting. “As a blind person, walking around, gravity is always a constant,” she explains…
What’s behind the surge in second-hand ticket prices for accessible seating?
November 8, 2021 | Source: WHAS11
The ability to go to a game and choose from the bulk of tickets available, it’s something many of us take for granted. Joe Lagreek said his son, also named Joe, wanted to attend a Lou City or Racing Louisville soccer game at Lynn Family Stadium. He started the process of looking for tickets but discovered wheelchair access tickets were the most expensive. The cheapest available tickets were $17, but when you turned on the accessible ticket option on SeatGeek, prices jumped to $42…
Pursuing music and the arts as a visually impaired creator
November 9, 2021 | Source: Hypebot
Audi Ellis recently started high school in Incheon, South Korea. The 15-year-old moved to the city from Chicago with her family in June 2021 when her dad accepted a position as vice president of a pharmaceutical company. A competitive figure skater, cellist, actor, and now a Berklee Online certificate student, Audi is adjusting all of her passions to her new home, and connecting with Berklee’s worldwide music community helps bridge some gaps.
“It’s hard living in a foreign country,” says Audi. “You feel like an outcast especially due to the language barrier…
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Employer to End Unnecessary Medical Exams and Health Questions
November 9, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice & Consent Decree
The Justice Department filed an agreement with the Federal Court in New Jersey to resolve its lawsuit against the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). PATH operates a rail transit service between Manhattan and New Jersey. The department’s suit alleges that PATH subjected its workers to unnecessary medical exams and sought unnecessary information from those employees about their disabilities and other health conditions…
Airbnb update to make it easier for guests with disabilities to travel
November 9, 2021 | Source: Airbnb & USA Today & iPhone in Canada & Disability Scoop& TechCrunch & Verge& Report Door & Forbes
As the world undergoes a travel revolution brought on by the way people live and work, we continue to focus on making it easier for people with disabilities and other accessibility needs to also enjoy the flexibility of this new approach to travel. To better serve the estimated 1.2 billion people in the world who have a disability, we’re introducing new ways to help guests find and book accommodations and activities that meet their needs. These innovations were announced as part of the Airbnb 2021 Winter Release, a suite of features that provide additional support and protection for our Hosts…
Does your recruiting process need an accessibility makeover?
November 9, 2021 | Source: HR Dive
For non-disabled people, hiring people with disabilities can be nerve-wracking. As the CEO of Global Disability Inclusion, Meg O’Connell points out, “Historically, companies have viewed people with disabilities as a government problem, a religious problem, a nonprofit problem. ‘We’ll give to our corporate foundation.'” Disability rights advocates like O’Connell suggest that, instead of viewing folks with disabilities as disenfranchised from society, non-disabled people can work to include their peers in tangible, innovative ways…
Yahoo Sports’ documentary short features All Blind Fantasy League
November 10, 2021 | Source: Yahoo & YouTube
The Future of Sports: Yahoo’s Larry Goldberg On The New Emerging Technologies That Are Disrupting The World Of Sports
November 11, 2021 | Source: Medium
Yahoo Sports is proud to announce the debut of a short documentary produced by Yahoo about its All Blind Fantasy League (ABFL) — a group of sports fanatics who use assistive technology like screen readers with the Yahoo Fantasy app to connect with their passion for fantasy in a fully accessible way. The short documentary captures the engaging stories of the blind and visually impaired fantasy managers of the league, and it shares their enthusiastic enjoyment of a game millions of people love, but which was not always accessible to people with vision loss…
Justice Department Sues Uber for Overcharging People with Disabilities
November 10, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice& Wall Street Journal& NPR
The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. (Uber) for charging “wait time” fees to passengers who, because of disability, need more time to enter a car. Uber’s policies and practices of charging wait time fees based on disability have harmed many passengers and potential passengers with disabilities throughout the country. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination by private transportation companies like Uber…
How Accessible Are Houston’s Theaters?
November 10, 2021 | Source: Houston Press
Doors, dogs, and a demi disaster. It’s alliteration, sure, but it’s also an accurate snapshot of the challenges I faced this past month as a post-surgery wheelchair/walker/cane user trying to navigate shows at several of Houston’s theaters. Notice I said challenges, not roadblocks. The good news is that theaters in this town are, for the most part, conveniently accessible. At every theater, securing special seating was a breeze and as a bonus, these accessible seats are generally some of the best views in the house…
Islanders Fans With Disabilities File Complaint Over UBS Arena Accessibility
November 10, 2021 | Source: CBS (YouTube) & News 12 Connecticut
There is joy for most Islanders fans as the long-awaited new home, the UBS Arena, prepares for its opening in 10 days, but some fans who are disabled claim their health and safety were forgotten in the process…
How Disabled Travel Bloggers Are Empowering Their Communities To Travel The World
November 11, 2021 | Source: Now This News
It’s often said that travel can bring out the worst in people: crowded airports, delayed flights, overpacked luggage, and too much alcohol consumed at strange hours of the day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has become even more complicated, as some destinations require negative COVID-19 test results and proof of vaccination. Still, for those who are not able-bodied, traveling poses a litany of complications and risks. Many cities, public transportation systems, airports, hotels, and popular tourist attractions do not meet accessibility standards for all travelers, of all body types…
AMC is Launching Open Captions Making Movie Theaters More Accessible
November 10, 2021 | Source: NBC 7 San Diego
Many of us are used to seeing captions on TV or while watching movies at home, but they are not common in movie theaters. Now, AMC is changing that so that people who rely on captions can enjoy more movies. “It’s about time they have this,” said Cindy Farnaday. “It makes a huge difference.” Farnaday lost her hearing when she was young and lives in Del Mar with her husband Mike, who is also deaf. When they went to the movies they would have to go to the few showings with captions, wear special glasses, or read off a separate device at their seat…
Washburn student with disabilities holds rally on campus, pushing for more accessibility & inclusion
November 11, 2021 | Source: KSNT & YouTube
The community is rallying around Washburn University student Daija Coleman, who is pushing for more accessibility and inclusion on Washburn’s campus. It’s an update to a story KSNT first told you about last month.
Coleman is a senior education major at the university and started this petition as part of her Senior Capstone project. Carnegie Hall is the current home for education majors but isn’t ADA accessible. A major issue for students like Coleman who rely on a wheelchair to get around…
This Company Tapped AI for Its Website—and Landed in Court
November 11, 2021 | Source: Wired
Last year, anthony Murphy, a visually impaired man who lives in Erie, Pennsylvania, visited the website of eyewear retailer Eyebobs using screen reader software. Its synthesized voice attempted to read out the page’s content, as well as navigation buttons and menus. Eyebobs used artificial intelligence software from Israeli startup AccessiBe that promised to make its site easier for people with disabilities to use. But Murphy found it made it harder…
Advancing an Inclusive Workplace
November 11, 2021 | Source: Stanford Social Innovation Review
More than one billion people around the world live with a disability. At some point, most of us will likely experience a temporary, situational, or permanent disability. Employment and education rates are lower for people with disabilities and poverty rates are higher. This disparity has caused a “disability divide,” a social inclusion gap that has persisted for the more than three decades since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)…
Resident thrives in accessible housing complex for disabled individuals
November 11, 2021 | Source: Spectrum
Finding the perfect house or apartment is a difficult task for anyone. However, the disparities are even greater for individuals with disabilities looking for accessible homes. Sara Steimle understood that challenge. She was born with cerebral palsy. It’s a condition that impacts her movements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in children. At 27 years old, Steimle said she still needs help completing some daily tasks like getting in and out of bed and showering…
Common loud noises cause fluid buildup in the inner ear, study finds- Research has implications for detecting and treating hearing loss
November 11, 2021 | Source: Science Daily
Exposure to loud noise, such as a firecracker or an ear-splitting concert, is the most common preventable cause of hearing loss. Research suggests that 12% or more of the world population is at risk for noise-induced loss of hearing. Loud sounds can cause a loss of auditory nerve cells in the inner ear, which are responsible for sending acoustic information to the brain, resulting in hearing difficulty. However, the mechanism behind this hearing loss is not fully understood. Now, a new study from Keck Medicine of USC links this type of inner ear nerve damage to a condition known as endolymphatic hydrops, a buildup of fluid in the inner ear…
Jack Fact — According to the Family Resources Survey 2018/19, 14.1 million people1 in the UK reported having a disability, consisting of 8% of the child population, 19% of the working age population, and 45% of the pension age population.
Hit The Road Jack —Best locations for a walking holiday – and they’re accessible to all & Japanese pavilion in Guernsey reopened with accessibility features
International News
Disability advocate wears ‘wheelchair-bound’ Halloween costume to call out the ‘outdated ableist term’
November 4, 2021 | Source: Yahoo- Canada
An author, speaker and disability advocate fed up with being described as “wheelchair-bound” — which the disabled community has long identified as inappropriate — channeled her frustration into a Halloween costume inspired by the “outdated ableist term.” Photos shared by Canadian-Australian writer Tara Moss show her being, quite literally, “wheelchair-bound,” with her arms and legs restrained to her wheelchair; Moss tells Yahoo Life that her husband “faux-tied” her restraints, which she removed before heading out to trick-or-treat with their daughter near their home in British Columbia, Canada…
The world should not fall into its old ableist habits as Covid re-openings continue
November 7, 2021 | Source: The Journal- Ireland
COVID-19 has changed the way the world works in numerous and dramatic ways. Since taking to the world stage, this virus has asserted itself and created a universal social disability for everyone, individuals, businesses and nations alike. It has, invariably, changed us all. One positive note that this global pandemic has revealed, however, is that nothing is impossible for humanity when given the proper amount of focus, intention and support. As the world slowly begins to learn how to live in this post-pandemic society, we must be prepared not to slip back into the bad habits that made up the status quo of the old world…
Accessibility project for people with visual disabilities at the Kazantzakis Museum
November 7, 2021 | Source: Athina 9.84- Greece
With the vision to systematize its practices and actions in the direction of lifting social exclusion and to raise public awareness on issues of accessibility of people with disabilities in culture and art, the Museum “N. Kazantzaki” in Myrtia, Heraklion with funding Ministry of Culture, is in the implementation of a project that will make the exhibition of evidence from the life and work of Nikos Kazantzakis accessible to people with visual disabilities…
Accessibility is in the details
November 7, 2021 | Source: The West Australian- Australia
An example of an innovative custom build designed impeccably for residents living with disability, this abode by Shelford Quality Homes provides maximum accessibility for wheelchairs. “We were so excited to take on this project and work with our clients in creating a family home that accommodates their changing needs,” Shelford Homes Architectural Designer Rui Rosa said. “The main features built in this wheelchair-accessible home are unique.
”We’ve done intensive research to ensure the house is liveable for every person at any stage of their life, regardless of changing health conditions.”…
Not disability-friendly: Why Israel’s energy minister (and probably some others) couldn’t participate in CoP26
November 7, 2021 | Source: Down To Earth- Scotland
The 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held at Glasgow is one of the most important international events of current times. We all are aware that this summit is organised to bring different countries together towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. Climate change is an all-encompassing crisis that is affecting us and COP26 is getting the media attention it deserves. Different groups are bringing out statements and conducting side-events at the summit…
Sitting Down with A Maverick for Change in Mexico: Andres Balcazar
November 7, 2021 | Source: Fun4TheDisabled- Mexico
Universal Design is the process of creating products, services, and environments that are accessible to a wide range of people regardless of ability, age, race, and other factors. This approach to design is implemented to enable and empower a diverse population by developing policies, laws, and practices that allow a wide range of individuals to have a better quality of life. The concept of Universal Design has been steadily developing over the years as more and more cities, states, and countries are beginning to acknowledge the lack of policies and other measures in place to protect people of all abilities…
FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ accessibility tickets for fans with limited mobility on sale now
November 8, 2021 | Source: I Love Qatar
Sixteen of the Arab world’s top national teams are all set to meet in Qatar for the first pan-Arab tournament to be held under the FIFA umbrella. The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ will not only showcase the region’s passion for the beautiful game, it will also serve as a vital opportunity to test operations and six stunning stadiums ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Disabled fans and fans with limited mobility wishing to see these unique venues up close, as well as to witness the best Arab football nations duelling for the title of the first FIFA Arab Cup™ champions, can book Accessibility Tickets via FIFA’s ticketing portal…
‘Pretty cool’: Dylan Alcott on his Golden Slam as he promotes accessible music festival Ability Fest
November 8, 2021 | Source: 7NEWS- Australia
After achieving the elusive Golden Slam where he won the Australian, French, US and Wimbledon crowns, as well as winning gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, Australian tennis star Dylan Alcott is about to hit another high note.
The Australian sports star’s Dylan Alcott Foundation is helping to organise the Ability Fest music festival at Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne on Saturday November 27. The day-long event is the country’s most accessible music festival, with 100 per cent of proceeds being donated to help young Australians currently living with a physical or non-physical disability…
Sign languages matter- National and endangered sign languages of Southasia.
November 8, 2021 | Source: Himal Southasian- Sri Lanka
Press briefings on COVID-19 by governments around the world have brought sign language interpreters to centre stage. These occasional appearances highlighted the existing gaps in accessibility for people with impaired hearing and verbal abilities. Although many of the world’s languages are spoken, some are produced by hands, face and body. Sign languages emerge naturally among deaf communities and use visual-kinaesthetic modalities. Unlike spoken languages, which are primarily perceived auditorily, sign languages are perceived visually…
Tanzanian railway project offers accessibility examples for Africa, disability body says
November 9, 2021 | Source: Railpage- Africa
The Shivyawata federation of disabled people’s organisations says organisations across Africa can learn from the provision of facilities for people with reduced mobility on the Dar es Salaam – Morogoro standard gauge railway. On October 30 the Shivyawata board toured the 202 km first phase of the SGR project, which is now 94% complete, in order to inspect the facilities and provide feedback on possible enhancements. Federation Chairman Ernest Kimaya said the group was satisfied that the infrastructure would cater to the needs of people with ‘various needs’…
Centre seeks feedback on accessibility standards for TV programmes for hearing impaired
November 9, 2021 | Source: Devdiscourse- India & The Indian Express
The Centre has sought feedback from the public and stakeholders on accessibility standards which aim to make television content, including news, more accessible and inclusive for persons with hearing disabilities. In a recent notification, the ministry of information and broadcasting asked for feedback and suggestions within 21 days on ”Accessibility Standards for Television Programmes for Hearing Impaired”…
FE colleges failing blind and partially sighted students
November 9, 2021 | Source: FE News- UK
All further education (FE) colleges are legally obliged to develop accessible websites, learning, teaching and assessment materials but new research reveals a lack of awareness, engagement and compliance across the sector (@TPTgeneral). The research, conducted by All Able Ltd on behalf of Thomas Pocklington Trust, looked at blind and partially sighted students access to information and assistive technology (AT) in mainstream FE. It found eight out of ten colleges in the UK do not provide the legally required accessibility information on their websites…
Accessibility revolution at Northumbria Healthcare ‘will save Deaf lives’
November 9, 2021 | Source: Chronicle Live- UK
As part of a drive to make hospitals more accessible for the D/deaf community, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust have introduced a new “laptop interpreter”. The new system sees a dedicated laptop with specialist software available which means that if a Deaf person arrives at hospital they can be instantly connected to a video interpreter, if there is not a face-to-face British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter available. Using the system, a patient can be immediately connected with an interpreter from charity thebigword who helps them to converse with doctors and nurses…
Will accessibility become a reality under projet Montréal?
November 9, 2021 | Source: Montreal Times- Canada
Political observers will have seen Projet Montréal ease into a second election victory. As the Montreal Gazette highlights, the progressive party has seen their control of the city rise with 3 more borough seats. A big part of their election drive was an all-encompassing plan to fully renovate Montreal to become fully accessible to disabled people. Critics noted that the group has already had four years to implement changes, yet the news has nevertheless been met with excitement. A look at what is really needed for a city to be accessibility-friendly is a good place to start when looking at Montreal’s progress thus far…
Sidewalk snafus: Accessibility issues are dogging the e-scooter pilot program in Ottawa
November 10, 2021 | Source: Capital Current- Canada
The impact of e-scooters on sidewalk accessibility has been a source of frustration for Ottawa residents during the city’s 2021 e-scooter pilot program. People have been concerned about the increase in sidewalk obstructions caused by e-scooter users. “It’s a maze, it literally is,” said Ryan Lythall, who uses a wheelchair. Lythall said he has had his path on a sidewalk impeded by e-scooters many times during the pilot program. This past summer, for example, he had a run-in with two teens riding on an e-scooter down the sidewalk…
Reducing barriers faced by the visually impaired
November 10, 2021 | Source: New Straits Times- Malaysia
Atlas Vending has collaborated with the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to roll out its pilot programme for vending machines specially equipped with additional assistive features to enable accessibility for visually-impaired customers. This first of its kind rollout in Malaysia features vending machines certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the first braille-enabled vending machines in Malaysia. The effort is in line with Atlas Vending’s aim to reduce barriers facing the visually-impaired community, such as barriers that impede their access to vending machines serving refreshments in public spaces…
The chief electoral officer (CEO), seeks inputs to enhance accessibility to PWD
November 11, 2021 | Source: E-Pao!- India
The chief electoral officer (CEO), Manipur has invited suggestions from all stakeholders including clubs, NGOs, CSOs and other organisations working or has worked for or in collaboration with people with disabilities (PwDs) to enhance the accessibility to PwD electors or help remove any bottlenecks that would hinder them while exercising their Adult Franchise. The CEO office in a press statement said it is putting its best effort to provide hassle free access to the entire election process to all according to the guidelines of Election Commission of India (ECI)…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- Do you need to wear a mask indoors where you live? Check this map- NPR
- Help! I Don’t Know How To Be An Office Person Anymore After COVID- Huff Post
- Hearing Loss: MIT Study Shows That COVID-19 Also Attacks Our Ears- Gilmore Health
- How COVID-19 helped tear down barriers for enjoying live entertainment- The Tennessean
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- COP26: A Cautionary Tale on Accessibility- MeetingsNet
- Digital Accessibility Awareness Is on the Rise- Jeff Singleton
- Introduction to A.I. and Accessibility Testing- Ricky Onsman
- Disability talks: Accessibility for autonomous vehicles- 2025AD
- Questions arise surrounding accessibility at CWU- CWU Observer
- Overlays Underwhelm: Web Directions AAA 2021- Adrian Roselli
- 5 Ways ICT is a great career for those living with disabilities- Yiba
- Ask a Trainer: Getting Started With Accessibility for E-Learning- ATD
- I was blind until my 30s: Why I’m sharing my story with the world- GMA (Video)
- Overlays do not get rid of (moot) digital accessibility lawsuits- Timothy Springer
- How Many People Need My Website to be Usable and Accessible?- Brielle Cayer
- Digital accessibility gains visibility in technology review process- Ohio University
- Is Berkeley High Accessible to Differently-Abled Students?- Berkeley High Jacket
- Have a Social Security disability claim? Get ready to wait.- Winston-Salem Journal
- New class ‘Accessible Cinema’ promotes inclusive filmmaking – The Berkeley Beacon
- How to beat the winter blues if you have a disability or health condition- Disability Horizons
- The educator’s imperative: creating intentional inclusivity in the digital classroom- The Campus
- In Her Own Words: CEO Virginia Jacko believes blindness is not a barrier- The Business Journals
- New artistic director aims to make Olympia Family Theater more inclusive, accessible- The Olympian
- Mindset Matters: A Divergent Path Of Accessibility From The Political Landscape To Marvel Superhero’s- Forbes
- How Artificial Intelligence Affects Workers with Disabilities: A New Toolkit for Businesses- U.S. Department of Labor
- Access Brookline: A monthly selection of accessibility-related news, events and info- Brookline Commission on Disability
- Ninth Circuit Says Restaurant Does Not Discriminate Against the Blind By Providing Only Drive-Through Service- Seyfarth Shaw
- Teaching visually impaired students – and making class materials more accessible for everyone at the same time- Times Higher Education
- Q&A: Evanston Inclusion Coordinator Ryan Dollins talks sign language interpretation and accessibility in city meetings- The Daily Northwestern
- Department of Justice to companies with inaccessible websites: We’re back! Deconstructing the Rite Aid settlement agreement- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- New York District Court Holds That Website Without Public-Facing, Physical Operations is Not a “Place of Public Accommodation” Under the Americans with Disabilities Act- Saiber
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- ETSU Adds Braille Menu Options
- UsableNet AQA 2021 release is here
- Sight Tech Global agenda announced
- Acronis SCS Completes VPAT Compliance
- Texas HHSC Seeks Public Input for Budget
- Support WID in Creating Accessibility Solutions
- AudioEye Reports Record Third Quarter 2021 Results
- Accessible Travel Press- Awards, Europe and Christmas
- Announcing the Launch of Salesforce’s Accessibility Site
- Nominations now open for Stratford’s Accessibility Award
- City Of Evanston: City Kicks Off Accessibility Plan Update
- Jeff Wissel joins Disability:IN as Chief Accessibility Officer
- Arts Accessibility for Event Services – Nebraska Arts Council
- Miracle Park accessible baseball diamond nears grand opening
- Accessible eLearning Helps People with Sight Loss Find Work
- Accessible Driver Appreciation Week recognizes sector’s impact
- Art exhibit demonstrates need for further inclusivity in art spaces
- All-accessible playground joins Farragut’s lineup of superior parks
- FCC Acts to Improve Communications Reliability During Disasters
- Google’s new app aims to help folks with speech impairments communicate
- Instagram adds TikTok-like Text-to-Speech and Voice Effects tools to Reels
- Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center Receives $437,500 Grant from State
- Apple execs set to speak on accessibility and ML/AI at Sight Tech Global event
- House Passes Sweeping Infrastructure Bill That Would Benefit Older Americans
- Make-A-Wish brings dream of accessible playground to life for Texas child with special needs (YouTube)
- Accessibility to tourism Accommodations for People with Disabilities is Promoted in Costa Rica
- Amsterdam-based Amberscript raises €8.65 million to make all audio and video accessible to everyone
- Bahamian Paratriathlete, Erin Brown, Named Godmother Of New Royal Caribbean Ship Odyssey Of The Seas
- CVS Health Partners with Disability Community in Commitment to Affordable and Equitable Access to Health Care
- GIDEON Infectious Diseases Database Achieves AA-Level Accessibility Conformance: More Inclusivity in Epidemiology
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- ARIA: term role
- Technique: Keyboard accessible links
- The Ultimate Guide to Audio Description
- The Captcha Conundrum & Accessible Alternatives
- All accessibility features in Call of Duty: Vanguard
- How to Use Window’s ‘Color Filters’ Accessibility Setting
- Chrome adds feature that disables viewing HTML source code
- XDA Basics: How to use the Accessibility zoom feature on a Mac
- Understanding the Differences Between WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2
Understanding the Differences Between WCAG 2.2 and WCAG 3.0 - iOS 15 Gives You More Reasons to Use Your iPhone’s Accessibility Shortcut
- Squinting over small font? 7 ways to magnify your iPhone, iPad or Mac screen
- The Pixel 6’s Accessibility Features Make Me Hopeful for the Future of Smartphones
- Explained: Conversation boost and other AirPods accessibility features to try for better performance
- How Xbox Is Advancing Gaming Accessibility on Its Platforms, And, Hopefully, Throughout the Industry
- All accessibility features in Forza Horizon 5, Forza Horizon 5 Accessibility Features (YouTube), Forza Horizon 5 Accessibility Settings Detailed, American And British Sign Language Coming Soon
- Zoom
- QuickStart
- ResilienceLinks
- Palomar College
- Highgate Corporate
- HCL Technologies
- Catalyst Education
- Florida Virtual School
- Scarborough Public Schools
- Florida International University
- Accessibility in the News: Accessibility Statement Pages
Microassist Digital Accessibility Services
Have you received an accessibility demand letter because of your website or application? Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.
Services include:
- Accessible Website and Application Development— We rely heavily on accessibility best practices and using HTML5 and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) standards to build WCAG-compliant and human-tested accessible environments. Our teams are proficient in open source technologies such as WordPress, Drupal and Moodle, as well as custom frameworks in .NET, PHP, AngularJS, and other frameworks. Our Learning and Development team can also help you create accessible custom training.
- Accessible Document Services— Whether you’re dealing with a few or a warehouse of Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, or other files, there are several ways Microassist can enable your team to offer documents and materials that meet stringent accessibility standards.
- Accessibility Remediation— Our accessibility remediation services help you fix existing materials so that they conform to WCAG, Section 504 and 508, Department of Education OCR, and ADA Title II/III requirements. We remediate websites, applications, documents, and elearning, recommending re-creation when that is more efficient and economical. Especially for website and applications, to find out what is in need of remediation, we’ll start with an Accessibility Audit.
- Accessibility Training— With several courses available for developers, testers, and content creators, your team can become equipped to consistently and expertly produce accessible digital products and online environments.
- VPAT®Evaluation Services— Primarily used by government purchasers and government vendors during the procurement and sale of ICT products and services under Section 508, a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template® (VPAT) attests to the accessibility of a given product or service. Contact us to make sure the VPAT you write or review is accurate and meaningful.
Learn More About Digital Accessibility
Our Digital Accessibility Digest blog covers our Accessibility in the News archives as well as expert commentaries on digital accessibility issues.
Our most popular 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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