Accessibility in the News — 6/11/2021.
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Feature Stories
Parking Program for ADA Compliant People
June 4, 2021 | Source: Science Times
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a civil rights law which protects the rights of people with disabilities. This law covers employment, transportation, accessible spaces, telecommunications and many more. The ADA includes provisions for public accommodations to meet these accessibility requirements or federal standards met nationwide. Included with this are parking programs. In this article, we will learn more about the ADA standards for parking and how people can make their spaces safer and easily accessible for all…
Knoxville woman asks drivers to be mindful when parking next to accessible spaces
June 4, 2021 | Source: WBIR
A Knoxville woman is pleading for people to be mindful when they park next to accessible parking spots. A post she made on social media is being shared quickly, with people echoing her frustrations. It shows a young girl in a wheelchair unable to get into her minivan because of an SUV that parked over the lines into an accessible parking spot. She said others’ poor parking makes it difficult to get wheelchairs in and out of vehicles. “Just don’t be in a hurry. Think of others before yourself, even the smallest detail can cause so many issues,” said Rebekah Malone who has been helping take care of Kenzie Rudder for 2 years…
Making a more accessible NYC subway system for all
June 6, 2021 | Source: amNY
Transit and accessibility advocates want $20 billion for MTA from Biden infrastructure bill
June 7, 2021 | Source: amNY
Transit riders call on federal government to aid MTA’s quest for accessibility
June 7, 2021 | Source: News 12 Bronx
They demand in New York special funds from Congress to make the Subway more accessible to the disabled and not increase the MetroCard
June 8, 2021 | Source: Explica
Subway accessibility plan passes Borough Board, disability advocates remain skeptical
June 9, 2021 | Source: Queens Daily Eagle
If the last time you rode the bus or subway was before the pandemic, you might not recognize the transit system as it exists now more than a year later. There have been visible improvements, like our unprecedented disinfecting program, but not all the changes are so obvious. Some New Yorkers may not realize that the MTA opened a record 12 new accessible stations in the last 17 months. To put that in perspective, only 11 accessibility projects were completed in the entire seven-year period from 2012-2018…
Accessibility and parking questions loom for fans ahead of Austin FC home opener next week
June 8, 2021 | Source: KXAN
With less than two weeks until the Austin FC season home opener, Harry Jarvis and his wife couldn’t be more excited. “My wife and I are both big fans,” he said. That excitement, however, is quickly becoming uncertainty and worry about the parking plan for game day. “I started looking for parking information for how I get handicap accessible parking, and that’s when I ran into trouble,” Jarvis said. “I just sort of didn’t know where to look.” These are new questions for the couple, as his wife recently began using a wheelchair after experiencing chronic pain and undergoing a back surgery that makes walking difficult and painful…
National News (U.S.)
Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Support Full Participation and Equality for People with Disabilities
June 2021 | Source: The White House (PDF)
In the first 100 days, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken significant steps to achieve a more inclusive country for people with disabilities. Through quick policy action, this Administration has ensured disabled Americans are receiving resources and were included in key administrative proposals. Specifically, the Administration has:…
Colorado Government Websites Still Aren’t Accessible To Many People With Disabilities. But New Funding Could Finally Change That
June 3, 2021 | Source: Colorado Public Radio
When COVID-19 first hit the state, like many Coloradans, Scott LaBarre, a 52-year-old attorney from Centennial, searched for as much information as he could find. He wanted to track the number of COVID-19 cases and the slew of sweeping executive orders that brought big changes to public life in Colorado. But he said he quickly realized he couldn’t access the state’s digital information. LaBarre lost his vision at age ten due to a childhood virus and describes himself as totally blind…
Why getting more people with disabilities developing technology is good for everyone
June 3, 2021 | Source: The Conversation
Unless you’re blind or know someone who is, you might not know that blind people use the same smartphones as sighted people. In fact, many blind people use touch-screen smartphones every day. The secret is that smartphones have a screen reader, a tool that allows blind people to use a mix of gestures and taps, along with vibrations or audio feedback, to use their apps. Screen readers work on desktop computers as well as mobile devices. You can usually find the screen reader in settings under accessibility…
Curbside pickup boosts accessibility for people with ADHD and autism
June 3, 2021 | Source: CNET
Grocery stores exhaust me. Before the pandemic, I would grind through a shopping list on my iPhone’s Notes app, checking it over and over as I reminded myself where items were in a store I’d shopped at for years. Why did I feel so tormented by shopping? Last year, I got an answer: a diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. My working memory, which holds the bits of information I need right now at the front of my mind, is faulty. As a result, I have to work extra hard to find the produce I’m shopping for while impulsively checking if rhubarb is in season or wondering if that’s ripe cantaloupe I’m smelling…
Why getting more people with disabilities developing technology is good for everyone
June 3, 2021 | Source: The Conversation
Unless you’re blind or know someone who is, you might not know that blind people use the same smartphones as sighted people. In fact, many blind people use touch-screen smartphones every day. The secret is that smartphones have a screen reader, a tool that allows blind people to use a mix of gestures and taps, along with vibrations or audio feedback, to use their apps. Screen readers work on desktop computers as well as mobile devices. You can usually find the screen reader in settings under accessibility…
This retired teacher found her passion while birding. Now she’s making it accessible to all
June 4, 2021 | Source: CNN
Virginia Rose had just turned 14 when the Arabian horse she was riding took off under a guide fence wire. “I fell off and broke my back, and I’ve been in a wheelchair ever since,” Rose told CNN. The accident didn’t stop the enthusiastic teen from engaging in life. She had good friends and parents who didn’t let her feel sorry for herself. She went to college and became an English teacher. “It was never expected that I would not continue living fully.” Not until her forties did she realize something had been missing in her life…
Report: Nearly Half of Popular Federal Websites Fail Accessibility Tests
June 4, 2021 | Source: Nextgov & FCW & MeriTalk & ITIF & FEDweek
Federal websites are not as accessible for those with disabilities as the law mandates they should be, according to a report released Thursday by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. The report tested the 72 most popular federal websites and used a combination of automated tests and qualitative assessments to assess their compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The law requires the General Services Administration to ensure federal websites are accessible to people with disabilities, including federal employees and the public…
Justice Department Resolves ADA Complaint with Maine Department of Health and Human Services
June 4, 2021 | Source: US Department of Justice & ADA
The Justice Department today reached an agreement with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to resolve alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A young man with intellectual disabilities (ID) filed a complaint with the Justice Department alleging that Maine imposed restrictions that placed him at serious risk of having to move from his own home into a congregate setting in order to receive the services he needs. Congregate settings are multi-person homes or facilities where residents receive needed services…
New housing village designed to improve accessibility for adults with disabilities
June 4, 2021 | Source: WISHTV
A new housing village is opening up with improved accessibility for adults living with disabilities. Damar Village is in Phase 2 of construction. It may be hard to understand just how difficult it is for someone with disabilities to navigate a world not necessarily built for them. But Damar Village representatives said the new complex will completely flip the script. Everything here was built to accommodate a variety of physical and mental needs. Independence is something Mary Pat and Rick Torbeck still want for their adult children, Brian and Clark. Both have autism and don’t speak…
After eye surgery for sun damage, Camila Alves McConaughey urges fans to ‘wear sunglasses.’ Here’s what you need to know.
June 4, 2021 | Source: Yahoo
In the months leading up to summer, dermatologists offer warnings about the potential damage of UV rays to the skin. But unbeknownst to many, the eyes are similarly vulnerable — something that Camila Alves McConaughey learned firsthand. In a series of Instagram posts this week, the Brazilian-American actor and model — who’s married to Matthew McConaughey — shared images of herself in a hospital bed with her eyes covered. “Had to have an eye surgery…Not laser so a bit more involved,” she wrote in a post on Wednesday…
Avengers, assemble: Marvel coordinator teaches Central Texas kids how to fly
June 6, 2021 | Source: KXAN
Dressed in a pink superhero costume with an accompanying cape, Viola rolls down to the platform at Two Wishes Ranch in Lockhart. Crews strap her wheelchair to cables, slowly raising her into the air. Hanging from the same flight system that has hoisted Benedict Cumberbatch in “Dr. Strange,” she flies through the air, wind whipping past her as she spins and makes her descent. A wide smile slowly spreads across her face, and crews lift her again for a second turn…
Blind Winn-Dixie Customer Further Appeals Website Access Ruling
June 7, 2021 | Source: Bloomberg Law
A blind Winn-Dixie customer who couldn’t refill a prescription using a computer wants the full Eleventh Circuit to throw out a decision that marked the first time a federal appeals court said websites aren’t covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other federal circuit and district courts have taken a more expansive view of whether and when the 1990 disability anti-bias law applies, saying “places of accommodation” goes beyond just the physical places specifically recounted in the federal law…
Design tools have improved dramatically. But they’re still failing users in one key way
June 7, 2021 | Source: Fast Company
Unless you’re blind or know someone who is, you might not know that blind people use the same smartphones as sighted people. In fact, many blind people use touch-screen smartphones every day. The secret is that smartphones have a screen reader, a tool that allows blind people to use a mix of gestures and taps, along with vibrations or audio feedback, to use their apps. Screen readers work on desktop computers as well as mobile devices. You can usually find the screen reader in settings under accessibility…
COVID-19 pandemic reveals challenges involving ADA accommodations
June 7, 2021 | Source: HR Dive
In the decades following the enactment of the Americans With Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago, substantial measures have been taken to eradicate discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. However, this Act was structured to address a pre-digital world…
New Non-Profit Honors Local Man, Makes Races Accessible to Disabled Athletes
June 7, 2021 | Source: Muncie Journal
The 10-K run was crowded and fast. Two brothers, Scott and Danny Taylor, enjoyed the thrill of competition on that brisk spring morning. Team Taylor differed little from the other racers in enthusiasm and spirit, but only one man could run in this race. Danny Taylor, who suffered cerebral palsy at birth, was pushed by Scott in a specially adapted racing stroller. Cerebral Palsy limited Danny’s ability to control his movements and posture, but it did nothing to restrain his joy of athletics or competition…
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest Regarding Hotel Bed Height for Guests with Disabilities
June 8, 2021 | Source: ADA.gov
Today, the Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest in a lawsuit in the Western District of Pennsylvania to clarify that where an alleged barrier—the height of a hotel bed—is not addressed by the ADA Standards, the ADA’s general nondiscrimination provisions still apply, including making reasonable modifications where necessary to provide goods and services to people with disabilities. The lawsuit, Migyanko v. Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC, alleges that the world’s largest third-party operator of hotels provides hotel beds that are too high for individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to transfer into them…
Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Claims Against 19 Building Owners
June 8, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice
The Justice Department today announced that it reached a single agreement with 19 building owners* who rent space in their buildings to stores and restaurants. The agreement requires the owners to fix their buildings so that people with mobility disabilities, like wheelchair users, can get in the door to shop or eat. Physical barriers, like steps at an entrance, can keep people with disabilities out and cause discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)…
Empowering visually impaired employees with assistive technology
June 8, 2021 | Source: Spectrum News
According to IFB Solutions, 70% of the United States’ visually impaired population is unemployed. Mike Mote, IFB Solutions’ manager of accessibility and workforce development, is empowering its employees with training in assistive technology. Mote was born blind, but that hasn’t stopped him from doing what he loves. As a child, he became interested in radio broadcasting with his brother, who is also blind. Through the years, Mote has broadcast baseball, football and basketball games…
Clubhouse and its clones have an accessibility problem
June 8, 2021 | Source: The Verge
Clubhouse took off last year and spurred competitors to add their own voice chat rooms that can host hundreds if not thousands of people. But the hit app has had a serious problem from the beginning, consistently pointed out by accessibility advocates: it excludes disabled people, with the most obvious issue being that the audio-based app doesn’t have built-in captions. This makes it unusable for deaf people and difficult to use for people who are hard of hearing or struggle with audio processing…
Special Report: Passenger Rail Stat Snapshot
June 8, 2021 | Source: Mass Transit
In a typical pre-pandemic year, rail modes would account for nearly half of U.S. transit ridership. However, passenger rail providers are contending with deeper ridership reductions and many have not experienced the start of rebounds that bus modes have seen. However, the industry is fighting to keep rail modes robust and viable options within the mobility mix through advocacy efforts and continued investment. In late May, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) submitted testimony for the record to the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure urging the establishment of a passenger rail trust fund…
I Tried Everything To Keep My Daughter Safe. Here’s What I Learned When I Couldn’t.
June 8, 2021 | Source: Huff Post
We were “test-driving” a new nurse. She was young and fresh out of nursing school, and her youth and inexperience unsettled me. I was in the kitchen, the nurse and Emma in the living room, when an internal voice, or mother’s instinct — something — told me to peek in on them. The nurse was perched on the couch with her back to me, whispering on the phone, while Emma was on the floor at her feet, trying to swat her leg, seemingly in an effort to get attention…
Why are hearing aids so expensive?
June 8, 2021 | Source: California News Times
Larry Hicks was diagnosed with severe deafness about 6 months ago. He’s a little embarrassed to say it’s because he exploded crazy high-pitched music in the car. Burbank residents are currently buying hearing aids and are sick of the cost. As much as $ 6,000 For pairs.Medicare and most private plans Do not cover the hearing aid. “I feel like I’m devouring prices,” Hicks, 51, told me. “They use people with disabilities and the elderly.” It’s hard to argue. Medical devices are a classic example of a relatively small number of manufacturers taking advantage of proprietary markets with overly high list prices…
Rec for all: Building an inclusive recreation system for Philadelphia
June 9, 2021 | Source: Billy Penn
Access to recreation is vital to Philadelphians’ health, well being and sense of belonging. All residents, including those with physical disabilities and neurodivergence, deserve the opportunity to learn, play, and grow in safe spaces alongside their neighbors. This is why Parks & Rec is taking a neighborhood based approach to adaptive and inclusive recreation programming, and transitioning away from segregating programs for people with disabilities to a single site. When the Carousel House facility opened in 1987, it was a milestone…
Young adults with autism spectrum disorders often struggle to access services after high school, Case Western study says
June 9, 2021 | Source: Cleveland.com
The transition from high school to adulthood is a critical moment for young adults with an autism spectrum disorder, but new research from Case Western Reserve University suggests many of those individuals are struggling to access the services that could help them thrive. Young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were receiving an average of 6.13 services such as medical care, mental health care, case management and speech and occupational therapy…
Warren updates language pertaining to accessibility at public sites
June 10, 2021 | Source: The Macomb Daily
Words make a difference. That is the point Warren resident and activist for people with disabilities Tony Baker made when he alerted Council Secretary Mindy Moore to the use of the word “handicapped” on the city’s web site and in several official city documents. Warren Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to change language in the city’s Code of Ordinances, zoning ordinances and planning commission documents, the city website and all city social media sites, as well as all city-owned signs to read “disabled” or “individuals with disabilities” instead of “handicapped” or “handcapped individuals.”…
What Stevie Wonder can teach the world about accessible design
June 10, 2021 | Source: August
Let’s start with an obvious statement: Stevie Wonder’s done some amazing things throughout his career. He’s won 25 Grammy awards. He’s been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Civil Rights Museum. He’s been named one of the United Nations’ Messengers of Peace. And, in 2014, Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But for all of those achievements, there’s one specific moment in Stevie Wonder’s career that especially sticks in our minds…
Getting rid of cataracts just got better with advances in surgery
June 10, 2021 | Source: New Jersey 101.5
With June being Cataract Awareness month, millions of Americans over the age of 40 have some degree of cataracts, which is the clouding of the natural lens in the eye. The solution is most often, surgery with the minimal need for eyeglasses afterward, Dr. Joseph Calderone of Better Vision NJ in Cranford. Calderone said there are risk factors with cataracts, with age at number one. He said every person on the planet will get cataracts if they live long enough. There’s really no way to avoid it…
Jack Fact — Nonprofit community interest group, Colorblind Awareness, estimates that 8 percent of men and 0.5 percent of women are colorblind.
Hit The Road Jack — Expert Advice for Traveling Abroad With a Disability & Accessible Travel News Service
International News
‘CoWin not conducive to persons with disabilities’: SC to Union govt
June 3, 2021 | Source: The News Minute- India
The Supreme Court in its May 31 verdict pointed out that the CoWin website was not accessible to persons with disabilities, particularly visual disabilities. “Conduct a disability audit for the CoWIN website and other IT applications like Aarogya Setu to ensure that they are accessible to persons with disabilities,” the order stated. The order also lists a set of issues that needed fixing, to make CoWin more accessible to persons with visual disabilities. This includes making audio text or Captcha available, and also making the keyboard support for navigating the website available…
An inclusive website offering COVID-19 data
June 3, 2021 | Source: The Hindu- India
Dynamic charts are an indispensable part of pandemic reporting. Take the one that tracks the daily case load in a geography. With a gentle glide of the mouse manifesting the data in chronological order, it presents an evolving picture with the minimum of fuss. However, without an accompanying audio feature, this prop means little to a visually-challenged user. Similarly, what is convenient presentation of information to a majority may be a challenge to someone on the autism spectrum…
Why Does BC’s Accessibility Legislation Exclude Me?
June 3, 2021 | Source: The Tyee- Canada
Stephanie Cadieux: BC’s second housing crisis — it’s time to act on accessible housing
June 6, 2021 | Source: The Province- Canada
One morning in high school, 39 years ago, while I was wheeling past the school office and past the wall of starry-eyed grad photos of those who’d left the school before me, the boys’ guidance counsellor Mr. Kirkpatrick happened to be in the hallway. He asked me, “Glenda, would you rather be able to walk or to talk?” I accepted the question as expressing genuine interest and, until quite recently, I thought it was benign. But then it hit me. That question pitted the two main aspects of my disability, my cerebral palsy, against one another…
Supporting access to learning opportunities for students with disabilities
June 3, 2021 | Source: NewsWire- Canada
Canadians invited to help shape Canada’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan
June 4, 2021 | Source: Yahoo Finance
2 Toronto hospitals host accessible COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children with disabilities
June 5, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s young people—particularly young Canadians with disabilities—have been among the most affected. During National AccessAbility Week, it is important to recognize the many contributions that Canadians with disabilities have made and continue to make in our communities, and to ensure that they have the tools they need to succeed now and into the future. Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced $240,000 in funding to the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) for the Virtual Access for All program…
Some $2m earmarked to create 33 accessible cities
June 6, 2021 | Source: Tehran Times- Iran
“In the process of a barrier-free city, we seek to ensure that all cities in the country are barrier-free and accessible. In the first phase, each province introduced one to two cities with less than 50,000 residents,” Ebrahim Kazemi explained. Yazd was introduced as the first city to become accessible, he added, IRNA reported on Sunday. According to the national document on improving accessibility in cities for persons with disabilities, fifty-five cities, five villages, and three metropolitan areas should be considered as pilots until the Iranian calendar year 1402 (March 2023-March 2024)…
Apps from Young Indian Developers Aim to Fix Colour Blindness, Dyslexia, Speech Issues
June 6, 2021 | Source: News18- India
Young Indian developers have a new target genre in the field of purpose-driven apps – accessibility. From one that seeks to help tackle colour blindness, to another that was inspired from the founder’s struggles with stammering, these accessibility apps seek to make a real world difference. While there are mixed usage reactions to each, these apps are taking on issues such as dyslexia and stammering — and while a medical certification is not in sight, general user feedback pegs them as accessibility aids that are affordable for most, especially in comparison to conventional clinical consultations and treatment procedures…
Aus Fashion Week Slammed For Promoting ‘Inclusivity’ W/O Making Runway Wheelchair Accessible
June 6, 2021 | Source: Pedestrian TV- Australia & Daily Mail
The organisers at Australian Fashion Week have been slammed online for being performative, after they used a model who uses a wheelchair without actually making the runway accessible for him. The runway faux-pas occurred at the final combined runway at Australian Fashion Week, at the time IMG model Rheed McCracken was wearing popular athleisure label P.E Nation. Footage of McCracken was posted on TikTok, where you can visibly see him struggling to move around on the runway…
Lack of accessible housing left woman showering at work for months
June 6, 2021 | Source: Stuff- New Zealand
Wheelchair-user Erin Gough looked at hundreds of rental property listings and spent months showering at work, before she was able to secure a house she could really live in. When she first moved to Wellington, she lived in a semi-accessible apartment. While it provided flat entry, the bathroom was difficult to use. She also worried about access if the lifts stopped working. That meant it was workable, but far from ideal, Gough says. Yet it was only when her landlord decided to sell up, that she experienced just how difficult it is for disabled people to find suitable housing…
Grant supports inclusive employment for small business
June 7, 2021 | Source: E-Know- Canada
Employers in British Columbia are receiving support to create inclusive work environments for people with disabilities through a $4.8-million grant from the province. Over the next two years, Small Business BC will work with the Presidents Group on the Employer Supports for Persons with Disabilities project. The goal of the project is to support employers to hire, rehire and retain people with disabilities for long-term successful employment. The Presidents Group is a network of 25 change-driven B.C. business leaders who are champions for more accessible, inclusive workplaces…
Sign language awareness flourishes in Turkey despite challenges
June 7, 2021 | Source: Daily Sabah- Turkey
June 7 is Turkish Sign Language Day, an occasion to celebrate the language, which is now more prevalent than in the past in the country that is home to 4 million people with hearing impairment according to unofficial figures. Still, it is not without challenges. Worrying about not being understood is the biggest problem among people with hearing loss, Mesut Yazıcı, a sign language instructor, said. Yazıcı said that unlike other disabilities, it is not possible for people with full or partial hearing loss to be initially noticed, and as a result, their visibility in society is low…
Neurodiversity: how accessible is your recruitment process?
June 8, 2021 | Source: Personnel Today- UK
Organisations need to devote more thought to neurodiversity – a less visible and obvious form of diversity – and appreciate that intelligence comes in many forms. They can start by improving their recruitment processes and making themselves more accessible, argues Dr Louise Karwowski. There is some way to go in ensuring equal opportunities. We are still battling with unconscious and institutional bias and working to create a better, more equal future…
Disability rights campaigner happy with accessibility at town’s new public toilets
June 8, 2021 | Source: Northwich Guardian- UK
A Disability rights campaigner has met with a representative from Northwich Town Council to inspect the accessibility of the new outdoor toilets in the town centre. The toilets, which are located on the site of the town’s new outdoor space, will not be a permanent feature, but will be there until the wider development of Weaver Square takes place. There were initial concerns as to the accessibility of the toilets, but a ramp is currently being designed – something which could only go ahead once the toilets were in place…
Centre releases guidelines for development of e-Content for children with disabilities
June 8, 2021 | Source: Yahoo- India
To fulfil the goal of inclusive education, the Centre on Tuesday released the new guidelines for the development of e-Content for children with disabilities (CwDs), the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday. According to an official release, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal approved the release of the guidelines which has been initiated under the comprehensive initiative, PM e-VIDYA (launched on May 17 202) to unify all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education…
Greater Anglia sets new standards for accessible rail travel
June 8, 2021 | Source: Saffron Walden Reporter- UK
Mobility impaired rail passengers should be able to access turn-up-and-go travel under a new Greater Anglia policy. The policy, launched in April 2021, sets out a new standard for boarding trains and training staff, including contractors such as rail replacement bus drivers. It was written with input from a new accessibility panel. Rebecca Richardson, Greater Anglia’s Accessibilty Manager, said: “We recognise the industry has a lot of work to do to improve accessibility and to build a better relationship with our disabled customers…
Education Ministry lays down norms for content for disabled children
June 9, 2021 | Source: The Hindu- India & Times of India & The Indian Express & Jagran Josh
The Education Ministry has laid down new guidelines for producing digital education resources for children with disabilities, after a year in which the COVID-driven shift to online education has spotlighted the lacunae in such resources. However, the PDF document containing the guidelines does not even follow its own rules, making it partially inaccessible to the visually challenged, says an activist, raising concerns about effective implementation. The guidelines, released by Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Tuesday, are based on four guiding principles…
Accessibility at Acropolis sparks a row in Greece
June 9, 2021 | Source: Yahoo- Greece & Reuters (Video)
The Acropolis in Athens has a new concrete pathway to facilitate wheelchair access – and some people are not happy about it. The UNESCO World Heritage site attracts thousands of visitors a day in peak periods, most of whom climb the 160-meter hill on foot, and wander on uneven stone paths worn smooth over hundreds of years. The new concrete track is laid over a synthetic membrane that protects the ancient stones underneath and permits easy removal. But critics say it ruins the classical harmony of the ancient site…
STIB to make tram network more accessible for wheelchair users
June 9, 2021 | Source: The Brussels Times- Belgium
Brussels public transport operator STIB announced its plans to improve the accessibility of its tram network for wheelchair users within the next ten years. The solution, created in consultation with the Collectif Accessibilité Wallonie Bruxelles (CAWaB), combines a raised platform with the insertion of rubber platform edges to fill the horizontal space between the platform and the tram, which wheelchair users have complained makes getting on and off without assistance difficult…
Regional school rallies around boy, embraces accessible education for all
June 9, 2021 | Source: ABC News- Australia
Eight-year-old Brock Vanderwoude is non-verbal and has cognitive delays that impact his learning but the village that raised him refused to let these challenges be a hurdle to his education. Brock, who uses a wheelchair, lives with disabilities including autism, intractable epileptic encephalopathy and Ehlers-Danlos type III hypermobility syndrome. He can’t walk or talk, but he wants others to know that he has been able to access the same education as other children because his small local school — Cobdogla Primary School in the Riverland — was willing to support him…
Meet the Twitch streamer with no hands who’s better at ‘Apex Legends’ than you
June 10, 2021 | Source: Happy- New Zealand
Humphrey Hanley lives with a disability called dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a condition that causes the collagen in his skin not to function properly, resulting in the loss of his hands through gradual deterioration of his skin tissue. He speaks candidly about his condition, and even finds a little humour in it, evident by his moniker ‘NoHandsNZ’. Unlike most people who can wake up, jump in the shower, have a coffee, and go about their day, Humphrey must spend several hours every morning disinfecting and redressing the many wounds that appear as a result of his disability. But Humphrey doesn’t let his condition hold him back…
Bus travel free for persons with disabilities in TN but accessibility concerns remain
June 10, 2021 | Source: The News Minute- India
The Tamil Nadu government had received huge praise in May when it announced that women in the state can travel in government buses free of cost. Subsequently, the request for free travel for trans women and persons with disabilities was also made to the government. Following this, the government granted the request. In an order released on Wednesday, the government said that persons with disabilities can travel in state-owned buses free of cost, both in urban and rural regions. Another person is allowed to accompany them for assistance while traveling, who is also allowed to travel freely…
From 20s to 60s+, what men can do in each decade to maximise their health
June 10, 2021 | Source: Irish Examiner- Ireland
How healthy are you for your age? In your 20s you may consider yourself to be immune from age-related illness and disease, but by your 50s are all too aware of the risks that come with advancing years. Yet every decade presents lifestyle issues that could put your future wellbeing at risk and men should never rest on their laurels, however old or young you look and feel. Here, with the help of leading experts, we find out where your health focus should lie as the years tick by…
Deaf children’s charity criticises ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ for lack of subtitled screenings
June 10, 2021 | Source: NME- UK & Metro
John Krasinski‘s summer blockbuster A Quiet Place Part II has come under fire for its lack of subtitled screenings. The franchise until now had been praised for its representation of deafness. The films star deaf actress Millicent Simmonds, and show her character Regan’s deafness as a major strength. However a new report by the National Deaf Children’s Society reveals that only 41% of UK cinemas offered subtitled screenings during the show’s opening week…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- The future of online learning at Brown- The Brown Daily Herald
- How the Pandemic Boosted Ed Tech Adoption- Campus Technology
- Why burnout won’t go away, even as life returns to ‘normal’- The Lily
- Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety Plan- EARN (PDF)
- Opinion: Many people with disabilities lack access to COVID-19 vaccines- Devex
- Easterseals Crossroads helps people with disabilities have better online meeting- WISHTV
- 6 ways assistive technology has improved during the Covid-19 pandemic- Disability Horizons
- Getting Ahead of the Curve: Ensuring Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Workplaces during the COVID-19 Recovery- EARN
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Why the ADA was Naïve- Progressive
- Introduction to accessibility- The South End (YouTube)
- National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program- FCC
- The push to test websites for complete accessibility- TechRadar
- Useful Front-End Boilerplates And Starter Kits- Smashing Magazine
- Barriers are nothing new to people with disabilities- SaltWire Network
- Are Your Organization and Its Board “Access Able”?- Nonprofit Quarterly
- How this vegan chef is empowering the disability community- The Keyword
- Why Digital Accessibility Should Be Part Of Your Brand’s DNA- Usablenet
- How To Improve Web Accessibility (A Guide To Getting Started)- UsableNet
- Audism and the ethics of childhood cochlear implantation- Medical Device Network
- Advancing digital accessibility at Northwestern- Northwestern University News Center
- Letter: Lack of accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing Nevadans- Elko Daily Free Press
- Workplace Accessibility and the Upcoming AODA Compliance Deadlines- Blaney McMurtry
- Companies under pressure to comply with Ontario’s new website accessibility rules- City News
- Free new online resource released to help public understand Accessible Canada Act- Law Times
- Getting Started with Presentation Accessibility- National Center on Accessible Educational Materials
- Baylor research could make STEM education more accessible to the blind & visually impaired- Baylor University
- When discussing inclusive design, don’t leave out users with invisible disabilities- Christa Keizer & Michele McDanel
- Faculty Perceptions on Accessibility in Online Learning: Knowledge, Practice and Professional Development- Online Learning
- How the Restaurant Industry Can Harness Technology to Improve Accessibility and Inclusion- Modern Restaurant Management
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Grant County government unveils website
- How to See Better With the iPhone’s Magnifier App
- All The Accessibility Wins From Apple’s WWDC 2021
- Paralyzed Veterans of America – Honor the Spot Campaign
- North Devon Council website named as best for accessibility
- Bank of England seeks views on ‘accessible’ digital currency
- Modern Accessibility Abounds in This Golden Valley Kitchen
- Stafford County to launch new, more accessible county website
- FaceTime on web means accessibility to all – including Huawei
- Vote For The 2021 People’s Choice Accessible Business Awards
- Bradford Beach celebrated as ‘most accessible beach in the nation’
- Dona Sarkar gets a new role leading Accessibility tech for Microsoft
- Binghamton research aims to improve accessibility for soda machines
- Reinventing the Platform Lift as a Design Statement for Accessibility at Home
- Apple’s latest accessibility features are for those with limb and vocal differences
- The best features of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that Apple didn’t announce onstage
- TikTok Adds New Accessibility Overview To Provide Additional Support for Users
- GenCyber Camp teaches blind and visually impaired high schoolers about cybersecurity
- Halifax research group creates app to help break barriers for those living with disabilities
- iOS 15 brings new Memoji customization with over 40 outfits, accessibility options, more
- Call for Applicants: National Advisory Committee on Individuals Disabilities and Disasters
- Dispel Releases Industry’s First Accessible Remote Access Platform Designed for People With Disabilities
- At WWDC 2021, Apple Showed Yet Again Accessibility Truly Is For Everyone in Many Marquee Features
- Silver Springs State Park’s First Wheelchair Accessible Glass Bottom Boat Successfully Completes Sea Trials
- Bird Home Automation Announces The Release Of ‘D2100E Accessibility’ Intercom Module, Under Their DoorBird Brand
- New Toyota Canada facility achieves Gold rating for accessibility under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ program
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Manage subtitle settings
- Turn TalkBack on or off
- Accessibility in Google Maps
- Change text, image, and video sizes (zoom)
- Use TalkBack to browse the web with Chrome
- How to Use AssistiveTouch on the Apple Watch
- Untold RPG for iOS: Playability and Accessibility
- 5 Things To Focus On For An Accessible Website
- Ubisoft Forward accessibility features detailed ahead of E3
- How To Enable, Disable & Schedule Android’s Dark Theme
- Ratchet & Clank: A separate dimension explains your accessibility options
- Meet The Hori Flex, A Nintendo Switch Controller Built With Accessibility In Mind
- These disabled streamers & advocates are helping to tackle accessibility issues in gaming
- New Reddit web icons, a mobile moderation test, and a roundup of smaller updates and bug fixes
- 6 ways to make your Word documents more accessible using TTS readers, captions, links and more
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart day one patch notes detailed – Performance RT, Accessibility options and more
Accessibility Statements
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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