Accessibility in the News — 2/26/2021.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“Life is all about balance. Since I have only one leg, I understand that well.”
― Sandy Fussell, Shaolin Tiger
Feature Stories
Vaccination plans must include disability community’s needs
February 23, 2021 | Source: The Hub at Johns Hopkins & Health IT Analytics
The Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center recently launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Dashboard to decipher how state policies have—and have not—prioritized the needs of people with disabilities in vaccination plans. The website, created with the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities, interprets public information so that the disability community can understand the varying qualification rules and application processes…
COVID-19 vaccine websites violate disability laws, create inequity for the blind
February 25, 2021 | Source: Los Angeles Times
What Miami’s COVID-19 dashboard gets right and wrong
February 25, 2021 | Source: Miami Student
The COVID vaccine system is unfair to those who need the shots most. This was predictable.
February 24, 2021 | Source: USA Today
‘It’s really tough’: Disability advocates frustrated over vaccine access
February 25, 2021 | Source: WKOW
Many COVID vaccination registration and information websites at the federal, state and local levels violate disability rights laws, hindering the ability of blind people to sign up for a potentially lifesaving vaccine, a Kaiser Health News investigation has found. Across the country, people who use special software to make the web accessible have been unable to sign up for the vaccines or obtain vital information about COVID-19 because many government websites lack required accessibility features. At least 7.6 million people in the U.S. over age 16 have a visual disability…
National News (U.S.)
Virtual Conferences Aren’t as Accessible as You Might Think
February 18, 2021 | Source: Scientific American
Last spring, national scientific organizations began holding conferences online in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the trend has continued into 2021. For example, the American Physical Society annual meeting was the first major physics conference to be virtual last year, and will still be held in cyberspace this coming April. In hindsight, such changes were inevitable. The uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. made attending large public gatherings far too risky. And who knows when the pandemic will end?…
3D-printed Braille dice
February 19, 2021 | Source: Boing Boing
The DOTSRPG Project started with a few friends looking to improve accessibility in tabletop gaming. While DOTS started with a focus on accessibility for those who are fully blind, we have since branched out to start addressing many different topics. Once we became known for the work we were doing for the visually impaired, people with other disabilities started to reach out and ask for help. Now, we’re working on educating ourselves so we can better cater to those who have problems with low vision, color blindness, limited hearing, limited mobility, reading comprehension, mental illness, and whatever other things people may need…
When Planning Smart Cities, Don’t Forget About Accessibility in Mobility
February 19, 2021 | Source: IoT For All
We live in an age where nearly everything we use is “smart.” Our devices have long had the capability to bring the data of the world to our fingertips. Still, now the smart capabilities have extended to once-mundane parts of our lifestyles like household appliances and modes of transportation. As such, it is not only our personal lifestyles that are becoming “smart,” but they are extending to affect our cities and our nations, developing into “smart cities.” A smart city takes the idea of smart technology and expands it on a tremendous scale…
‘Right thing to do’: Ridgefield chips away at ADA compliance to increase accessibility
February 20, 2021 | Source: Danbury News Times
The town’s Commission for the Disabled foresees making the town fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) a years-long process but the town is chipping away at it year by year. “We are required to be compliant today, so we do our best to make sure we are meeting the needs of all of our residents, visitors and staff. That’s likely to be a years-long process,” ADA coordinator Tony Phillips said. “There will be a long checklist, some little things, some big things that need to be addressed, but generally speaking, the ADA requires our town programs to be accessible…
When Does COVID-19 Become A Disability? ‘Long-Haulers’ Push For Answers And Benefits
February 22, 2021 | Source: NPR
When COVID-19 first arrived in the U.S., Jodee Pineau-Chaisson was working as the director of social services for a nursing home in western Massachusetts. By the middle of April, residents at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst were getting sick. In early May, Pineau-Chaisson was tapped for a particular duty: “I was asked to go onto the COVID-19 units to do FaceTime calls so they could say goodbye to their family members,” she recalls. “I was very scared.” She was worried about contracting the virus but also felt like she owed it to her residents…
The MTA’s accessibility shell game
February 22, 2021 | Source: New York Daily News
One would think the MTA’s recent federal funding request bodes well for the mobility of people with disabilities in New York City. Of a total $8 billion request, about $2 billion is ostensibly for accessibility-related projects. But a deeper look presents a troubling reality: In plain sight, the MTA is skirting its accessibility requirements and commitments — ones they already made in the past — and misappropriating already-committed funds. They do it in four ways…
Professor slammed for ‘unprofessional’ behavior toward hard-of-hearing student: ‘It’s really humiliating’
February 22, 2021 | Source: Yahoo
A California professor was put on administrative leave after he was caught on camera yelling at a student who was hard of hearing during an online class. On Feb. 19, TikTok user @salwaabakar posted a recording in which the professor, identified as Oxnard College teacher Michael Abram, is seen scolding the hard-of-hearing student for allegedly not paying attention in his class. “Miss Salazar, I’ve been talking to you, Miss Salazar,” Abram, who teaches biology and is visibly frustrated, tells her…
In Council Race to Make NYC More Accessible
February 22, 2021 | Source: TAPinto.net
Rebecca Lamorte was 22 years old in 2013 when she was pushed by someone on the subway platform and her leg got caught in the gap between the platform and a 6 train. Accessibility and disability justice is one of the main reasons that compelled her to run for elected office in City Council District 5. Lamorte was one of six candidates recently interviewed by the neighborhood group, the Sutton Area Community, where each had a chance to explain why they’re running for office and to state their position on issues important to the district and particularly Sutton Place…
Accessible Beauty: How People with Visual Impairments Access Make-Up
February 23, 2021 | Source: Healthline
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 1.3 billion people living with visual impairments in the world. Despite this large number, accessibility still remains an issue, especially in the beauty industry. Make-up and beauty products are not marketed with blindness in mind, but that doesn’t stop people with visual impairments from using their beauty routines to express themselves. I have had to have many surgeries on my eyes because of retinal damage. My vision today continues to worsen. My central vision is completely gone…
Shattering the ‘gamer’ stereotype
February 23, 2021 | Source: The Washington Post
Video Games Have Never Been More Accessible
February 23, 2021 | Source: Rewire
Microsoft’s investments make Xbox a leader in gaming accessibility, and others should follow
February 23, 2021 | Source: Windows Central
Courtney Craven was an avid video game player growing up, but stopped for a stretch during college and graduate school. Then in 2014, Craven’s partner— who is deaf—bought a game console that changed both of their lives. “She was excited to play it, because it was graphically stunning,” said Craven, who uses the pronoun they. “But about 20 minutes into the game, she discovered that because of the poor captioning, she couldn’t progress,” they explained. The game wasn’t accessible to Craven’s partner, not because she wasn’t interested, but because the industry had not yet caught up to how diverse its fanbase was…
Beyond Ramps And Handrails: Accessibility Is Also Important For Property Websites
February 24, 2021 | Source: Forbes
As the internet has become indispensable to everyday life, particularly during the pandemic, business owners have had to make sure their websites are accessible. Multifamily landlords are likely familiar with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires that their properties can be accessed to all tenants, shareholders and owners, but the courts are increasingly extending these requirements to websites as well. Providing a website that can be used by people with varying visual and physical needs is important from a customer service standpoint — and accessibility can benefit everyone…
Looking Ahead to Potential Developments in Online Accessibility Law
February 23, 2021 | Source: The National Law Review
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Title III”) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public accommodations, requiring that individuals with a disability be offered the “full and equal enjoyment . . . of any place of public accommodation.” 42 U.S.C. § 12182(a). As we previously discussed, the 30-year-old statute does not directly address whether “places of public accommodation” include websites, mobile applications, and other emerging web-based applications and technologies and, therefore, does not provide a standard for ensuring accessibility for web-based accommodations…
Providence ranked as one of worst cities in US for people with disabilities
February 24, 2021 | Source: The Brown Daily Herald
Providence was ranked as one of the worst cities to live in for people with disabilities out of the 150 most populated cities in the United States, according to a recent study published by WalletHub that analyzed each city’s economic environment, quality of life and healthcare access. Out of all 182 cities surveyed in the study, including those not among the 150 most populated, Providence placed at 180. “Rhode Island is a small state with a history of budgetary challenges and not allocating enough resources to provide services in order to fully support people living with disabilities,” said Lecturer in Language Studies Tim Riker…
Lawsuit Against MTA Over Accessibility Attains Class-Action Status With More Than 500,000 Plaintiffs
February 25, 2021 | Source: Gothamist
A State Supreme Court Judge ruled this week that a lawsuit filed against the MTA on behalf of a coalition of accessibility rights advocates does, in fact, represent a class of more than 500,000 people who claim they’ve been excluded from the subway system because of a lack of accessibility. The 2017 lawsuit claims that because only 20% of the subway system has elevators, the MTA is in violation of the Americans with Disability Act and the New York City Human Rights Law…
Senate Democrats call on GAO to review child care access barriers for disabled parents, kids
February 25, 2021 | Source: The Hill & Letter- PDF
Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.) and Bob Casey (Pa.) on Thursday asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review obstacles to child care access for disabled parents and children. In the letter, the three lawmakers asked for currently available information about such barriers and how they intersect with race, ethnicity and income. They also requested information about current ways child care facilities are trying to address those barriers, including any training currently provided for providers. “It is imperative that we address any issues with access to child care in order to achieve equitable care for this group of children and their families…
Jack Fact — According to the World Bank, one billion people – or about 15 percent of the world’s population – experience some sort of disability. Disability prevalence is also higher for developing countries, many of which are situated in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Hit The Road Jack — Reflections on an Accessible Trip to Israel
International News
Stephanie Cadieux speaks out on need for accessible housing
February 18, 2021 | Source: Surrey Now-Leader- Canada
Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux has called out the development industry – and government – for not doing more to address housing accessibility issues. As the featured guest in an online round table discussion hosted by the Surrey Board of Trade on Wednesday (Feb. 17) Cadieux – who has used a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury at the age of 18 – said the industry is lagging behind public need for accessible residences. “Out here in South Surrey, where I am, there are about 10,000 units of housing going in right now,” she said…
Riga authorities are ready to expand on their understanding of accessibility
February 19, 2021 | Source: The Mayor EU- Latvia
This week the Riga City Council held various meetings with representatives from non-governmental organizations that advocate for increased accessibility and social inclusion of people who live with disabilities. The authorities committed to engaging in initiatives and adopting legislation that would improve this issue both in the short- and long term. The discussions were considered to have been productive because they helped expand the idea of what accessibility means for a contemporary city. It is much more than the environmental or infrastructural accessibility that most of us imagine when we hear the word…
Accessibility of N.L.’s mail-in only election questioned
February 19, 2021 | Source: CBC- Canada (Video)
Many people with disabilities say the move to mail-in voting for the Newfoundland and Labrador election is taking away their right to vote because they are unable to properly fill out the mail-in ballots…
Accessibility remains an issue in Chennai Metro phase I extension;
February 20, 2021 | Source: The Hindu- India
Disability activists say new Chennai Metro stretch is nightmare come true
February 20, 2021 | Source: The New Indian Express- India
Years ago, when the Metro phase I project was constructed and opened to the public, disability rights activists raised issues about the lack of accessibility in stations. Despite reiterating their concerns, quite a few issues remain unchanged even in the phase I extension stations, which were opened to the public on Sunday, making it very difficult for differently abled persons to use them. Many differently abled persons took a ride on the Metro as part of the audit on Friday and observed that from tactile strips to slippery floors, there were a host of issues…
B.C. couple’s love and life connection blossoms from a shared wheelchair
February 20, 2021 | Source: Chilliwack Progress- Canada
Other people might not consider Bronwyn Berg and Hal Bennett lucky. Berg and Bennett would disagree. They consider themselves lucky to be able to open an inclusive new business in a new town, providing accessible service to people who need it. They are lucky to have found each other. And they are lucky to have once needed the same wheelchair. Berg, 50 and Bennett, 48, both had life-changing experiences. Berg sustained a brain injury six years ago that resulted in a seizure, movement and balance disorder. Bennett underwent a kidney transplant six years ago and leg amputations a year later due to infections…
#JDAIM ‘Selfless Stem’ Contest Spotlights Importance of Accessible Design
February 21, 2021 | Source: Jewish News Syndicate- Israel
To mark Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (#JDAIM), ADI (adi-israel.org), Israel’s most comprehensive provider of residential and rehabilitative care for individuals with severe disabilities, launched ‘ADI’s Make the Change Challenge,’ an accessible design contest for students in the US and Canada that spotlights the inaccessibility of our world and our communal responsibility to make a change. With a grand prize of $1,000, this exciting new element of the organization’s ‘ADI Bechinuch’ (literally ‘ADI in Education’) disability inclusion programming aims to raise awareness…
Australian fashion industry grapples with move towards accessible clothing
February 22, 2021 | Source: ABC News- Australia
Model and activist Angel Dixon says there are two invisible barriers that prevent her and other disabled people from entering a clothing store — and they’re both essential to the shopping experience. “If your store isn’t physically accessible or your staff feel uncomfortable around a person with a disability, then we’re not coming in,” she says. These barriers may be invisible to non-disabled people, but to Ms Dixon and others, they are a wall. Ms Dixon tells me if you are a brand or store that values inclusion and can welcome all people with a disability into your store, then it will enrich your business, as inclusive representation can have a massive flow-on effect…
‘Deadline for making public builings accessible for persons with disabilities expires in 2022’
February 22, 2021 | Source: Times of India
The Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has appealed to the director of social welfare, who is also the state commissioner for persons with disabilities, to make public buildings accessible for persons with disabilities. This requirement is mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. “Section 45 of the act mandates that all existing public buildings be made accessible within five years of notification of the act. As it was notified in Goa in 2017, the five-year deadline expires in 2022,” the association’s president Avelino de Sa stated in his communication…
China’s digital accessibility push for the elderly
February 22, 2021 | Source: TechNode- China
China’s tech heavyweights are finally making a big push to help older people better access digital technology. Over the past month, Baidu launched a large-font app designed for the elderly that also features a “companion radio” broadcasting the hottest news of the day. Alibaba-backed Gaode Map rolled out new services for the demographic group as well, boasting functions such as one-click ride-hailing that does not require inputting a destination—along with bigger fonts too…
Automotive accessibility product Caruna helps people with disabilities move in & out of cars easily
February 22, 2021 | Source: NewzHook- India
Getting in and out of cars can be painful for people with disabilities and the elderly. Puducherry engineer Ashwin Shreshtha, founder of the start-up Vaahan, has designed a swivel seat called Caruna that helps users get in and out of cars easily by just pressing a button. Puducherry start up Vaahan is out to make road trips less of an ordeal for people with disabilities and the elderly. In collaboration with the Accessible India Campaign, Vaahan founder Ashwin Shreshtha has designed a swivel seat called Caruna that helps users get in and out of a car by just pressing a button…
Time to future proof Australian housing
February 23, 2021 | Source: Pro Bono- Australia
Given our ageing population, the number of Australians with mobility issues is expected to almost double from 3 million to nearly 6 million within 40 years. In about a month’s time Australia’s building ministers will meet to consider the inclusion of minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code (NCC). This will be a critical decision for the millions of Australians with mobility impairments who cannot get access to housing that meets their needs. Ministers will be choosing between the current voluntary guidelines, or mandatory accessibility standards…
‘It’s impossible for blind people to go supermarket shopping – that needs to change’
February 22, 2021 | Source: iNews- UK
Being able to go to the supermarket and pick which products you want by reading the labels is something most of us take for granted. Not Carley Gregory. She lost her eyesight when she was 10 years old and had hoped that by now the world would be more accessible to her in ways like this. Yet she still has to completely rely on her carer to get her shopping. Nine out of 10 blind or partially sighted people find information on food packaging difficult or impossible to read, according to research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)…
Top Paralympians exploring accessibility in project with Trans Canada Trail
February 24, 2021 | Source: Inside The Games- Canada
Leading Canadian Paralympians and athletes are highlighting the accessibility of recreational trails across the country as part of a new initiative. The project, in which the Canadian Paralympic Committee is partnering with Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and AccessNow app, aims to showcase barrier-free routes, as well as identifying areas where barriers still exist so they can be addressing, resulting in increased accessibility all along The Great Trail of Canada. Touching every province and territory of the country, and stretching for more than 27,000 kilometres, the Great Trail of Canada is the world’s longest network of recreational trails…
Accessible smart cities
February 24, 2021 | Source: SmartCitiesWorld- UK
Smart cities need to take into consideration the basic changes a city needs for widespread accessibility as well as ploughing ahead with more ambitious technology plans. A recent panel discussion hosted by the Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation and chaired by Graeme Neill, Editor of SmartCitiesWorld, debated how cities need to bake in accessibility for those with disabilities as part of their future plans. By 2050, almost 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in cities and the World Bank estimates that today 15 per cent of the world’s population experiences some form of disability…
Malls must be better in accommodating people’s disabilities during pandemic: advocacy group
February 24, 2021 | Source: CityNews- Canada
Manitobans with disabilities are finding shopping centres have taken away accessibility items in the name of pandemic health protocols. But some say they could still offer the services safely and they feel malls are prioritizing profits over accessibility. At St. Vital mall in Winnipeg, wheelchair and stroller services have been discontinued, forcing Rae Metcalfe, who is pregnant, to carry their three-year-old as they look for shoes to fit her new braces. “My daughter has cerebral palsy and so sometimes that means she wants to walk and walking is good therapy for her when she has her braces on to learn how to do that…
Accessibility for disability
February 25, 2021 | Source: South Coast Register- Australia
With figures released this month showing that more people than ever are being covered under the NDIS, how is the scheme affecting the lives of people living in the Shoalhaven? The NDIS arrived in the Shoalhaven in 2017 and has since grown with 8,039 active participants as by the end of 2020 and numerous service providers. According to Maxine Edwards, manager of Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Services, the scheme has greatly expanded the kinds of services available to those in the Shoalhaven…
Para-athletes working with Trans Canada Trail to improve accessibility across the network
February 26, 2021 | Source: Calgary Herald- Canada
A new project aims to address accessibility concerns for Canadians along the longest recreational trail system in the world. Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and AccessNow, a Canadian social startup that pinpoints the accessibility of varying spots around the world through an app, partnered with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to examine 13 stretches of trail across the country. Starting by mapping the areas, AccessNow guides along with Paralympians and para-athletes visit the sites to photograph, comment and contribute to the app to highlight areas as accessible or inaccessible…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- COVID-19 Workplace Resources and Tools- EARN
- Filter vs medical vs fabric face masks- Disability Horizons
- OCSA Club Focuses on Accessibility in the Arts- Voice of OC
- Resources for Texans with Disabilities During and After a Disaster
- Accessibility issues are equitability issues- American River Current
- Accessibility Tips for Remote Learning and Working- Tammy Albee
- Online Learning Era Neglects Blind Students’ Needs- Inside Higher Ed
- Two reasons why online training is important for business- Training Journal
- Students with learning disabilities face hybrid learning difficulties- Berkeley Beacon
- Stanford researchers identify four causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ and their simple fixes- Stanford News
- Struggle for accessibility in online learning has students feeling left ‘in the dust’- The Gateway Online
- The Disability Support Services office continues to provide access and accommodations virtually- The Hornet
- ‘You just gave me life’: Groups help seniors, disabled people get COVID-19 vaccine appointments- AZCentral
- FAU commits to helping students with mental and physical disabilities through the pandemic- University Press
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Do Blue Light Blocking Glasses Really Work?- NPR
- Should I Use An Accessibility Overlay?- Michael Spellacy
- 8 Great Digital Accessibility Blogs to Follow- 3Play Media
- How to promote disability inclusion at your workplace- Quartz
- The Right Way To Accessibility Accountability- Jeff Singleton
- Improving disability accessibility across campus- SC Student Media
- Mike and Matt on Sight and Sound Technology Podcast- Mike Calvo
- It’s Time You Started Doing Inclusive Design Properly- Minute Hack
- 5 Ways to Remotely Support Students With Dyslexia- Corey Mitchell
- Top 80 Web Accessibility Resources & Tools- Website Hosting Rating
- Golf is a hard sport to master…unless you’re a rocket scientist- The Hill
- Prioritising Accessibility in Organising Online Events- The Carpentries
- ARC Monitoring – TPGi’s Accessibility Testing and Monitoring Solution (Video)
- A Future Where XR is Born Accessible- XR Access: A Case Study- PEAT
- 2021 Muck Artist in Residence to Focus on Accessibility- Fullerton Observer
- How To Design A Colorblind-Friendly Retail Or Law Firm Website- Law Fuel
- What you need to know about the WCAG 3.0 accessibility guidelines- Un.titled
- Why and How Are There So Many Digital Accessibility Demand Letters?- Rick Hoel
- HMTC This Week: Accessibility, equity not just buzzwords in theater- Hanford Sentinel
- How to Optimize Your Digital Accessibility Program (And Why You Should)- UsableNet
- How Tennis Australia is making sports accessible for people with sight problems- The Drum (Video)
- Audio cues installed in elevators after student push for campus accessibility- Berkeley Beacon
- EPUB Accessibility 1.1- Conformance and Discoverability Requirements for EPUB Publications- W3C
- The Child Care Crisis Disproportionately Affects Children With Disabilities- Center for American Progress
- Two Hotels Secure Dismissals of Hotel Reservations Website Lawsuits Brought by California Serial Plaintiffs’ Firm- Seyfarth Shaw
- Message from Director Jenny Yang, the newly-appointed director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- FCC Updates Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules
- HRM to consider accessible on-demand ‘taxi’ service
- UsableNet Announces New ADA Monitoring Service
- Foundation Renews Support for GFW Disability Initiative
- 6 Website Auditing Tools for Checking Issues on Your Site
- Accessibility support for Mail and Calendar for Windows 10
- TRS COVID-19 Waivers Extended through August 31, 2021
- Android update adds scheduled texts and improves accessibility
- The 2020 State of Digital Accessibility Technology Sector Report
- Call For Nominations To Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards 2021
- The Paciello Group Announces Rebranding, Changes Name to TPGi
- Zoom bringing automatic closed captioning to free users later this year
- Moovit adds crowding and accessibility information for journey planning
- Apple researching voice accessibility features for Siri like stutter detection
- Only 1 in 4 Top UK Councils are on a Path to Web Accessibility Compliance
- Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks Introduce Film Series on Accessibility
- UMaine researchers awarded $300k to make autonomous vehicles more accessible
- TTC Named First Approved DIA Marketplace Web Accessibility Services Supplier
- Barbara Jordan Media Awards Call for Nominations deadline is Tuesday, March 2nd
- Texas Receives Federal Approval for SNAP Benefit Replacements Due to Winter Storm
- New national partnership focuses on improving accessibility on The Great Trail of Canada
- Krystal Dawn Retreat to provide comfort and accessibility to families with special needs kids
- Accessibility in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Short Film Series Released Online
- Jones & Bartlett Learning Earns Esteemed Global Certified Accessible™ Designation from Benetech
- Microsoft Office 2021 coming later this year with dark mode support and accessibility improvements
- TravelAbility Launches the World’s first Pitchfest featuring Adaptive Technology + Products from 9 countries
- Microassist Announces Partnership with AAAtraq to Enhance Digital Accessibility for Technology Purchasing
- Cowichan Valley Artist & Disability Advocate to Launch Unique Exhibit – Produced by Polaris Creative The exhibit plans to raise awareness of food accessibility for disabled communities and promote local food producers
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Our all-new TalkBack screen reader
- 5 important web design trends for 2021
- Android 11: Getting started with gesture navigation
- Is Xbox Keeping Up With Its Promise of Accessibility?
- Diablo 2 Resurrected Includes New Accessibility Options
- Microsoft Unveils Xbox Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.0
- What are Social Media Meta Tags & Why are They Important
- Making video games more accessible to people with disabilities
- [Expanding Accessibility with Samsung] ③TVs for Everyone!
- Microsoft’s accessibility guidelines are a great start — but we can go further
- Students with learning disabilities face hybrid learning difficulties- Berkeley Beacon
- How to use a keyboard shortcut to quickly enable Accessibility options in macOS 11 Big Sur
Accessibility Statements
- University of Oulu
- University of St Andrews
- The National Health Fund
- Architects Registration Board
- Circuit Court of Cook County
- NHS Business Services Authority
- ETV Endowment of South Carolina
- Autonomous Agents Research Group
- University of Oxford Department of Physics
- School of Social and Political Science – The University of Edinburgh
- 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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