Accessibility in the News — 6/2/2023.

Telemedicine has significantly improved healthcare accessibility by eliminating geographical barriers, allowing remote access to healthcare for individuals in underserved areas and reducing the need for travel. It offers convenience through flexible scheduling, reduced waiting times, and remote consultations, benefiting patients with mobility issues or chronic conditions. Access to specialists has expanded, enabling timely expert consultations regardless of location. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or people with disabilities, have gained improved access, thanks to telemedicine’s ability to overcome language barriers and provide interpretation services. During public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has played a vital role in providing healthcare while minimizing infection risks.

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Feature Stories

UC Irvine-led study finds Medicaid telemedicine coverage boosted use, healthcare access

May 31, 2023 | Source: UCI News

UVA Health helping lead telehealth initiative for older adults

May 31, 2023 | Source: CBS19 News

Study: Telehealth’s growth during the pandemic allowed mental health care accessibility to take a step forward

May 31, 2023 | Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham

New MDH study shows potential for more accessible health care through telehealth

June 1, 2023 | Source: Minnesota Department of Health

Medicaid telemedicine coverage between 2013 and 2019 was associated with significant growth in telemedicine use and improved healthcare access, while private policies did not have such an association, according to a study led by the University of California, Irvine. An analysis of 20,000 records of U.S. adults under 65 with either state-level Medicaid or private policies showed that live video chats increased by 6 percentage points and that the ability to consistently access necessary care increased by 11 percentage points for Medicaid patients…

National News (U.S.)

Municipal facilities, schools need accessibility improvements

May 26, 2023 | Source: The Harvard Press

Last week the Press reported on part of an accessibility plan created by outside consultants that showed more than 250 areas of noncompliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in town buildings and recreational facilities. Consultants, however, noted that while a number of issues do exist, the town’s most heavily used areas “are reasonably accessible.” Last week’s article addressed the issues at the town beach, playgrounds, and athletic fields. This article will focus on town buildings and the Common and what should happen next…

How A Real Estate Agent Is Using ASL and Technology To Make Buying And Selling Homes More Accessible And Inclusive Than Ever Before

May 26, 2023 | Source: Forbes

Prior to Joe Smith’s turn as a certified real estate agent, he spent fifteen years as a certified American Sign Language interpreter. Now he’s using ASL to help make the realty business more inclusive to everyone.

Smith’s ties to the Deaf community are strong. Both of his parents are Deaf, making him a CODA. In an interview with me via videoconference last month, Smith described his parents as “very capable [and] very smart” people who maintained a “very strong” Deaf household as he grew up…

Companies Grossly Underestimating How Many Disabled Employees They Have, Study Shows

May 28, 2023 | Source: Forbes

Far too many global organizations remain in the dark when it comes to understanding what proportion of their workforce is comprised of people with disabilities. That’s the key takeaway from a report published earlier this month by Boston Consulting Group which emphasizes the view that “In a post-pandemic world, companies are drastically underestimating how many of their employees have disabilities.” Based on a survey of some 28,000 employees across 16 countries, the authors of “Your Workforce Includes People with Disabilities…

Going beyond the guidelines to make your news more accessible

May 29, 2023 | Source: Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute

Gareth Ford Williams and Charlie Turrell, of Ab11y, built the first digital accessibility team at the BBC and created the Champions of Accessibility Network to encourage more people to think and talk about barriers to access to news information. Ford Williams and Turrell said guidelines and legal requirements can be helpful tools, but they also emphasized that accessibility work should always come back to people’s experiences and how they engage with your news content…

Accessible tech advocate Haben Girma gets CFO audience

May 30, 2023 | Source: CFO Dive

Haben Girma, the first blind and deaf woman to graduate from Harvard University, has been on a years-long mission to change the way big corporations think about the value of investing in technological innovations for people with disabilities. In her view, making such investments isn’t just about legal compliance — it’s also good business. This week, the 34-year-old disability rights advocate will take her message to about 1,500 finance leaders gathered at Gartner’s 2023 CFO and Finance Executive Conference near Washington, D.C….

Mesa: The US’ first autism-friendly city

May 30, 2023 | Source: BBC

On a family holiday in 2018, Marc Garcia was shocked at the strange looks and lack of patience that hospitality staff had for his autistic son. As the CEO and president of tourism bureau Visit Mesa in south-central Arizona, he vowed on his return to ensure neurodiverse travellers who visited his city would have a better experience on their trip than his family had on theirs. In fact, travel can be so stressful for neurodiverse people that 87% of autistic families don’t take vacations, according to a survey by Autism Travel, an arm of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)…

How common is dementia? What to know about Rosalynn Carter’s diagnosis, symptoms and causes

May 30, 2023 | Source: USA Today

Rosalynn Carter’s family disclosed Tuesday that the former first lady has dementia, a condition that afflicts millions of Americans. The family said she remains at home with her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, and visits with loved ones, according to a statement released via the Carter Center. The family emphasized the former first lady’s work to reduce the stigma around mental health during her time in the White House and in the decades that have followed…

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12 Accessible Home Trends for Every Room and Interior Design Style

May 30, 2023 | Source: Good Housekeeping

A modern, functional home can benefit from thoughtful inclusive design choices that make everyone feel welcome. Today, there are many easy ways to incorporate accessible home trends into high-traffic areas, like the bedroom, living room and kitchen. Features such as lowered appliances, grand entryways, curbless showers and open-concept layouts can make your home inviting for wheelchair guests or others with various disabilities. Many of the accessible interior design trends we share below can even work for small spaces…

How Three Men in Wheelchairs Summited Guadalupe Peak in the Early 1980s

May 30, 2023 | Source: Texas Highways

A mile above the West Texas badlands, a desert thunderstorm is unleashing its fury on the Guadalupe Mountains. Amid the storm-battered summits, three men—David Kiley, Joe Moss, and Don Rogers—find sanctuary beneath a rock overhang. They’d set out four days earlier, in July 1982, to ascend 3,000 feet to the state’s highest point, an obelisk at the top of Guadalupe Peak. And they were doing it in wheelchairs. “I’ve never been that close to the power of thunder, echoing through those peaks,” Kiley says. “You knew how small you were and how powerful Mother Nature was…

We Need to Talk About How We Talk About Accessibility

May 31, 2023 | Source: Journal of User Experience

Words matter. Despite their inadequacies, words are our best means of expression. Because we are not born with words, we learn language as a means to translate our innate selves into something comprehensible to ourselves and others. You could say language is like a two-way mirror, projecting and reflecting our identity. Our facility with language affects how much of who we are gets lost in translation. The words we use shape our communities. They can drive positive change or cement us in outmoded and unproductive ways of thinking and acting…

From elevators to roll-in showers, it takes a lot to make a Philly rowhouse wheelchair-accessible

May 31, 2023 | Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

After spending more than two months in hospitals and rehabilitation in Philadelphia, 19-year-old Mia Hope Andrilla was happy to be home after surviving a spinal cord stroke. But the South Philadelphia rowhouse she came back to looked very different from the one she left in August 2021. “She was essentially paralyzed from the shoulders down with very limited small movements,” said her mother, Stephanie. “She was in a wheelchair and wasn’t going to be able to make it up the steps.”…

A band of travelers on a mission to redefine accessibility

May 31, 2023 | Source: Rocky Mountain PBS

Jocelyn Roy recently got her second tattoo, and it wasn’t in a traditional shop. Instead, she was in the middle of Forney Museum of Transportation, just feet from an antique train. Her boyfriend held her hand in support, while her best friend since kindergarten looked on with pride. Surrounding them were even more friends — friends they’ve traveled the world with who were swing dancing, laughing and getting their hair done in their Rockabilly best. While this might sound like the scene from a classic movie, it is an annual occurrence for the Wayfaring Band, a Colorado-based organization centered around a “band” of travelers…

What Charlottesville needs to recognize about accessibility

May 31, 2023 | Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow (Podcast)

When she’s not fishing, swimming, skydiving or bungee jumping, India Sims is working to change how able bodied people treat disabled people. Her mission is to get the City of Charlottesville — and its residents — to recognize that wheelchair accessibility should just be an everyday reality. But so far, she feels, no one is listening. “I’m going to say it. Charlottesville put this big persona that they love everybody and they accept everybody, and they’ll do whatever they want for everybody. I’m here. Start on me,” she told host Charles Lewis on the In My Humble Opinion podcast…

Accessibility in Beauty: The Innovations Moving Us Forward

June 1, 2023 | Source: New Beauty

Everyone deserves to have access to products and services that help them feel confident and beautiful, which is why accessibility in beauty is so important. More and more skin care and makeup brands have understood this and are including those with disabilities and mobility issues in the conversation to address unique challenges they face. From smaller brands like Guide Beauty to huge conglomerates like L’Oréal, a larger focus has been placed on serving those who have been historically underserved in this space. Accessibility in the makeup aisle not only helps those that need it, it promotes a sense of belonging and inclusivity for all consumers…

Mass Audubon’s Newest ‘Accessibility and All Persons Trail’ in Plymouth Ready to Hike On

June 1, 2023 | Source: Fun 107

Mass Audubon is sharpening the ribbon-cutting scissors and getting ready to open another All Persons Trail in Massachusetts. On Friday, June 2nd, the All Persons Trail at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary will officially be open. The grand-opening ceremony will be held at 60 Beaver Dam Road in Plymouth from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM and all are welcome. This is the second project that I’ve jumped on board alongside the Mass Audubon team (the first one in Dartmouth, MA) and it’s been nothing but rewarding to know that we’re giving back to the community in a larger-than-life way…

City For All: St. Louis City SC Makes Citypark Accessible To Fans With Disabilities

June 1, 2023 | Source: St. Louis City SC

St. Louis CITY SC believes an incredible match day experience at CITYPARK should be accessible to everyone, including fans with disabilities. To help St. Louis’ Major League Soccer team create one of the most inclusive experiences in major league sports, St. Louis CITY introduced accessibility programs and guest accommodations to provide fans with visible and non-visible disabilities the support they need to enjoy home matches. “Soccer is the world’s most popular sport,” said Barbra Silva, St. Louis CITY SC director of community relations…

Jack Fact — According to the World Bank, of the rapidly growing 1.41 billion people in India, about 1 in 4 are under the age of 15 and nearly half are under 25. By comparison, China’s population is about 1.45 billion, but those under 25 make up only a quarter of the population.

Hit The Road Jack — The best accessible beaches in Europe, from Barcelona city spots to resorts in Greece and Join the 2023 Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Portugal

International News

StFX Professor Dr. Katie Aubrecht leads newly released Accessibility Act Independent Review

May 26, 2023 | Source: Global News- Canada (Video)

We talk with StFX professor Dr. Katie Aubrecht about a newly released review of the province’s Accessibility Act, aimed at creating a more equitable and accessible province by 2030. The report notes that the provincial government is making progress on making Nova Scotia more accessible, but there is room for improvement in various areas including accessibility standards, communications, and engagement…

Sault Transit on the Cutting Edge of Accessibility

May 26, 2023 | Source: Sault Online- Canada

Sault Transit, in collaboration with CNIB Frontier Accessibility, is pleased to announce the expansion of BlindSquare Event app, an accessible navigation and wayfinding system into all City transit buses. The cutting-edge software uses GPS technology to estimate the proximity of bus stops, predict arrival times, and audibly identifies bus stops. This feature is part of the City’s Intelligent Transportation System designed to make riding the bus easier and more accessible for everyone…

Accessibility Olympics results in information for city

May 27, 2023 | Source: Yukon News- Canada

On the eve of the nationally observed AccessAbility Week, which runs from May 28 to June 3, Compassion Yukon is sharing the results of a friendly audit of accessibility in downtown Whitehorse. On March 31 and April 1 of this year, Compassion Yukon held an Accessibility Olympics that invited people who don’t normally face accessibility challenges to try navigating downtown streets and businesses using a range of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, canes and crutches. Participants were asked for their feedback and to rate the difficulty of travel…

How This App Helps UK Airports Organize Assistance For Disabled Passengers

May 27, 2023 | Source: Simple Flying- UK

Transreport is expanding a smartphone app in Passenger Assistance to help provide accessibility beyond Britain’s railways to commercial aviation. The Passenger Assistance app is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play, so both Apple and Android smartphones can download the app to improve the passenger experience. Passenger Assistance, once downloaded to your smartphone or accessed from an internet browser, allows a person to book transport and then inform the transportation provider – whether that be a railway or airline – about the accessibility needs of the passenger…

Disability access a work in progress for parliament

May 28, 2023 | Source: RNZ- New Zealand

Efforts are underway to make Parliament more accessible for people who live with disability, and not before time. There’s a long way to go but as a clear foot forward, a new position of Senior Accessibility Advisor at Parliament was established in October last year. The person appointed to the role is Stew Sexton. His role is pan-disability focused, coming to grips with a diverse range including physical, neurological, visual or auditory disabilities, cognitive impairments, chronic pain and other conditions…

Lakshadweep: Disability Rights Activists Hold Another Protest as Accessibility Issues Continue

May 28, 2023 | Source: The WIRE- India

Bangaram, an uninhabited island and an international tourist destination in Lakshadweep, hosted a G20 event on sustainable development on May 1. The assistant district magistrate, Kavaratti, had released an order in April banning all unauthorised protests on the islands between April 27 and May 5. The order claimed that such protests, while the G20 meet was on, will bring disrepute to the islands’ hospitality. This order was passed to stop the protests planned by the Lakshadweep Disableds’ Welfare Association (LDWA)…

‘I always felt like the gym wasn’t accessible’ – The struggles blind people face to stay active

May 28, 2023 | Source: Sky News- UK

Blind and partially sighted people are “twice as likely” to be inactive compared to the UK population, according to new data. The research, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and British Blind Sport, shows that almost half (48%) of blind people surveyed reported barriers to trying new sports and activities. Some of the issues include lack of assistance, difficulty with public transport, and the inaccessibility of some venues. Consequently, 53% of blind people engage in less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week, compared to 27% of the UK average…

Government of Canada invests in projects to increase accessibility and inclusion in Canadian communities and workplaces

May 29, 2023 | Source: Yahoo- Canada and Mirage News

Building a barrier-free Canada can only be achieved if we work together, which is why the Government of Canada continues to support and collaborate with organizations across the country to improve accessibility, safety and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in communities and workplaces. In celebration of National AccessAbility Week 2023, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced the Government of Canada’s investment through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) mid-sized projects component to support infrastructure accessibility projects led by 14 organizations…

No ATMs in Goa meet RBI’s accessibility guidelines: Survey

May 29, 2023 | Source: Hindustan Times- India

According to the survey, most banks either had stairs or were built on elevated platforms, while some of them were on levelled grounds, but the parking area blocked the entrance of the ATM. Not a single ATM has accessible ramps that followed the ‘1:12 gradient criteria’ (wheelchair ramps adhere to a 1:12 slope ratio), and most of the ATMs do not even have accessibility features like braille buttons, audio instructions, and other facilities that cater to the needs of persons with disability, according to a survey conducted by the students of the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Young Indians…

Parker: Accessible Housing promotes residential renovation program

May 29, 2023 | Source: Calgary Herald- Canada

There is a long list of good, educated people who were brought up in Saskatchewan, yet decided to leave for greener fields. Teneille Bradley grew up in the Swift Current area but after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in sociology, took off for Australia. Bradley earned her MBA from the Australia Institute of Business while working for non-profits there. ..Her working life in Australia included a management position with the Multicultural Centre for Mental Health and Wellness, and general manager of operations for Access Community Services in Logan, Queensland…

‘Making neurodivergent LGBTQ+ clubbing accessible’

May 29, 2023 | Source: BBC- UK (Video)

For many, clubbing is all about loud music and flashing lights, but neurodivergent people can struggle in these environments. Maze and Meshi are co-founders of Spectrum, an alternative club night for LGBTQ+ people hosted in venues around London. Everyone involved is queer and neurodivergent, which means the focus is solely on making the night as accessible as possible. Maze and Meshi hope Spectrum proves accessibility is achievable and does not affect the quality of a night out…

Veteran Games: UK wants to learn accessibility from Israel

May 29, 2023 | Source: The Jerusalem Post- Israel

More than 60 wounded British veterans arrived in Israel for a once-in-a-lifetime journey in an effort to aid their recovery, in order to participate in the Veteran Games (VG). The ex-servicemen and women, including those who have lost limbs in combat and others battling crippling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a direct result of serving their country have been drawn from across the British military and the country. During their stay in Israel k, they will compete in swimming, shooting and cross-fit against their Israeli counterparts in Tel Aviv but, unlike other similar events for veterans, participants haven’t had to reach a certain sporting standard to qualify…

Love Island announces changes to improve accessibility for blind and partially-sighted viewers

May 30, 2023 | Source: Digital Spy- UK and Planet Radio

Love Island will be implementing some changes to improve accessibility for blind and partially-sighted fans. ITV2’s popular dating show will have its season 10 participants record self-descriptions to offer blind and partially-sighted audiences more insights into the cast. The show will also provide an audio-described tour of the villa, unlocking more information on the visual geography of the show’s most crucial locations. Both will be available on the Love Island YouTube page…

The importance of accessibility across CDPs for good customer experience

May 31, 2023 | Source: ERP Today- UK

A staggering 14.6 million people in the UK were registered as having a disability in 2021, and 27.7 million UK adults fall under the definition of a vulnerable customer. Whether they are impacted by financial hardship, poor health, or a recent negative life event, this group – made up of all kinds of age groups and backgrounds – are regularly disadvantaged when trying to access everyday services. In fact, a huge number of vulnerable people struggle to get the customer support they need…

During National AccessAbility Week, advocates say Ontario has a long way to go

May 31, 2023 | Source: CBC- Canada

During a week dedicated to promoting accessibility and celebrating the contributions of people with disabilities in Canada, advocates say Ontario needs to do more on the issue. David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, says the province is falling behind on its goal of making Ontario fully accessible by 2025. National AccessAbility Week, a campaign from Employment and Social Development Canada, runs from May 28 to June 3. Lepofsky says the most meaningful result of the week would be more government action…

Many of Northern Ireland’s most profitable companies are failing to meet digital accessibility guidelines

May 31, 2023 | Source: Belfast News Letter- Ireland

A new report commissioned by ForSight NI — a charity that supports children and adults who are blind or visually impaired — has revealed many of Northern Ireland’s most profitable companies, and indeed essential authorities, fail to meet digital accessibility guidelines. The report, titled the Northern Irish Digital Accessibility Index 2022, was put together by Inclusion and Accessibility Labs, an organisation that specialises in auditing websites for digital accessibility…

Abby Stonehouse talks about accessibility for those affected by hearing loss

May 31, 2023 | Source: The Gleaner- Canada

Abby Stonehouse, a Montreal-based comedian originally from the Valley, gave a presentation to about 25 people on May 2 about the arts and accessibility regarding people who experience hearing loss. “Hearing loss can be wildly misunderstood and carry a stigma. Therefore, I wanted to open a conversation about it with this group, in hopes to inspire them to start managing their hearing health,” she explains. Stonehouse herself has lived with moderate hearing loss for about eight years and works quite a bit in the field of disability visibility. The event was organized by Cindy Barrington Stonehouse and the Howick Women’s Institute…

Upcoming accessibility advisory committee gives voice to persons with disabilities

June 1, 2023 | Source: Discover Weyburn- Canada

The Government of Saskatchewan recently passed The Accessible Saskatchewan Act, to help make the province more accessible for persons with disabilities. In a press release, the province said that accessibility is about removing barriers so that people can feel included and have independence. Cassidy Orsted, Program Assistant at the Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop, said that with the new legislation being passed, they are also developing a committee called the “Accessibility Advisory Committee.” The committee members will make recommendations about accessibility standards…

Plea for more accessible hotels and a better understanding of additional needs

June 1, 2023 | Source: ITVX- UK

A Jersey wheelchair user wants hotel bosses to realise the importance of truly accessible rooms. Luke du Val has cerebral palsy and says he does not have the same opportunities to travel as some of his friends, with spontaneous trips away usually taking weeks or months to organise. He adds there can be issues despite planning ahead with no universal understanding of what accessibility means. “Even as much as someone can say, ‘yes, yes, it’s definitely fine and we’ve sorted it for you’, you won’t know for sure that everything will go off without an issue until you get there,” Mr du Val explained…

Teen maps accessibility of Mississauga waterfront trail

June 1, 2023 | Source: Insauga- Canada

A teen mapped a portion of the Waterfront Trail in Mississauga for accessibility but found getting there was one of the hardest parts. The trail is one of 25 Trans Canada sections recently added to the AccessNow app and website — a map that shares how accessible routes are for those with mobility challenges. The Mississauga portion of the Waterfront Trail map is part of Trans Canada Trail’s Accessibility Mapping Program started in 2020 to share information and improve accessibility on the trail…

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