Accessibility in the News — 7/10/20.

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“Disability is natural. We must stop believing that disabilities keep a person from doing something. Because that’s not true . . . Having a disability doesn’t stop me from doing anything.”

― Benjamin Snow, Grade 8, in his essay “Attitudes About People with Disabilities”

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Feature Stories

If Accessibility Is Important To You, Tell Your Local Candidates

July 6, 2020 | Source: Forbes

Can anything more be done to make our communities truly accessible? People with disabilities don’t always ask the question directly, but it’s always there in the background whenever we discuss policy and political priorities. On June 22 and 23, the American Association of People with Disabilities and the #RevUp disabled voter registration campaign held a two-day event titled, “Power: The Disability Vote.” The kickoff included long-time disability activist Bob Kafka, who repeated a famous quote from early ‘80s Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil: “All politics are local.”…

Voting by Mail is Essential for Voters with Disabilities, but it’s Not Enough

July 7, 2020 | Source: EIN

COVID-19 highlighted the need for universal access to no-excuse vote by mail. For many voters with disabilities, vote by mail has always been the safest and most accessible way to cast a ballot, because it allows them to avoid the challenges of getting to the polls, waiting in line, and facing physical barriers at the polling place. While in-person polling places are required to be fully accessible, we still see violations such as lack of ramps or elevators, voting machines not properly set up, and facilities without adequate signage indicating accessible routes or parking…

National News (U.S.)

Disability Groups Say They Didn’t Get the Heads-Up About Sidewalk Cafe Legislation

July 2, 2020 | Source: The Stranger

Last week, Mayor Jenny Durkan and Councilmembers Dan Strauss and Alex Pedersen announced that the city was working on legislation to waive sidewalk permit fees for restaurants as a way to allow people to dine safely outside where COVID-19 transmission is lower. The solution makes sense—there should be more sidewalk and curbside cafe and overall more outdoor spaces for people. Especially during a pandemic where indoor dining increases the risk of spreading COVID-19. Except, for a lot of people, adding a cafe to the public right of way can be disruptive…

We Need To Talk About The Fact That COVID-19 Is More Serious (And Deadly) In People With Intellectual Disabilities

July 2, 2020 | Source: Yahoo

In college, I worked in a residential group home for boys with intellectual disabilities and some with autism. Most of the time, it was a calm home environment where teenage boys lived, a safe place they called home as their own families visited now and again. We as the staff, their care coordinators, and house managers, doubled both as their caregivers and in some ways, their family members too. I was a twenty-something living the stereotypical college student kind of life — hanging out with friends on Friday nights instead of studying all night, storing up my dirty clothes to wash when I went home, surviving on ramen noodles and potato chips…

Montana adaptive recreation program marks 35 years

July 4, 2020 | Source: Coeur d’Alene Press

Many people flock to Northwest Montana for the great outdoor recreation opportunities abound — but for some it’s not as simple as stepping outside the front door and charging out to the surrounding mountains, lakes and parks. For people with varying degrees of disabilities, many considerations must be taken into account when making a plan for a week-long trip, a day or even just one activity. Those with mobility impairments have to inquire about the availability of adequate parking, ramps, trail width and maintenance, restroom accessibility and other variables before crossing the threshold of their own house into a world with highly inconsistent accessibility…

Why the Lack of Services for Kids With Disabilities Is a Silent Crisis

July 5, 2020 | Source: Yahoo

I’m tired. Tired of fighting, tired of artificial obstacles and tired of jumping up and down, trying to raise awareness for a group of individuals who are invisible. Despite the fact this group represents 18.5% of children under 18 in the United States and roughly 17.5% in Canada, the services, programs and funding they need to succeed continue to decline. Who is this group that, while representing almost 1/5 of children, remains invisible? Kids with disabilities. As a mother of a child with disabilities and an advocate, I spend a significant amount of time advocating for kids whose voices are rarely heard and repeatedly forgotten…

Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact Of Covid-19 On People With Disabilities

July 6, 2020 | Source: Forbes

Disability rights are civil rights, and July 26, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Similar to laws in other countries, it is significant civil rights legislation affording persons with disabilities legal protection from discrimination. During the coronavirus pandemic, it is precisely these legal protections that should safeguard people. However, according to Marcie Roth, CEO of World Institute on Disability, “of the 43% of COVID-19 deaths attributed to congregate facilities, almost 100% are disabled people.”…

11th Circuit Refuses to Reinstate Award in Deaf Ex-Costco Worker’s Disability Bias Case

July 6, 2020 | Source: Courthouse News Service & Law.com

An 11th Circuit panel on Monday upheld a judge’s decision to strip a $775,000 jury award from a deaf supermarket employee who has been fighting Costco over its handling of her disability in the workplace. A 2–1 majority found that during Christine D’Onofrio’s employment with warehouse retailer Costco, the company provided her with reasonable workplace accommodations for her deafness, including equipment that allowed her to communicate with her bosses through online interpreters…

Are Accessible Cosmetics the Final Frontier in Makeup Inclusivity?

July 7, 2020 | Source: The New York Times

In March 2010, Terri Bryant, a makeup artist and educator, began noticing slight changes to her skill set. Stiffness spanned from her left shoulder down to her fingers, which she was unable to move independently. By 2012, it was taking her a really long time to apply her clients’ makeup. At a wedding, she couldn’t get the bride’s eyebrows to look balanced. “Makeup artistry has been such a big part of my life,” Ms. Bryant, 47, said. “Yes, it’s my livelihood, but it’s also my creative outlet. It’s been a way I’ve connected with people over the years. The thought of losing that was devastating.”…

Military families with disabled members need more accessible homes, survey finds

July 8, 2020 | Source: Military Times

The report is based on a small online survey of special needs families living in privatized housing, conducted by the Military Housing Advocacy Network. They’ve kept the survey open in order to continue tracking the issues and to help those who need immediate assistance, said Rachel Christian, an advocate with the network. Half of the respondents reported their ADA-compliant homes were missing accessibility features such as proper flooring, ramps, grab bars, and properly sized doorways and hallways…

Parafencing Becomes OU’s First Accessible Club Sport

July 8, 2020 | Source: CBS Pittsburgh

Fencing is an art that offers safe physical fitness, development of skill and coordination, and a lot of fun. It’s an exerting sport that builds strength and endurance. Originally, fencing was developed as a way to practice for duels and combat, but as time went on, it became more recreational, especially after the introduction of gunpowder made skilled blade work obsolete on the battlefield. Parafencing, or fencing while using a wheelchair, is the first accessible club sport at Oakland University. The Wheelchair Fencing team is new within the Fencing Society at Oalkand University (FSOU)…

ADA Requires Hotels to Describe Accessibility on Websites

July 8, 2020 | Source: Southeast ADA Center

Many hotels are not aware that the ADA imposes several requirements during the reservations process, including posting descriptions of the hotel’s physical accessibility features on its online reservations system. Starting around early 2018, serial ADA plaintiffs have filed significantly more lawsuits against hotels regarding this issue. In addition to the many physical accessibility requirements at places of lodging (hotels), such as accessible parking and accessible guest rooms, the ADA also requires places of lodging to take certain actions during the reservations process to help individuals with disabilities obtain an accessible guest room…

Deaf people struggle with communication during pandemic, can’t read lips because of masks

July 8, 2020 | Source: WSPA

Many counties and states around the country are establishing requirements to wear masks when in public areas. But for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, this has increased their challenges when it comes to communicating. According to data released by The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), approximately 37 million American Adults over the age of 18 report having trouble with hearing. Many of those who are deaf or hard of hearing rely on reading lips and facial expressions when communicating, but with everyone wearing masks this has proved to be challenging…

Technology bridges the gap to better sight

July 9, 2020 | Source: Baltimore Sun

When Jimmy Blakley signed up to serve his country during the Vietnam War, his health and vision were pristine. But shortly after finishing his service in 1971, Blakley’s vision began to sharply deteriorate. He said doctors discovered signs of Agent Orange, the toxic herbicide used during the war, in his blood and told him it was likely the cause of his vision loss. Over the years he had surgery and eye injections but became legally blind in 1999. He used magnifiers on top of glasses to read and needed to sit 2 feet away to watch his 65-inch TV. He was frustrated…

Giving Something Back: Senior Creates Handicap Accessible Classroom for the High School

July 9, 2020 | Source: Town Times

Although her days as a student at Watertown High School are behind her, one member of the class of 2020 is determined to leave something to aid those in need. As part of her graduation requirement, Hannah Jack is currently working on completing her Capstone Project, which involves creating a handicapped-accessible outdoor classroom in an unused courtyard in the back of the high school. “In middle school, a chair was pulled out from underneath me and I sustained a two-year concussion,” explained Hannah about her motivation. “During that time, I was medically excused from most classes as I had difficulty reading and writing.”…

Ministry with persons with disability is what Jesus did

July 9, 2020 | Source: The Dialog

July 26, 2020, marks the 30th year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A milestone in societal development, the ADA provided the basis of secular guidelines, incentives and mandates for making the worlds of work, life and education accessible for persons with disabilities of all types. With its signing into law by President George H. W. Bush, more individuals could move, literally and figuratively, from the sidelines to become ever more contributive members of society…

‘Vision Portraits’ Documentary Chronicles Lives of Artists With Low Vision

July 9, 2020 | Source: The Mighty

What to know: Filmmaker Rodney Evans has put together a documentary featuring artists with low vision and blindness to paint a picture of life as an artist with a disability. Evans, who lives with the vision condition retinitis pigmentosa, described the project as “four different paths to the imagination.” In an interview with NPR about the documentary, he discussed his own challenges with his peripheral vision describing it as, “akin to looking through a telescope or a horse with blinders.”…

Princeton Junction’s Madeline Mau named finalist in 2020 Braille Challenge

July 9, 2020 | Source: Central Jersey

Madeline Mau thought signing up for the national Braille Challenge would be just a new endeavor to try. In her first year competing in the competition Madeline’s try has resulted in her being named a 2020 top 50 finalist in the competition, which has her set to compete in the junior varsity category of the challenge later this month. “I was very surprised when I found out that I would be a finalist. I honestly did not expect that I would be able to progress to the finals especially in my first year competing,” Madeline said…

Jack Fact — The World Blind Union estimates that over 90% of all written texts are inaccessible to people with disabilities.

Hit The Road Jack — Wheelchair Accessible Landscape Photography Guide, Part 1

International News

Tony Hudgell, 5-year-old boy with prosthetic legs, raises $1 million for NHS

July 1, 2020 | Source: CNN- UK

A 5-year-old boy with two prosthetic legs has raised more than £1 million ($1.2 million) for the hospital that saved his life when he was just weeks old, by walking a total of six miles over the past month. Tony Hudgell lost both his legs after suffering abuse from his biological parents as a newborn, which left him on life support at a London children’s hospital. He set out to raise £500 for the same hospital by walking throughout June — but smashed that target almost instantly, raising £1.1 million on his online fundraising page as of Wednesday…

Mandatory mask policies raise accessibility concerns for vulnerable populations

July 2, 2020 | Source: Eckville Echo- Canada

As several Canadian jurisdictions move to make masks mandatory in some public settings, experts and advocates say these orders will only work if they’re backed up by efforts to provide access and education to vulnerable populations. A rule requiring that commuters wear masks on Toronto’s public transit system came into effect Thursday. TTC staff are now focusing on educating riders and handing out masks, but eventually enforcement measures may include a $195 ticket. Next week, the city will make face coverings mandatory in public indoor spaces such as stores and businesses…

Disability taxi access to Bank Junction is “not a luxury, but a necessity” says Lord Holmes

July 3, 2020 | Source: TaxiPoint- UK

Bank Junction black taxi accessibility is “not a luxury, but a necessity” for those with disabilities trying to get to appointments in the City, says Lord Holmes of Richmond. The Conservative Lord highlighted the issue during yesterday’s sitting at the House of Lords whilst discussing a new motion based around Public Service Vehicles Open Data Regulations. In 2018 the City of London Corporation’s (COLC) most senior decision-making body voted to make a 16-month experimental safety scheme at the Bank junction, which excluded wheelchair accessible taxis, permanent…

Digital access has never been this urgent

July 4, 2020 | Source: The Standard- Africa

Since the Covid-19 struck, we have been asked to avoid human contact as much as possible to halt the spread of the virus. For many communities around the world, that has meant directing majority of services, functions, products and communications online. For many Africans with disabilities, these digital services and products are simply not accessible, as they were not designed to be used by all people. A person’s needs and abilities can vary greatly according to disability, age, geographical location or even a temporary illness or situation. This variance exists online as it does in daily life…

Whither disabilities rights? Modi govt ‘prioritizes’ safeguarding business sentiment

July 6, 2020 | Source: Counterview- India

The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has asked the Narendra Modi government to stop patronizing the rhetoric of ‘Divyang politics’ towards the physically challenged persons, insistng, it should instead ensure “accessibility” of basic services to them as a fundamental right.” In a statement, India’s top civil society network demands that the government must immediately “roll back problematic amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016”, insisting upon the need for broader sections of society to “resist attempts to weaken penal provisions that hold entities accountable for violation of RPWD Act”…

Accessibility, workplace diversity and Covid-19

July 6, 2020 | Source: Thrive Global- UK

At the age of 38, Lucille Whiting had taken longer than most to build the career she wanted. Owner of one of the UK’s premier baby keepsake companies, her chosen career was a dream come true. More so because that dream was realised against a backdrop of 20 years of chronic pain and 9 difficult recurrent miscarriages. Yet her story is not that unusual. Working in relative isolation, she did what up to 15 million other chronically ill people in the UK do – she found she couldn’t work a conventional job, so she trained and built a flexible work life around her condition…

Two wheelchair users from Milton Keynes to meet with Housing Minister to demand more accessible homes

July 7, 2020 | Source: Milton Keynes Citizen- UK

Kerry Thompson and Chris Hicken are have an online meet-up with Chris Pincher MP and will be demanding answers on why there is such a shortage of suitable homes for disabled people across the country. The two wheelchair users fear that new laws to ease planning restrictions could result in the accessibility of homes being ignored. Kerry said: “We’ve been waiting on a consultation to improve the accessible housing situation in this country for over a year. Even though this meeting is a positive step in the right direction, we urgently need to begin this consultation to make sure the needs to disabled people are heard and met.”…

Accessibility shouldn’t be abandoned in the rush to reopen

July 7, 2020 | Source: Access and Mobility Professional- UK

Sigma, a user experience and digital agency, is calling for greater consideration in accessibility as stores are reopening post lockdown. It has called for bars, restaurants, retailers and leisure venues to consider the accessibility of their facilities to all customers, when rushing to reopen, as lockdown measures are eased. Sigma explained that in an attempt to make up for lost time, venues that reopened this weekend could be excluding as many as 1 in 5 customers, that have disabilities, as their needs are overlooked…

Nova Scotia mourns loss of 27-year-old disability advocate

July 7, 2020 | Source: CBC- Canada

A young Nova Scotian filmmaker and accessibility advocate is being remembered this week for his kindness, courage and unwavering commitment to helping people with disabilities. Alex Peeler of Conquerall Bank has died at the age of 27, according to the Town of Bridgewater, where Peeler worked as an events coordinator. The town said staff learned the news on Monday. Peeler had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, called Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which he spoke about candidly on a YouTube channel he created to tackle the stigma around living with a disability…

How studying fruit flies might help us prevent age-related hearing loss in humans

July 7, 2020 | Source: The Conversation- UK

Hearing loss is a common age-related ailment, affecting nearly one in every three people over the age of 65. The World Health Organization expects that by 2050, more than 900 million people will suffer from disabling hearing loss. But the causes of age-related hearing loss remain largely unknown, and there are no preventative treatments or cures. Alarmingly, recent studies have even found links between age-related hearing loss and dementia. We still don’t know why age-related hearing loss occurs, and why our hearing systems stay healthy up until decline begins to occur…

Glove translates sign language in real-time – ’99 percent recognition rate’

July 7, 2020 | Source: Express- UK

The cutting-edge glove features thin, stretchable sensors running to the fingertips. These sensors can detect motions and finger placement through electrically-conducting yarns. Those sensors are then connected to a tiny circuit board – approximately the size of a coin worn on users’ wrists. When people move their hands and fingers to form ‘words’, the glove translates the individual letters, numbers, words and phrases into audible language. Extra sensors can be added to the face, between the eyebrows and on the sides of the mouth, to capture facial expressions…

Bus Open Data: A data revolution but an accessibility fail

July 8, 2020 | Source: Transport Network- UK

Ministers are set to complete the legal groundwork for the Bus Open Data Service (BODS), paving the way for new powers by the end of the year to ensure operators disclose data on fares, timetables and locations. The regulations would provide new legislation to require bus operators of local bus services across England, but outside London, to openly publish data electronically about their services through legally mandated data standards. The move is designed to boost passenger numbers and support travel app development and follows Transport for London’s successful open data strategy and Transport for the West Midlands’s investment in providing a single data source for apps and journey planners across the region…

Egypt creates database for people with disabilities to boost accessibility to services

July 9, 2020 | Source: Egypt Today

A comprehensive database for all people with disabilities will be created to facilitate their access to services, as per the law concerning the rights of people with disabilities. The executive regulations of the law stipulate: The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, creates a database for persons with disabilities that includes a special record for each person, using the database available at the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics…

Louth Senator raises need for improved accessibility in town centres for people with disabilities

July 9, 2020 | Source: Dundalk Democrat- Ireland

Louth Senator Erin McGreehan has stated in the Seanad this week that many improvements are needed to be made in our towns and villages to improve accessibility for people in our communities. Senator McGreehan said: “The current situation whilst it has improved somewhat over the years, because of the many problems there are many prohibited from enjoying what their towns and villages have to offer. More awareness and action is needed. Recently, at Council level I successfully placed a motion that all staff would receive disability awareness training…

Put to the test: Edmonton student takes on international braille reading and writing challenge

July 9, 2020 | Source: Edmonton Journal- Canada

Grade 7 student Steve Kiema is putting his skills at reading and writing braille to the test. The 12-year-old, who is blind, was one of 50 students to make it to the finals of the Braille Challenge, which is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for those who are blind or visually impaired. Getting to this point was no easy task as he had to spend months preparing for the tests, which are spread out over the course of several hours. As he walked into Louis St. Laurent Catholic Junior/High School on Thursday with his mother, Catherine Kirugi, and cane in hand, a large crowd of supporters cheered him on as he prepared to take the test…

Hearing loss among children- Everything you need to know

July 9, 2020 | Source: eHealth- India

Hearing loss is a birth defect that can affect a baby’s ability to develop speech and social skills. It can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. It can range from mild to profound. There are various reasons why a child might be born deaf. Although not knowing the cause of deafness can be very upsetting, it is not always possible to identify the reason said Dr. Dathathri H A, Consultant ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon Cochlear Implant Surgeon, Columbia Asia Hospital Mysore…

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