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Justice Department and Department of Education Issue Joint Letter on Web Accessibility for Postsecondary Institutions

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Department of Justice building. Microassist Accessibility in the News photo.Accessibility in the News — 5/19/2023.

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May Gaad - Microassist

May Gaad – Microassist

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Feature Stories

 

Justice Department and the Department of Education Issue Joint Dear Colleague Letter on the Online Accessibility of Colleges, Universities, and Other Postsecondary Institutions

May 13, 2023  |   Source: Department of Justice

On May 19, 2023, the Justice Department and the Department of Education jointly issued a Dear Colleague Letter reminding colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions to ensure that their online services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Many colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions increasingly rely on their websites and third-party online platforms to provide services, programs, and activities to members of the public.  This includes courses on learning platforms as well as podcasts and videos on social media and third-party platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.  This joint letter reiterates that Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions to provide equal opportunities to people with disabilities in all their operations.  The letter also highlights recent web accessibility enforcement activities and technical assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

National News (U.S.)

 

16% of Philadelphians are disabled. Here’s where mayoral candidates stand on disability issues, and how advocates are feeling

May 13, 2023  |   Source: WHYY

Philadelphia is home to approximately 250,000 people with disabilities, or about 16% of the population. As Philadelphia’s 100th mayoral election approaches, some in Philadelphia’s disabled community are preparing to vote, an often time-consuming and laborious process. After a potentially frustrating lack of accessibility to both campaign events and literature, getting to the polls or filling out a mail-in ballot can also pose challenges. Jule Ann Lieberman works with TechOWL (Technology Our Whole Lives), an assistive device education program that’s part of Temple University…

‘No violins’: Michael J. Fox reflects on his career and life with Parkinson’s

May 14, 2023  |   Source: NPR

When Michael J. Fox describes his experience with Parkinson’s disease in his new documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, he’s extremely blunt. “Parkinson’s didn’t just kick me out of the house — it burned the f***ing house down,” he said, in a conversation with director/producer Davis Guggenheim. And when he spoke with NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer, he said every day with the disease is different. “Like you woke up and you have two noses. You have two noses, next thing you know, you have nine noses, and your tongue is sticking out of your ear,” Fox said…

High schoolers work to make homes more wheelchair accessible

May 14, 2023  |   Source: WSKG

Less than one percent of housing nationwide is wheelchair accessible. That can be a big obstacle for people with disabilities, and older people who would like to age in place. But the “Ramp it Up” program, run by the Broome County Council of Churches, is trying to address the problem, one wheelchair ramp at a time. High school students from Windsor Central School District recently gathered at a home in Conklin, working together to build a long, wooden wheelchair ramp…

NJ beaches are becoming more accessible, advocates say

May 15, 2023  |   Source: NorthJersey.com

Verona resident Scott Chesney, 53, fell in love with the Jersey Shore all over again after being away for decades following his loss of the use of his legs at 15 due to a stroke. For years, he had difficulty navigating the sand with his wheelchair. His idea of heaven on Earth was unreachable. For decades, wheelchair users had few options, as beach wheelchairs with wheels large enough to navigate sand were in short supply, advocates and families said. However, in recent years, beach accessibility has been improving, with many Jersey Shore towns offering free beach and surf wheelchairs…

From diversity to accessibility, can technology change the way we think about beauty for the better?

May 15, 2023  |  Source: CNN

When Bold Glamour launched on TikTok earlier this year, it started a storm on social media. The viral beautifying filter uses machine learning technology to edit users’ facial features in photographs and video, sculpting cheekbones, smoothing out skin and brightening eyes, all with unsettling realism. Some on social media were impressed by the technology, but many expressed concern about the way filters can promote unrealistic beauty standards. While there is growing unease about the way technology is impacting our ideas of beauty, some believe it can also change our attitudes to beauty for the better…

Nothing About Us Without Us: Invest in Disabled Leaders to Advance Equitable Technology for Everyone

May 16, 2023  |  Source: Nonprofit Quarterly

To solve our most pressing challenges, we need the total sum of human intelligence and emancipatory energy in our society. This includes the expertise and leadership of people with disabilities. Alice Wong, founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, wrote, “There is so much that able-bodied people could learn from the wisdom that often comes with disability. But space needs to be made. Hands need to reach out. People need to be lifted up.”…

Twitter - Microassist

Twitter – Microassist

Man who defied genetics for decades may hold a clue to preventing Alzheimer’s, scientists say

May 16, 2023  |  Source: CNN

Researchers working to unlock the secrets of Alzheimer’s disease say they’ve been given a major clue that could help protect people at risk for this type of dementia. A man who seemed fated to develop memory loss in his 40s or 50s, based on family history, kept normal function for decades longer than he should have. He seems to have been protected by a rare gene change that enhanced the function of a protein that helps nerve cells communicate. Scientists say that understanding how this gene change defended his brain may help prevent Alzheimer’s in other people…

Cruising Altitude: Progress for disabled travelers is not coming fast enough

May 17, 2023  |  Source: USA Today

I was on a family trip to Israel a few years ago and as soon as we landed, it was obvious something was wrong. I’d flown over from New York with my parents and we were supposed to be meeting some cousins from London, who’d arrived hours earlier to Tel Aviv. But my British family was still in the airport when we touched down. EasyJet had left my little cousin Max’s wheelchair off the plane, meaning Max, who has Cerebral Palsy, had no reasonable way to get around…

Paralympic star Brad Snyder talks accessibility, identity, thoughts on Paris 2024

May 17, 2023  |  Source: NBC

Thursday marks the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day, a catalyst in the conversation for digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. Brad Snyder, an eight-time Paralympic medalist between swimming and triathlon and former U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer, who lost vision in both eyes while deployed in Afghanistan, discusses his experiences with accessibility, the everyday challenges of vision loss, how his sense of identity evolved, why the Paralympic Movement is so special and whether he will bid for a fourth Paralympics in 2024…

Federal CIO says IDEA Act guidance coming this summer

May 17, 2023  |  Source: FCW and MeriTalk

For Government, Accessibility Is ‘More Than Just a Compliance Game’

May 18, 2023  |  Source: Government Technology

Years after it was signed into law in 2018, the White House is still working on guidance to implement the 21st Century IDEA Act, a law meant to push the government into the digital age. Although guidance hasn’t been issued so far (to the chagrin of some lawmakers), it is coming this summer, said Clare Martorana, the federal chief information officer, on Tuesday at the Code for America summit in Washington, D.C. The law is meant to improve how Americans experience the government online with requirements for agencies like common accessibility and searchability standards, electronic signatures, digital forms and mobile-friendly, accessible websites…

Advocates: Government Is Failing Residents on Accessibility

May 17, 2023   |   Source: Government Technology

AFB Calls on Congress and Government to Move Swiftly toward Making the Internet Accessible for All

May 18, 2023  |   Source: Cision

Like many parents, Baltimore-area resident Tony Stephens wants to know how his kids are doing in school. But unlike most of his peers, checking on his son’s grades isn’t as simple as logging onto a website. Stephens was born legally blind and lost the remainder of his sight in his teenage years. As the father of two sighted boys, he uses screen-reading software to access the web. However, it doesn’t work if he encounters a website that wasn’t programmed to be compatible with assistive technology…

Buda senior living community begins doll therapy program for residents with dementia

May 17, 2023  |  Source: KEYE

A senior living community in Buda began a new doll therapy program this month for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Doll therapy can provide residents with cognitive disabilities with a sense of purpose and responsibility. It can stimulate memories of parenthood and give a sense of familiarity. Sharing the experience with caretakers also encourages communication and companionship, which can reduce feelings of anxiety and agitation. With that in mind, Theresa Panzino, Memory Care Coordinator with Buda Oaks Senior Living, carefully passed a doll out to each memory care resident…

How an advocate’s dream for wheelchair accessible sidewalks in Johnstown became a reality

May 17, 2023   |  Source: WJAC

For years, Barb Zablotney has had a difficult time getting around Downtown Johnstown in her wheelchair. During her time as Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania in 2018, she set out to make a change the local disability community. Zablotney hosted an Accessibility Day in October of 2018, where she had city officials get in wheelchairs and navigate downtown from her point of view. In one of those wheelchairs was City of Johnstown Mayor Frank Janakovic…

Introducing Beyond Barriers, Our New Accessibility Travel Column

May 18, 2023  |  Source: Condé Nast Traveler

Before I introduce myself, I would like to share a photograph. In it, a smiling 18-year-old girl wearing a faded sleeveless vest and ragged jeans leans forwards to counterbalance a backpack. She is embarking on her first intrepid adventure, standing on the precipice of a journey, but also of girlhood. She’s at that giddy time when everything seems to offer the promise of potential. opportunity. The world is her oyster, and she knows it. When I look at this picture, nostalgia twists gently in my stomach. Then the feeling tightens with foreboding…

Jack Fact — According to the WHO, the more than two billion people worldwide who are blind or low vision are often left behind.

Hit The Road Jack —  Accessible River Boats and Exploring the Baltics

International News

Northern’s £250k Accessibility Innovation Fund gives six innovative projects the green light

May 12, 2023     Source: THIIS Magazine- UK

Northern Rail has announced details of six game-changing projects given the green light thanks to its £250,000 Accessibility Innovation Fund. Projects include using AI to interpret customer announcements into British Sign Language, a scheme to encourage older people to have days out on the train and a hub to rent out wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The fund is designed to empower communities to make decisions which will improve the railway for all and is now in its second year…

Milan Cortina 2026 chief executive Varnier says Verona Arena accessibility will be one of “principal legacies”

May 12, 2023     Source: InsideTheGames- Italy

Andrea Varnier, the Milan Cortina 2026 chief executive, believes the policy of making the 2,000-year old Verona Arena fully accessible will be “one of the principal legacies of the Games.” Speaking during a presentation here on the opening day of the European Olympic Committees Seminar, Varnier said the arena – which is scheduled to host the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony on February 22 and the Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony on March 6 – was an extremely important feature to celebrate the athletes…

Calgary queer venues lack accessibility. A new campaign could help change that

May 13, 2023     Source: CBC- Canada

Simply navigating queer spaces can be an arduous task for Rylee Seutter. Leaning on the right armrest of their wheelchair, the non-binary burlesque performer in Calgary recounts the obstacles they face when trying to access Twisted Element, a beloved 2SLGBTQ+ nightclub in downtown Calgary. “I need somebody to hold the door open for me just to be able to get past the doors,” Seutter explained. “I need to transfer out of my wheelchair, and I need someone to pick up my wheelchair and carry it up the stairs.”…

Health ministry notifies Accessibility Standards for Healthcare to help persons with disabilities in healthcare facilities

May 13, 2023     Source: Pharmabiz- India

The Union health ministry has notified the standards of public and private healthcare institutions to ensure accessibility of healthcare facilities and services to the persons with disabilities. The ‘Accessibility Standards for Healthcare’ has been notified for the compliance by government and private hospitals and other healthcare institutions and centres, in tune with the Sections of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which mandates the Central government to formulate rules laying down standards of accessibility inter-alia for facilities and services provided to the public in urban and rural areas…

Halifax artist aims to make markets more accessible, inclusive

May 14, 2023     Source: CBC- Canada

A Halifax artist who is queer and disabled is working to make markets and pop-up stores more inclusive and accessible for people like her. Kayti Baur is the founder of Different Folks, a new organization that aims to put on artisan markets that are accessible to vendors and customers who are disabled, and are also welcoming to the LGBTQ community. “I think a lot of underrepresented groups have this culture to them, like deaf culture and queer culture, that really could be more exposed and brought to the forefront,” Baur told CBC Radio’s Mainstreet Nova Scotia…

Sun, sand, and accessibility: Greece makes waves with wheelchair-friendly beaches

May 14, 2023     Source: Free Press Journal- Greece and LEX18

Greece, known as the cradle of Western civilisation, is a country located in southeastern Europe. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and warm Mediterranean climate, the country has been a sought-after destination for travelers from around the world. From ancient ruins to idyllic islands, Greece offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to various interests and preferences. Apart from its historical treasures, Greece boasts breathtaking natural beauty. The country is renowned for its picturesque coastline, adorned with sandy beaches, and charming fishing villages…

We need to take accessibility to the next level

May 15, 2023     Source: Middle East Monitor- Yeman

For the past 12 years, the world has come together to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day on the 3rd Thursday of May, with this year’s event falling on the 18th. It serves as a timely reminder of our collective commitment to inclusivity. Yet, amidst the celebrations, it is disheartening to acknowledge that awareness is still needed. Despite being the world’s largest minority group, which continues to grow at an alarming rate, people with disabilities are yet to be consulted on crucial aspects such as planning, emergency response and development…

Toronto needs accessible affordable homes

May 16, 2023     Source: The Star- Canada

The dream of affording to buy a home is proving a nightmare, and the need for homes that are accessible for people of all ages with a disability is dire. “Universal design” will accommodate all of us — regardless of age and ability. Rather than cry “red tape!” when hearing of “universal design standards,” builders must see it as an opportunity to radically change the way they build homes. We must not allow them to build homes only for the able-bodied, while largely ignoring the needs of one in four Canadians who self-identify as disabled in the census…

Accessibility as a cyber security priority

May 18, 2023     Source: National Cyber Security Centre- UK

Three years ago, Anna (not her real name) was diagnosed with a neurological autoimmune disease in which her body attacks substances that are naturally found in the body, causing pain and vision loss. Before her diagnosis, Anna worked in software technology and felt very confident and safe online. She now uses glasses, a magnifying glass and screen magnification where needed. Anna has no peripheral vision or depth perception. Face ID, or proving her identity by taking a photo of herself on her phone are impossible as she does not have the vision to line up her face with the camera…

Supreme Court E-committee organizes Digital Accessibility training for visually challenged staff of District, Taluk courts

May 18, 2023     Source: Bar and Bench- India

The Supreme Court E-committee on May 15-16, organized a Digital Accessibility training for visually challenged court staff members of District and Taluk courts from all over the country at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. The training was conducted at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. The court staff from District and Taluk courts of Delhi, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Madras, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Telangana participated in the training…

Global Accessibility Awareness Day brings hope for people with disabilities

May 18, 2023     Source: NewsOnAIR- India

Recognising the importance of equitable access to digital information and technologies, Global Accessibility Awareness Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of May every year. This day brings focus to designing contents and technologies especially for the persons with diabilities. It is widely considered that in this age of technology, unless technologies become more inclusive and accessible, the condition of estimatedly more than one billion people worldwide living with different kinds of disabilities and impairments, can’t be transformed…

Govt websites to be accessible to PwDs by 2024

May 19, 2023     Source: The Goan- India

The State government has begun an initiative to empower developers in constructing digital ecosystems that are accessible to all, especially Persons with Disabilities and has set a deadline of 2024 to make all government websites disabled-friendly. As a part of this ongoing programme, the Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications and Mission Accessibility, organized a joint workshop at Ela Farm, Old Goa wherein enhancing developers’ website skills, application, and software development with a particular emphasis on digital accessibility were emphasized on…

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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.

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