Accessibility in the News — 11/22/2024.
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AITN Quote of the Week
Accessibility in the News- Knowledge is Power
Crafted while listening to: Hallelujah- Rufus Wainwright and Eric Clapton- The Call and Mark Knopfler- One Deep River and Is This The Life We Really Want?- Roger Waters and I’m Still Fine- The Red Clay Strays
“We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way we can bring this about.” ― Louis Braille
Feature Stories
United States Reaches Settlement Agreement to Make Daycare Program Accessible for Children With Disabilities
November 15, 2024 | Source: Department of Justice
Newtown Restaurant to Improve Accessibility in ADA Settlement
November 15, 2024 | Source: Department of Justice and FOX 61 & NewsTimes and Westfair Communications
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with Smarter Kids Child Care (“Smarter Kids”) located in Smyrna, Georgia, to resolve allegations that Smarter Kids violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by denying a child an opportunity to participate in its daycare program on the basis of his autism. “Access to childcare is essential for all parents, including those parents raising children with disabilities” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan…
National News (U.S.)
New Film ‘Daruma’ Wants To Show Disability Isn’t Synonymous With Despair
November 14, 2024 | Source: Forbes and YouTube and The Park Record and NYC Media and Deadline and Buy-Rent DARUMA on Amazon (US) and Buy-Rent DARUMA on Apple
I can’t recall exactly when I first connected with Kelli McNeil-Yellen. All I know is she found me on Instagram literal years ago and told me about this movie she was making that centers the disability community representationally. That film, called DARUMA, opens this Friday. It will be showing in brick-and-mortar theaters, as well as available to rent or buy on Amazon and what once was iTunes—but now is the TV app. On its website, DARUMA is lauded as “the first film in US cinematic history to star two authentically cast disabled leads in a narrative not about overcoming disability” and executive produced by Peter Farrelly…
What Trump’s pledge to close Dept. of Education means for students, GOP-led states
November 15, 2024 | Source: NPR
Trump plan to ax the Education Department might affect kids with disabilities a lot — or a little
November 15, 2024 | Source: CHALKBEAT
Worried About the Future- Web Accessibility and the Second Trump Administration
November 18, 2024 | Source: Ken Nakata
What Disabled People You Know May Be Thinking After The Election
November 20, 2023 | Source: Forbes
President-elect Donald Trump may break from the Republican Party of old in many ways, but not when it comes to how the party views the federal government’s role in education. “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states,” Trump said in a video posted to social media in October 2023 where he laid out his vision for education. “We want them to run the education of our children because they’ll do a much better job of it.”…
Des Moines art studio helping those with mental health issues, disabilities flourish
November 15, 2024 | Source: KDSM
Des Moines’ art scene is gaining momentum with a program that supports artists with disabilities and mental health conditions. In the heart of the city, you’ll find a creative workspace like no other, showcasing hundreds of local and up-and-coming artists. Mainframe Studios is the largest non-profit art studio space in the country. Inside the eye-catching building on Keo Way, one studio is drawing artists of all talents and walks of life. “I never went to art school, I don’t understand composition, light theory, terms for anything,” said Katie Gazzo…
73-year old self-proclaimed ‘gym rat’ helps get wheelchair accessible equipment for Bedford Center YMCA
November 15, 2024 | Source: NBC 5
73-year-old Terry Lewis goes to the Bedford Center YMCA 3 days a week to work out and stay strong. “I was always a gym rat,” Lewis said. “I knew it was important to stay in shape.” For the last 14 years, that’s been more true than ever. “Motorcycle accident,” Lewis said, referring to why he uses a wheelchair now. He hit a deer riding his Harley 14 years ago. “Motorcycle landed on me, deer landed on the motorcycle, so about 14-hundred pounds coming down on my chest, broke 8 ribs and my back in 2-places.”…
I Asked Experts How My Home’s Accessible Features Will Impact Its Resale Value
November 16, 2024 | Source: House Beautiful
When you buy a home, you hope it will serve your needs for many years to come. If you or a member of your household has a disability or mobility limitations, that may mean making accessible modifications so the space can be used to its fullest. While these changes and additions may be infinitely useful to you and your family, there’s the possibility that they could detract from your home’s value when it comes time to sell the property. Which modifications are likely to have the biggest impact on resale value?…
14-Year-Old Boy with Learning Disabilities Becomes Entrepreneur Who Makes Up to $5K an Hour
November 16, 2024 | Source: People
Five years ago, Tucker Findley was failing in school, struggling with his severe learning disabilities and a neurological condition. As a result, he couldn’t read, write or even count past 10. Now he’s thriving with a six-figure career in selling memorabilia — and more — online. Tucker’s journey all started with a golf ball: When he was 9, he was playing with friends near his Sterling, Va., home, where the water flows downstream from two golf courses…
Rutgers agrees to changes at golf course to settle disability rights complaint
November 18, 2024 | Source: New Jersey Herald
A golfer with a disability has forced Rutgers University to level the playing field at its main campus golf course. New Jersey’s flagship university has agreed to a series of actions to improve accessibility at its Piscataway course as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The agreement stemmed from a complaint filed by Piscataway’s Michael Nappe, a former Rutgers employee and longtime golfer, who alleged that the university discriminated against him by failing to provide accessible routes at the course and charging fees for the carts he needed to move around the greens…
Alcohol-Related Deaths in the U.S. More than Double from 1999 to 2020
November 18, 2024 | Source: Florida Atlantic University
In the United States and globally, alcohol consumption is a major cause of preventable death and disability and increases liver disease, mental health disorders and accidents. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine explored U.S. trends in alcohol-related deaths from 1999 to 2020 overall as well as by age, gender, race and region, using the publicly available U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER)…
Minnesota paralympian Mallory Weggemann hopes to change the dialogue about disability — and IVF
November 18, 2024 | Source: Twin Cities Pioneer Press
Mallory Weggemann had five Paralympic medals to her name until this summer. Add two to that count: gold and silver medals earned while swimming in the 2024 Paris Paralympics in August. Weggemann, who lives in Eagan, had a busy year as she worked toward training for competition in Paris, and this time there was a new team member in tow alongside her husband Jay Snyder: their 2-year-old daughter Charlotte. Snyder and Little Charlotte celebrated Weggemann’s accomplishments alongside other family and friends who traveled to Paris…
How Disability-Inclusive Business Travel Reflects Corporate DEI Maturity
November 19, 2024 | Source: Forbes
According to the Global Business Travel Association worldwide spending on business travel is expected to reach an arresting figure of $1.8 trillion by 2027. It is a lucrative industry indeed and one which significantly underpins and knits together key components of the global economy. However, for many workers with disabilities, business travel singularly fails to provide an enjoyable or accessible experience. This is often down to a combination of being inexorably entangled with the inherent complexities and inconsistencies of corporate DEI policies alongside deeply entrenched access barriers impacting the travel industry at large…
TriMet dedicates new transit mobility center to lifelong advocate for people with disabilities
November 19, 2024 | Source: TriMet News
TriMet is opening a new transit mobility facility, with a new location and a new name. Located in the heart of Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood, the Jan Campbell Transit Mobility Center will provide a centralized location for people to interview and confirm eligibility for TriMet LIFT Paratransit Service. It will open for service on Monday, Nov. 25. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, TriMet dedicated the new facility in Campbell’s honor, acknowledging her pioneering advocacy for greater public transit accessibility…
A Website Is Not a ‘Place.’ What Took So Long To Get This Right?
November 20, 2024 | Source: New York Law Journal
For several years I have tried to convince judges in the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.) that websites were not “places of public accommodation” subject to lawsuits under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 42 U.S.C.A. §12181, et. seq. This position is not a stretch by any means given that the statute, on its face, limits its application to “places,” which are inherently physical. Yet time and again courts either avoided the issue, or held that ‘place’ should be interpreted generously enough to encompass businesses having a purely digital presence…
Most of us will be disabled eventually. We need real disability benefits.
November 20, 2024 | Source: Times-Republican
Life can be challenging even when you’re born into the best of circumstances. When you’re born with a serious disability and into poverty, it can be even harder. But there are policy choices that could make life a little easier for millions of Americans like me — and anyone else who lives long enough to need care. I was born with cerebral palsy to a young mother caught in a brutally abusive relationship with a man who wasn’t my father. My early life was traumatic, but I’ve done my best…
K-12 digital education must involve inclusion and accessible design
November 21, 2024 | Source: The Fulcrum
A new report highlights the urgent need to expand access to K-12 computer science education in the United States, as millions of students still lack these opportunities in a technology-driven world. Only 60 percent of U.S. public high schools offer a foundational computer science course. While some underrepresented students lack access to these courses, others have access but are not enrolling. Students with disabilities, in particular, face significant barriers, such as inaccessible programming tools…
Post-election report shows accessibility, ballot and registration issues
November 21, 2024 | Source: WBUR News
There were 50 incidents on Election Day that hampered the ability of people with disabilities to vote in Massachusetts, according to a report issued Wednesday by a commission of several voting rights groups. Voting assistance machines for those with disabilities broke down, while main entrances and exits to some precincts could only be accessed by stairs, according to the report issued by the Massachusetts Election Protection Coalition. Four polling places in Boston had a shortage of ballots…
A Dad’s Love: Father of son with special needs enhances accessibility and support for all at AU’s Jordan-Hare
November 21, 2024 | Source: WRBL
Dale Jackson knows first hand the challenges special needs families face. The initiative also supports veterans and those with mobility issues. As the father of Colin, his 16-year-old son with autism, Jackson and his wife have turned their personal experience into a mission to make life easier for families like his. This passion has led to SNASY (Special Needs Assistance Stations for You), a groundbreaking initiative Jackson founded in partnership with Auburn University, Carrier, and other community sponsors…
He was stuck in a hospital for 8 months. How states can fail people with disabilities
November 21, 2024 | Source: NPR
Lloyd Mills was tired of being stuck in a small, drab hospital room. On a rainy mid-September morning, a small TV attached to a mostly blank white wall played silently. There was nothing in the space to cheer it up — no cards, no flowers. In February, the 32-year-old with autism, cerebral palsy, and kidney disease was brought to Grady Memorial Hospital from the group home where he had been living because he was having auditory hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, he said…
Beloved singer-songwriter discusses hearing loss in interview: ‘I don’t think creativity stops with disability’
November 21, 2024 Source: PennLive
Last year, the legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon opened up about his loss of hearing when he explained to The Times that he began having issues in his left ear while working on his album “Seven Psalms.” “Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it,” he explained. “So everything became more difficult.” Now, in a new interview with “CBS Mornings,” Simon spoke to reporter Anthony Mason about his hearing loss journey and his attempts to manage the condition…
Illinois bill eliminating subminimum wage for workers with disabilities heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk
November 21, 2024 | Source: WGEM
The Illinois state Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities be paid the full minimum wage sending the bill to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk. In a bipartisan 43-11 vote, senators gave the Dignity in Pay Act their final seal of approval one day after the Senate Executive Committee voted to pass the bill. The state House of Representatives passed the bill May 23. The bill would end Illinois’s 14(c) certificate program, which allows some employers to pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage…
Jack Fact — The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 11% of Coloradans (or over 625,000 people) have a disability.
Hit The Road Jack — Toyota suggests family half term adventures off the beaten track, yet accessible for all and These Apps Help People With Disabilities Travel More Easily
International News
New Plymouth councillor Sam Bennett calls for better accessibility for all
November 14, 2024 | Source: NZ Herald- New Zealand
Not all things are equal when it comes to accessing all that Taranaki has to offer, and that needs to change, says Sam Bennett. Bennett, who is a New Plymouth District councillor, is frustrated that people with accessibility issues are being treated, in his opinion, “like an afterthought”. “I’m involved with a lot of groups such as Grey Power, Positive Ageing, Age Concern Taranaki, Enabling Good Lives, all organisations that represent people who may have accessibility issues, and in each group people are telling me they feel like they’re being treated like second-class citizens. They feel they are an afterthought.”…
Disability groups applaud the SC ruling declaring accessibility a fundamental right
November 15, 2024 | Source: The New Indian Express- India
Disability rights advocates and groups have described the Supreme Court judgment recognizing accessibility as a fundamental right for persons with disabilities as historic and hugely transformational. The ruling is set to transform public life across India, compelling both state and central governments to prioritize the rights of disabled individuals, said the National Disability Network, an umbrella body representing 40 members from across India…
Accessibility: Where Are We Now?
November 15, 2024 | Source: Bus-News- UK
At this year’s Euro Bus Expo, held in the NEC in Birmingham, England, industry experts gathered to discuss the enormous accessibility changes facing the bus sector over the last five years. With rafts of changes, new regulations and enforcements being introduced nearly month-to-month, the landscape of the industry is ever-evolving, and whilst for some companies this is a chance to prove their ability to grow and embrace the challenges of accessibility, others may feel the pinch of the rapidly-moving goalposts, be it monetarily or practically…
Creston’s King Charles medal recipient advocates for inclusion and accessibility for all
November 15, 2024 | Source: My Creston Now- Canada
Alexis Folk is a nice person. She’s polite and smiles often. She is very articulate, thoughtful and well spoken. She’s also relentless. “My mum and my dad have always taught me, if you feel something is not right, speak up with your words. Nicely.” Alexis speaks up whenever and wherever she can in her pursuit of a more accessible world so she and others who live with a disability can pursue their goals, share their talents and knowledge, experience a full life and live as independently as possible…
Travelling with a disability is still far from easy – but slowly, things are changing
November 17, 2024 | Source: Telegraph- UK
The recent closure of Revitalise, a leading UK provider of respite holidays for disabled people, marked a significant setback for the disabled community. And as rising costs and dwindling donations force such essential services to shut down, it raises a broader concern: is the travel industry truly committed to accessibility, or are disabled travellers still being left behind? There are promising signs, like last week’s establishment of a new government Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group – headed up by Paralympic champion Baroness Grey-Thompson – which will tackle travel challenges for disabled people…
Mangaluru’s Young Indians Push for Braille Menus in Restaurants to Enhance Accessibility
November 17, 2024 | Source: Times of India and News Karnataka
As part of the Young Indians (Yi) – Yuva Accessibility initiative, the Mangaluru Chapter is reaching out to restaurants in the city to offer Braille menus to help visually impaired persons. Apart from this, the chapter also made several plans for the region to make a significant difference in the lives of countless differently-abled individuals…
Montreal’s Centaur Theatre finally accessible after woman donates elevator in honour of husband
November 17, 2024 | Source: CBC- Canada
For the first time in 56 years, Montreal’s oldest English-language theatre is accessible to all patrons. The Centaur Theatre, located in Old Montreal, has installed a street-level access elevator, which allows anyone with mobility issues, including those who use a wheelchair or a walker, to enter the building with ease. It was made possible thanks to the generosity of Marisa Testa, an avid theatre-goer, who donated the lift in honour of her late husband.
“I wanted to keep his memory alive, but I also wanted to do something good for society,” Testa said…
Accessibility, taking time off and disappointment with candidates partly responsible for low voter turnout
November 17, 2024 | Source: Sunday Times- Sri Lanka
This week’s parliamentary polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in Sri Lanka’s recent electoral history. Over 5.3 million registered voters failed to participate in the elections, and islandwide voter turnout reached a record low since 2010. In the 2020 parliamentary elections, 3.9 million people failed to vote. There was a wide range of issues that resulted in this outcome. “My elderly mother did not exercise her vote this time because our designated polling booth did not have a ramp that her wheelchair could go up on,” said Nelka Perea, a 60-year-old voter from Thalawathugoda…
Even in times of war: Preparatory students learn about accessibility and acceptance of others
November 17, 2024 | Source: Haipo- Israel
An annual tradition continues: Volunteers of Accessibility Israel North (N.Y.C.) held a unique project to raise awareness of accessibility among the trainees of the “Gal” pre-military training school operating in Kiryat Bialik. On Wednesday (13/11/24) the activity took place at Beit Yad Labanim, as part of which the trainees experienced a practical experience of dealing with various disabilities. During the activity, the trainees entered the lecture room with their eyes covered, led by N.Y.C. volunteers…
Recipients of Manitoba Accessibility Fund work toward removing barriers for people with disabilities
November 18, 2024 | Source: CBC- Canada and Manitoba Government and CTV
The Manitoba Theatre for Young People is among 37 recipients of a provincial accessibility grant that will enable them to implement American Sign Language interpreters for deaf and hard of hearing patrons, and audio description services for blind and low vision patrons. The recipients include municipalities, non-profit organizations and businesses who can receive up to $50,000 through the Manitoba Accessibility Fund for a project that works to remove barriers, create awareness and support compliance under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which was introduced in 2013…
Daventry amputee calls for better accessibility in public spaces
November 18, 2024 | Source: BBC- UK
A man who lost a leg to cancer is campaigning for better signage and information about access to public buildings. Phil Grisewood, from Daventry in Northamptonshire, is learning how to walk again after his leg was amputated below the knee earlier this year. Mr Grisewood, who is now adjusting to life with a prosthetic leg, described his shock at the “loss of his independence”, finding himself unable to perform simple tasks such as opening the front door…
Accessibility in all areas of The Forks site undergoing extensive review
November 18, 2024 | Source: Winnipeg Free Press- Canada
The Forks is undergoing an audit to make Winnipeg’s historic gathering site more accessible to people with cognitive and physical disabilities. The review comes in partnership with the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities and will encompass the entire 52-acre site, including its facilities, walking paths, parking lots and access points to the Red and Assiniboine rivers in all seasons, The Forks spokesperson Zach Peters said Monday. “We prioritize making The Forks a gathering place for everyone. To be that, we must always ensure that our infrastructure and amenities are accessible,” Peters said…
Ordinance Addressing Beach Accessibility for People with Disabilities Is in Final Stage of Coordination
November 19, 2024 | Source: BTA- Bulgaria
An ordinance related to revisions to the Act on the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development that regulate access to sea beaches for people with disabilities is in its final stage of coordination with the National Council of People with Disabilities, caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Violeta Koritarova said here on Tuesday. She was speaking at a conference on sustainable development and the management of beaches under concession or lease in Bulgaria…
How to Provide Quality Flight Experiences to People with Disabilities
November 19, 2024 | Source: Aviation Pros- UK
Aviation is a tool to connect people across different cultures and abilities worldwide, and every company in air travel must work to expand the accessibility of passenger air service so more people can experience the miracle of flight comfortably. The need to provide equal access to air travel is such an important and shared value that both United Nations conventions and the European Parliament have created laws aimed at ensuring airlines accommodate persons with disabilities…
Simple ways live music venues are improving accessibility
November 19, 2024 | Source: ABC- Australia
Even though around one in five Australians live with disability, going to or performing at a live gig can still be challenging. Venues across the country are facing challenges due to the cost of living crisis, grappling with declining revenue while trying to balance the need for accessibility improvements with reduced budgets. Despite that, many venues are trying to do what they can even with limited resources. Lara Whalley is the manager of the Corner Hotel in Melbourne and said the team used significant renovations eight years ago as an opportunity to improve the accessibility of the venue…
Demand forces Huntingdon disability charity to suspend some help
November 19, 2024 | Source: BBC- UK
A long-standing disability charity has made the “difficult decision” to suspend one of its services as it tries to keep up with demand. Disability Huntingdonshire (DISH) has temporarily stopped helping parents fill in claims forms for Disability Living Allowance – a benefit that helps children under 16. Chief executive officer Tracy Hyland said the self-funding charity supported almost 600 people last year, but it was on schedule to help more than 1,000 this year through its range of services…
Advocating for a more universally accessible province
November 19, 2024 | Source: Western Cape Government- South Africa
Since 3 November, the start of Disability Rights Awareness Month, the Western Cape Department of Social Development has been highlighting various support services for persons with disabilities. But beyond this month, Western Cape Minister Jaco Londt has been working with numerous partners to find ways to create and advocate for more inclusive spaces. One of these stakeholders is Mossel Bay Municipality which has been leading the way with its Disability Accessibility Mossel Bay (DAM) initiative, to become the first disability-friendly town in South Africa…
The Right to Entertainment: It’s Time to Notify Accessibility Standards for Television Content
November 20, 2024 | Source: The Wire- India
The Supreme Court last week ruled that accessibility is a fundamental right. Therefore, any rules and standards framed by ministries cannot merely be recommendations but need to have a mandatory character with a minimum level of compliance. This includes the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)’s Accessibility Standards for TV, 2019. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 states, in no uncertain terms, their right to “have access to television programmes” and to “to participate in recreational activities equally with others”…
Be more like Milton Keynes for accessibility, says ward councillor
November 21, 2024 | Source: MKFM- UK
The Mayor of Olney has called on local towns and villages to be more like Milton Keynes when it comes to making their shops more accessible to disabled people. Debbie Whitworth, who is also an MK City ward councillor, says that making it easier for people with accessibility issues to go shopping could increase annual takings for businesses. And she has outlined a list of simple ways in which shops, restaurants and public areas can make life easier for people with accessibility needs…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos
- Foundations: types of disability- Demelza Feltham
- Their mission? To mould us.- Peter Torres Fremlin
- I have BBS not RP- The Blind Blogger Maxwell Ivey
- Inclusion monitoring report findings 2024 – GOV.UK
- Unlock Talent with Windows Accessibility- Windows (YouTube)
- Case Study: Making Wellness Accessible- HRO Today
- An Accessible Weekend on Long Island- Emma Frisbie
- Our Journey to Accessibility- Georgia Public Broadcasting
- Introducing the Leader’s Guide to Accessibility- GOV.UK
- Mind the Gap: Accessibility is a Cultural Issue- Christiane Link
- St. Matthew’s Accessibility: Going Up- New Haven Independent
- Talking accessibility in packaging with RiDC- Packaging Europe (Podcast)
- Charts: Website Accessibility Trends 2024 – Practical Ecommerce
- Improving the accessibility of web content- European Patent Office
- Centering Disability Justice at the World Health Summit- Haben Girma
- Cloud-native accessibility a goal for CNCF working group- SiliconANGLE
- Paris Olympics – a new gold-medal standard in urban transformation- Arcadis
- WCAG 2.2 map by theme and WCAG 2.2 map by theme – AAA version- Andre Whick
- Universal Design: The Essential Tool for Intergenerational Communities- Steve Wright
- How Adobe supports compliance with ADA web accessibility standards- Brian Chidester
- Here’s the MBTA’s Plan to Make the Green Line B Branch Accessible- StreetsBlog Mass
- Demand for accessible rental homes even from non-disabled tenants – Letting Agent Today
- Why accessibility matters in K-12 education – and how schools can achieve it- The Educator Australia
- Compliance in Marketing. User-friendly 3.0 – The New Standard in Building Online Products- IT Ukraine
- Exercise of Any Level Linked to Reduced All-Cause Mortality in Individuals with Dementia- Grace Halsey
- Social media platforms should make it easier to add alternative text using an [Alt: description] syntax- Christian Heilmann
- General Election Accessibility in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Democracy’s Responsibility to People with Disabilities- Eka Yulyana, Nelly Martini1, Arip Solehudin, and Delila Putri Saday
Federally Speaking
- Inclusive Apprenticeships- EARN
- Spotlight: Inclusive Hiring- EARN
- 2024 Agency Financial Report- SEC.gov
- Conditional VRS Certification for Bond Communications- FCC
- Registered Apprenticeship: 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion and Innovation- ODEP
- National Apprenticeship Week 2024: 10 Years of Celebrating Opportunity, Security and Dignity- ODEP
- National Apprenticeship Week 2024: Celebrating a Decade of Advances in Inclusive Policy- Cape Youth
- U.S. Access Board Presents Preliminary Findings on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Disability Community and AI Practitioners
Higher Education Blogs and Information
- Accessibility for all – The Globe and Mail
- Is UW actually accessible?- The Daily UW
- Fashion-forward accessibility- Texas Woman’s University
- A new centralized Office of Accessibility Services – University of Vermont
- Signs of Accessibility in Performing Arts- Maryland Today – University of Maryland
- ASG fills accessibility commissioner role and prepares spring fundraiser- The Channels
- Alliance for Disability Awareness pushes for progress amid challenges- Iowa State Daily
- Taking digital accessibility from mandate for change to business as usual- Times Higher Education
- A UNC-Chapel Hill student with epilepsy strives to break accessibility barriers on campus- WUNC
- Students with disabilities advocate for better physical accessibility on WashU’s campus- Student Life
- “They just don’t want us here.” Students speak out about accessibility concerns on campus- The Flor-Ala
- Professor’s nonprofit is on a mission to create a world that’s better for more people- Boise State University
- Sensory pod increases access for neurodivergent students at Milner Library- Illinois State University News
- Born accessible: Redbird scholar addresses inequalities in STEM education- Illinois State University News
- CSUN’s Research Event Provides a Wide Spectrum View on Health and Human Development– Daily Sundial
- Pioneering UMD Deaf faculty member Jill Bradbury aims to improve accessibility in theater- The Diamondback
- CFS faculty member appointed to Presidential Advisory Committee on Accessibility- University of South Florida
- New initiatives to enhance accessibility and belonging – People Strategy, Equity and Culture- University of Toronto
- Accessibility blocked: U of I senior dropped disability studies minor over inaccessible bathrooms- IPM Newsroom
- ASU Accessibility Awareness Day advocates for a more inclusive digital future- ASU News – Arizona State University
- BYU hosts service project, wheelchair basketball, other events for Disability Awareness Week 2024- The Daily Universe – BYU
- This company’s mission is to make the world accessible to Deaf people. It all started at UC Berkeley’s Big Ideas Contest- University of California
Legal Blogs and Information
- Redesigning Your Firm’s Website? 5 Mistakes to Avoid- Omnizant
- Reform of California Accessibility Law Proposed by SB 585- Jeffer Mangels Butler and Mitchell LLP
Accessibility Announcements
- Accessibility takes center stage at COP29
- Wales epilepsy open access service closed
- Applications Open for Accessible Taxi Grants
- Keystone Centre Partners with National Accessibility Program
- SCDSB seeking volunteers for accessibility advisory committee
- Athens mayor reports on ADA accessibility projects, future plans
- Ann Arbor area recognized for accessibility for travelers with disabilities
- UK Tech Faces Accessibility Crisis: Insights from Samsung’s Latest Study
- Breaking Barriers: 55th IFFI Sets New Standards for Accessibility in Films
- New Orleans Partners with Wheel the World to Enhance Accessible Tourism
- Quick finger prick could soon make Alzheimer’s testing much more accessible
- New Accessibility Checklist Aims to Make Bloomington Events More Inclusive
- Morgan’s Wonderland founder launches institute to improve accessibility at parks
- Houston Zoo enhances accessibility for visitors with disabilities through new partnership
- Festival of Lights to feature immersive shows with enhanced accessibility for persons with disabilities
- Speech Accessibility Project partners with The Matthew Foundation, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
- QAwerk Report Reveals Significant Accessibility Barriers for People with Disabilities in U.S. Voter Registration Sites
- NTA and AsIAm Launch Campaign Aimed at Improving Accessibility for the Autism Community on the TFI Network
- El Paso County Facilities ADA Team Announces Grand Opening of ADA Accessible Dog Run at Fountain Creek Regional Park
- Challenged Athletes Foundation Featured in Inspiring Wicked PSA Promoting Accessibility and Resilience, Created by NBCUniversal
Accessibility Products and Services
- APS invests in journals platform accessibility
- Everton Stadium: Learn More About… Accessibility
- Best Of 10 Best Text to Speech Plugins for WordPress
- Mark: A Call To Action (DVD) and Mark: A Call to Action
- Beyond headlines: Malaysiakini’s commitment to accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible Vans, Cars and Trucks- GM Accessibility
- Nike’s Elite EasyOn Backpack Redefines Accessibility and Style
- Restoring Mobility offers accessibility solutions in New Braunfels
- Govia Thameslink Railway Launches 3D Maps for Accessible Travel
- Seymour Events- Closed captions for live events, straight to your phone
- Innovative smart signs enhance accessibility in Italian Orthodox Parishes
- Comet UI: Accelerating React Development with Accessible Components
- Recent Waymo, Uber Updates Add Even More Accessibility To Transport
- Inside United Airlines’ Work In Making Air Travel Accessible To Everyone
- Disneyland Paris Releases an Image Bank for Guests with Speech Disabilities
- New Accessibility Checklist Aims to Make Bloomington Events More Inclusive
- Inside NBCUniversal And The Challenged Athletes Foundation’s ‘Wicked’ PSA
- Be My Eyes, Hilton Executives Talk ‘World-First’ Partnership In New Interview
- Arkansas State Parks introduces all-terrain Trackchair to improve trail accessibility
- Final Cut Pro 11 auto-caption feature is a huge win for creators and accessibility alike
- Bus fleet to boost accessibility with the deployment of next-stop audio announcements
- Gold Coast Airport delivers a more accessible airport experience for people of all abilities
- Network Rail to boost accessibility with dedicated waiting lounge and Changing Places facility
- Accessibility Tools for all: People with a disability, Caregivers, Restaurant/Retail, Schools, and City Hall
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Practical Text Accessibility Tips for Content (YouTube)
- Some tips for keyboard support on native mobile applications
- What do you do when video game accessibility is inaccessible?
- How to Use the Accessibility Checker in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (YouTube)
- Top 5 Accessibility Issues in U.S. Voter Registration Sites and Ways to Fix Them
- I Just Watched The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, And I Was So Moved By How Role-Playing Games Can Empower People with Disabilities
Accessibility Statements
- AAMC
- Web Almanac
- Leading Routes
- Open OnDemand
- Beef + Lamb New Zealand
- University of Guelph-Humber
- University of the Cumberlands
- European Union Visitors Programme
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School
- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu
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:
- What is a VPAT®? A VPAT Primer
- Understanding Digital Accessibility in the Procurement Process
- 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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