Accessibility in the News — 7/19/2024.
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Accessibility in the News- Knowledge is Power
“Without labor nothing prospers.” ― Sophocles
Feature Stories
Justice Department’s Final Rule to Improve Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities
July 15, 2024 | Source: Department of Justice and Microassist
On April 24, the Justice Department published a landmark final rule to strengthen accessibility of web content and mobile applications under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Websites and mobile apps are used by state and local governments to provide a wide variety of services including health care, education, civic education, voter information and registration, parking and permit applications, among others. Now, public entities, such as state and local governments, must ensure that their web content and mobile apps meet the technical standard established in the rule within two or three years, depending on population size…
National News (U.S.)
DC parents hope for action amid lawsuit over accessible buses for disabled students
July 11, 2024 | Source: WJLA
A hearing was held in federal court Thursday for a lawsuit filed by the Children’s Law Center (CLC) aimed at improving school transportation for students with disabilities. The CLC filed the suit against D.C.’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in March 2024. The lawsuit claims the OSSE has failed to provide safe, reliable, and effective transportation to and from schools for children with disabilities. “Kids are missing school,” said Kathy Zeisel, the CLC’s Director of Special Legal Projects…
The quest for more accessibility at Federal Way parks
July 12, 2024 | Source: Federal Way Mirror
Summertime is in full swing in Federal Way and the 32 parks within the city are full of kids and families enjoying the sun. Not all families can participate equally, however, as Federal Way City Councilmembers Susan Honda and Lydia Assefa-Dawson know too well. Both of these councilmembers have disabilities that require crutches when walking. About 80% of Federal Way’s parks are not marked as featuring ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access in the city’s parks and trails guide…
I’m a Disabled Traveler. This Is How to Talk About Accessible Travel
July 12, 2024 | Source: AFAR
As I roll up to the train station, the familiar hum of activity surrounds me. Travelers bustle past, dragging suitcases and clutching coffee cups, while the sun casts a golden hue over the tracks. Today, I’m headed to a conference on accessible air travel. Boarding the train, I’m greeted by a staff member with a warm smile and a helping hand. It’s a small gesture, but it sets the tone for what I hope will be a journey of ease and dignity. The train car is designed to accommodate my wheelchair without fuss…
House Committee meets to discuss how to make Arkansas more accessible for those with disabilities
July 12, 2024 | Source: KARK
A House Committee at the Arkansas State Capitol heard from multiple state departments on what they’re trying to improve under the Americans with Disabilities Act. On Friday, The House Committee on Aging, Children, and Youth legislative and military affairs held a meeting where Rep. Julie Mayberry (R-Hensley) said the meeting was being held because people came to them wanting more to be improved when it came to accessibility for those with disabilities…
What a geriatric doctor wishes you knew now for healthy aging
July 12, 2024 | Source: CNN
Longevity isn’t just about living a long life but also about living well. More than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, the Department of Health and Human Services projects. And more than 56% of those turning 65 will need some sort of long-term service. Fortunately, there are things you can do at any age to ensure that you will maintain your health as the years go on, according to Dr. John Batsis, a geriatrician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill…
‘We haven’t stopped’: The city of Detroit celebrates disability pride
July 12, 2024 | Source: WXYZ
Disability Pride Flag downtown to honor the anniversary of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act. The legislation, known as ADA, was passed 34 years ago and provides civil rights protections for people with disabilities.
The legislation, known as ADA, was passed 34 years ago and provides civil rights protections for people with disabilities. celebrates disability pride. Lisa Franklin, who became partially paralyzed after a car crash, advocates for equity for people with disabilities through her nonprofit, Warriors on Wheels…
Feds investigate complaints against Alabama’s disability rights watchdog
July 13, 2024 | Source: Advance Local
An organization that serves as the watchdog for how Alabama treats people with disabilities is under federal review after a series of complaints. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will visit the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program later this month to evaluate whether the organization appropriately uses public funds and complies with federal regulations. Nancy Anderson, the interim director of the Disabilities Advocacy Program, told AL.com that concerns have been raised about the work the organization prioritized this year…
Accessible to all? Pennsylvania’s Capitol an obstacle course for many citizens living with disabilities
July 14, 2024 | Source: Lancaster Online
Inside and outside of the state’s 117-year-old Capitol, beauty eclipses accessibility for many government workers and visitors, said Pam Auer, a Harrisburg resident who frequents the building to advocate for people with disabilities living in the commonwealth. Auer was born with spina bifida, a condition that begins before birth and can cause a range of physical problems including difficulty walking. Auer is reliant on a motorized scooter to get around, and on her trips to the Capitol, only one entrance can accommodate her scooter — the East Wing entrance…
Her hearing implant was preapproved. But she still received multiple $139,000 bills
July 16, 2024 | Source: NPR
Caitlyn Mai woke up one morning in middle school so dizzy she couldn’t stand and also deaf in one ear, the result of an infection that affected one of her cranial nerves. Though her balance recovered, the hearing never came back. Growing up, she learned to cope — but it wasn’t easy. With only one functioning ear, she couldn’t tell where sounds were coming from. She couldn’t follow along with groups of people in conversation — at social gatherings or at work — so she learned to lip-read…
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Bell County to Ensure Polling Place Access to Voters with Disabilities
July 16, 2024 | Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas and KTEN
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas announced today that the United States has reached a settlement agreement with Bell County to ensure that the county provides accessible polling places to voters with disabilities. The agreement resolves the United States’ investigation into Bell County’s compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by a state or local government in any of its programs or services…
Minnesota couple living with disabilities builds accessible orphanage and clinic in Liberia
July 16, 2024 | Source: CBS
A Twin Cities couple emptied what little savings they had to start a mission and a movement that is saving hundreds of abandoned children. Agnes and Prince Cole know the struggle. “Living in Africa with disabilities was really, really hard. I went through a lot,” Agnes said. She was born with one leg shorter. Prince became sick as a teen in Liberia and lost use of his legs and one arm. “If you have disabilities in Liberia, like society don’t count you amongst the population. So it was very difficult for me in Liberia,” Prince said. “I was rejected, I was neglected.”…
CDC Data Shows Over 70 Million U.S. Adults Reported Having a Disability
July 16, 2024 | Source: CDC
The CDC released the annual update to the Disability and Health Data System (DHDS), providing quick and easy online access to state-level health data on adults with disabilities. The latest data, from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), reveal that more than 1 in 4—over 70 million—adults in the United States reported having a disability in 2022. For the first time, the 2022 BRFSS collected data on experiences with Long COVID, defined as symptoms lasting three months or longer that the person did not have before COVID, to help us better understand the relationship between disabilities and Long COVID…
New inclusive park is part of a growing effort to improve accessibility on Oregon coast
July 17, 2024 | Source: Here is Oregon
Lincoln City’s first new park in 20 years isn’t set to open until late fall, but Amy Farhat is already planning lunch dates for “Beach Buddies” eager for a taste of the outdoors too often out of reach to them. Even on the vast Oregon coast, access to the great outdoors can be difficult when you don’t easily get around. “We have one member whose mobility is getting more and more challenging,” said Farhat, founder of Beach Buddies, a nonprofit support group for adults with intellectual or development disabilities…
12 Outer Cape Hotels Sued for Website Accessibility
July 17, 2024 | Source: The Provincetown Independent
Outer Cape hoteliers have been warned to check that their websites comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) following a spate of lawsuits from a single attorney. Twenty-three cases have been brought against Cape and Islands businesses in the last two years, including 12 hotels on the Outer Cape. The suits, filed by attorney Lee D. Sarkin, allege that owners violated the ADA by not providing detailed descriptions of the accessibility features of each room on their website and by not holding their accessible rooms open until all other rooms of their type have been booked…
US Policy Arm of Global Computing Society Strongly Endorses Efforts to Make Digital Accessibility Part of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 18, 2024 | Source: ACM
The Association for Computing Machinery’s US Technology Policy Committee (USTPC) has released a Statement in Support of Mandatory Comprehensive Digital Accessibility Regulations. The US Department of Justice recently updated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability, with requirements for the accessibility of web content and mobile applications. The aim of the revision to the ADA is to ensure that services, programs, and activities provided by state and local governments online and through mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities…
Accessibility is a necessity for those with mobility issues
July 18, 2024 | Source: Parkinson’s News Today
I’ve always advocated for accessibility for all. For more than 30 years, I worked and volunteered for organizations supporting and encouraging opportunities for people with disabilities. Now, as a caregiver for someone with a debilitating movement disorder that causes mobility issues, accessibility is personal and paramount. As my husband, Eric, and I manage his Parkinson’s disease, his mobility changes from moment to moment based on his medications and many other factors…
Jack Fact — More than one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, according to the World Economic Forum. This translates to one in every six people with mobility, speech, vision, hearing, cognition, or nervous system function-related disability.
Hit The Road Jack — Pembrokeshire has most accessible beaches in the UK and Accessibility guide to selected beaches and Florida’s at the forefront of making state parks accessible to the disabled and Astoria and Warrenton gain status as accessible tourist destinations and Truly Accessible National Parks Trails
International News
Why we must have confident conversations about accessibility
July 12, 2024 | Source: People Management- UK
A legacy of the Covid lockdowns is the way people now feel so much more comfortable using live online learning and communicating over video calls. While many people would once shy away from turning on their cameras, it is now far stranger to have them turned off. Inviting colleagues into our homes via a screen could be considered invasive but it has become a cultural norm. An altogether different legacy of this comfort with online communications is increased accessibility…
Concordia students create adaptive design projects in collaboration with people with disabilities
July 12, 2024 | Source: Education News- Canada
Students in Florian Grond’s Inclusive and Accessible Design (DCART 498) course recently had the chance to develop a variety of user interface/user experience (UI/UX) projects and solutions for people with disabilities. The design studio class integrates participatory and co-design methodologies to support a collaborative framework with clients and ensure valuable experiential learning for students in Concordia’s Department of Design and Computation Arts…
Govt inks MoU with NGO to create accessible space for disabled people
July 12, 2024 | Source: Business Standard- India
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has inked an MoU with a Gujarat-based NGO to advance training programs on accessibility in an effort to create more inclusive spaces for those suffering from disabilities. The MoU between the department and the NGO EnableMe Access Association (EMA) was signed on July 9. A copy of the MoU, shared with PTI, outlines two initial training programs: “Advanced Training in Accessibility” for empanelled accessibility auditors and Central Public Works Department engineers…
How Xenia Concerts is improving accessibility, 1 show at a time
July 12, 2024 | Source: CBC- Canada
“I’m like a bird, I only fly away,” sings R&B/jazz musician Jennarie, her rich vocals filling the room as she belts out a cover of Nelly Furtado’s hit. But this isn’t a typical concert for Jennarie: next to her is Gaitrie Killings, an interpreter who signs the lyrics to the audience. That’s because this is a Xenia Concert, where everyone is encouraged to sing along, dance or stim — which is a repetitive behaviour, such as making sounds or moving one’s body — while some concertgoers hold fidget toys and others sit by a table offering blankets and earmuffs…
Indian Railways transforms accessibility: Lift installations soar by 144% and escalators by 233%
July 12, 2024 | Source: Financial Express- India
Indian Railways has made significant strides in enhancing passenger convenience during the first quarter of FY 2024–2025, showcasing a remarkable increase in the installation of lifts and escalators across its premises. This initiative aims to improve accessibility for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and ensure a more inclusive travel experience. According to a recent tweet from Indian Railways, the number of lifts installed by June 2024 reached 66, a substantial rise from 27 lifts installed by the same period in FY 2023–2024…
Welcoming people with disabilities into the workforce is a win for everyone
July 13, 2024 | Source: Calgary Herald- Canada
The world isn’t made for everyone. Be it staircases or bathroom stalls, people with disabilities must constantly grit their teeth just to go out. And it is not just the built environment. People with disabilities are often assumed to be of lesser intelligence, incompetent or just plain lazy. Those are frustrating stigmas to live under. Despite all of the obstacles, people with disabilities receive immeasurable kindness from individuals. But that individual kindness is dramatically offset by the institutional shortcomings that are at the root of so much inaccessibility…
Disability Pride plans scuppered by money issues
July 13, 2024 | Source: BBC- UK
An event celebrating people with disabilities will not be returning in 2024, a council has confirmed. Reading in Berkshire organised its first Disability Pride in July 2023. Held in Broad Street, the event aimed to celebrate the diversity of the disabled community. But hopes for a follow-up event were dashed, with Reading Borough Council blaming “finance and staffing issues”. The news was discussed at the council’s access and disabilities working group, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)…
Federal government looks to regain trust in Disability Employment Services with sweeping overhaul after years of criticism
July 14, 2024 | Source: ABC- Australia
Jordan Priest isn’t sure about what he wants to do for work. The autistic 24-year-old said he receives the Disability Support Pension (DSP), but that it’s not enough to live out of home independently. He said scrolling through rental listings in his home city of Canberra was depressing. “I did expect the prices to be fairly high, $500 a week or whatever, [but] it’s a bit soul-crushing,” he said. For four years, Jordan has had to attend regular mandatory meetings with a Disability Employment Services (DES) provider in order to keep getting his pension…
Assistive robot could increase mammogram accessibility to more people with disabilities
July 15, 2024 | Source: Health Imaging- UK
A university in England is hard at work on a positioning robot that could expand mammogram access to women with disabilities. Jihong Zhu, PhD, an assistant professor in robotics at the University of York, and his colleagues are working on deploying an assistive robot that maneuvers the weight of a patient into an ideal position for mammograms. Its intended use is to assist patients with severe disabilities, including paralysis, who are often unable to get mammograms due to the inability to get into the appropriate position…
Accessibility commissioner asked to address recommendations of report looking into claims he mistreated staff
July 15, 2024 | Source: CBC- Canada and HRD
Justice Minister Arif Virani has asked the country’s first accessibility commissioner to address the recommendations coming out of an external investigation into claims that he mistreated staff at the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The third-party investigation into Michael Gottheil, which cost taxpayers more than $230,000, is complete and the final report has been issued to Virani, says the Department of Justice. The commission told CBC News in a statement that Gottheil “will be continuing in his role.”…
CAA to gauge UK airports’ progress on accessibility
July 15, 2024 | Source: Travel Weekly- UK
The CAA is poised to release its latest Airport Accessibility Report having noted that “all airports are expected to meet the requirements” on accessibility following its report a year ago. Its 2022-23 report on 26 UK airports handling more than 150,000 passengers a year reported 18 achieved a ‘good’ or ‘very good’ rating for accessibility services, and seven more moved from a ‘poor’ to a good or very good rating over the year – including Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester. But Heathrow was rated as “needing improvement”…
‘Housing estates to be more accessible for elderly’
July 15, 2024 | Source: RTHK- Hong Kong
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho on Monday spoke at the Accessible for All @ Hong Kong Symposium about making residential areas more accessible for the elderly and disabled people. About a third of Hong Kong’s population will be 65 or above in around 20 years from now. Elderly citizens living in older estates may not have as many aids, such as handlebars, that help them move around easily. Ho spoke about plans to install handles and assistance bars in commonly frequented areas at housing estates such as bathrooms, by the elevators, and in hallways…
Accessible travel should mean freedom and spontaneity
July 15, 2024 | Source: Travel Weekly- UK
The business potential of accessible tourism
July 15, 2024 | Source: Alley Oop – Il Sole 24 ORE- Italy
When discussing accessibility, the biggest barrier we have to overcome is people’s perceptions of disability, which is a worldwide issue. The disabled community has billions of pounds of spending power, but nobody has ever taken a serious look at how to give us that five-star service experience. We should not be seen as a burden or difficult but treated with the same respect as any paying customer. When dealing with a person with a disability, people should not make assumptions about what they can and can’t do…
Creating Livable Cities through Inclusive Urban Design: Lessons from Viet Nam and Indonesia for the World
July 15, 2024 | Source: World Bank- Vietnam
The importance of creating age-ready, universally accessible cities has become an important part of the World Bank’s mission. Inclusivity is increasingly being seen as a global public good, especially for those facing aging populations. Our initiative of pioneering work on universal accessibility and inclusive cities started small—an unexpected question from a client in Viet Nam sparked a journey that has expanded into urban infrastructure initiatives that now touch millions of people…
How UNESCO World Heritage Sites Can Be More Accessible
July 16, 2024 | Source: AFAR- Greece
Much of the construction of the Acropolis of Athens as we know it today began during the second half of the fifth century B.C. under the leadership of the statesman Pericles, as Athenians celebrated their victory over the Persians. The site chosen was a steep, rocky outcrop rising 511 feet above sea level in the basin of Athens; Acropolis, in Ancient Greek, is a portmanteau of the words akron (highest point) and polis (city). Inaccessibility, during those times of invasion, of war, was the very point…
US Embassy event celebrating July 4th: Embracing inclusion and accessibility
July 16, 2024 | Source: Iefimerida- Greece
US Ambassador to Athens George Tsunis emphasized the US Embassy’s commitment to embedding diversity, equality, and accessibility into its overarching policies during the July 4th celebration of US National Independence Day held at the Athens Music Hall, on Monday. Tsunis emphasized the imperative of ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens, stressing the need to confront historical and structural inequalities so that every individual can thrive and fulfill their potential…
Wheelchair user criticises lack of accessible housing
July 16, 2024 | Source: BBC- UK
A disabled woman has criticised the lack of accessible rental properties after she was forced to move into temporary accommodation following a house fire. Nerys Pearce said she lost “everything” when her home, in Ascot, Berkshire, was badly damaged in the blaze earlier this year. Following the fire “money couldn’t buy” an accessible rental property for her to live in while her home was repaired, she said. Habinteg, a housing association that focuses on accessible properties, said that only 9% of homes in the UK have “even the most basic” accessibility features…
Channel 4 Continues “Most Accessible Ever” Paralympics Coverage with Allianz and Toyota Idents
July 17, 2024 | Source: LBBOnline- UK
Paris Promised to Make the Olympics Accessible. What Do Disabled Fans Think?
July 18,, 2024 | Source: POPSUGAR- France
Last week, Channel 4 battled gravity and closed minds with a punchy and powerful promo from director Steve Rodgers. Now, the iconic British broadcaster is aiming to enhance its commitment to what it describes as the “most accessible” coverage that we’ve ever seen in the UK, with new Paralympics idents from sponsors Allianz and Toyota. Channel 4 unveiled the first idents accompanying a series of 12 three-minute long films profiling British paralympians set to play out each evening in the weeks leading up to the games…
Olena Zelenska: State and Society Should Implement Accessibility Together
July 17, 2024 | Source: Official website of the President of Ukraine
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in a meeting of the Council on Human Rights, Gender Equality and Diversity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was also attended by Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for a Barrier-Free Environment, Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine, Government officials, representatives of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, embassies, civil society organizations, local and regional authorities…
B.C. disability advocates call new federal benefit regulations a major ‘disappointment’
July 17, 2024 | Source: Global News- Canada
The recent release of proposed regulations regarding the Canada Disability Benefit Act has B.C. disability advocates scratching their heads in bewilderment and shaking in frustration. Vancouver Island man Jeff Leggat said he stopped working in 2018 due to his disability conditions of both acute anxiety and depressive disorder. He also lives with intermittent agoraphobia. Leggat said after reviewing the regulations of the act, he is extremely disappointed as he believes the federal government deems him to be “not disabled enough,” even though the B.C. government recognizes his status and provides him with disability coverage…
NCPWD’s Commitment To Accessibility: Major Renovations Planned For Gosa And Karmajiji Skills Acquisition Centre
July 18, 2024 | Source: AIT- Nigeria
The Accessibility Department of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) conducted an assessment visit to the Gosa Rehabilitation Centre and the Karmajiji Skills Acquisition Centre. This visit aimed to evaluate the current state of these facilities and outline proposed renovations to enhance accessibility and functionality for persons with disabilities. The visit on Monday highlighted the urgent need for renovations at both centers. The Gosa Rehabilitation Centre and Karmajiji Skills Acquisition Centre play critical roles in supporting the rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with disabilities…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos
- Alternative text in action- GOV.UK
- No way to run a country- Peter Torres Fremlin
- 2024 Disability Futures Fellows- Ford Foundation
- Three Ways We Grow Disability Confidence- P&G
- Making banking accessible to all- ABN AMRO Bank
- Assisted Travel: Some leaves on the line- Christiane Link
- How tech innovation improves accessibility- Charity Digital
- Accessibility: A Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast
- TASSCC 2024: Is Accessibility an Obligation or Opportunity?
- Honoring A Legacy While Learning From Japan- Steve Wright
- Ensuring Patient Empathy In Long COVID Coverage- Priti Salian
- 3 ways to evaluate the accessibility of your products- Fast Company
- Enhancing Digital Accessibility: A Guide to Future Trends – CIOReview
- How you can have your say on improving transit accessibility- Metrolinx
- Should the town reassess its approach to accessibility?- Marblehead Current
- Accessibility for Startups: How to Gain Competitive Advantage- Alex Lowe
- How Google is approaching the European Accessibility Act (EAA)- Kelly Chan
- Key reasons to prioritise accessibility testing in app development- Srirang Srikantha
- Accessible and Inclusive Communication- REVISE Center’s Inclusive Communication Strategy
- Ensuring Equal Access: The Growing Need for Wheelchair-Accessible Taxis – Ashby Nub News
- Empower your customers with an accessible community choice aggregation website – PublicCEO
- U.S. Access Board Webinar on Identifying Non-Compliant Elements and Spaces Available in Archives
- Building an Inclusive City: Enhancing Accessibility in NYC’s Transit System- City and State New York
- The accessibility paradox – How segregating ‘additional needs’ undermines inclusive design- S’unya Dickman
- Functional Beauty Is Like Amazing Architecture: Code and Theory’s Mayo Tobita on Accessibility- LBBOnline
- The APAC-BE Certification With Matt H Lescher, Director of Accessibility Services at CCI and the APA- ADA Shop Talk podcast
- The 2024 Disability Equality Index ® Reveals Strong Growth in Leadership and Accessibility but Boardroom Inclusion Lags- Disability:IN and PDF Report
- Accessible ‘Tactile Walking Surface Indicators’ Pilot Project Underway to Help People with Disabilities Navigate the City- Seattle Department of Transportation
Federally Speaking
- Internet users with disabilities guaranteed web access under new rule
- FCC to Propose AI-Generated Robocall Rules Protecting Accessibility
- 2024 CVAA Biennial Report Tentative Findings and Conclusions- FCC
- FCC Invites Comments on Tentative Findings for CVAA Biennial Report to Congress
- U.S. Access Board Holds Hearings on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Disability Community and AI Practitioners
- Biden-Harris administration announces $343M to modernize transit stations, improve accessibility across the country
- FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for August Open Meeting- FCC to Propose AI-Generated Robocall Rules Protecting Accessibility
- NCUA Board Member Tanya F. Otsuka’s Remarks at the 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit- National Credit Union Administration
Higher Education Blogs and Information
- OER and Accessibility AI Hackathon- New America
- Digital Accessibility- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Making sport accessible to everyone on campus – Times Higher Education (THE)
- UWinnipeg alum recognizes Disability Pride Month- University of Winnipeg News
- Tech Researchers Embark on Disability in STEM Study- Georgia Institute of Technology
- New law requires that all digital content be accessible to people with disabilities – MSU Denver
- Ministry’s Web Accessibility User Survey | July 10th to July 31st, 2024- University of Waterloo
- Utah State University to open center for digital accessibility within education- Kiowa County Press
- ‘More than a ramp’ — UWindsor Human Kinetics building adds $2M accessible entrance- Windsor Star
- Pilot a program to create accessible digital STEM content- The Daily | Case Western Reserve University
- CU Department of Surgery Adds Focus on Access to its DEI Strategy- University of Colorado, Department of Surgery School of Medicine
Legal Blogs and Information
- The Law Firm Hitting Businesses With Thousands of Disability Suits- The Wall Street Journal
- The Law Firm Hitting Businesses With Thousands of Disability Suits- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Law Firm Suing Thousands of Businesses Over Website Accessibility – Are You a Target?- Business2Community
Accessibility Announcements
- Accessibility is the hot summer topic
- Accessibility Awards- City of Hamilton
- Candidates sought for Accessibility Advisory Board
- Santander adds British Sign Language to online content
- Saskatoon zoo opens new pier with emphasis on accessibility
- DNR asks for feedback on accessibility at properties statewide
- Delaware Unveils First Publicly Accessible All-Terrain Wheelchair
- tabiLabs Inc. Introduces ‘tabifolk,’ New App for Global Accessible Travel
- Building Accessibility Into Our Mixed Reality Products- Maxine Williams
- New kiosk service expands accessibility at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
- Aira Launches Innovative Service to Enhance Accessibility for Live Events
- MTA Celebrates Disability Pride Month with Updated Customer Service Tools
- Disability:IN Announces 2024 Inclusion Awards with Winners in 12 Categories
- Summer is for everyone: Here’s 9 accessible summer activities in the Fox Valley
- The City of Bloomington Provides the ADA Transition Plan for Community Review
- Melbourne and Geelong convention centres pave the way for accessibility and inclusion
- Manitoba Province seeks public feedback on accessible employment standard regulation
- AudioEye Unveils AudioEyeQ Learning Platform to Provide Free Accessibility Education
- Manitoba Government Launches Engagement On Accessible Employment Standard Regulation
- Ohio State Fair 2024 Enhances Accessibility Through OOD Mobile Unit and Auditory Descriptions
- Wanderlust Tours and AdvenChair partner to bring accessibility to Smith Rock, other special places
- Jacksonville Transportation Authority announces access to Aira app for blind and low-vision transit users
- Boston Harbor Now Releases “Harborwalk 2.0” Toolkit to Promote Accessible, Resilient Waterfront Design
- Welcoming Guests with Disabilities and Ensuring Accessibility, Two Key Accor Priorities Driven Forward by the 2024 Paris Games
- NPR wants to know: What do you wish people knew about living with a disability?- Will accept responses until 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 21.
Accessibility Products and Services
- The new tech improving accessibility at airports
- Six Accessible Features in SEA Airport Restrooms
- AI-Powered Transcription App Gets More Funding
- Edmonton startup pilots its accessibility app at KDays
- Fort Wayne Trails to provide accessible county trail maps
- Vision vinyl stickers make AV faceplates accessible to all
- Chronicle guide to enlarging text and enabling audio reading
- Dubai Police launch ‘Universal Accessibility Pack’ service on website
- Google Maps’ best accessibility feature just got an upgrade at MWC 2024
- 8 Best Cars for Aging Retirees Based on Accessibility, Visibility and More
- Rapid Mobility Introduces Unified RM7 Fare For Accessibility In Two States
- Hiki CEO Jamil Karriem Talks Expansion, Better Accessibility In New Interview
- Android 15 may be adding an intensity slider for color blindness accessibility mode
- WhatsApp testing on-device live translation and voice message transcription for Android
- New ‘Accessibility Playbook’ Is Designed to Enhance Travel for People with Disabilities
- Apple’s Refreshed HomePod Mini Reminds Smart Speakers Are Invaluable Tools For Accessibility
- This Travel Booking Site Just Made It Easier for Travelers With Disabilities to Find Accessible Campsites
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Enhancing accessibility with AI
- Navigating the Accessibility Challenges of LinkedIn Carousels
- Don’t Ignore These Accessibility Features, Every Gamer Can Benefit From Them
Accessibility Statements
- TestParty
- Kaleidoscope
- Transport Malta
- City of Loveland
- Ajinomoto Group
- Meazure Learning
- Poudre School District
- NoshingwiththeNolands
- Sandals Resorts International
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
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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