Accessibility in the News — 1/17/2025.

NOTE: To get news like this every week in your inbox, before it hits our website, subscribe to our Accessibility in the News e-newsletter. There are no ads or graphics, and we never send spam. Just use the sign-up form on this page to subscribe and stay up to date!

Feature Story

Skip to National News (U.S.) | Skip to International News

More Accessibility Resources on this Page

Accessibility Blogs, Information and Video | Accessibility Announcements
Accessibility Fourms, Tips and Gaming | Accessibility Statements
Higher Education Blogs and Information | Federally Speaking
Legal Blogs and Information | Accessibility Products and Services
Microassist Accessibility Services

AITN Quote of the Week

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ― Nelson Mandela

April 24, 2026 Deadline: How Much Progress Have You Made?

State and Local Governments: First Steps Toward Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule

Feature Stories

Fleeing the LA fires alone on a wheelchair: ‘I had to take my chances’

January 10, 2025 | Source: The Guardian

Altadena family says disabled father and son were left to burn: ‘Nobody was coming’

January 10, 2025 | Source: Los Angeles Times

Chairwoman Rosenworcel Update on Los Angeles Area Wildfires

January 13, 2025 | Source: FCC

The timing of the evacuation order could not have been worse. Galen Buckwalter and his wife, Deborah, were alerted around 9.30pm on Tuesday evening that the rapidly spreading Eaton fire near Pasadena, California, was endangering their home and they should immediately flee to safety. Galen, 68, is paralyzed from the chest down and uses an electric wheelchair for mobility. Normally, he drives with his van that accommodates the chair, but as the extreme southern California windstorm was fueling the flames north of his home, his vehicle was sitting in a repair shop…

National News (U.S.)

Special ed students benefit from being integrated at school. It doesn’t always happen

January 9, 2025 | Source: NPR

Kellen Hedler, 11, is outgoing and gregarious. He dances on a hip-hop team, and he enjoys all kinds of sports. Adaline Whitmer, 7, is bubbly, yet shy. She’s starting to come out of her shell since she began cheerleading at a local gym. Both Kellen and Adaline attend public elementary schools in Oklahoma. And they both have Down syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of physical and developmental challenges. Adaline and Kellen go to school less than two hours away from each other, but their experience in the classroom is a world apart…

Governor DeWine Unveils First of 29 Planned Universal Changing Stations at Ohio Rest Areas

January 10, 2025 | Source: Governor Mike DeWine – Ohio.gov

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Director Kim Hauck, and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn today unveiled the first of 29 planned universal changing stations at Ohio rest areas. Located at the newly redesigned I-71 rest areas in Jeffersonville, the universal changing stations are part of a family restroom, and include an adjustable table in a clean, safe, and private area…

The Labor Crisis Putting People With Disabilities at Risk

January 10, 2025 | Source: The Nation

On a crisp morning in April, Ed Bartz lay awake in his bed in Troy, New York. According to his digital alarm clock, which had been carefully positioned to stand in his line of vision, he’d been like this for an hour—awake, aware, worried. But Ed couldn’t do anything about it. He was born with cerebral palsy, and at 61, his impairments had grown worse. “I am basically a head without a working body,” he told me. At around 11 each night, somebody from The Arc of Rensselaer County, a disability service organization, helped him settle in for sleep; at eight each morning, someone else came to pull up the blinds…

CAPA addresses need for sensory-inclusive features at several theaters

January 12, 2025 | Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Sensory needs are how people receive and respond to information from their environments, including what they see, hear, smell, feel and taste. Because every person processes information differently, they have different sensory needs. Understanding these needs helps create environments where everyone feels comfortable, which is especially important for those with extra sensitivities. Acknowledging this, Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) has implemented an initiative to remedy accessibility challenges in its venues to enhance the arts experience for people with sensory needs…

Olathe makes waves for accessibility by adding water wheelchairs to city pools

January 12, 2025 | Source: KSHB

Although it might not feel like pool weather, the city of Olathe is preparing to make its recreational spaces more inclusive this summer. Thanks to a partnership with Variety KC, every city pool in Olathe will soon offer water wheelchairs, ensuring residents of all abilities have full access to community spaces. The city already provides chairlifts at pools to assist residents with limited mobility, but the new water wheelchairs will allow individuals to access the entire pool…

Rochester-area artist cultivates an inclusive art studio for all ability

January 12, 2025 | Source: Spectrum News

In a world full of endless art forms, artists have seen a limited amount of accommodating and accessible art spaces. The grand opening of one Rochester art studio is providing a space for people of any background and ability to feel welcome and learn more about the arts. “I remember drawing and painting being a part of my kind of everyday existence,” Stony Point Art Studio owner and art teacher Jeannine Pelusio said. Art can be powerful. But having an art studio can be life changing…

Dementia risk is rising in an aging US population. Cases are projected to double by 2060

January 13, 2025 | Source: CNN

As the U.S. ages, dementia is on the rise. Here are ways to reduce your risk

January 13, 2025 | Source: NPR

New research suggests that the risk for developing dementia is significantly higher than previously estimated, and the burden on the United States population will grow substantially over the next few decades. Overall, more than 2 in 5 people over the age of 55 in the US – about 42% – will develop dementia in their later years, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. As the US population ages, the number of people diagnosed with dementia each year is projected to double – from about 514,000 cases in 2020 to about 1 million a year by 2060…

Portland Trail Blazers make games more accessible to blind and low vision fans

January 13, 2025 | Source: KATU

In a groundbreaking move, the Portland Trail Blazers have partnered with Ticketmaster and OneCourt to become the first professional sports team to offer OneCourt’s haptic display technology at all home games. This innovative initiative is designed to provide Blind and Low Vision fans with an inclusive, real-time gameday experience, enabling them to follow live basketball action through advanced haptic technology. The devices were officially used for the first time yesterday following a successful pilot program…

Breaking barriers: Grand Rapids Symphony’s ‘Access to Music’ brings joy to all

January 13, 2025 | Source: ABC

Music is a universal language that evokes positive emotions and memories. It’s a beautiful arrangement of sound that everyone should be able to experience, and a unique concert hosted by the Grand Rapids Symphony known as “Access to Music” ensures its accessibility to individuals with special needs. “We’re really passionate about opening the doors for this concert. That’s why it’s called Access to Music,” said Sarah Stickney, director of education at the Grand Rapids Symphony. “To make everyone feel welcome in a barrier-free, flexible seating environment.”…

Project 2025’s Plan to Dismantle Public Education—And Cheat Disabled Kids

January 13, 2025 | Source: Mother Jones

Project 2025’s stance on the Department of Education is clear: “Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” Donald Trump’s imminent presidency has raised concerns among disabled advocates, kids, their parents, and others about the federal government’s role in making sure disabled students get an equitable education. Not that it’s clear how a Trump DOE would dismantle itself, or whether enough Republicans in Congress would agree to risk their seats over such a proposal…

NY veterans have higher disability rates, but they’re seeking more help, too

January 13, 2025 | Source: North Country Public Radio

Military veterans in New York are twice as likely to report having a disability than they did fifteen years ago. That’s one of the findings in a recent report commissioned by the New York Health Foundation. Veterans have relatively high rates of physical and mental health issues, including PTSD and depression. But the report says the sharp increase in disabilities may be because veterans are reporting them more and seeking more help. Derek Coy, a senior program officer at the New York Health Foundation and also a Marines veteran, told David Sommerstein that younger generations are overcoming the stigma of seeking counseling and other therapy…

Polistina’s Bill to Expand Access to Hearing Aids Passes Senate

January 13, 2025 | Source: NJ Senate Republicans

Today, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Vince Polistina (R-2) that would expand access to hearing aids. The bill, S-2874, seeks to grant licensed audiologists with the authority to prescribe and order hearing aids under certain conditions. This legislation is in response to updated regulations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “This bill is a common-sense update to ensure that audiologists can provide more comprehensive care for individuals with hearing loss,” said Senator Polistina…

Parkinson’s tremors disappear with use of machine that sends heat waves to the brain

January 14, 2025 | Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel

Delray Medical Center cut the ribbon on its newest high-tech machine last week that targets brain areas to treat movement disorders such as essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease. The machine can stop the involuntary trembling of the heat and hands experienced by people with neurological disorders in one treatment using focused ultrasound guided by MRI. Neurosurgeons at Delray Medical Center already have been treating patients with uncontrollable tremors or stiffness with the earlier version of the machine developed by Insightec…

Spokane County locals build first ADA-accessible waterfowl blind in Eastern Washington

January 14, 2025 | Source: KREM

Spokane County locals are working to expand accessibility to hunting by building the first ADA-friendly duck hunting blind in Eastern Washington. Ron “Z” Zubrick is a member of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and a Navy veteran who has dealt with spinal injuries since 1983. Zubrick says by 2015 he was paralyzed from the waist down but did not let that stop him from going after activities he enjoyed. “Being able to have an accessible place where I can try to get back into the waterfowl hunting, is really exciting for me,” said Zubrick…

Home accessibility adjustments require a need-focused approach

January 15, 2025 | Source: Cleveland Jewish News

As people age, their needs change. A person may need to start new medications, they may experience new conditions they haven’t had to handle in previous years, or they may need to update their homes to make them accessible. Making homes accessible can be done either when the structure is being built or later on when a family wants to redesign and rehabilitate the home to better serve their needs. These changes can also be made slowly on an as-needed basis or all at once by anticipating future needs…

IC Accessibility Project Team strives to increase inclusion for all

January 15, 2025 | Source: Left Hand Valley Courier

A team of high schoolers are working to elevate inclusion across the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD). They are the members of the Accessibility Project Team of the SVVSD Innovation Center (IC). The IC houses 24 project teams, each offering learners career preparation, local involvement, and compensation. The Accessibility Team was launched in autumn of 2023. Longmont High School senior Anya Wieder started the group after observing that opportunity was often limited for her peers with disabilities…

Zona Roberts — Leading Figure in Accessibility — is Dead

January 15, 2025 | Source: Streetsblog USA and Center for Independent Living

The “wheel behind the wheelchair” has died. Zona Roberts, who worked alongside her son Ed Roberts, himself a pioneer of disability rights who co-founded the Center for Independent Living, died on Jan. 10 at age 104. Roberts’s journey from mother of four to national activist began when her eldest child, then 14-year-old Ed, became a quadriplegic from polio in 1953, two years before the Salk vaccine. Though Ed would go on to a lifelong career in fighting for the disabled — he died in 1995 — it was Zona who started the war…

Disability often neglected in medical school curricula, new study finds

January 15, 2025 | Source: Northwestern Now – Northwestern University

Doctors in the U.S. have reported feeling unprepared to care for people with disabilities and have revealed significant negative bias about this population, according to previous research. A new Northwestern Medicine study has found much of this could be rooted in their medical school training. Medical school curricula often view disability as a problem, leading medical trainees to make negative assumptions about people with disabilities’ health and quality of life, the study found…

Bill aims to prevent disability discrimination around parental rights

January 15, 2025 | Source: Spectrum News

Kentucky legislators have introduced a bill they said will prevent forms of disability discrimination. Senate Bill 26 was filed last week. Lawmakers said it will prevent termination of parental rights or denial of adoption solely based on a disability. Lawmakers and the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities said there have been cases in Kentucky when a parent with a disability lost custody of a child solely because of their disability. “It happens a lot more in divorces, and it also is a reason why people with disabilities don’t have kids,” said Justin Jeter, Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities policy coordinator…

Historic Bronx subway station gets makeover and is now ADA-accessible

January 16, 2025 | Source: Bronx Times

A historic and busy Bronx subway station is now fully accessible to all New Yorkers. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials opened on Wednesday the newly remodeled ADA-accessible Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue station, home to the 6 train. The station, which is over 100 years old, is located at the corner of Lane and Westchester Avenues in Westchester Square. The elevated station, located in a bustling hub where multiple bus lines converge, now has three new elevators and 12 new or refurbished stairways that MTA officials said were designed to facilitate easier and smoother traversing…

Jack Fact — According to Stagetext, 50% of people in the U.S. watch TV with subtitles most of the time — and that 70% of Gen Z Americans do.

Hit The Road Jack — Discovering Japan in a Power Wheelchair: Tayjus’ Accessible Travel Journey and Disability Aviation and Maritime: Changing the Landscape of Accessible Travel and Why January is a Great Time to Visit Japan and New Orleans and Company and Other Organizations Partner to Highlight Accessibility Areas for Travelers with Disabilities

International News

Llangollen Eisteddfod to improve accessibility for disabled

January 11, 2025 | Source: The Leader- UK

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announced plans to make the event more accessible for people with disabilities. The festival organisers are taking part in a project aimed at making events and businesses more user-friendly for those with additional needs. This involves participating in an introduction to accessibility awareness workshop and a four-day course by community interest company PIWS, to establish accessibility champions within the organisation…

Revolutionizing accessibility: The rise of assistive technology in India and beyond

January 13, 2025 | Source: The Hindu Business Line- India

Prashanth (name changed for anonymity) has faced significant challenges with commuting since an accident that resulted in the loss of his legs, leaving him dependent on external assistance. Traditional wheelchairs, with their limited adaptability, further restricted his mobility. That changed when he discovered a motorized wheelchair vehicle designed for uneven terrains, allowing wheelchair users to navigate independently. Like Prashanth, the evolution of assistive technology is opening new doors for individuals with disabilities, blending innovation with practical solutions…

Australia now has a national autism strategy. Here’s what’s in it and why it’s needed

January 13, 2025 | Source: ABC- Australia

The federal government has unveiled a seven-year plan to improve the lives of autistic Australians. Australia’s first-ever national autism strategy aims to create “a safe and inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive”. It’s hoped the strategy will lead to meaningful change for a group that lags behind the rest of the population in many areas of life. All up, there are 22 “commitments” focused on four key reform areas: social inclusion; economic inclusion; diagnosis, services and support; and health…

The best TVs for people who are blind or partially sighted

January 13, 2025 | Source: Which?- UK

Most TVs have some accessibility features, but unless you’re willing to delve into the manual before making a purchase, it’s not always clear what features a TV has and how well they work. To find out which TVs are easiest to use and watch for people with sight issues, we developed an accessibility test in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). The new test looks at everything from how efficiently the screen reader tells you important information on different menus, to whether you can choose which part of the screen gets magnified – and everything in between…

Game-changing wheelchair-accessible vehicle rental service at all major UK airports

January 14, 2025 | Source: AT Today – Assistive Technology- UK

Open Road Access has launched a “revolutionary” wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) rental service from all major UK airports. It means that wheelchair users can now travel the UK on their own terms, independently, and with flexibility. Every vehicle in the Open Road Access fleet has been specially adapted so that a wheelchair user can travel comfortably and safely without leaving their wheelchair. The WAV service offers rentals for a day, week, or year, with unlimited mileage, so that visitors can plan short and long stays and enjoy exploring the UK’s cities, landscapes, and cultural sites according to their own schedules…

Cuban expert points to accessible tourism

January 15, 2025 | Source: Prensa Latina- Cuba

In his usual commentary on the Facebook network, the scholar refers to the fact that this type of travel could generate income close to 90 billion dollars this year, according to a study by Emerald Insight. He said that traveling is a gateway to new experiences and perspectives, but represents a world of obstacles and limited options for more than a billion people living with disabilities. With an aging world population and increasing health problems, the demand for accessible tourism options is more pressing than ever…

Reading signs: New method improves AI translation of sign language

January 15, 2025 | Source: Asia Research News- Japan

Sign languages have been developed by nations around the world to fit the local communication style, and each language consists of thousands of signs. This has made sign languages difficult to learn and understand. Using artificial intelligence to automatically translate the signs into words, known as word-level sign language recognition, has now gained a boost in accuracy through the work of an Osaka Metropolitan University-led research group. Previous research methods have been focused on capturing information about the signer’s general movements…

Fintechs urged to embrace accessibility

January 15, 2025 | Source: Finextra Research- EU

As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act approaches, design agency Nexer Digital has launched a new campaign, ‘I Matter Too’, to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive online experiences in the fintech sector. The new legislation will require businesses across the EU to ensure that their websites, apps, ATMs, card readers, and other digital interfaces are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Nexer campaign aims to encourage fintechs to act now and embrace digital accessibility as a core part of their strategy, not just to meet legal requirements but to go beyond compliance and deliver true inclusivity…

Parkinson’s UK updates branding to improve accessibility and relevance to everyone impacted by condition

January 15, 2025 | Source: UK Fundraising- UK

Parkinson’s UK has revealed updated branding, including a new logo and strapline, and a bespoke accessible font. The changes seek to make the brand more visible, accessible and relevant to everyone affected by Parkinson’s, with the updated identity aligning with the charity’s ambition to campaign for improved health and care, fund research into new treatments and run life-changing support services to people living with Parkinson’s. The changes also reflect a strategy change at Parkinson’s UK, with a community-first approach, which means keeping those living with the condition at the heart of its work, as well as those giving them care and support…

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson to host Liverpool City Region accessible tourism event

January 16, 2025 | Source: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority- UK

Legendary Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL is to be keynote speaker and host of an event aimed at ensuring the Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy is accessible for all. The multi-gold medallist and disability rights campaigner will host the 2025 Liverpool City Region for All forum at the ACC Liverpool on Friday 31 January. The event will bring together disability experts, stakeholders, and businesses to explore best practices for improving accessibility within the Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy…

Conscious Conversations: Understating our Blueprint for an Inclusive Future: Empowering Change and Championing Accessibility Part Four

January 16, 2025 | Source: Antigua Observer- Antigua and Barbuda

The “Blueprint for an Inclusive Future”, crafted by Good Humans 268 Inc., stands as a powerful strategy to inspire inclusivity and combat climate change while uplifting individuals with disabilities in Antigua and Barbuda. As Draft One, this blueprint welcomes feedback and collaboration, embodying a living document that will evolve with the insights of our community. Benjamin Franklin’s timeless quote, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail,” resonates deeply with this initiative…

Perth mum calls for rental listings to display accessibility information

January 16, 2025 | Source: ABC Radio Perth- Australia

Jaylea Johnstone is helping her son, who lives with cerebral palsy, find his own home but most of places they’ve viewed have turned out to be inaccessible. Ms Johnstone’s son Regan is 22 and keen to live independently, but relies on a walking aid to get around and that’s making it difficult to find a rental. “We’re very fortunate in that he’s quite independent, however, he does rely on a walking aid for mobility,” she said. “He requires a property with level access on the ground floor or access to a lift, before even considering whether the property has a safely accessible bathroom.”…

Deaf entrepreneur’s mission to make tech more accessible

January 16, 2025 | Source: Business Cloud- UK

Approximately 16.1m people in the UK have a disability, accounting for 24% of the total population, with an estimated 70-80% of these being invisible. For one entrepreneur, he’s made it his mission to make technology more accessible for those with impairments or disabilities. David Butler, founding director of Rochdale-based Pennine Consultancy Ltd, set up his business back in 2019 after losing his hearing in 2016. Becoming profoundly deaf motivated David to support others living with impairments, dedicating his career to finding solutions that eliminate barriers in the workplace through innovative assistive technologies…

Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos

Federally Speaking

Higher Education Blogs and Information

Legal Blogs and Information

Accessibility Announcements

Accessibility Products and Services

Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming

VR Accessibility: How to Build Games for Differently-Abled Players

Accessibility Statements

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:

Icons representing government and technology, with caption "What is a VPAT?"

Subscribe to Accessibility in the News

Stay informed! Get your weekly update on digital accessibility standards, private and public sector trends, litigation, events, and more.

Name(Required)

First Last

Work Email(Required)

Job Title(Required)

Organization(Required)

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.