Accessibility in the News — 3/10/2023.
Lawmakers in Congress are pushing to end the practice of subminimum wages for disabled people, which affects about 122,000 individuals in the U.S. Some employers can currently pay disabled people far below state minimums, with many earning less than $3.50 an hour. The bipartisan Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, reintroduced on Feb. 27, aims to end this practice. Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers can apply for a certificate from the Department of Labor to pay disabled employees below the minimum wage. These outdated subminimum wages are determined by time trials that compare disabled employees’ work output and productivity to that of non-disabled employees.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“I wanna see a feisty group of disabled people around the world… if you don’t respect yourself and if you don’t demand what you believe in for yourself, you’re not gonna get it”. ― Judy Heumann
Mar Judy Heumann – Microassist
Judith “Judy” Heumann (1947-2023)
Feature Stories
Some Disabled People Are Paid Below Minimum Wage. This Bill Would End That
March 4, 2023 | Source: HUFFPOST
A group of lawmakers in Congress is vying to end subminimum wages for disabled people, a policy that affects about 122,000 individuals nationwide. The minimum wage for employees in the U.S. ranges from $7.25 to $15 per hour, and many activists are continuously fighting to increase that amount. But currently, some employers can pay disabled people far below state minimums, with many earning less than $3.50 an hour, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office…
National News (U.S.)
Activist Judy Heumann led a reimagining of what it means to be disabled
March 4, 2023 | Source: NPR and BBC and ABC and WBUR and HUFFPOST and Disability Scoop
Judy Heumann Funeral and Memorial
March 8, 2022 | Source: Adas Israel (Vimeo)
Judy Heumann was the first person I called when, in 1987, I reported my first story on disability rights. Judy, who contracted polio when she was 18 months old, gave me the quote that perfectly summed up that little-known civil rights movement. “Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives — job opportunities or barrier-free buildings, for example,” she said. “It is not a tragedy to me that I’m living in a wheelchair.”…
These students raised hundreds of thousands to make their playground accessible
March 4, 2023 | Source: NPR
When he’d go outside at recess, John Buettner would dream of learning the monkey-bars. The fifth-grader uses a wheelchair, so they aren’t accessible to him—in fact, most of the playground at Glen Lake Elementary School isn’t.
Meanwhile, Betsy Julien would look out from her classroom window as she ate lunch, at the students in their wheelchairs, and thought, “Our playground is not set up for everybody in the school to play and have fun.” Julien’s own son is a third-grader at Glen Lake, in the Minneapolis suburb of Hopkins, and he uses a wheelchair, too…
‘That is me’: See how Disney World, Disneyland made ‘it’s a small world’ more inclusive
March 4, 2023 | Source: USA Today and The Disney Blog and Spectrum News 13
Disney Parks Makes Changes to be More Accessible After Cast Member Steps Up
March 4, 2023 | Source: DisneyDining
It’s a small world, but it just got a little bigger for disability representation at Walt Disney World. A new wheelchair-using doll debuted this week at “it’s a small world” at Magic Kingdom in Florida, months after two others joined “it’s a small world” at Disneyland in California. “When you go on this ride, it’s supposed to represent the children of the world. There’s a whole subset of kids that could never see themselves because (the dolls) are standing there, they’re dancing, they’re moving,” said Melissa Temple, who started Disabled DISventures to share tips with fellow travelers with disabilities…
House bill looks to improve accessibility on new trails in Vermont
March 4, 2023 | Source: Waterbury Roundabout
Vermonters with disabilities could soon have an easier time on the trails if a new bill is passed. The bill, H.85, would make 10% of each newly constructed trail on state lands accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. The same would apply to trails built using state funds. Rep. Elizabeth Burrows, D/P-West Windsor, introduced the bill in the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry in late January. The idea for the bill came from Burrows’ experience advocating to make her local trail on Mt. Ascutney in Windsor County accessible to everyone…
She flatlined three times, lost both legs and had a failing heart. Yet she told doctors she’s ‘the luckiest person on this planet’
March 5, 2023 | Source: CNN
Her smile is bright, cheery, sometimes goofy and always contagious. But pictures can’t completely capture her upbeat, positive vibe. At 21, Claire Bridges has a mature spirit that amazes those who love her as well as the doctors who had to operate on her heart and remove both legs to save her life. “She had a will to live, perseverance and a sort of twinkle in her eye — I tell all my patients that’s half the battle,” said Dr. Dean Arnaoutakis, a vascular surgeon at the University of South Florida Health in Tampa who amputated Bridges’ legs after complications from Covid-19…
Lycoming County Settles Accessibility Claims Under Title II of the ADA
March 5, 2023 | Source: MyChesCo
On Friday, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced a settlement with Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to improve physical accessibility at the county’s polling places for individuals who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids. During the November 7, 2017, General Election, the United States Attorney’s Office, along with an architect from the Department of Justice, surveyed a portion of the county’s polling place locations…
Twitter – Microassist
Strong Museum of Play brings accessibility, inclusivity to play with Deaf Day of Play
March 5, 2023 | Source: Spectrum
In honor of March being National Deaf History Month, some organizations are highlighting efforts to be more inclusive. That includes a museum in Rochester dedicated to creating a day of understanding and fun with their Deaf Day of Play. For members of the deaf community like Ace Gray, accessibility can sometimes be an obstacle. “I feel like there’s a lot of places I want to go to but I don’t have the correct accessibility,” said Ace Gray, a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the deaf…
Times (New Roman) are changing: How fonts can boost accessibility
March 6, 2023 | Source: Scripp News
Fonts, or typefaces, are just about everywhere, but they’re not something the average person thinks about every day, although they have a surprising importance to nearly every aspect of life. It’s a choice that underpins how well a person can understand any message and even conveys a message itself depending on how it’s set up. They’re everywhere from emails to street signs to advertisements and play a crucial role in both design and accessibility — and even national security…
Secret customers testing for accessibility at restaurants in Springfield, Mo.
March 6, 2023 | Source: KY3
Springfield restaurants are getting a visit from some secret guests through Empower: Abilities, a non-profit in Springfield. The program started back in 2020 where surveyors looked at the five points of accessibility, but the pandemic put it on pause. Now, “secret customers” are checking out more than 200 restaurants in our area to see if they can become Reasonable Accommodation Program (RAP) certified. “We survey local restaurants with volunteer surveyors who go in as secret shoppers and they look at five points of accessibility,” said Shelby Butler, Empower…
Local nonprofit walks to identify accessibility issues around Columbia streets, sidewalks
March 6, 2023 | Source: Columbia Missourian
Accessibility barriers to be assessed in upcoming Active Transportation Plan
March 7, 2023 | Source: Airdrie Echo
Columbia nonprofit Local Motion held a Walk About on Monday off Paris Road in Columbia. Volunteers armed with clipboards took to the sidewalks, marking down spots with crumbling infrastructure that the City of Columbia could improve. Local Motion’s aim is to provide local residents with a way to travel that utilizes walking, biking or public transit. The Walk About additionally assessed sidewalk safety, comfortability and whether or not citizens could access basic need resources like bus stops or grocery stores…
Elon Musk publicly mocks Twitter worker with disability who is unsure whether he’s been laid off
March 7, 2023 | Source: CNN and Iceland Review
Elon Musk backpedals after mocking disabled Twitter worker in tweet ‘storm’
March 7, 2023 | Source: The Guardian
Elon Musk has apologized after publicly scoffing at a Twitter employee’s uncertainty about whether he had been laid off in a recent round of cuts and speaking dismissively of the employee’s disability in a series of tweets Monday night. “I would like to apologize to Halli for my misunderstanding of his situation. It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful,” Musk tweeted Tuesday. “He is considering remaining at Twitter.”…
‘The DeafBlind community is an underserved community.’ Northeastern engineering students are designing more accessible doorbells
March 7, 2023 | Source: Northeastern University
‘We need blind scientists.’ Northeastern professor tells United Nations about her ‘unseen advantage’ in inspirational speech
March 7, 2023 | Source: Northeastern Global News
Hunched over a soldering table with safety glasses and deep intent on his face, Nick Scaperdas, a third-year bioengineering student at Northeastern University, focuses on the task at hand. Electrical wires stick out of an electric keypad in front of him, like the grasping tentacles of an octopus, as he connects yellow wires to what will eventually be a functioning doorbell. But this isn’t an ordinary doorbell. Paired via Bluetooth with a bracelet, this doorbell literally helps open the door for people with concurrent hearing and vision loss, known as deafblindness…
Employment Rate Rising for People with Disabilities
March 8, 2023 | Source: SHRM and Disability Scoop
As layoffs and hiring freezes flood the news cycle, new federal data shows that people with disabilities are landing jobs at record numbers. In 2022, about 21 percent of people with a disability in the U.S. were employed, up from about 19 percent in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That is the highest rate since the U.S. began tracking this statistic in 2008. “The increase [in people with disabilities securing employment] is fantastic,” said Craig Leen, an attorney with KandL Gates in Washington, D.C., and a former director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs…
Oscars: Academy Adds Red Carpet ASL Interpreters, Accessibility Guide and More for 2023 Show
March 8, 2023 | Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The 95th annual Oscars carpet will feature American Sign Language interpreters for the first time, one among several accessibility additions the Academy is making to both the 2023 ceremony and live telecast this Sunday.
Interpretation on this year’s carpet, which will also see audio description and continued ramp access for all attendees as part of the preshow event’s outside custom design, was inspired in part by work at the last two Grammys as well as the voices of the Academy’s newly launched disability affinity group…
Music Commission to continue push to improve venue accessibility
March 8, 2023 | Source: Austin Monitor
The Music Commission plans to continue its work in making music venues of all sizes more accessible to the disabled, following the positive results from a task force on that issue convened last year by the Circuit of the Americas. At Monday’s meeting, commissioners discussed how they can interact with members of the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities to push major event promoters – such as COTA and C3 Presents – and smaller venues to improve their accessibility…
California Cannabis Retailer Faces Costly ADA and UCRA Claims
March 8, 2023 | Source: Harris Bricken Sliwoski
A recent lawsuit filed in California federal court serves as a good reminder to all our readers that it’s so important to be mindful of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”). For the past several years, we’ve seen a steady flow of cases filed against cannabis companies for their alleged failures to run websites and point-of-sale terminals that interfere with a disabled person’s ability to access their products or services online. Under the ADA, “a business may have discriminated against handicapped individuals when they construct and maintain quote on quote architectural barriers which prevent disabled people from enjoying the business as any other person.”…
A year after ‘CODA’ made Oscars history, Deaf people are waiting for more inclusive stories
March 9, 2023 | Source: WGBH
It took CJ Jones two years to create Na’vi sign language, featured in “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which allows the Na’vi people on Pandora to communicate underwater and with mythical creatures in some of the movie’s most dazzling sequences. Director James Cameron enlisted Jones to create the fictional language used in the “Avatar” sequel, nominated for four Oscars at this year’s ceremony on March 12, including best picture. Jones created more than 300 signs and created a language that differs completely from American Sign Language, his first language…
How can we generate a better work environment for deaf employees?
March 9, 2023 | Source: Open Access Government
Hearing loss cases are increasing worldwide globally, as 1 in 5 adults are affected. As the working population ages, the number is predicted to rise. The severity of an employee’s hearing loss can impact their experience at work. What steps can managers and employers take to create a more inclusive environment for deaf employees? The researchers argue that regardless of the severity of an employee’s hearing loss, managers play a critical role in making them feel included by working to understand their abilities, perceptions and limitations and helping them build professional connections…
Jack Fact — According to the Population and Housing Census 2020, there are 7,168,000 disabled or mentally ill people in Mexico or 5.7% of the population. 24% of them are not enrolled in social security.
Hit The Road Jack — Accessible Holidays in Scotland and Romania – music festivals, mineral springs and mud
International News
Jason Arday to become youngest ever black professor at Cambridge
February 28, 2023 | Source: The Guardian- England
A renowned sociologist who was unable to read or write until the age of 18, and was working part-time in Sainsbury’s less than eight years ago, is to become the youngest black professor ever appointed at the University of Cambridge. Prof Jason Arday, 37, is a highly respected scholar of race, inequality and education, yet at three years old he was diagnosed with global development delay and autism spectrum disorder, and he did not learn to speak until he was 11…
Avanti West Coast launches new accessibility communication channel
March 3, 2023 | Source: Global Railway Review- UK
Avanti West Coast has launched a dedicated communications channel to provide disabled customers with instant help during their journey in a first for the UK rail industry. Called ‘Travel Companion’, the channel utilises the widely used messaging app WhatsApp to connect passengers on the West Coast Main Line to someone with similar experience who can offer specialist support while travelling. Staffed by specialist members of Avanti West Coast’s social media team who have passion and empathy for accessibility, as well as knowledge of it, Travel Companion aims to improve journeys when the unexpected happens…
Diagnosing and tackling hearing disability
March 3, 2023 | Source: Your Story- India
As an “invisible disability”, hearing impairment is often neglected. In India, there are approximately 63 million people, who are suffering from Significant Auditory Impairment as per WHO estimates and the National Health Mission. This places the estimated prevalence at 6.3% in Indian population and children between the ages of 0-14 constitute a significant percentage of this population. In the case of congenital hearing loss, low awareness around identification of hearing issues in babies and delayed diagnosis, compound the problem…
WHO puts Kerala girl on World Hearing Day poster
March 3, 2023 | Source: The Hindu- India
Rizwana was six years old when she first heard the music of the rain and the joyous twitter of birds in the morning. She did not know till then that the anklets on her feet could produce such a melodious jingle… or that hearing her mom’s voice for the first time can bring her such joy. The world that the cochlear implant opened up for Rizwana, who was born with hearing impairment, was nothing short of magic. It saved her from what would have been a lifetime of disability, helped her attend normal school and pursue her dreams with so much confidence…
Accessibility in ASEAN countries
March 4, 2023 | Source: FairPlanet- Philippines
Equal transportation access for people with disabilities (PWDs) remains elusive in Southeast Asia. But some countries in the region are making gradual progress. Riza Supangan, a hearing-impaired homemaker who lives in the Philippines’ Rizal province with her husband – who is also hearing-impaired, embarked on a long, 50 kilometre journey from her home to the capital Manila with the hope of changing her life. “My driver’s license application has been rejected twice, that is why I want to know more about this organisation,” Supangan told FairPlanet with the help of a sign language translator…
Israel’s first special-needs oleh since accessibility reform arrives
March 5, 2023 | Source: The Jerusalem Post- Israel
Jacques Salam became the first special-needs immigrant to receive assistance in his integration into Israel from day one a few days ago, ever since a change in the procedure for accepting immigrants with disabilities kicked in. A few months ago, the State of Israel corrected a longstanding omission and allowed people with special needs to prearrange their immigration and residence in the country. Until recently, new immigrants recognized in their country of origin as people with special needs (including deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired and/or mentally challenged) couldn’t begin their immigration process…
‘Appalled’: Kāinga Ora achieves only 10% of target for accessible new homes
March 6, 2023 | Source: Stuff- New Zealand
A Kāinga Ora tenant is “appalled” the Government agency is not meeting its target to ensure 15% of its new-build state homes meet full universal design standards. Information provided under the Official Information Act (OIA) reveal that since implementing its Accessibility Policy in 2020, the Government agency has recorded delivering only 70 new homes that meet full universal design standards between July 2020 and December 2022. The total number of Kāinga Ora state homes built in the same time frame is 4775, which means only 1.5% of new homes meet the required standards…
Visual impairment: Derry aims to improve accessibility
March 6, 2023 | Source: BBC News- UK
Street clutter and public transport in Londonderry are among the areas to be looked at in an attempt to make the city more friendly for visually impaired people. Derry City and Strabane District Council has passed a motion to make the area a more “visually aware space”. Roy McCartney, who is visually impaired, is campaigning to improve accessibility in the city and district. He said Derry could be daunting for blind or partially sighted people. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle on Monday, Mr. McCartney, who volunteers with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said a blind or partially sighted person could encounter a range of challenges…
Understanding Legal Requirements For Audio And Video Transcripts In The UK
March 6, 2023 | Source: Island Echo- UK
In the UK, there are a number of legal requirements that must be met when creating audio or video transcripts. These requirements ensure that all citizens have access to information and media in an accessible format, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. Understanding these legal requirements is essential for any business wishing to create audio and video content for their customers or employees. In this article, we will explore the different legal obligations surrounding audio and video transcriptions in the UK and provide tips on how to make sure you meet them…
Colour blind Gravesend man says he was ‘discriminated against’ after being refused Heathrow airport security job due to condition
March 7, 2023 | Source: Kent Online- UK
A man who suffers from colour blindness said he was unfairly refused a job due to his condition. Steven Rymer, from Gravesend, had reached the final medical stage of interviews for a job in security at Heathrow Airport. He has colour blindness which stop him seeing shades of red and green, but wears special glasses which he says enable him to see with regular vision. One of the final tests for the role was for colour blindness, and the 52-year-old was told he would have to remove his glasses…
Listening, learning and responding to disabled students
March 8, 2023 | Source: Times Higher Education- England
As a professor and a postgraduate researcher with disabilities, both visible and invisible, we know first-hand the challenges this can pose day-to-day for those working or studying within universities. The University of Manchester has inclusivity at the heart of its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy and we are working hard to support the student experience. Here we discuss the lived experiences of a self-formed group of postgraduate research students with disabilities, a student-led initiative that is working with the EDI disability academic lead and through the disabilities staff network to address how we can improve student support…
FIA’s Nathalie McGloin on making motorsport accessible
March 8, 2023 | Source: RedBull- UK
After a road accident aged 16, my life and outlook changed forever, but my determination to succeed never ceased. I am a successful tetraplegic racing driver and race in a modified, hand-controlled Porsche against able-bodied men. Now, as founder of the charity Spinal Track, and as Disability and Accessibility Commission President with the FIA, I’m working relentlessly to make motorsport accessible for all. Before my accident, I wasn’t into racing. I couldn’t have told you anything about Formula 1 or other categories…
Social media star who advocates for blind community set to get ‘life-changing’ gene therapy
March 8, 2023 | Source: CBC- Canada
A young Pickering man who has amassed a big social media following for his advocacy for blind people is set to receive a sight-saving gene therapy — the first time the expensive procedure will be covered by OHIP. Adam Brown was born with a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa that significantly hinders his vision and could eventually leave him fully blind. But in a few days, he is set to undergo a one-time treatment that an expert says could prove “life changing.”…
Blind and Homeless Greek Pianist Overcomes the Odds
March 8, 2023 | Source: Greek Reporter- England
Anastasios Pagonidis, a Greek pianist originally from Athens, did not let blindness or homelessness stop him from pursuing his dream to play the piano. The Greek musician, who moved from Athens to London, was left almost blind by a brain tumor. At the age of two, his doctors gave him just six months to live when he was first diagnosed. Despite the grim medical prognosis, Pagonidis, who is now eighteen years old, was able to teach himself to play the piano as a child. Later in life, he overcame further hardships posed by nearly two years spent on the streets…
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- The AbilityNet Podcast
- Is DePauw Actually Accessible?- The DePauw
- Making publishing platforms fairer- Research Information
- Is Colorado The Next Web Litigation Frontier?- Ken Nakata
- Digital Accessibility Laws Around the Globe- Lainey Feingold
- Government still wrestles with digital equity, accessibility- GCN
- Accessibility vs. Accommodation – Accessibility @ UW-Madison
- What is an ADA-Compliant Website? The Complete Guide- HubSpot
- How Inclusive Design Can Further Our Accessibility Understandings- IGN
- Preventing ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits- Bond, Schoeneck and King
- How Microsoft bakes accessibility into everything it touches- Fast Company
- Lesser known requirements and free tools for federal websites- Concrete CMS
- If Everyone Has a Hand in Building It, They Will Come… and Stay- Applause
- UMN students discuss concerns about winter accessibility- The Minnesota Daily
- OTC hearings aids at a pharmacy near you: Two experts weigh in- Healthy Hearing
- Accessible curriculum helps blind U of A student ace chem course- Arizona Daily Star
- Designing with No Barriers: A Pledge for Inclusive and Accessible Design- Darren Bates
- Report: 39% Federal Leaders Rate Accessibility as a Top Priority- Kirsten Errick- Nextgov
- Fourth Circuit Holds Website “Tester” Has Standing to Sue Under the ADA- Baker Donelson
- ‘No body or mind left behind’: The 32-hour fight for accessibility at UNC- The Daily Tar Heel
- NU researchers seek to increase accessibility of motorized wheelchairs- The Daily Northwestern
- Home Design For Hearing Loss: Tips For Creating A User-Friendly Home- Today’s Homeowner
- Five strategies for supporting students with special educational needs online- Times Higher Education
- The Power of an Accessible Website: Practical Tips for Elevating Your E-Commerce Business- 3Play Media
- How Mindfulness Guru Jenna Hermans Uses Tech And Her Book To Make Calm Accessible To All- Steven Aquino
- Data Spotlight: Employment of Black Workers with Disabilities in Skilled Trade Professions- U.S. Department Of Labor
- Large Federally Regulated Organizations Have Until June 1, 2023, to Publish Accessibility Plan- Blake, Cassels and Graydon
- Pepperdine to Host Multiple Student-Organized Events in Recognition of Disability Awareness Week- Pepperdine University
- Cruise Senior Public Affairs Manager Michele Lee Talks Autonomous Cars And New Accessibility Council In Interview- Steven Aquino
- Study Shows Majority of Americans Neglect Hearing Health Despite Accessibility of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids- The Hearing Review
- Microsoft’s Annual Ability Summit: Exploring the technology, people, partnerships and policies driving a more accessible future- Jenny Lay-Flurrie – Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Guglielmo’s adopts accessible lids for easier opening
- Funding secured for Ballymoney Beach accessibility plan
- Mikel Chertudi Joins AudioEye as Chief Revenue Officer
- Campaign for Disability Employment Wins Anthem Award
- Accessible Pharmacy Services Earth Day Participation Form
- WHO promotes access to ear and hearing care in communities
- Sydney Metro awards contracts for lift safety and accessibility
- Studio 24 redesigns the website for W3C- Cambridge Network
- These tools help visually impaired scientists read data and journals
- Public Comment Period – ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan
- Adventist Monetary Grant Increases Braille Accessibility Worldwide
- Wegmans Enhances Pharmacy Access to Sensory-Impaired Shoppers
- Accessible trail system helps everyone get outside in the Upper Valley
- Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests for Blind or Low Vision People
- Transcosmos launches web accessibility diagnostics and renovation service
- Four PandG Brands Raise the Bar with Accessible and Sustainable Packaging
- Sharing the Performing Arts with People who have Low Vision or are Blind
- Florida DOE announces first of its kind apprenticeship program for the blind
- Goodheart-Willcox Named Benetech Global Certified Accessible™ Publisher
- Netflix lets you customize subs and closed captions in the name of accessibility
- WhatsApp ‘highly accessible’ for persons with disabilities; How other apps rank
- College Plans Accessibility Workshops for Incoming Students and their Families
- Access Ready Prompts Federal Report on Accessibility Mandate Under Section 508
- Wheel the World grabs $6M to offer guaranteed accessibility, price match for hotel rooms
- VIA Metropolitan Transit Accessible Transit Committee Seeks Advisors from Disability Community
- National Vision Holdings, Inc. Announces Participation in the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference
- QVC Announces Expanded Commitment to Accessible Product Assortments and Video Shopping Experiences
- World In Sign- The wait is over, language translation services are now available to purchase through our online store!
- Policy Recommendations for the 88th Texas Legislature to Improve Transportation Access for Texans with Disabilities
- Florida Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services (DBS) Announces First in the Nation Job Apprenticeship Program
- Governor’s Council on Disability announces winners for 2022 annual recognition awards; Winners exemplify standards of excellence in enhancing life for individuals living with disabilities
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Color Contrast
- Conformance and Accessibility
- 6 tips for creating accessible documents
- 3 accessibility concepts CIOs need to know
- A beginner’s guide to manual accessibility testing
- Most Influential Computer Programmers Of All Time
- 9 tips for creating a home that is safe for aging in place
- How to make your social media content more accessible
- Are you making these five mistakes when writing alt text?
- How accessibility experts started a revolution with The Last of Us
- The 3 Best Accessibility Improvements You Can Make in Your Home
- All of the cool hidden features in the Apple iPhone Accessibility menu
- 6 Principles to Ensure We Design Connected Products for Accessibility
- How to Tweak the Mouse Pointer Accessibility Settings on Windows 11
- 4 Windows 11 accessibility features that make it easier for everyone to use
- Final Fantasy 16 demonstrates that sometimes an accessibility menu is better
- Create inclusive content with the new Accessibility Assistant in Microsoft 365
- How Businesses Can Maximize Mobile Accessibility Testing For IOS And Android
- Gaming events have an accessibility problem – but organisers are working to change that
- World Hearing Day: Here’s how to make good use of hearing accessibility features on Apple devices
Accessibility Statements
- Recorra
- City of Mobile
- Marsh Library
- KPMG Canada
- Migration Oxford
- Papercity Magazine
- University College London
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting
- MGH Institute of Health Professions
- Essex Research Repository and the Essex Data Repository
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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