Accessibility in the News — 7/30/2021.

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Accessibility in the News: Six Month Summary 2021

Feature Stories

Invisible Riders: Subways and Accessibility

July 17, 2021 | Source: Chelsea News

Brooklyn’s folksiest subway station is now ADA accessible

July 15, 2021 | Source: Brooklyn Paper

On ADA anniversary, MTA thinks beyond elevators in stations

July 26, 2021 | Source: NY1

MTA Memorial Unveiled In The Heights For ‘Fierce’ Disability Advocate

July 28, 2021 | Source: Patch

MTA celebrates 31 years of ADA with accessibility plans

July 29, 2021 | Source: Intelligent Transport

Most New Yorkers have a love-hate relationship with the MTA, but while the iconic transit authority might be occasionally irritating to the average commuter, it provides countless more difficulties for individuals with disabilities. Disability advocacy has grown in recent years, with organizations such as Disability Pride NYC spreading awareness through events such as the annual Disability Pride Parade. While the parade, which happens every July in honor of Disability Pride Month, is postponed this year due to COVID concerns, organizations are working to make everyday necessities, such as the subway, more inclusive of disabled people…

National News (U.S.)

Anticipating What A Rumored ‘Apple Pay Later’ Service Could Mean For Disabled People And Accessibility

July 16, 2021 | Source: Forbes

A new report from Bloomberg this week, co-bylined by Mark Gurman and Sridhar Natarajan, claims Apple and Goldman Sachs are said to be collaborating on a new payments service that would allow customers to pay for goods in installments over time. The buy-now-pay-later service has been dubbed “Apple Pay Later” inside Apple. Goldman is the bank with which Apple has partnered to bankroll Apple Card, which debuted in 2019. As it currently stands, the pay-as-you-go option for Apple products has been a benefit reserved for those with Apple Card accounts…

Walmart fired an employee with Down syndrome who worked there for 16 years. A jury said it should pay her $125 million.

July 16, 2021 | Source: Business Insider

A federal jury determined on Friday that Walmart violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it fired an employee with Down syndrome following issues related to her work schedule. After a four-day trial in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the jury awarded Marlo Spaeth $125 million in damages. Before her termination, Spaeth worked at Walmart for about 16 years. A Walmart spokesperson told Insider the verdict was expected to be reduced to $300,000, which is the maximum amount allowed under federal law…

Meet Truffles, the special kitty who wears glasses to help kids feel better about wearing theirs

July 17, 2021 | Source: CNN

Nearly four years ago, Danielle Crull rescued a stray kitten from a forest in Pennsylvania. Now, that spunky kitty is changing hundreds of lives by helping children with eye problems feel more confident about wearing glasses and eye patches. Truffles, now famous for her glamorous glasses — which range from sparkling purple ones to her favorite green pair — works alongside her mom, an optician. Crull runs her own practice, A Child’s Eyes, in Mechanicsburg, where her primary focus is infants, toddlers and children in elementary school…

Adaptive fashion is catching on

July 19, 2021 | Source: Glossy

In the last few years, fashion has made some small but crucial strides in inclusivity. It’s not quite so unusual as it was a decade ago to see diverse skin tones on the runway or mainstream brands selling an extended size range. Now, the industry is starting to focus on adaptive fashion, or fashion designed for people with disabilities. In the last three months, brands and retailers from Erdem to JCPenney have rolled out new collections and lines designed with disabled people in mind. A billion people globally, 15% of the population, have some sort of disability…

Disabled space enthusiasts can now apply for Zero Gravity space training

July 20, 2021 | Source: Space

For people who are disabled and have always dreamed of training to fly to space, the SciAccess Initiative has opened up applications to disabled crew participants for a Zero-G parabolic flight. The initiative, which works to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) more accessible through a series of programs, announced the launch of its latest program: Mission: AstroAccess yesterday (July 15). This new program will fly a diverse group of disabled people on a parabolic flight aboard the Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G)’s “G-Force One” plane, which uses a series of parabolas to create weightlessness in the plane’s cabin…

Disabled Voters Seek Federal Bulwark as States Chip Away Access

July 20, 2021 | Source: Bloomberg Law

7 Ways New Voting Laws Can Affect People With Disabilities

July 25, 2021 | Source: Forbes

Disabilities advocates watching states chip away at voting opportunities are leaning on the Biden administration to make tangible strides to make voting more accessible. The federal government can do more to ensure that basic amenities like wheelchair accessible ramps are provided at polling stations or that vital election materials are translated into American Sign Language. Disabilities advocates, who recently met with Vice President Kamala Harris, are rallying in advance of draft recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on making voting more accessible…

Colorado first in nation to require web accessibility for government

July 20, 2021 | Source: Colorado Newsline & State Scoop & GCN & WP Tavern

To the state lawmaker who sponsored legislation for people with disabilities, the success of House Bill 21-1110 is the perfect example of why “representation matters.” After freshman Democratic Rep. David Ortiz of Littleton was elected in 2020, he became the first person who uses a wheelchair to serve in the Colorado General Assembly. This year, Ortiz led efforts to incorporate some federal protections for people with disabilities into state law, making it easier for them to sue the government for discrimination…

The Man Who Filed More Than 180 Disability Lawsuits

July 21, 2021 | Source: Lightly News

DanVy Vu was out on the ground of her restaurant one chilly night in December 2019 when a employees member referred to as her to the hostess station to help an indignant buyer — a person in a wheelchair who, alongside together with his spouse, had been caught exterior. The couple stated that that they had tried the accessible entrance via a courtyard however discovered the gate locked, which had left the person shivering out within the chilly whereas his spouse circled again to a nonaccessible entrance on the entrance of the restaurant for assist opening the gate…

Creating A More Accessible And Inclusive Workplace For People With Disabilities

July 21, 2021 | Source: Forbes- Debra Ruh

Many people with disabilities still face significant difficulties in finding employment, despite the marked improvement after the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted. When they get new jobs, they then may face a workplace environment that is not tailored to their needs and requirements. Technology can play an essential role in creating an accessible future of work. Rapid developments in assistive technology devices and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, virtual reality and augmented reality, can help people with disabilities engage in the workplace by creating an accessible and inclusive environment…

Maryland small businesses must watch out for ADA virtual-by lawsuits

July 22, 2021 | Source: Maryland Reporter

With the 31st anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) coming Monday, July 26, it is time to warn Maryland small businesses about ADA virtual-by lawsuits since Maryland has dropped coronavirus-related restrictions. After reading the USA Today article, “Woman files about 500 lawsuits across US as ‘tester’ of disability compliance,” I recalled that I first learned what a tester of disability compliance in 2006 was. Living in Sykesville, I followed the activities of “ADA Shake-Down Artist” Marilynn Phillip of Hampstead, who uses a wheelchair because of post-polio syndrome and severe osteoporosis…

What we learned about accessibility by scanning more than 2 million federal .gov web pages

July 22, 2021 | Source: FCW

The Innovation Technology Innovation Foundation recently published an accessibility analysis of federal .gov websites, but this just scratches the surface of the need for a holistic, scalable approach to digital government accessibility. ITIF scanned 72 federal websites — plus their second- and third-most popular pages — for issues that violated WCAG 2.0 Level A or Level AA standards. The assessment tool used was the axe DevTools browser extension, a single-page automated scan…

El Paso should not limit itself to minimum ADA requirements: Joey Acosta

July 22, 2021 | Source: El Paso Times

On July 26, 2021, America will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This comprehensive civil rights law prohibits employment discrimination, mandates equal access to state and local services and supports, prohibits private places of public accommodations from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, and enforces access to telecommunications and the Internet. The ADA paved the way for equality for people with disabilities…

San Francisco Chinatown Businesses Say They’re Targets Of Frivolous ADA Lawsuits; DA Investigates

July 22, 2021 | Source: CBS San Francisco & KESQ

District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s office is launching an investigation after his office said several Chinatown merchants were hit by potentially fake lawsuits and so-called “demand letters.” According to Boudin’s office, the lawsuits appear to come from lawyers who say the businesses did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One of the affected businesses was the Far East Cafe. It barely survived the pandemic, coming an eyelash away from shutting down this winter…

Traveling with a wheelchair not worth the risk for thousands of Americans with disabilities

July 23, 2021 | Source: NewsChannel5.com

Buses, trains and other modes of public transportation have to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires people using wheelchairs can get around. But the airline industry doesn’t have to follow those rules. They’re able to follow an older law: the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986. Even though the act has been updated since 1986, many say it still doesn’t do enough to accommodate people with disabilities. As more travelers are heading to the airport, now that COVID-19 restrictions are going away, there’s an even bigger push for the airlines to be more accessible to all…

Man Sues American Airlines Because its Website Discriminates Against Blind People

July 24, 2021 | Source: Paddle Your Own Kanoo

A visually impaired and legally blind man has filed a class-action lawsuit against American Airlines claiming its website discriminates against people with visual impairments and is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because the site can’t be easily interpreted by screen readers. Alex Hernandez of Sonoma county filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California last week claiming that American Airlines continues to deny blind customers full and equal access to its website, preventing Hernandez from buying flights from American Airlines…

Feds: York Twp. movie theater complying with disability requirements after federal complaint

July 26, 2021 | Source: York Dispatch

A York County movie theater has taken steps to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards after a moviegoer with visual impairment couldn’t access required accessibility equipment. R/C Theatres, which operates Queensgate Movies 13 in York Township, previously did not have descriptive audio headsets available for people with visual impairments. Under ADA rules, theaters showing digital movies must provide closed captioning and audio description devices for deaf and blind individuals…

Is your vision impaired? Tips to cope

July 26, 2021 | Source: Harvard Health

If you have low vision or impaired vision from conditions like nearsightedness, cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, you know this situation comes with many challenges. These may range from moderate (needing glasses to read or drive) to profound (losing your independence or the ability to see a loved one’s face clearly). It’s no surprise, then, that more serious vision impairment is associated with high rates of depression in people of all ages…

SEPTA riders with disabilities say one street-level elevator isn’t enough to improve accessibility

July 26, 2021 | Source: WHYY

Metro Switching Order Of Announcements On Railcars At Request Of Accessibility Committee

July 27, 2021 | Source: DCist

Illinois AG calls for access to public transportation for disabled

July 28, 2021 | Source: The Times Weekly

Marking the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on Monday, lawmakers from Philadelphia highlighted improvements that U.S. House-passed funding would provide at SEPTA’s Erie Station in North Philadelphia. But some riders with disabilities question whether such improvements go far enough. Reps. Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle teamed up to request $7.2 million for new elevators at the Broad Street Line’s Erie Avenue station. Evans said teamwork is key to improving mass transit…

Attorney General Garland and Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Clarke Commemorate the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26, 2021 | Source: Department of Justice

Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke issued the following statements to mark the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the nation’s preeminent civil rights law that provides equal opportunity for people with disabilities. “Thirty-one years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law with broad bipartisan support and it has been life-changing for people with disabilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland…

Detroit launches plan to improve access to jobs, housing for disabled residents

July 26, 2021 | Source: The Detroit News

Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday announced a multi-year plan to improve access to housing, transportation and employment for the city’s disabled residents. The mayor said the proposal is the product of months of coordination between his office, multiple city departments, including the Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department and community groups. The announcement comes six months after Detroit’s Office of Disability Affairs was established, a move Duggan described as a commitment to “making clear to the disabled members of our community that they were fully valued and that we wanted their talents and contributions.”…

How A Teen Punk Led A Movement For Disabled People Online

July 27, 2021 | Source: The Verge

When Tyler Trewhella opened Tumblr in 2014 and posted a photo of themself outside a diner, they had no idea that image would become their legacy. The photo shows them with cane in hand and cigarette in mouth, clad in boots, a denim jacket with pins, and a hat with earflaps. A small banner across the picture was originally going to say “diner punk,” but they decided at the last second to change it to “cripple punk.” Tongue in cheek, they captioned the post, “i’m starting a movement.”…

Taking Stock: Adding Accessibility to Your Restaurant’s Operations

July 27, 2021 | Source: RESY OS

With restaurants across the country redefining themselves in the wake of the past year’s upheaval, there is a unique opportunity to take inventory of much more than just your walk-in fridge. Many of our restaurant partners are examining how the industry can be more inclusive and welcoming for those who had previously been left behind. With this ongoing Inclusivity Series, we aim to showcase creative ways that some leading restaurants and organizations are fostering respect and equality for underrepresented staff and guests. We’ll provide actionable steps to ensure inclusivity is more than just a convenient buzzword…

Digital access still a barrier for people with disabilities

July 27, 2021 | Source: Orlando Sentinel

From paying bills to making travel plans to catching up on the latest news, more and more Americans are relying on the Internet “almost constantly” to handle day-to-day necessities. The role technology plays in our daily lives has become so ubiquitous that it’s easy — for most of us — to take it for granted. But for more than half a million Floridians who are living with blindness or other vision impairments, it’s still difficult to complete basic tasks online. A 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center found that people with disabilities have less access to technology overall — and those who do face a range of barriers, ranging from small fonts to unclear navigation…

Bipartisan Disability Caucus and Advocates Discuss Housing Accessibility

July 27, 2021 | Source: Insider NJ

Members of the bipartisan New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus today joined members of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey, and intellectual and developmental disabilities advocates to discuss housing accessibility for individuals in the I/DD community. “For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, finding housing that is both accessible and affordable is a very real challenge,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland), Chair of the Disability Caucus…

ADA Website Litigation: Eleventh Circuit Holds Website is Not Subject to Title III

July 27, 2021 | Source: Schiff Hardin

Plaintiffs are filing an increasing number of lawsuits against companies alleging that their websites violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because the sites are not accessible to visually impaired customers. But these lawsuits assume an answer to an unresolved question: does Title III apply to websites? Title III applies to “places of public accommodation” and prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s disability. Yet neither the statute nor the accompanying regulations state that websites are places of public accommodation, leaving courts (or Congress) to determine whether websites are required to comply with Title III…

On ADA’s 31st Anniversary, Duckworth Speaks at FDR Memorial Wreath Laying and Calls for Accessibility and Inclusion

July 27, 2021 | Source: RiverBender.com

As our nation marks the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) as well as members of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee’s Advisory Board at the FDR Memorial to honor President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s leadership as the first known United States President with a significant physical disability and highlight the importance of disability representation and the work we must do to achieve full accessibility and inclusion…

Superheroes with Disabilities

July 29, 2021 | Source: Access Ready Reporter

Just because you have a disability does not mean you can’t be a superhero. Throughout history our superheroes have had great abilities and disabilities. Superman can leap tall buildings with a single bound, go faster than a speeding bullet, fly quick enough to turn back time, but a tiny chunk of rock leaves him weak and barely able to walk let alone fly. This demonstrates that we are all vulnerable and have a disability of some sort. Wonder Woman also uses technology in her fight against crime…

Blind guy travels … and sings, and plays accordion, and makes Legos more accessible to the visually impaired

July 28, 2021 | Source: Baptist News Global

Ask Matthew Shifrin about the one thing he won’t do, and his answer is simple: Live alone. That’s because Shifrin is blind. “Things like living on my own — can it be done? Absolutely,” he said. “But does that mean I want to go out and do it? No. There’s a certain durability that’s required for a fully independent life, and I don’t want to sacrifice my productivity for that.” At 24 years of age, Shifrin, who has been blind since birth, has accomplished more than many people twice his age, and it seems he’s always been an innovator…

Sanibel refuge is first to unveil scope for colorblind viewers

July 28, 2021 | Source: Sanibel-Captiva Islander

Among the 560 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel will be the first to expand its accessibility initiatives to include a spotting scope for colorblind visitors. Engineered by SeeCoast Manufacturing with EnChroma’s lens technology for color blindness, it will be unveiled at the Wildlife Drive observation tower on Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. EnChroma eyeglasses will also be available at the refuge for visitors with color vision deficiency to borrow…

Jack Fact — According to the Epilepsy Society, 1 percent of the global population suffers from epilepsy, and 3 percent of them are categorized as photosensitive.

Hit The Road Jack — A mission to make tourism inclusive and accessible & Portugal boasts 223 accessible beaches & Accessible Travel News Service

International News

Disabled shopper left angry and frustrated after Next cordons off accessible bays

July 15, 2021 | Source: Disability News Service- UK

A disabled woman was left angry, frustrated and saddened by the “discriminatory” actions of a major retailer that blocked off a whole row of accessible parking bays for three days, to make space for customers queueing for its sale. Amy-Louise Peach challenged staff on Monday (12 July) about the decision to block off all six or seven of the bays nearest the entrance to the Next store (pictured), but she was told it was needed because of the sale…

Five ways for firms to reach customers with disabilities

July 15, 2021 | Source: BBC News- UK

Increasingly for businesses, factoring in the needs of disabled customers from the start is becoming a crucial part of product development. Yet this huge market – the so-called “Purple pound” – remains largely untapped as many firms are failing to successfully adapt for customers with disabilities. The purple pound refers to the spending power of disabled households and is now worth some £274bn a year to UK businesses, according to the advocacy group Purple…

Tetraplegic thrill-seeker campaigning to make tourism accessible for everyone

July 16, 2021 | Source: Newshub- New Zealand

Tetraplegic paraglider Jezza Williams is unstoppable both in his appetite for adventure, and in his campaign to make tourism inclusive for all abilities. He’s started producing his own videos showcasing people with disabilities enjoying extreme sport in the hope the tourism industry follows his lead. In Williams’ promotional video, New Zealand is shown as the inclusive adventure capital of the world. “I want to promote the whole of New Zealand within inclusion like Tourism New Zealand does to overseas markets, we should be showing people what is possible that’s why we’ve been making these films,” he told Newshub…

Disabled councillors blocked from accessibility vote — because they are disabled

July 16, 2021 | Source: iNews-UK

A council ballot turned sour when two councillors were blocked from voting in an accessibility debate — because they are disabled. Councillors Katie Lomas and Ashley Mason were told by York City Council they had “a prejudicial interest” in vote on improving accessibility in the town centre because they are Blue Badge holders. The pair were told they had to leave the room during the vote among councillors on Thursday evening, and they would have to declare the reasons in front of their colleagues as a conflict of interest…

Montreal advocates call for better accessibility

July 16, 2021 | Source: Globalnews- Canada

Marie Pontini is a competitive bodybuilder who likes to keep active. But she’s frustrated that she cannot always get to where she wants to. There isn’t always access for her wheelchair, which she uses because she has multiple sclerosis. “New buildings, they have to be accessible,” she told Global News, “but there’s no guidelines that tell them how to make it accessible.” Pontini pointed out that the problem of accessibility for people with reduced mobility in the city is nothing new and that for years they’ve been demanding improved access…

EESC welcomes EU Disability Rights Strategy but identifies weaknesses that should be addressed

July 1, 2021 | Source: EU Reporter- Europe

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hails the new EU Disability Rights Strategy as a step forward in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Strategy has taken on board many of the suggestions proposed by the EESC, the European disability movement and civil society. The proposals include full harmonisation of the new agenda and strengthened EU-level supervision of its application. The EESC is, however, concerned about the watering down of the binding measures and hard law implementing the Strategy…

Accessible housing is lacking in Kelowna, says disabled community members

July 16, 2021 | Source: Kelowna Capital News- Canada

When Spring Hawes moved from the East Kootenays to Kelowna four years ago, finding accessible housing was impossible. She watched the rental housing market for months before moving to Kelowna for an accessible unit but nothing came up. So she bought a condo in the city and renovated it to be accessible for her as a wheelchair user, a privilege she says not many disabled people have. “I live in my condo now and it’s a lovely condo, but it’s not necessarily somewhere I want to stay forever… But if I were to move, I would have to do it all over again in another condo,” said Hawes…

ISO publishes international standard on accessible tourism

July 20, 2021 | Source: BW Hotelier- Europe

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes the world’s first standard on accessible tourism, ISO 21902 Tourism and related services – Accessible tourism for all – Requirements and recommendations. This is an international standard offering guidelines to ensure access and enjoyment of tourism for all on an equal basis. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Fundación ONCE and UNE (Asociación Española de Normalización) led the development of this pioneering, cross-cutting standard on an international level, focusing on accessible tourism throughout the whole value chain of the tourism sector…

Social media platforms fail to offer options for visually impaired users

July 20, 2021 | Source: Korea JoongAng Daily- South Korea

Sharing one’s life on social media has become an everyday occurrence for many. But nowadays, rather than posting a photo on their feeds, many people prefer to make “stories.” Major social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram offer “story” features that allow users to post images or short videos that disappear after 24 hours. Twitter also services a similar feature called “fleets.” Because they disappear, stories are popular among people who want to briefly share personal updates, their current interests or what they are doing at any given moment…

Ask persons with disabilities how to make e-courts disabled-friendly

July 22, 2021 | Source: The Leaflet- India

In May, the e-Committee of the Supreme Court issued model rules on live-streaming of court proceedings. These rules are currently open for suggestions from the general public. They seek to lay down the procedure to live-stream court proceedings on the court premises and online. The rules also consider how the proceedings can be recorded and uploaded on the website of the Supreme Court. The live-streaming rules come at a crucial juncture because, over the last year, the courts have functioned online due to COVID-19 restrictions. The consultative process is part of attempts to ensure that developments on court premises reach ordinary people…

Archaeological Museum of Delphi now digitally accessible for the visually and hearing impaired

July 23, 2021 | Source: Greek City Times- Greece & Αthina 9.84

Accessible for people with disabilities the Old Fortress of Corfu

July 29, 2021 | Source: Αthina 9.84- Greece

The Archaeological Museum of Delphi is becoming accessible for people with hearing and vision problems, through a digital virtual tour, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. “Its application has already started, not only with printed material in Braille and signs, but also with the program of tactile tour and visit with a special electric vehicle for people with reduced mobility,” said the Ministry of Culture. The project includes the design and implementation of a digital virtual tour in the permanent exhibition of the Museum, even with the use of a QR Code recognition application in selected exhibits for mobile phones/tablets…

ACT to push ahead with national accessibility code after NSW defiance

July 23, 2021 | Source: The RIOTACT!- Australia

The ACT will push ahead to make homes and buildings more accessible despite NSW ruling out changing accessibility standards for new constructions under the National Construction Code (NCC). ACT Minister for Sustainable Building and Construction Rebecca Vassarotti said she was disappointed with the decision from her NSW counterpart after receiving majority support for the initiative at a Building Ministers Meeting in April. NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said while he acknowledged the benefits of accessible housing, the new code would be expensive for new buildings to implement…

We need to Build, Build, Build for accessibility, too

July 24, 2021 | Source: The Manila Times- Philippines

ON July 26, 1982, 39 years ago, an important law was passed – Batas Pambansa (BP) 344: “An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons.” On July 24, 2006, 15 years ago today, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act (RA) 7277: “The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and For Other Purposes.” These laws require that public services and infrastructure be fully accessible for persons with disabilities. And yet, we see that such laws are repeatedly violated or ignored, including by public officials and agencies that are required to enforce them…

Disability Rights Coalition wants to see Nova Scotia be more inclusive

July 25, 2021 | Source: Global News- Canada

In 2013, the incumbent government committed to a ten-year plan for equality, making Nova Scotia fully accessible and promising they would close institutions providing community-based living supports for all persons living with disabilities by 2023. With 30 months to go, the progress thus far has been glacial. The Disability Rights Coalition is doubtful about seeing the promise of government into fruition. The DRC conducted a months-long accountability review of the government’s progress on the roadmap for inclusive communities for people with disabilities…

We face untold frustration accessing public facilities, coping in classes despite disability rights law

July 25, 2021 | Source: The Punch- Nigeria

On a cold evening after a morning downpour, a lady identified only as Mercy went to a hall for a weekly music rehearsal. She loved music so much that the cold couldn’t deter her from spending time with others. Swaying her white cane rhythmically, she walked briskly on a familiar path. Unknown to her, a slab on the gutter had been broken and a large part washed away by the rain. Suddenly, she fell into the ditch. She called for help but none came immediately. She tried to feel her way around the ditch to find a way when help came. She came out with a bruised feet and a sullied face…

Stranded, refused and left waiting: Disabled people ‘on tenterhooks’ trying to access taxis

July 25, 2021 | Source: The Journal- Ireland

“I’ve been late for job interviews. I’ve been late for trains. It’s par for the course and it shouldn’t be.” Róisín Dermody is rarely late due to lack of planning. She opts for taxis when she doesn’t know where she’s going as she needs “a pair of eyes that are working” to get her to the specific building or new door. But she tends to only take taxis “as a last resort” as she finds other forms of public transport “far more reliable”. Why? Dermody, policy officer for Irish Guide Dogs and member of Disabled Women Ireland, is blind and has a guide dog…

Legal threat in York disabled cycle routes row

July 25, 2021 | Source: York Press- UK

Cycling campaigners are threatening legal action over more than 30 instances where they claim the infrastructure in York is not accessible to disabled people. York Cycle Campaign has warned City of York Council they may take action against them over claims they are not complying with the Equality Act 2010 in their new report ‘Inclusive and Disabled Cycling in York’. The report lists instances such as barriers, narrow cycle lanes, and claims that the council’s taxpayers may have to pay £50,000 for every pursued action via the small claims court if these problems are not rectified…

Disabled customers suffer as bank branches close

July 27, 2021 | Source: Your Money- UK

Banks failing to support disabled customers

July 27, 2021 | Source: Which?- UK

Widespread bank branch closures and the shift to online banking make it increasingly difficult for disabled customers to access cash and everyday financial services, according to Which. Research by the consumer champion found that four in 10 disabled consumers are suffering as accessibility of branches and ATMs, poor communication from banks and a lack of tailored assistance. Which says the widespread closure of bank branches across the UK appears to be significantly impacting disabled consumers. By the end of 2021, almost 4,300 UK branches will have closed since 2015, a 44% cut in the network…

National strategy to boost accessibility for disabled passengers

July 28, 2021 | Source: GOV.UK & Railway Technology

Disabled passengers will have better access to public transport and a bigger say in how they travel, under a new strategy that will boost inclusivity across the entire network. The Department for Transport (DfT) is today (28 July 2021) unveiling a range of initiatives to remove barriers and improve confidence for disabled people as they return to trains, buses and taxis after the pandemic. An audit of all UK train stations, originally pledged in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, is now underway – helping to identify improvements and highlighting existing areas of excellence…

Stranded without a cab after taxi companies cease or reduce accessible vehicle fleet

July 28, 2021 | Source: ABC- Australia

The dwindling availability of wheelchair accessible taxis in regional Western Australia has left those who rely upon them worried about their independence. Taxi operators in Broome and Geraldton are among the most recent to close or reduce services, claiming high costs, low demand, and onerous paperwork to claim fare subsidies are behind their decision. “It’s just not viable to have the ramp in the car — I’ve lost six passenger seats,” said Roslyn Crabb, operator of Chinatown Taxis in Broome for 14 years…

Critics give mixed response to ministers’ £1.6bn disability strategy

July 28, 2021 | Source: BBC News- UK

There has been a muted response from charities and campaigners to the government’s £1.6bn strategy to improve the lives of disabled people. Ministers have unveiled 100 pledges to tackle issues such as housing and inaccessible public transport, as well as barriers to education and work. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the government was listening and consulting. But a disabled Tory peer Lord Shinkwin said the plans were a “damp squib”…

Paralympic Swimmer To Rep RightHear, An Israeli Accessibility App For The Visually Impaired

July 29, 2021 | Source: NoCamels– Israel

Navigating the world – literally – can be hard enough on its own, especially in new or unfamiliar environments and spaces. For those with blindness and visual impairments, such undertakings can feel doubly challenging – even if they are Olympic athletes. Last week, Becca Meyers, a deaf-blind Paralympic swimmer was forced to withdraw from Team USA just five weeks before the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo because she was told she had to navigate the city and the Olympic Village alone…

Present Pal | A Scottish Company Built On Accessibility

July 29, 2021 | Source: DIGIT- Scotland

Chris Hughes set up Present Pal, the world’s first and only accessible presentation support app, after struggling at university with his dyslexia. The app allows users to create flashcards, notes and safety nets to help lower presentation anxiety, which is an issue that faces a lot of neurodivergent people. As a company formed and built on accessibility, as you would expect, Present Pal does all it can to make those with disabilities feel welcome and comfortable in the workplace…

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Microassist Digital Accessibility Services

Have you received an accessibility demand letter because of your website or application? Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.

Services include:

Accessible Website and Application Development— We rely heavily on accessibility best practices and using HTML5 and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) standards to build WCAG-compliant and human-tested accessible environments. Our teams are proficient in open source technologies such as WordPress, Drupal and Moodle, as well as custom frameworks in .NET, PHP, AngularJS, and other frameworks. Our Learning and Development team can also help you create accessible custom training.
Accessible Document Services— Whether you’re dealing with a few or a warehouse of Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, or other files, there are several ways Microassist can enable your team to offer documents and materials that meet stringent accessibility standards.
Accessibility Remediation— Our accessibility remediation services help you fix existing materials so that they conform to WCAG, Section 504 and 508, Department of Education OCR, and ADA Title II/III requirements. We remediate websites, applications, documents, and elearning, recommending re-creation when that is more efficient and economical. Especially for website and applications, to find out what is in need of remediation, we’ll start with an Accessibility Audit.
Accessibility Training— With several courses available for developers, testers, and content creators, your team can become equipped to consistently and expertly produce accessible digital products and online environments.
VPAT^®Evaluation Services— Primarily used by government purchasers and government vendors during the procurement and sale of ICT products and services under Section 508, a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template^® (VPAT) attests to the accessibility of a given product or service. Contact us to make sure the VPAT you write or review is accurate and meaningful.

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:

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