Accessibility in the News — 12/9/2022.
Qatar is hoping the ongoing World Cup will boost its accessibility efforts and help the country better accommodate people with disabilities in the longer term. The tournament has provided “sensory rooms” for fans with autism, along with audio descriptive commentary for those who are visually impaired. There is also a dedicated allocation of tickets for those with limited mobility to purchase, and the venues have accessibility features including for parking, seating, and bathrooms. “We are not only looking out for people with physical disabilities but even people who have some autism, we want to make sure they have a right to experience,” said Fatma Al-Nuaimi, communications executive director for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
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AITN Quote of the Week
“New information and communications technologies can improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, but only if such technologies are designed from the beginning so that everyone can use them. Given the explosive growth in the use of the World Wide Web for publishing, electronic commerce, lifelong learning and the delivery of government services, it is vital that the Web be accessible to everyone.” ― Bill Clinton
Dec Dreamscape – Microassist
Dreamscape Foundation- Sharing the Dream
Feature Stories
Qatar hopes World Cup will boost its longer-term accessibility efforts
December 7, 2022 | Source: CAN- Qatar
Beckham praises Qatar Foundation’s accessibility services to people with disabilities
December 7, 2022 | Source: The Peninsula- Qatar
World Cup host Qatar is hoping the ongoing tournament will boost its accessibility efforts and help the country better accommodate people with special needs in the longer term. For all matches, there is a dedicated allocation of tickets for disabled people and those with limited mobility to purchase. There are five types of accessibility tickets, including for wheelchair users and spectators who require a controlled sensory environment. “So much work has been done to ensure that the World Cup is an accessible experience for disabled fans,” said football fan Ahmed Habib…
National News (U.S.)
Gamefly class action claims website inaccessible to visually impaired, blind visitors
December 2, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
Bananagrams class action alleges website inaccessible to blind, visually impaired consumers
December 5, 2022 | Source: Top Class Actions
A legally blind woman from New York filed a class action lawsuit against Gamefly.com, a popular gaming retail website, alleging the company makes its content inaccessible to legally blind people who use screen-reading software. Plaintiff Jovan Campbell claims that other major retail sites make use of technology to help visually impaired individuals navigate sites, such as alternative text, accessible forms, descriptive links and resizable text. However, the Gamefly class action says Gamefly chooses to “rely on an exclusively visual interface” that discriminates against visually impaired customers…
It’s Time to Make Accessibility Our Collective Responsibility
December 2, 2022 | Source: YES! Magazine
As an abled parent of a disabled child, I’m learning to help my son manage accessibility burdens because our communities and institutions aren’t designed with him in mind. We can do better for children with disabilities by building more accessible, more inclusive communities and by teaching them how to assert their rights in situations that aren’t in compliance with the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 and forms the foundation of disability integration into employment and public spaces…
Analysis: 30 Years After the Americans with Disabilities Act, There’s Still Work to Be Done
December 2, 2022 | Source: California Health Report
As an abled parent of a disabled child, I’m learning to help my son manage accessibility burdens because our communities and institutions aren’t designed with him in mind. We can do better for children with disabilities by building more accessible, more inclusive communities and by teaching them how to assert their rights in situations that aren’t in compliance with the law. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 and forms the foundation of disability integration into employment and public spaces…
Disability Rights South Dakota Conducts Accessibility Polling Site Observations On Election Day
December 2, 2022 | Source: Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan
Disability Rights South Dakota (DRSD) is the designated non-profit Protection and Advocacy agency in the state of South Dakota. Among the myriad of federal grant programs administered at DRSD, is the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program. This grant was established by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). On Oct. 29, 2002, President Bush signed HAVA into law to establish, expand and improve access and participation in the election process by individuals with disabilities…
Employment helps adults with intellectual disabilities see what they’re capable of
December 5, 2022 | Source: NPR
From the age of 2, I have always had at least one close friend in my life who has an array of disabilities. It started with my brother Chase and has expanded outward to his classmates and therapy buddies ever since he started attending motor therapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy and school. When I was too young to attend full days of school, my mom and Chase were stuck with me. I couldn’t be home by myself, so I spent a lot of time in waiting rooms…
Classic Theatre’s A Christmas Carol highlights accessibility gaps in performing arts
December 5, 2022 | Source: San Antonio Report
Ornate in a top hat, velvet-bowed ponytail and Victorian gentleman’s suit channeling Charles Dickens himself, actor Kurt Wilkinson delivers lines from the English writer’s work seamlessly at The Classic Theatre’s debut night of A Christmas Carol by Greg Bodine. “This would be like if Dickens got stuck in San Antonio and stayed here,” the actor said prior to opening night, noting the author’s history. Dickens himself landed in the states in 1867 to deliver a solo reading tour of his classic bankrolled by Boston publisher Fields, Osgood and Co…
I Cut Off My Arm Last Year And It Was The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made
December 6, 2022 | Source: HUFFPOST
“Best decision I ever made” was what I said when I ingeniously used a spatula to keep my shower curtain closed. I also say it every time I buy a slice of pizza. And I always say it whenever I choose the color pink. Now I look down at the short portion of my left arm that remains after I had most of it removed and say it too. That’s right: I had my left arm amputated several inches above the elbow nearly a year ago today and it was the best decision I’ve ever made…
Twitter – Microassist
Listen: D.C. is falling short of its taxi accessibility requirements
December 6, 2022 | Source: WAMU & dcist
For the thousands of D.C. residents living with a disability, finding an accessible transportation option is difficult. The difficulty extends beyond municipal trains and buses. It includes taxis too. Local lawmakers passed legislation to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) a decade ago. Heidi Case chairs the accessibility advisory committee within the city’s department of for-hire vehicles, and she says she used to be able to easily book accessible taxis through a local program called Transport D.C…
Study: Socioeconomics factors create disparities in telehealth access
December 6, 2022 | Source: Cape Cod Times
With an unprecedented uptick in mental illnesses amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, telehealth use spiked when in-person care was unavailable. But new research from the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Institute reveals there are disparities in who has access to telehealth services across Massachusetts. The report, commissioned by the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans and Massachusetts Health Quality Partners, highlights the “digital divide” related to who has access to tech devices, digital literacy, financial means for broadband internet and reliable internet…
Digital accessibility lawsuits are on the rise: Is your website AwDA compliant?
December 6, 2022 | Source: California Dental Association
Dentists take professional and personal satisfaction in providing safe, effective care for patients of all ages and abilities. So, it can come as a shock when they are faced with a lawsuit for violations of the Americans with Disability Act (AwDA). This is especially disconcerting when the individual filing the lawsuit is not even an existing or prospective patient nor someone who has ever visited the office. In recent years, a steadily rising wave of litigation based on infractions against the AwDA has impacted businesses of all types throughout the United States…
Many kids are struggling. Is special education the answer?
December 6, 2022 | Source: AP
The COVID-19 pandemic sent Heidi Whitney’s daughter into a tailspin. Suddenly the San Diego middle schooler was sleeping all day and awake all night. When in-person classes resumed, she was so anxious at times that she begged to come home early, telling the nurse her stomach hurt. Whitney tried to keep her daughter in class. But the teen’s desperate bids to get out of school escalated. Ultimately, she was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward, failed “pretty much everything” at school and was diagnosed with depression and ADHD…
A More Accommodating Stay: ADA Title III and the Hotel Industry
December 6, 2022 | Source: Jackson Lewis
All hotels aspire to provide their guests with top-quality service no matter the location or type of establishment. As guests resume—and ramp up—their business and personal travel post-COVID-19, all establishments must be prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Ensuring grounds, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, and websites are accessible goes beyond simply maintaining legal compliance. All hotels aspire to providing their guests with top quality service, no matter the location or type of establishment…
‘Theater of the Mind,’ Sure, But How About a Theater Accessible for All Bodies?
December 6, 2022 | Source: American Theatre
Accessibility is too often a theatrical afterthought. Not so for Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), and its long-standing inclusion commitment has gone next level with its world premiere Off-Center production of Theater of the Mind (TOTM), a new immersive project from musician David Byrne and writer Mala Gaonkar, which opened last summer and has been extended through Jan. 22, 2023. Though it was a daunting challenge, making this piece accessible to patrons with disabilities was not only doable and productive, said show producer Charlie Miller, co-founder and director of DCPA’s Off-Center program…
Majority of Harvard Kennedy School Affiliates with Disabilities Say the School Lacks Accessibility, Report Finds
December 7, 2022 | Source: The Harvard Crimson
A majority of Harvard Kennedy School affiliates with disabilities said the school is not inclusive of people with disabilities and lacks accessibility, according to a newly released report from the HKS Disability Justice Caucus. The report surveyed 379 HKS affiliates, representing 27 percent of students, 36 percent of faculty, and 11 percent of staff. Respondents answered a series of questions about accessibility issues at the school and the prevalence of disability policy issues in HKS courses…
MTA announces much-needed elevator upgrades at multiple subway and train stations
December 5, 2022 | Source: The Architect’s Newspaper and The Forum
It’s about to get easier for people in wheelchairs to get on the train at 23 commuter rail and subway stations across New York City’s metropolitan area. Last week the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced it will install or replace 48 elevators at nine Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations and 14 subway stations. In a separate project, the agency is upgrading accessibility at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall Station, adding a three new elevators (the station is already partially accessible)…
How can schools ensure learning is accessible for all?
December 7, 2022 | Source: K-12 Dive
The small microphone pinned to the teacher each day was barely noticeable. But for the student with a hearing impairment who now heard her instructor’s voice with clarity through headphones, the effect was clear, recalls Fabienne Doucet. Doucet, the executive director for New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools and an associate professor of early childhood and urban education, had been supervising a student teacher as part of the educator’s training…
Is lecanemab the Alzheimer’s drug that will finally make a difference?
December 8, 2022 | Source: NPR
A drug that offers a small benefit to Alzheimer’s patients is making a big splash with doctors who treat the disease. The drug, a monoclonal antibody called lecanemab, dominated last week’s Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease meeting in San Francisco. At the meeting, researchers presented results of a study of nearly 1,800 people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Those who got lecanemab for 18 months experienced 27% less decline in memory and thinking…
“Sustainable and Accessible”: All-Terrain Wheelchairs Arrive in Parks
December 8, 2022 | Source: Outside
Bill McKee was an avid outdoorsman: in 10 years of vacations to Colorado, he and his sons fished backcountry streams, hiked for miles, and summited several fourteeners, until a motorcycle accident in 2002 put him in a wheelchair. Afterward he felt unable to do many of the things he loves most. Trying the Action Trackchair, a beefy, battery-powered wheelchair with tank-like treads, last year changed that. “Being on a trail in Colorado was a blast from the past,” the 64-year-old McKee, of Garland, Texas, said…
The First Blind Crossfit Games Athlete
December 8, 2022 | Source: CrossFit Games
“I was hitting one PR after another. I was learning how to do bar muscle-ups. I was super motivated,” Kevin Maijer said in a YouTube video in 2020. “My ultimate goal was to compete in CrossFit. Not at the highest level. I’m not even close to that.” This video was filmed just months after Maijer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), causing him to go blind. He was listing off everything he had lost since his vision suddenly disappeared. But in 2022, Maijer not only qualified for the highest level of CrossFit competition but also became the first blind CrossFit Games athlete…
Jack Fact — According to Forbes Magazine, the disability community is larger than the size of China, with 1.85 billion people, and if you add in their friends, family and caregivers, that adds up to an additional 3.4 billion people.
Hit The Road Jack — Florida Wants to Be a Leader in Accessible Travel. Is It? and Accessible travel: How can the travel experience be improved for disabled travelers?
International News
JAM The Label Open Accessible Pop-Up In Melbourne For IDPwD
December 2, 2022 | Source: Harper’s BAZAAR- Australia
Most of us enjoy a little retail therapy, whether we need to update our wardrobes or not. A ‘treat-yo-self’ splurge is only fair post pay-check, right? But for one-third of Australians over 15 who are living with disabilities, shopping can be too much of a burden to indulge in. From the physical difficulties of entering a store to the uncomfortable conversations with retail workers, some of whom unintentionally ignore those with disabilities in fear of saying the wrong thing, the activity seemingly releases more triggers than dopamine…
Bristol Temple Meads launches audio guide for blind and partially sighted people
December 2, 2022 | Source: Global Railway Review- England
Navigating Bristol Temple Meads for blind and partially sighted people has become more challenging since the start of Network Rail’s work to renovate the station’s historic train shed roof. Scaffolding towers have been erected in parts of the station and some areas have become one way only or temporarily closed for access. To ensure Bristol Temple Meads remains as accessible as possible for all passengers, Network Rail has worked with BSLC to create an audio guide of the station. It’s the first time that such a tool has been made available at any Network Rail managed station…
Taking People to New Heights in Accessible and Inclusive Airports
December 3, 2022 | Source: ACI Insights- Canada
Despite the industry’s best efforts, travelling can be stressful. Air travellers can experience apprehension even before arriving at the airport, and the unease may not disappear until arriving at their destination. Getting to the airport on time, checking in, dropping off luggage, passing through security line-ups, boarding the aircraft, and finding a spot for carry-on luggage can all be nerve-wracking experiences. And for people with disabilities, the feeling is amplified by encountering seemingly endless and unnecessary barriers along the way. I know this firsthand as I am a wheelchair user…
Breaking barriers. President stresses on technology use to make education accessible to children with disabilities
December 3, 2022 | Source: The Hindu Business Line- India
‘Poor Accessibility Standards, Lack of Govt Interest Mars Progress’: Disability Rights Activists
December 3, 2022 | Source: The Wire- India
Disabled-accessible cities remain a mirage
December 3, 2022 | Source: ThePrint- India
Systemic Delays, Red Tape Plague Disability Rights Space in India, Say Activists and Experts
December 3, 2022 | Source: Wire- India
CJI DY Chandrachud Constitutes “Supreme Court Committee On Accessibility” To Ensure Access For Persons With Disability In Justice System
December 4, 2022 | Source: Live Law- India and India Today and Business Standard and The Indian Express and The Logical Indian
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday stressed on the maximum use of technology to remove language-related barriers in education and to make education more accessible to children with disabilities. She presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for 2021 and 2022 on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Addressing the gathering, the President said that according to an estimate of the United Nations, more than one billion people in the world are persons with disabilities…
Province helps B.C. non-profits break down barriers in their communities
December 2, 2022 | Source: BC Gov News- Canada
Twelve B.C.-based non-profit organizations will receive provincial grants for as much as $40,000 each to support community-based projects that advance accessibility and inclusion in B.C. “With the International Day for Persons with Disabilities tomorrow, I am especially pleased to be announcing this year’s successful recipients,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “This year’s accessibility projects showcase innovative solutions for a barrier-free B.C., an accessible, inclusive province that works for everyone.”…
Sask. Rivers thinking ahead on new accessibility legislation
December 2, 2022 | Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald- Canada
The provincial government is still finalizing new accessibility legislation, but trustees at the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division are already thinking about what that means for local schools. The province introduced The Accessible Saskatchewan Act on Nov. 15. It still has to pass second and third readings. If passed, the bill will help make Saskatchewan a more accessible province for persons with disabilities. Director of education Robert Bratvold said the division will be ready for any changes the new legislation makes necessary…
Revealed: Major cities failing to plan for any wheelchair accessible homes
December 3, 2022 | Source: BBC News- UK
Three of the 10 largest cities have no requirements beyond the national guidelines, which only say homes should allow wheelchair users through doors and hallways on the entrance level. Disabled people say they face long housing searches, huge extra costs and poor homes which harm their health. The government said it intends to strengthen the national standards. The failure to plan for fully accessible homes was uncovered by BBC Freedom of Information requests to hundreds of local councils, underscoring what the Equality and Human Rights Commission has called a “hidden crisis” in housing for disabled people…
Promoting web accessibility: Working to make government websites in Ukraine accessible to everyone
December 3, 2022 | Source: United Nations Development Programme- Ukraine
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked on 3 December. It’s a day to talk about the obstacles faced by people with disabilities realizing their rights on an equal basis with other people – and the steps needed to minimize them. However, not enough attention is devoted to this topic by society, with many thinking the problem of accessibility concerns only a small circle of people. But is that really the case? In 2021, there were 2.7 million people with disabilities in Ukraine…
Londonderry: Wheelchair-accessible taxi shortage is ‘ridiculous’
December 3, 2022 | Source: BBC- Ireland
Taxi services for disabled people are virtually non-existent in Londonderry, a wheelchair user has said. Deborah Ferris said a lack of wheelchair-accessible taxis was especially acute in the evenings and weekends. The number of licenced taxis in Northern Ireland has been in decline for a number of years. Ms Ferris said: “It is just ridiculous, there is meant to be equality, there is meant to be access for all.” Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show, she said: “I am not blaming any taxi drivers, but to me taxi firms should have one or two wheelchair-accessible taxis.”…
St. John’s theatre company launches audio description for plays
December 3, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
A St. John’s theatre company is launching a service it hopes will make performances more accessible to people who are blind or have low levels of vision. Paul David Power, artistic director of Power Productions, has been working to bring live audio description to productions in Newfoundland and Labrador for some time. His dream became a reality when the company began offering the service this week. “Obviously if you are blind or you have low vision, you can’t particularly see what’s going on the stage in a live performance,” Power said…
Canadian Paralympian says she was offered medically assisted death after asking for wheelchair ramp
December 4, 2022 | Source: Washington Times- Canada
A former Canadian Paralympian and retired veteran told the nation’s lawmakers last week that she was offered medically assisted death in response to protracted requests to have a wheelchair ramp built in her home. Christine Gauthier told the House of Commons that she received a letter from a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) caseworker that they could also provide the equipment if she were interested, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation…
Greens Call On Every Party To Improve Accessibility
December 5, 2022 | Source: Scoop- New Zealand
The Green Party is calling on all political parties to commit to stronger representation for disabled people at every level of politics. It follows the launch today of We Want More, a campaign to increase the representation of disabled communities. “Having been through an election and life as an MP with multiple sclerosis, I know first-hand how difficult it can be for others within our diverse disabilities communities to feel included and able to access support to go through that process,” says the Green Party’s democracy spokesperson, Golriz Ghahraman…
South Australia’s RAA sets standard for disability access to EV charging
December 5, 2022 | Source: The Driven- Australia
The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) is to conduct a trial to create access standards to electric vehicle charging infrastructure for people with disabilities. Announced to coincide with the International Day of Persons with a Disability, the RAA will partner with disability consultants Able Access Design to test planned charging site designs for the state’s EV charging network and ensure that it meets specific accessibility needs. The trial will be undertaken at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide and will focus on ensuring drivers with varying levels of mobility…
Obaseki tasks youths on innovations, technologies to advance disability inclusion, accessibility
December 5, 2022 | Source: Nigerian Observer- Nigeria
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged youths to consolidate global effort to end all forms of exclusion, discrimination and inequalities experienced by persons with disabilities by developing innovative solutions that guarantee the provision of inclusive, accessible and equitable services for all. Obaseki made the call in commemoration of the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, marked yearly by the United Nations and its sister agencies to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development…
Special Olympics youth summit seeks to ensure empowerment, accessibility in all aspects of life
December 5, 2022 | Source: Dominica News Online- Dominica
Minister for Sports, Culture, and Community Development, Roselyn Paul, has said that the government is committed to supporting the aspirations of athletes with disabilities within the sporting sector in Dominica. She made this statement at the Special Olympics Youth Summit on Friday. The function was the first of its kind hosted in the Caribbean and brought together Special Olympics officials from across the world and Special Olympics youth leaders of Dominica and the Caribbean…
Institutional Access through a Culture of Accessibility: The role of Disability Services Providers as Institutional Change Agents
December 5, 2022 | Source: Canadian Journal of Disability Studies – University of Waterloo
There has been a fundamental shift within the field of Disability Services from a medical model of disability to a social constructivist model of dis/ability. The medical model of disability suggests that disability is an individual problem or deficit that is addressed through reactive accommodations. In contrast, from the social constructivist point of view, dis/ability is an institutional issue made manifest through the interactions of an individual mind or body and environmental barriers that hinder full access and participation within sociopolitical, historic, relational, economic, and cultural contexts (Goodley, 2017; Shallish, 2017; Waldschmidt, 2017)…
How charities are working to improve the digital world
December 6, 2022 | Source: Charity Digital- UK
At Charity Digital, we believe that digital tools can be key for charities to achieve their maximum impact. But the digital world isn’t perfect. It is an extension of our physical world, so the problems people face in daily life can also extend to it. Here are some charities who are working to make the digital world a better place. At least one in five people in the UK have a long-term illness, impairment, or disability, and many more have a temporary disability…
Steep ramps, broken elevators: Report outlines accessibility shortcomings of transit in Edmonton
December 6, 2022 | Source: CBC- Canada
A new report says Edmonton needs to do more to improve accessibility on the city’s transit system. The report is the result of a collaboration between the University of Alberta, disability rights advocates Radical Inclusion and the John Humphrey Centre For Peace and Human Rights. Between March and July this year, researchers facilitated focus groups to understand the challenges people with disabilities and mobility issues face when using public transit.
Some key issues the report notes include steep ramps, lack of sensitivity, disregard for accommodations for people with disabilities and a lack of bus shelters…
Experts on accessibility, ableism and inclusion across Canada gather for second National Dialogues and Action
December 7, 2022 | Source: Yahoo- Canada
Looking at barriers to learning and working in the post-secondary sector was just one of several topics covered during the second National Dialogues and Action hosted by the University of Toronto Scarborough. The day-long virtual event brought together nearly 1,000 participants from across Canadian higher education and experts from outside the sector. Conversations held during this year’s event focused on addressing structural ableism, developing inclusive curriculum, learning design, work facilitation, and research supports, as well as inclusive infrastructure, design, and planning…
Jiangsu Civil Charity Organization Advocates Accessible Environment for the Disabled
December 8, 2022 | Source: China Christian Daily- China
A Christian volunteer service center in Jiangsu Province organized a public welfare activity of promoting the world of accessibility on December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities. On that day, Reed’s Home Volunteer Service Center, Zhenjiang Municipal People’s Procuratorate, and Zhenjiang Association of the Physically Disabled Persons launched the event, reported the Center. At the beginning of the activity, Yin Simin, a volunteer from the procuratorial cloud platform, and Tu Jing, a person with cerebral palsy from Reed’s Home, took wheelchairs to public places for the travel experience…
The future of accessible mobility is all about adaptations
December 8, 2022 | Source: Automotive World- Britain
Perceptions of people with disabilities have changed dramatically over time. Research from the British Social Attitudes Survey found that 83% of respondents viewed disabled people as the same as them, which is up from 77% in 2005. With the shift in social perception towards disabled people, car manufacturers must also consider their needs when creating new cars. Driving is something that non-disabled members of society may take for granted, but for disabled people, it can help make journeys less painful…
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Disability In Times Of Conflict- Forbes
- Legal Update: November 2022- Ken Nakata
- The Queer and Accessible Project- Living Proud
- Blind Lawyers Make Tech Visible For All- The Drop
- Escaping institutions, and their shadows- Peter Torres Fremlin
- Innovating for an accessible and equitable world- UN Web TV
- Oopsie! Should You Axe Your Accessibility Team?- Vista.Today
- Disabled Fans offered unique FIFA World Cup experience- FIFA
- Inclusive design for accessible learning Microsoft Education Blog
- Making science more accessible to people with disabilities- Phys.org
- Google opens its first UK centre making tech for disabled people- BBC
- Making science more accessible to people with disabilities- EurekAlert
- New Class Action Litigation Aimed at Website Chat Features- Procopio
- How To Set Up An Accessibility Program (Webinar Recap)- UsableNet
- Accessibility Virtual Reality: Augmented Reality Captioned Glasses- Equal Entry
- New student group pushes for better accessibility on campus- The Vermont Cynic
- Top Real Estate and Accessibility Leaders Form Much-Needed Coalition- Storeys
- A More Accommodating Stay: ADA Title III and the Hotel Industry- Jackson Lewis (Podcast)
- Meeting in the middle – Increasing accessibility for low vision technology- AT Today
- How increasing accessibility sets up people with disabilities for success- TechnipFMC
- Designer shares mission to help bring accessibility to fashion and entertainment- ABC (Video)
- A Proclamation on International Day of Persons With Disabilities, 2022- The White House
- In Photos | ‘Please Touch’: How One Person Is Making Art Accessible to the Blind- The Quint
- 3 Amazon employees share how the company approaches accessibility and inclusivity- Amazon
- Innovation is what we need for an accessible future- Chris Barry, President of Microsoft Canada
- Eye on inclusion: Making science more accessible to people with disabilities- Binghamton University
- Support efforts to make Michigan accessible, inclusive for people with disabilities- Lansing State Journal
- Disability and Week of Welcome: How two WOW leaders worked to promote accessibility- Mustang News
- Digital Accessibility in the Life Sciences: Why Everyone Benefits from an Inclusive Industry- Bio-IT World
- British Airways works with Queen Elizabeth’s foundation for disabled people to enhance accessibility- Travel Daily
- 4 ways businesses can support the rights and wellbeing of employees with disabilities- The World Economic Forum
- Everyone Who Does Accessibility Ends up at Some Point Teaching It- Digital Accessibility: The People Behind the Progress (YouTube)
- Apple’s latest accessibility video is one of its best, but it also gives me hope for VR- TechRadar and Aussie Expat Director Kim Gehrig Helms Apple’s Latest Spot Showcasing Its Commitment To Accessibility As A Human Right
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- RightHear is a Zero Project 2023 Awardee!
- Chino to spend $500K on accessibility plan
- Stark: The suite of integrated accessibility tools
- Rocket Switch – Accessibility Done With Elegance
- Delivering Brighton and Hove’s first accessibility strategy
- Giving a Damn About Accessibility- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- ANZ NZ pushes to become more accessible and inclusive
- Committees ready to help create B.C.’s first accessibility standards
- Charleston startup rates businesses on sensory triggers, accessibility
- 3 Web Accessibility Examples From A Blind Shopper- Michael Taylor
- FIA Launches Vehicle Adaptation Guidelines For Disabled Competitors
- The Roses Theatre launches crowdfunding appeal to improve accessibility
- Progressive Inclusivity, Accessibility is the Mantra at Mangaluru Intl Airport
- Android is introducing an accessible reading mode and digital car key sharing
- British Airways Pledges To Boost Accessibility With New Charity Partnership
- Apple’s focus on iPhone accessibility features take a step forward with iOS 16
- MTA Announces Accessibility Upgrades at Multiple Subway and LIRR Stations
- Preregister Now! UsableNet’s 2022 Report on ADA Digital Accessibility Lawsuits
- Statement by the Prime Minister on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Online virtual tour of Ely train station launched to help disabled and anxious passengers
- Cincinnati Adopts ‘Complete Streets’ Policy to Prioritize Pedestrian Safety, Accessibility
- Christmas Campaign Wishes the Gift of Digital Inclusion for Everyone This Festive Season
- GIPHY and Scribely Partner to Improve Platform Accessibility for Users with Screen Readers
- Lookingglass Theatre Announces Accessible Show Dates For Holiday Classic- The Steadfast Tin Soldier
- Google Announces New Accessible Reading Mode In ‘Special Delivery’ Android Update For The Holidays
- Region of Durham awards accessibility champions in honour of International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Comcast Debuts Xfinity Large Button Voice Remote, an Innovative New Product Created for People With Disabilities
- State of Illinois Partners With Adobe to Power Digital Modernization, Delivers Efficient and Accessible Web Experiences to Residents
- Creating the Leaders of Tomorrow: The Valuable 500 Reach Milestone for ‘Generation Valuable’ on International Day for Persons with Disabilities
- Making Buildings Accessible for Divyang Jan: Maharashtra receives National Award for Institutional Empowerment 2022 under category Badhamukta Vatavaran Ke Srijan Mein Sarvshrestha Rajya Award
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- EA shares more accessibility patents
- How can gaming be made more accessible?
- How to Check WCAG Compliance: A Quick Guide
- How to Get Google Docs to Read Documents Aloud
- What Does a Blind Person Think about Virtual Reality?
- Noteworthy Advancement in Game Accessibility in 2022
- Android accessibility options for blind and hard of hearing users
- Why Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Is a Step Back for Accessibility
- Just How Are The Accessibility Options In Marvel’s Midnight Suns?
- The Game Awards 2022: Predicting the Innovation in Accessibility Winner
- iOS 16 Accessibility: How to Use Live Captions and Accessibility Shortcuts
- Computer Science students create online game to shift attitudes about accessibility
Accessibility Statements
- UKHSA
- Genentech
- Wunderkind
- The Retrospect
- General Atomics
- Australian Government
- SOAS University of London
- City of Raleigh, North Carolina
- CCEPR – American Dental Association
- Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
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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