Accessibility in the News — 9/6/19.
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“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”
― Truman Capote
September Is National Prostate Health Month
Feature Story
Court of Appeal rules many websites must be coded to let blind people use them
September 3, 2019 | Source: San Francisco Chronicle
California Appellate Court Finds Inaccessible Website Violates ADA
September 4, 2019 | Source: Law.com
Restaurants, hotels and other businesses that serve the public in California must make their websites accessible to the blind, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday. The 1990 federal law prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in any place of “public accommodation” applies to websites where people can make reservations, said the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, the first appellate court in California to rule on the issue. It rejected arguments that the law applied only to actions at the restaurant or place of business and not to a website…
National News (U.S.)
Inaccessible Accessibility: It’s Time to Get Serious
August 29, 2019 | Source: Muscular Dystrophy News
Let’s really get serious about what accessibility is. The website Disabled World calls it the “‘ability to access’ the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity.” In short, the more people who can use the product, service, or venue, the more accessible it is. This is a good rule, and common sense needs to prevail in society. There are many public venues whose accessible areas are very inaccessible. Others have accommodations that allow only a subset of people with disabilities to be able to use the space…
Advocates Demand Suffolk Make Early Voting Sites Accessible To All
August 29, 2019 | Source: WCBS 880
There’s only two months left before Election Day and New York is having a slew of issues with setting up early voting. This year will be the first time New York introduces an early-voting system, which will require counties to open a number of polling sites nine days before the general elections on Nov. 5 to give people more time to cast their ballot. However, with a lack of funding to open new sites, it appears the proportions of early voting sites is now skewed across counties…
Accessibility for people with disabilities at Severance Corners upgraded
August 30, 2019 | Source: Vermont Biz
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that it has resolved its inquiry into complaints that certain units at the Severance Corners housing complex in Colchester were built with architectural barriers that made them inaccessible to people with disabilities in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The matter was handled by United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice…
Montana schools accused of website inaccessibility
August 30, 2019 | Source: ABC FOX Montana
The Department of Education is releasing a list of complaints against school districts across the country, and we’re now learning several Montana schools are on that list, specifically with regards to website accessibility. According to the Office of Public Instruction, complaints about websites have been going on for years, but the number of complaints increased significantly in 2018, when a simple rule change forced the Office of Civil Rights to recognize all complaints and not just mark them as frivolous…
Eye-tracking technology makes watching TV more accessible
August 30, 2019 | Source: Deseret News
For most people who watch television, the process is pretty easy. Grab the remote control, peruse through the menu and tune into the program you’re interested in watching. But for those with physical limitations or disabilities, the process is a lot more complicated and sometimes impossible without outside help. A new technology offered by one of the nation’s largest media companies is providing improved accessibility for an entire population of TV watchers in the blink of an eye…
Making business websites ADA compliant
August 31 2019 | Source: Monterey County Herald
Members of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce recently received a “business alert” from the agency notifying them of lawsuits being filed regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act non-compliance of business websites.
According to the alert, the action is similar to what the city’s hotels and inns experienced last fall and, Jenny MacMurdo, Carmel chamber president and CEO, states “this is an urgent matter, so please make sure you’ve addressed your website ASAP.”…
Financial institution websites and the ADA: Is your website accessible?
September 1, 2019 | Source: Milwaukee Business Journal
In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability. Title III of the ADA (Title III) prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, defined as businesses that are generally open to the public. Service establishments, such as branches of a bank or other financial institutions, qualify as places of public accommodation under Title III. Until recently, Title III primarily applied to brick and mortar locations. Increasing reliance on online platforms has led some courts to apply Title III to a business’s online presence as well…
‘Just Ask!’ Says Sonia Sotomayor. She Knows What It’s Like To Feel Different
September 1, 2019 | Source: NPR
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes early in life, and ever since has given herself insulin shots before she eats, to help manage her blood sugar levels. No big deal. But some years ago, she had an upsetting experience at a restaurant. She was in the restaurant bathroom, just finishing up her injection when another woman walked in. They both returned to their dinners, but as Sotomayor left the restaurant, she heard the woman from the restroom say: “She’s a drug addict.”…
How Ancient Cities Become Accessible Cities
September 2, 2019 | Source: ArchDaily
As the trend of migration from rural to urban areas continues, it is estimated that by 2050, one billion people with disabilities will live in cities. Many of these urban centers, with cores dating back hundreds or even thousands of years, are currently ill-equipped to respond to this demand. There is, therefore, an immediate challenge for architects, urban planners, and city officials to address the inaccessibility of historic cities, from uneven cobblestones to narrow, stepped alleys, creating an urban realm that offers universal mobility without detracting from their historic charm…
ABA Complaint and Grassroots Campaign Result in Access to Popular Texas Dam
August 29, 2019 | Source: U.S. Access Board
Canyon Lake is a popular recreation destination in the Hill Country of Texas located between San Antonio and Austin. Created by construction of the Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River, the lake and surrounding parkland is a favorite site for swimming, boating, fishing, as well as camping and hiking. A prized feature is a service road atop the dam which, although used for dam maintenance, is also enjoyed by many in the area as a scenic walkway because of the lakeside vistas it offers. In 2017, the Access Board received a complaint about the accessibility of the Canyon Dam’s service road…
Aging in place: How a couple remodeled their home for one-level living
September 2, 2019 | Source: Windsor Star
Soon after Foster Lott and his wife, Katharine Alter, bought their two-storey, 1945 house, they began talking about ways to improve it, and saving up to do so. Sixteen years went by and they were still talking about it. But in 2016, Lott’s hip was giving him an increasingly hard time — he’s in his 70s and she’s in her 60s — and they realized it was time to actually do the remodel. By then they had added an important priority to their plans: They would not only give the house an aesthetic upgrade but also adapt the main level for one-floor living so it would be possible to stay in the house as they aged and faced mobility issues…
Teenager Went Blind After Only Eating Fries, Chips, White Bread, Sausages And Ham Since Elementary School
August 2, 2019 | Source: Newsweek
A teenager who only ate five different foods went blind despite having no visible signs he was malnourished, according to his doctor. The unnamed boy visited his family doctor complaining he was tired, according to a case study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The doctor learned the boy was a “fussy eater,” but he looked well. Tests revealed he was anemic and had low levels of vitamin B12. By the age of 15, his hearing and vision started to fade…
Self-driving vehicles: The future of inclusive transportation?
September 2, 2019 | Source: Faribault
Autonomous, or self-driving, vehicle technology has been dominating the conversation surrounding the future of transportation infrastructure in our country. This often evokes images of a fleet of driverless cars and buses conveniently available for efficient transportation, free from user-error. While the most common concern raised in these discussions is the safety and intelligence these new technologies will be able to offer, it seems the question of accessibility is often left out of the equation…
Attorney Gold learned Braille to be closer to daughter
September 3, 2019 | Source: Buffalo Business First
As fathers tend to, Niagara Falls attorney Michael Gold has a special relationship with his daughter Marissa. But that’s about as typical as the Golds get. “She’s amazing. She really is,” he said on a quiet morning as he took time out from his elder law practice and reflected on his daughter’s journey since she went blind as a 33-year-old. He manages Gold and Gold, a firm started by his father that he took over after the elder Gold died. “I almost lost it. Emotionally, it was very tough,” Gold said of his daughter’s plight…
The Dignity of Disabled Lives
September 2, 2019 | Source: The New York Times
The eugenic movement spearheaded by Francis Galton in England in the late Victorian period reached a culmination in the view that if you got rid of the misfits, you could breed a pure, advantaged race. The reach of the movement was reflected in the American campaigns to sterilize disabled people, supported in a 1927 Supreme Court decision in which Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, “It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. Three generations of imbeciles are enough.”…
As Cities Embrace New Modes Of Transit, Gaps In Accessibility Remain
September 3, 2019 | Source: WESA- NPR
How we get from one place to another can have a big impact on our lives. Conjure up the feeling of sitting in a hot car, stuck in gridlock, and compare it to taking a short bike ride to work or to meet a friend. It may not seem like a big deal, but the difference between the two can lead to a noticeable shift in mood. It may also help explain the meteoric rise of micromobility. Cities around the world have begun to reevaluate the preeminence of the car as residents and officials look to the future…
Disabled workers bring a range of strengths and assets to the job
September 3, 2019 | Source: New York Post
Hiring people with disabilities makes for good business. A recent study from Accenture, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People With Disabilities, found that companies that make efforts to hire those with disabilities performed better and saw, on average, 23 percent higher revenue. “Disability is an asset. We’ve got some unique strengths,” says Jessica Rafuse, senior program manager for accessibility at Microsoft. Rafuse, 37, has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, which she says gives her a special insight into ensuring the company’s products work for those with different needs…
Making Michigan’s outdoor recreation more accessible
September 3, 2019 | Source: The Hillsdale Daily News
Nine seconds. That’s all it took. Flat on my back, head raised slightly, core muscles straining as I rode a sled 20 miles an hour down the summer luge track at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex inside Muskegon State Park in West Michigan. Nine seconds to travel 300 feet is fun for just about anyone. Speaking for myself, as someone with a disability, it was more than fun – it was a thrilling personal first. The truth is that people with physical disabilities don’t often have opportunities to experience speed independently…
Court of Appeal rules many websites must be coded to let blind people use them
September 3, 2019 | Source: San Francisco Chronicle
California Appellate Court Finds Inaccessible Website Violates ADA
September 4, 2019 | Source: Law.com
Restaurants, hotels and other businesses that serve the public in California must make their websites accessible to the blind, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday. The 1990 federal law prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in any place of “public accommodation” applies to websites where people can make reservations, said the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, the first appellate court in California to rule on the issue. It rejected arguments that the law applied only to actions at the restaurant or place of business and not to a website…
Carnegie Hall faces another year without handicap accessibility
September 3, 2019 | Source: Washburn Review
One common discussion students have about Washburn is that the current education building, Carnegie Hall, is not handicap accessible. This is an issue that students have brought up for years, so the question remains, “why has the campus not installed an elevator or renovated the building to make it more accessible to everyone?” The biggest frustrations students like Clare Brindley, sophomore math education major, have is that they don’t see Washburn making accessibility an equal priority to new buildings on campus…
New Silver Lake Elementary School becomes more ADA accessible
September 3, 2019 | Source: KSNB Local 4
A big change at the new $5.8 million Silver Lake Elementary School is benefiting students who have physical disabilities. The school has been under construction since early May. The old building was demolished, and a new one built in its place. Half of the building is finished, allowing all 150 students to return to their old – now new – stomping grounds. Students and staff moved in on Friday for a half-day of school. Classes officially started on the west side of the new building Tuesday…
Blind Woman Files Employment Discrimination Suit against Amazon.com
September 3, 2019 | Source: National Federation of the Blind
Maryann Murad, a blind Howell resident, and the National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind Americans, have filed suit in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Amazon.com for employment discrimination. Amazon is the world’s largest Internet retailer and currently employs more than 647,000 people worldwide. In the first quarter of 2019 it earned approximately $59.7 billion in revenue…
Judge: Lawsuit can continue vs Cubs over Wrigley wheelchair seating arrangements
September 3, 2019 | Source: Cook County Record
A wheelchair user has won the chance to continue his lawsuit against the Chicago Cubs over his claims Wrigley Field doesn’t have enough seating for fans with disabilities. On Aug. 30, U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso refused the Cubs’ request to dismiss the legal action brought by David F. Cerda, accusing the Cubs of not providing enough seating for wheelchair users, and enough of the special seating throughout the ballpark, at their home park on Chicago’s North Side…
As cities embrace new modes of transit, gaps in accessibility remain
September 3, 2019 | Source: WITF
How we get from one place to another can have a big impact on our lives. Conjure up the feeling of sitting in a hot car, stuck in gridlock, and compare it to taking a short bike ride to work or to meet a friend. It may not seem like a big deal, but the difference between the two can lead to a noticeable shift in mood. It may also help explain the meteoric rise of micromobility. Cities around the world have begun to reevaluate the preeminence of the car as residents and officials look to the future…
This Is What Accessibility Sounds Like
September 4, 2019 | Source: Brooklyn Rail (Audio & Print Versions)
Like a number of sighted people at the I wanna be with you everywhere festival at Performance Space New York, I had never used Audio Description (AD) during a dance performance. At every other dance show I had attended in my life, I had benefited from the assumption that the audience would be watching the dance. A dance was something one went to see. The organizers of I wanna be with you everywhere, a co-production of Arika, Performance Space New York, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, made no such assumptions…
Dorian: FEMA Taking Special Measures to Assist People with Disabilities
September 4, 2019 | Source: Spectrum News
As Hurricane Dorian makes its way up the east coast, those with disabilities living in the path of the storm may face difficult circumstances. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and their partners are attempting to assist this vulnerable population before, during, and after the storm. Currently, the agency is assessing the situation on the ground in areas already hit by the storm. “There are disability organizations that are actively engaged all across Florida right now who are standing ready,” said Linda Mastandrea, FEMA Director for the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination…
Paralyzed Veterans of America requests court order to address airplane restroom accessibility for disability community
September 4, 2019 | Source: Financial News
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) has announced it is seeking a court order compel the DOT to make airplane lavatories accessible to travelers with disabilities, the organization said. The action results from DOT ignoring its Congressional mandate to address this issue and continuing to deny full restroom access for veterans and travelers with mobility impairments. On May 20, 2019, after DOT stated it would issue a proposed rule addressing lavatory accessibility by December 2019, the Court put a hold on the lawsuit led by PVA and required DOT to provide ongoing status reports…
Tampa moves to make parks accessible for all
September 4, 2019 | Source: FOX 13 News
A playground is a place where a kid’s imagination can run wild. However, with many playgrounds not taking into consideration individuals with handicaps special needs, it’s an experience not all kids can enjoy. “You have a child with cerebral palsy and they’re in a wheelchair, and you go to a playground and, let’s say they have siblings, the siblings go to the other swings, and yet, that kid doesn’t have anywhere to swing,” said Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera…
‘Conducted In Bad Faith’
September 5, 2019 | Source: Florida Keys Weekly
On Aug. 23, a federal judge in Miami turned the tables on a plaintiff and lawyer who were suing a South Florida gas station for failure to provide closed captioning on the TV screens embedded in gas pumps that provide entertainment as customers fill their tanks. The judge, Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, described the plaintiff and lawyer’s behavior as “unethical and sanctionable … conducted in bad faith,” and said he would impose “additional sanctions on both.”…
Jack Fact — The Census Bureau found in the last count that 56.7 million people living in the U.S. have one or more disabilities.
Hit The Road Jack — Europe’s most and least accessible capital cities ranked for disabled travellers
International News
‘It’s a basic human right:’ High school should prioritize accessibility, Saanich mother says
August 29, 2019 | Source: CBC- Canada
Maya Bosdet says she’s excited for the beginning of classes next week because it means continuing a family tradition of attending high school at Claremont Secondary, in Saanich, B.C. But a tour of the school this week has her concerned the building won’t be accessible enough to meet her needs as a wheelchair user. A previous visit to the school revealed a lack of ramps and an unreliable elevator. Maya also says the door to the accessible bathroom is really heavy, while the lock and light are situated too high for her to reach…
Aya Aghabi: Jordan’s new symbol of determination
August 29, 2019 | Source: Jordan Times
Jordan gained a new symbol of relentless resolve, brazen courage and defiant hope. Amidst adversity, Aya Aghabi racked her brain about innovative ways to conquer and soar, living her life with such purpose and vision that nothing could stand in her way. To us personally, Aya remains our best friend, role model and greatest confidante. To us collectively, across the country and MENA region, Aya Aghabi stands as a symbol of determination. Ten years ago, Aya was in a car crash that left her paraplegic, unable to walk and relying on a wheelchair to move around…
People with sight loss ‘avoiding rail journeys’
August 29, 2019 | Source: BBC- England (Video)
London is one of the easiest cities to get to in the UK, with one in seven rail journeys starting or ending in the capital. But research from the charity Guide Dogs has found one in five blind or partially sighted people has missed or avoided a rail journey due to access issues. Campaigners are calling on Network Rail to improve not just the layout of stations, but also staff training. The Rail Delivery Group says Network Rail and train companies are working on ways to improve the travelling experience for passengers who have issues with accessibility…
Inclusive Stem is out to make hands-on science learning accessible to blind & low vision Indians
August 30, 2019 | Source: NewzHook- India
Education and career prospects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are elusive for many blind and low vision people in India. The Inclusive Stem is out to change that. Read more about the young people behind this much needed initiative. A member of the risk analytics team at NBFC Clips Capital, 22-year-old Shakul Raj Sonkar uses artificial intelligence (AI) in his work. The 22-year-old loves data sciences and being part of an emerging field globally is very exciting….
Film partnership shines light on accessible tourism in Scotland
August 29, 2019 | Source: The National- Scotland
A Glasgow-Based manufacturer of accessible vehicles has been working with a leading German broadcaster and a tour operator on an initiative that supports disabled tourism in Scotland. Allied Vehicles Group teamed up with TV company ZDF and Schottland fuer Alle (Scotland for All) to showcase how accessible Scotland is for people with disabilities. ZDF has filmed across the country at venues ranging from Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia, to Glencoe and Dunrobin Castle…
Province won’t change Robson Square steps despite accessibility complaints
August 31, 2019 | Source: CBC- Canada
The ramp that zigzags across the steps at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver will not be modified to address accessibility concerns because of the “architectural significance of the site.” Accessibility consultant Arnold Cheng says the ramp, which was designed in the 1970s by Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson, is too steep to safely navigate in a wheelchair or while pushing a stroller. Cheng says the ramp is also a tripping hazard for people with visual impairments because the stairs are all the same colour, which makes it difficult to determine where one step ends and the next one begins…
Ontario plans to launch five-year pilot project that allows e-scooters on roads
August 30, 2019 | Source: Windsor Star-Canada & Canada.com
Earlier this week the provincial Ministry of Transportation floated the idea of legalizing e-scooters and allowing them to be driven anywhere a bicycle can operate. The two-wheeled motorized vehicles are currently illegal to operate anywhere other than private property. The government’s current proposal states that the scooters currently fall short of existing federal and safety regulations. The government initially offered the public 48 hours in which to weigh in on the proposal, but later extended the deadline to Sept. 12…
Feature: Technologies enable China’s disabled in smart ways
September 1, 2019 | Source: China.org.cn
Hong Zhuo, a visually-impaired masseur in northeastern Beijing, calls a smart assistant his “eyes.” Using just his voice, he can finetune the lighting and temperature in his workshop, as the smart assistant can understand his orders and control connected lamps, air-conditioners and other devices thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things. “It has made my work and life easier and more fun. I feel so empowered, as if in a new world,” said Hong…
Disenfranchised and disillusioned: Little progress made for voters with disabilities
September 1, 2019 | Source: CBC- Canada
Across the province, electoral signs dominate the advertising space — benches in blue, large billboards in orange, flags in red and lawn signs the four colours of the electoral rainbow. The impact of the election sprint in Manitoba can be seen across the province, beyond the inundation of electoral advertisements. Brian Pallister’s early election call has raised alarm bells across Manitoba, and has widely been understood as a response to the one percentage point PST decrease that came into effect early this summer…
Ordinance on barrier-free hotel rooms takes effect in Tokyo ahead of 2020 Games
September 2, 2019 | Source: Japan Times
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government ordinance took effect Sunday that is expected to boost the number of hotel rooms in the capital accessible by disabled and elderly people ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games. Tokyo’s revised barrier-free building ordinance is the first in Japan to set criteria for standard hotel rooms so people with disabilities and seniors can more conveniently access them. It stipulates that standard rooms in hotels and lodgings with renovated, new or additionally built floor space of over 1,000 sq. meters must provide doorways at least 80 cm wide and bathroom entrances at least 70 cm wide…
Why have one in five disabled adults never used the Web in 2019?
September 2, 2019 | Source: Open Access Government- UK
Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states for people with disabilities to lead a full and independent life they must have equal access to information through the Web. This is a fundamental human right, yet here we are in the golden age of the Web and as far as accessibility goes it’s in the dark ages, quite literally for someone with severe visually impairment. To quote from Robert Stevens, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manchester and someone who is blind:…
Girl with epilepsy temporarily denied access to GO train
September 3, 2019 | Source: Global News- Canada
Metrolinx has apologized for an incident in which an Oakville man says he and his daughter, who has epilepsy, were denied a ride on an accessibility railcar Sunday. Cuong Ly was attempting to board the westbound GO train at Exhibition station with his eight-year-old daughter Pepper. The Ly family was returning home from an outing at the Canadian National Exhibition. “All of a sudden, they let on some wheelchairs…and moments later they come and say, ‘Sorry, the coach is full, you’re going to have to wait for the next train,’” said Cuong…
South Australia seeks input on accessible playgrounds for children with disabilities
September 3, 2019 | Source: The Mandarin- Australia
The South Australian Government has encouraged locals to have their say on new plans to make playgrounds more accessible and inclusive for all children. While play is a key builder of social skills, independence, creativity, and spatial awareness, children with disabilities can struggle to use playgrounds and community spaces, according to Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink. But the state government wants to change that…
Industry insights: Accessible travel
September 2, 2019 | Source: ABTA Magazine- UK
There are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK, according to the latest government statistics: that’s eight per cent of children; 19 per cent of working-age adults; and 45 per cent of pension-age adults. And it’s likely that all of us will, at some point in our lives, have additional needs, whether that’s temporary or otherwise. But despite this, many companies and public services are failing to cater to the needs of disabled customers – according to the charity Purple, 75 per cent of disabled people and their families have walked away from a UK business because of poor accessibility or customer service…
Can blind people make great architects?
September 2, 2019 | Source: The Guardian- England & The DisOrdinary Architecture Project- England
Visualise yourself entering a new building. What do you notice first? The answer for most people will probably be the internal structure, the colour of the walls, the light entering through the windows. But stay a little longer and you might start to experience the space differently: you’ll hear sound reverberating, you’ll feel air currents, textures and materials, you’ll smell wafts from the kitchen. For blind people, this multi-sensory experience is their first impression of a space…
Calls for action on rail travel accessibility as new survey reveals huge problem
September 3, 2019 | Source: Access and Mobility Professionals- UK
Almost one in five (18%) people with sight loss have missed or avoided rail travel due to issues of accessibility, a new survey has revealed. A poll of people with sight loss, carried out by Guide Dogs, showed that 60% claimed stations had poor infrastructure, while almost half (47%) believed that there was a lack of proper knowledge among station staff. And problems continue on the trains themselves, with 66% reporting problems locating an assigned seat, and 62% highlighting the difficulty of finding the toilet…
Back on her to feet, to become the voice of disabled people all over the world
September 4, 2019 | Source: The New Indian Express- India
In 1999, Smitha Sadasivan was only 19 years old when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She lost her ability to walk, brush or even move her fingers. She had even lost her vision for two months. Steroids helped but repeated episodes affected her normal life. However, she was not ready to quit. Battling odds, Smitha has now emerged as a prominent disability rights activist who was recently awarded the Javed Abidi Public Policy Award for her work with the Election Commission towards making the 2019 polls accessible…
Accessibility implications when choosing the design of signs
September 4, 2019 | Source: Planning, BIM & Construction Today- UK
We know from the abundance of street furniture that the desire to tell people who you are, what you do and where to find you is becoming an obsession. It brings with it the issue of the physical obstacles presented to people who have mobility difficulties. That’s something we’ll no doubt come back to, but for now, we want to focus on the shortcomings of some of that signage, and on the fact that some people can’t focus on the signs at all because of poor design…
Cambridge general committee adopts a ‘dynamic’ new accessibility symbol
September 4, 2019 | Source: Cambridge Times
Cambridge will have some dynamic parking spots in its future. At the Sept. 3 general committee meeting, the city unanimously voted to adopt the Dynamic Symbol of Access as an alternative to the International Symbol of Access for accessible parking spots around the city. The new symbol, of a person in a wheelchair leaning forward and operating their wheelchair, takes over for the stagnant person sitting in their wheelchair. “It’s really more than an icon,” Sheri-lyn Roberts, chair of the city’s accessibility advisory committee, told general committee…
Ludo, Snakes & Ladders among popular board games made accessible for blind kids at Mumbai school
September 4, 2019 | Source: NewzHook- India
Ludo and Snakes and Ladders are board games that many children love to play. Thanks to heritage architect and access consultant Siddhant Shah, these games can now be played by children who are blind and low vision as well.
Games period has now become cause for much excitement at the Kamla Mehta Blind School in Dadar, Mumbai. Everyday you find students gathered around a table playing Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, X&O to name a few…
Government launches digital accessibility awareness campaign
September 4, 2019 | Source: AbilityNet
The UK Government Digital Service (GDS) has launched a new website to raise awareness of new digital accessibility regulations that come into force on 23 September 2019. As part of its campaign to raise awareness, GDS has released a website and information pack that clarifies how organisations will be affected by the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. The pack includes an information sheet that clearly outlines the deadlines for implementing changes to ensure digital accessibility…
Top travelling tips for wheelchair users, from wheelchair users
September 5, 2019 | Source: Irish Times- Ireland
People often say that travelling is all about the journey and not the destination, but for wheelchair users, navigating air travel is often more of an adventure than they would like. Rolling through large crowded airports, hauling luggage, waiting in long lines, receiving a pat down, being strapped into a tiny aisle chair and then sitting for hours unable to move is exhausting. We’ve learned that the best way to circumvent some of the inevitable issues is to know what to expect, and prepare accordingly…
ADAP asks city to probe CEO on Accessibility Law
September 6, 2019 | Source: Mindanao Times- Philippines
A group of persons with disability has requested Acting Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte to investigate the City Engineer’s Office concerning the implementation of the Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law in the City.
In a letter, Association of Differently-Abled Persons (ADAP) chair Redendo Martinez said they have observed that the CEO has been issuing Certificate of Occupancy and Building Permit to establishments not designed to be accessible to the PWDs…
Is taxi surcharge to fund accessible cab subsidy ‘too little, too late’?
September 5, 2019 | Source: The London Free Press- England
The head of the industry association calls it a “cesspool of problems.” But the owner of a taxi company says it’s long overdue, and an accessibility advocate says it’s a start. A new proposal from city hall to slap a five-cent fee on every taxi ride to pay for accessible cab subsidies – an idea one driver says is sure to “open big, big drama” – is earning mixed reviews. “I’m all in for any kind of improvement to accessible transportation,” said Jacqueline Madden, head of city hall’s accessibility advisory committee, though she stressed people who use paratransit or accessible cabs need to be the focus of any changes…
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Is Your Website ADA Accessible?- Hudson Cook
- Accessibility: Key word is ‘awareness’- Sturgis Journal
- ULTA Beauty Makes Disability Matter- Meg O’Connell
- Architecture students make inclusive move- Pune Mirror
- How to create a garden that’s accessible to all- Oregon Live
- 31 Days of SMA: Making Travel Accessible- SMA News Today
- Molly Burke Has Some Advice For Aspiring YouTubers- Refinery29
- Importance Of Accessibility For People With Dyslexia- Tarveen Kaur
- The University: Agent of Change in a Changing Age- Inside Higher Ed
- Texas Governor Abbott Proclaims Direct Support Professionals Awareness Week
- Practical Tips and Tools for Maintaining ADA-Compliant Websites- Vedder Price
- A Blind Man Fulfills Mission To Make Legos Accessible For Visually Impaired- NPR
- My Boyfriend Is Full of Ideas to Help Fight Inaccessibility- Muscular Dystrophy News
- Accessible Air Travel: New Regulations Coming Into Force In 2020- Alexander Holburn
- Ensuring Medication Safety and Accessibility During Natural Disasters- Pharmacy Times
- Accessibility is just a matter of perspective for some- Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
- Renewed Web and Physical Accessibility Congressional Efforts an Exercise in Futility?- Seyfarth Shaw
- FDA Approves Cochlear Implants for Single-Sided Deafness, Asymmetric Hearing Loss- Jillian Kornak
- Senator Harckham Advocates for Safety and Disabled Accessibility along the MNRR System- HamletHub
- Time for Large Ontario Employers to Review their Multi-year Accessibility Plans- Borden Ladner Gervais
- Do you know how many domains exist today? Let’s take you on the memory lane of Websites- Digital Information World
- Sixth Circuit Holds Nonmember of Credit Union Lacks Standing to Bring ADA Claim Based on Allegedly Inaccessible Website- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- Nike Embracing Universal Design
- Innovative app enables accessible buildings
- National Parks Service Debuts New Mobile App
- Yelp shouts out to personal consumer preferences
- Beach Trax at Crissy Field East Beach in San Francisco
- Survey Highlights Hidden Barriers To Equal Access In Altona
- Shedd Aquarium launches app giving blind guests independence
- Channel 4 taps Simplestream for Paralympics online TV service
- NYS Fair to nearly double handicapped-accessible parking in 2020
- Valley company among largest wheelchair accessible car producers
- German National Tourist Board offers online database for accessible travel
- Winnebago Reveals 2020 Wheelchair-Ready Motorhomes and New Dealers
- Showcasing the DNR: Making Michigan’s outdoor recreation more accessible
- Android users now able to stream audio content via connected hearing devices
- Google’s next major Android update is launching Tuesday — here’s how to get it
- The Mountain Becomes Accessible to Disabled People with a Bulgarian Invention
- Westlake Partners with MobilityWorks to Finance Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
- National Seating & Mobility signs on as official ADA sponsor of Pilgrimage Festival
- VMI Signs Exclusive Deal with Mobility Networks to Expand Accessible Product Line
- Government of Canada announces new Accessible Technology Program funding recipients
- Access Board Releases Voluntary Guidelines for Onboard Wheelchairs for Public Comment
- TCS Associates Announces New Brand Identity, TCSAccess, with Redesigned Logo and Website
- Robert Bouton McDougal Pens Accessibility Guidelines for English as a Second Language Studies Curriculum
- OCR Issues Guidance to Help Ensure Equal Access to Emergency Services and the Appropriate Sharing of Medical Information during Hurricane Dorian
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) – first public hearing, draft accessibility strategy, community forums
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Accessible Icon Buttons
- What Is The Internet Of Things?
- The Hottest Website Trends Of 2019
- The Beauty of Progressive Web Apps
- How to watch deleted YouTube videos
- Hello, Computer: Inside Apple’s Voice Control
- 6 Accessibility Hacks for Tools You Already Use
- How To Adjust Font Size In Chrome For Android
- How to make 80-hour adventures for blind gamers
- 5 Reasons to Convert Articles to PDF on Your Website
- What Is Website Accessibility and Why Does It Matter?
- The cost of building a website – Everything you need to know
- How to Access Google Maps’ New Street View Layer in Android
- Gears 5 Accessibility Options Include Colorblind Modes, Target Lock
- Google releases Android 10: The top 8 ways your phone will improve
- The band X Ambassadors created a music video for the visually impaired
- Gears 5 was built to be the most accessible and approachable game in the series, and it’s all thanks to one note
Accessibility Statements
- Oath
- Druid Theatre
- Hometown Focus
- East Fork Pottery
- Williams Sonoma
- Landesmuseum Zürich
- University of Virginia
- Johns Hopkins University
- Audio Engineering Society
- Southern Regional Educational Board
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:
- The WCAG 2.1 Update: A Brief Look at What’s Changed
- Introducing VPAT®0, the More Stringent Accessibility Reporting Tool Required for Government IT Procurement
- 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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