Accessibility in the News — 3/24/2023.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a deaf student, Miguel Perez, who sued his school for inadequate education, potentially giving parents of students with disabilities more bargaining power. The ruling could simplify laws governing special education students and provide parents with more negotiating power, but schools fear it could lead to a legal battle over money and more litigation.

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Special education clash: Supreme Court sides unanimously for student with disability

March 21, 2023 | Source: USA Today and NPR and NBC

The Supreme Court sided unanimously Tuesday with a student who is deaf and who sought to sue his school for damages over profound lapses in his education, a case that experts say could give parents of students with disabilities more leverage as they negotiate for the education of their children. Central to the case was the story of Miguel Perez, who enrolled in the Sturgis Public School District in Michigan at age 9 and brought home As and Bs on report cards for more than a decade…

National News (U.S.)

‘This is about human dignity’: Minnesota parents of children with disabilities campaign for accessible restrooms

March 16, 2023 | Source: Star Tribune

Tram Nguyen has used restroom floors, the grass at city parks and the back of her van to change her 7-year-old daughter’s diapers. Her daughter, Sadie, who was born with a chromosomal abnormality that limits her mobility, has outgrown the infant changing tables in most public restrooms. “It’s disgusting and undignified to have to lay your daughter on a bathroom floor,” said Nguyen, a former retail executive and stay-at-home mother from Minneapolis. “My daughter needs to get out in the community, and not having a safe, private place to change her diapers is a major obstacle.”…

Colorado Invests in VR to Train HHS Staff in Accessibility

March 17, 2023 | Source: Government Technology

A Colorado pilot program is helping state workers better serve individuals with disabilities through virtual reality training simulations. The program, at the Pueblo Regional Center (PRC), uses the technology to improve staff training for those that work with vulnerable populations, according to Elaine Fisher, the staff development director for the Colorado Division of Regional Centers and virtual reality program lead at PRC. The center works with individuals with developmental disabilities until they can be transitioned to a less restrictive setting…

Mindset Matters: How The Tribe Of Accessibility Is Fundamental To Scaling The Disability Economy

March 17, 2023 | Source: Forbes

One of the mandates of the Mindset Matters column has always been to push the boundaries of convention and make readers think in new ways. This is certainly one of those times. The role of technology has been a critical piece both in the evolution of our culture and our way of life. It is redefining how we engage with the world around us, from how we work and consume our entertainment, to basic activities of daily living from shopping to exercise and so much more…

Paratransit riders find RTA scheduling site inaccessible; fixes on hold until 2024

March 17, 2023 | Source: The Land

Using paratransit.gcrta.org to schedule a paratransit ride is not an option for Larry Rodriguez. Instead of using the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA)’s online paratransit scheduling website, Rodriguez, who has a visual impairment, has to call the paratransit ride scheduling phone line between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or an automated phone system. Rodriguez has had to wait 40 minutes to an hour when he calls the phone line. He called the phone line on Thursday around 8:20 a.m. and was the 40th caller in line…

Accessible North Canton Playground attracts crowds, wins state award

March 18, 2023 | Source: The Repository

Laredo middle school club inspires $1.1M accessible playground

March 19, 2023 | Source: Laredo Morning Times

Eleven-year-old Brayden Bachman faces a high risk of hurting himself on most playgrounds. He has cerebral palsy and wears a leg brace. The ladders to get up a slide often have rungs that are too small for him. The space at the top of the slide is insufficient. The ground often isn’t level so he faces a higher chance of falling. And for him to use monkey bars is out of the question. “He wants to do the same thing as anyone else like his sister but he physically cannot,” said his father Aaron Bachman of Osnaburg Township…

Disneyland Reopens Completely Redesigned, More Inclusive Toontown: ‘We’re Thinking of Every Single Guest’

March 18, 2023 | Source: Parade and USA Today

Disneyland is finally ready to welcome guests to a completely reimagined version of its beloved Toontown–one that makes the magic accessible to every guest. The theme park initially closed Mickey’s Toontown in early 2022, explaining that the company had big plans to transform the area home to iconic attractions, like Mickey and Minnie’s houses, into a more inclusive experience that prioritizes accessibility. Now, the company is ready for visitors to enjoy the newly transformed land, unveiling its redesign and officially reopening Mickey’s Toontown on Sunday, Mar. 19…

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Loud music was blamed for hearing loss in her 40s. It wasn’t the cause

March 18, 2023 | Source: The Washington Post

At 47, Marlene Schultz thought she was much too young to keep saying “What?” when she couldn’t hear what people were telling her. The Pennsylvania accountant found it increasingly difficult to make out the voices of her teenage sons, much to their irritation. At work Schultz often had to ask people to repeat themselves, which embarrassed her. And she began cranking up the volume on her television, an accommodation she hadn’t thought would be necessary for years…

Hearing loops offer individuals with hearing loss a more accessible listening experience

March 19, 2023 | Source: Arizona Daily Sun

Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide, and it can create significant barriers to communication, especially in public spaces. For example, in a busy restaurant, a person with hearing loss may struggle to hear their companions over the background noise. Similarly, in a crowded theater or church setting, this person may miss important dialogue or announcements. Fortunately, technology has come a long way in providing solutions to these challenges, and one of the most innovative and effective is the hearing loop…

Miss Wheelchair runner-up dedicates role to accessibility

March 20, 2023 | Source: Altoona Mirror

For Hollidaysburg native and Miss Wheelchair Pennsylvania runner-up Laurah Zeek, the journey toward advocating for improved accessibility for people with disabilities began one morning in ninth grade when she woke up with a numb left foot. Zeek described her foot as getting consistently weaker until it felt like it was asleep. After undergoing numerous tests, her doctors thought it was sciatica — which refers to injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve that leads to pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in the leg…

‘We Are Here’: Crusade for More Inclusion of DeafBlind People of Color

March 20, 2023 | Source: The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint

The nation has fallen in love with American Sign Language (ASL) performer Justina Miles, who interpreted for singer Rihanna during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. But more than just praise for individuals like Miles, local legislators are taking the opportunity to highlight programs that can create real change for disabled communities of color that are often left out of the conversation. According to data collected from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 2.47 million people have combined hearing and vision loss, or considered DeafBlind under federal guidelines…

United Airlines Fired A Color Blind Pilot Who Could Not Fly. Now The Pilot Is Suing.

March 20, 2023 | Source: View From the Wing

A United Airlines pilot, hired in April 2022, was terminated after less than two months at the carrier “because he struggle[s] to discern different colors while flying at night.” The pilot is suing. He had just become eligible for long-term disability, and filed a claim. The airline says that his condition meant he was ineligible to be hired in the first place. The pilot was unable to fly less than a month after being hired. He “couldn’t determine the colors of signals on taxiways” and couldn’t fly at night. However he claims that there’s ‘no evidence’ he had this condition when he was hired, he could have developed it in the weeks that followed…

ADA Settlement Improves Accessibility at West Hartford Acupuncture Practice

March 21, 2023 | Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that West Hartford Acupuncture, located at 173 Oakwood Avenue in West Hartford, has entered into a settlement agreement with the United States under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the agreement, West Hartford Acupuncture has agreed to make its business more accessible to persons with disabilities. The settlement resolves a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice that claims that West Hartford Acupuncture is not physically accessible to persons with mobility disabilities…

Are Advocates for Corporate Disability Inclusion Anti-Worker?

March 22, 2023 | Source: The American Prospect

Last September, Amazon fired Jordan Flowers, a co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union. Flowers believes he was targeted, not only because he is organizing for worker rights, but also because he is disabled. Two weeks later, Disability:IN, an organization that advocates for corporate disability inclusion, promoted a video of disabled people using Amazon’s accessible features. For the past five years, Disability:IN has named Amazon a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”…

Disability Advocates Educate Candace Owens After She Calls Skims Adaptive Clothing Line ‘Ridiculous’

March 22, 2023 | Source: In The Know and HUFFPOST

Conservative political commentator Candace Owens recently went after Kim Kardashian’s brand SKIMS for using a model in a wheelchair to advertise the brand’s new adaptive clothing line. This is not the first time Owens has gone after Kardashian. For years, Owens has spoken out about the reality TV star for not having “a soul” over her relationship with Balenciaga, snubbed her by posing with Kardashian’s ex-husband Kanye West at a “White Lives Matter” fashion show and even claimed to have leaked an old audio recording allegedly of Kardashian talking about Whitney Houston…

The CDC is investigating recalled eyedrops after infections cause death and blindness

March 22, 2023 | Source: NPR and Scientific American

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s investigating a drug-resistant strain of bacteria that caused severe injuries in 68 patients, including three deaths, across the U.S. The CDC says most of the patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa reported using artificial tears or eyedrops. Ten different brands of ophthalmic drugs were involved in these cases, the CDC said. But the most common was Ezri Care Artificial Tears, which the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to stop purchasing last month…

How a Senate aide and her guide dog made Capitol Hill more accessible for all

March 22, 2023 | Source: The 19th News

In 1997, Moira Shea and her guide dog Beau made history when they became the first blind woman and guide dog team on the Senate floor. In doing so, Shea, who was working as an aide, opened doors for disabled congressional staff and elected officials. This milestone remains little discussed, but the presence of disability in the Capitol is not new, in part due to the stand Shea took. Sen. John Fetterman recently required disability accommodation after his stroke. But still, there is some distance to go…

Arizona Debates Bill On Guardianship For Developmentally Disabled Kids Who Turn 18

March 23, 2023 | Source: HUFFPOST

Arizona lawmakers plan to push for changes to a new bill that would educate parents of developmentally disabled children on guardianship options for when their kids turn 18, including less-restrictive alternatives, such as supported decision-making for the young adult, instead of full control. The move follows talks with disability rights organizations and weeks of revisions to SB1411, which initially stated that a developmentally disabled child who receives services through the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) would immediately and automatically be placed in the guardianship of their parent once they turn 18…

Austin Jailer Breaks Elderly Deaf Woman’s Arm After Misunderstanding at Airport

March 24, 2023 | Source: The Austin Chronicle

Karen McGee, a deaf, 71-year-old Florida resident, is considering a lawsuit against the city of Austin after what was supposed to be a three-hour layover at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport turned into an arrest, a weekend in the Travis County Jail, and an arm broken by a jailer and left untreated for three days. McGee’s ordeal began on the afternoon of Sept. 13, 2022, as she waited for a connecting flight from Austin to Seattle. She was flying alone for the first time in her life and nervous because her hearing aids weren’t working well, so she sat within sight of the ticket desk to see when her plane would begin boarding…

Jack Fact — According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.

Hit The Road Jack — Discovering Mexico’s Underwater Wonders: A Guide to Wheelchair Accessible Diving and Snorkelling

International News

Social Issues Commission adds braille to campus signage

March 17, 2023 | Source: The Queen’s Journal- Canada

To improve readability of building signs on campus for blind students, AMS Social Issues Commissioner (External) Dreyden George is introducing The Braille Project. George started by implementing braille on signs during events, for washrooms, emergency exits, and titles. He told The Journal he’s currently working on the LaSalle and Rideau buildings, which should be fully labeled within two weeks. The process looks like filling out a project document for a paper trail, buying the braille, and promoting the project at Assembly, the Equity Caucus, and on social media…

Man denied flight to Victoria on Lynx Air due to accessibility device

March 17, 2023 | Source: Chek- Canada

Jaxson Creasey was looking forward to his flight to Victoria for weeks, but the mood quickly shifted when he was denied boarding a Lynx Air flight due to his accessibility device. Creasey moved to Calgary from Victoria in October and was on his way back to the Island for a few very important reasons. “I was actually supposed to pick up a new wheelchair, this was a very important trip then I had to cancel two days’ worth of appointments,” Creasey told CHEK News. “I moved here in October, I haven’t seen my best friends in six months, I was so excited. And this ruined all of that when it was preventable.”…

Accessibility Factor

March 18, 2023 | Source: India Legal- India

Access to justice for the differently-abled persons is an area of concern which the Supreme Court is addressing, upfront. To enable the differently-abled persons to get access to their legal remedies, the Supreme Court at the behest of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud had constituted a committee to assess the shortcomings of the law dispensation process, especially at the apex court. The committee under Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat was asked to conduct an accessibility audit, extending to both physical as well as technology accessibility…

Ufone 4G, ConnectHear join hands to enable easy accessibility for deaf community

March 18, 2023 | Source: Pakistan Observer- Pakistan

Pakistani cellular company, Ufone 4G and ConnectHear, a social enterprise aiming to enable and empower persons with disabilities, have collaborated to improve accessibility for the deaf community to enhance their socioeconomic integration. Amir Pasha, Group Director PR, Media, CSR and Corporate Communication, PTCL and Ufone 4G, and Arhum Ishtiaq, Co-founder/CTO ConnectHear signed the agreement here in Islamabad. Ufone 4G, being a responsible corporate citizen, has been leveraging its technological expertise to promote equal access to social and economic opportunities…

Queensland declared 2023 the year of accessible tourism. Is it achievable without a disability workforce?

March 18, 2023 | Source: ABC- Australia

Hip-hop artist MC Wheels gets a thrill every time he performs. The Sunshine Coast artist, whose real name is Nathan Tessmann, takes the stage at festivals and events, bringing a “golden-era style” of rap that combines DJ mixing.

“We have a blast on stage, no matter who’s there,” Mr Tessmann says. “One person or 50, doesn’t matter. “It is kind of hard to describe sometimes the feeling of jumping up on stage and expressing what you have written.” After a decade of performing, he hopes the Queensland government’s year of accessible tourism can make much-needed changes to the industry…

Ageing Eyes- A Comprehensive Guide to Eye Problems in the Elderly

March 18, 2023 | Source: Greater Kashmir- India

As the curtains fall on World Glaucoma Week, which was commemorated from March 12th to March 18th, we received many inquiries about eye ailments affecting the elderly. So, we thought we’d give you a rundown of the most common eye afflictions among our esteemed seniors. As we age, our eyes undergo a series of changes that can lead to a variety of eye problems. These problems can cause discomfort, reduced vision, and even blindness. It’s important for seniors to be aware of these eye problems, their symptoms, causes, and treatments…

Access Israel awarded for work in Ukraine

March 19, 2023 | Source: The Jerusalem Post- Israel

When the war in Ukraine broke out just over a year ago, Israeli nonprofit Access Israel and its collaborative partner, Accessibility Accelerator, sprung into action. The Israel NGO, which addresses issues of disabilities access and inclusion worldwide, quickly realized that the estimated 2.7 million people with disabilities in Ukraine and the elderly would have an especially difficult time fleeing the war zone and accessing necessary services. Train stations, shelters and vehicles and information in general are often not accessible…

Accessibility for Aber train station moves to next stage

March 19, 2023 | Source: Abergavenny Chronicle- Wales

A project to bring disabled access to Abergavenny train station has moved to the next stage following submission of planning applications. The scheme will see significant investment in the town’s railway with the installation of a brand-new fully accessible footbridge and lifts that will link platforms one and two. It is hoped the accessibility improvement works will help to promote the use of the rail network by reducing carbon emissions and reliance on car journeys…

Award-winning maps promote accessible tourism

March 19, 2023 | Source: Sunshine Coast Council- Australia

A clever project that makes it easier for people of all abilities to get out and enjoy the Sunshine Coast way of life, is being expanded. The initiative began a year ago as a trial where specially trained “pilots” backed by advanced technology tracked some of our busiest routes, providing accessibility mapping for those living with a disability, using wheelchairs or using mobility aids to help plan their routes. This led to the development of Sunshine Coast Council’s award-winning mobility maps, which are now a shining example of accessible tourism opportunities…

Accessibility: 10 Ramps in Public and Domestic Spaces

March 20, 2023 | Source: ArchDaily- Brazil

The ramp is one of the architectural elements that, besides facilitating movement between different heights and floors, provide greater accessibility to spaces. In Brazil, a series of decrees and regulations seek to ensure citizenship rights and promote equality and social inclusion of people with disabilities, which permeates issues related to their mobility and freedom to come and go. Architecture plays a key role in this inclusion, by devising strategies to ensure that these people can transit, participate and interact in any environment, whether public or private…

Ontario has made slow progress to accessibility

March 20, 2023 | Source: Toronto Star- Canada

“Do you care?” When the conclusion of a report begins and ends by asking the premier that question, you know that the rest of the report isn’t likely to be praising the province’s accomplishments. And, indeed, Rich Donovan’s interim legislative review of Ontario’s progress in implementing the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is anything but laudatory. After extensive consultation with the disability community, Donovan notes that 77 per cent of people with disabilities report having a negative experience in public or at work, while only eight per cent describe their experience as positive…

Learn Flirty Phrases In British Sign Language With Deaf Influencers, Hermon and Heroda

March 21, 2023 | Source: POPSUGAR- UK

We all know that online dating is a minefield. From beige flags to winter coating, the struggle is real, even more so when the dating scene can feel isolating and non-inclusive. That’s why dating app Tinder is striving to empower more singles by offering ways to encourage deeper connections via its new visual series. Teaming up with deaf twin sisters, Hermon and Heroda, it has launched a number of stills and videos to help users learn flirty phrases in British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate better…

DNA from Beethoven’s hair offers clues about what made him sick

March 22, 2023 | Source: NBC- Germany

Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, researchers pulled DNA from strands of his hair, searching for clues about the health problems and hearing loss that plagued him. They weren’t able to crack the case of the German composer’s deafness or severe stomach ailments. But they did find a genetic risk for liver disease, plus a liver-damaging hepatitis B infection in the last months of his life. These factors, along with his chronic drinking, were probably enough to cause the liver failure that is widely believed to have killed him, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Current Biology…

Why deaf students should not be forced to speak

March 22, 2023 | Source: Scroll- India

When Neha Atique was in Class 4, she shifted to a non-deaf school at the behest of her parents, schoolteachers, and friends. In medical terms Atique is 100% deaf. So, on the face of it, sending her to a hearing school where she couldn’t understand what her teachers or classmates said made little sense. But it was the only way to ensure that Atique, the most promising student in her class at a school in Goregaon, Mumbai, received a proper education, enabling her to pursue a profession. This would not have been possible at the deaf school…

5 Photos That Depict What Life Looks Like From The Lens Of A Colour-Blind Person

March 23, 2023 | Source: Scoop Whoop- Germany

Sometimes we tend to take so many of our daily abilities for granted, that we get wrapped inside this small bubble of normality. Not by our fault, but we tend to become oblivious to the world outside this bubble and what life is like for others. Have you wondered what life would look like if you bled green and seasons always looked like Autumn? Yeah, we’re talking about colour blindness. To raise awareness about the same, OnePlus decided to jump in this Holi and partnered with a colour-blind photographer, Kilian Schönberger, to show everyone what the world looks like from the lens of a person who exists on the other end of the spectrum…

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