Accessibility in the News — 1/8/2021.
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Feature Stories
A Record-Breaking Year for ADA Digital Accessibility Lawsuits
December 21, 2020 | Source: Usablenet & SD Times & Year End PDF Report
In 2020, web, app and video accessibility cases are up almost 25% year-on-year. December saw an almost 100% rise over January. Total digital accessibility lawsuits in 2020 exceeds 3,500. When you combine federal and state ADA lawsuits, the trend is moving upward. Plaintiffs keep finding websites with lots of accessibility issues. (A 2020 WebAIM research report found that 98.1% of the top 1,000,000 websites’ home pages had detectable WCAG failures). It is becoming easier for plaintiff firms to document issues and build their claim…
Accessibility in tech improved in 2020, but more must be done
December 23, 2020 | Source: Engadget
For some of us, being forced to stay home and work remotely via video conferences was a temporary reprieve from our daily commute. But for Jonathan Lee, Zoom was a life changer. Lee, 28, is a paraplegic who uses walking aids to get around, and being able to rely on video calls greatly reduced the challenges involved in getting to school. It’s not just the elimination of a commute that made his life easier. When he’s making his way to classes, it’s impossible for Lee to walk and text while gripping onto his crutches, and if he doesn’t have a headset he can’t easily hold his phone up to speak either…
How 2020 Created Community for Disabled People
December 24, 2020 | Source: Teen Vogue
Before the pandemic, I often pushed myself too hard to attend things that were out of my way or otherwise inaccessible because my fear of missing out felt more important than prioritizing my health. I would extend myself past my limitations just to have the same experiences as others. But this year, with nearly everything moving to the internet, more things suddenly being offered online opened up a world where I could join in with the communities I love, without sacrificing myself for it…
10 of the Most Accessible Brand Campaigns and Actions of 2020
December 31, 2020 | Source: Adweek
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, cornerstone civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. It was also the 75th year celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a key way for employers to understand the importance of creating inclusive hiring practices. In marketing, brands have continued to arc forward, both internally in the way they approach talent, and externally in how they show up in the world…
National News (U.S.)
Oregon Hospitals Told Not To Withhold Care Because Of A Person’s Disability
December 21, 2020 | Source: NPR
During a pandemic, doctors make hard choices about who gets care. Federal law says they can’t rule out someone based on disability or age. But some worry the decisions are made behind closed doors. Early on in the pandemic, a woman in Oregon ended up in the hospital with COVID-19. She has an intellectual disability. And the hospital refused to put her on a ventilator, which she needed. A small group of disability rights advocates intervened to ask why. And they discovered something disturbing. Some doctors seem to be rationing health care for people with disabilities…
ADA Complainants Argue that Zoom Cannot Charge for Video Conference Closed Captioning
December 21, 2020 | Source: Law Street Media
Two “hearing-impaired” plaintiffs have filed a nationwide class action complaint against Zoom Video Communications, Inc. for its alleged failure to make its conferencing services Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The complaint explains that though Zoom offers closed captioning for a surcharge of $200.00 per hour or more, and permits third-party software companies to integrate a closed captioning service into its software, the only feasible choice for deaf video call participants is lip reading, a drastically inferior option…
Subway station for Brooklyn cultural icons now ADA compliant
December 21, 2020 | Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum subway station is a gateway to some of the most important cultural institutions in Brooklyn — namely, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Public Library’s main branch at Grand Army Plaza. However, it didn’t include access for the disabled. That situation, however, was remedied on Friday as elected officials, representatives of those cultural institutions and community residents gathered on Friday to announce the completion of new accessibility features, including three new hydraulic ADA elevators, at the station…
ADA Website “Tester’s” Lawsuit Dismissed – Again
December 21, 2020 | Source: Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell & Hotel Lawyers
In 2020, we saw an explosion of federal lawsuits against hotels alleging that they failed to comply with 28 C.F.R. 36.302(e) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not identifying accessible features on their own and third party booking agents’ websites. Twice this year, we reported that ADA website lawsuits filed against hotels by serial plaintiff Deborah Laufer were dismissed as she failed to show she had standing to sue. Is the third time a charm, or is it the prelude to an appeal?…
Multifamily Home Contractor Faces Federal Lawsuit for ADA Violations
December 24, 2020 | Source: Legal Reader
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against J. Randolph Parry Architects, P.C., and eight owners of fifteen multifamily properties constructed by the firm, alleging Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations, including “failing to design and construct housing units and related facilities to make them accessible to people with disabilities.” The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania…
‘We’re talking about a person’: The failing public access for people with disabilities
December 24, 2020 | Source: NorthcentralPa.com
Just over 30 years since the passage of the American’s with Disabilities Act, advocates say Lycoming County still has a long way to go in providing access to all of its residents. The halting process of ADA compliance has not progressed fast enough for over 10% of individuals in the county with disabilities, and increased efforts in recent years seek to highlight faulty efforts by local governments, schools and employers. Proper accommodations, such as access to government buildings and readily available assistive technology, must be made…
This team of high schoolers is building accessibility with free, 3D-printed prosthetics
December 25, 2020 | Source: CNN
For this first time in his life, Pete Peeks was able to use both hands to hang Christmas lights outside his house this year — thanks to the help of a high school robotics team. Peeks, 38, was born without the full use of his right hand, and though many may take gripping a nail, hammering it in and stringing holiday lights for granted, Peeks said it was beyond his wildest dreams. Early this month, he became one of the latest clients of the Sequoyah High School Robotics Team in Canton, Georgia…
Bipartisan reforms could help disabled Americans trying to work
December 26, 2020 | Source: The Hill
The incoming Biden administration has outlined a number of proposals to support Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries who are voluntarily attempting to re-enter the workforce. Both Republicans and Democrats have shown an interest in this policy area, and it may be one of the areas where some policy consensus can be achieved — even with potentially divided government. In particular, some modest and straightforward steps can be taken to improve Social Security’s Ticket to Work (TTW) program…
In Georgia, a Center for People With Disabilities Doubles as a Google User-Testing Hub
December 27, 2020 | Source: The Wall Street Journal
When Matthew Thompson graduated from high school in 2010, his parents were apprehensive about his next steps. Matthew has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, an incurable condition that causes progressive weakness in the body, and requires help carrying out daily activities like brushing his teeth. But like any young adult, he wanted some form of independence. His father, Rick Thompson, set out to find a residential facility for young adults with physical disabilities…
“We need to be at the table”: Texans with disabilities worry changes in legislative process during the pandemic could shut them out
December 28, 2020 | Source: Texas Tribune
Ricky Broussard has spent 10 legislative sessions advocating for disability rights — more support for Texans with disabilities like him who want to live independently, greater accessibility in transportation and better job training. Unlike other special interests competing for the attention of lawmakers, he doesn’t rely on a paid lobbyist. The 52-year-old’s greatest message is his own. Broussard, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, spent 29 years in group homes across the state hoping to get off a waitlist before finally receiving state support to live by himself…
US government wants to make rental cars more accessible for those with disabilities
December 29, 2020 | Source: CNET
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday proposed a new rule that should make mobility far more accessible to those living with disabilities, especially those using a wheelchair. The government agency will move to allow rental-car companies to install hand controls and equip vehicles with rear-mounted transporters for wheelchairs or scooters — essential to so many American drivers. NHTSA said the rule would allow rental-car companies to bypass two important safety requirements of the typical automobile…
Designing Our World: Accessibility In Tech
December 30, 2020 | Source: NPR (Podcast)
Every day, technology becomes even more integrated into our daily lives, especially as social distancing has forced some of us indoors. But is all this new technology being designed with everyone in mind? Can someone who is blind easily use Instagram? Or can someone who is deaf use YouTube? Historically, big tech companies have approached accessibility haphazardly. Sometimes brands think about those who can’t use their products easily. But a lot of the time, they don’t…
Alaska Airlines to Ban ‘Emotional Support’ Animals Starting January 11
December 30, 2020 | Source: Gizmodo
Alaska Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will no longer allow passengers to bring emotional support animals on its aircraft for any reservations made after January 11. The airline is the first to ban emotional support animals following new guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation about what kind of animals should be allowed on passenger planes. The new rules will not apply to dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks, such as guide dogs for people with visual impairments…
Imagine being blind and trying to attend a virtual event. Try that next time you stage one.
December 30, 2020 | Source: TechCrunch
How do you make a virtual event accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired? When I started work on Sight Tech Global back in June this year, I was confident that we would find the answer to that question pretty quickly. With so many virtual event platforms and online ticketing options available to virtual event organizers, we were sure at least one would meet a reasonable standard of accessibility for people who use screen readers or other devices to navigate the Web…
An Actor Calls For A More Accessible And Inclusive Future In Theater
January 5, 2021 | Source: WBUR
“Working over video — it’s not new for Deaf people. We’ve been doing it for years,” says actor Elbert Joseph (EJ). Although, EJ admits that the Zoom fatigue is real because of how much visual energy it takes. As for producing theater virtually? That’s a new world. Along with many theaters across the nation, the local landscape has shifted toward virtual performance and programming to stay connected to audiences during the pandemic. The theater industry has faced major challenges in reimagining what live productions mean in a time when gathering in large groups is unsafe…
Jack Fact — According to Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), every nine seconds someone in the United States sustains a brain injury. More than 381,000 Texans live with a disability due to a traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Hit The Road Jack — Costa Rica is named as the Best Accessible Destination 2021
International News
Unconditional cash transfers for severely disabled people should be priority – Harsh Raj, Bihar State Role Model for Working with PwD
December 22, 2020 | Source: NewzHook- India
From accessibility during voting to enabling greater participation of people with disabilities in politics, emerging activist Harsh Raj has many ideas when it comes to mobilising India’s disabled community. Harsh recognised recently by the Bihar government for his efforts towards ensuring accessibility in the recent state elections, shares his vision on My Take. I was born without a disability. When I was five months old, I reacted strongly to a vaccination. The injection given to stop it led to a paralysis attack…
One-third of disabled EV owners have issues with public charging points
December 17, 2020 | Source: Shropshire Star- UK & Motor 1 & Carscoops & Jalopnik
Many electric vehicle charge points are not well optimised for disabled drivers, according to a new survey. A third of disabled electric vehicle owners said they had difficulties finding a suitable charger, while one in seven said the weight of the cables was an issue. Others noted difficulties with the force required to attach connectors, a lack of drop kerbs around chargers, and a lack of suitable parking. EV mapping service Zap-Map teamed up with the national disability charity Motability to find the challenges faced by disabled drivers when charging…
India’s got disabled talent
December 20, 2020 | Source: Mid-Day- India
As a business executive who leads inclusivity projects at Future Group, Vineet Saraiwala’s job requires him to spearhead assignments across accessibility, pricing, home delivery and promotion analytics. While scouting for models and voiceover artistes with disability, Saraiwala says he was surprised to learn how difficult it was to land talent. “It’s not that we don’t have enough models and artistes with disability, but where do you find them? To route the search through NGOs, who would then connect me with a third party was arduous.”…
Accessibility is better than doles for the disabled
December 21, 2020 | Source: Livemint- India
Harvard University has one of the longest-running programmes to improve accessibility for disabled people, especially students. Michele Clopper has been involved with this for nearly two decades in various capacities. About five years ago, she became the director of disability services at Harvard following a career as an occupational therapist. Clopper has thus been at the front end of helping an educational institution understand the needs of disabled people and adopt best practices for them…
Legoland agrees to review its ride policies over wheelchair accessibility
December 21, 2020 | Source: THIIS- UK & Access and Mobility Professional
Legoland Windsor has agreed to review its policies after a young boy from was forced to get out of his wheelchair and walk before being allowed on a ride. Seven-year-old Sebby Brett from Gloucestershire has an undiagnosed gross motor delay, similar to cerebral palsy, which has left him unable to walk short distances without assistance. Sebby’s mum Joanna Brett took him to the Legoland Windsor resort last September. The visit was a treat for her son after he had undergone four operations in 12 months…
Steps Need To Be Taken To Make eCourts Accessible To Specially-Abled
December 22, 2020 | Source: Live Law- India & NDTV & Times of India & Businessworld & The Indian Express & The Logical Indian & NewzHook & India Legal
In another notable move towards accessibility to e-courts services, the Supreme Court’s eCommittee has stressed upon importance of having accessible websites. A letter has been addressed to the Chief Justice’s of High Courts across India by Justice DY Chandrachud, Supreme Court Judge and Chairperson of the eCommittee of top court putting forth suggestions elaborating the urgent need of having accessible infrastructure, including digital ecosystems and enabling physically challenged Lawyers and litigants to participate in the legal profession in equal footing…
Children with disabilities faced diminished access to education during pandemic
December 23, 2020 | Source: The News Minute- India
The COVID-19 pandemic has amply made clear how important digital connectivity is, and also how the digital divide continues to persist and disadvantage the marginalised the most. In yet another example of this, a recent study has found that a significant proportion of children with disabilities were excluded from education during the pandemic because of the digital divide. The study revealed that only 62% of the children with disabilities had access to online classes, that too irregularly, compared to 92% before COVID-19. Of these, 33% were ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ able to understand lessons or finish assignments…
The year the housing sector united behind calls to improve accessibility
December 24, 2020 | Source: Inside Housing- UK
As we reach the end of a challenging year, organisations across the housing sector will reflect on the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic and the steps taken to maintain our frontline tenant services. As well as taking pride in work undertaken to support tenants during difficult times, the sector should take pride in embracing the principles behind inclusive design and accessibility to improve the lives of older and disabled people. At Habinteg, several of our planned events – during the year that marks our 50th anniversary – shifted online…
ACT’s COVID-19 website has long-running accessibility errors: report
December 27, 2020 | Source: The Canberra Times- Australia
Ongoing accessibility errors have been identified on the ACT government’s dedicated COVID-19 information website, making the pages difficult to navigate for people using screen readers and impaired vision. A review of ACT COVID-19 information websites, published in Technology in Society journal this month, found consistent error rates in the six months between March 31 and October 17, suggesting a rushed development schedule was not the cause…
Most municipalities without accessibility plans for people with disabilities
December 27, 2020 | Source: The Portugal News- Spain
Most municipalities in Portugal have never planned accessibility conditions for people with disabilities and do not have a single accessible or certified space, reveals a survey by the Salvador Association and the Institute of Cities and Towns with Mobility. The data results from the answers of about one third of the 308 municipalities to a survey made with the support of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities and which started in October…
Voting not accessible for disabled
December 28, 2020 | Source: Times of India
Physically challenged people had to face a lot of difficulties in casting their votes in the civic body elections here on Sunday. Savitri, a 55-year-old resident of Indira Colony, was one of them. She had reached a polling station on her tricycle, excited to exercise her franchise. Lack of arrangements forced her to crawl to enter and exit the polling booth. “When my tricycle did not enter the polling room, I had to park it outside and crawl to cast my vote. Nobody assisted me or provided a wheelchair,” she said…
Waikato disability advocate receives NZ Order of Merit in fight for accessibility
December 31, 2020 | Source: Stuff- New Zealand
For John McIntosh receiving a New Year gong was so left field that he almost deleted the acceptance email, thinking it was “just a hoax”. Born with scoliosis – a sideways curvature of the spine – the Hamilton man, now 73, grew up encased in plaster from his neck to ankle from infancy until the age of five. He never thought he would go on to outlive his life expectancy let alone become an advocate for people with disabilities. But now his long-standing community commitment has been recognised with a New Zealand Order of Merit as part of the New Year’s 2021 Honours List…
Taking Up Space: As A Disabled Woman In Academia
December 31, 2020 | Source: Feminism in India
I would like to start this article by stating how only about 25 percent students with disabilities have been known to afford schooling in India, as per a latest 2019 UNESCO report. With only a small percentage of students with disabilities having access to academia and higher education institutions in a developing country like India, an even smaller percentage live life with the equality and dignity they rightly deserve: students with disabilities need to fight for basic rights, starting with accessibility, even in their educational institutions: something that should come so naturally…
How Lego ramps for wheelchairs are helping provide access for all
January 4, 2021 | Source: Borneo Bulletin
One of Julian Wendel’s most irritating daily problems was just five centimetres high. Most people could take the small step in front of the entrance to his favourite cafe in their stride, but for a wheelchair user like Wendel, it was an annoying daily hindrance. Luckily, a clever and colourful solution was found – Lego bricks. “We used around 1,500 pieces, ” said Wendel, who is part of a group trying to promote independent living for disabled people in the German city of Wuerzburg. Each block had to be labouriously glued into place, but the end product was light, stable and very eye catching…
Beyond braille
January 4, 2021 | Source: The New Indian Express
World Braille Day highlights importance of accessible information
January 4, 2021 | Source: UN News
Among the many ways smartphones have changed the world, their impact on how the visually-impaired access the world is pronounced. Technology has made it possible for people with visual impairment access texts, images and avail assistance through apps. On World Braille Day, we take a look at the assistive technologies that are making the world a bit more inclusive. Raghavendra Satish Peri, a senior accessibility consultant at Deque Software, says: “One of the popular digital tools is the screen reader. It converts text to speech…
Death of the PDF? Not quite, but it’s great news for accessibility
January 6, 2021 | Source: Econsultancy- UK
On the 7th December 2020, the UK government updated its content design guidance for open formats. The update has underlined its commitment to open standards and clearly mandated GOV.UK publishers to provide accessible alternatives to PDFs. The guidance now states, “If you publish a PDF or other non-HTML document without an accessible version, you may be breaking the law.” This is big news for content designers and has been lauded by accessibility advocates…
Only 2% of Britain’s courthouses are fully accessible
January 7, 2021 | Source: Open Access Government- UK
In April 2020, the EHRC found that people with disabilities may struggle with pandemic adjustments to legal proceedings – but just how accessible were Britain’s courthouses, before COVID-19? In December, the European Commission launched a New Pact on Migration and Asylum. A key issue was the language and lack of support for people with disabilities and mental health conditions, a startling omission in a policy proposal that impacts thousands of people…
COVID-19 Resources and Information
- On The Pandemic And Accessibility- Forbes
- Spotlight on University Accessibility- Virginia Tech
- #NewzHook2020- Top Accessibility Initiatives of 2020
- How to Keep Your Zoom Chats Private and Secure- Wired
- Transport for Wales Introduce Innovative New Face Coverings
- Home-schooling: How to help your child’s online learning- BBC
- What happened in 2020? Test your knowledge with our quiz- Quartz
- Some Americans Can’t Access Telemedicine, Study Shows- HealthDay
- Are You Sure You Want to Go Back to the Office? – The New York Times
- Federal agency says employers can require workers to get COVID-19 vaccine- The Hill
- Updated resources for planning accessible events available online- University of Maine
- Disability Advocates Still Have Questions About Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan- KRCC
- Employers Will No Longer Be Required To Give Paid Leave To Workers With Covid-19- Huff Post
- No access to books, e-access in lockdown has hindered Braille education, say educators, city activists- DTNext
- What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws- EEOC
- Screen zombies: Average person will spend 44 YEARS looking at digital devices — and that’s before COVID!- Study Finds
- Disability-Inclusive Telework for States- State Approaches to Disability-Inclusive Telework- The Council of State Governments (PDF)
Accessibility Blogs and Information
- Counting Web Accessibility Cases- Ken Nakata
- Inside the Concept of “Birdability”- Sierra Club
- How Recruiting Firms Can Drive Diversity- Forbes
- Barbara Jordan Media Awards Call for Nominations
- Vision Australia: Document Accessibility Toolbar (DAT)
- Best of 2020 – Top 10 Webinars for Accessible eLearning
- Useful accessibility resources- University of South Australia
- The Top 2021 Trends For Digital Accessibility- Jason Taylor
- Are You A Victim Of Accessibility Foolishness?- Jeff Singleton
- 10 things living with a disability teaches you- Disability Horizons
- Thoughts on screen readers and image recognition- Léonie Watson
- Why I seldom turn on my video for zoom calls- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- How to build a sustainable accessibility business: TSP20- AbilityNet
- President-Elect Biden’s Voting Rights To-Do List- Common Dreams
- Dow Celebrates International Day of Persons With Disabilities- CSRWire
- Deadline extended for submitting 2020 AODA compliance report- DLA Piper
- Countdown to 2021: Privacy & Data Security- Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
- Accessible Design Guide for Graphic Designers – 2021 Edition- DesignMantic
- Q&A With Dr. Joel Snyder, President, Audio Description Associates- Equal Entry
- The top questions you need to ask if you’re thinking of moving house – Starts at 60
- 7 Reasons Web Accessibility Should Be Your Top Priority for 2021- Legal Reader
- Study suggests smart assistant design improvements for deaf users- Penn State News
- Building for everyone- Discover how Google is empowering the disabled community
- The Reign of Ego – accessible accommodation market in real life- Marlies van Sint Annaland
- Social media is embracing audio more than ever – but deaf users are being left behind- TechRadar
- Not If, But When: Applying the ADA’s Accessibility Requirements to Mobile Apps- Carlton Fields
- Accessibility And The Arts: Reconsidering The Role Of The Artist (Part 1) By LA County Department Of Arts And Culture (Audio)
Accessibility Announcements and Products
- US Cellular Granted Waiver Extension of TTY Support
- TTC and UsableNet Announce Organizational Partnership
- Accessibility Awards Competition Attracted Great Attention
- Accessible360 has been acquired by T-Base Communications
- Porsche Driving thoughts: increasing inclusivity in motorsport
- TikTok Adds Text-To-Speech Feature to Improve Accessibility
- BraunAbility Offers Wheelchair-Accessible Chevrolet Traverse
- 8 Pieces of Adaptive Outdoor Gear That Redefine Accessibility
- Aging in Place eBook Highlights Industry Trends for Contractors
- Launch of the Persons with Disability Digital Accessibility Report & PDF
- AI Vision: Wearable AI helps the visually impaired ‘see’ in real-time
- Berks County Public Libraries launch Supportive Learning Collection
- 2021 Samsung TVs are now more accessible for people with disabilities
- c2c and Greater Anglia invite customers to join new Accessibility Panel
- Applause Partners with Non-Profit for COVID-19 Contact-Tracing App
- L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture Release Accessibility Study
- Nominated in Two Categories to Izmir Metropolitan Accessibility Awards
- Small Business Owners: Improving Usability and Accessibility Benefits Everyone
- DNR seeks input on increasing access to wildlife areas for people with disabilities
- Neatebox has been awarded the Inclusion and Empowerment Award by WSA 2020
- NSW Japanese Vehicle Imports Best Wheelchair Accessible Van With Rear Ramp
- How Is Artificial Intelligence Transforming The Lives Of People With Disabilities?
- Disability charity Scope aims for great UX and great accessibility across digital assets
- 5 visually impaired children come together to launch a creative platform called Vidya Drishti
- Sharjah Museums Authority leads in accessibility with its “Autism-Friendly Museums” initiative
- FCC Extends Time for Reply Comments on Communications Needs of Prisoners with Disabilities
- Amazon Releases New ‘Call Captioning’ Feature On Echo Devices For More Accessible Video Chats
- It Can be Done: A Book on Making the Legal Ecosystem More Accessible to the Disabled: Read Excerpts
- vFairs unites with CNIB to deliver an accessible virtual event for the partially sighted and blind community
- Smartphones Critical to the Daily Lives of People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Finds Strategy Analytics
- New eye test that uses AI to study retina scans can predict macular degeneration three YEARS before symptoms start
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- SurveyXact
- Contrast Checker
- Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit
- How to get captions for your calls
- No hands on with the Xbox Series X
- Video player rotation — interaction vs accessibility
- 10 Hidden iOS 14 Features You Won’t Want to Miss
- Trick to Use Your Android Phone Without Touching It
- The Display of the Future Might Be in Your Contact Lens
- Is gaming finally becoming accessible to disabled players?
- How to Enable the Hidden Tap Gesture on iPhone or Android
- Assess Olivero for WCAG Resize Text and Reflow success criteria
- How to convert text articles into audio (and why you might want to)
- Apple Demos an Apple Watch Feature Few People Know It Existed
- How To Make Your Squarespace Website Accessible For Everyone?
- PSLS Game of the Year 2020 Awards – Best Accessibility Options Winner
- Trick to Control Your iPhone Using Voice if Touch Screen is Not Working
- MMO SideChat – Future, and Present, MMOs Need More Accessibility Features
- The rise, fall and death of Flash: a web story with many flaws but an epic legacy
- Gaming For Everyone – U Of T’s Faculty Of Information Makes Video Games More Accessible
- Change the Color Theme of Any App Interface on Your iPhone — Without Affecting the Rest of iOS
Accessibility Statements
- Savaria
- Inkscreen
- Women in HPC
- York University
- Blaney McMurtry
- OpenEdition Books
- KMTV 3 News Now
- Perry World House
- The User is Out There
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Accessibility in the News: Accessibility Statement Pages
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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