Accessibility in the News — 8/2/19.

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― Dr. Bruce Lipton

An Initiative of the American Council of the Blind

National News (U.S.)

George H.W. Bush wanted more for people with disabilities

July 23, 2019 | Source: Houston Chronicle |

When commemorative events are held this week to recognize the anniversary of the ADA — the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act — it will be the first such anniversary without the man arguably most responsible for its existence. The nation lost President George H.W. Bush last November. As vice president under Ronald Reagan, and later as president, he personally championed and eventually signed the ADA into law in July 1990. Later in life, when President Bush used a wheelchair himself, he considered the civil rights legislation among his greatest accomplishments…

True Innovation in Hotel Accessibility Hasn’t Arrived Yet

July 24, 2019 | Source: Skift |

Many hotels follow local legislation and meet minimum standards, but where is the innovation that will more meaningfully enhance the traveler experience? “Things are very stagnant,” said Stephen Cluskey, CEO of Mobility Mojo, which provides software solutions to hotels to evaluate and promote their accessibility features. “There’s been no real innovation in hospitality and accessibility for the last while.” He sees some companies taking small steps, like TripAdvisor and Airbnb adding information to their platforms…

The Office of Accessibility Services Provides Students with the Resources They Need

July 24, 2019 | Source: John Jay News |

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) wants to level the playing field for students living with a disability. Working closely with students, faculty, and staff, OAS ensures that the needs of students are met both inside and outside the classroom in order for them to achieve academic success. “Our mission is to make sure our students feel that everything is accessible to them,” said Nadia Griffith-Allen, Deputy Director of OAS. “We want to give John Jay students the access, accommodations, and services necessary to provide them with the best educational experience possible.”…

Blind Taxpayers Sue the IRS- Print-only Notices Result in Financial Penalties for Blind Taxpayers

July 25, 2019 | Source: Brown Goldstein Levy |

Berkeley businesswoman Karen Rose, who is blind, was about to throw away what she thought was junk mail when a friend noticed that it was from the IRS. It turned out to be a second notice that she owed nearly $25,000 in additional taxes. When she contacted the agency, she learned that she had also incurred an additional $1,500 in interest and penalties because she hadn’t responded to the first notice. A representative from an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center helped her appeal the penalties when Karen explained that she couldn’t read the printed letters…

Some TSA Precheck Lanes Aren’t Wheelchair Accessible

July 25, 2019 | Source: NBC4 Washington (Video) |

Millions of people pay extra money hoping for a quicker trip through security at the airport, but some of those passengers say they’re not always getting their money’s worth. Scott MacFarlane reports traveling by air can be a particularly rough ride for people in wheelchairs…

Arizona disability advocates celebrate ADA’s 29th anniversary

July 26, 2019 | Source: KTAR |

Friday marks the 29th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act and local advocates are celebrating. Phoenix based disability advocacy group Ability360 normally celebrates with the ADA with a small party each year. However, this year, they tossed aside the cake and candles and upgraded to a digital celebration. Loren Worthington, Vice President of Communication and Marketing for Ability 360, said they’ve been highlighting all positive impacts the ADA has made by using the hashtag #ThanksToTheADA…

I Love ‘Queer Eye.’ I Don’t Love The Way It Portrayed People With Disabilities

July 26, 2019 | Source: HuffPost |

One of the things that I love most about “Queer Eye” is the way the show artfully deconstructs stereotypes by cutting through loaded and polarizing issues to tell the stories of individual people. It’s my loyal fandom that made Episode 2 of the newly released Season 4 particularly disappointing. In this episode, the men helped Wesley, a Black man, loving father, 30-year-old community activist and wheelchair user based in Kansas City. He acquired his disability after being shot in the abdomen seven years ago. Now, he runs a nonprofit called “Disabled But Not Really,” which strives to increase accessibility and empowerment in fitness settings…

Chicago aims to be ‘most accessible’ city in the nation, Lightfoot says

July 26, 2019 | Source: Curbed Chicago & Smart City Dives |

Over a period of two years, the city will install up to 100 new traffic signals with audible beeps or vibrations to help people with blindness or low vision to cross the street, according to the mayor’s office. It’s one step towards making transportation available to all, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Friday. Just last year, there were only 10 crosswalks in the entire city with accessible pedestrian signals (APS) technology. Lightfoot announced the initiative at Chicago Lighthouse, an organization that serves communities of blind, visually impaired, and disabled people…

Low-vision technology allow for the seeing impaired to have access to Houston venues

July 26, 2019 | Source: Innovation Map |

A partnership between the Houston First Corporation and Aira, an app that helps blind and low-vision people gain independence by navigating tasks and public spaces, is now live at venues around the city. Houston First will cover the costs of use for the app in its venues, including the George R. Brown Convention Center, Avenida Houston, Wortham Theater Center, and Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. The organization has plans to expand to the Miller Outdoor Theatre, said John Gonzalez, senior vice president of operations and general manager for Houston First…

A bionic hand named after Luke Skywalker could help amputees feel again

July 27, 2019 | Source: USA Today |

To lose a hand is to lose part of yourself, Gregory Clark, associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Utah told USA TODAY. And while prosthetic hands have been in use for thousands of years, there is room for improvement. Researchers at the University of Utah, with the help of other organizations including Blackrock Microsystems and DEKA, have been on a mission to do just that. They have developed a prosthetic system that will allow patients to regain their sense of touch…

Building And Designing Homes For People With Disabilities

July 28, 2019 | Source: Forbes |

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became a law 1990, it ensured legal rights across a variety of areas from employment to education, transportation and public accommodations in commercial buildings. While it addressed many major issues, one area where people with disabilities and their families continue to struggle is being able to live comfortably in their own homes. While there are standards to make private homes accessible, that doesn’t necessarily ensure 100% accessibility because every person with a disability has unique needs…

The $400 billion adaptive clothing opportunity

July 28, 2019 | Source: Vogue Business |

When Selma Blair appeared at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars party months after revealing her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, she paired her strapless Ralph & Russo gown with a bespoke monogrammed cane. The actress has spoken widely about the struggle to find clothes that work for her new needs and her celebrity has helped make a case that differently abled people, who were often limited to utilitarian clothing options like sweatpants, have been trying to communicate to brands for years…

Navigating the NYC Subway in a Wheelchair Is Hell

July 29, 2019 | Source: VICE News (Video) |

Sometimes it takes Sasha Blair-Goldensohn three times longer to get to work than it used to, and sometimes he’s stuck on a subway platform with no easy way to get up to street level. The 43-year-old software engineer, who’s been using a wheelchair since 2009, is one of about a million differently-abled people facing daily struggles as they navigate New York City’s aging subway system. “You can get almost all the way to work, and that last elevator that’s supposed to take you from the mezzanine section up to the pavement is out of service, and suddenly…

Salt Lake emergency services now accessible to motorized wheelchairs

July 29, 2019 | Source: Deseret News |

Motorized wheelchairs weigh between 300 and 400 pounds, making loading them onto emergency vehicles a challenge many municipalities are not prepared for. Following the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski announced Monday the city’s acquisition of two new heavy-duty wheelchair lift trailers. “To those with wheelchairs, it’s not a luxury for them to remain with their chairs, it’s a necessity,” said the city’s fire chief, Karl Lieb…

After Her Wheelchair Was Left Behind, One Woman Describes How Airlines Can Do Better

July 29, 2019 | Source: NPR |

Everyday, 24 wheelchairs are mishandled by airlines in the U.S. On Sunday, Kristen Parisi’s was left behind at JFK airport. She tells NPR’s Ari Shapiro how she thinks the industry can do better. Kristen Parisi is a writer, and she uses a wheelchair. Yesterday, she boarded a plane from New York City to Syracuse, N.Y., for a friend’s bridal shower. When she landed, her custom wheelchair was not there. The airline had left it behind. She did not get it back for more than 10 hours, which meant, as she wrote on Twitter, that she was essentially legless during that time…

Making Businesses Accessible Starts With Education, Groups Say

July 30, 2019 | Source: Patch |

Two groups are working together to stave off predatory lawsuits against Chinatown businesses with an outreach program to help inform business owners about how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Chinatown Partnership Business Improvement District and non-profit disability rights group Art Beyond Sight are partnering to conduct outreach to mom-and-pop shops on ways to make their stores accessible. “If you’re opening a restaurant for food service, they certainly teach you the temperature the water’s gotta be,” Edith Prentiss, a longtime disability rights activist…

‘Impossible Dream’ allows those with disabilities to set sail

July 30, 2019 | Source: Martha’s Vineyard Times |

Deborah Mellen dreams of a barrier-free world where people with disabilities can enjoy the same level of accessibility as those without. Her dream is embodied by her custom-made, universally accessible catamaran, the Impossible Dream. For the fifth year in a row, the Dream returned to Menemsha Harbor to give folks at Camp Jabberwocky, a residential vacation camp for people with disabilities, the chance to head out on the water. The 58-foot carbon fiber racing cat is specially built from the ground up to be sailed and crewed by those with disabilities…

FFORA Is a New Line of Functional and Fashionable Accessories for Wheelchair Users

July 30, 2019 | Source: Teen Vogue |

A conversation with a younger family member living with cerebral palsy sparked something in Lucy Jones, a Parsons graduate, now 27. “I realized I had never asked him if he had any difficulty with clothing, or getting dressed, or accessibility in general,” she tells Teen Vogue. She felt she needed to do something, so Jones spent a year listening to and collaborating with the disabled community (including model and former Teen Vogue cover star Jillian Mercado), and is now launching a brand featuring three fashionable and functional accessories that better cater to disabled individuals…

Need Extra Time on Tests? It Helps to Have Cash

July 31, 2019 | Source: IBEX |

The boom began about five years ago, said Kathy Pelzer, a longtime high school counselor in an affluent part of Southern California. More students than ever were securing disability diagnoses, many seeking additional time on class work and tests. A junior taking three or four Advanced Placement classes, who was stressed out and sleepless. A sophomore whose grades were slipping, causing his parents angst. Efforts to transfer the children to less difficult courses, Ms. Pelzer said, were often a nonstarter for their parents, who instead turned to private practitioners…

Airlines and airports turn to new technologies to help improve accessibility

July 31, 2019 | Source: Future Travel Experience |

Technological advancements are helping to bring about a much-needed change in the way airlines and airports assist travellers with additional needs. Airports can be challenging and complex environments for anyone, especially for passengers with reduced mobility or hidden disabilities. Improvements have been made by many airports and airlines, and here we provide a round-up of some of the latest technological advancements that can help create a more inclusive experience for all…

Senators Ask DOJ for Clarity on Website Accessibility Under ADA

July 31, 2019 | Source: ABA Banking Journal |

A group of Republican senators yesterday wrote to Attorney General William Barr seeking an update on the Justice Department’s efforts to clarify compliance obligations for businesses with respect to website accessibility under Americans with Disabilities Act. The letter marks another attempt by Grassley to obtain clarity from the DOJ; last year, lawmakers wrote to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions raising concerns about a lack of existing guidance…

Subway Planners Forgot To Include Wheelchair-Friendly Platforms in $21.7 Million Accessibility Project, Audit Finds

July 31, 2019 | Source: Reason |

MTA Has a Target List of Accessible Stations but Stalls Release

July 31, 2019 | Source: Wall Street Journal |

A damning new audit of improvements being made to New York City’s ailing subway system found that absentee workers, design flaws, and mistakes made during construction are delaying needed repairs and costing taxpayers and riders millions. On Monday, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli published an audit of six capital projects being undertaken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)—the state-run transit agency responsible for most of New York City’s buses and trains—costing some $817 million…

Beauty from Innovation in Advanced Transportation: A Conversation About Accessibility

July 31, 2019 | Source: Varnum LLP |

As automakers and technology companies develop self-driving vehicles, accessibility becomes a bigger part of the passenger vehicle conversation. This is because self-driving vehicles have the potential to create unprecedented independence and mobility for disabled populations. Here are some legal implications surrounding accessibility and self-driving vehicles. Self-driving vehicles change the number one rule for driving: the car needs a licensed driver…

‘We have different disabilities, but we have one common message’

August 1, 2019 | Source: KMTR |

Women from all of the world are in Eugene learning about disability rights. The exchange program gives women with disabilities the chance to experience accessibility and spread that opportunity around the world. These woman are all motivated to make change in their countries when it comes to disability rights, and they’re proving that, with a supportive community, barriers can be brought down. They say Eugene is the perfect place to learn how to do that…

Is your website ADA compliant?

August 1, 2019 | Source: Today’s Veterinary Business Magazine |

We all find a reason to log onto the web every day, whether to connect socially with friends and colleagues, pay bills, do research, or perform countless other tasks. (That is unless we’re #unplugged!) However, most people — and that includes veterinary practice owners — are unfamiliar with the fundamental guidelines created under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires that websites be clearly and easily accessible to everyone, including people who are deaf or blind…

Making Your Shop Accessible to All

August 1, 2019 | Source: Fender Bender |

More than one out of every four Americans has a disability, according to the Center for Disease Control. That’s 61 million Americans, or 26 percent of the U.S. population, that has a disability that impacts major life activities. “It’s really an untapped pool of talent,” says Jessica Nelson, associate director of career connections at Landmark College. “But, they often face barriers entering the workplace.” Along with his father, Carmen Paterniti and brothers, CJ Paterniti, second generation president and owner of D&S Automotive in Mentor, Ohio, provided service for mobility systems from 1985 until recently…

25% of Americans are disabled. So why aren’t the Democratic candidates talking about it?

August 1, 2019 | Source: Quartz |

July 26th marked the 29th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While normally folks would ignore this year and focus on the act’s more momentous upcoming 30th anniversary, given that we are in the midst of a presidential campaign, this anniversary deserves our attention now. To commemorate the day, multiple presidential candidates issued statements or discussed legacies in support for the community. This was significant for us. But it was also largely symbolic…

The Independence Center tackles accessibility at the dentist

August 1, 2019 | Source: Colorado Springs Independent |

About a year ago, The Independence Center, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities in Colorado Springs, announced it was accepting nominations for primary care providers who should have accessible exam tables and lifts gifted to them. The nonprofit received 23 nominations last year from Medicaid and Medicare recipients across the region. It gifted tables and lifts to nine practices, and portable hearing systems to three. Now, The Independence Center hopes to continue its efforts by investing another $75,000 from its IC Fund into health care…

Eyesight loss a public health concern

August 1, 2019 | Source: Queens Chronicle |

As people grow older, their eyesight can weaken. But left untreated or complicated by disease and other factors, age-related weakening eyesight can lead to vision loss. And while New York City and the federal government often are not on the same page these days, officials of both entities agree that it is a serious public health matter. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its Vision Health Initiative estimates that 3.4 million Americans over age 40 are blind or visually impaired…

Jack Fact — The accessible travel market is growing by 22% yearly and Open Doors, a Chicago non-profit estimates that in a two-year span (2014-2016), people with disabilities took 73 million trips for business and pleasure.

Hit The Road Jack — #CTbucketlist: Fun spots that are accessible to all

International News

Esports and Accessibility – Japan takes a step forward

July 26, 2019 | Source: Esports Industry- Japan |

In traditional sports, being able-bodied and capable of participating is important – all players of both team and individual sports need to be in top physical shape in order to be able to compete. While esports athletes also need to be in top form, this doesn’t necessarily mean being able to sprint a hundred metres in 9 seconds – in fact, whether they are good runners doesn’t matter at all. Esports is pre-destined to be the ultimate inclusive sport. Game skill, game sense, tactics and techniques are far more important than anything else. From wheelchair-users to amputees, just about anyone can play video games…

BST, Latitude, Standon Calling praised for accessibility

July 26, 2019 | Source: IQ Magazine- UK |

The UK minister for disabled people, Justin Tomlinson, has called on festival sites to continue improving accessibility, noting efforts by British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park and Latitude festival. Poor access, unsuitable camping arrangement, restricted visibility and a lack of representation both on and off the stage are the most common issues facing disabled people at live music events, says Tomlinson. AEG Presents’ BST Hyde Park (65,000-cap.) is one festival leading the way in terms of accessibility, recently receiving Attitude is Everything’s (AIE) gold status for best practice for inclusivity…

She’s 14, Disabled From a Bomb Blast and One of Iraq’s Top Table Tennis Players

July 26, 2019 | Source: Central News Now- Iraq |

The Iraqi teenager does not look like a traditional athlete: Her right leg is amputated at the thigh, her left at the knee, and her right arm ends at the biceps. But when Najla Imad Lafta, 14, plays table tennis, her torso turns as smoothly as a dancer’s to meet the ball and she returns it so fast her opponents are hard put to send it back. She just brought home her fourth silver and her fourth bronze medal from an international sporting tournament for the disabled in Egypt in June…

The AI-powered avatar making content accessible to the deaf

July 27, 2019 | Source: The Spinoff- New Zealand |

The Lightbulb asks innovators and entrepreneurs how they turned their ideas into reality. This week we talk to Arash Tayebi, co-founder of Kara Technologies which uses AI and digital humans to translate content into sign language. First of all, give us your elevator pitch for Kara. Kara translates different materials – books, audio, video – into sign language. We do this by using artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperrealistic avatars to provide accessibility to deaf people…

Poor access to rail networks breaches rights, disability protesters claim

July 27, 2019 | Source: Irish Times- Ireland |

Poor accessibility to Dart and other rail networks breaches the human rights of wheelchair users, disability protesters have claimed. Congregating on Friday outside Clontarf Dart station in Dublin, where lifts are frequently out of order, the group demanded equal access to public transport services for people in wheelchairs or with disabilities. The Dublin Access for All protest was supported by the Central Remedial Clinic and the Irish Wheelchair Association…

Rick Hansen Foundation honours Surrey teacher for accessibility, inclusivity initiatives

July 27, 2019 | Source: North Delta Reporter- Canada |

Renuka Senaratne, a teacher at Hillcrest Elementary, was recently chosen as the 2019 Educator Difference Maker of the Year through the Rick Hansen Foundation, according to a release from the Surrey School District. She received the award for her “many inclusive initiatives, such as improving school accessibility, inviting Rick Hansen Foundation ambassadors to her school, speaking openly about her own disability and abilities with her students, raising awareness about inclusive opportunities and sharing information about adaptive sports.”…

Accessible Elections: A successful endeavor of ECI during 2019 LS Polls

July 28, 2019 | Source: Election Commission of India & Daily Pioneer |

The motto of ‘Accessible Elections’ was one among the many initiatives of Election Commission to make the world’s largest democratic exercise inclusive and participative for all. During this election special focus was given to ensure the participation of Persons with Disabilities. A total of 62,63,701 PwDs were registered within an electorate of 910 million. The electors with disabilities and senior citizens were mapped polling station wise to provide them targeted and need based assistance on the day of poll…

Accessibility – a major component toward leading a normal life

July 28, 2019 | Source: The Jerusalem Post- Israel |

Access Israel may never have been established if its founding president, Yuval Wagner, had not been an IAF combat pilot who suffered permanent injuries in a helicopter crash in 1987. Confined to a wheelchair, he ruefully discovered many places were inaccessible to him. After a lengthy rehabilitation, Wagner wrote to then-president Ezer Weizman to ask his help in launching a not-for-profit organization to create awareness of the needs of people with disabilities…

New Zealand venues found wanting when it comes to wheelchair access

July 28, 2019 | Source: Disabled Persons Assembly- New Zealand |

New Zealand’s national museum is apologising for being ill-equipped to cater for wheelchair access. Wellington’s Te Papa museum has come under the spotlight, after a speaker from the Disabled Persons Assembly, invited to talk at the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand, was unable to take to the stage. Assembly spokesperson Chris Ford said it was a shame that wasn’t taken into consideration. “It was very disappointing not to be able to access the stage,” he told The AM Show…

Accessing Academia: Strategies For (Self)Advocacy And Study Abroad With A Disability

July 28, 2019 | Source: Accessible Japan |

As a wheelchair user, I try my best to anticipate barriers to accessibility before traveling abroad. In practical terms, this means researching my destination ahead of time to discern if there are any stairs, closed-off spaces, or potential pitfalls (either literal or metaphorical). Despite my best efforts, there are ultimately some barriers that I cannot predict. Perhaps the taxi from the airport is unable to accommodate my particular brand of wheelchair…

The need to make the monuments accessible & methods to do so

July 29, 2019 | Source: NewzHook- India |

India’s historical monuments hold significance at global level and are appreciated for its cultural richness and beauty, with over seven million tourists visiting India annually. One of the largest tourism markets in South Asia, India’s tourism revenue in 2018 was USD247.3 billion, with a growth rate of 6.7%. Still, there are so many people who are unable to come to India as many of our historical sites continue to have accessibility challenges. One can imagine how important and indispensable accessibility in tourism is for India…

Rivlin Marks 2nd Decade of Handicapped Accessibility in Israel

July 29, 2019 | Source: The Jewish Press- Israel & World Israel News |

President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday hosted representatives of Accessibility Israel to mark its 20th anniversary. Accessibility Israel works to change the perception of the public space and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. The president received a report summarizing 20 years of the organization’s activities from founder and president Yuval Wagner, and CEO Michal Rimon. The event was concluded with Orel Palomba singing the song made famous by the late Arik Einstein, “You and I will change the world,” which was accompanied by sign language translator…

ORR publishes new accessible travel guidance for train companies

July 29, 2019 | Source: Global Railway Review- UK & Railway-News |

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published new Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) guidance for train and station operators which will lead to older and disabled people being able to travel by rail with greater confidence. There were almost 1.3 million journeys in 2018-2019 with booked assistance for passengers, an increase of 22% on the previous year. While data shows most passengers were satisfied with the service they received, ORR’s review – informed by extensive passenger research, input from disability groups and industry experts – showed there are problems…

Japan Elects 2 Politicians With Disabilities in ‘Unprecedented’ Progress for Rights

July 29, 2019 | Source: Global Citizen- Japan |

Two politicians living with disabilities were sworn into Japan’s parliament this week, which activists are celebrating as “unprecedented” progress for disability representation and rights in the country. The lawmakers — both members of Japan’s new Reiwa Shinsengumi political party — were elected to the upper house. Yasuhiko Funago lives with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive neurological disease that causes a continuous loss of muscle control. Eiko Kimura has cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder which can affect movement and muscle tone…

Canada funds projects in Quebec that improve accessibility and inclusion

July 30, 2019 | Source: Mirage News- Canada & Canada NewsWire |

Government of Canada funds projects in Quebec that improve accessibility and inclusion. Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, along with Steven MacKinnon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility and Member of Parliament for Gatineau, announced Government of Canada support for organizations working to improve accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities across Canada…

Airbnb is massively failing travellers with disabilities

July 30, 2019 | Source: Wired- UK |

Christian Bayerlein loves to travel. But his disability complicates things – he is in a wheelchair due to spinal muscular atrophy. Although he books the majority of his accommodation through Airbnb, Bayerlein, who lives in Koblenz, Germany, doesn’t find it particularly easy. Finding a wheelchair-friendly place takes longer than just a few clicks: the minimum requirements are no steps or stairs, wide entrances and a large lift. Airbnb recently addressed this by introducing 27 accessibility filters to help travellers with disabilities find the home that suits their needs…

Tokyo 2020 to be transformational

July 30, 2019 | Source: International Paralympic Committee- Japan |

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will transform Japanese society and significantly raise awareness of and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) according to the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Craig Spence. Speaking at the Japan SDG Action Forum at the United Nations University in Tokyo on Tuesday (30 July), Spence shared with the audience of 200 stakeholders his expectations for next summer’s Paralympics which will attract around 4,350 Para athletes from more than 160 countries…

Library, Waterworld score silver accessibility ratings

July 31, 2019 | Source: Scoop- New Zealand |

Hamilton’s Waterworld and Central Library have both earned silver accessibility ratings from a social change initiative that safeguards the rights of disabled New Zealanders. Be.Accessible carries out audits of businesses, buildings and services to determine how user-friendly they are for people with impairments. The initiative then helps organisations ensure their sites and customer services meet the needs of people with disabilities. Be.Accessible audited the city’s flagship public library and swimming and recreation complex earlier this year…

Traveler’s epic Europe trip put wheelchair accessibility to the test

July 31, 2019 | Source: USA TODAY- Europe |

Carden Wyckoff got her first glimpse of the Seine River in Paris in a most unusual way. An “assembly line” of strangers lifted her up over a barrier so she could get closer to the water. In Barcelona, when Wyckoff became lost and couldn’t find her way home, two strangers escorted her to her hotel. Wyckoff’s European travels were highlighted by many acts of kindness from people she met along the way. But exploring the world in a wheelchair required a level of patience she didn’t know she had…

Harrogate hotel – we will be accessible for para cyclists

August 1, 2019 | Source: Harrogate Advertiser- UK |

A leading Harrogate hotel undergoing a £15 million upgrade has called in experts from a local charity to assess its facilities, ahead of teams of disabled riders checking in for September’s UCI World Road Cycling Championships. The Majestic Hotel – which is nearing completion of a major £15 million programme of investment by its owners, the Cairn Group – has tasked Disability Action Yorkshire to undertake an accessibility audit. The Hornbeam Park-based charity has already completed accessibility audits for a number of local organisations, including Harrogate Town FC…

Government ‘must put safety and accessibility first on railways’

August 1, 2019 | Source: Ekklesia- UK |

Ministers have been colluding with the railway industry to push forward Driver Only Operated trains, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) says. The rail union has added its voice to those of passenger groups calling on new Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to put an end to the drive toward Driver Only Operated trains and to make the railway accessible to all by ensuring that trains and stations are fully staffed…

New app sounds good for people with cochlear implants

August 1, 2019 | Source: The Sydney Morning Herald- Australia |

An Australian-first app has been developed to help people with a cochlear implant navigate the difficult next steps after the device is turned on. The implant, which gives even people with profound deafness the ability to hear, is considered a major medical breakthrough and a massive benefit for users. But the struggle many formerly deaf people face once they can hear the world around them is not as well known. “For some people it’s literally like learning a new language,” said Elliott Miller, the developer of the Hearoes app…

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