Accessibility in the News — 2/19/2021.

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“The measure of a man, or woman, is not so much what they have accomplished, though that has weight. It often is much more though what that man or woman has overcome to accomplish what they have.” ― Leif Gregersen

Emergency Planning In A Winter Storm For

Persons With Disabilities During A Pandemic

Feature Stories

Voting in 2020 Was Less Fraught for Disabled Voters Than in Years Past

February 17, 2021 | Source: Courthouse News Service & EAC & Rutgers Study (PDF)

Mail Voting Boosted Turn Out for Voters With Disabilities. Will Lawmakers Let It Continue?

February 18, 2021 | Source: Time

Americans with disabilities had an easier time voting in the 2020 election than in years past, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission reported Wednesday. The 52-page study was conducted to spot the gaps in accessibility between voters with disabilities and those without, in light of how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted regional election boards. After surveying 2,569 people — a group that consisted of 1,782 voters with various disabilities and 787 voters without disabilities — researchers found that voting difficulties for people with disabilities declined substantially from 2012 to 2020…

National News (U.S.)

A teen with cerebral palsy asked Nike for more accessible shoes—and they keep on delivering

February 3, 2021 | Source: Upworthy

How a teenager with cerebral palsy inspired Nike to create a ‘hands-free’ shoe

February 13, 2021 | Source: ThePrint

In 2012, Matthew Walzer wrote a letter to Nike with a request. “I was born two months premature on October 19, 1995,” the letter began. “I weighed only two pounds fourteen ounces, and because my lungs were fully not developed, my brain did not receive enough oxygen. As a result, I have a brain injury that caused me to have Cerebral Palsy. Fortunately, I am only affected physically, as others can be affected mentally, physically or both.” Walzer explained that doctors had told his parents he would never walk and that if he ever talked, he’d have a lisp….

Accessibility can be issue for people with disabilities in winter

February 11, 2021 | Source: News Press Now

Business accessibility is integral in winter weather, and that’s especially true for people with disabilities. Keeping business entrances and parking accessible is one of the most important factors for those with disabilities, said Rob Honan, CEO of Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living. “When you deal with winter weather, and snow particularly, one of the things that jumps out is the parking,” he said. “You know, (just having) accessible parking for people that need it. Sometimes stores tend to plow the snow into the access aisles for the van-accessible (spots), which can cause a really big problem for people.”…

House Dems’ bill would create new Department of Accessibility & Inclusion

February 11, 2021 | Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Taking their cue from the state’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs, two western Pennsylvania lawmakers say they want the commonwealth to take a similarly specific approach to serving the needs of residents living with disabilities. On Wednesday, Reps. Dan Miller and Jessica Benham, both Allegheny County Democrats, began seeking co-sponsors for a bill that would create a new state Department of Accessibility & Inclusion. “Nearly one in four Pennsylvanians have a disability, and despite the best intentions of many, most have only seen modest improvements in their lives and opportunities.”…

Accessible housing still tough to find 30 years after ADA

February 11, 2021 | Source: North Country Public Radio

When Erica Jones looks for a place to call home, her must-haves are non-negotiable. “Can I get through the front door? Are there steps? And can I get inside the bathroom and turn around?” she asked. Jones uses a wheelchair, so space is important. “If I can’t maneuver the bathroom, that deems the entire apartment unlivable,” she said. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 made public spaces more accessible, but many of the civil rights law’s regulations don’t apply to residential housing…

Deaf, hard of hearing community face additional challenges during pandemic

February 11, 2021 | Source: 8News

For many, navigating the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult—like following mandates that require mask-wearing and limit in-person gatherings. But the deaf and hard of hearing community face additional challenges. Eric Raff, Director of the Virginia Department of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, estimated 700,000 Virginians have some type of hearing limitation. “There are also plenty of resources that our community members could speak to but some of the resources are not always accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing,” he said…

“We’re not going away”: Michigan’s Adaptive Sports and Fitness Program and the fight for access

February 11, 2021 | Source: The Michigan Daily

Generally, when people first read about an initiative like expanding access to adaptive sports and fitness for athletes with disabilities, most grasp the importance of the cause. They understand that accessibility is important, that inclusivity is necessary and that working to make individuals with disabilities feel welcome in all spaces, athletic or otherwise, is the morally right thing to do. Undoubtedly, raising awareness for these initiatives is a step in the right direction. The problem, however, is the inevitable allure of complacency…

Rutledge Files Suit Against An Accessibility Company For Deceptive Practices

February 12, 2021 | Source: Arkansas.gov

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced a lawsuit has been filed against Accessibility Specialties, Inc. (ASI), and its co-owners, Russell Mashburn and Billy Rice. ASI sells mobility and accessibility equipment, and it modifies vehicles to support individuals with disabilities. At least on one occasion, ASI was hired to make a customer’s van accessible, but without the owner’s knowledge, ASI sold the vehicle to a third-party and kept the proceeds of the sales…

California Puts People With Disabilities Back On COVID-19 Vaccine Priority List

February 12, 2021 | Source: Huff Post

After disability advocates raised concerns about people with disabilities being moved off of California’s vaccine priority list, the state announced Friday that those with health conditions placing them at high risk for severe cases of the coronavirus will be eligible for the vaccine starting next month. Starting March 15, people ages 16 and older who are “deemed to be at the very highest risk” for COVID-19 complications and death will be able to get vaccinated — including those who are immunocompromised, have cancer, chronic pulmonary disease, Type 2 diabetes or are pregnant, per the state department of health…

Settlement over City Hall accessibility reached

February 14, 2012 | Source: Williamsport Sun-Gazette

City Council held a special session Wednesday to discuss litigation and reached a settlement with the Center for Independent Living regarding accessibility to City Hall for people with disabilities. The consent decree, which is not an acknowledgement by the city that it allowed for any violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, sets terms where the city agrees to build a handicap accessible ramp, complete elevator updates, install special lights when there are alarms that go off, update the restrooms and put a process in place to meet all standards regarding accessibility at City Hall, Council President Randall J. Allison said…

What do structural engineers do? Their online strategy must tell their story

February 15, 2021 | Source: Digital Commerce News

Structural engineers are at something of a disadvantage when it comes to explaining to laypeople what it is they do. Architects, by comparison, don’t seem to be saddled with that marketing dilemma. People think they know what an architect does thanks to portrayals of the profession—accurate or not—on such iconic TV shows as “Mr. Ed,” “The Brady Bunch” and more recently, “How I Met Your Mother.” When people think architects, they generally think Mike Brady, Wilbur Post or Ted Mosby…

Holdrege Amtrak station covered by settlement over alleged ADA violations

February 15, 2021 | Source: Hastings Tribune

Tribland residents and visitors who have had trouble while boarding or de-boarding Amtrak trains in Holdrege due to lack of handicapped-accessibility at the station there may be eligible for compensation, Amtrak has announced. According to the government-owned passenger rail company and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Holdrege station is Nebraska’s only Amtrak location covered under the settlement agreement that prompted establishment of the compensation fund…

4 reasons why hiring disabled workers is good for business

February 16, 2021 | Source: Fast Company

Everyone has been struck by the pandemic, but the individuals who typically fail to be taken into account in society and business have felt some of the harshest blowback of all. Diverse employees have been facing greater challenges, work-related stress, and fear for their professional futures more than non-diverse workers. A million U.S. workers with disabilities lost their jobs between March and August last year, and by the end of 2020, the unemployment rate for the community reached 12.3%—nearly double the 6.2% national average…

Can Ed Tech Make Learning More Accessible?

February 16, 2021 | Source: Government Technology

Long before K-12 schools moved to online remote learning last year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, education policy advocates were clamoring for ways to improve education for neurodiverse students. Concerns ranged from lack of appropriate state and federal school funding to curriculum design and everything in between. Much of the recent discourse about ed tech has revolved around accessibility, mainly in terms of device availability and Internet connectivity. But this still leaves another obstacle — making the learning itself more accessible…

After Super Bowl breakthrough, will visually and hearing-impaired viewers stay in brands’ plans?

February 16, 2021 | Source: The Drum

The next time you sit and watch the TV, close your eyes at the ad break. Open them, then put your sound on mute. Ask yourself: do I know which brand is pitching to me? Do I know what they’re selling? While sighted viewers ingest media and advertising creative amid a sensory overload, visually and hearing-impaired audiences face a constant strain. “My husband lost his sight 15 years ago to an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa,” says Sheri Lawrence, president of Tylie ad solutions…

Are science laboratories truly inclusive if not accessible to service-dog handlers?

February 16, 2021 | Source: University of Illinois News

According to a new commentary in Disability and Health Journal, people with disabilities who rely on service dogs often are prohibited from bringing their working dogs into teaching and research laboratories. This one barrier can stop them from pursuing careers in science, says Joey Ramp, a researcher in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and lead author of the commentary. Ramp spoke about the issue with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates…

Johns Hopkins launches vaccine prioritization dashboard for people with disabilities

February 16, 2021 | Source: The Hub at Johns Hopkins

A new Johns Hopkins data tool helps people with disabilities determine when they qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine and compares how different states prioritize people with disabilities in their vaccine rollout plans. Created by researchers, students, and advocates who themselves have disabilities and have personally experienced how inequitable and inaccessible aspects of the U.S. pandemic response have been, the COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Dashboard launched to not only help the disability community get vaccinated, but also to arm policymakers with data to improve the system…

For blind students, accessibility makes all the difference, this NYC teacher says

February 16, 2021 | Source: Chalkbeat Colorado

Online classes have meant a learning curve for all children, but they pose a particular challenge for Jonathan Hooper’s students, who are blind or visually impaired. Many of them rely on tactile learning materials for which there are no digital substitutes. Because with the right accommodations blind students can learn and thrive alongside their seeing classmates, Hooper has spent the past year making sure his students have what they need to do their work remotely…

Sound advice for holding on to your hearing

February 17, 2021 | Source: KARK

Hearing loss often results from a lifetime of exposure to loud noise. You can protect your hearing with a few simple steps. If you want to hear well your whole life, you should be protecting your ears right now. Although we often associate hearing loss with advanced age, many cases result from exposure to excessive noises. And we experience many of those sounds in our everyday lives. Any source of loud noise has the potential to damage the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can happen anytime from infancy to old age…

12 Common Words and Phrases You May Not Realize Are Ableist

February 17, 2021 | Source: Pop Sugar

Ableism is defined as prejudice and discrimination based on one’s disability or perceived disability. Ableism is deeply embedded in our society. It surfaces in policies, actions, media, and the language we use. While ableism can be intentional (like the killing of disabled people in Nazi Germany), more often than not, it’s unintentional. But good intentions don’t lessen the harm. In 2020, Google searches for “ableism” doubled. That’s good news. In order to grow, we must first recognize that there’s a problem. If you want to know more about how to eliminate ableism from your life, a good starting point is avoiding ableist language.

I Am Black, Disabled And Beautiful. Here’s Why I Speak Up For Others With Disabilities.

February 18, 2021 | Source: Huff Post

I was born with Ullrich, a rare form of muscular dystrophy. At the time of my diagnosis, I was the only known person in the state of South Carolina with my disease and No. 96 in the world to be diagnosed with it. Ullrich muscular dystrophy affects the skeletal muscles, which help us move. I’m able to walk for a short distance but only with assistance. I use my wheelchair to travel long distances and be more independent. The disease affects my lungs the most, so I have to use a BiPAP machine to help me breathe while I’m asleep…

The first blind female rabbi is making sure she won’t be the last

February 18, 2021 | Source: Forward

I met Rabbi Lauren Tuchman at a Shabbat lunch, a year or two ago; I arrived late, missing half the meal and all of the introductions. I was still figuring out who everyone was when Tuchman began to lead the table in Shabbat songs from a binder filled with Braille pages. Tuchman, who was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2018, is a true educator who whips out Torah passages from memory. She works independently, teaching classes at a variety of institutions such as Applied Jewish Spirituality, and offering workshops to synagogues and other Jewish organizations…

Jack Fact — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 61 million adults in the United States who live with a physical or intellectual disability. Twenty-six percent of the adult population have mobility, sensory, cognitive or psychiatric impairments. One in four women and two in five adults age 65 years and older have a disability.

Hit The Road Jack — Travelling with disabilities: Tips and advice for a smooth trip when you have accessibility needs

International News

Northern invites groups to bid for share of £250000 to improve disabled access on trains

February 11, 2021 | Source: Yorkshire Post- UK

Northern is calling on community groups to share their ideas for making its trains and stations even more accessible for disabled and older people – and has set up a £250,000 fund for the best ideas to transform the network. The Accessibility Fund, which will open to applicants on Monday 1 February, is ‘dedicated to empowering older and disabled people to make decisions which will improve the railway’. Voluntary organisations, community groups, charities and stakeholders, such as local authorities, can bid for grants of up to £50,000 from the fund to make accessibility improvements at stations in their area…

Post-Covid digital economy must include persons with disabilities: ILO

February 12, 2021 | Source: Business Standard- Spain

Advances in the digital economy significantly accelerated by Covid-19 pandemic are creating unprecedented opportunities to build a more inclusive world of work for the more than one billion people with disabilities globally, according to a new report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). However, digital barriers also threaten to aggravate existing inequalities and exclusion unless they are countered with effective and targeted initiatives. The report titled ‘An inclusive digital economy for people with disabilities’ was prepared by ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) and Spanish disability NGO Fundacion ONCE…

A gold-medal Paralympian is offering advice on accessibility to Vernon’s oldest theatre

February 13, 2021 | Source: Castanet- Canada & Vernon Morning Star

A gold-medal Paralympian is offering advice on accessibility to Vernon’s oldest theatre. Sonya Gaudet, one of Canada’s most decorated wheelchair curlers, toured the historic Vernon Towne Cinema to offer insight into how to make the aging building more accessible to people with mobility challenges. Gaudet was acting in her capacity as regional universal access tourism specialist with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA). Members of the Okanagan Screen Arts Society, Scott John and Susan Hodgson, showed Gaudet around…

Proposed Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations now open for public review

February 13, 2021 | Source: Net Newsledger- Canada

“Accessible transportation is a human right whose realization is essential to achieving equality, inclusion, and dignity for Canadians with disabilities. Despite these challenging times, it is as important as ever that accessibility be integrated in transportation service providers’ planning and reporting mechanisms. These proposed regulations seek to proactively identify, remove and prevent barriers that limit accessibility to transportation in Canada,” states Scott Streiner, Chair and CEO of the Canadian Transportation Agency…

Are Cambodia’s Disabled Neglected?

February 14, 2021 | Source: The ASEAN Post- Cambodia

Providing accessibility for the disabled is a major determinant for developing countries to qualify as developed nations. Most ASEAN countries apart from Singapore, struggle to provide basic structures for accessibility in public buildings, schools, transportation, and even tourist spots. While small steps are being made across the continent to improve access, much of Southeast Asia remains inaccessible to wheelchair users, who face a multitude of issues navigating cities, finding accommodation and accessing attractions…

UK watchdogs say people with learning disabilities have been given inappropriate ‘do not resuscitate’ orders for COVID-19

February 14, 2021 | Source: Business Insider- UK

In the UK, people with learning disabilities have been told that healthcare workers will not attempt to save their lives with CPR if they succumb to COVID-19, according to an advocacy group. Mencap, a UK charity advocating for people with learning disabilities, said that in January it was still receiving reports of people being told that they would not be resuscitated if they fell ill from COVID-19. Mencap said it seemed that these orders were given simply because of the patients’ learning disabilities, The Guardian reported on Monday…

New Metro’s lack of accessibility once again disappoints disabled activists

February 15, 2021 | Source: The New Indian Express- India

Disability rights activists believe even the new Metro stations (part of the phase 1 extension) will be riddled with accessibility issues, going by photos the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) posted on social media. As per the Central Public Works Department’s (CPWD) ‘Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons’ 1998, the platforms must have a row of dotted guiding blocks for persons with impaired vision, 800 mm or more from the edge…

The Accessible Built Environment

February 15, 2021 | Source: Business News- Wales

In 2000, Italian billionaire fashion designer and businesswoman Miuccia Prada had a slide installed in her Milanese office. The slide runs for three stories and finishes in the car park, providing a highly unique way to exit the office. Of course this is no ordinary slide, it was commissioned from German artist Carsten Höller who has a global reputation for his installations, and “Höller’s interest in slides ranges from their use as a practical and alternative means of transportation and the effect of sliding itself, which involves a loss of control, vertigo and an emotional response from the sliders, often delight.”…

Doctor-turned-patient realizes how disabled people are nudged to be euthanized

February 15, 2021 | Source: LifeSiteNews- Canada

A Canadian doctor suddenly found herself a patient on the ward of a rehabilitation unit after an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down this past October. Now, she said she is worried about the latest expansions to Canada’s legalized euthanasia program and how they will affect people, in particular those with disabilities. Corrina Iampen, a GP from Kelowna, British Columbia, told LifeSiteNews that just weeks after her paralyzing accident last fall, a doctor in hospital asked her if she would like a “Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order” put on her medical chart…

‘Disturbing’ hallucinations increase during lockdown for blind people

February 16, 2021 | Source: BBC- UK

Lockdown has seen a “disturbing” rise in the number of blind people experiencing distressing hallucinations, the RNIB charity says. The condition, known as Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS), causes patients to have vivid hallucinations. False images are triggered when the brain tries to fill in the gaps caused by sight loss. The RNIB said calls to its helpline had increased by almost 50% and patients had reported more sinister visions. CBS is thought to affect up to 30% of those with sight loss, although it can sometimes be confused with mental health concerns…

How a disability “joke” ended up before the Supreme Court of Canada

February 16, 2021 | Source: Explica- Canada

A decade ago, as part of your number, a Canadian comedian started telling a joke about a young singer with a disability. That joke ended in front of the highest court in Canada. Jeremy gabriel was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a genetic disorder that can affect facial bone structure. In your case, it caused a severe deafness. Despite this, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a singer, and went on to perform before public figures, from Céline Dion to Pope Benedict XVI…

Proposed regulations under Accessible Canada Act, a major step towards a barrier-free Canada

February 16, 2021 | Source: Mirage News- Canada

Feds look for feedback on Accessible Canada Act regulations

February 17, 2021 | Source: Canadian HR Reporter

The Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to create a barrier-free Canada with the implementation of the Accessible Canada Act, which will help remove barriers, and increase access and opportunities for persons with disabilities. Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, highlighted the publication of the first-ever proposed Accessible Canada Regulations under the Accessible Canada Act in the Canada Gazette (Part I)…

Australian Open broadcasts become accessible for blind and vision impaired

February 17, 2021 | Source: AdNews- Australia

Tennis Australia, Monash University and AKQA have launched Action Audio, an online audio stream designed to make the Australian Open broadcasts accessible for the almost 600,000 Australians and 285 million people globally who are living with blindness or a vision impairment. Action Audio allows people with blindness or vision impairment to stay connected to the tennis experience throughout the entire match, and follow it in real-time. Action Audio uses Tennis Australia’s real-time ball position data to make the ball ‘audible’ to blind audiences…

Disability Club social media site to boost social connections, online accessibility for people with a disability

February 17, 2021 | Source: ABC- Australia

When 26-year-old Nathan Johnston tried to connect with people during the peak of last year’s COVID-19 lockdown, he realised how challenging it could be for people living with a disability to use social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. Mr Johnston, who has cerebral palsy, lives on the New South Wales Far South Coast and has been inspired to start developing a new social media site called Disability Club after feeling isolated during the peak of the pandemic…

Monash University and Tennis Australia serve up world-first accessible audio stream for fans with blindness or low vision

February 18, 2021 | Source: India Education Diary- Australia

Tennis Australia, Monash University and AKQA have launched Action Audio, an online audio stream designed to make the Australian Open broadcasts accessible for almost 600,000 Australians and 285 million people living with blindness or a vision impairment. Action Audio allows people with blindness or vision impairment to stay connected to the tennis experience throughout the entire match, and follow it in real-time. Action Audio uses Tennis Australia’s real-time ball position data to make the ball ‘audible’ to blind audiences…

This Melbourne Home Doesn’t Exactly Look Accessible, And That’s the Best Part

February 18, 2021 | Source: Architectural Digest- Australia

“This home needed to work a bit harder than most,” Megan Norgate, founding director and principal designer of Brave New Eco, says. It belongs to a family of four—Claire, Hayden, Owen, and Ned—and they had plans to use its every corner for play, togetherness, creative pursuits, and work. In the current state of the world, that sounds pretty average. But when Megan met Claire and Hayden in 2015, an inclusive property seemed entirely distinctive. “It was important to me and the team that we created an environment that was a consolidation of the many narratives that inform their lives,” Megan says…

Australian law could make internet ‘unworkable’, says World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee

February 18, 2021 | Source: The Independent- UK

Internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee has said Australia’s plan to make tech giants pay for journalism could render the internet as we know it “unworkable”. The inventor of the World Wide Web claimed that proposed laws could disrupt the established order of the internet. “Specifically, I am concerned that that code risks breaching a fundamental principle of the web by requiring payment for linking between certain content online,” Berners-Lee told a Senate committee scrutinizing a bill that would create the New Media Bargaining Code…

Hearing impaired, Yiana Pandelis, making waves as star of new film ‘Unsound’

February 18, 2021 | Source: Greek Herald- Australia

Greek Australian, Yiana Pandelis, has never let being profoundly deaf get in the way of her acting dream. Ever since she was a young girl, she knew she wanted to be an actress and was even nervous to tell her dad at first. “I remember telling my dad for the first time and I was so nervous because it’s kind of an unexpected thing for a deaf person to suggest,” Yiana tells The Greek Herald. “I was quite young and I asked dad for acting classes and… he knew somebody, obviously being a Greek, and I did classes. My neighbour became my agent.”…

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