Accessibility in the News—4/6/18.

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AITN Quote of the Week

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
– Martin Luther King

National News (U.S.)

Final Highlights from CSUN

Generous helpings of digital accessibility resources are online thanks to last month’s CSUN Accessibility Technology Conference. Microassist’s CSUN conference backchannel has a lot of them–recaps, news items, tweets, presentation repositories–all organized in one location. There are also interviews with Montreal-based accessibility consultant Denis Boudreau (catch his perspective on artificial intelligence and accessibility), University of North Texas’s Rebecca Cagle (her assistive tech career found her, not the other way ‘round); Aira’s Amy Bernal (CSUN influenced the company’s augmented reality-based glasses for the blind); and Blackboard’s Elizabeth Simister (who discusses inclusive classrooms and the ed tech provider’s accessibility initiatives). Microassist’s Kevin Gumienny gives his own elearning wrap-up, with conference takeaways. Bookmark the backchannel for more interviews and Microassist accessibility training opportunities. We also appreciate links back to the backchannel if you find it helpful.

The road to Alzheimer’s disease is lined with processed foods

March 23, 2018 | Source: Quartz

Dementia haunts the United States. There’s no one without a personal story about how dementia has touched someone they care for. But beyond personal stories, the broader narrative is staggering: By 2050, we are on track to have almost 15 million Alzheimer’s patients in the US alone. That’s roughly the population of NYC, Los Angeles, and Chicago combined. Now add a few more cities to take care of them. It’s an epidemic that’s already underway—but we don’t recognize it as such. The popular conception of Alzheimer’s is as an inevitable outcome of aging, bad genes, or both…

The Controversial Process of Redesigning the Wheelchair Symbol

March 29, 2018 | Source: Atlas Obscura

Just 50 years ago, the International Symbol of Access did not exist. Known variously as the Wheelchair Symbol and “the little blue sign,” the icon features an individual sat on their wheelchair, apparently motionless, with their arms perched on the sides. Created by the Danish design student Susanne Koefoed in 1968, in the original version, the person on the wheelchair was missing a head. Today, the ISA appears all throughout the built environment: bathrooms, accessibility ramps, automatic doors, parking lots…

Blind UT researcher searches for clues about Jesus’ ministry through touch

March 29, 2018 | Source: KXAN

When Daniel Smith went blind at age 14, it didn’t stop him from pursuing his fascination with the ancient origins of religions. His passion led him through college, through a master’s degree and then to a doctoral degree in Religious Studies at the University of Texas at Austin where he is exploring ancient manuscripts that could hold clues about Jesus’ ministry. Daniel, now 25, is working with his adviser Geoffrey Smith — no, they’re not related — as well as UT’s Disability Services to examine an ancient manuscript, which details the story of one of Jesus’ exorcisms…

The newest recruit for the Dalhart Police Department in the Panhandle becomes the first deaf female police officer in Texas.

March 29, 2018 | Source: KXAN

Her name is Erica Trevino and she’s dreamed of being an officer since she was in kindergarten. But growing up, people told her she couldn’t achieve her goal because of her disability. Today, she proved them wrong as she was officially sworn in with DPD. “I’m ready to get to work,” said Ofc. Erica Trevino after her swearing-in. It’s that same drive and tenacity that led Chief David Conner to look past her disability and discover her special qualities. And that list is a long one. “I believe she can do the job just like any other police officers,” said David Conner, Dalhart Police Chief…

Oregon Department of Transportation plans to fix 26,000 ADA curb ramps by 2032

March 30, 2017 | Source: KTVZ

In 2017, ODOT updated an inventory of curb ramps, named an Americans with Disabilities Act program manager and project coordinator and committed funds for high-priority upgrades to improve transportation system accessibility for people with disabilities. These are just a few of the accomplishments outlined in the annual report of progress, required by a Nov. 2016 agreement with AOCIL, the Association of Oregon Centers for Independent Living. Milestones include: An updated statewide curb ramp inventory, highlighting locations that need work…

AI can make tech accessible for all

March 30, 2018 | Source: Innovators Magazine

Standard touchscreen interfaces need an algorithmic makeover to improve accessibility for those with physical and mental impairments, new research suggests. And a team of researchers from Kochi University of Technology, Japan, and Aalto University, Finland, have thrown down the gauntlet to designers to tap into the new artificial intelligence (AI) inspired model they have developed to offer solutions to the limitations a ‘one size fits all’ interface creates…

Website ADA Lawsuits and Personal Jurisdiction

March 30, 2018 | Source: Lexology

Last week, a federal district court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts denied a motion to dismiss based on personal jurisdiction in a website accessibility lawsuit brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). This website ADA lawsuit was filed by Massachusetts resident, Stephen Théberge, who is legally blind, along with Access Now and R. David New, against defendant Sportswear, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Website ADA lawsuits are exploding throughout the country…

Hey, Alexa, What Can You Hear? And What Will You Do With It?

March 31, 2018 | Source: The New York Times

Amazon ran a commercial on this year’s Super Bowl that pretended its digital assistant Alexa had temporarily lost her voice. It featured celebrities like Rebel Wilson, Cardi B and even the company’s chief executive, Jeff Bezos. While the ad riffed on what Alexa can say to users, the more intriguing question may be what she and other digital assistants can hear — especially as more people bring smart speakers into their homes. Amazon and Google, the leading sellers of such devices, say the assistants record and process audio only after users trigger them by pushing a button or uttering a phrase like “Hey, Alexa” or “O.K., Google.”…

In the Bronx, Stadium Scents Take Fans Out to the Ballgame

March 31, 2018 | Source: The New York Times

Rochelle Youner, who lives at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, a nursing home in the Bronx, walked up to a kiosk in a common area of the home’s first floor and pressed a button below a small icon depicting a baseball glove. “That’s the real stuff — that’s a mitt, all right,” Ms. Youner, 80, said, smelling the leathery fragrance emitted from the kiosk, which attempts to bring the ballpark, or at least the smell of it, to the residents. Many of the Hebrew Home’s residents were born and raised in the Bronx and are lifelong fans of the Yankees, with memories of visiting Yankee Stadium stretching back to the eras of Mantle and DiMaggio…

From an employer’s view, hiring job seekers with disabilities

April 1, 2018 | Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle

Year after year, we read articles referring to “today’s job market.” And yes, many of these pieces are informative, for over the years and at a continuously faster pace, many facets of our job market have changed, from the tools we use, to the speed of the decision-making loop, the increased diversity of fellow coworkers, to being asked to still perform your job while on vacation with family or friends (Thanks, technology). Yet one thing that has not changed is the anxiety that comes with the job interview process, not just for the candidate, but the hiring manager too…

Good Counsel: Is Your Website Open to All?

April 1, 2018 | Source: Associations Now

Following accessibility guidelines reduces legal risk and brings membership rewards. As public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), associations must provide people with disabilities “full and equal enjoyment” of the services and advantages they offer. Although associations often consider this obligation primarily in the context of their events, accessibility also applies to another core aspect of association activities: their websites. According to 2010 census data, 8.1 million Americans have a vision impairment that qualifies as a disability…

This NBA Store Is Now More Accessible For People With Sensory Disabilities

April 2, 2018 | Source: Fatherly & Fast Company & WABC-TV

The NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City has made modifications to its store so that it’s more friendly to people with autism, PTSD, and other sensory disabilities. The store did so with the help of KultureCity, an organization that aims to create “create acceptance and inclusion for all individuals” with kinds of disabilities. The location has been outfitted with a quiet space where people who are overwhelmed by the crowds and sensory overload can escape for a moment of peace. Beyond that, members of the staff hand out what are called “sensory bags.”…

Wheelchair user alleges Amgro Fertilizer & Farm Supply store lacks accessible parking

April 2, 2018 | Source: Northern California Record

A Fresno farm supply store is alleged to have violated accessibility guidelines by failing to remove architectural barriers. Jose Acosta filed a complaint on March 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against Amgro Farm Service Inc., doing business as Amgro Fertilizer & Farm Supply, et al. alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the complaint, the plaintiff is a wheelchair user and he visited the defendants’ Fresno store on Nov. 26, 2017, to purchase fertilizer…

Come on, Louisville. How can local businesses be more accessible for customers?

April 2, 2018 | Source: The Courier-Journal

I have a degenerative disease that has landed me permanently in a wheelchair. It has been an instructive experience that I knew only conceptually when I worked at TARC many years ago. There I learned about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which, in a nutshell, requires public accommodations to be accessible. Having just returned from a rather rigorous trip to the West Coast with connecting flights, I have seen the airports put the ADA into action in a most effective way. It seems in all my travels since I’ve been wielding a wheelchair, the airports know what they are doing…

New Rules Let Ed Department Ignore Disability-Related Complaints

April 2, 2018 | Source: Disability Scoop

Under a new set of rules, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is dismissing numerous complaints and special education advocates say they have little recourse. Since January 2016, Marcie Lipsitt has filed 2,400 complaints with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights over web accessibility for people with disabilities. Lipsitt, a Michigan-based special education activist, estimates that a thousand of those complaints have ended in resolutions. However, last month she began receiving letters notifying her that dozens of her complaints under investigation had been dismissed…

Chapel Hill bus stops will become more accessible for people with disabilities

April 2, 2018 | Source: The Daily Tar Heel

Many of Chapel Hill’s bus stops are over thirty years old, but the town is in the process of giving them an upgrade to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Chapel Hill Transit Director Brian Litchfield said the town has been assessing potential mobility challenges in partnership with Carrboro and UNC. According to Chapel Hill’s ADA transition plan, respondents to a June 2016 survey ranked bus stops, along with schools and commercial areas, among the most important locations to improve accessibility…

Sen. Tammy Duckworth Saves the Americans With Disabilities Act—For Now

April 3, 2018 | Source: Rewire.News & Disability Scoop

Last week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and 42 of her Democratic Senate colleagues wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pledging to block a vote on the ADA Education and Reform Act (HR 620). Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in February, HR 620 would devastate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) by undermining enforcement provisions that safeguard accessibility in public accommodations. Forty-three senators committing to oppose a Senate version of HR 620 is enough to filibuster the legislation, making it unlikely that a vote will go to the floor at this time…

Sesame Place Is the World’s First Theme Park to Receive Certified Autism Center Designation

April 3, 2018 | Source: Fatherly

Sesame Place, the Sesame Street-themed children’s amusement park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, has become the world’s first theme park to ever become a “Certified Autism Center.” The certification was given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education standards, which provides training and resources on autism and other such cognitive-disorders resources for companies. To become a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place has implemented a variety of standards to make park goers with Autism more comfortable…

What It’s Like to Shop When You Can’t Shop in a Store

April 4, 2018 | Source: Racked

My family used to make a joking comparison to an early 2000s department store TV commercial. Two kids are dragging their mom out of a store advertising sale after sale after sale. “But the sales!” the mom character protests, with one arm in each child’s grip. My mom, a suburban homemaker, would spend many mall-bound afternoons or evenings buckling us into the minivan. At the register, the swipe of a credit card was her source of power. My mom is now one of hundreds of thousands of Americans who do not leave home. She was diagnosed in her early 40s with multiple sclerosis…

CUNA sees victory with Texas ADA case dismissal

April 4, 2018 | Source: CUinsight.com

Today a lawsuit against Grand Prairie-based Local 20 IBEW FCU was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff just two days after CUNA and the Cornerstone Credit Union League filed a brief supporting IBEW’s motion to dismiss. Similar predatory lawsuits have detrimentally impacted credit unions nationwide alleging non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “We are glad to see that only days after CUNA and the Cornerstone Credit Union League weighed in supporting the credit union, the firm voluntarily dismissed yet another frivolous lawsuit concerning website accessibility,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle…

UMD Senate bill would require all new school websites be accessible to those with disabilities

April 5, 2018 | Source: The Diamondback

The University of Maryland’s Senate voted to require all new university web-based information to be accessible to students with disabilities but removed a deadline for existing websites to be brought up to this standard. Websites will look the same, but the coding in the sites will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with screen readers and assistive technology that allows students to use websites without a mouse, according to Ana Palla-Kane, co-chair of the President’s Commission on Disability Issues…

Students with disabilities demand better resources

April 5, 2018 | Source: Johns Hopkins News-Letter

The student group Advocates for Disability Awareness (ADA) released a list of demands calling for better accommodations and resources for students with disabilities on Monday. The demands follow the firing of Brent Mosser, the former director of Student Disability Services (SDS). Among their demands, ADA calls for the University to reinstate Mosser. The News-Letter spoke with five ADA members, including sophomore Anthony Boutros, who explained why the organization decided to speak out now…

Bills to expand users of accessible parking spaces are wrong

April 5, 2018 | Source: Asbury Park Press

I am strongly against the two current bills mentioned in both your good editorial, “Increase parking access for disabled” and article on the great need for more accessible (not “handicapped”) parking for people with disabilities. As the current rules make clear, the accessible spaces are needed for individuals with physical conditions who need closest parking to get to stores, restaurants, medical facilities. The spaces are crucial for wheelchair-using people, who need the wider access aisles that are part of the accessible parking places to drop down their van ramps and have room to turn off the ramp…

Sesame Place Becomes First Theme Park to Be Designated a Certified Autism Center

April 5, 2018 | Source: Smithsonian & Mashable

Visiting theme parks can make for a joyful family outing, but for kids on the autism spectrum, the experience can be overwhelming. That’s why Sesame Place, the Pennsylvania theme park inspired by the colorful cast of “Sesame Street,” has implemented a number of measures to make its facilities more accessible to children with autism. As Franki Rudensky reports for NBC Philadelphia, their efforts have made Sesame Place the first-ever theme park to be designated a Certified Autism Center (CAC)…

How 10-year stroke survivor Steven L. Patterson gets around St. Louis

April 5, 2018 | Source: Curbed

Steven L. Patterson is a longtime resident of St. Louis, Missouri, where he’s the author of Urban Review Saint Louis, covering public policy, urban planning, and local politics. He’s also a stroke survivor. In 2008, Patterson was found by a friend about 12 hours after he’d had a hemorrhagic stroke. When he returned home almost three months later, he was barely able to walk. In addition to his urban design musings, Patterson tracks how he gets around the city at @UrbanReviewSTL, where he points out accessibility issues, including subpar curb ramps…

Trinity Seeks to Address ADA Compliance Concerns

April 5, 2018 | Source: The Trinity Tripod

In a comprehensive evaluation of Trinity College conducted in March 2017, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges alludes to potential compliance violations with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Their findings are explored in a 40-page document, commenting on the strengths and weaknesses Trinity faces in a host of categories including Mission and Purpose, Academic and Financial Resources, Governance, and Educational Effectiveness. In its remarks on facilities, it says, “the Team received a number of anecdotal reports about the campus not being fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”…

Make downsizing a step up for the senior in your life

April 5, 2018 | Source: Potomac Local.com

Seniors have specific challenges that we often don’t think about when we’re younger. One of those is downsizing. Often, after the kids are grown and have moved out or a larger home just becomes too much to manage, seniors opt for smaller living spaces. This transition can prove stressful for all concerned, but especially the senior homeowner. Here are some ways you can help ease that move from big to small. Strategize – This is the first step after the downsizing decision is made. Think about reasons for downsizing and formulate goals with the senior homeowner…

As more ADA suits dismissed, are plaintiffs’ lawyers changing tactics?

April 5, 2018 | Source: Credit Union Journal

Credit unions have hailed a string of court victories as case after case claiming CUs’ websites violated the Americans with Disabilities Act have been dismissed, but legal experts warn the law firm involved in many demand letters and lawsuits is attempting a new tactic. Another dismissal came Wednesday, when a lawsuit against Grand Prairie, Texas-based Local 20 IBEW Federal Credit Union was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff just two days after the Credit Union National Association and the Cornerstone Credit Union League filed an amicus brief supporting the credit union’s motion to dismiss….

Jack Fact — A recent research report from the Conference Board of Canada has made a powerful business case for improving accessibility in the built environment. People with disabilities already represent 14 percent of consumer spending or $164 billion annually. By 2030, real spending by this group is anticipated to grow to 21 percent of the total consumer market, or $316 billion annually.

International News

Creating a culture of inclusion at Barclays – inspiring hearts, educating heads and enabling hands

March 28, 2018 | Source: Disability-smart- UK

Accessibility can be seen in two ways. A set of rules and guidelines which say ‘Thou shall do x and thou shan’t do y’ or a way where we consider the needs and situations of the people who will be using our products and develop our products to ensure that we don’t disable them. By focusing on guidelines, standards and processes you build compliant products, but if you focus on people and fostering a culture of inclusion, you recognise that standards and guidelines are merely the start line and not the finish line…

Canada launches funding opportunity to improve participation of Canadians with disabilities in their communities

March 29, 2018 | Source: NewsWire- Canada

Today, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, invited not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations, municipalities and territorial governments to apply for funding for retrofit, renovation or new construction projects of accessible facilities or venues through the 2018 Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) call for concepts (CFC) for mid-sized projects. Through the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Government of Canada is taking action to ensure Canadians with disabilities have access to services and programs that will help them participate fully in their community and in the labour market…

TTC rider pushes transit agency to improve communication with hearing-impaired customers

March 29, 2018 | Source: Toronto Star- Canada

More than a decade after an advocate for the blind won a landmark human rights case against the TTC, a hearing-impaired transit user is calling on the agency to improve its communication with riders who have hearing loss. Leona Zultek argues that by not devising ways to provide hearing-impaired customers with the same information as other riders, the TTC is failing in its obligation to communicate with all passengers regardless of their abilities. While the public transit agency does provide high-level information about service changes in written format displayed on screens throughout the transit system…

FG moves to end unsafe workplace treatment for disabled persons

March 30, 2018 | Source: Guardian- Nigeria

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to end unsafe and inhuman workplace conditions of the disabled and other workers.This was disclosed yesterday at a retreat in Akwaga, Nasarawa State.The Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said the retreat was called to deliberate on ways of eliminating workplace hazards, especially in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDAs]. The office of the HOS organized the retreat for members of the committee on the development of public service emergency policy. The Deputy Director, Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Patrick Pillar, represented her…

Calls for Improved Accessibility at National Disability Conference

March 30, 2018 | Source: The University Times- Ireland

Students from across the country yesterday attended the national conference for students with disabilities in Dublin, taking part in a day of workshops and speeches on accessibility for third-level students. Run by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD), the day-long conference saw professionals and student activists recount their experiences of accessibility in higher education institutions. The keynote speech of the day was given by Aoife Kirwan, Information, Advocacy and Research Assistant with Multiple Sclerosis Ireland…

Yellowknifer issues report cards to make businesses more accessible

March 30, 2018 | Source: CBC- Canada

A Yellowknife resident is raising awareness about accessibility issues in the city through a unique personal project. Jake Flanagan uses a wheelchair and said the lack of access at many businesses and venues in the city is frustrating. The 25-year-old has autism and fibromyalgia — a chronic pain disorder. “It’s frustrating, it’s tiring and it can be embarrassing,” Flanagan said. Flanagan decided to create accessibility report cards to rate businesses. Flanagan is posting the results on Facebook and hopes others will contribute their experiences…

Accessibility advocates express cautious optimism about Ontario budget

March 31, 2018 | Source: Times Colonist- Canada

Accessibility advocates are expressing cautious optimism about measures in the latest Ontario budget that fund programs for developmentally disabled people, enhance social assistance and boost mental health support. But some say they still question whether the province’s Liberal government places a high enough priority on the estimated 1.9 million Ontarians living with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities. Over the next three years, the budget promises to pump $1.8 billion into services for developmentally disabled people and invest $2.3 billion into social assistance programs…

Nepal launches 1st accessible trekking trail targeting disabled, elderly

March 31, 2018 | Source: Xinhua- Nepal & Business Standard & The Hindu

Nepal on Saturday opened its first “accessible” trekking trail in the country’s famous tourism city Pokhara, targeting the disabled people with physical limitations and elderly population. The trail was inaugurated as a part of three-day international conference on Accessible Tourism’ held for the first time in the Himalayan country from March 29 to March 31 in the city. Nepal’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari inaugurated the 1.3-km section of the 14-km long hiking path in the ridge connecting Sarangkot to Naudanda areas, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the main tourism promotion body of Nepal…

Man filmed holding up bus shares his frustrations with TTC accessibility

March 31, 2018 | Source: CityNews- Canada

A transit rider is sharing his experiences riding the TTC as a person with a disability, after another passenger captured his frustrations with riding the bus. As CityNews reported on Friday, the video shows Mark Farell, who uses a wheelchair, at the front of the No. 54 bus on Lawrence Avenue and Don Mills, refusing to move until a TTC supervisor is called to the stop. Farell claims he was left waiting in the rain on Thursday afternoon, after not being able to board several buses…

Children with disabilities prepares 10-point resolution for parliament

March 31, 2018 | Source: Ghana News Agency- Ghana

Children with Disabilities in the Upper West Region have presented a 10-point manifesto for onward submission to parliament to be included in society and accessibility to school infrastructure as enjoined in inclusive education policy. The presentation was made in Jirapa as part of the Worldwide “Ring the Bell Campaign” for Education for Children with Disabilities on the theme: “All Children welcome in school including Children with Disability.” The activity was organised by SWEB Foundation in partnership with ProNet North and the Jirapa Ghana Education Service (GES) and SWEB Foundation…

Wagga Access Working Group to overcome accessibility barriers in and around Wagga

April 1, 2018 | Source: Daily Advertiser- Australia

A new very determined community group is on a mission to make Wagga more accessible for people from all walks of life. A joint initiative of the council, Intereach, and the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability, the Wagga Access Working Group met for the first time last month to discuss different barriers to accessibility around the city. Organiser and Intereach linker Kerein Mullins said the group brought together a wide range of stakeholders who all had key insight into disability and access…

Navigating a difficult world-April is Autism Awareness Month and it is time to focus on social accessibility for those in the spectrum.

April 2, 2018 | Source: The Hindu-India

Nishant Sriram is a foodie. He has stored names of restaurants and their menus on his communication app and on special days, he pulls out the app and tells us where he wants to go. During the drive, he is very excited and will plan what entrees he is going to order. Some of the restaurants like That’s Y Food, On The go, Cream Centre and ID at the Mall, are used to him and offer us a table of our choice; preferably one in a corner and with a view of the kitchen for Nishant…

Advocacy project gets bus drivers onboard for more accessible transport

April 3, 2018 | Source: The Guardian-UK

For Mario Christodoulou, buses are essential. “I use buses every day to get to work and to the shops – it is my only way of traveling,” he says. Christodoulou, from south-west London, is a peer advocate at learning disability charity Kingston Involve. As part of his work championing the rights of learning disabled people, he is involved in the Big Day Network, which holds learning disability awareness days in bus garages, bringing together learning disabled Londoners, their support staff, bus drivers and managers…

Common sense will help you think outside the box-ticking

April 4, 2018 | Source: Planning & Building Control Today- UK

We’ve got guidance, we can read regulations, but often common sense can cut through all the red tape, remove the temptations of “box-ticking” and clear the way to a more inclusive world. Without a doubt, the various official documents have their place and are fundamental to improving accessibility, but they are still only the foundations. Interpreted rigidly they will usually do a job, probably ensuring all accessibility features are identical regardless of the scenario or environment. But add a bit of common sense and you can do so much more to make life easier for disabled people…

Proposals to improve aviation accessibility

April 4, 2018 | Source: BT- UK & Independent-UK & The Argus- UK

Air travel could be eased for disabled passengers under new measures being considered by the Government. Limits on the amount of time it takes for travelers to receive assistance boarding and leaving planes could be introduced, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. Officials are in talks with the aviation industry to develop priority wheelchair storage on planes for quick access on arrival. They are also examining how aircraft manufacturers can remove seats to accommodate wheelchairs and disabled toilets…

What a typical night out looks like when you have to use a wheelchair

April 5, 2018 | Source: Mama Mia- Australia

I was born with a rare neuromuscular condition, impacting the joints and muscles in my arms and legs, limiting my range of movement and subsequently requiring me to use a powered wheelchair for mobility. Accessibility has been a fundamental part of my routine every single day. Navigating my daily activities has never been as simple as just getting up and going. Planning for accessibility – in a society which is frequently inaccessible – involves calculations, schedules, phone calls, emails, equipment, questions, problem-solving and creative thinking. Great skills to have on a résumé…

How small businesses can improve website accessibility for visually impaired users

April 5, 2018 | Source: Dynamic Business- Australia

One in five Australians are living with a disability. This includes 357,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Like most Australians, they rely on the internet to find information, goods, services, and employment. As the internet becomes an intrinsic part of our daily life, websites optimized for people with disabilities are no longer optional, but a necessity. To remain competitive, SMEs must ensure that visually impaired Australians – potential customers or highly-skilled employees – are not locked out of digital life…

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Our digital and web accessibility services cover

Accessibility Audit Services — Our comprehensive audit will map all findings to internationally recognized WCAG 2.0 AA standards and equip you and your technical and content teams to know what areas need to be brought into compliance.
Accessible Elearning Development — Does your online training reach all learners, whether they’re your employees, resellers, students? Let us help you design effective, engaging training that works for everyone.
Accessible Website and Application Development — An inaccessible website or application is increasingly seen as violating the ADA. Let’s talk about creating an online presence that reaches all your customers and reduces your litigation risk.
Audit and Testing Services — A thorough accessibility audit against recognized accessibility standards will show you where you may be under-serving your customers and putting your organization at risk.
Accessible Document Services — Digital assets such as Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, and audio and video files need to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, too. We can help you establish creation processes or remediate historical documents so that they meet accessibility standards and are usable by people with disabilities.
Remediation Services — Whether for a time-sensitive response to a legal action, or for proactive remediation, we can fix what doesn’t meet accessibility standards.
Accessibility Training — Contact us to get your teams introduced and informed about accessibility best practices.

Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.