Accessibility in the News—6/23/17. Accessible entertainment is booming this summer, all the way from movie accessibility to a water park for those with special needs. A couple structured their home and gardens for everyone’s enjoyment, including those who use wheelchairs and walkers. Golfing fans who have Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, are welcomed with very intentional accommodations at the Travelers Championship. AITN Quote of the Week “When you have a disability, knowing that[…]
READ MORE about Accessible Entertainment: Making Your Summer Activities Accessible to AllMicroassist's Accessibility in the News
Microassist's Accessibility in the News is a widely read, free weekly newsletter curated by Jack McElaney. Newsletter sections include a compilation of accessibility articles and blogs, a list of accessibility conferences and training, accessibility job announcements, and a listing of accessibility resource pages.
Featured by Wall Street Journal, its sole purpose is to educate people interested or involved in accessibility related to the Americans with Disabilities Act Title I, II, or III, and Sections 504 and 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. It also covers numerous international topics from all over the world.
Past issues of Microassist's Accessibility in the News are archived and searchable on this website.
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Braille Innovation Across the World Could Change How Blind Users Access Information
Accessibility in the News—06/09/17. Innovation for users with disabilities is being recognized around the world, most recently at the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Innovation Showcase competition in India. The winner, BrailleMe, is a product for the visually impaired that makes digital information accessible in multiple tactile languages. Innovation has become extremely prominent in this day and age; not only is there innovation in manufacturing, electronic, and medical technologies, but[…]
READ MORE about Braille Innovation Across the World Could Change How Blind Users Access InformationDisability Inclusion is Becoming Prominent Across All Age Groups
Accessibility in the News—06/02/2017. Inclusion is a strong focus in today’s accessible world, all the way from gaming, to mapping applications. Striving to include individuals regardless of their disability is what many businesses and people have focused on in this week’s news stories: Some ways that companies are becoming more inclusive is by eliminating technology barriers. Social inclusion in elementary schools all the way to colleges is also giving our future generations the mentality and compassion[…]
READ MORE about Disability Inclusion is Becoming Prominent Across All Age GroupsGains in Inclusivity for People with Disabilities, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2017
Accessibility in the News—May 26, 2017 From airlines and apps to architecture and much more, this week’s news covers notable strides (including the “most accessible meeting ever“) that will ease or have eased many situations for people with disabilities. Some initiatives enable even those with profound disabilities to attend sporting events. Progress stems from greater awareness and inclusive initiatives across various sectors (education, tech, government, theater, gaming) and across U.S.-based and international communities. Global Accessibility Awareness Day, observed the[…]
READ MORE about Gains in Inclusivity for People with Disabilities, Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2017Global Accessibility Awareness Day, AccessU 2017
Accessibility in the News—5/19/17. Whether its an election’s website accessibility, the mortgage industry’s website accessibility or even segregation due to a disability, it is important to consider the barriers that people with disabilities encounter when interacting with organizations online. Designing for all abilities in both the digital and physical worlds is a task that many governments and businesses have struggled with. But many individuals and organizations push forward with innovations, new policies, and awareness activities[…]
READ MORE about Global Accessibility Awareness Day, AccessU 2017Accessibility Improvements Urged for Transportation, “Smart” Cities; Higher Ed Pursues Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—May 5, 2017 The need for transportation and related infrastructure accessibility improvements took the spotlight this week, with New York being the prime focus. Recent lawsuits say the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the subway system throughout New York City, is responsible for running the least accessible subway system out of all major U.S. cities. And, at the Smart Cities NYC conference, nonprofit and technology groups addressed the risk of developing high-tech government service delivery[…]
READ MORE about Accessibility Improvements Urged for Transportation, “Smart” Cities; Higher Ed Pursues InclusionGovernment Forcing Accessibility Standards Implementation
Accessibility in the News—04/28/17. Government is the driving force for disability rights in every country. Without government, there would be no laws protecting disability rights or enforcing accessibility standards. This week’s news articles have a large focus on government laws, litigation, and accessibility lawsuits, particularly in the higher education space. At The University of California Berkeley, a Justice Department decision prompted the university to remove 20,000 digital lectures due to[…]
READ MORE about Government Forcing Accessibility Standards ImplementationAccessible Travel: Up in the Air and Down on Land
Accessibility in the News—4/21/17. This week brought up travel accommodation issues for many with disabilities. There’s the transportation aspect — For instance, how well do planes, trains, busses or cars meet the needs for people with mobility or visual disabilities traveling from one city or country to another? But what about enjoying the actual destination? This week includes news on tools that help identify facilities with accessible features. That’s the[…]
READ MORE about Accessible Travel: Up in the Air and Down on LandHigher Education and Accessibility: Tackling Facilities Access, Online Access, and Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—4/13/17. Colleges and universities have been in the accessibility spotlight recently, and this issue showcases a host of initiatives and needs within that sector. Here’s some of the goings on with higher education and accessibility: In Cincinnati, the student body is pursuing more immediately accessible digital content for both its websites and elearning programs. In New York, Cornell has documented its commitment to web accessibility and continues to[…]
READ MORE about Higher Education and Accessibility: Tackling Facilities Access, Online Access, and InclusionAccessibility Litigation: Essential for Complete Inclusion
Accessibility in the News—4/07/17.. Litigation due to accessibility inclusion has been a large focus in this week’s Accessibility in the News. Litigation is shown in all fields of accessibility such as digital access, and building/facility access. Some restaurants are even having lawsuits filed due to inaccessible kiosk design. National News (U.S.) | International News AITN Quote of the Week “People didn’t always see a person with a disability who had to[…]
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