Accessibility in the News—7/21/17. Accessibility news varied widely this week, covering a talking laundry module built by a 14-year-old, a new, tactile £10 note from the Bank of England for the blind and visually impaired, and an attorney suspended for filing frivolous ADA lawsuits. But there were a few themes: Transportation, from autonomous vehicles to Uber, was one. The ride-sharing company faces a lawsuit in New York for not having enough[…]
READ MORE about Uber Accessibility Varies, Food Companies Get Sued for Inaccessible Websites…and Accessible Tech Tackles LaundryMicroassist'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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Accessible Design: Legal Actions Amplify Awareness of Need for Accessibility in both Physical and Online Environments
Accessibility in the News—07/14/17. Legal actions and policy are amplifying the need for accessibility in digital and physical environments. Accessible design is enforced by the Americans with Disabilities Act and is important for anyone and everyone to understand because of the necessity for inclusion and disability rights. Some of this week’s top stories on legal action for accessible design include a website accessibility lawsuit in Miami being settled for closed captioning[…]
READ MORE about Accessible Design: Legal Actions Amplify Awareness of Need for Accessibility in both Physical and Online EnvironmentsMobility Impairments Induce Transportation Companies to Enhance Access
Accessibility in the News—07/07/17. In this week’s City & State New York interview, the Human Rights Commission’s Ted Finkelstein said, “The simple ability to get in and out of their building, to get in and out of their bedroom, their bathroom – it’s just a life-changing event for people.” That pretty much sums up several of the stories in this week’s issue, many of which focused on mobility impairments, aging,[…]
READ MORE about Mobility Impairments Induce Transportation Companies to Enhance AccessWinn-Dixie Accessibility Lawsuit Has Retailers on High Alert
Editor’s note: This June 30, 2017 edition of Accessibility in the News was originally published following the initial decision in the Gil v. Winn-Dixie case. The case is back in the headlines following the decision of an appeal filed on behalf of Winn-Dixie. For the latest news around the case, and other news on legal activity around the Americans with Disabilities Act, visit our Accessibility in the News, Legal Edition[…]
READ MORE about Winn-Dixie Accessibility Lawsuit Has Retailers on High AlertAccessible Entertainment: Making Your Summer Activities Accessible to All
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 AllBraille 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 Inclusion