Accessibility in the News — 9/12/2025.

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Feature Stories

NASCIO Report Says Accessible Govt. Makes Dollars and Sense

September 4, 2025 | Source: Government Technology

States that miss accessibility deadline risk reputational damage, lawsuits

September 4, 2025 | Source: StateScoop

For many Americans, something as basic as paying a license fee, renewing a driver’s license or applying for benefits remains out of reach due to digital accessibility issues. With more than 1 in 4 adults reporting a disability — a total of 28.7 percent of Americans — a report Thursday from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), Beyond Compliance: The Economic Case for Digital Accessibility, encourages governments to look at the various ways accessibility enhances what they do…

US government sues Uber, alleging discrimination against disabled passengers

September 11, 2025 | Source: The Guardian and Engadget and Tech Crunch

The US government sued Uber on Thursday, accusing the ride-sharing company of violating federal law by discriminating against passengers with disabilities. In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the US Department of Justice said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve riders with disabilities, including people who travel with service animals or stowable wheelchairs. The department also said Uber and its drivers illegally charge cleaning fees for service animals, and cancellation fees to riders who are denied service…

People with disabilities are bracing for the impacts of Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

September 11, 2025 | Source: Prism

During the summer rush to introduce the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), President Donald Trump and other Republican lawmakers lauded the bill as transformative for middle- and working-class Americans. The reality of the GOP’s signature policy law is now setting in, including $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts that experts say could prove fatal for thousands of already vulnerable people across the U.S. It has long been unnecessarily burdensome for disabled people to access benefits due to underfunded and understaffed state programs, among many other reasons…

National News (U.S.)

Midland gets failing grade for accessibility on several fronts

September 4, 2025 | Source: Midland Today

For those with mobility issues, accessibility in Midland needs vast improvements as many are denied access to local services and businesses due to poor layouts and designs. That was one of the key takeaways after listening to Steven Laurin talk with Midland council Wednesday evening. Laurin, the Midland representative for the Simcoe County joint accessibility advisory committee, explained to council that his role was to oversee plans and designs for new parks and public access buildings. He cited Community Outreach in Orillia as a model design for Midland to aspire toward…

Starbucks renovating cafes to be more accessible

September 5, 2025 | Source: CNBC

As Starbucks revamps its U.S. locations, the coffee chain is trying to make its cafes welcoming to all through more inclusive design. As part of its broader effort to bring back customers, the company has prioritized plans to give makeovers to roughly 1,000 locations by the end of 2026. It will sideline major store renovations and development in the meantime. While the changes will vary based on the location, expect more seating, dark wood paneling and other tweaks that make its cafes cozier. The renovations will also include changes like less harsh lighting that won’t affect customers with light sensitivity…

He couldn’t run. So they covered him instead

September 5, 2025 | Source: Star Tribune

In events of mass violence, who protects people with disabilities?

September 11, 2025 | Source: Rett Syndrome

Ryan Palattao woke up Wednesday with a knot in his stomach. The 13-year-old couldn’t explain it — just a gnawing gut feeling that something bad was coming. Still, he got dressed for his third day of seventh grade, ate a quick breakfast, and rolled in his wheelchair into Annunciation Catholic School, where his class was headed to morning Mass. Seven minutes into the service, the sanctuary’s stillness was shattered. “One bang,” Ryan said. “Everybody kind of just froze. Everybody thought it was just like a firework or something. And then it kept going. They kept getting faster.”…

Fencing outside federal buildings in downtown LA creates accessibility concerns

September 5, 2025 Source: LAist

When 8-foot-tall fences went up outside federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles last month during a relatively calm moment in the city’s summer of protest, they quickly drew attention on social media. One Reddit commenter wrote, “why would a Federal building in Los Angeles [start] turning into a fortress?” Besides the optics of putting up the fencing, it also created accessibility concerns. The fencing had blocked parts of the sidewalk and a pedestrian on-ramp on Temple Street, risking potential issues of compliance with federal accessibility laws, according to LAist’s measurements and observations…

Youtubers ‘Squirmy and Grubs’ raise awareness at Abilities Expo in Scottsdale

September 6, 2025 | Source: ABC15 Arizona

The Abilities Expo is taking place this weekend at Westworld in Scottsdale. The event provides access to resources and cutting edge technology, working to make life easier for people living with all abilities. It also features a list of empowering voices in the community, including special guests Shane and Hannah Burcaw. The couple, known for their YouTube Channel “Squirmy and Grubs”, shared their love story and challenges as an interabled couple to a crowd of fans on Friday. ABC15 caught up with the pair after their appearance, who said sharing their life online has come with highs and lows…

We belong outdoors: Bay Area groups battle inequity to make nature accessible for all

September 7, 2025 | Source: Local News Matters

Breaking through the thick marine fog at Wildcat Gorge Trail in North Berkeley, hikers — new and seasoned, young and wise — arrive to meet at the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round nearby, ready with their hydration packs, dogs and in one case even a pet ball python. “Everyone, take a moment,” interrupted Cory Elliott, CEO/President and co-founder of The Black Neighborhood, a nonprofit organization in Oakland dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Black community, who led with a mindfulness exercise before starting “Mental Health Hike #46” on Aug. 10…

States struggle with increase in special education complaints

September 8, 2025 | Source: K-12 Dive

The number of special education written state complaints jumped by 22% in the 2023-24 school year compared to the year prior, according to a new analysis by the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, a federal technical assistance center. Written state complaints involve a state-led investigation into a special education-related concern brought forward by anyone. CADRE’s data shows there were 9,927 written state complaints filed in 2023-24, which represents a 79% rise over the previous 10-year average of 5,537. CADRE’s analysis is based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education…

White House looking to cut certain disability benefits

September8, 2025 | Source: Axios

Hundreds of thousands of poor Americans are poised to get their disability benefits cut, as the Trump administration moves to reverse a Biden-era change. Why it matters: It would hurt low-income and disabled Americans at a time when inflation is driving up the cost of food and shelter; and further cuts to Medicaid and food benefits are on tap. Zoom in: The changes involve Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people who are very poor and unable to work — typically because they’re disabled…

Ipswich resident to showcase accessible clothing in local art exhibit

September 9, 2025 | Source: The Local News

Cat Burkey believes that everyone deserves to have fun, stylish clothing. But after working in the corporate fashion industry for much of her career — including at big-name companies like Reebok, Asics, and Puma — Burkey realized there are many people that the industry leaves out. Clothing is typically designed for able-bodied individuals, she said. Fashion illustrators are taught to sketch their creations on incredibly slim, standing figures. Proportionally, these figures are nine heads tall, but the average human is roughly seven heads tall, Burkey said…

At Texas’s School for the Blind, a Band of Outsiders Takes the Stage

September 9, 2025 | Source: Texas Monthly

The kids were exhausted before rehearsal even began. They’d entered the small classroom one by one on this cold evening in mid-February, slowly feeling their way with canes, some with an adult guiding them. All six were blind, some more so than others. They had been gathering almost every Wednesday night for the previous five months at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in Austin, to compose, play, and record songs. Most of the music didn’t have lyrics—there would be no actual singing—and it wasn’t performed on pianos, guitars, or violins…

The Evolution of the Human Brain Itself May Explain Why Autism is so Common

September 9, 2025 | Source: ZME Science

Autism Has No Single Cause. Here’s How We Know

September 10, 2025 | Source: Scientific American

Why do humans seem uniquely prone to autism? A new study suggests the answer lies deep in the wiring of our brains, and in the peculiar bargains evolution struck to make us human. Researchers from Stanford University analyzed brain cells across six mammal species and found a pattern: the more common a type of neuron, the slower it evolves. That’s because tinkering with abundant cells tends to hurt survival. But in humans, one of the brain’s most common neurons broke the rule. These cells, called layer 2/3 intratelencephalic neurons, are workhorses of the brain’s outer layer. They connect different parts of the cortex and are essential for language and abstract thought…

In seeking something to blame for autism, RFK Jr. wrongly attacks Tylenol

September 9, 2025 | Source: MSNBC

The news from The Wall Street Journal on Friday that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to announce a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism in children is a return to a regrettable past when autism was routinely blamed on something mothers had or hadn’t done. More than 80 years ago, autism was blamed on a presumed lack of affection from parents. Later, Kennedy would help whip up public sentiment that autism is caused by vaccines. The science doesn’t show that. It doesn’t show that autism is caused by acetaminophen, either; in fact, scientists and doctors say acetaminophen is safe to take during pregnancy…

Alzheimer’s Disease Digital Resources Lacking for Latinos, Hispanics in Los Angeles Years After COVID-19, Study Finds

September 10, 2025 | Source: Newswise

Although Latinos and Hispanics are at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease and account for almost half of Los Angeles County’s population, a recent UCLA Health study finds that accessible digital resources for these communities remain in short supply since the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found only a handful of the 15 websites from the county’s top Alzheimer’s disease organizations had features or tools to improve access for Latino and Hispanic families during and amid the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic…

New initiative aims to make New Hampshire more accessible for people with hearing loss

September 10, 2025 | Source: Concord Monitor

Six years ago, just before Amy Evans’ husband switched to a new insurance, she decided to take a couple medical tests to make the most of her coverage. The discovery that she needed hearing aids left her stunned. “It was a surprise for me, and it usually is for people,” she said. The test connected all the dots for Evans: missing cricket chirps in the morning and frequently asking her loved ones to repeat themselves. These were all signs of hearing loss. Now, Evans is on a mission to educate all Granite Staters about impaired hearing with an online resource called NHhears.org…

Pastor’s push for accessibility brings free sign language lessons to city

September 10, 2025 | Source: In Maricopa

The clubhouse at Copa Flats filled last night with the giggles and quick hand gestures of about two dozen people taking their first steps in learning American Sign Language. It was the first in a series of ASL classes offered for free by Maricopa Alliance Church, which is now offering an eight-week introductory course on Tuesdays. Pastor John Smith said the idea grew from necessity after a number of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents began attending services. Advocates in Maricopa say accessability in the city is an ongoing struggle…

Trump administration cuts funding to Oregon disability programs

September 11, 2025 | Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Department of Education is ending grants to programs across Oregon that support students with disabilities, citing practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The cuts could make it harder for disabled students and their families to access help, especially in some of Oregon’s poorest rural communities. The Trump administration cut funds for a statewide program that supports deaf and blind students in districts from Portland to Southern Oregon. It moved to end a grant to Western Oregon University for its DeafBlind Interpreting National Training and Resource Center…

Jack Fact — In 2025, roughly 44.7 million non-institutionalized civilians in the U.S. had a disability (13.5%), with the highest prevalence in Puerto Rico (23.9%) and the lowest in New Jersey (10.8%). Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that adults with disabilities are more likely to experience health issues like obesity and heart disease, while the Kessler Foundation reports that the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities saw a slight decrease to 37.5% in March 2025 before holding steady at 38.0% by May 2025.

Hit The Road Jack — Hong Kong to add 3 more wheelchair-friendly trails in country parks next year and Wales Unveil Revolutionary Travel Accessibility Plans – Is This the Future of Tourism? and Travel Tips for Adults with Vision Loss

International News

South Korea enforces stronger accessibility standards for kiosks

September 5, 2025 | Source: The Herald Insight- South Korea

A revised anti-discrimination law aimed at protecting people with disabilities will take effect in January, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on August 9. The legislation requires that kiosks in cafes and restaurants undergo accessibility upgrades in both design and operation. The move comes as kiosk usage has surged across food service businesses in recent years, often as a cost-cutting alternative to hiring additional staff. To address the challenges faced by people with disabilities, the ministry previously conducted surveys on accessibility barriers…

Govt issues new draft with accessibility standards for everyday products

September 6, 2025 | Source: Business Standard- India and Hindustan Times and The Economic Times and The Print and National Herald

The government has come up with draft accessibility standards for everyday products like kitchenware, furniture and grooming items, proposing non-negotiable rules such as universal design, braille, tactile features and clear labelling on them to ensure barrier-free access for persons with disabilities. Prepared by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and directions of the Supreme Court, the draft framework is anchored in the globally recognised “POUR” approach, requiring that products must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust…

‘An oversight’: Rally in Waterloo calls for tax exemption on online disability programming

September 6, 2025 | Source: CTV News- Canada

A rally in Waterloo Public Square on Saturday raised concerns about taxes applied to virtual disability programming, which organizers say can cost clients up to thousands of dollars each year. The event brought together disability advocates, community members and political figures to highlight what they view as a gap in Canada’s tax policy. While in-person disability support programs are typically tax exempt when government funded, organizers said this does not apply to virtual programming…

One year before Glasgow 2026 – is sport accessible to all?

September 7, 2025 | Source: BBC- UK

At Scotstoun pool in Glasgow, what is being described as a “mini submarine” is making swimmers lives, and health, better. Judith Marshall, a wheelchair user, is one of the users of the new “PoolPod”. Developed for the London 2012 Olympics, it is a platform lift that lowers people smoothly into the water and helps those with a disability, impaired vision or restricted mobility the chance to take part. Judith says before it was installed, she was hesitant about swimming. “Now, because I’m able to get into the pool, I can relax, it’s a fantastic feeling floating in the water,” she says…

Town to host ‘first-of-its-kind’ disability event

September 8, 2025 | Source: BBC- UK

A town will host a combined music festival and disability event which organisers said was the first-of-its-kind. NN Fest, organised by Mo Sounds, will take place at Delpare Abbey in Northampton from 12:00-22:00 BST on 20 September in collaboration with accessibility campaigner Nick Wilson. Organisers said the festival would provide live music, while Mr Wilson’s Access Outdoors organisation would provide “accessible adventure experiences”. Suzy Jones from Mo Sounds said: “It’s really important to show people how outdoor festivals can make minor adjustments that make a huge difference to wheelchair users…

Argentina’s congress overturns Milei’s veto of emergency disability law

September 8, 2025 | Source: Argentina Times

Disability rights activists have celebrated the decision by Argentina’s congress to reject President Javier Milei’s veto of an emergency disability law. The law, which would see higher pensions for disabled people and increased disability spending, was first approved by lawmakers on June 5. It was vetoed by Milei on August 4. On August 20, 172 members of Argentina’s House of Representatives voted in favor of upholding the emergency law and overturning the veto. Seventy-three representatives voted against doing so, and two abstained…

Championing accessibility: The Assembly

September 9, 2025 | Source: BAFTA- UK

Putting people with disabilities at its heart, and promoting equilibrium across all levels and stages of production, has seen the ITV show The Assembly gain audience praise and industry attention. Featuring a group of autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled interviewers grilling celebrities in a ‘no questions off limits’ scenario, it has quickly captured public interest and attracted big name celebrities like Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Gary Lineker, Jade Thirlwall and Michael Sheen to take part…

Amazon Starts Offering Customer Service in Sign Language

September 10, 2025 | Source: CX Today- France

Amazon is expanding its accessibility efforts, introducing a new customer service option in French Sign Language (Langue des Signes Française, or LSF). Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers who use LSF can now connect with Amazon’s customer service team through a video call. They can start a call via the “accessibility help page” or “Contact Us” section on the Amazon website using a computer, smartphone, or tablet equipped with a camera. No special software is required. The service connects users with professional LSF interpreters who facilitate real-time communication with Amazon support agents…

Australian Open to offer world-first accessibility tickets presale

September 10, 2025 | Source: The Ticketing Business News- Australia

The Australian Open is set to offer an accessible presale this month to give fans with disabilities the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2026 tournament before they go on sale to the general public. Arena tickets available in the accessible presale will be for accessible seating bays, ease of access seating, enhanced vision seating, and seats for fans who are deaf or hard of hearing. “The idea for the Accessible Pre-sale came from feedback we received from fans with accessibility needs,” said Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley…

AI-powered glasses are helping people with vision loss navigate the world around them

September 11, 2025 | Source: CBC- Canada

For Andrew Tutty, driving on the open road meant freedom — the ability to get into a car, turn the key and go anywhere, at any time. That all changed when he lost his eyesight as an adult, and his license to drive along with it. “That loss of freedom instantly became apparent when I couldn’t drive anymore,” says Tutty, who lives in Kitchener, Ont.Other everyday tasks, like cooking, have also become harder. Something as simple as setting a digital toaster or confirming the right box of noodles can become a challenge…

UK accessibility leader shares lessons with Australia’s public transport sector

September 11, 2025 | Source: Australasian Bus and Coach- Australia

When Victoria Garcia MBE returned to work after a traumatic head injury in 2010, she found herself at the heart of a movement that would change public transport in the UK. As Accessibility and Communities Manager for Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus – part of the Go-Ahead Group under Kinetic – Garcia pioneered inclusive practices that are now being shared across Kinetic’s global operations. Recently appointed the UK’s Disability and Access Ambassador for Buses and Coaches, Garcia visited Australia this month to share her learnings with Kinetic’s local teams and stakeholders…

Taxi drivers strike over wheelchair rules

September 11, 2025 | Source: BBC- UK

Taxi drivers have staged a strike in protest at new licensing rules which they say threaten their livelihoods. Drivers gathered outside the taxi licensing office at the Abbey Centre in Daventry after West Northamptonshire Council introduced a policy requiring all vehicles to be wheelchair accessible (WAVs) from the start of 2026. Non-WAVs will continue to be licensed until the end of December. Sopiya Thanikasalam, who represents the Daventry Taxi Drivers’ Union, said: “How are we supposed to afford to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle? We’d be forced to find another job.”…

What is ableism? Words can hurt people but African culture offers an alternative

September 11, 2025 | Source: The Conversation- Johannesburg, Africa

“You speak good English for a Black person.” “Why are the plates not washed when there is a woman in this house?” “Can I touch your hair?” These are some common microaggressions you might have heard before, especially if you’re a Black woman. Microaggressions can be projected to Black people because they are expected to speak perfect English when it’s not even their language. Or because what’s natural hair to them seems exotic to someone from another culture. They can be projected because of sexism that says women in African cultures belong in the kitchen…

Racist responses to disability hate crime campaign signal ‘deeply worrying’ trend

September 11, 2025 | Source: Disability News Service- UK

Campaigners calling for government action on disability hate crime were horrified when their posts on social media led to a string of racist and disablist responses, some of them from disabled people. The responses to the Inclusion London campaign posts appear to be part of a growing trend of racism inspired – activists warned this week – by the rise of the right-wing Reform UK, and public statements by politicians and coverage of far-right protests in mainstream media. Disabled activists called this week for the disability movement to speak out on such hostility but also to challenge disabled people who spread racist, transphobic and even disablist rhetoric…

Troubles victims ‘significantly more likely’ to need disability welfare

September 11, 2025 | Source: The Irish Times- Ireland

People who injured, or suffered personal loss during the Troubles in Northern Ireland are significantly more likely to end up needing disability welfare payments in later life, research has found. “Disability rates are significantly higher in Northern Ireland than in Great Britain,” according to a report, “The legacy of the Northern Irish Troubles and disability” from the Economic and Social Research Institute. “There are a range of potential reasons for this, but one important factor is the legacy of the region’s 30-year civil conflict which has had enduring impacts on the physical and mental health of those affected,” it went on…

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