Accessibility in the News — 12/19/2025.
NOTE: To get news like this every week in your inbox, before it hits our website, subscribe to our Accessibility in the News e-newsletter. There are no ads or graphics, and we never send spam. Just use the sign-up form on this page to subscribe and stay up to date!
Skip to National News (U.S.) | Skip to International News
More Accessibility Resources on this Page
Accessibility Blogs, Information and Video | Accessibility Announcements
Accessibility Fourms, Tips and Gaming | Accessibility Statements
Higher Education Blogs and Information | Federally Speaking
Legal Blogs and Information | Accessibility Products and Services
NEW- AI Employment Trends | Microassist Accessibility Services
AITN Quote of the Week
Accessibility in the News (AITN)- Knowledge is Power
“Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and Batteries not Included.” ― Unknown
Feature Stories
Head Start centers told to avoid ‘disability,’ ‘women’ and more in funding requests
December 11, 2025 Source: | NPR and Scary Mommy
Some Head Start early childhood programs are being told by the federal government to remove a list of nearly 200 words and phrases from their funding applications or they could be denied. That’s according to recently submitted court documents. The list of words includes “accessible,” “belong,” “Black,” “disability,” “female,” “minority,” “trauma,” “tribal” and “women.” The list was submitted on Dec. 5, as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Head Start programs in a handful of states – including Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Illinois – against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr…
Trump administration says sign language services ‘intrude’ on Trump’s ability to control his image
December 12, 2025 Source: | The Associated Press
Disability advocates push back as White House limits ASL access
December 13, 2025 Source: | Salon
The Trump administration is arguing that requiring real-time American Sign Language interpretation of events like White House press briefings “would severely intrude on the President’s prerogative to control the image he presents to the public,” part of a lawsuit seeking to require the White House to provide the services. Department of Justice attorneys haven’t elaborated on how doing so might hamper the portrayal President Donald Trump seeks to present to the public. But overturning policies encompassing diversity, equity and inclusion have become a hallmark of his second administration, starting with his very first week back in the White House…
Trump admin aims to slash access to disability lawyers, advocates say
December 16, 2025 Source: | KFF Health News
The Trump administration is trying to slash access to lawyers who defend the rights of Americans with disabilities, advocates say. Most of the lawyers work either for the Department of Justice or for disability rights agencies that Congress set up in every state decades ago. Many of the Justice Department lawyers quit in 2025 after being reassigned to other duties, their supporters say. And Trump budget officials proposed deep cuts to federal grants supporting the state-based legal groups. People with disabilities have the right to live in their communities if possible…
National News (U.S.)
NY Metro Blind Hockey helping make sport more accessible to the visually impaired community
December 11, 2025 Source: | abc7NY
A hockey puck can come flying at a player faster than the speed of a car, so for visually impaired athletes, you might not think the sport is safe. However, some changes to the puck are making hockey accessible to more people, including a kid from Long Island who is visually impaired. “It just seemed like he really shined in hockey and I was like wondering if I could do that, but it was a lot of contact in that sport,” Liam Gausman said. Gausman has always looked up to his big brother Kieran, who plays on a travel hockey team…
Milligan University engineering students making children’s toys more accessible
December 12, 2025 Source: | WJHL
Milligan University’s engineering program hosted Go Baby Go Appalachia on Wednesday. The project aims to help children with disabilities play to their fullest potential. First-year engineering students participated in a mechatronics project that enhanced children’s toys by incorporating joysticks, push buttons and other adjustable features to meet their needs. The university partners with AdapToPlay each year to create the ride-on vehicles. Greg Harrell, the Malcolm C. and Ruth G. Myers chair of engineering, said creating the ride-on vehicles is “technically demanding.”…
Higher Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities in NH
December 12, 2025 Source: | The New Hampshire
Representative Wayne Burton (D-NH) has proposed a bill to support New Hampshire students with developmental disabilities who seek to attend institutions of higher education after high school. If passed, it would go into effect January 1, 2027. The bill would provide proper programming, as received in high school, for these students at the university level, with grants from the New Hampshire Department of Education. In order to receive this grant, colleges must show that they are already providing equal opportunity for students with developmental disabilities and are overall showing a long-term commitment to inclusive programming from which they can build upon…
In Her Own Words: Julie Taulman makes outdoor sports accessible for people with disabilities
December 12, 2025 Source: | The Business Journals
I’ve spent over two decades immersed in the world of adaptive sports. My commitment isn’t just professional; it’s deeply personal. When my youngest son was paralyzed by a cancerous tumor at age two, I became fiercely determined to ensure he could access sports and experience the joy of the great outdoors. That determination has fueled my journey ever since. While significant strides have been made, there’s still so much work to be done to truly provide everyone living with a disability the opportunity to be active…
A New Generation of Clovernook Tech Designers is Revolutionizing Accessible Education
December 12, 2025 Source: | Cincinnati Magazine
On a late September afternoon in the Dutch Room of Cincinnati Art Museum’s European Wing, three members of an art and accessibility team gather before Anthony van Dyck’s Portrait of a Man in Armor. Sara Birkofer, assistant director of gallery and accessibility programs, reads from a two-page description of the large oil painting from the early 1600s. “He is about human size, about the size a man would be, but he’s cut off at the legs,” she says. “The source of light is from his right, which casts a glare off the armor. The armor has black rivets and red trim scraps at his waist. The left hand clutches the handle of a sword secured in a holster. He stands upright as if confident and proud.”…
Social Security Disability, a Protection for Some Workers, Is at a Crossroads
December 13, 2025 Source: | The New York Times
Many older Americans have a straightforward plan for affording retirement: Work longer, or never stop working at all. But in fact, about 40 percent of the employed population will quit their jobs earlier than expected — and one of the main reasons is an unexpected disability. The results can be devastating for economic security in retirement — lost income can force these early retirees to live off whatever savings they have accumulated, and to claim Social Security at the youngest possible age, 62, foregoing the higher benefits that come from delayed claiming…
His Job Is to Make the Subway Accessible. His Own Life Fuels His Work
December 13, 2025 Source: | The New York Times
There is a subway stop two blocks from Quemuel Arroyo’s apartment in Harlem, but it does not have an elevator. So he begins his workday by rolling his wheelchair onto an M4 bus. He switches to an M104 bus after less than a mile, getting off at 96th Street for the closest accessible subway stop on the No. 1 line, 40 blocks from home. He arrives at his office near Wall Street about an hour later, a reminder of the importance of his job: making the transit system more accessible for New Yorkers like him…
What a Crumbling Power Grid Means for Disabled Americans
December 15, 2025 Source: | Mother Jones
During the power outage following the winter storms of 2021—known in Texas as Winter Storm Uri—Rita, an Indigenous woman who lives with severe mental illness and congestive heart failure, tried with her then-partner to stay warm in brutal conditions in a tent on the streets of Austin with camp stoves and a propane heater. They survived, but at least six unhoused people did not. In her new book Disabled Power, University of Texas at El Paso professor Angela Frederick details the challenges that disabled people faced when parts of the state’s power grid failed in February 2021…
Democracy Denied for Disabled Americans: Guardianship and the Right To Vote
December 15, 2025 Source: | Center for American Progress
Disabled Americans have long faced barriers to voting, and recently enacted anti-voting state laws have increased these barriers. A total of 79 restrictive voting laws were passed between 2021 and 2024, including constraints on who is allowed to assist with completing and returning a disabled person’s ballot in both Texas and Georgia4 in 2021. President Donald Trump is also considering ways to eliminate mail-in voting, which would add to disabled voters’ current voting barriers that already include physically inaccessible polling places and heightened health risks…
Rose Bowl Concert Accessibility Complaint Prompts Commission Review of Event Standards
December 16. 2025 Source: | Pasadena Now
Pasadena’s Accessibility and Disability Commission will examine requirements for accessible events today after a visitor complained that a recent concert failed to deliver on ADA promises. During public comment at the commission’s October meeting, Maribeth Romslo, a Minnesota resident with a disability, said she traveled to Pasadena for the Chappell Roan concert on Oct. 11 and found inadequate accessibility despite the event’s claims it would be ADA accessible. The commission will now discuss accessible event requirements and best practices at its special meeting…
What CEOs Are Learning About Disability Inclusion At Work
December 16, 2025 Source: | Forbes
In early December, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, more than 300 CEOs and C-suite leaders from over 25 countries convened in Tokyo for SYNC25, the world’s first accountability summit focused specifically on disability inclusion in business. Hosted by the Valuable 500, SYNC25 marked a deliberate shift away from broad pledges and toward measurable action. Senior leaders from companies including EY, P&G, Sanofi and Apple took part in closed-door leadership sessions, practical workshops, and case studies examining what it actually takes to remove systemic barriers to employment, career progression, and participation for disabled people…
SSI Payments To Increase Soon
December 16, 2025 Source: | Disability Scoop
People with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income and other Social Security benefits are about to get a raise. Benefits will increase starting later this month due to an annual automatic cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, that’s tied to inflation. SSI beneficiaries will see higher payments beginning Dec. 31 while the hike will take effect for Social Security in January. Thanks to the adjustment, the maximum federal SSI benefit for individuals will reach $994 per month, up from $967 this year…
Neuroinclusive workplaces won’t happen without this one shift: emotional accessibility
December 16, 2025 Source: | Fast Company
In recent years, organizations have launched neurodiversity and mental health initiatives with the best of intentions: to raise awareness, launch employee resource groups, and create a culture where team members embrace diverse neurotypes and learn to coexist in an ecosystem. Yet, neurodivergent employees still tell me the same thing: they feel misunderstood as they navigate masking, burnout, and eventually leave organizations that genuinely believe they’ve done their best. So, what’s missing? The gap isn’t in policy or process—it’s in our understanding of the emotional landscape inside the neurodivergent experience…
Blind Pittsburgh veteran now helps others at accessible media library
December 16, 2025 Source: | WESA
U.S. Air Force veteran Angela Woodard recently recorded her story for the Library of Congress. She didn’t have to go far to do it: As a reader-advisor at the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians — and herself legally blind — Woodard spends her days at the same Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh facility in Bloomfield where any veteran can record his or her story for the archives. Woodard was especially pleased that the talk documented for the Veterans History Project was with her son, Chris Woodard…
When a rodeo is also a beacon of accessibility
December 17, 2025 Source: | White Mountain Independent
Earlier this year, the White Mountain Fair and Rodeo hosted the second annual Exceptional Kids Rodeo, bringing together special needs children from across the region to experience a true rodeo adventure. Students had the chance to practice their roping skills, ride horses and participate in other rodeo events they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to try. The event was founded and led by Aletha “Shine” Burnette, whose vision and dedication made this wonderful experience possible.Though she was born on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Cedar Creek, Burnette is of both White Mountain Apache and Navajo heritage…
Popular influencer’s TikTok video spotlights Miami University’s accessible ‘foot button’ elevators
December 17, 2025 Source: | Miami University
Dan Darkow, director of the Miller Center for Student Disability Services, said he was “genuinely shocked” when he was first sent a TikTok video praising Miami University’s accessible elevator at Shriver Center that features floor panel buttons. The glowing review came from influencer Shane Burcaw, who along with his wife, Hannah Burcaw, are known to their 634,000 social media followers as “Squirmy and Grubs.” Darkow MA ’17 — credited with advocating for enhanced elevator accessibility at Shriver and elsewhere on campus — said the video came after the center welcomed the popular influencers to Miami for “Breaking Barriers: A Conversation with Squirmy and Grubs.”…
SHRM Faced with a Disability Discrimination Lawsuit over Alleged ADA Violations
December 18, 2025 Source: | The HR Digest
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is being sued over ADA violations, with the allegations filed by a job applicant with Type 1 diabetes who relies on a service dog to alert her to sudden, possibly fatal, changes to her blood glucose levels. The applicant, who had received an offer for the post of a senior specialist in SHRM’s product management department, disclosed her reliance on the service dog and requested the accommodation to be made to ensure her service dog was allowed to assist with her physical safety at work…
What Hotels Get Wrong (and Right) About Accessible Design, From Disabled Travelers
December 18, 2025 Source: | Afar
By the time I got to the curb in front of the Pendry Manhattan West on a sticky night last July, I was trying to hide my exhaustion. I had been up since the early morning in California to cross to the opposite coast alone, and I was doing it as a physically disabled woman. In the homestretch of any journey, my cerebral palsy is often under the most stress between the street outside my hotel and my impending sleep. No matter how much I plan, I can’t quite predict how accommodating a hotel will be. “The United States is arguably the most accessible country globally, largely due to social movements that led to the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” says Arturo Gaona…
Jack Fact — According to the CDC, 1 in 6 adults with disabilities 45 to 64 years did not have a routine check-up in the past year.
Hit The Road Jack — The Best Cities In The World For Wheelchair Accessibility, According To Experts and Desire for Accessible Travel Moving to the Mainstream and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Accessible Recreation Destinations and Oregon Is the First Accessibility Verified State. What Does That Mean?
International News
Riders see big improvements in Ottawa’s accessible taxi service
December 11, 2025 Source: | CTV- Canada and YouTube
Residents who rely on wheelchair accessible taxis say they’re seeing a dramatic improvement in service thanks to a city pilot project that’s drastically cutting wait times. Sheila Brown has been using a wheelchair since 1987 and says getting a reliable ride has always been a challenge, until recently. “We used to wait an hour or two. Now it’s under half an hour and usually under 15 minutes,” Brown said. Users pay for their ride as they would a normal taxi service, while a standard ride through Para Transpo costs $4. However, Brown says traveling via accessible taxi is a completely different experience from what she’s used to with Para Transpo…
New Guidelines for OTT Accessibility Launched for the Visually and Hearing Impaired
December 12, 2025 Source: | Observer Voice- India and Exchange4Media
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken a significant step towards inclusivity by releasing draft guidelines aimed at enhancing accessibility on Online Curated Content (OTT) platforms for individuals with hearing and visual impairments. Announced for public consultation on October 7, 2025, these guidelines underscore India’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights and international standards for persons with disabilities. The new draft guidelines are crafted in line with Article 14 of the Constitution, fulfilling India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016…
Govt releases draft OTT accessibility norms for hearing and visually impaired users
December 12, 2025 Source: | The Rahnuma Daily- India and Digital Studio- India
The government has issued draft guidelines to make audio‑visual content on online curated content platforms (OTT platforms) accessible to persons with hearing and visual impairment, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr L Murugan, told the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued draft guidelines for ‘Accessibility of Content on Platforms of Publishers of Online Curated Content (OTT Platforms)’ for public consultation on October 7, 2025…
China Disabled Persons’ Federation praises Kai Tak Sports Park’s world-class accessibility
December 14, 2025 Source: | The Standard- China
Games for the disabled boost accessibility, innovation in GBA
December 16, 2025 Source: | Shenzhen Government- China
Chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation Cheng Kai has praised Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) for its world-class barrier-free facilities, saying they create a positive environment for advancing the development of parasports. Cheng made the remarks during a visit to the park on Saturday, which coincided with the boccia competitions of the 2025 National Games for Persons with Disabilities of China being held at the Kai Tak Arena. Leading a delegation from the federation, Cheng toured the Main Stadium and was briefed on the park’s barrier-free design and accessibility features by Tang King-shing, Director of KTSP in strategic planning…
The internet isn’t for everyone: New report reveals 64 pct of Indian websites fail basic accessibility standards
December 14, 2025 Source: | Mid Day- India
I have given up on seat selection on airline websites. I just adjust to whatever seat I get,” says Preetham Sunkvalli, a corporate executive and an inclusivity advocate. Seat selection is not accessible to screen readers, forcing him to rely on a sighted person for help. “Websites or apps that require uploading documents, or filling out forms with sensitive information, are things that I can only do with someone sighted, whom I completely trust,” he says. India prides itself on being one of the world’s largest digital economies…
Tudor and Cashel discuss their Accessibility Plan now and going forward
December 14, 2025 Source: | Penticton Herald- Canada
Tudor and Cashel Township council discussed their Accessibility Plan 2021 to 2025 at their meeting on Dec. 2. In particular they talked about the status of the report, a review of its progress and what it will evolve into going forward in the coming years. They passed an updated Accessibility bylaw 2025-47 and the updated Accessibility Plan 2025 to 2030 later on in the meeting. CAO Nancy Carrol comments to The Bancroft Times on the report. Municipalities need to prepare multi-year accessibility plans and report regularly on their progress toward achieving the goal of removing and preventing barriers to accessibility…
Realizing Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Strengthening Legal Frameworks and Institutional Cooperation
December 15, 2025 Source: | United Nations Development Programme- Kyrgyzstan
A high-level roundtable convened government institutions, civil society, employers, and international partners to accelerate the implementation of rights for persons with disabilities. The discussion focused on translating legal guarantees into practical measures that ensure equal access to justice, public services, and employment. Participants examined systemic approaches for inclusive governance, coordinated institutional action, and sustainable partnerships. The event brought together the Institute of Ombudsman, the Ministry of Labor, Social Development and Welfare, the Council on Disability Affairs, key ministries, UNDP Kyrgyzstan, employers, and organizations of persons with disabilities…
Building for Disability: Why Accessible Housing Must Go Beyond Ramps
December 16, 2025 Source: | This Day Live- Nigeria
Across Nigeria, conversations about inclusive development are gaining momentum. Yet one critical area remains largely overlooked: accessible housing. For decades, disability inclusion in the built environment has been reduced to a token gesture most commonly, the installation of a single ramp at the entrance of public buildings. But accessibility is far more complex, and for millions of Nigerians living with disabilities, it determines whether they can live independently, work effectively, and participate fully in society…
Birmingham charity’s sensory grotto makes Santa visits accessible
December 16, 2025 Source: | BBC- UK
A charity has built a sensory grotto to make visiting Santa accessible to all. Focus Birmingham, which cares for people with visual impairments and complex needs, aims to create a sense of calm with the grotto’s adaptable soft lights, gentle sounds and different textures. It created the experience to make Christmas more inclusive and ensure that there was a “safe space” for everybody to enjoy a visit with Santa. “The family’s reactions are amazing to what we do, it fills my heart all year,” staff member Thomas Ward said, adding that it gave “something to the wider community”…
FIFA’s ticketing policy is excluding fans with disabilities from the 2026 World Cup
December 16, 2025 Source: | Football Supporters- Europe
On 15 December, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and its Disability and Inclusion Fan Network wrote to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to condemn FIFA’s accessible ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup, which is effectively excluding supporters with disabilities from the tournament. FIFA has restricted accessibility tickets for National Team fans (PMA allocation) to Categories 1–3, denying access to the lowest-priced category. As a result, fans with disabilities must pay between approximately 140 USD and 450 USD for the cheapest Group Stage matches, with the cheapest accessible ticket for the final costing 4,185 USD…
Why BDO Canada has expanded its DEI framework to include accessibility
December 17, 2025 Source: | Benefits and Pensions Monitor- Canada
While many organizations quietly scaled back or dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs over the past year due to US policies, BDO Canada stayed firm and moved in the opposite direction. For Mandi Crespo, doubling down meant formally embedding accessibility into its DEI framework, reframing it as DEIA. As she explains, it was a structural shift shaped by legislation, workforce realities, and client expectations. Unlike the US, she notes, Canada has spent the past several years rapidly expanding accessibility legislation at both the federal and provincial levels, moving from a patchwork approach to one where most jurisdictions now have clear requirements…
Checking in with Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer on Air Travel
December 18, 2025 Source: | Travel Pulse- Canada and Government of Canada
Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO), Stephanie Cadieux, has released commentary on her findings working with airlines and transportation agencies in Canada to make travel more widely accessible to people with disabilities. In the commentary, Cadieux shares her learnings about accessible air travel for the benefit of people with disabilities, the air travel sector and the public in general. In it, she discusses challenges, progress, opportunities, roles and responsibilities, and the complexities faced by the air travel sector…
“I Don’t Let My Disability Define Me”: Jan Mohammad’s Story in Afghanistan
December 18, 2025 Source: | Relief Web- Afghanistan
“I don’t let my disability define me.” – Jan Mohammad Mohammadi, a 67-year-old man residing in Gozar Gulkhana, an informal settlement in Kabul, Afghanistan, has faced hardships in life with quiet strength and perseverance. Living in a small house built of mud and bricks with his wife, daughter, and four sons aged between five and 14, his everyday life is a constant struggle to provide for his family and to keep hope alive. Two decades ago, Jan Mohammad’s life changed forever when he was caught in crossfire. The incident left him with serious leg injuries, creating a permanent obstacle to walking and working as he once did…
Cabinet approves amendments to disabled rights act
December 19, 2026 Source: | The Taipei Times- Taiwan
The Cabinet yesterday approved the first changes to the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act in 18 years, which aims to ensure the participation of people with disabilities in the policymaking process and improve accessibility. The proposed amendments uphold disabled people’s right of representation in policy consultations, clarify services, build up infrastructure and enforce laws to protect them. Forty-one articles were amended, nine were added and one was removed to align the law more closely with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos
- An accessible Christmas and year – Diocese of Derby
- “It is a theatre of contradictions”- Peter Torres Fremlin
- What happened to the invalid carriage?- Celestine Fraser
- Our Way | RightHear’s Newsletter- Our Review of 2025
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center- E-Bulletin: December 16, 2025
- Accessibility in the arts with the urban dance troop- The Oak Leaf
- SB 707: The end of “good enough” for civic accessibility- PublicCEO
- Don’t Fall Into the “Accessibility Grade/Score” Trap- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- The Latest: Taking Steps and Making Strides- Stephanie W. Cawthon, PhD
- Building a Culture of Accessibility for Inclusive Growth- The CSR Universe
- Digital accessibility, the way is co-design with disabled users – Il Sole 24 ORE
- Beyond Compliance, The Hidden Benefits of Web Accessibility- Maxwell Ivey
- Have you ever thought about internet accessibility?- Interview with Dajana Gioffré
- Celebrating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility – United Church of Christ
- What Continuous Improvement Model is Best for Accessibility?- Sheri Byrne-Haber
- Anti-Scraping Tools Undermine Web Accessibility for Disabled Users- WebProNews
- Workplace accessibility strategies leaders should implement- Employee Benefit News
- Universal accessibility and powerful outcomes inspire supporters- The Globe and Mail
- From Reactive to Proactive: Building a Sustainable Accessibility Program- Equal Entry
- ‘Accessibility Must Be A Core Marketing Priority In 2026’, Says TwentyTwo Digital- B&T
- This Month’s Spotlight: Dr. Nichole and a Must-Watch PDF Accessibility Session-Venngage
- Verona’s ancient Roman arena to improve disabled accessibility for 2026 Games- AP Explains
- Film Event Accessibility Scorecard — FWD-DOC: Documentary Filmmakers With Disabilities
- Accessible Today, Inclusive Tomorrow- Association of People with Disability- The Better India
- Planning a ‘Krank’ Christmas and getaway with accessibility in mind- Muscular Dystrophy News
- Onwards into the unknown- Setbacks and soulmates: a disabled look back on 2025- Peter Torres Fremlin
- Beyond compliance: how the EU Accessibility Act will redefine workplace inclusion – Workplace Insight
- The Dismantling of Special Education and Supports for Individuals With Disabilities in America- IDEAL Group
- W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: 2025 Year in Review- Dr. Scott Hollier, CEO, Centre for Accessibility Australia
- By Design: Maddi Cummane Says Accessibility Not Something to be “Added”, but Natural Part of Process- Daylight
- Not Just Awareness, please.- Disability Equality vs Disability Awareness: Why Equality Training Delivers Real Change- Christiane Link
- An interview with Tomer Aharoni, CEO of Nagish – an AI powered accessibility company that aims to reshape how deaf and HOH people make phone calls (BSL)- The Limping Chicken
- Becoming Equal in the Digital Era: Edi Suwanto, a Visually Impaired Microsoft Elevate Educator, Shares How AI Can Become a Force for Inclusion for the Disability Community- Microsoft
Federally Speaking
- FCC Certifies HKNC to Administer Alaska NDBEDP- FCC
- Conditional Certifications of Global Caption and Nagish Extended- FCC
- Wireless Emergency Alert Templates: American Sign Language (ASL)- FCC
- The Scoop: The complicated politics of choosing a State Department font – PR Daily
- Tell DHS Not to Move Forward with “Public Charge” Rule- American Association of People with Disabilities
Higher Education Blogs and Information
- Paws for Accessibility- University of Montana
- Video and Audio Accessibility Compliance- UMass Dartmouth
- Word Documents and Digital Accessibility- UMass Dartmouth
- Accessibility in the arts with the urban dance troop- The Oak Leaf
- Preparing for New Web Accessibility Requirements- American Libraries Magazine
- Milligan University engineering students making children’s toys more accessible- WJHL (YouTube)
- Navigating College Scholarships and Financial Assistance with a Disability- Steve Wright
- Web Accessibility Series: Why Properly Marking Up Lists Matters – Accessibility at the UW
- Students Present Inclusive Design Solutions at Innovation Showcase- Syracuse University Today
- Making extended reality experiences more accessible for blind and partially sighted people- Tech Xplore
- Leigh Culley was named Pitt’s assistant vice chancellor for accessibility- Pittwire – University of Pittsburgh
- Accessibility Advocate Margaret Schedel Named to SUNY Faculty Fellowship Program- SBU News – Stony Brook University
- Digital Accessibility Made Easy: Built-in Tools for Microsoft and Adobe- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine – Washington State University
Legal Blogs and Information
- The Quiet Unwinding of Civil Rights and Democracy- Ken Nakata
- 2025 U.S. Digital Accessibility Legal Update with Lainey Feingold- 3PlayMedia
- The Understandability of Consumer Banking Disclosures under the EU Accessibility Act- Oxford Law Blogs – University of Oxford
Accessibility Announcements
- ‘Most accessible’ beach program begins
- 10 US attractions ranked for hearing accessibility
- New accessibility plan will help guide Cornerstone division
- Autism Works in the Community Grants Program 2025-26 (Australia)
- City of Pittsburg Advances First ADA Transition Plan in Over 30 Years
- Framingham MA awarded $250K to update ADA plan for public buildings
- Young designers recognised for reimagining accessible living at Slough awards
- Ottawa Police Service seeking community input on 2026–2030 Accessibility Plan
- District outlines digital accessibility plan ahead of April 2026 compliance deadline
- Bill to Improve Building Accessibility for Coloradans with Disabilities Takes Effect
- Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer Releases Commentary on Accessible Air Travel
- Rick Hansen Foundation, RBC and RBC Foundation announce accessibility grant program
- KultureCity secures $3.5M from Jefferson County for new accessibility park in Birmingham
- CRTC improves accessibility of programming for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted
- Jefferson County Commission to vote on $3.5 million investment in National Accessibility Park
- HandicapMD Expands Nationwide Access to Online Handicap Parking Permit and Placard Evaluations
- Jersey City Creates Accessibility Advisory Committee to Improve Access for Residents With Disabilities
- The Dennos Museum Center Strengthens Accessibility Efforts, Renews Certified Autism Center™ Designation
- Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $5.9 million in Municipal Accessibility Improvement Grant Funds to 86 Communities
Accessibility Products and Services
- Glide
- 2025 Disability Holiday Gift Guide
- TikTok Adds More Accessibility Features
- AI Device Boosts Autism Care Accessibility
- Access Ready In Support of Policies and Positions
- Accessible Performances On McCarter Theatre Stages
- Tech for accessibility: Sign language translation device
- Designed for Accessibility for iPhone – App Store – Apple
- This Hidden iOS Feature Customizes The Way Your AirPods Sound
- New Wheel of Light gondola makes city’s iconic attraction accessible
- Android: Developer option against espionage with accessibility options
- Milwaukee Bucks offer accessibility device for blind and low vision fans
- Tech for accessibility: Brain-computer interface smart electric wheelchair
- Summit shows how robotics is becoming more accessible for real-world use (YouTube)
- As MTA Moves From MetroCard to OMNY, Accessibility Must Come First
- Meet GoodMaps, the app that makes traveling through CVG more accessible
- Accommodation accessibility startup Heartful is up for grabs – or closing down
- City of Tulsa, Tulsa Parks Celebrate Opening of New Inclusive Playground at Hicks Park
- Holiday Hosting: Mobility Expert Shares Simple Ways to Make Christmas Gatherings Accessible
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- GAMING: ‘Ship and survive’ – the Game of the Year Awards has a quiet accessibility crisis
- Oppidum, the winner of the Best Accessibility in Videogames award at the Iris Awards 2025, is now available on Nintendo Switch
AI Employment and Legal Trends
- 2026 Top Ten CIO Priorities- NASCIO (YouTube)
- New Executive Order Targets State AI Hiring Laws- Forbes
- AI in the workplace: A report for 2025- McKinsey and Company
- AI tops cybersecurity in survey of state IT priorities- State Scoop
- Planning for 2026: Closing the AI Governance Gap in L&D- Microassist
- Pre-emption by Executive Order: Trump Order Moves to Block State AI Laws- The Employer Report
- Your AI in HR Must-Do List: Navigating Illinois’ Draft AI Notice Regulations- Epstein Becker and Green
- Leading Civil Rights Organizations Respond to Executive Order Seeking to Bar States from Addressing Harms Caused by Artificial Intelligence- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Accessibility Statements
- IMAX
- Orange
- Freshfields
- SUNY Canton
- ACLU of Socal
- DXC Technology
- UMass Dartmouth
- Competition Cases
- Blood Cancer United
- Standards Council of Canada
Microassist Digital Accessibility Services
Have you received an accessibility demand letter because of your website or application? Please contact us for any questions you have about our accessibility services and how we might support your organization.
Services include:
- Accessible Website and Application Development— We rely heavily on accessibility best practices and using HTML5 and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) standards to build WCAG-compliant and human-tested accessible environments. Our teams are proficient in open source technologies such as WordPress, Drupal and Moodle, as well as custom frameworks in .NET, PHP, AngularJS, and other frameworks. Our Learning and Development team can also help you create accessible custom training.
- Accessible Document Services— Whether you’re dealing with a few or a warehouse of Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, or other files, there are several ways Microassist can enable your team to offer documents and materials that meet stringent accessibility standards.
- Accessibility Remediation— Our accessibility remediation services help you fix existing materials so that they conform to WCAG, Section 504 and 508, Department of Education OCR, and ADA Title II/III requirements. We remediate websites, applications, documents, and elearning, recommending re-creation when that is more efficient and economical. Especially for website and applications, to find out what is in need of remediation, we’ll start with an Accessibility Audit.
- Accessibility Training— With several courses available for developers, testers, and content creators, your team can become equipped to consistently and expertly produce accessible digital products and online environments.
- VPAT®Evaluation Services— Primarily used by government purchasers and government vendors during the procurement and sale of ICT products and services under Section 508, a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template® (VPAT) attests to the accessibility of a given product or service. Contact us to make sure the VPAT you write or review is accurate and meaningful.
Learn More About Digital Accessibility
Our Digital Accessibility Digest blog covers our Accessibility in the News archives as well as expert commentaries on digital accessibility issues.
Our most popular commentaries include:
- What is a VPAT®? A VPAT Primer
- Understanding Digital Accessibility in the Procurement Process
- Accessibility in the News, Legal Edition: Updates on ADA Title III News and More
- What Lawyers Need to Know: A Primer on Digital Accessibility Terms and Today’s Legal Landscape
Subscribe to Accessibility in the News
Stay informed! Get your weekly update on digital accessibility standards, private and public sector trends, litigation, events, and more.