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AITN Quote of the Week
“I still believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and true love. Don’t even try to tell me different.” — Dolly Parton
Thinkerbell Labs- Making Education Inclusive
Feature Stories
Blind Minnesotans who rely on rideshare services weigh in on loss of accessibility
March 19, 2024 | Source: MPR News
Advocates tell lawmakers Minnesota needs better accessibility to disability services
March 26, 2024 | Source: Minnesota House of Representatives
Governor Tim Walz is asking the Minneapolis City Council to take a step back from their decision to make a minimum-pay requirement for Uber and Lyft drivers in the metro area. That’s after both Uber and Lyft responded to the resolution last week by announcing they will leave part or all of the Twin Cities metro area starting May 1. The rideshare drivers who have been working for years to make sure they are at least paid minimum wage for their work see this as a big step towards pay equity…
Disabled riders need comprehensive public transportation planning
March 19, 2024 | Source: Prism Reports
Tanisha Sepulveda was at a community center in Tukwila, Washington. She lives in Seattle, just 15 minutes away by car. But as a wheelchair user and disability justice advocate, she noticed that the infrastructure around the building lacked basic features for accessibility. “The nearest bus drops you off 20 minutes walking distance from there, and there’s almost no sidewalks to get there,” she said. “How can this be a community center when it’s literally only serving a neighborhood and people who can drive?”…
National News (U.S.)
Project aims to make Springfield museum more accessible to people with visual impairments
March 15, 2024 | Source: Springfield News-Leader
Charlotte McCoy thought that the History Museum on the Square was pretty accessible for everyone: There are videos with captions. There are ramps and elevators for guests using wheelchairs. There are sensory-friendly days. There are docents and volunteers who are trained on how to assist guests with visual impairments. But a visit from the Springfield chapter of the National Federation of the Blind made the museum’s business manager realize that there was still work to be done…
Disabled victims, under-reported crimes center of new research
March 18, 2024 | Source: Spectrum News
For years, Amanda Simmons has been using her voice to show students with disabilities how to use theirs. “I’m a speech-language pathologist. so speech and language, which are two different aspects of communication, are a part of what we see every single day,” said Simmons. However, there’s a little-known problem that she said is underreported. “If it’s hard to tell someone that you need to go to the restroom, then something complicated, complex and difficult, like the trauma of an assault, has so much higher ramifications,” said Simmons…
Inclusivity and Universal Accessibility: Sensory-Friendly Days and Spaces Fast Growing Industry Trend
March 20, 2024 | Source: Carnival Warehouse
Fairs welcome all community members and in 2023, many welcomed members who often were unable to enjoy the fair, until now. Children on the Autism spectrum as well as those with social anxiety disorders or other conditions were usually kept from fairs due to being overwhelmed by the loud sounds, flashing lights and other forms of excitement that are part and parcel of the fair, and especially midway, experience. This year, more fairs than ever before introduced a Sensory Friendly Day or days – an exclusive event for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)…
Student’s ADHD Productivity App Concept Wins ADI’s Annual Stem Accessible Design Contest
March 21, 2024 | Source: The Jewish Press
In its fourth year, ADI’s ‘Make the Change Challenge’ STEM accessible design contest drew more than 254 outstanding entries from students across North America, but Vancouver native Amy Chodos secured the contest’s $1,000 grand prize by envisioning an astoundingly simple application that can make the world a more accessible place for people struggling with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Run by ADI (adi-israel.org), Israel’s network of specialized rehabilitative care for those touched by and living with disability, to mark Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (#JDAIM) in February…
People with disabilities continue to push for more accessible voting
March 21, 2024 | Source: | Source: TMJ4
Wisconsinites with disabilities are continuing to push for more accessible ways and places to cast a ballot. At the state Capitol on Wednesday, voting was a top concern for many Disability Advocacy Day attendees who met with lawmakers. Tyler Engel, who has spinal muscular atrophy, relies on a powered wheelchair and the help of a caregiver to return his ballot. The last time he went to his polling location, he said the ramps weren’t up to code, the elevator was out of order and he wasn’t able to open the doors. It’s one of the reasons he prefers voting absentee…
When Are Hotels Going To Get More Wheelchair-Friendly?
March 22, 2024 | Source: HuffPost
Eager to shower and get to bed after a late-night arrival in Brussels last summer, my husband and I were disappointed — but not surprised — to find that my wheelchair didn’t fit into the bathroom of our supposedly accessible hotel room. Too late to find a new hotel to stay in after a short but laborious flight from our home in Dublin, I clumsily lowered myself to the floor, scooted into the shower and sat while my husband angled the showerhead toward me and sprayed me down. Using the toilet was an even bigger issue, but I’ll spare you the details…
‘Here to serve all Texans’: TPWD initiative working to make state parks compliant with ADA
March 22, 2024 | Source: Caller Times
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has announced an initiative that will increase accessibility to its parks across the state which will make park facilities accessible to all Texans regardless of their physical ability. TPWD is collaborating with WT Group, an engineering consulting group, to evaluate accessibility access in state parks across Texas. The accessibility evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Along with WT Group, TPWD is also receiving input from the ADA advisory committee…
Day School students learn importance of inclusion and accessibility
March 22, 2024 | Source: WEHT
Much of Bryce Weiler’s life has been centered around overcoming daily tasks many take for granted. Although he cannot see, Weiler is leading the path to inclusion for all. “I want to help others to live their dreams of finding employment,” explains Weiler, “working in a career or job field that they want to work in, creating events where staff from companies can go out and engage with people who have disabilities.” Weiler is the co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project, which hosts immersive events to keep those with disabilities from being isolated…
AARP-backed Bill Would Make Medical Devices Accessible to Visually Impaired People
March 22, 2024 | Source: AARP
Makers of medical devices such as insulin pumps and glucose monitors would need to make them accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired, under legislation endorsed by AARP. We wrote to federal lawmakers March 15 in support of the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act of 2024. The bill, introduced in January by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana), would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop rules to ensure devices with digital readouts include accessibility features for the blind and visually impaired. A bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the House in 2023…
Legislation could make ‘exoskeleton’ walking suits more accessible to veterans with spinal cord injuries
March 22, 2024 | Source: Stars and Stripes
Marine Corps veteran Brittany Elliott was paralyzed from the chest down in an auto accident but was able to walk again with a robotic exoskeleton provided to her in a clinical trial sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs. But after three years, a VA doctor determined Elliott no longer qualified for the assistive mobility device and told her to use a wheelchair again. “Forcing veterans to stay in wheelchairs when assistive mobility devices are available is not acceptable,” Elliott, 34, told lawmakers Thursday in support of the STAND Act during a hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s subpanel on health…
For North Dakotans with disabilities, affordable accessible housing a major challenge
March 24, 2024 Source: InForum
Joe Yasenchack lucked out when he was forced to move from his closing Harvey Manor housing complex in late July 2023. A vacant clinic smack in the center of Harvey was available and reasonably priced for someone who is disabled and on a fixed income. It was close to his church, to restaurants, the bingo games he attends at the senior center, two-blocks from his in-laws, and catty-corner from this case worker’s office. After several months renting, he secured a loan to purchase the 1,200 square foot building…
High Caliber drives forward accessible entertainment
March 25, 2024 | Source: Spartan Newsroom
High Caliber Karting and Entertainment, located at the Meridian Mall at the border of East Lansing and Okemos, has been a leading business in bringing accessibility to entertainment. Most notably, High Caliber offers a “Handicapable” go-kart for those who are wheelchair users. The Handicapable go-kart replaces the two gas and brake foot pedals with hand pedals near the steering wheel to grant complete control of the kart through hand controllers…
Reporter’s Notebook: Deaf patients voice communication accessibility concerns
March 25, 2024 | Source: Connecticut Public Radio
After speaking with deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing patients in Connecticut, it was clear that access to communication in the health care setting is a major problem. I spoke with people who said they had strokes, underwent surgeries and gave birth without having the necessary interpreter services to communicate with hospital staff. People I interviewed said these experiences can be scary. Some struggled to understand important information about medical care. The Accountability Project described the experiences of those patients in a story published earlier this month…
AT&T Stadium, Cotton Bowl among Top 5 most accessible sports venues in the US
March 25, 2024 | Source: NBC 5
Since it was announced in early March, the upcoming Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson match Netflix special has become one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated sports events. Around 80,000 lucky viewers can watch the YouTuber take on one of the greatest heavyweight champions in history at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington this summer. However, how accessible is the venue? The experts at casino.com have revealed America’s most accessible sports venues by analyzing various factors such as accessible seating, walking distance to the nearest transport station, wheelchair rental availability, and other accommodations…
What Do Truly Accessible and Inclusive Playgrounds Look Like?
March 25, 2024 | Source: KQED
When Natalie Mackay toured her son’s elementary school, she asked how he might be included on the playground. The school suggested that her son, who used a wheelchair, could lay down a blanket on a graveled area to play. This kind of “solution,” in which children with disabilities are left to watch other children play in schools, tells all students that excluding some peers is OK, said Mackay. As a mom, she wanted to see her son and all children have exciting opportunities for play and socialization. So she founded Unlimited Play, a nonprofit dedicated to accessible and inclusive playground design…
Meet Marguerite Maddox — the Detroiter championing mobility rights, one city meeting at a time
March 26, 2024 | Source: Outlier Media
Marguerite Maddox stood up and wheeled her walker to the lectern at a Detroit City Council meeting in mid-March. Her service dog, a yellow Labrador named Scarlet, was by her side. Normally, public commenters at City Council meetings get just two minutes to speak, but for Maddox, the time limit is almost always waived. If you’ve attended a city meeting in Detroit, you’ve likely heard Maddox speak: She’s been participating in public comment for decades…
Study considers ways to increase accessibility for all wildlife enthusiasts
March 26, 2024 | Source: PhysOrg
Austin’s Virginia Rose makes birding accessible
March 26, 2024 | Source: Axios
One in three birders experiences accessibility challenges to participation in birding, according to Virginia Tech researchers Emily Sinkular and Ashley Dayer. “I like to think of our research as blending together two previously unconnected fields: disability studies and wildlife recreation,” said Sinkular, a Ph.D. student and lead author of the study published March 26 in the journal Human Dimensions and Wildlife. “There’s been quite a lot of research on disability and lots of research on birding, but very few researchers have combined these two topics together.”…
Ohio organizations partner to bring accessibility to solar eclipse
March 28, 2024 | Source: Spectrum News
Many thousands are planning to catch the total solar eclipse on April 8, a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) partnered to bring the experience to more people. Through the use of technology known as LightSound, those who are blind or have low vision will be able to experience the event in a more audible format at Ohio state parks and wildlife areas, according to an ODNR press release…
United Airlines makes a big change travelers have been asking for
March 28, 2024 Source: TheStreet
Over the last year, the issue of how airlines both accommodate and treat travelers with disabilities has been under the microscope. Multiple travelers have been drawing attention to the fact that their wheelchairs have been broken or they have not been offered proper care when getting on and off the plane. In November 2023, a TikTok video of American Airlines (AAL) baggage handling staff tossing around a passenger’s wheelchair as they unloaded the plane earned the ire of the internet and prompted a corporate response…
Jack Fact — According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, more than 37.5 million people in the U.S. experience hearing loss, with its prevalence higher among older adults: nearly a quarter of those aged 65 to 74 and half of those 75 and older have disabling hearing loss.
Hit The Road Jack — Cairngorms ‘tops’ for accessibility for 2024 says latest survey and National Parks and Accessibility and Accessible Romania
International News
Accessibility matters: It is a universal issue
March 16, 2024 | Source: The Himalayan Times- Nepal
The 1st of March was celebrated as International Wheelchair Day. It does not really matter that this special day has not been recognised by the United Nations yet. What it matters is that this is a truly, genuinely bottom-up initiative that deserves society’s full attention, in Nepal and also elsewhere. It matters as the day should be seen and considered as international accessibility day because our economy and society make life very difficult for wheelchair users. It should not be this way because these citizens have inalienable rights…
Centre norms for making films accessible to persons with disabilities
March 17, 2024 | Source: Moneycontrol- India and Times of India and First Post and Punjab News Express
The government on Friday notified guidelines to make movies more accessible to visually and hearing-impaired persons that make it mandatory for filmmakers to incorporate audio descriptions and closed captions in their films. The Guidelines of Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres also ask cinema theatres to use separate equipment during regular shows such as Mirror Captions, Closed Captioning Smart Glasses, Closed Caption Stands, Closed Caption display below the Screen or Headphones/Earphones for Audio Description (AD)…
TransPennine addresses accessibility fears at Haxby station
March 17, 2024 | Source: The York Press- UK
A planning application for a train station in Haxby on the York–Scarborough line was submitted in February with support from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is hoped that the new station will make it easier for Haxby’s population to travel to and from York. However, Flick Williams, a disability rights activist, has raised concerns over the station’s accessibility as there will be no station staff. “For me as a wheelchair user, if I’m coming from the direction of York and I want to alight the train at the new Haxby station then basically I’m relying on the guard to help me do that as there’s no station staff,” she said…
A critical analysis of the Supreme Court’s report on accessibility
March 18, 2024 | Source: The Leaflet- India
In India, the road to justice for persons with disabilities has often been marked by physical and systemic barriers that have made the Supreme Court of India and the judicial system seem distant and inaccessible to many. In order to bridge this gap, the Supreme Court unveiled A Court for All: Paving the Way for Accessibility in the Supreme Court for Persons with Disabilities, Women and Senior Citizens in October 2023, a report undertaken by the Committee on Accessibility of the Supreme Court of India…
WEC calls for accessible product design by default, including for bank cards and websites to empower disabled consumers
March 19, 2024 | Source: UK Parliament Committees
The cross-party committee of MPs called on companies to adopt inclusive design by default for products and services or risk restricting disabled consumers’ options and missing out on the spending power of disabled households estimated to be worth £274 billion per year. The Committee’s report entitled ‘Accessibility of products and services to disabled people’ cautioned that many private sector websites continue to “fall short” of what is required to make them accessible to disabled consumers at a time when online services, information and social networks are increasing…
‘Passed like a baton’: Advocates, Air Canada CEO clash on accessible travel
March 19, 2024 | Source: CCP24- Canada
Feds announce air accessibility summit to confront ‘unacceptable’ barriers
March 18, 2024 | Source: Montreal Gazette- Canada
Advocate ‘asking for access’ as Air Canada CEO details accessibility plan to HOC
March 19, 2024 | Source: CityNews- Canada
‘Passed like a baton’: Advocates, Air Canada CEO clash on accessible travel
March 19, 2024 | Source: The Canadian Press- Canada
Advocates and Air Canada’s CEO served up opposing views of on-board accessibility for passengers on Tuesday, though both sides agree that consistency remains a problem. Michael Rousseau, who heads Canada’s largest airline, told a House of Commons transport committee an overwhelming majority of the 1.3 million passengers who requested special assistance last year had a positive experience. About 1,950 – or 0.15 per cent – filed complaints. “This is not to minimize the number of incidents nor the serious impacts the disruptions have on the individuals involved…
Creating accessible spaces through conversation and technology
March 19, 2024 | Source: The Link- Canada
In 1979, a collective of audiologists from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital had the idea to create a support group for their patients with acquired hearing loss after they noticed their patients weren’t given enough support or resources outside of their audiologist appointments. Patients typically had 30 minutes to an hour with their audiologist. In that allotted time, patients would do a hearing test, then be assessed and advised further by the audiologist based on their level of hearing loss…
Reforming public transport to make travel accessible for all
March 20, 2024 | Source: Minister for Infrastructure- Australia
The Albanese Government is reforming disability standards to help make public transport more accessible. This is the first major reform to the Transport Standards since they were introduced over 20 years ago and comes after a long period of consultation. The new standards will improve accessibility and support independent travel for a range of users meaning they can plan and undertake their journeys with a greater level of certainty. People will be able to get information in accessible formats including timetables and updates about disruptions in a way that meets best practice design principles for accessibility…
Accessibility remains a back-burner issue for Victoria city council and CRD board
March 20, 2024 | Source: Local Journalism Initiative- Canada
According to the municipality’s website, the city of Victoria, is “committed to embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into our programs, policies, spaces and services.” Those spaces include city council meetings which are accessible in person and online. To facilitate transparency and accountability of the council and the board, meetings (unless they are in camera) are open to the public. Likewise, the CRD website says “we are committed to equal access and participation for people with disabilities…
‘Systemic issue’: Class-action filed against Uber, Lyft alleges lack of accessibility in B.C.
March 21, 2024 | Source: CTV- Canada and CNW Group and The Conversation
A B.C. law firm has launched a class action lawsuit against Uber and Lyft alleging people with physical disabilities who require wheelchairs or similar devices, have been unable to access the ridesharing services. The class action was filed at the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal and names David Sheldon as the complainant. According to the filing, Sheldon is an incomplete tetraplegic who is dependent on a motorized wheelchair for movement. Around December, 2023, he tried to access Uber and was prevented from using their services because they were not wheelchair accessible, as per the filing…
Government finally set to act on housing accessibility standards
March 21, 2024 | Source: Disability News Service- UK
The government is finally taking further steps towards introducing laws that would set a higher standard of accessibility for nearly all new homes in England. The government promised in July 2022 that it would consult on new rules that would force all new homes to be built to the M4(2)* standard of accessibility, except for cases where this was “impractical and unachievable”. An earlier consultation on raising accessibility standards had ended in December 2020, but when ministers finally responded, in July 2022, they announced this further consultation on the detail of the changes…
Dear Editor, I Disagree: Disability inclusion must move beyond tokenism
March 21, 2024 | Source: Indian Express- India
There have been some significant developments in recent times on disability rights in India and the world. The Supreme Court of India has initiated a consultation to prevent the usage of stereotypes against persons with disabilities. The question of reasonable accommodation and accessibility is more profoundly asked and acknowledged in most spaces. Elon Musk’s venture Neuralink is seen and hailed as a silver bullet for accessibility. The Indian Express, in its editorial, ‘Everyone in,’ (February 10) praised the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting guidelines to make cinema halls accessible for persons with hearing and visual impairment…
Government invites public feedback on accessibility guidelines for banking sector
March 21, 2024 | Source: Deccan Herald- India
The government has invited feedback and suggestions on its draft accessibility guidelines for the banking sector with the aim to ensure that banking services are accessible to all, including persons with disabilities. The draft rules by the Department of Disabilities Affairs covered various aspects of physical infrastructure, automated machines, digital platforms, and training initiatives within the banking sector. By providing detailed specifications and requirements, the guidelines said it aims to create an environment that is welcoming and accommodating to individuals with diverse abilities…
Tech tools help Victoria residents who are blind navigate their city
March 22, 2024 | Source: Vancouver Sun- Canada
For Michael Moore (they/them), who was diagnosed as legally blind in their teens, technology has dramatically opened up the world. The Victoria resident, now 47, is determined that the same tech will transform the lives of people who are blind or partially sighted. As a lived experience consultant with the City of Victoria’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) office, Moore, in collaboration with the Accessibility Advisory Committee, is field-testing a variety of apps meant to improve outdoor and indoor accessibility…
Go Barrier Free project to help shape new accessibility standards
March 22, 2024 | Source: NB Media Co-op- Canada
For someone with a disability such as visual impairment, everyday tasks like catching a bus can be difficult. Without an accessibility feature like an audio speaker announcing the route, the waiting commuter might not know what bus has arrived. And bus drivers may not realize that the rider has a disability, explains Bill McIver, a researcher at New Brunswick Community College. “And so that starts this kind of cycle… the bus driver becomes irritated.”…
Crowd-sourced ‘mapping mission’ to rate Ottawa’s accessibility
March 22, 2024 | Source: Ottawa Citizen- Canada
Planning a night on the town can be a chore for anyone. What restaurant? What movie? Where to park? That’s especially true for couples like Sam Graham and Madeline Turriff, who must also consider whether Sam’s wheelchair can be accommodated. “Any time that Madeline and I are thinking of doing an activity, we can’t just pick up and go like some folks can,” said Graham, who has cerebral palsy and works as the disability co-ordinator at Carleton University, helping students with accommodation needs…
Shortlisted Northants architect says all homes should be accessible
March 23, 2024 | Source: BBC- UK
An architect who created a home for his parents after his father was diagnosed with motor neurone disease said all houses should be built with accessibility in mind. The home in Rothersthorpe, Northamptonshire, has been shortlisted for an architectural award. Duncan Greenaway faced a battle to get the property built after the local council refused planning permission. He said the house showed that buildings can be both beautiful and accessible. When Duncan Greenaway’s father, Paul, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2015, he knew it would reduce his mobility and eventually take his life…
I was stranded in a wheelchair at the airport. Something’s finally being done
March 26, 2024 | Source: The Sydney Morning Herald- Australia
After an arduous 18 months, it’s time to farewell Wanda. This is the nickname for the lightweight wheelchair that ferried me around while living with a “dynamic disability” as part of long COVID. While I was grateful for the mobility, this experience revealed glaring problems with accessibility in Australia. To be frank, travelling by air was a nightmare. In October 2022, a hire car driver threatened to abandon me outside the Virgin Australia terminal at Sydney Airport…
Accessibility remains an afterthought – how NZ’s digital health tools risk excluding people with disabilities
March 26, 2024 | Source: The Conversation- New Zealand
Alongside my career path from a PhD in computer science, work as a nurse and ambulance officer and now a university lecturer in nursing, I have become progressively deafblind. As a result, I have personal experience navigating New Zealand’s health system, both as an employee and patient living with dual sensory loss. My experiences provide me with a unique perspective on how important it is to integrate technology well into healthcare practices. Currently, accessibility is often lacking or insufficient, both for staff and patients…
From board games to accessibility guides, how these youth-led solutions are promoting inclusion
March 28, 2024 | Source: The Straits Times- Singapore
Singapore Polytechnic student Alicia Hong, 19, is often approached by her parents and grandparents for help with using digital tools and platforms. “They would come to me with things like ‘How do I do this PayNow thing?’ or ‘Is this email a scam or not?’,” says the design for communication and experience student. Their recurring questions led to helplessness. “I thought that if they had to come to me each time for help, I was not solving the root problem,” says Ms Hong. “I wanted to do more to help but I didn’t know how.”…
Notify guidelines to make films accessible to people with visual and hearing impairment by July 15
March 28, 2024 | Source: The Indian Express- India
The Delhi High Court has directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to finalise and notify on or before July 15 guidelines to make films accessible to persons with disabilities, such as those with visual and hearing impairment. A single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba Singh said in a March 15 judgment, “It is made clear that the said guidelines shall make the provision of accessibility features mandatory and provide a reasonable period for compliance by all stakeholders, in an expeditious manner.”…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, and Videos
- 2024 CSUNATC.TV (YouTube)
- JAN March 2024 Newsletter
- Ask JAN! Q&A: Sensory Team Edition (Webcast)
- Illness moved in waves- Peter Torres Fremlin
- Accessible Museum of Illusions- Fun4TheDisabled (Video)
- State of Colorado Accessibility Newsletter: March 2024
- Sarah Herrlinger on Accessibility at Apple- SXSW 2024 (YouTube)
- Accessibility- Carolina Classrooms- South Carolina ETV (YouTube)
- How to be an advocate for people with disabilities- Fidelity
- Building for Trust, Transparency, and Collaboration- Mike Paciello
- AI For Accessibility Means AI For All—No Magic Needed- Forbes
- Thoughts on accessibility and automation – Canadian Metalworking
- How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Helps Improve Accessibility- AT&T
- Businesses must consider disabled customers ‘from the outset’– MPs
- Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility to Creativity- Business Journal Daily (YouTube)
- An Editor Who Makes Times Visuals Accessible to All- The New York Times
- Breaking Down Barriers: Accessible Web Development for All – INSCMagazine
- Accessibility in tech still falls short – experts call for better understanding- ITPro
- The 4 Biggest Early Warning Signs You’re Experiencing Hearing Loss- HuffPost
- 15 Tips for Creating Accessible Gatherings and Anti-Ableist Spaces- Katie Reilly
- National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) Library of Congress
- What is Inclusive Design, and How Does it Relate to Accessibility? – Part 1- David Sloan
- The Futurist Summit: A New Age of Tech: Accessibility at the Forefront- Washington Post
- Anna Tylor: How charities would benefit from employing more people with sight loss- RNIB
- How a GR firm played a role designing first fully accessible Starbucks store- The Lakeshore WM
- Jack Black asks parents to Turn On The Subtitles to improve child literacy- Turn On The Subtitles (YouTube)
- Insights In Sound – Accessibility Panel – Joey Stuckey and Jay Pocknell – Season 14 Ep 5- Mixonline
- How to embrace autism, dyslexia, and neurodivergence in the workplace and higher education- AbilityNet
- The ROI of Talent Development: The Link Between Human Capital and Business Outcomes- Miles Wallace
- Physical and Digital Accessibility Requirements: What Self-Storage Operators Need to Know- Inside Self-Storage
- Promoting Digital Inclusion: Specifically designed to be accessible for people with disabilities- Hospitality and Catering News
- Website accessibility- The Accessibility Tree contains accessibility-related information for elements on a page- Times of Malta
- Exclusive: 25% of disabled workers have experienced discrimination during the job interview process, new survey finds- HR Brew
Federally Speaking
- William Lumpkin- The LEAD Center
- CIE Transformation Hub- U.S. Department Of Labor
- CT Testing Baseline Portfolio CSUN 2024 – Section508.gov
- ICT-Baseline-Portfolio-CSUN-2024- U.S. Access Board and GSA
- Accessibility Presentations and Workshop Materials- Section508.gov
- FCC Announces Effective Date of Video Relay Service Improvements
- Revolutionizing Accessibility Conformance Reports with OpenACR- GSA
- Advancing Disability Inclusion in Very Small Businesses Online Dialogue- Idealscale
- FCC Announces Comment Dates for Joint Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal
- Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Joint Closed Captioning Display Settings Proposal- FCC
- Myths And Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices And Services- U.S. Department Of Education (PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Communications Services for Incarcerated People with Disabilities- FCC
- They Persevered: Honoring Three Georgia Women Behind the Landmark Olmstead Decision- U.S. Department Of Labor
- U.S. Department Of Labor Unveils New Resource To Increase Competitive Integrated Employment For People With Disabilities
Higher Education Blogs and Information
- Disability and Accessibility on Campus- Viewfinder Media
- For Content Creators- Digital Accessibility- Rice University
- The State Of Digital Accessibility In Higher Ed (2024)- CSUN
- Accessible transportation growing on campus- East Tennessean
- Why is Student Accessibility Services so Inaccessible?- The Scarlet
- March 2024 Rebel Accessibility Hero- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Insights From CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2024 – Applause
- Accessibility Tools and Resources – Texas A&M University-San Antonio
- New campus map highlights accessibility features – De Montfort University
- Multicultural Student Center raises awareness for accessibility– NSM Today
- Cutting through the red tape of accessibility at Tufts, Part 1- The Tufts Daily
- Disabled students push UC to provide accessible emergency exits – CalMatters
- Voyager Scholarship recipient an advocate for disability resources- ASU News
- Student artworks showcase marketplace accessibility issues- Lancaster University
- Faculty Awarded $1.3M for Smartphone Accessibility Research- Stony Brook University
- Alarming disparities in access to higher education for students with disabilities – APN News
- How inclusive design is making spaces at UNL accessible to everyone- The Daily Nebraskan
- Accessibility Resource Center Newsletter: Spring 2024 – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) statement – Africa’s Knowledge Bridge
- Invited to lecture on accessibility – needed to be carried into the lecture hall – Universitetsläraren
- Accessibility Awareness Week spotlight: Virginia Tech Accessibility Portal- Virginia Tech News
- New software enables blind and low-vision users to create interactive, accessible charts- MIT News
- Exploring accommodation services provided by the Office of Student Accessibility Services- The Lion’s Roar
- Mandatory training for employees will make UM more accessible for all- UM Today – University of Manitoba
- ADA Digital Accessibility on Academic Library Websites- Yan Quan Liu, Arlene Bielefield, and Jennifer Beckwith
- Planet UTSA: Making eclipses accessible to those with impaired vision through the LightSound project- UTSA Today
- Mitigating accessibility challenges for international students using intuitive digital platforms- Times Higher Education (THE)
- Office of Marketing and Communication’s “A Guide to Email Accessibility”- Digital Accessibility Services – The Ohio State University
Legal Blogs and Information
- Accessibility Lawsuit Against Sweetgreen- Thomas Logan
- Navigating Next Steps After Accessibility Litigation Settlements- Hiram Kuykendall
- Click, Click, Sued: Are Your School’s Websites and Apps ADA Compliant?- Fisher Phillips
- Legal Update and Compliance Considerations for Accommodations and Accessibility- Husch Blackwell (Video)
- Maurices class action claims website not fully accessible to bind, low-vision customers- Top Class Actions
- School bus accessibility: Families sue DC public schools for disability access problems- ABC 7 News – WJLA (Video)
- What You Need to Know About the Updated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines- Cowan, Liebowitz and Latman
Accessibility Products
- Disability dating sites: we round up the best
- New website for people with autism and ADHD
- Currys introduces web-app to enhance in-store accessibility
- Canon brings accessibility to photography with World Unseen
- 20 books with a disabled character as the lead or focus of the story
- 5 Accessibility Features For Android Worth Knowing About In 2024
- New Cablecast accessibility upgrades deliver improved viewer experience
- Journeyable, the Global Accessible Travel Association, Launches Enhanced Site
- OpenDialog Extends Accessibility Standards Across Its Conversational AI Platform
- Meet Microsoft’s Adaptive Accessories — the future of accessibility in the workspace
- GTR expands innovative app to enhance accessibility for visually impaired passengers
- Empowering Everyone Online: UpGro Digital Launches ‘Accessible Website’ Initiative!
- Supercharge your customer acquisition strategy with an ADA compliant booking engine
- Microsoft launches accessible Surface Pro Keyboard and Adaptive Accessories for Business
- Luganda text-to-speech: breaking barriers and promoting accessibility for visualliy impaired
- Denton artist with cerebral palsy creates new puzzle game focused on accessibility and entertainment (Video)
- ARxVision integrates with Microsoft Seeing AI app and Navilens app to enhance accessibility solutions for blind, low vision patients
Accessibility Forums, Tips, and Gaming
- Meaningful Link Text
- Text Spacing and Accessibility
- How to make PDFs accessible
- Change subtitles or languages for videos in the Apple TV app
- Dyslexia is fought with action video games- Breaking Lates News
- Quickly Toggling Closed Captions on Apple TV (But Not in Netflix)
- Microsoft’s new Adaptive accessibility accessories include an Atari-style joystick
Accessibility Statements
- SHI
- ABC
- Scrum Queens
- Accessible Web
- Sheridan College
- Mercer University
- Lancaster University
- Staffordshire University
- Chicago International Film Festival
- Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
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:
