Accessibility in the News- February 9, 2024
Jack McElaney
Accessibility in the News- Knowledge is Power
Crafted while listening to: The Best 10 Songs - Ronnie Davis
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius
How to Increase Workforce Equity Through Disability Inclusion
National News (U.S.)
1. Reimagining inclusive cities: Five strategies to design accessibility for all- February 2, 2024 Source: Fast Company
As a lifelong advocate for disability rights and inclusion, I’ve intimately observed how considerate urban design can forge vibrant cities where everyone belongs. While federal legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 has bolstered accessibility, U.S. cities continue to fail persons with disabilities and older persons. According to World Enabled, “By 2050, 6.25 billion people will live in urban centers. If these estimates hold true, that means that by 2050, nearly one billion urban dwellers will be persons with disabilities. The unprecedented scale of urban expansion demands a radical rethinking of what cities are, and who they are for.”…
2. Fort Wayne agencies work toward more accessibility- February 3, 2024 Source: The Journal Gazette
Anne Palmer enjoys riding the Community Transportation Network from her Huntertown home to her job at The League on South Anthony Boulevard. The drivers on the mini buses greet her, ask how she’s doing and chat with Palmer while they drive. “That connection has been really good for me, and I’m not trapped at home,” she said. Palmer, who describes herself as “visually impaired/legally blind,” was relieved when she connected with the transportation service, for which she has a set schedule for rides, such as to work or the doctor…
3. Making space in STEM for people with disabilities- February 3, 2024 Source: C&EN
“If anyone were to borrow a wheelchair for a day, I think they’d be pretty surprised about how little they could do in actual physical lab space,” says Paul Bracher, a chemistry professor at Saint Louis University. Bracher, who uses a wheelchair, says workbenches and fume hoods are usually too high off the ground for him to use from a seated position. Many laboratories also have narrow, cluttered walkways that can be impossible for him to navigate. By now, Bracher has come to expect that most labs he visits won’t be accessible to him, but nondisabled scientists are often taken aback…
4. Medical devices with screens aren’t accessible to the blind. Congress has chance to change that- February 5, 2024 Source: STAT News & Medriva
a. Advancing Diabetes Care: A Push for Accessible Insulin Pumps for Visually Impaired Individuals- February 5, 2024 Source: Medriva
Katie Keim was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1967 when she was eight, well before the era of insulin pumps or even reliable home testing. The condition started eating away at her vision 20 years later. By the time she was 36, her sight was completely gone. Keim had lived an independent life as a child despite her illness. Her summers were spent exploring oceans with her family, not at diabetic summer camps. Blindness, though, changed every aspect of her life — including her ability to manage her diabetes. Her first insulin pump had tactile buttons, but all the pumps that came to replace it had digital screens…
5. 53 Accessible Alliance strives to expand accessibility in outdoor spaces- February 5, 2024 Source: Spectrum News
The 53 Accessible Alliance is a charitable organization founded in honor of Chad McClung, a northeast Ohio man who died of ALS in August 2023. McClung, an avid outdoorsman, needed a wheelchair to get around at the end of his life and his family struggled to find accessible trails they could visit. “I think that really opened our eyes and kind of sparked the beginning of 53 Accessible Alliance and kind of, I think that really started our research into how we could make this the best, accessible place for people,” said Lizzy McClung, Chad’s daughter…
6. Disability advocates say air travel accessibility is not happening fast enough- February 5, 2024 Source: KTVH
Navigating an airport and airplane looks different for Dave Stevens. He was born without legs and uses a skateboard to get through the narrow aisles to his seat. He's found a way to adapt but wants airlines and the federal government to do more to make air travel accessible for everyone - especially for the more than 60 million Americans with disabilities. "There's no consistency with what happens when you go to the airport. Everybody has their own way of handling things. And the problem for people with disabilities is they take our equipment, they ruin it, they destroy it. I personally have had 15 wheelchairs destroyed."…
7. For Jonathan Marc Stein, Accessibility And Technology Help Move Fashion Forward- February 5, 2024 Source: Forbes & BNN Breaking
Because it’s important to me that people understand something needn’t be digital or mechanical to be technological—and by extension, technology needn’t be digital or mechanical to be accessibility—I’ve dedicated a good bit of coverage over the years in this space to adaptive clothing and varying body types. The natural inclination is to think of assistive technologies as computer-based software features, and while it’s true such a view predominates, the fact is things like snap buttons, Velcro, and more are all pieces of analog technology that make dressing more accessible to disabled people…
8. Barriers to voting for people with disabilities: A research roundup- February 6, 2024 Source: The Journalist's Resource
Major public health and medical associations in the U.S., including the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association have recognized voting as a social determinant of health and have called for equitable access to voting, including for people with disabilities. A growing body of research shows that voting and health are intertwined. People affected by poor health or disabilities are less likely to cast a ballot than the general population, and as a result, have less sway over who gets to be in power and what policies are made…
9. Kids of all abilities can play together at this new Green Bay-area play space- February 7, 2024 Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette
When you visit You Belong, a nonprofit that serves people of all abilities and ages, you'll likely be cheerfully greeted by 12-year-old Keith — and promptly asked to play. Keith has childhood apraxia of speech, which makes it difficult to employ the complex muscle movements needed for speech. Over the past three years, he went from being nonverbal to being able to communicate in almost full sentences. But one thing has always remained constant: his talent at forming fast friends…
10. Dunkin’ Facing Class Action Suit Over Non-Dairy Milk Pricing- February 7, 2023 Source: Daily Coffee News
United States coffee giant Dunkin’ is facing a class action lawsuit alleging discrimination against people with lactose allergies or intolerances by up-charging for non-dairy milks. Lawyers representing a group of 10 plaintiffs are accusing the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as state laws in California, New York, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts and Hawaii. In a lawsuit filed Dec. 26 in the Northern California U.S. District Court, the plaintiffs are seeking $5 million in damages…
11. Census Bureau Says It Will Not Revise Its Disability Questions In Annual Survey- February 7, 2024 Source: HuffPost & NPR
The U.S. Census Bureau announced on Tuesday that it will not adopt its proposed revisions on how it collects data on disability in the American Community Survey (ACS), citing concerns raised in public comments. Last year, the Census Bureau proposed switching the survey’s questions used to assess disability to instead adopt six questions developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics as a means of aligning with international standards. It also proposed an additional question on communication difficulties and a new definition of disability for the 2025 survey…
12. Bills would make American democracy more accessible to people with disabilities- February 7, 2024 Source: The Bradford Era & U.S. Senator Bob Casey & Fox43
U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Rules Committee, introduced a package of legislation to make American democracy more accessible for people with disabilities. For many Americans with disabilities, certain barriers make it disproportionately difficult to vote, run for elected office, or serve in local government. The Accessible Voting Act would support state and local efforts to improve voter accessibility and remove barriers to voting…
13. Study on travel experience reveals flaws in transportation accessibility- February 7, 2024 Source: The Badger Herald
Modern transportation systems are not always built with successful accommodations and continue to indirectly discriminate against populations with disabilities. This unintentional discrimination and the lack of research surrounding it is what inspired University of Wisconsin M.S. and Ph.D. candidate Michael Schlicting to study the public transit experience of individuals with disabilities for his dissertation. Making transit access equitable for all people is central to eliminating this discrimination…
14. Why disability remains the beauty industry's next inclusivity frontier- February 8, 2024 Source: Dazed
With the constant influx of new beauty products released every day, you would think shopping for products would be a breeze. However, for the 1.3 billion people diagnosed with various forms of disability, the experience is entirely different. From hard-to-open lids and brushes with no grip, to unidentifiable products in aisles, the design of a product holds a huge weight when it comes to usability and many products are inaccessible to those with disabilities. In the last few years, the concept of accessibility in beauty has come far in terms of getting the conversation started, but how much have these discussions actually translated into change?...
15. Why Digital Accessibility Needs To Be Top Of The Board Agenda In 2024: Five Actions To Take- February 8, 2024 Source: Minutehack
We now rely on working, shopping, learning and being entertained in a digital environment. However, as more and more services find a permanent home online, the potential for locking out a significant proportion of potential customers and employees increases. Why is this? Because four in 10 people have digital accessibility needs, and yet, at most, just 20% of websites and mobile apps are accessible to everyone. This just doesn’t make good business sense, especially when the current cost of living crisis means that securing every customer is a hard-fought battle…
16. Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hotel in Austin to Ensure Access for People with Disabilities- U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas & KVUE & BNN
The United States reached a letter agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement requires the hotel to train its staff and provide equal service to customers with disabilities. The Department of Justice received an ADA complaint alleging that after reserving an accessible room, when an individual with a disability attempted to check-in, the Hilton Garden Inn provided a standard room that lacked bathroom grab bars or shower accommodations…
Jack Fact — According to data from the National Institute on Deafness, only about 20% of all people with hearing concerns get help for their condition. In fact, it takes about seven years on average for individuals to pursue intervention once they start having hearing difficulty.
Hit The Road Jack — These 3 Accessible Airbnbs Are the Most Wish-listed Adaptive-friendly Stays & A Guide To Accessible Travel for People with Disabilities (2023)
International News
1. TfL reveals plans to improve Tube and bus accessibility with mini ramps and wheelchair spaces- February 2, 2024 Source: The Standard- England & Secret London & Intelligent Transport
A raft of more than 80 upgrades to make the capital’s Tube and bus network more accessible has been announced by Transport for London (TfL). The measures include installing mini ramps that cover the gap between a platform and train at some London Underground stations. Some stations are labelled "step-free from street to train" but still have the small gap. The improvements are set out in a new plan launched on Friday. One key goal is for TfL to increase the proportion of step-free Tube stations from a third to half…
2. Enhancing accessibility: National Art Museum presents project for visually impaired people- February 2, 2024 Source: AzerNews- Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan National Art Museum enhances accessibility and promotes awareness and inclusivity within the community. The museum has recently launched a new project specifically designed for visually impaired people, Azernews reports. The project "Art without Borders" provides an enriching and immersive experience for all visitors, regardless of their visual abilities. One of the key features of the museum's new project is the inclusion of Braille descriptions for selected art pieces…
3. None of PU's 99 buildings 100% disabled-friendly, finds accessibility audit- February 3, 2024 Source: Tribune- India
The report of the accessibility audit conducted by Panjab University (PU) in December last year reveals that the campus lacks braille signage, tactile paving and footpaths for the disabled. Of the 99 buildings that were surveyed, no building was found to be 100 per cent accessible or disabled-friendly. The findings suggest ramps in all buildings will be required to be replaced as these do not meet the Universities and Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021. The guidelines suggest for a wheelchair-confined person, the ramp gradient must not exceed 1:12…
4. Accessibility Is at the Heart of What Matters Most in Hospitality for This Intercontinental Wine Family- February 3, 2024 Source: Men's Journal- Spain
Back In 2018, Bodegas Valdemar based in Rioja, Spain became the first winery in Europe to offer a 100% inclusive wine tourism experience, an initiative that has earned numerous awards. Then enter their newest project Valdemar Estates, the first internationally owned winery to open in Washington state. This ambitious project was built from the ground up with extensive measures to ensure that guests of all ages—regardless of ability—can enjoy their visit to the Walla Walla AVE winery, tasting room, and restaurant…
5. Councillor says it is 'vital' accessibility is improved in village centre- February 4, 2024 Source: South Wales Argus- Wales
A councillor for a village in Gwent has made a call for a significant improvement in the accessibility of the area. After the Argus spoke to Christopher Byrne, a wheelchair user who lives in the village of Magor, about his issues getting around, a councillor for the village has now spoken out in support of people like Mr Byrne. Independent County Councillor for Magor Cllr Frances Taylor believes it is "vital" that accessibility becomes a much more important issue within the community…
6. GWR recognised for making train travel more autism accessible- February 4, 2024 Source: The Packet- UK
Great Western Railway (GWR) has been recognised by The National Autistic Society for making train travel more accessible for people with autism. The society applauded the train operator for introducing several autism-friendly changes, particularly at stations in the western region of its network. From June last year, GWR has rolled out a series of modifications specifically to aid autistic customers. These changes include over 700 staff members between Plymouth and Penzance undergoing autism awareness training…
7. Disabled man says Ontario Ombudsman discriminated against him during job hunt- February 5, 2024 Source: CBC- Canada
The agency that fights for fairness in Ontario government and public sector offices is itself being accused of unfair hiring practices by a Toronto man with autism and ADHD. Liam Walshe says that in 2022 he was denied the chance to apply for a job as an early resolutions officer at the office of the Ontario Ombudsman. Walshe says the ombudsman's office cut off communication with him soon after he asked for an extra 30 minutes to write an online, supervised screening test that ordinarily takes one hour, according to a complaint before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO)…
8. Ensuring Disabled Voices: Accessibility Challenges Loom Over Election Participation- February 5, 2024 Source: Tribal News Network- Pakistan
Mushtaq Hussain, Information Secretary of the organization “Friends of Paraplegics” and Caretaker of the Paraplegic Center Peshawar, emphasizes the need for accessible voting facilities for disabled citizens. Despite being a taxpayer and having the right to vote, he laments the absence of provisions for their access to polling stations, stating, “There should not be elections at all if there is no provision for them.” Having experienced the challenges of living with a disability throughout his 60-year life, particularly during elections, Mushtaq Hussain notes the lack of special provisions such as ramps for wheelchair users in polling stations…
9. Is accessibility legislation coming to Alberta?- February 5, 2024 Source: Penticton Herald- Canada
Improving accessibility for people with disabilities remains on the government’s radar, but confirmation hasn’t come yet that United Conservatives will introduce legislation in 2024 to align Alberta with much of the rest of Canada. Marie Renaud, the NDP critic for community and social services, told her legislature colleagues last month that accessibility legislation is long overdue in her province. “Alberta is one of the only jurisdictions in Canada without accessibility legislation, which means we have not even begun our journey to barrier-free,” she said Dec. 4.”…
10. 'Shocking': Air Canada CEO blasted over accessibility services at House committee- February 5, 2024 Source: CBC- Canada
Lawmakers took Air Canada's CEO to task on Monday over "shocking" and "scandalous" failures to accommodate passengers living with disabilities. At a House of Commons committee hearing on services for Canadians with disabilities, chief executive Michael Rousseau faced a barrage of questions over reports of passenger mistreatment during the past year. Vice-chair Tracy Gray cited several "shocking" incidents from 2023: "An Air Canada passenger had a lift fall on her head and her ventilator was disconnected; Air Canada leaving Canada's own chief accessibility officer's wheelchair behind on a cross-Canada flight…
11. Gloucester: lack of accessible taxis raise concerns of equality- February 5, 2024 Source: BBC- UK
A man who travelled to Gloucester by train from Bristol had to then get a Bristolian taxi to pick him up due to the lack of accessible vehicles at his destination. The shortage of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) prompted a council meeting where others shared their experiences. Another wheelchair user, Luke Griffin, asked the council if they thought it was fair a young disabled man in Gloucester could not live an equal life. Councillor Alastair Chambers, who presented a petition signed by 2,700 people on behalf of Luke Griffin, said nine WAVs for a population of 162,000 is not enough…
12. Making Creative Spaces Across Victoria More Accessible- February 6, 2024 Source: Mirage News- Australia
The Allan Labor Government is making sure more creative spaces in Victoria have infrastructure that makes them accessible for the whole community, with new grants to improve workplaces and community spaces across the state. Minister for Creative Industires Colin Brooks today announced the seven recipients of the Labor Government's Making Space program, with an investment of $500,000 in these grants to support Deaf and Disabled artists and audiences...
13. Case study: Holiday lodges improve accessibility with rise and fall worktop installation- February 6, 2024 Source: AT Today- UK
Two holiday lodges in Lincolnshire have enhanced their accessibility after getting Ropox rise and fall worktops installed within their respective kitchens. Sue Robinson and her husband, Phil, designed Meadow Lodges at Boothby Pagnell with the aim of offering accessible accommodation without it actually looking accessible. “We wanted to offer something a little different, we knew we had a lovely location and wanted the lodges to be suitable for both able bodied people and those with a disability so we set about researching the best adaptation equipment which would blend into the environment we were creating”, commented Sue…
14. CIOB calls on government to mandate accessible homes- February 6, 2024 Source: Construction News- UK
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on the government to progress higher accessibility standards in new-build homes. In its written evidence for a Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) select committee inquiry into housing for people with disabilities, the body said the government “must prioritise” a technical consultation on the implementation of M4(2) standards as a minimum accessibility level. The M4(2) homes standard, introduced in changes to Part M of the Building Regulations made in 2015, requires a certain level of accessibility and adaptability…
15. How the govt wants to make movie theatres accessible for persons with visual and hearing disabilities- February 7, 2024 Source: Indian Express- India
The deadline for sending public comments on the draft guidelines for accessibility for the hearing and visually impaired in movie halls expires next week. Once the guidelines are notified, film production houses and movie theatres will be mandated to either run dedicated shows of films for impaired, or else ensure that provisions are made for them in theatres to be able to enjoy the movie-going experience without any discrimination. Last month, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting came out with Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment...
16. Council launches survey on new Changing Places toilets draft policy to boost accessibility in Belfast- February 6, 2024 Source: AT Today- Ireland
Belfast City Council is seeking feedback on its Changing Places toilets draft policy for the city. The proposed policy has been published on the council website with a survey on the ‘Your say Belfast’ platform, which is open for 12 weeks. The draft policy sets out a proposed approach to include a Changing Places toilet facility in every new large council building development with a capacity of 350 people or more, in accordance with building regulations. Changing Places are specialised toilet facilities that make public places and spaces accessible and inclusive for everyone, including children, adults, and older people with complex needs or mobility issues…
17. Visually impaired, advocates call for changes to improve online grocery shopping- February 7, 2024 Source: Global News- Canada
Anne Jarry would like to see some major improvements made by Canada’s large grocery store chains to improve their websites and make online shopping a lot easier for the visually impaired. “Frustrated because you go online and you go, geez, why is this still not a law,” Jarry told Global News. The Montreal resident uses a voice-activated screen reader to help her navigate the web. The software is very useful with websites that offer descriptive texts to images, an area in which Jarry says Canadian grocers fall short…
18. Delhi HC seeks Rapido’s stand on plea over accessibility barriers for differently-abled- February 8, 2024 Source: Take One- India
The Delhi High Court has sought the stand of bike-taxi aggregator Rapido on a plea moved by two differently-abled persons highlighting the issue of “accessibility barriers” on the platform’s mobile app. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued a notice on an application filed by disability rights activist Amar Jain and visually-impaired banker Dipto Ghosh Chaudhary, who have said in spite of six updates on the app, not a single issue flagged by them has been resolved, which shows Rapido’s “casual and insensitive attitude”…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, & Videos
- Building Inclusive Cities- Business Cornwall
- I'd fight like hell for you- Peter Torres Fremlin
- How transcription boosts accessibility - Charity Digital
- How to Know If Your Website Needs an Overhaul- Inc.com
- Learn Accessibility - Full a11y Tutorial- freeCodeCamp.org (YouTube)
- Community Partnerships: An Effective Inclusion Strategy- EARN
- The Impact of Accessibility on SEO: Why It Matters?- Gokulnath B
- Making VPATs and ACRs More Effective in Procurement- WebAIM
- 'Take steps to make Bengaluru more disabled-friendly'- Bangalore Mirror
- How To Create Accessible Graphs For Colorblind People- Caroline Arnold
- How Artificial General Intelligence Could Redefine Accessibility- Ran Ronen
- Authentic Disability Representation Is A Business Imperative- Caroline Casey
- How Big Tech Companies Ensure Accessibility Compliance – Apple Magazine
- Why accessibility with be the foundation of marketing strategies in 2024- ClickZ
- Understanding Digital Accessibility Solutions: 6 Facts to Know- PC Tech Magazine
- New Disability Action Plan to make UK most accessible place in the world- GOV.UK
- Tamar Shapira: Developing Tools to Increase Accessibility in Digital Products- Nasdaq
- The European Accessibility Act: Will it help or hinder advertising creativity?- The Drum
- Make Hiring More Inclusive and Accessible With These 8 Steps - ColoradoBiz Magazine
- Disability Inclusive Language Guidelines: Annex I- The United Nations Office at Geneva
- A Wholistic Digital Equity Plan for Rhode Island- Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
- Accessibility open house explores what makes a welcoming community- The Hamilton Spectator
- The Impact of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) on Accessibility for People with Disabilities- Medriva
- Acquia Chief Market Officer, Product Design Director Open Up About Building More Accessible Digital Experiences- Steven Aquino
- AI-enabled self-referral system may bridge the accessibility gap for ethnic and gender minorities in mental health treatment- News-Medical Life Sciences
Federally Speaking
- Business Sense Newsletter- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- GSA expects to ‘improve and evolve’ on Section 508 assessments- Federal News Network
- February FCC 2024 Open Commission Meeting- February 19th at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm EST
- Fostering Financial Empowerment for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities- CAPE Youth
- GSA, Access Board Begin Drafting Questions for 2024 Section 508 Assessment- ExecutiveGov
- Coming Soon! Making AI Hiring Tools More Inclusive—A National Online Dialogue- ePolicyWorks
- Don’t Forget The Documents. Common Accessibility Errors Automated Tools Miss. – February 14, 2024 at 2:00PM ET
Higher Education Blogs & Information
- Access Your Abilities is about the power of community- MSU Reporter
- AI can improve course accessibility- Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
- Determining Accessibility Risk- IT Accessibility at the University of Michigan
- Web Con- 2024 University of Illinois Web Conference- Online- April 4-5, 2024
- MSU making voice-activated artificial intelligence more accessible- MSU Today
- Michigan universities work to make voice AI accessible for disfluent speech - WWMT
- Pacific Welcomes New VP for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility- Pacific University
- Web Accessibility Hybrid Evaluation Method Research team at the University of Maryland Survey
- UCLA creates first disability studies major at a California public university- University of California
- This week in ASCSU: Elections Committee, accessibility guidelines - The Rocky Mountain Collegian
- Accessibility Awareness Week aims to increase awareness and provide resources- Virginia Tech News
- Opinion: The construction of all future Charlotte facilities must include disabled students and advocates- Niner Times
- New digital accessibility website offers guidance on approachable content- WSU Insider - Washington State University
- Don’t Forget The Documents. Common Accessibility Errors Automated Tools Miss. – February 14, 2024 at 2:00PM ET
- GV Recreation and Wellness hosts adaptive intramural sports, increases accessibility for disabled students- Grand Valley Lanthorn
Legal Blogs & Information
- Testifying Before Colorado OIT- Ken Nakata
- What Do the Pharmacy Settlements Mean for Accessibility?- Thomas Logan
- Update: Upcoming compliance deadlines for federal accessibility legislation - MLT Aikins
- What's on the Horizon in Legal Space with Digital Accessibility and WCAG 2.2?- February 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- A Review of Various Notable ADA-Related Settlement Agreements and Conciliations by Federal Enforcement Agencies- March, 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
Accessibility Announcements
- Hearst wins accessibility award
- Hancock Airport improving accessibility for all
- Inevitable Foundation- Hire Disabled Writers Initiative
- Namma Yatri: Ways Forward for Accessible Ride-Hailing
- Jumeirah Creekside Hotel joins Dubai's accessibility movement
- Website offers ‘one-stop shop’ for Arnold AFB DEIA resources
- New Brunswick officials get feedback on accessibility framework (Video)
- City gets $60,000 grant to upgrade Pointe Des Chenes' accessibility
- Deadline approaching to apply for the Workplace Accessibility Grant
- Disabled Rockford residents to receive $60k to make accessibility upgrades
- Speech Accessibility Project begins recruiting people who have had a stroke
- Conscious conversations: Project Red – uniting for accessibility and equality
- Able Hearing Unveils Cutting-Edge Website to Elevate Hearing Care Access
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Announces Accessibility Initiative
- Town of East Bridgewater Encourages Residents to Complete Accessibility Survey
- Sandia Hearing Aids Unveils Advanced Website for Hearing-impaired Accessibility
- Northern appoints new chair for train operator’s independent accessibility user group
- Accessibility Standards Canada selected as a National Capital Region's Top Employer for 2024
Accessibility Products
- Disability Vote IL
- These office chairs may help those with ADHD to focus
- New app to improve accessibility of public transport in SA
- Amex GBT Amplifies New Accessibility Services Offering
- The Opportunities in The Low Vision Space Are Unlimited
- New app to improve the accessibility of public transport for passengers
- Google's Gemini AI app to land on phones in a bid to increase accessibility
- Apple Unveils Seamless Accessibility: Explore the Vision Pro in Latest ‘First-Timer’ Ad
- Following Vision Pro’s Launch, Its Accessibility Story Is Being Told One Trickle At A Time
- Google's Super Bowl ad will focus on a Pixel 8 series accessibility feature & Google Pixel Celebrates Accessibility in Its Latest Super Bowl Ad & Google Pixel Guided Frame Super Bowl ad highlights importance of accessibility
Accessibility Forums, Tips, & Gaming
- Game of Thrones Studio Tour
- Accessibility information for IT professionals
- Fun, Unrestricted: Embracing Accessibility In Gaming
- Why games need a thriving third-party accessibility scene
- Best iPad tips and tricks: 6 features you didn't even know existed
- How Accessible Hardware Bridges the Gap Between Individuals and Options
- Designing Accessible Color Palettes in Figma: A Guide for Web Accessibility
Accessibility Employment Opportunities
- Senior Accessibility Engineer - Indeed
- Digital Accessibility Specialist - Siteimprove
- Accessibility Specialist - University of Illinois
- Senior UX Accessibility Specialist - Edward Jones
- IT Accessibility Specialist I (REMOTE)- TxDMV
- IT Accessibility Specialist III (REMOTE)- TxDMV
- Accessibility Support Coordinator- Goddard College
- Assistive Technology Trainer DSA Assessor - Capita
- Senior Digital Accessibility Officer - New South Wales Government
- Student Accessibility Support Assistant - University of New Brunswick
- Coordinator of Student Accessibility Services - SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- Deputy ADA Coordinator for Digital Accessibility - University of Washington
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Manager - University of Maryland Baltimore
Accessibility Training & Meetings
- Learn Accessibility
- Video Accessibility 101
- Accessibility fundamentals
- Accessible PowerPoint Training
- Introduction to Web Accessibility
- Fun4theDisabled- Events Calendar
- Get Started with Web Accessibility
- Accessibility training- Access for all
- JAN 2024 Webcast Series Registration
- Archived JAN Webinars and Webcasts
- GSA Section 508 Accessibility Training
- Accessibility Training Resources- HHS.gov
- Introduction to Accessible Web Development
- Upcoming IAAP Webinars - Digital Accessibility
- CAST: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast
- Legal Frameworks and Responsibilities for Accessibility
- Archived Sessions Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series
- Inclusive by design: an 8-week journey to digital accessibility
- Accessibility Training for Developers, Testers, and Content Creators
- ITU Academy Web Accessibility - The cornerstone of digital society
- Great Lakes ADA Center - Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series
- IAAP 2024 Professional Education Webinar Series: Digital Accessibility
- The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): Introduction to Web Accessibility
- W3C Course List - Digital Accessibility Education, Training, and Certification
- State of Minnesota’s free e-Learning program on how to create accessible PDF document
- How to Begin and Grow an Adaptive Sports Program and the Resources Needed- February, 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
- If Memory Serves: Creating Unforgettable User Experiences- February 8, 2024, at 12pm ET
- Low Vision and AMD: The Importance of Magnification- Feb 8, 2024 11:00 AM CT
- The Accessibility Mindset: Moving Beyond Remediating, Fixing, and Reacting- Jesse Loseberg- February 8th, 1:30PM (ET)
- What's on the Horizon in Legal Space with Digital Accessibility and WCAG 2.2?- February 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EST
- Making the accessibility switch: how NBCUniversal builds cultural maturity in accessibility- February 13th at 2:00 p.m. ET
- Designing content that empowers, includes and cares- February 13, 2024 at 8:00 - 9:00 GMT-6
- Making the accessibility switch: how NBCUniversal builds cultural maturity in accessibility- February 13th at 2:00pm ET
- Born digital, born accessible: Making the documents and data in open scholarship accessible to all- February 13, 2024 at 3:00PM - 4:30PM ET
- Strategy for Access and Fun4theDisabled are thrilled to invite you to a FREE screening party launching our groundbreaking docuseries, #AccessibleChicago- February 13, 2024 at 5:30 to 7:30 pm CT
- Creating Accessible PowerPoints 2020 Essentials (Austin, TX) – Offered, February 13, March 8, and Apr 10
- Don’t Forget The Documents. Common Accessibility Errors Automated Tools Miss. – February 14, 2024 at 2:00PM ET
- Ten Tips for Customizing your Outlook Calendar with JAWS- February 15, 2024 11:00 AM CT
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – Intermediate Edition (Austin, TX) – Offered, February 16, March 20 and April 18
- 2024 Eastern NC Regional Braille Challenge- February 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- February FCC 2024 Open Commission Meeting- February 19th at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm EST
- Fireside Chat with Jakob Nielsen & Sarah Gibbons on the future of design and UX- February 22, 12:00pm (GMT -06:00)
- Creating Accessible Word Documents 2020 Essentials (Austin, TX) – Offered, February 22, March 14 and April 23
- Charting the Way Forward: Strengthening Disability Awareness and Advocacy within the African American Community- February 24, 2024 at 11:00am - 2:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
- Digital discovery at any age: your guide to the online world - with Amazon- February 28, 2024 between 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. GMT
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – Advanced Edition (Austin, TX) – Offered, February 29, March 28 and April 25
- Designing Search UX In 2024- Free Workshop, 2h + Q&A- February 29 2024 at 09:00 – 10:30 am pt• 18:00 – 19:30 cet
- Access Israel's 14th International Webinar on Accessible Preparedness for Emergency- March 6th at 15:00-18:00 CET \ 14:00-17:00 GMT \ 16:00-19:00 Israel Time
- Employee Work Areas and Break Rooms- March 7th at 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
- Join Ability Summit- March 7, 2024
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – The Basics (Austin, TX) – Offered, March 12 and April 4
- What’s New with WCAG 2.2?- Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Demystifying the Procurement Process- March 26th at 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
- cssday 2024- April 5, 2024
- Audio Description Institute- April 8-12, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern each day
- ACCESS is one of North America’s premiere accessibility conferences- Save the Date: Tuesday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 1
- 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)- May 16, 2024
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024: Built Without Barriers- Online sessions via the University of Minnesota- May 16, 2024
- A Review of Various Notable ADA-Related Settlement Agreements and Conciliations by Federal Enforcement Agencies- March, 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
- Prepare for the CPACC (or any) Exam — Strategies for Learning Success - March 28, 2024
- How to Produce a Livestreaming Event (that is Accessible, Green, and Open Source) - May 21, 2024
- Accessibility Summer Camp- June 14, 2024 at 8:00 am - 4:00 pm CDT
- Blindness And Mental Health Summit 2024- June 14, 2024
- Batteries included Accessibility: A Pragmatic Guide to get started today - August 27, 2024
- Accessibility testing with NVDA- November 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm – November 25, 2024, at 7:00 pm CST
- Starting your career as Digital Accessibility Professional - November 19, 2024
Accessibility Conferences
Date: Day 2: Friday, February 9, 2024 from 9 am - 12 pm Pacific / 12 pm - 3 pm Eastern (3 hours)
Date: February 20-22, 2024
Date: February 27-28, 2024
Date: February 21-23, 2024
-
DeveloperWeek- Online & San Francisco, CA
Date: February 21-29, 2024 -
Florida DrupalCamp- Orlando, FL
Date: February 23-25, 2024 - Resilient and Maintainable CSS Dev with Miriam Suzanne- Online
Date: February 26-March 12, 2024
Date: February 27-29, 2024
Date: February 27-29, 2024
Date: March 3-6, 2024
Date: March 6 – 8, 2024
Date: March 7, 2023
-
devopsdays Salt Lake City- Salt Lake City, UT
Date: March 13-14, 2024 - devopsdays Los Angeles- Los Angeles, CA
Date: March 15, 2024
Date: March 8-16, 2024
Date: March 18-24, 2024
Date: March 20-21, 2024
Date: March 20-21, 2024
Date: March 21-22, 2024
Date: March 25-26, 2024
Date: March 27 and 28, 2024
Date: April 4-5, 2024
Date: April 7-10, 2024
Date: April 8-9, 2024
Date: April 8-12, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern each day
Date: April 11-13 2024
Date: April 23-25, 2024
Date: April 25-26, 2024
Date: April 29-30, 2024
Date: May 9-23, 2024
- Human-Computer Interaction (CHI) 2024- Honolulu, HI
Date: May 11-16, 2024 - Beyond Tellerrand Düsseldorf- Düsseldorf, Germany
Date: May 12-13, 2024
Date: May 13-14, 2024
Date: May 13-16, 2024
Date: May 14-16, 2024
Date: May 13 - 17, 2024
Date: May 27-28, 2024
-
Pixel Pioneers 2024- Bristol, England
Date: June 14, 2024 -
UX London 2024- London, England
Date: June 18-20, 2024 - National Federation of the Blind National Convention- Orlando, FL
Date: July 3-8, 2024
Date: September 23-27, 2024
Date: October 15 – 17, 2024
Date: November 11-15, 2024
Accessibility Employment Resources
- Upwork
- SideHusl
- Inclusively
- A11YJOBS
- Ability Jobs
- WIRED Hired
- Higher Ed Jobs
- WorkforceGPS
- Disabled Person
- Digital A11y Jobs
- Texas HireAbility
- Disability Solutions
- SSI Youth Solutions
- U.S. Department Of Labor
- National Industries for the Blind
- PEAT Future of Work Newsletter
- Job Accommodation Network- JAN
- National Industry Liaison Group (NILG)
- Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
- National Organization on Disability (NOD)
- Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA)
- 6 Best Job Posting Sites for Employers of 2023
- American Council of the Blind Job Connection
- Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
- Mentra is a Neurodiversity Employment Network
- Workplace Resources for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Disability Employment Resources for Staffing Firms
- American Job Center (disability job-driven resources)
- Federal Exchange on Employment & Disability (FEED)
- The State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED)
- National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials
- Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
Accessibility Statements |
If you know of any others that would benefit from my newsletter please forward this email to them or have them subscribe at Accessibility in the News. If you have missed any of my Accessibility Statements or past issues of Accessibility in the News please see all of my archived issues since 2016.
Jack McElaney
VP of Sales & Marketing and Accessibility in the News Publisher
P: 512-794-8440
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