Accessibility in the News- February 16, 2024
Jack McElaney
Accessibility in the News- Knowledge is Power
Crafted while listening to: John Mayer - Paradise Valley & Mahogany Sessions: The Best of 2023
“But life isn't hard to manage when you've nothing to lose.” ― Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
National News (U.S.)
1. The quest to build more accessible music tech for blind and visually impaired artists- February 9, 2024 Source: Fast Company
Stevie Wonder. Ray Charles. Andrea Bocelli. If you were to ask a random person to name a blind musician, one of those three would almost inevitably come up. Ask that same person about up-and-coming blind musicians, and they’ll likely draw a blank. That’s no accident, according to Athan Billias, president of the MIDI Association, the nonprofit organization in charge of the MIDI standard. “Music production is much more visually oriented,” than it used to be just a few decades ago, Billias says, which has made things a lot harder for people with vision impairments…
2. Actress Calle Walton Opens Up On Becoming Blind, Accessibility, More In Interview- February 9, 2024 Source: Forbes
Back in early November, I published a piece about the then-new Netflix limited series All The Light We Cannot See, which features an interview with the show’s accessibility consultant Joe Strechay. The series is based on Anthony Doerr’s 2014 bestselling book about a Blind girl named Marie-Laure who, while living in Nazi-occupied France in World War II, hides out in her uncle’s home and forges a strong connection with a German soldier over their mutual fascination with radio technology…
3. Coolidge Corner Theatre introduces new accessibility features, shares updates on expansion- February 9, 2024 Source: The Daily Free Press
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is now holding weekly open caption screenings as part of its effort to increase accessibility. More changes will come as its expansion project opens to the public in about a month. Beth Gilligan, deputy director of the Coolidge, said open caption screenings are in response to input from members of the deaf and hard of hearing communities. “Being a historic theater, [we try to] be as accessible as we possibly can and to cater to as many people as we can,” Gilligan said…
4. Texas Parks and Wildlife begin new accessibility initiative- February 9, 2024 Source: KIIITV
Texas Parks and Wildlife told 3NEWS that they are starting a new accessibility initiative, making park facilities accessible for all Texans, regardless of their level of physical ability. The Department's Accessibility Manger Jessica Burke said the initiative is years in the making. "About five years ago, we started on a project to go through and assess all of Parks and Wildlife public facing facilities and properties," Burke said. "It was a huge initiative and taking from the agency."…
5. Brooke Ellison, Prominent Disability Rights Advocate, Is Dead at 45- February 9, 2024 Source: The New York Times & United Spinal Association
Brooke Ellison, who after being paralyzed from the neck down by a childhood car accident went on to graduate from Harvard and became a professor and a devoted disability rights advocate, died on Sunday in Stony Brook, N.Y., on Long Island. She was 45. Her death, in a hospital, was caused by complications of quadriplegia, her mother, Jean Ellison, said. As an 11-year-old, Brooke had been taking karate, soccer, cello and dance lessons and singing in a church choir. But on Sept. 4, 1990, she was struck by a car while running across a road near her home in Stony Brook…
6. $521K ARPA grant will help make New Philadelphia more accessible- February 10, 2024 Source: Times Reporter
The Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities has received a $521,000 grant from the state which will be used to upgrade the playground at Starlight School, expand services to the Latino community, install adult changing tables at Tuscora Park and build a soccer field for people with disabilities. "We asked for a total of $521,000. We had no idea what they would say. I'm really excited that they said yes," said Nate Kamban, superintendent of the county board. "Grant money is wonderful because we can try new things without burdening our local tax population."…
7. Kansas Gov. Signs Bill To Eliminate Subminimum Wage For Disabled Employees- February 10, 2024 Source: HuffPost
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed a bill on Thursday that aims to eliminate subminimum wages for disabled employees in the state. In the U.S., employees are paid a minimum wage ranging from $7.25 to $15 per hour, depending on the state. Many activists have pushed to raise the minimum wage. But under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, companies and businesses can apply for 14(c) certificates that allow them to pay disabled employees well below that number, with many earning less than $3.50 an hour…
8. Idaho non-profit aims to build 100 new accessible playgrounds by 2033- February 11, 2024 Source: Idaho Education News
For the 30 minutes of recess at Lakevue Elementary School in Nampa, Zach never stops swinging. Students take turns pushing him as he smiles and laughs. Zach, who uses a wheelchair, used to spend recess sitting with a quiet activity. But that all changed when staff at Lakevue voted to spend surplus PTO money on a few items of inclusive playground equipment. Now he can play with his friends on the playground by being safely strapped into an accessible swing…
9. Providing an accessible Mardi Gras so everyone- February 12, 2024 Source: KATC
For several years, Lafayette Consolidated Government and Lafayette Fire Department District #5 have provided an accessible parade viewing zone at the intersection of Johnston and St. Julien Street. The zone marked by cones and tape, can help those needing special accommodation have access to space while still enjoying the fun. Lafayette Consolidated Government Caylee Deshotel tells KATC, that it's all about having fun while also promoting inclusivity…
10. Youth with autism are more likely to be arrested. A Nevada judge wants to remedy that- February 12, 2024 Source: NPR
Melody O'Connor is grateful her teenage daughter Angeleena O'Connor was arrested in the winter of 2022. "Isn't that a horrible thing to say?" Melody said. It wasn't the first time Angeleena had the police called on her. The first time was more than four years earlier – when she was 12. Angeleena is now 16 and the police have been called to her house more than 40 times over the past four years, including once for a violent incident in which Angeleena grabbed a steak knife and held it to her mother's face, Melody said…
11. Ballot Accessibility for Candidates with Disabilities Passes the House- February 12, 2024 Source: Colorado House Democrats & Denver7
a. Blind Coloradans Rally for Increased Accessibility and Legal Protections- February 12, 2024 Source: BNN & Denver7
The House today passed bipartisan legislation to improve representation in government by ensuring candidates with disabilities have access to the ballot. HB24-1067, championed by Representative David Ortiz, would address barriers those with a disability face when participating in the political process, including lack of virtual options. The bill passed by a vote of 64-0. “There are many future community leaders who are often kept out of the political arena because our political systems are not accessible,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton…
12. Massachusetts Accessibility Officer Shares Holistic Approach- February 12, 2024 Source: Government Technology
In July 2023, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order establishing the chief IT accessibility officer role within the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS). In January 2024, Ashley Bloom was appointed and set to work. That work, Bloom explained, began with assessing the state of the state — analyzing what the state is doing well, what it is doing well that can be scaled or expanded, and what areas can or need to be improved. After all, for government to serve constituents equitably, accessibility work needs to go beyond just compliance…
13. Lake City's 'accessible' ice climbing park is a hit with adaptive climbers- February 13, 2024 Source: KSUT
The Lake City Ice Park in the tiny mountain town of Lake City, Colorado, is growing in popularity with adaptive ice climbers. In early February, the town held its annual ice climbing festival. A group of adaptive athletes who traveled from across the United States attended. 29-year-old Derek Riemer of Louisville, Colorado, traveled five hours to climb here. “I ski a lot, so I have to balance ice climbing with skiing, but it’s a really fun thing to do in the winter,” he said…
14. State governments average 'F' grade on website-metadata tracker- February 14, 2024 Source: StateScoop
An online tracker for government website metadata published this month reveals that most state government homepages fail on basic data practices, a shortcoming that could impede compatibility with artificial intelligence and accessibility. The new tracker, called “gov metadata,” is part of a project from Luke Fretwell, a former journalist who now runs the tech firm ProudCity, and his son, Elias. The duo have spent the last several months mining the homepages of U.S. government websites for metadata tags, snippets of HTML that provide basic information to the user’s browser, such as the website’s title or written descriptions of its images…
15. Justice Department Finds Nebraska School District Discriminates Against Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students- February 14, 2024 Source: Department of Justice & Letter of Finding
The Justice Department announced today that Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) in Lincoln, Nebraska, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying some deaf and hard of hearing students an equal opportunity to attend their neighborhood schools. “Denying students with disabilities the right to attend their neighborhood school based on a blanket policy is discriminatory and runs afoul of our nation’s civil rights laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division…
16. Challenges with telehealth persist for Deaf patients and others- February 14, 2024 Source: KSBY
For a lot of people, scheduling a telehealth appointment with their doctor takes two seconds. You just go to your provider's app and with a couple of finger taps, you're good to go. That's not always the experience for those with disabilities. "One of the provider's platforms didn't have any captioning and there was no ability to add in an interpreter so I couldn't add a third person on the screen like we're having right now. So, it's not just barriers, it's that it's literally impossible to use that platform for me," said Jessica Kennedy, president of the advocacy organization DeafHealth…
17. Stroke survivor struggles with Paid Leave Oregon, fears losing her home- February 14, 2024 Source: KPIC
Paint swatches on the wall in Michelle Grimes' living room are evidence of the color scheme she and her daughter Brook Grimes tested for their new home. "It's the first home that I have ever bought, and I'm 53. I was very proud that I was able to do it," Michelle Grimes said in tears. As a single mom and a nurse, she said she worked multiple double shifts through the pandemic to save for a down payment on the home. Plans to repaint the home came to a screeching halt after she suffered a stroke while at work…
18. Co-op Support of Accessibility Ramp Project Helps Members in Texas- February 15, 2024 Source: NRECA
It’s amazing how a stack of 2x4s, some plywood and a labor of love can equate to freedom. But that is the blissful result for dozens of electric cooperative members in Texas who have new mobility in their lives, thanks to an accessibility ramp project championed by CoServ and other co-ops. Working with the Texas Ramp Project, volunteers and DIYers from Corinth-based CoServ are nearing their 40th ramp since 2017. The response from appreciative members says it all, such as the build for a woman in Argyle with a double amputation…
19. Michigan resident launches YouTube channel, Disabled in Nature, promoting accessibility awareness- February 15, 2024 Source: Second Wave Media
When you’re at work, are you going to be able to use the bathroom if you need to? What about when you go to the park for a walk? This is something that Marisa Spain, 27, who grew up in Marysville considers before going anywhere. Spain has Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSH), a progressive hereditary disease that causes muscle weakness in several areas of the body, and uses a power wheelchair to get around. “I don't go to places that aren’t guaranteed to have an accessible restroom,” Spain says…
20. A place in the world: Deaf artist hopes mural at D.C. Starbucks sparks conversations about inclusion, accessibility- February 15, 2024 Source: Starbucks Stories
Ryan Seslow, a New York City artist and college professor of digital art and design, always knew he wanted to spend his life making art. Seslow, who identifies as Deaf and hard of hearing, fondly remembers Saturday mornings growing up – eating a bowl of cereal, watching cartoons alongside his brother and putting tracing paper on the television screen and trying to draw what he saw. Later, he was inspired by artists like Pablo Picasso, Louise Bourgeois and Fernand Léger…
Jack Fact — New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show youth smoking at a historic low, with just 1.9 percent of high schoolers lighting up in the past month. Youth vaping is also at its lowest level in a decade at 10 percent, and cigar use is down to 1.8 percent from 2.8 percent the previous year.
Hit The Road Jack — 10 Ski Events That Make Winter Sports More Accessible for Everyone & Accessibility Review of the Drury Plaza Hotel at Disney Springs
International News
1. Is accessibility legislation coming to Alberta?- February 8, 2024 Source: Fort Macleod Gazette- 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,” Renaud said Dec. 4. “That needs to change. We need accessibility legislation right now.”…
2. MPs are told accessible housing is at breaking point… and they are partly to blame- February 8, 2024 Source: Disability News Service- England
MPs have been told that the provision of accessible housing in England is “at breaking point”, partly because of their own failure to act to end the crisis. Members of the cross-party levelling up, housing and communities committee were hearing evidence this week from witnesses as part of their inquiry into housing for disabled people. But Mikey Erhardt, policy and campaigns officer for Disability Rights UK, told them that decisions made in the House of Commons and by other organisations “have led to this crisis” and that disabled people had been “consistently failed”…
3. Busby ramping up accessibility at new 90 Mulcaster space – February 9, 2024 Source: Barrie Today- Canada
Taking over an historic building in downtown Barrie is going to be a definite boon for the Busby Centre, but it’s not coming without work. The building, located at 90 Mulcaster St., and which initially served as the Sisters of St. Joseph convent as of 1885 until it became St. Joseph’s High School in 1946, wasn’t constructed with accessibility in mind. But with provincial regulations now in place under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), building owners are required to meet certain requirements intended to reduce and remove barriers for people with disabilities…
4. Greenwood-Coxwell theatre making live performances more accessible- February 9, 2024 Source: CityNews- Canada
For those with disabilities, attending a show at just any Toronto venue isn’t that simple. That’s why one local theatre in Greenwood-Coxwell is trying to change that. The Redwood Theatre has been a staple in the neighbourhood for over 100 years and the building has seen many changes. In 2017, condo developers were about to take it over until Greenwood-Coxwell resident and inventor Maria Karam bought the building to transform it into a performing arts hub, one that’s accessible to everyone who comes in….
5. Express View on disability access: Everyone in movie halls- February 10, 2024 Source: Indian Express- India
Eight years after a landmark piece of legislation enshrined the rights of all persons with disabilities (PwDs) “to participate in recreational activities equally with others”, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on January 8, issued its draft “Guidelines of Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment”. The guidelines, for which stakeholder comments are invited till February 15, constitute another welcome step towards ensuring that an experience that most movie buffs take for granted can be accessed by a section of Indians who continue to be largely excluded from it…
6. Advocates worry federal disability benefit program won't be fully funded in upcoming budget- February 10, 2024 Source: CBC- Canada
A coalition of anti-poverty and disability groups are calling on the federal government to honour its commitment to bring the incomes of all provincial disability support program recipients above the poverty line by fully funding a new federal disability benefit program. Many advocates who cheered on Bill C-22 are now concerned the benefit still won't receive the funding it needs in the 2024 federal budget to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities…
7. Accessibility of pavements in Greater Chennai Corporation will be improved, says J. Radhakrishnan- February 10, 2024 Source: The Hindu- India
The accessibility of pavements in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will be improved to help persons with disabilities, said Corporation Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan while speaking at MUKTI Inclusive Sports Meet, which got under way at A.M. Jain College in Meenambakkam on Saturday, February 10. He also said the design should enable those using wheelchairs to ascend and descend the pavements via slopes, and added that the civic body was working towards implementing this. Notably, the GCC had floated tenders in January to construct pavements in several locations of zone 9…
8. 'It's discriminatory': Regina advocacy group challenges government on disability program in court- February 10, 2024 Source: CTV News- Canada
A Regina advocacy group says the provincial government is being discriminatory when it comes to those on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program. The Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry is claiming the government is forcing those who are on the program to take out their Canada Pension Plan money at age 60. “It’s discriminatory because people who are forced to take out their CPP early due to disability then have to deal with the long range consequences of poverty because they were forced,” said Peter Gilmer, an advocate with the group…
9. Urban ministry told to amend bylaws for easy accessibility to the disabled- February 11, 2024 Source: The New Indian Express- India
Aiming at easy access to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), the Centre has directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to encourage the state governments to adopt accessibility guidelines. The directions were issued after the review meeting of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) chaired by Cabinet Secretary. The ministry was further asked to appropriately amend local bylaws to institutionalise easy building access to specially-abled individuals…
10. Floating bus stops go against accessible design- February 12, 2024 Source: Times Colonist- Canada
“Floating or island” bus stops located between bike lanes and the road, away from the curb, pose ongoing danger to all pedestrians, but particularly blind transit users. We, more than anyone else, rely on this essential service. A provincial review of our public infrastructure is taking place with a report pending in March. Provincial politicians, however, have an incompetence unworthy of their designated social standing that reveals a callous disregard for proven endangerment…
11. ‘The first of its kind’: new inclusive playground sets the standard for accessibility in the UK- February 14, 2024 Source: Able Magazine- UK
There are one million disabled children in the UK. But research from Scope has shown that half (49%) of parents with disabled children say there are accessibility issues at their local playground, and more than one in ten families living with disability (13%) were unable to enjoy the playground because their children were not able to play together. The Fair Play playground in Barnet directly addresses the challenges faced by the disability community and empowers disabled and non-disabled people of all ages to play together without exclusion or bias…
12. Accessibility: Mumbai's lifeline can make lives of people with disabilities easier, but how?- February 15, 2024 Source: Citizen Matters- India
Fransisca Dantas, a visually challenged teacher, has a unique accessibility challenge while boarding the Mumbai local trains. She travels five days of the week from Andheri to Dadar by the local train for work. At Andheri, announcements about the arrival of trains, whether they are 12 or 15 coach, are erratic. This means passengers don’t know where the women’s compartment will be. Like other women commuters, she cannot run to get into the women’s compartment once the train arrives. “If it is a 15 coach, people start running helter skelter…
13. Accessibility Kit changes on way to help colour-blind rugby fans- February 14, 2024 Source: Morning Star- UK
Ireland and Wales are set to play each other in their traditional plain green and red shirts for the final time during a Six Nations game. The green-red combination is a particular issue for colour-blind supporters, and it will surface again in next week’s Dublin clash between the countries. Around one in 12 men suffer from colour vision deficiency (CVD) and one in 200 women, globally. World Rugby regulations will come into force from January next year aimed at assisting those with CVD…
14. Netherlands best, Czechia worst in Europe on rail accessibility – February 15, 2024 Source: Railway Technology- Europe
a. UK stations found to have ‘alarming’ accessibility inadequacies- February 15, 2024 Source: New Civil Engineer- UK
The Netherlands has been ranked the best railway nation in Europe for accessibility, while Czech Republic was marked as one of the worst in a new report. Created by online booking comparison website Omio, the report looked at three key points to determine its rankings: the percentage of stations with barrier-free entry to platforms, the percentage with tactile paving on platforms, and the percentage with digital information displays. The Netherlands achieved its ranking because 99% of its stations have tactile paving and digital displays, 97% have barrier-free entry, though Sweden and Norway recorded the highest percentages for the latter, both with 99%...
15. EU Disability Card goes some way to improving accessibility across the bloc- February 15, 2024 Source: Euractiv- EU
While broadly welcomed for harmonising accessibility measures across the bloc, the agreement on the EU’s first bloc-wide Disability Card is only a first step in securing true freedom of movement within EU countries for people with disabilities, an expert told Euractiv. Around 87 million people in Europe live with some form of disability. As member states currently recognise these disabilities according to varied criteria, with corresponding national disability cards, thousands of people regularly encounter barriers when travelling or visiting another member state due to the lack of homogeneous recognition…
16. WestJet CEO apologizes for accessibility failures, defends airline's record- February 15, 2024 Source: Toronto Star- Canada
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech is apologizing for incidents where the airline failed to accommodate people living with disabilities. The chief executive says that more than 99 per cent of the 700 daily customers who require support had a good experience, but that each case of mistreatment is "a case too many." Several incidents have surfaced at Canadian airlines over the past year, including when a man with spastic cerebral palsy was forced to drag himself off of an airplane and when former Paralympian Sarah Morris-Probert hauled herself up the aircraft stairs rather than being able to board using her wheelchair…
Accessibility Blogs, Information, & Videos
- Here be dragons- Peter Torres Fremlin
- What is the Purple Pound?- Charity Digital
- Don't Disable Form Controls- Adrian Roselli
- Getting to an accessibility strategy- Shaun Conner
- What is a Physical Disability- United Spinal Association
- What Is a Descriptive Transcript?- Accessible Community
- “Lunch and Learn” discusses accessibility in houses - WHSV
- A Guide To Designing For Older Adults- Smashing Magazine
- Invest in technologies for visually impaired children- Monitor
- Can Generative AI Help Write Accessible Code?- Léonie Watson
- Exploring the inclusive tech revolution- The Stack Overflow Blog (Podcast)
- Dynamically adding text alternatives to images with AI- Karl Groves
- Fun4thedisabled premieres docuseries 'Accessible Chicago'- WGN News (YouTube)
- Truth in advertising does not exist for overlay vendors- Overlay False Claims
- 10 Genuine Ways Companies Can Prioritize Accessibility And Inclusion- Forbes
- We celebrate small wins for wheelchair accessibility with ALS- ALS News Today
- Ensuring accessibility in Utah’s banks, blockchains and more- Utah Business Magazine
- The Disabilities Beat: A new chance to hear the disability community- WBFO-FM 88.7
- Revolutionizing Home Accessibility: A Lifeline for Aging Loved Ones- The Hans India
- Audio describers work toward more emotional and diverse accessibility tools- The World
- How elegance and beauty don't make up for accessibility in historic buildings- PBC Today
- Disability Action Plan fails to tackle major issues facing people with disabilities- National Star
- The Accessibility Mindset: Moving Beyond Remediating, Fixing, and Reacting- Jesse Loseberg
- Tenants with disabilities may move to accessible units within the property- First Tuesday Journal
- 5 Ways to Embrace Universal Design in Your Communication Department- ColoradoBiz Magazine
- Q&A Part I: BEAUTYSTREAMS Exec discusses key trends in accessible beauty- Cosmetics Design
- Consider accessibility when using horizontally scrollable regions in webpages and apps- Bogdan Cerovac
- Meet the folks working to make Minnesota more accessible — more than 30 years after the ADA- Star Tribune
Federally Speaking
- Community Partnerships: An Effective Inclusion Strategy- EARN
- Employment First Community of Practice- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Video Case Study: Accommodating and Retaining Teachers with Disabilities- EARN
- FCC Seeks Comment on ASL and Multilingual Wireless Emergency Alert Templates
- Wireless Emergency Alert Templates: American Sign Language (ASL) Demo-Only Videos- FCC
- FCC Addresses Accessibility Gaps in Emergency Alerts in February Meeting - Broadband Breakfast
- Digital Equity and the Disability Ecosystem: Finding Local, Regional, and National Connections- PEAT
- FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of Education Releases 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan, Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity
Higher Education Blogs & Information
- Disability report ranks Rice 35th- The Rice Thresher
- A closer look at accessibility on campus- The Collegian
- Addressing accessibility in response to Slate Speaks- The Slate
- The University is constantly lagging in accessibility- The Justice
- Accessibility's impact on the Rider experience - The Rider News
- It's past time for Rice to increase accessibility- The Rice Thresher
- Access Your Abilities is about the power of community - MSU Reporter
- Academic Libraries Leading the Way in Accessibility- Insight Into Diversity
- UofT Prof Dedicates Life to Disability, Accessibility Research - Mirage News
- Basic Digital Content Accessibility- Digital Accessibility @ UO - University of Oregon
- University of Illinois, Extension, plan Community Seminar Series- Iroquois Times-Republic
- Call for nominations: Office for Equity and Accessibility Impact Award- Virginia Tech News
- Vandal Inclusion and Access Club advocate for accessible sidewalks on campus- The Argonaut
- OAS and Career Services host Demystifying Disability in the Workplace - WVU Students - West Virginia University
- UNM School of Public Administration professor awarded prestigious fellowship- UNM Newsroom - The University of New Mexico
Legal Blogs & Information
- Deque Systems Sues BrowserStack for Intellectual Property Theft- PR Newswire
- Canada Update: Upcoming Compliance Deadlines For Federal Accessibility Legislation- MLT Aikins
- Federal NY Court Says Retailers Are Not Required to Have Digital Labels on Products- Seyfarth Shaw
- American Cruise Lines Agrees to Improve Fleet Accessibility in ADA Settlement- Travel Market Report
- New York State Will Require Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 for State and County Websites- Equal Entry
Accessibility Announcements
- Acquia completes acquisition of Monsido
- Loo plans to make parks more accessible approved
- MTA Expanding Innovative Accessibility Solutions
- Scoping for Global Resource Hub on Deafblindness
- Kawartha accessibility champions sought for 2024 Awards
- Northeast BC Accessibility Committee asks public to design logo
- Small businesses in B.C. eligible for workplace accessibility grants
- VIA introduces NaviLens technology to ease accessibility for riders
- Accessibility Champion Appointed as Chair of Independent User Group
- Port Alberni’s Canadian Council of the Blind celebrates White Cane Week
- City seeking applicants for Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion
- Springfield nonprofit makes resources for the autism community more accessible with new center
- The Pulse speaks up: New read-aloud tool prioritises accessibility for western Sydney communities
- Rick Hansen Foundation, HCMA reveal research on school and office accessibility through retrofits
- BindiMaps and Westpac OpenAir Cinema: A New Era of Accessibility for Moviegoers with Disabilities
- Seven train stations to be upgraded as part of NSW Government’s $800 million Safe Accessible Transport Plan
- Statement from Chief Accessibility Officer Stephanie Cadieux on release of first report on accessibility in Canada
- LEGO Redefines Toy Industry Standards, Earns Acclaim in dozanü innovations' 2024 "State of Accessible Marketing" Report
- The San Francisco Department of Elections Reminds Voters of the Many Accessible Voting Resources Available for the March 5 Election
- Handicapped Accessibility Still an Issue On Reserve Flush Columbia County LSHA Campus & County Leased Elections Complex (Duval Place)
Accessibility Products
- Empowering lives through innovative accessibility apps
- These office chairs may help those with ADHD to focus
- Standard Toilet Height: Comfort and Accessibility in the Bathroom
- Updates to InDesign’s EPUB Export Bring New Accessibility Features
- The Accessibility and Efficacy of New Alzheimer’s Drugs: A Closer Look
- Android 14's flash notifications are great for accessibility — but that's not all
- Android 15 could offer a big new accessibility feature — what you need to know
- These Volkswagen Hippy Van Mobility Scooters Offer a Nostalgic Ride for Seniors
- Apple Vision Pro: what does it mean for scientists? & Vision Pro Accessibility in the Real(ish) World
- XPANCEO Executives Talk Smart Contact Lenses, The Future Of Computing, Accessibility In Interview
- Victoria's Secret Transforms Fashion Landscape with Debut of Adaptive Fashion Line, Earns Acclaim in the 2024 "State of Accessible Marketing" Report by dozanü innovations
Accessibility Forums, Tips, & Gaming
- Empowering play for all: The path to true accessibility in games
- What Accessibility Features Does Nightingale Offer? – Answered
- Creating Captivating User Experiences with Scrolling Animations
- Whitethorn Games made accessibility the backbone of its Winter Showcase
- How Accessible Hardware Bridges the Gap Between Individuals and Options
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Could Benefit From One Accessibility Feature
Accessibility Employment Opportunities
- Accessibility Tester - Ascendion
- Lead Accessibility Analyst - Hilton
- Accessibility Director - Elevance Health
- Accessibility Coordinator - College of Idaho
- Accessibility Advisor - Palm Beach State College
- Digital Product Manager Sr - Web Accessibility - PNC
- Ride Accessibility Team Member - Dollywood Theme Park
- Accessibility Software Quality Engineer - Physical & Motor - Apple
- Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility - University of Colorado
- Manager, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility - Broward County Public Schools
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
- Get informed about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Integrated Accessibility Standards (IASR) in one course
- 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
- Demystifying Disability in the Workplace: Employer Led Panel- February 21, 2024 at 4:30pm - 6:00pm EST
- Graphs & Charts: Meeting WCAG 2.2 Level AA Requirements (Digital Accessibility Webinar)- February 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PT
- Fireside Chat with Jakob Nielsen & Sarah Gibbons on the future of design and UX- February 22, 12:00pm (GMT -06:00)
- Telluride Foundation is hosting a “Website Accessibility” workshop that will be held via Zoom, on February 22 at 12:00 p.m. CT
- Creating Accessible Word Documents 2020 Essentials (Austin, TX) – Offered, February 22, March 14 and April 23
- Website Accessible? Learn What to Look for and Other A11Y Basics- February 23 at 2 - 3pm CST
- 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)
- February CoP Webinar- February 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM CT
- 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
- Regal Theatre Accessibility Workshop- February 28, 2024 at 5 pm to 6.30 pm. at the Council Civic Centre and online via live stream.
- 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
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – Advanced Edition (Austin, TX) – Offered February 29, March 28 and April 25
- World Information Architecture Day 2024- March 2, 2024
- Learning Lab- Digital Accessibility Program Planning- March 4, 7, 12, and 19, at 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET
- 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
- Creating Accessible PowerPoints 2020 Essentials (Austin, TX) – Offered, March 8, and April 10
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – The Basics (Austin, TX) – Offered – March 12 and April 4
- Virtual Web Accessibility Training- March 12-13, 2024 at 12–5pm Eastern
- Georgia DOT ITS4US Deployment Program Phase 2 Webinar- Accessible Routing – Pedestrian Impedance Factors and Application- March 12 at 1 - 2:30 pm CDT
- Testing & Remediation Strategies for PDF Accessibility – Intermediate Edition (Austin, TX) – Offered March 20 and April 18
- Building Local Partnerships: One Strategy for Hiring and Keeping Workers- March 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern
- 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
- #a11yTO Camp- Saturday, April 6, 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
- Accessibility Summer Camp 2024- June 14 · 8am - 4pm CDT
- 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: February 20-22, 2024
Date: February 27-28, 2024
Date: February 27-29, 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: February 28-March 1, 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 - WebDevCon Conference 2024- Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date: March 12-15, 2024
Date: March 15, 2024
Date: March 8-16, 2024
Date: March 18-22, 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: April 31- May 1, 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: July 8 -12, 2024
Date: July 30, 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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