Hi Everyone: For almost years eight years I have compiled accessibility statements for Accessibility in the News. When I started collecting accessibility statements in 2016 I spent a nontrivial amount of time every week searching to find accessibility statements on websites and then I would verify if those organizations actually had a current and legitimate accessibility statement. Many did not meet either criteria.
As a result of tracking this activity closely for almost eight years, I have seen the total number of organizations worldwide creating and posting bona fide accessibility statements increasing significantly and consistently over the past few years. This is a strong indicator that more marketing, sales, IT, HR, finance, and legal departments are starting to understand the importance of their website's accessibility from a usability and inclusivity standpoint, in addition to being a financial and legal motivator.
The accessibility industry (All of you!) has moved the needle through education, training, and laser-focused efforts (Not to mention lots of your blood sweat, and tears!!) but we all still have a ways to go before we collectively hit the tipping point for total inclusion for the growing worldwide community of people with disabilities (PWDs).
My ever-growing list of accessibility statements can be found at the link below. The total count is 2,525 as of tonight and it increases by ten new organizations each week. If you would like me to add your organization’s accessibility statement to my ever-growing list then please respond to me in this email and I will include it.
I hope you have an enjoyable and restful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jack
Crafted while listening to: Mac Sinise- Resurrection & Revival & The Barber of Little Rock
“The only place success comes before work is in a dictionary.” ― Winston Churchill
Accessibility in the News: Accessibility Statement Pages
Alzheimer’s quietly ravages the brain long before symptoms appear and now scientists have new clues about the dominolike sequence of those changes — a potential window to one day intervene. A large study in China tracked middle-aged and older adults for 20 years, using regular brain scans, spinal taps and other tests. Compared to those who remained cognitively healthy, people who eventually developed the mind-robbing disease had higher levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in their spinal fluid 18 years prior to diagnosis, researchers reported Wednesday…
Right now, the fourth floor of the University of Vermont's Davis Center hosts an art exhibition titled CYCLES. It's the fifth show put on by Inclusive Arts Vermont, displaying the work of 25 artists with disabilities. Among them is Winooski artist Persephone Ringgenberg. She has a piece titled Hair Suspension, which includes four photos of a woman hanging from a carabiner attached to her hair at the Champlain Valley Fair. Ringgenberg said she was drawn to the woman’s movement, and as a person living with epilepsy, she said making art is how she catches memories…
On Instagram, it's clear Alexandra Ayaub not only loves fashion but also being an advocate for people with disabilities. And she recently shared the joy of having made a difference at Detroit Metro Airport. "They answered the email right away," Alexandra shared with her followers in a video she posted to Instagram, commending the Airport Authority for taking swift action by installing new seating in the tram areas. Alexandra, who was born with a disability, called it a "great lesson on how to do accessibility."…
Seat belts were fastened, overhead baggage was secured and table trays were placed in their upright positions. Everything was set for Destination Accessibility’s liftoff on Thursday morning at Give ABQ in Albuquerque. A new nonprofit, Destination Accessibility’s mission is to address an emerging issue in tourism: accessibility for seniors and those with disabilities. More than 6 million people visit Albuquerque each year, according to Visit Albuquerque’s website, visitalbuquerque.org…
Jean Ryan of the advocacy group Disabled in Motion said yellow cabs offer freedom for those who use a wheelchair like herself, where Access-a-Ride must be booked days in advance. “You can’t change where you’re going to meet, you can’t change the times, they’re set in stone," said Ryan of the MTA's Access-a-Ride. "And it is so frustrating. I have left dinners with friends and thrown my money on the table.” That’s why she said accessible taxis are so important, especially because many in the disability community either don’t have smartphones, have poor vision or can’t use apps. Instead, they need to hail cabs on the street…
February marks low vision awareness month and millions of Americans live with some form of low vision. That's why Dr. Joshua Irzyk and Director of Statewide Services and Outreach from the Maryland school for the Blind, Diane Colburn joined the fox 45 morning show. they discussed the common barriers people with low vision encounter in everyday life, and some of the latest tools that can eliminate those barriers and make our communities more accessible…
As a boy, Daniel Lopez collected eyeglasses for the Lions Club. It was the just the beginning of what's become a lifelong effort to make the world more accessible for people with disabilities. Lopez joined the city of Santa Fe as its new Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator in October after decades working on accessibility issues in both the public and private sectors. The El Paso native has ambitious plans for Santa Fe, which he believes can become a more accessible city for both residents and visitors…
Star Trek actor Kenneth Mitchell has died at 49 years old after a five-year battle with ALS, his family has confirmed. Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, on Star Trek: Discovery and voiced several characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Born on November 25, 1974, in Toronto, Mitchell starred in several films and television shows including Captain Marvel, Miracle, Jericho, The Astronaut Wives Club, Ghost Whisperer and Switched at Birth…
Oscar-winning deaf actor Troy Kotsur said he has seen improvements in accessibility in Hollywood following the success of 2021 film Coda. The 55-year-old, who presented an award at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards broadcast live on Netflix, praised the streaming giant for making the show accessible for all. “They have accessibility this year regarding closed captioning and audio description on Netflix so I am thrilled, we’re really looking forward to it,” he said, ahead of the ceremony…
When Julie Reiskin took off from the Denver International Airport to Kansas City for a business meeting in October 2022, she did not know she was headed to disaster. She said she was greeted by a snapped wheelchair joystick at the end of her Southwest flight. “I was stuck, the chair was broken,” she said. “Again, totally preventable damage, careless damage.” Instead of going to the hotel after a day of painful travel with a push of her fingers, Reiskin said she could not even use the bathroom on her own without her chair…
Latasha Gillespie, head of global diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility at Amazon MGM Studios, enters the BBC's Executive Lounge to talk about leading the charge on inclusivity in entertainment. Latasha knows inclusivity isn't one-sided. At Amazon MGM, the film and television production and distribution studio, she's a staunch believer that representation needs to be both in front of the camera and behind it. In a first in the entertainment industry, the company launched its inclusion policy guide and playbook under Gillespie's leadership as head of global diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility…
Long Island high schoolers' big hearts are helping athletes with disabilities play the sport by taking up funds to support inclusive initiatives. "Lacrosse My Heart," a nonprofit spearheaded by six student lacrosse players from Roslyn High School in New York, most recently raised enough funds to support a wheelchair lacrosse team, the Long Island Hammerheads. "My friends, my co-founders and I have been playing together since we were five years old and lacrosse has done so much for us, so we wanted to give back to the community by connecting through organizations like the Hammerheads” said Zach Mashaal, co-founder of the organization…
Approximately three quarters of all subway stations in New York City are currently not up to the standard of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Advocates for congestion pricing are urging the government to implement the plan so the funds raised can help make systemic changes. Advocates, alongside State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, rallied at the Smith-9th St subway station on Friday in support of congestion pricing, which will provide funding for critically needed ADA accessibility upgrades at stations across the city…
A North Branford woman is sparking change on the state level by using her rare disease to inform people, including lawmakers, about accessible parking laws. Alex Bode has a genetic disorder called Friedreich's ataxia (FA), which impacts the nerves and gradually deteriorates various functions of the body. She isn’t letting her disease stop her; Alex started a nonprofit called “Peace, Love, and Accessibility” to educate and lobby for more accessible parking options in Connecticut…
Lately, we’ve seen theater become more and more accessible for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Television shows are hiring more actors who are deaf and even have their own episodes from their perspective, theaters are offering special performances, and plays are including American Sign Language shadow interpreters. For Keith Banks, it’s something he has added to his own performances at Orlando Fringe’s annual winter festival through his show, “Becoming Grandma Kat.”…
Decades ago, many scientists believed that drinking coffee was bad for your health. But coffee has experienced a remarkable turnaround. Study after study has found that enjoying a daily cup or two of Joe — either caffeinated or decaffeinated — may lengthen your life span and lower risk for chronic disease. One of the most striking findings is that coffee drinkers are less prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. Many large studies have found that people who drink three to four cups of coffee daily have about a 25 percent lower risk of the disease compared with people who drink little or no coffee…
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the Bronx’s Tremont Avenue subway station, running B and D trains, is now fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the addition of three new elevators, two reconstructed staircases and new platform edges. The Tremont Avenue station has become the second fully accessible station this year, following the Beach 67th St. station in Queens, according to the MTA…
The Television Academy, in partnership with ReadySet--a leading culture change consulting firm--released its 2024 Impact Progress Report. Highlights of the report, an analysis of survey data measuring membership perceptions of the Academy’s DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) progress along with comparisons of member demographics year over year, include: The demographic diversity of the Academy’s membership has increased, with new members over the past two years holding more diverse identities than in the past…
The City of Portland has been slapped with a lawsuit by a group of citizens with disabilities, leading to a settlement agreement aimed at clearing the pathways for those with mobility difficulties. The legal tussle, which started back in September 2022, when nine individuals challenged the city's maintenance of its sidewalks, has ended with the city vowing to clean up its act—literally. According to the settlement documents, the plaintiffs, which included individuals with mobility and vision disabilities, accused Portland of not keeping sidewalks clear of debris and tent encampments…
Hit The Road Jack — Revealed: Europe’s most accessible capital cities & Accessible Beach Opens in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast & Accessible Tourism
Halifax is moving ahead with improvements to its accessibility guidelines to protect people who have difficulty navigating obstructed sidewalks near construction sites. On Thursday, the city's transportation standing committee sent a list of changes to regional council for a final vote. They include making sure temporary ramps have a gentle slope, and pedestrian routes have a continuous channel around construction work that are wide enough for wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters…
Kahnawake’s accessibility group Connecting Horizons has seen a lot of progress over the years when it comes to making buildings more accessible in town – but there’s still a lot left to be desired, said Iris Phillips, the group’s coordinator. They’ve been reaching out to the managers of public buildings like the post office and sports arena for years now. Since then they’ve had a lot of success seeing their recommendations come to fruition, but they’ve also encountered many roadblocks too, Phillips said, often going ignored…
For Ma Yinqing, using a smartphone can sometimes feel like being stranded in the ocean. As a user with impaired vision, she relies on her phone’s built-in screen reader to access everyday apps, but often all it emits are random words like “button” or “underscore,” or it simply beeps at her. According to the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the country is home to more than 17 million blind or partially sighted people. However, despite rapid advancements in phone accessibility functions, not all software developers take disabled users into consideration when designing new apps…
In a significant stride toward inclusivity and accessibility, Croatia has emerged as a pioneer in the European Union regarding public documents for persons with disabilities. This achievement follows the successful realization of the project "Improvement of the System for the Use of Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Field of Mobility (MOSI)," facilitated by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure. At the final conference, the project's outcomes were showcased, marking a ground-breaking moment for Croatia's commitment to enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities…
Imagine a world where the touch of your fingertips can unlock the mysteries of the universe, where intricate graphics and complex concepts come alive under your hands. This is the future Professor Song Yanlin and his team at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, are crafting for visually impaired individuals around the globe. Through a groundbreaking Braille printing technology, they are transforming educational opportunities and daily experiences for those who navigate the world through touch…
Unless you have a disability, you probably won't know how much of a nightmare transport can be. You won't know what it's like to try and book a taxi or Uber, only to be refused because you have a guide dog. You won't know what it's like to have an expensive, custom-built wheelchair broken during air travel, or spend hours planning a trip only to arrive at the station and find the accessible train has been replaced by a bus with steps. After receiving and sifting through hundreds of transport horror stories from people with disability, two things became clear…
Smart tourism has become a buzzword nowadays. Many people have associated smart tourism destinations with those that adopt advanced technologies (e.g. big data, Geographical Information System (GIS), and artificial intelligence (AI)) to collect data on visitors’ behaviors and predict future patterns, to assist in service delivery (e.g. robots), and to facilitate visitors in retrieving information more easily (e.g. Apps). However, the roles played by accessibility in smart tourism destinations are often neglected…
Laura Wharton is no stranger to advocating for equality, accessibility, and fairness in the capital. A longtime city council member, Wharton’s journey started from her birthplace of New Jersey to Harvard University, followed by her move to Israel about 40 years ago. She has served as a lone soldier and lived on a kibbutz before relocating to Jerusalem. Ahead of the municipal elections, In Jerusalem sat down with Wharton and discussed her positions and goals she hopes to advance as part of Yossi Havilio’s Jerusalem Union…
It turns out that talking slowly and clearly may not be so great after all. Researchers from the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and the University of Toronto have found that talking speed can serve as an important indicator of brain health – even more so than having a difficulty finding certain words in old age. Study authors add this is one of the first studies to assess both the differences in natural speech and brain health among a group of healthy adults…
As the imminent release of Ableton Live 12 makes the inevitable waves, we all begin to focus on our new favourite features, things that we just know will become part of our daily workflow. Then, there are the additions which have less widespread appeal, but are equally – if not vitally – important for some. One example in Live 12 is in the arrival of accessibility for visually impaired musicians. Live 12 is the first iteration of the popular DAW to include screen reader support on macOS and Windows. On macOS and iOS, there’s the built-in VoiceOver application, while on Windows there’s Narrator, and third-party solutions including Jaws…
Akshat Baldwa, a young law student at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), happens to be blind. He is “passionate about pushing for constructive change to help the disabled lead more dignified lives”. Baldwa and others — three of them blind and one deaf — have mounted a legal challenge in the Delhi High Court to ensure that all films in theatres, on TV, and OTT provide accessibility features like Audio Description (AD) for the visually impaired and Same Language Captions (SLC) for the hearing impaired…
Accessibility advocate Susan Bains says she has been disappointed by the response of some White Rock council members to a campaign to make the pier more accessible. The Equal Access Collective’s campaign to have an accessibility mat installed on the pier – to make it safer for those with mobility challenges – came up again at council’s meeting. Council ultimately approved a motion from Coun. Ernie Klassen directing city staff to provide a comprehensive report on feasibility, costs and maintenance requirements for such a mat, including funding options, to be submitted to the city’s Accessibility Committee – of which he is a member – for comments…
69 out of the 70 official websites of Vinnytsia communities have accessibility issues, meaning that the information on these resources may be partially or completely inaccessible to people with disabilities and the elderly, according to the report the Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration (OMA) issued after monitoring the official websites of the OMA, the district military administrations and the oblast's territorial communities. The monitoring was carried out in the second to fourth quarters of 2023…
In a bid to ensure the vulnerable groups can access their benefits with ease, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Tuesday launched an online application portal for pensioners and persons living with disabilities.
Through the portal, these individuals can fill out their application forms for their benefits at the comfort of their homes within three minutes. Once on the site, there are options to apply for old age pension or permanent disability benefits…
“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. Presently, 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 callus disregard for proven endangerment…
Walking along the beach and getting sand between your toes is a common pastime in Australia, particularly as 87 per cent of the population live within 50 kilometres of the coastline. But for the one in five people living with a disability in Australia, accessing the beach is tough; people who use wheelchairs or have mobility challenges can't cross the sand to the water. As such, Accessible Beaches Australia has launched a petition and campaign urging the government to fund accessibility infrastructure, including beach wheelchairs, beach matting, and other accessible features, to help people with disabilities and mobility challenges access our coastline.
Much of the world we have built to live in – from the things we use, to signage, to magazine and website pages, to homes, towns and cities – has been designed by fit and healthy people. And much of it doesn’t work for many of us. March 1 is International Wheelchair Day and having an international awareness day for wheelchair users is a worthy idea – but I bet it won’t filter through to those busy people who park in a space designated with a wheelchair “just for a minute” or because “no one ever uses it”…
Poor preparation by employers, unfair hiring practices, unclear processes and outdated attitudes are keeping people with autism out of work, according to a government report. The report said those with autism have “far more negative experiences of interviews, group tasks and psychometric tests” compared to ‘neurotypical’ jobseekers. The Buckland Review of Autism Employment, led by Conservative MP Sir Robert Buckland, centres on supporting employers to recruit and retain people with autism…
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